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 October 24 - October 30, 2003 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 In 1999 OTE (Organization for Timeshare in Europe) claimed over 300 members representing 80 per cent of European timeshare activity. Looking at their membership list today (they have revamped their website recently) they are down to 44 developers, 2 exchange companies (RCI and Dial an Exchange), 1 Finance House, 15 Individual Professionals, 6 International Affiliates, 4 Management Companies, 7 Marketers, 8 Non-Specialised Suppliers, 14 Personal Affiliates, 3 Resale Companies, 13 Suppliers, and 3 Trustees. Not taking into account that some of these are duplicated in more than one category, it still grosses out at a total of 120 members. We don't know how many companies/people were thrown out of the organization for being unethical in years past but somehow doubt that companies like Marriott and Interval International, who used to be members, were among them. What has REALLY happened? And how did the recent OTE Conference turn out? Anything interesting happen? They haven't released any press about it yet... CANADA According to RCI's 2002 Summary Report on the state of timeshare in Canada, owners of timeshares in Canada and their guests spend an estimated $98 million (Canadian) in local communities during their vacations each year, plus another $56 million in annual maintenance fees. Timeshare owners enjoy high incomes, show strong repeat-visit loyalty to the resort area, stay for long periods, and generate high occupancy rates. They report median incomes of $86,000 annually and a median age of 54 years. Some 52% report at least one household member with a Bachelor’s degree or higher education, and 95% are homeowners. Some 66% of them have no children at home. Keep this in mind next time you have a Canadian couple sitting across from you at the little round table. BRITISH COLUMBIA: WHISTLER: More than 700 people were forced from homes in several communities in southwestern British Columbia, which after suffering a drought this summer has been hammered recently by record-setting rainfall. Swollen rivers destroyed at least one bridge and caused other highway wash-outs, blocking all road access to Whistler and the neighboring village of Pemberton. Are things recovering there? Everyone OK? E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA: ZANZIBAR: Kuwait-based International Financial Advisors Company (IFA), has embarked on a major initiative to become a significant player in the tourism and leisure market in Africa and has recently formed a South African subsidiary, IFA Hotels and Resorts (South Africa) Limited, to handle its investment drive in that country. IFA Hotels and Resorts (South Africa) has signed an agreement with the Zanzibar Government for 300ha of land, with 3km of beach front, and outlined plans for a major touristic resort on the island of Zanzibar off the east coast of Africa. IFA has also purchased one of the major South African private resorts in Zanzibar, the Protea Zanzibar Beach Hotel, which is set in 4ha of land with 300m metres of prime beach. When the expansion plans of the resort are completed, the luxury Zanzibar Beach Hotel and Resort will represent an IFA investment of over $50 million over the next five years - the largest tourism investment into this historic spice island to date. Plans for the Zanzibar Beach Hotel and Resort include an upscale beach hotel, the 150 room Al Qasar (The Palace), which will feature a health spa, an 18-hole golf course, golf academy, a beach clubhouse, children's village, villas and a vacation club. It is the aim of IFA to link its resort in Zanzibar, and the future South African resort, with its resort in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, its planned resort in Lebanon and the existing hotel and resort in Portugal, the Sheraton Algarve, and Pine Cliffs Resort, which is owned by one of the companies in the IFA consortium, United Investments Portugal, thereby offering tourists in Europe, Middle East & Africa a unique network linking IFA's respective hotels, resorts, timeshare and vacation club destinations. MIDDLE EAST: DUBAI: Dubai is looking at setting up a legal structure for timeshare. Said Sultan bin Sulayem, executive chairman of Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corp and chairman of Nakheel, in an article in the Gulf News, " We do not want to just let anyone in to build and operate timeshare - we have to ensure Dubai's credibility is safeguarded." Look for stiff regulations to emerge to safeguard the precious tourist experience. Dubai has targeted itself to draw 15 million tourists per year by 2010, and will probably hit the 5 million mark this year. If you didn't know, Dubai is transforming itself into one of the prime destinations in the Middle East with massive investment in innovative hotels and new attractions. Already open is the world's only seven-star hotel, the Burj al-Arab tower. Among the most spectacular ongoing projects are the underwater hotel Hydropolis, the Palm Island project, comprised of two artificial islands shaped like palm trees, and The World, a mini map of the globe in which 223 artificial islands will be constructed 2km off the Dubai coast. Guests will be transferred by boat to hotels and villas on the islands. An unusual complex is the now partly-opened six-star Medinat Jumeirah, a 650-room hotel with canals linking one part of the complex to another. The largest Chinatown in the world is planned to be built on an 800 hectare site with villas and apartments for over 60,000 residents. There will be a shopping mall, countless shops, bars, restaurants and tourist attractions and more more more! You can get more information about the astounding goings on in Dubai in this article in FVW. You'll be positively gobsmacked! Dubai becomes prime Middle East destination E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com

AUSTRALIA

WESTERN AUSTRALIA PERTH: The venue for ATHOC's (Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council) 2004 National Conference is Sheraton Perth Hotel, 207 Adelaide Terrace, Perth Western Australia. The dates for the conference will be 7, 8 and 9 March 2004. The Registration Form and Price List are available for download. For the first time, an open day for timeshare owners and the general public will be held on Sunday 7 March. This will provide an opportunity for many of the Western Australian public to meet with the sponsors and trade exhibitors to learn more about timeshare. For more information about this Conference, go to http://www.athoc.com.au/new.htm E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com

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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.