Street Talk International Archives

Street Talk is a compendium of tips, facts, gossip, rumors, speculation and editorial comment provided by The Timeshare Beat as an outlet for the free expression of its readers and for their entertainment. The Timeshare Beat makes no assertion as to the veracity of the items contained herein. If erroneous information is inadvertently included and a correction to this information is subsequently sent to The Timeshare Beat, the correction will be prominently published. Opinions published within Street Talk are the opinions of the authors thereof and are not necessarily the opinions of The Timeshare Beat.

STREET TALK INTERNATIONAL: Week of Nov. 5 - 11, 2004 " The theory of a free press is that truth will emerge from free discussion, not that it will be presented perfectly and instantly in any one account." -- Walter Lippmann Street Talk is a compendium of tips, facts, gossip, rumors, speculation and editorial comment. PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY E-mail: news@thetimesharebeat.com | Email: street@thetimesharebeat.com

Lost & Found Women in the Biz Street Talk Back Issues Street Talk International Archives AFRICA SOUTH AFRICA: RCI SA has announced its new brand positioning as a provider of holidays, travel and timeshare services, with the introduction of RCI Choices, a " new range of holiday exchange options" . These options include RCI Cruise Exchange with over 1,000 cruise options off local shores or internationally RCI Tour Exchange for affordable, yet luxurious European coach tours RCI Hotel Exchange for high quality hotel accommodation locally and internationally and RCI Safari Exchange, which offers access to upmarket game lodges in southern Africa. Via RCI Frontiers, members can now exchange points or timeshare for traditional bed and breakfast and guesthouse accommodation in popular areas, where availability of traditional timeshare may be limited. In a prepared statement RCI SA’s President and CEO, Ivor Clucas said, “RCI members have traditionally seen us as a timeshare exchange provider, which may have been true 21 years ago, but is no longer true today. We have a lot more to offer now, not only with regard to the new RCI Choices range of holiday options, but also with regard to our existing travel service, through which we are able to arrange flights, car hire, forex, travel insurance and so much more. Armed with a clearer understanding of its membership, RCI is setting out to reposition itself in the marketplace, according to Clucas. “We’re in the business of fulfilling holidays, and the emotional power of holidays is huge,” he said. “Our members need to believe that RCI is committed to helping them achieve the best holiday experience so that we are able to secure a relevant role in their lives.” You can read the whole press release here: RCI SA Repositions with New Look and Introduction of RCI Choices E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com CANADA BRITISH COLUMBIA: VICTORIA: Aviawest at Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa has signed a new affiliation agreement with RCI. This resort will be the first urban fractional real estate project in Victoria. Plans call for elegant resort-style condominiums with 126 luxury one- and two-bedroom suites, private rooftop owners lounge, interior and exterior gardens and on-site amenities including concierge services, valet parking, ozonated pool (chlorine free), spa, fitness facilities and gourmet food store. The resort will be located near the world famous Empress Hotel in Victoria, B.C., Canada. Construction began last month, with completion set for the fall of 2006. It will be operated by Aviawest Resorts Inc., of course, which also manages Pacific Shores Resort & Spa in Parksville, B.C. The Rosewood Victoria Inn, an English-style B& B Inn in Victoria Aviawest at Tauca Lea, a waterfront resort on the west coast of Vancouver Island B.C. and Aviawest at Rosedale in downtown Vancouver, B.C. VANCOUVER: Someone has asked about Intrawest: --" Does anyone know why Jude Carrillo is out as VP? Could it be Jude and Jim have finally been dished up a little of what they have been dishing out!" E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com CARIBBEAN ST. MAARTEN: ST. THOMAS: St. Maarten Taxi Services (SMTS) has asked for permission from management of St. Maarten Ports Authority (SMPA) to conclude an agreement with a local timeshare company to operate out of the harbour. SMTS is also lobbying for a location at the harbour to promote and sell timeshare to cruise ship passengers in collaboration with the timeshare company. SMTS would be working in partnership with the timeshare company. The company will use its expertise and SMTS will eventually take over the timeshare location, possibly after a five-year period. If SMTS were given the green light, the company anticipates that timeshare would be sold for all resorts that offer this service on the island. Unfortunately, the name of the timeshare company was not revealed. Who is it? CURAÇ AO: The bankrupt Kadushi Cliffs Resort is getting a new life as a hotel. Last month the hotel project of Kurá Hulanda at Westpunt picked up where it left off three years ago as contractor firm Willemstad signed a contract to rebuild the 22 former timeshare villas into 44 hotel rooms. At a later stadium thirty eco-oriented bungalows will follow. The idea of a safari-park is also still in the plans. Will timeshare ever again be part of this resort? E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com MEXICO CABO SAN LUCAS: The Villa Group has begun construction next to its upscale Villa la Estancia fractional resort in Cabo San Lucas. As a continuation of its master plan to develop the finest piece of real estate on the beach in Cabo San Lucas, Villa del Arco will be a deluxe timeshare hotel, with a product that is family oriented with deluxe amenities for vacation owners. It is scheduled to open in December of 2005. Buoyed by the success of Villa La Estancia and with the growth of fractional ownership overall, the Villa Group has also broken ground on Villa La Estancia Puerto Vallarta. The new exclusive property will also offer all the deluxe services and amenities of a five star hotel. It is located on a 50,000 square meter, mixed-use lot on the development north of Banderas Bay in Flamingos Vallarta, adjacent to the group's fifth resort, Villa del Palmar Flamingos, which opened in June 2004. The project will be located on the beach and ownership will be secured by Stewart Title. The first phase is scheduled for completion in winter of 2006. Sales are to begin in March, 2005. With the addition of the two new properties, The Villa Group will have seven resorts in its group, as well as a number of hotels, restaurants and various other tourist oriented entities. The 50,000 owners of The Villa Group timeshare resorts are members of the Universal Vacation Club. Gold members of the Club will be able to stay and enjoy Cabo's Villa del Arco as part of their membership which includes Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta, Villa del Palmar Flamingos and Villa del Palmar Cabo San Lucas. E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com Quotable quotes: " I sincerely believe that if you think there's a solution, you're part of the problem." -George Carlin GO TO Street Talk USA

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Street Talk is a compendium of tips, facts, gossip, rumors, speculation and editorial comment provided by The Timeshare Beat as an outlet for the free expression of its readers and for their entertainment. The Timeshare Beat makes no assertion as to the veracity of the items contained herein. If erroneous information is inadvertently included and a correction to this information is subsequently sent to The Timeshare Beat, the correction will be prominently published. Opinions published within Street Talk are the opinions of the authors thereof and are not necessarily the opinions of The Timeshare Beat. THIS COLUMN CONTAINS OPINIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THIRD PARTIES. THE TIMESHARE BEAT DOES NOT REPRESENT, ENDORSE OR GUARANTEE THE TRUTHFULNESS, ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY OF SUCH CONTENT POSTED BY SUCH THIRD PARTIES, OR ENDORSE ANY OPINIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS EXPRESSED BY SUCH THIRD PARTIES. ANY RELIANCE ON CONTENT POSTED BY THIRD PARTIES WILL BE AT YOUR OWN RISK. CHANGES ARE PERIODICALLY MADE TO THIS COLUMN AND MAY BE MADE AT ANY TIME. See our Terms and Conditions

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