Week of Sept. 24 - Sept. 30, 2004
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and for their entertainment. The Timeshare Beat makes no assertion as to the veracity of the items contained herein.
If erroneous information is inadvertently
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" 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.
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Who would like to address this person's question? --" I am presently a vacation counselor with Hilton Grand Vacation Club. I am interested to enter in contact with a person in the same industry in Phuket. I am returning to Phuket soon for some vacations. Meanwhile, while there, I would like to consider the option to move and work there. Before that, I need to speak with somebody in the industry about the working conditions and other informations in Phuket. Thank you for help in that matter." MALAYSIA: CHINA:
To date, RCI has 27 affiliated resorts in China representing
more than 6,000 RCI members.
Both Ken May (RCI's head hoohah) and Jack McConnell (Cendant's timeshare group head hoohah) were said to be on their way to Australia last week. Lively rumor is that RCI is looking to buy up or somehow affiliate a couple of sizable independent exchange companies such as Dial-an-Exchange and Interchange there, which would give them a huge leg up on Interval in terms of number of affiliated independent resorts. Of course, Trendwest will be leaving II for RCI, leaving Accor (APVC) and precious few others in the region flying the II banner. We hear it is also probable that more heads will roll at Trendwest Asia Pacific either during or after the visit. Sales, marketing, and administrative personnel are reportedly leaving in droves, leaving Trendwest executives to seriously consider whether to issue announcements of departing employees as they happen or issue a larger weekly release. One ex-Trendwester states that Cendant has ripped “the soul” from what was a great company and tours and sales are almost as down as morale. McConnell apparently wants to see what is going on for himself. Where does this leave Larry Gildersleeve, thought by many to be the catalyst of Trendwest Asia Pacific’s decline? In Olympia working on Trendwest’s fledgling fractional division, but apparently Larry works in an office without many co-workers. No one expects to see much of Franz Hanning, thought by many to be merely a caretaker until the inevitable merger of Fairfield/Trendwest/and Cendant timeshare (we think he will be more than a caretaker...). Fairfield continues to assert that such a merger will not happen, since the legal and other structures of Trendwest and Fairfield are so different as to make it nearly impossible. Maybe Ken can explain to Hack how RCI Points doesn’t compete
with the Cendant timeshare companies?
E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com
KELOWNA: RCI has signed a new five-year affiliation agreement with The Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort and Conference Center. The most luxurious resort in Kelowna, it is situated on acres of pristine forest and is designed with 25,000 square feet of floor space for conventions, large meetings and major functions. Rooms are condominium-style accommodations offering a variety of floor plans including standard, double and junior suites. Amenities also include dining, a European-style spa, casino, fitness center, shops and an on-site business center. This RCI Weeks resort is a Gold Crown property owned by Royal Host Resorts based in Calgary, Alberta. Royal Host Resorts owns and operates 39 hotels and manages 146 properties in North America. If you've never visited the famous Okanagan Valley, you really owe it to yourself to give it a look-see. It's a fabulous place. E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com
USVI: ST. JOHN: Pond Bay, a private residence club consisting of 56 ultra luxury 3 and 4 bedroom cottages and villas (the 'Residences'), has received a senior mortgage loan up to $22,750,000 from CapitalSource Inc. for its continued development. Upon completion, Pond Bay will rival the Caribbean's finest
resorts, boasting six-star service and exclusive amenities, such as a full-service spa by ESPA and the seamless
service that has made its sister property on St. Barth, Isle de France, one of the world's preeminent boutique
properties.
CABO SAN LUCAS: Under construction on Playa El Mé dano in Cabo San Lucas, the Mexican-Mediterranean style 214-suite Mé dano Beach Resort broke ground in March 2004 with 35 suites scheduled for completion in the spring of 2005. Fractional and full ownership will be offered on fully furnished one- two- and three-bedroom suites and penthouses with Private Residence Club hotel amenities and services. Located between Mango Deck and the Meliá San Lucas, expect pre-occupancy sales to be brisk at this popular location. AND, who exactly IS the man who purchased both the Cabo San Lucas Country Club and the Costa Real Cabo (formerly known as Plaza less Glorias, haha). What is he doing? And what has become of owners in the former Situr timeshare resorts, which are now owned by several different companies? E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com
ISRAEL: Israel Golf Resorts LLC, West Paces Hotel Group, Robert Trent
Jones II, Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG) and Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA)
are pooling their considerable talents to create Arbel
by the Sea, a spectacular 500-acre, $100 million world
class, ultra luxury destination resort and golf club development at that site, aimed to reposition tourism in northern
Israel to the higher end destination resort and golf markets. The resort will include a Residence Club component.
For more details, see: " Arbel
by the Sea" Resort and Club Set to Become Israel's Premier Destination
SCOTLAND: BALLOCH: Loch Lomond Shores, which opened its first phase two years ago, is seeking bids to build a 100-bed four star hotel, shopping and leisure development at the site. As well as the hotel, proposals for this second phase include 40 timeshare units, shops and cafes, and a new footbridge to link Loch Lomond Shores with Ballack Castle Country Park on the east side of the River Leven. The project's main backer is Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire. GERMANY:
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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 |
