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STREET TALK:
Week of March 14 - March 20, 2003
" If you don't want it printed, don't let it
happen."
Street Talk is a compendium of tips, facts, gossip,
rumors, speculation and editorial comment.
This Column is Published Every Friday, with
frequent updates throughout the week
E-mail: news@thetimesharebeat.com |
Email: street@streettalkblog.com
Street Talk International
Some of y'all are so full of yourselves that you just can't take a little ribbing now
and then, can ya? And some of y'all are so full of gas we like to stick a pin in ya from time to time just to provide
the troops the pleasure of watching you deflate. (You're welcome to stick pins in us, too, and dontcha know you
do it regular.) 
Email: street@streettalkblog.com
Congratulations to Michael Rowley of Grand
Timber Lodge in Breckenridge, Colorado for shattering all existing sales records by selling over
$700,000 in business in February, 2003. Michael has sold over 1.5 million in the last three months and is currently
a finalist for In-House Salesperson of the Year at ARDA (American Resort Development Association) Convention next
month. Grand Timber Lodge has nine finalists in the running for ARDA Gold Awards this year including repeat winner
Dave Stroeve for Director of Sales.
Grand Timber Lodge also had a record breaking sales month in February, 2003 with a whopping 3.9 million in net
sales! The previous record held was 3.6 million in sales back in March, 2002. KUDOS!!!
Congratulations also to Bluegreen Resorts, whose Creative Services
team has demonstrated just how good they are with an extraordinarily impressive showing at this year's ADDY
Awards (the advertising community's version of the Oscars). Despite stiff competition from some of the top
ad agencies and design firms in South Florida, Bluegreen walked away with nine awards (including a Best of Show/Judges
Award) at the recent ADDY Awards, hosted by the Ad Club of Greater Fort Lauderdale in association with the American
Advertising Federation. KUDOS!!! Here's the breakdown:
Gold:
- Bluegreen Vacation Club Sales Pitch Book
- Sampler Plus Owner's Kit
- Bluegreen's Corporate Display (the one you see in the atrium)
- Lifestyles Summer 2002 Cover
- President's Select Invitation
Silver:
- Bluegreen " Live Play Grow" Corporate Video
- Big Cedar Wilderness Club mailer
- LeisurePath Logo
Judges Award: Sampler Plus Owner's Kit
Hot on the heels of all those ADDY Awards, Bluegreen has been awarded a total of 23 Silver ARDA Awards,
and they're going for the gold...
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
A question from you: --"
Could you please post the top timeshare companies in order of highest overall revenue last year? It would be interesting
for the public to see who actually is the top company in this industry. Marriott, Fairfield, Starwood, Sunterra,
Hilton, Disney... how do they stack up in sales and dollars?"
Well, for public companies like Marriott, Starwood, Disney, etc. that shouldn't be hard to figure out. But what
about private companies like Westgate and Berkley Group? They don't have to release their financial
information. So how do you figure them into the equation? And how about the big European companies, like Anfi
del Mar?
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
 Dennis
Bailey - March 10, 2003
we are sorry to announce
the passing of Dennis Bailey, 54, a distinguished member of Fairfield's Sedona sales team, an honors graduate of
the New York Military Academy at Cornwall on the Hudson and Howard University in Washington, D.C., and a good friend
to many throughout Fairfield's organization. Dennis passed away on Tuesday, March 10th, and is survived by his
twin brother Dr. Ronald Bailey, his daughter Marie Chantel and his wife Antje and her three children Christian,
Claudia and Monika.
Dennis was on the original team that opened Fairfield Sedona in 1999. He earned top Sales Associate honors for
4 consecutive years at Sedona and attended President’s Club each year as an employee at Fairfield. He was a superb
leader and was truly respected and admired by his many friends and colleagues.
Most important, Dennis was an exceptionally warm and kind person who lived his life to the fullest with love, courage,
grace, kindness and style. He embraced everyone he met with open arms and a generous spirit, and was widely know
for his favorite sayings like “a smile is a very inexpensive way to improve your looks," and " it's going
to be alright." Plus, his enthusiasm for Fairfield shone brightly when always signing his monthly goals as
the King of FairShare.
A celebration of Dennis Bailey’s life will be held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Sedona on March 21, at
11am. Please keep Dennis and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any personal donations be made to Sedona Medical Center, 3700 W. Hwy
89A. Sedona AZ 86336 (attention Dr. Deborah Lindquist), or Borrows Neurological Institute, 2910 N 3rd Ave, Phoenix
AZ 85013 (attention Dr. Volker Sonntag). |
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| IN THE WESTERN Half of the USA: |
CALIFORNIA:
LAKE TAHOE: On the agenda for the Planning Commission:
- HARBORSIDE AT HOMEWOOD (EIAQ-3755)
Proposal to add three additional tourist accommodation units to be sold and used on an interval ownership basis.
A total of 11 timeshare intervals will be created.
Project location: East side of Highway 89 (West Lake Blvd.) and south of Silver Street, Homewood.
Applicant/Owner: Charles R. Kelley, Mark Kubinski/Nathan Topol
- TAHOE SANDS RESORT REDEVELOPMENT (EIAQ-3696)
Proposed redevelopment of existing resort increasing the number of units to 86 contained in five separate
buildings in a phased development.
Project location: 6610 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe Vista
Applicant: Kaufman Planning & Consulting, P. O. Box 253, Carnelian Bay, CA 96140 (530-546-4402)
Owner: Tahoe Sands Timeshare Owners Assoc.,
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
COLORADO: American Skiing Co.'s latest
push to sell fractional ownership in the Steamboat Grand is producing results. Fourteen transactions totaling
approximately $750,000 closed in early February. You may remember that ASC announced in December last year that
it had hired a new 15-person sales staff and would begin selling eighth-share interests instead of the quartershares
it had marketed since the hotel opened in October 2000. An ASC executive said the company had closed $37 million
in sales as of December 2001. Sales languished throughout 2002 with only a trickle closing. The most recent momentum
has come about as a result of ASC renegotiating the terms of a loan with Textron Corp., with the new terms
establishing a marketing budget to reinvigorate sales.
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
HAWAII:
OAHU: According to an article in Pacific Business News, Marriott
had 85,000 timeshare visitors to Hawaii last year and is certain to build on that number in 2003. Regional VP of
Sales and Marketing Robert Calhoun said referrals make up 40% of their sales, with weeks at the Ko Olina
property selling from $27,000 to $50,000 a week, depending on ocean or mountain view. He also said that sales agents
have doubled their sales budget since they are able to bring customers over to the resort to show the product.
(It looks like they're now closing at 33%- Kudos to y'all!) Next: They want to start marketing to Japanese visitors
and establish a presence in Japan.
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
NEVADA:
LAS VEGAS: Jack Corteway, the developer of
the old Royal Aloha timeshare resort on the northeast corner of Desert Inn and Debbie Reynolds Drive, has
sold the 60,000-square-foot parcel to a Houston developer who plans to build an 18-story, 65-unit upscale condominium
tower on the property. So what happens to the owners at the Royal Aloha?
Consolidated Resorts has announced another new resort in Vegas. (That's besides the
Tahiti, the one that burned down during construction recently.) The new resort will be called Tahiti
Village, and will be built on 20 acres at Las Vegas Blvd. South and Arby Av. Consolidated plans to break ground
in September on the $200 million project, a 580-unit development of two-bedroom units, with presales scheduled
to begin in August or September.
Leisure Industries (previously Mego) completed the first phase of the restructuring
of its $100 million portfolio of consumer loans. This initial transaction enables the Company to sell its portfolio
of land receivables held by FINOVA and Textron Financial Corporation (TFC) to Land Finance Company, an affiliate
of Textron, for $25 million. The transaction reduces the Company's receivable portfolio by $25 million and removes
$25 million of notes payable from the Company's balance sheet. This is in line with Leisure's steady work to cut
the fat from the company and bring it back to profitability. Says Floyd W. Kephart, Chairman and CEO: "
We believe our reorganization is complete. Our operating costs have been significantly reduced, which will be reflected
in our first quarter operating results. We will have successfully reviewed and taken all appropriate action on
financial reports as of December 31, 2003."
So far we admit to being impressed with their actions. If all continues to go well, Leisure will be a lean mean
machine when they start aggressively ramping up operations again with their timeshare division.
PAHRUMP: Timeshare at a " house of ill repute" ? In Pahrump?
Better check it out: (external) This is no two-bit operation
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
| IN THE EASTERN Half & Midwest of the USA: |
MASSACHUSETTS:
- THE BERKSHIRES: Brody Mountain Ski Resort's owner, Brian L. Fairbank,
plans to sell the resort to an undisclosed developer who will build a $40 million to $50 million timeshare project
called Snowy Owl Resort there, if all necessary permits can be obtained.
Fairbank, who bought Brodie from longtime owner James W. Kelly in 1999 and had planned an extensive resort,
including a water park, fitness center, retail shops and at least one restaurant, told the Planning Board early
this month that the new owner would scrap plans for any commercial development beyond timeshare condominiums. He
said he could not name the buyer because the purchase-and-sale agreement is still subject to the development company's
board of directors' approval, which is expected to happen next month. According to the concept plan for the 589-acre
property, the pro-ject would include tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a clubhouse at what is now
the base ski lodge, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and playgrounds, all for the private use of the
time-share buyers.
If necessary permits can be obtained, Fairbank said construction could begin this fall on the first phase of
the project, which would include 36 condominium units, clubhouse improvements, a new swimming pool and new tennis
courts.
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
MISSOURI:
-
- BRANSON: There's a resale outfit in Branson named Worldnet Brokerage.
They offer the usual resale inventory, and they also offer a rebate deal. You know, one of those " Buy from
us, get the rebate coupon and if you carefully follow the rules you'll get your purchase price back after 5 years."
Yeah, right.
They explain it this way: " Rebates Charges a premium based on a percentage of the
face value of the rebate coupon. Merchant obtains the rebate coupon from Rebates who has contracted with a trust
to administer funds with high yield investments.
" Of course, many forget to file their claim or will error (sic) in the procedure.
Those who remember and comply will receive their rebate guaranteed."
Who is Rebates, and with what trust have they contracted? The website doesn't say. Has this affiliation
been in business long enough for anyone to have claimed the promised rebate?
Worldnet also offers a limited number of travel club programs for " the ridiculously low price" of
only $599. That IS a more reasonably priced offer than you'll get at other presentations, but they give no information
about the Club on their website. No disclosure at all. Who is the fulfiller? What is the name of the travel club?
Who provides the certs? Etc.
In the " Who We Are" section they mention that they have 22 years experience. Let's see, 22
years divided by the 3 people listed equals a little over 7 years each. OK. You've got Jarry McCoy as the
Sales Director, Suzanne Stacer as the Listing Manager and DiAnn M. as the Office Manager. (DiAnn
M.? No last name?)
Maybe they're a fully legit outfit, but that rebate deal has a suspicious smell...
And hey guys, lose that banner where you use Bill and Hillary to advertise timeshare resales. It's against the
law to use someone's image in a commercial enterprise without their permission, and anyway it looks stupid.
- An observation from you: --" A word
about timeshare in Branson. I have observed
over the past 6 years a few things about timeshare in Branson. One, the State of Missouri does not require a license
to operate so those individuals who cannot get a license in another state have gravitated to Branson and we know
who those types are. Secondly, Branson suffers from Good Old Boy management, if you are ethnic or female it is
very difficult to obtain a management position in Branson. I think there are a few woman in some DOS or VP positions
but parity is not there. Lastly, Rich Huffman is not the sole developer on the Branson Landing project, in fact
that project may never get off the ground since it has been lingering for over 2 years now with no development.
The Monorail is not going in and there is doubt the landing will even get going because of lack of funds and the
economy. There is also a pending class action lawsuit from some of the current business owners in the downtown
area that are not happy with the way city officials handled the buyout of some of their friends' businesses, specificaly
Demetris... rumor has it they paid him 4.5 million for his property on Taneycomo then sold it back to him for 400
thousand.. is there something wrong with this picture? All in all Branson is great place but too many people working
in timeshare that should not be in the industry. They need a timeshare license from the State Insurance Department
to weed out the undesirables."
- YOUR COMMENTS:
- March 15: --"
Whoever thought they knew something about
the Branson Landing project …doesn’t. In fact, Mr. Huffman’s first name is Rick, not Rich. A small error followed
by a long series of bigger errors. The Branson Landing project is moving forward and is only waiting on the Governor
to sign the Tax Increment Financing agreement so the bonds can be sold. The city still owns Mr. Demetris restaurant
and Demetris isn’t interested in buying it back at $400,000 or $100,000… trust me. As for the small group of “good
ol boy’s” who want the city to go back to the way it was in the 80’s when they could control everything…the cat
is out of the bag. This group of people seems to be afraid of competing with the new attractions, restaurants and
hotels that are interested in the new waterfront and convention center project. Apparently in their world the pie
stays the same size and never gets any bigger. There are a huge number of people supporting this project and yes
it has been a long hard battle. When you are trying to do a $300,000,000 + project in a town of 6,000 people it
takes time. Yes Mr. Huffman and his company HCW Development have partners, most projects this size do. HCW have
been selected the developer by the city of Branson. I’m not in the timeshare business myself, but the author of
this news flash should spend more time selling their project and less time listening to gossip in the bars."
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
VERMONT: Vermont's Attorney General William H. Sorrell has come down hard on Cape Canaveral Tour
& Travel Inc., charging the company with running a fraudulent timeshare telemarketing campaign to Vermont
consumers. The suit was filed in April last year, and the employee-defendants were Lory Walker and Michael Dwyer.
Canaveral has agreed to pay up to $460,000 to settle the charges. It's the same old song and dance:
Canaveral generates leads by inviting consumers attending local fairs, etc. to register for a drawing. Then they
call the people up, tell them they've won a vacation drawing to be held to promote the company's resorts-- but
what they're really doing is offering a vacation package at discount rates that the people can get from any travel
agent. And they don't mention that the whole purpose of the thing is to get you to go on a timeshare presentation.
The company is now required to place ads in Vermont newspapers, offering full refunds to the 690 consumers who
paid $550 each for the vacation packages. The company also must mail the refund offer to 450 of those consumers
who paid for a vacation but have not taken it, as well as pay the state $80,000.
If you're going to be deceptive and perpetrate fraud, we wish y'all would at least be a little more creative so
when you get caught it would be exciting to report on it.
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
SOUTH CAROLINA:
- MYRTLE BEACH: Marriott has announced the development of a new oceanfront
resort in Myrtle Beach-- Marriott's OceanWatch Villas at Grande Dunes. Marriott began construction in January
on the proposed 374-villa vacation ownership resort, which is targeted to open for initial occupancy in June 2004.
Marriott’s OceanWatch Villas is part of Burroughs & Chapin's prestigious 2,200-acre master planned
community called Grande Dunes, which includes luxury residential homes, a Roger Rulewich Group-designed
18-hole golf course, a tennis center and a full-service Marriott hotel also under development.
How will Burroughs & Chapin's entrance into timeshare with their South Beach Resort be affected by
Marriott's development of a hotel and timeshare resort at the Grande Dunes property? And how are things going at
the South Beach Resort, anyhow? Haven't heard about them in awhile...
-
- HILTON HEAD: Spicebush at Sea Pines and Swallowtail at Sea Pines
will be leaving the Marriott system because they don't meet quality standards for Marriott. So we wonder:
Who will acquire management contracts at those properties, and how it will affect MVCI owners at those resorts?
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
| Rumors rumors, who's got the rumors... |
- Is there any truth to the rumor that " the Fuhrer" of HGVC
in Orlando may be asked to pack his bags at last? Word is that with the exit of several top producers (and
more are interviewing elsewhere) morale is at an all time low. Are the same old 5 reps still getting the sweet
tours? If so, how sad for other good writers who can't get a fair shot. Also, we hear that the Huge Spiffs are
a thing of the past. Does anyone know if the big change could be taking place soon or is it just a juicy rumor?
Last but not least, one source says: --" If
HGVC wants relationship selling, why are their new managers all inexperienced in this selling technique (Or from
the other side of the tracks so to speak)? How can they help their team improve? So sad, great product, lots of
issues."
- YOUR COMMENTS:
- March 14: --"
The Fuhrer at HGVC Orlando is going nowhere!
He has full support of Hilton top management. I have watched him " run over" sales rep's for years and
most rep's just " hit the door" . The only place he is going is Suntrust Bank to deposit those big, fat
paychecks that you rep's made for him! Hilton is the best product around, they just treat sales people like crap!"
- AND: --"
It is really too bad that corporate
management allows site management to desecrate a the sales organization before taking action. HGVC has a "
Specialty Line" . I was on it when I worked there. I was as high as 5 or 6 at one time, but I rarely ever
took out a " Specialty Line" tour because the the rotation always started back at the top the next day.
Therefore, the same 2-3 people at the top of the wheel kept getting the " Specialty Line" tours each
day. There were rarely ever enough " Specialty Line" tours in a given day to turn the " Specialty
Line" wheel. The system was definitely programmed to serve 1 or 2 people. I griped about it (and other unfair
HGVC practices) and eventually got canned, even though I had a high VPG. It is too bad, HGVC has lost many great
sales consultants who could sell without heat. Some, like myself, have left the business altogether and are doing
very well in new home and general real estate sales. I was Rookie of the Year in my organization last year. Ego
has always been more important with the " Fuhrer" than production."
- Is there any truth to the rumor that Ben and Pat Jeter have finally
filed for bankruptcy protection for the Ingleside Resort in Staunton, Virginia? Former Sales Associates
say the resort is now closed. Anyone have solid info?
- YOUR COMMENTS:
- March 15: --"
In a conversation with Ben Jeter, Ingleside's
owner on March 14, 2003 this writer, a former salesman, was told that they had originally filed for Chapter Eleven
protection on February 22, 2003 hoping for reorganization but that the outstanding debts were so enormous that
Chapter Seven followed almost immediately. Jeter told me that the owners of Massanutten Resort hold the main note
on Ingleside and have agreed to eventually pay out all creditors including the employees who were left holding
the bag for their salaries and sales commissions on March 1, 2003. No one has been paid yet and they are all madder
than hell. Jeter also told me that he tried everything he could to keep the resort afloat but he was never able
to put together enough capital to keep the resort in proper shape. The timeshare sales office is closed, the hotel
is closed down as well as the golf course, but this writer has seen golfers playing there daily for free. Evidently
the bankruptcy court has not appointed receivers to properly attend to things."
- AND: --"
Ben Jeter did not make payments on a friendly
loan from Dice Hammer (Great Eastern Resorts / Massnutten,etc.). Jeter did not pay insurance premiums, taxes, etc.
and Dice had to step in pay them to protect his ability to get his money back. Only a matter of time till ...Dice
buys the property."
- Is there any truth to the rumor that some Cendant suits were seen
at Pacific Monarch Resorts' headquarters in California? Is something in the works there?
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
|
| Quotable quotes: " To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we
are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to
the American public." —President Teddy Roosevelt |
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| INTERNATIONAL: |
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E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
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| Idle Thoughts: |
- If you're a heat merchant looking for a new home, go to Mexico and hook up with
the Mayan Palace. Not only will they welcome you, they'll help you fine tune your techniques. See
our International page under the Mexico heading...
- In an article in Hotel & Motel Management Magazine, Cendant CEO
Henry Silverman is quoted as saying that the weekly-interval model for timeshare will be eliminated within
five to 10 years in favor of points-based timeshare usage (CLARIFICATION: Please note that he was talking about
the timeshare model itself, not about RCI-- see
the article here). Anyhow, we guess all those RCI Points sales reps who've been pounding TS owners into
buying points by saying their Weeks ownership will be worthless in five years weren't lying after all? And that,
regardless that Silverman was referencing developer weeks, when RCI says don't worry about it because we love our
Weeks owners and aim to serve them well, maybe they're just marking time? The principle is the same. Just like
The Shadow (a FREE newsletter) reported after the ARDA Convention nearly
3 years ago, one way or another RCI and the major timeshare companies aim to make your fixed week interval
obsolete. Owners of the world Unite! You have nothing to lose but...
- YOUR COMMENTS:
- March 14, from RCI: --" In responding to a question on the future development of various vacation ownership products, Cendant Corporation
President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Henry R. Silverman stated at the recent ALIS conference in Los
Angeles that `...the weekly-interval model for timeshare will be eliminated within five to 10 years in favor of
points-based timeshare usage.'
Mr. Silverman's comment forecasts that developers, particularly new entrants into the timeshare industry, will
increasingly follow the lead of developers such as Fairfield Resorts and Trendwest Resorts in offering points-based
vacation ownership interests. With respect to exchange, RCI, Cendant's timeshare exchange company, will continue
to meet the market demands of its clients and members over the long term offering both traditional week-for-week
exchange services as well as points-based exchange."
- AND: --"
New developers cannot follow Fairfield
and Trendwest. Points programs are fine if you are only interested in making a profit on the development side.
If you want to also run your marketing and sales program on a profitable basis, most of us cannot afford the lower
VPG and closing ratios that those programs are running. Only the large public Corporations can afford to not cash
flow. Thus it is my opinion that independents are better off to sell traditional product, and to switch to I.I.
, if RCI does not service owners of these products to the satifaction of these enties."
- March 17: --"
Amen to the comment that only the big
public developers like Trendwest and Fairfield can offer their product the way they do. Their strategy is all for
them, the proverbial " throw it against the wall" . Doesn't necessarily work very well for the vacationing
family. Besides being capable of changing the point requirement and forcing the owner to have to buy more points
forever to vacation, the developer always will remain in control. Just my opinion I could be wrong."
- AND: --"
What I object to most about this whole
subject is the spurious and self-righteous argument they use that points were developed for the benefit of timeshare
owners, to give them the flexibility they have been begging for. What a crock! It was done for the considerable
financial benefit of the companies, and any actual benefit to timeshare owners is ancillary to that. It's just
another example of `the big lie': tell it big enough and often enough and people will believe it."
- AND: --"
I don't understand where you are coming
from. Those of you who don't believe in this type of program have obviously never owned one or truly compared the
two. The ethics and owner base of companies like Fairfield and Trendwest show that the program works. The fact
the owners have the say and that the credit values are set, give owners the rule, unlike the traditional or floating
week concept, who has the control there. I personally think all of you out there who think that the future of timeshare
is the old way need to look at the future and the way people vacation, no one has the inclination anymore to set
themselves up for the same thing all the time, every year, and not having the flexability to exchange, trade, and
vacation as they wish."
- AND: --"
In their attempt to compete with the more
flexible points programs available from companies like Fairfield or Trendwest, some fixed-week companies are pitching
heat that is almost criminal. Not just the Mom and Pops but larger corporations too. We hear it all the time from
fixed weeks owners who come in to buy points. Guaranteed rentals, phony buy-backs, great trading power that never
seems to work. Points aren't perfect, and you have to use common sense regarding reservations, but the flexibility
beats the fixed week system hands down. I've dealt with both and wouldn't sell a fixed week to family members or
a neighbor unless they were happy going back to their home resort every year. And Fairfield points required to
stay at a resort won't/can't change, the price of acquisition just goes up over the years. We don't force our owners
to buy more points. So please save the " what happens when the points go up" heat for the guests that
you're trying to push a fixed or floating week on."
- AND: --"
Points are fine for people who want them.
I don't want them. I own 7 float weeks, have been an owner for 19 years, and have never had a problem with flexibility.
Ever heard of Bonus Weeks and Instant Getaways, etc.? Cruises, airfare, all of it has been available to me through
RCI and II without having to give up anything for it. What I object to is the notion that I'll be forced to `upgrade'
to RCI Points whether I want to or not just because RCI and the ts industry have decided what's good for me. When
that day comes, I'll donate my timeshares to my church and rent my vacations from ResortQuest or RCI Holiday Network.
It's cheaper that way anyhow."
- March 19: --"
RE: pitching heat, are you trying to suggest
that people selling points don't pitch heat? You can't be serious, Fairfield especially has had some of the biggest
heat merchants in the business working for them, and so does Sunterra and other outfits selling points clubs, and
the people selling RCI Points need fire extinguishers at the tables. Get real."
- AND: --"
As a Trendwest owner and a fixed week owner
(50 year lease!) let me weigh in on the argument. First, if you want to go to the same place every year a fixed
week is great until the resort starts showing it’s age. Mine was Gold Crown, now its RID. Has this affected my
trading power? It seems to have. Do I feel my investment paid off, absolutely.
With points I own 54 mostly new resorts to visit. I can book a year out with relative certainty and get anything
I want, but I like being able to go a few days here and there, especially locally with all that’s going on. Is
trendwest making lots of money? I hope so, it means more resorts for me. When you compare price $15,000 for a two
bedroom red week anywhere, anytime, or as much as three weeks off peak, and compare it to Marriott Tahoe at 30,000
for one week, with holidays blacked out. With the HOA setting maintenance it's 400 vs 900+ at Marriott, a great
value.
I think the worst deal is a floating week at one place, no guarantee of space, high cost, one resort. If you like
a place, get a fixed week at a good time, otherwise get floating time in a large points based system so you can
pick the time, location and size you need."
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
|
| People on the Move: |
- The Playa del Sol Group of Puerto Vallarta Mexico has named Jose Manuel
Castello to the newly formed position of Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing. His primary responsibilities
include the sales and marketing of the hotel aspects of the Group's resorts in Puerto Vallarta, including Lindo
Mar in Conchas Chinas Beach, Playa del Sol at Los Muertos Beach and the new Playa del Sol Grand
in Nuevo Vallarta.
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Street Talk International
|
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
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