http://www.rdo.orghttp://www.rdo.org/Assets/Themes/74/Images/Logo.gifhttp://www.rdo.orgRCI has announced five new resort affiliations in Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia which bring its Asia portfolio to over 160 affiliated properties. “These new resorts not only show a growing interest for timeshare travel throughout Asia but evidence that we’re offering an innovative and appealing timeshare exchange product,” said Adrian Lee, managing director, RCI Asia Pacific. The..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/606.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 21 Feb 2012 15:31:00 +0000Please note that from Monday, 20 February 2012, Wyndham Exchange & Rentals London office will be moving. The new address is: The Triangle 5-17 Hammersmith Grove London W6 0LG All telephone numbers and email addresses remain the same. http://www.rdo.org/news-items/605.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 17 Feb 2012 14:18:00 +0000Interval International received the Perspective Magazine “Best Media” award at the recent GNEX 2012 – Timeshare and Fractional Global Networking Expo in Cancun, Mexico. The company’s social media site, Interval Community, was recognized for its ability to gain the trust and long-term affinity of its members through the facilitation of member-to-member relationships and its capacity..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/603.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 16 Feb 2012 05:49:00 +0000Worldwide Timeshare today announced the completion of a management buy-out from its parent company, Worldwide Leisure Group. The move, which was finalised earlier this month, means that the company is now 100% owned and controlled by its current management team. The buy-out includes Europe's largest timeshare resale company, WorldwideTimeshare Hypermarket, and the rapidly expanding Worldwide TimeshareExchange,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/602.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Feb 2012 07:09:00 +0000RCI recently launched RCIMarketplace.com, a new way for affiliated resorts to shop and save on the products and services they use every day. This free online ordering tool from Strategic Sourcing, RCI’s global procurement programme, aims to save affiliates time and money by providing instant access to high-quality suppliers at competitive prices.Savings of up to 50 percent on essential products..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/601.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 13 Feb 2012 10:22:00 +0000In January, the European Commission proposed a comprehensive reform of the EU's 1995 data protection rules to strengthen online privacy rights and boost Europe's digital economy. These new rules are set to save businesses around €2.3 billion a year. Businesses will need to ensure transparency for individuals, who must be provided – in a simple and understandable language – with..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/600.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 10 Feb 2012 10:53:00 +0000RDO resale member Travel & Leisure Group recently took a stand at the timeshare industry at the Earls Court Destinations Travel Show. Destinations: The Holiday and Travel Show, hosted by broadsheet giant the Times between the 2nd and 5th of February 2012, saw tens of thousands of holiday lovers, tourism experts and interested passers-by descend upon Earls Court. Other exhibitors included travel..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/599.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 10 Feb 2012 09:40:00 +0000An increasing number of consumers rely on the Internet to find out as much as they can about a company and, whilst the majority of sites provide extremely helpful information, there are some that are simply not genuine and provide misinformation to consumers. RDO, the trade body for the shared ownership industry is concerned at the rise of the number of sites that have been set up specifically..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/598.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 10 Feb 2012 09:24:00 +0000Those interested in attending ARDA's annual convention taking place between April 1st and 5th at The Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas should book their tickets before Friday February 17th, after which prices go up. This is also the last chance to be included in the delegate list. ARDA World is the premier gathering for the timeshare and vacation ownership industry. More than 3,000..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/597.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 08 Feb 2012 13:26:00 +0000Diamond Resorts International® (Diamond) is a global hospitality and vacation holiday brand committed to delivering service excellence and the highest standards of guest satisfaction through The Meaning of Yes(R). As Diamond is a leader in the industry, Resort Development Organisation (RDO) is delighted to announce Diamond’s affiliation. Diamond Resorts International®, with global..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/596.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 03 Feb 2012 10:55:00 +0000EllicottVillas, a private residence club in Ellicottville, (which has been described by The New York Times as “the Aspen of the East,”) has joined Preferred Residences. EllicottVillas delivers five-star services and club amenities in a spectacular community of fully furnished, beautifully landscaped three-story villas. As a member of Preferred Residences, it now gives owners access to..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/595.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 03 Feb 2012 10:37:00 +0000RDO is calling on timeshare and fractional operators in England to take part in an annual Tourism Constituency Day on Friday 16th March 2012. This is part of the ‘English Tourism Week’ and gives the industry the chance to invite their local MP to visit their premises in order for them to gain a better understanding of the benefits that vacation ownership brings to the local economy. All..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/594.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 02 Feb 2012 13:46:00 +0000Italian real estate company Prime Investimenti sri has announced the opening of a luxurious 31-apartment vacation ownership resort in Tuscany, close to the village of Peccioli. Due to open in early 2013, Prime Investimenti sri has confirmed Hilton Grand Vacations Club will market the Holiday Ownership intervals at Borgo alle Vigne, and manage homeowners’ association management services and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/592.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 02 Feb 2012 07:58:00 +0000TATOC has announced the programme of speakers for its annual conference which takes place from 9th-11th March at the Park Royal Hotel, Stretton, near Warrington. Guest speakers include Professor Buhalis, from Bournemouth University, who will make the conference’s keynote address. Information about the venue, sponsorship information and delegate booking forms are available on line at www..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/591.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 01 Feb 2012 12:41:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of The Resort Group Vacation Club based in Cape Verde, a group of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean 350 miles off the coast of Western Africa. The first resort to be included in the multi-site club is the Tortuga Beach Resort & Spa on Sal, one of the islands in the Cape Verde archipelago. Two other resorts are currently under construction, both..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/590.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 01 Feb 2012 12:39:00 +0000Silverpoint is expanding its suite of award-winning websites with its new Club Paradiso site. This website features up-to-date information about the extensive portfolio of Club Paradiso resorts in a sleek and user-friendly design. The comprehensive resort sections provide an informative over-view of what each of the resorts have to offer, complete with images, so guests can find out everything..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/589.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 01 Feb 2012 12:22:00 +0000To mark this special 10 year milestone, The Registry Collection programme’s U.S and Canada offices announced a member giveaway for a chance to win a holiday as part of a larger anniversary campaign. The Registry Collection programme was launched in 2002 and since then has grown to encompass more than 180 affiliated properties on six continents that are either accessible for exchange or under..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/588.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 31 Jan 2012 09:06:00 +0000Recommendations from an independent panel for widespread deregulation of the tourism and hospitality industries were published in the UK on 24th January. The proposals, which cover areas such as planning and use classes regulations, travel insurance, food labelling, health and safety rules, employment restrictions in the tourism sector, licensing and many other areas of concern to the industry, will..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/587.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 27 Jan 2012 09:58:00 +0000Interval International has added to its exchange network Jardim Atlántico Beach Resort, which is located in the northeastern state of Bahia in Brazil. The oceanfront property sits on nearly nine acres of tropical gardens just outside the historic city of Ilhéus, a Portuguese colonial settlement that was founded in 1534. "Members will appreciate the spectacular setting of Jardim..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/586.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 26 Jan 2012 10:44:00 +0000iO Adria Limited today announced the affiliation of its Dubrovnik Sun Gardens property to The Registry Collection®. Situated on the coast near to the village of Orašac, Dubrovnik Sun Gardens is 20 minutes from Old Town Dubrovnik and just 45 minutes from Dubrovnik International Airport. Boasting one of the most comprehensive spas in the Adriatic, The Spa by OCCO is recognised as a world..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/585.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 25 Jan 2012 11:34:00 +0000The bill* - introduced by Liberal Democrat Don Foster - enables unamplified music to be played anywhere between 8am and 11pm without a licence, "ending the situation where the playing of a piano in a street could be subject to fines", Mr Foster said. Where there are up to 200 people present in a pub or restaurant, or in workplaces such as a hospital or school, live music can also be performed..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/584.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 23 Jan 2012 09:41:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of Korora Bay Village Resort, a property located on Australia's unspoilt Coffs Coast, midway between Sydney and Brisbane. Beautifully situated where the mountains meet the sea, the resort features seven one- and 16 two-bedroom apartments. It is a 10-minute walk from Hills Beach and Korora Bay, favourite places for surfing and fishing in the South..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/583.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 23 Jan 2012 09:38:00 +0000RCI and The Registry Collection will organize and co-sponsor three Shared Holiday Ownership Workshops in 2012. The workshops provide essential information for those involved in the shared holiday ownership industry or anyone interested in entering the field. The first workshop takes place in Istanbul, Turkey, on February 6, followed by workshops in Edinburgh, Scotland (April 25) and Vienna, Austria..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/582.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 20 Jan 2012 09:16:00 +0000Interval International is a sponsor of Caribbean Marketplace, the region’s preeminent business-to-business marketing event for the hotel and tourism industry. The gathering, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, will be held on January 22-24 in Paradise Island, Bahamas. It is being organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and hosted by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/581.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 19 Jan 2012 11:07:00 +0000
The Board of the Tourism Alliance has announced Sir David Michels as the new Tourism Alliance President. In making the announcement, Tourism Alliance chairman, Brigid Simmonds OBE stated, “2012 is a hugely importance year for the tourism industry with the royal wedding and the Olympics providing the opportunity to generate a step-change in international interest in the UK as a destination..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/580.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 18 Jan 2012 10:59:00 +0000Online voting has now begun for the 2012 Perspective Magazine Awards Program, sponsored by Holiday Systems International, and shared ownership industry professionals can go to the magazine's website ( http://perspectivemagazine.com/awards/ ) to support their companies and clients in their bid to win one of the coveted global awards. Perspective Magazine's awards programme offers a combination of..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/579.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 16 Jan 2012 15:32:00 +0000Post RDO 2 and ARDA Fall in September and November respectively, I seem to have been endlessly writing pieces for various journals so the writing of blogs went very much to the back of the queue and then we had Christmas etc etc. So apologies for all those of you waiting with baited breath for my pronouncements on matters of moment within the industry – not that there are that many of you I would..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/578.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 11 Jan 2012 11:29:00 +0000Yes, 2012, is upon us already and it being the year of the Olympics, there are many opportunities available to developers and marketers to promote tourism in the UK around and after the games. VisitBritain has launching a new campaign which is part of the larger £100million GREAT Britain – You’re Invited campaign aimed at boosting tourism in Britain. The campaign aims to encourage..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/577.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 11 Jan 2012 11:26:00 +0000RCI recently announced an agreement with Divi Resorts that gives members at all five of its RCI®-affiliated resorts in Aruba and St. Maarten the opportunity to opt for RCI Points Platinum memberships. RCI members who join the RCI Points Platinum membership tier receive benefits including: Priority Access, which gives members the opportunity to be at the ‘front of the line’..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/576.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 10 Jan 2012 09:42:00 +0000Interval International and Welk Resorts recently the renewal of their master affiliation agreement. The multi-year contract extends the relationship established in 2004 and comprises six existing properties in four sought-after markets, as well as future development. The resort portfolio includes Welk Resort San Diego, where it all began in 1964 with legendary bandleader Lawrence Welk’s purchase..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/575.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 10 Jan 2012 09:28:00 +0000RDO has relocated its head office operations from Brussels to London, the new address is:- RDO Ltd Hamilton House Mabledon Place Bloomsbury London WC1H 9BB Please note that RDO does not have the ability to receive anyone at this address and members of the public should contact RDO via email on info@rdo.org should they need assistance from RDO. For more information on RDO's consumer services,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/574.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 05 Jan 2012 12:26:00 +0000Interval International today revealed that its UK members travel extensively, find holiday ownership satisfying, own an average of 1.9 weeks of shared ownership time or its equivalent, and report average household incomes of approximately £70,050 per year. And, more than one-quarter report ownership of a second home – apart from their holiday ownership. These findings are from Interval..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/573.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 05 Jan 2012 12:11:00 +0000RCI is to to host the Shared Ownership Conference on January 10th 2012 at JW Marriott, Mumbai. The day-long conference will be an essential forum for hoteliers, resort owners, real estate developers, investors and hospitality consultants to understand and explore the benefits of shared ownership and the ways in which it can be successfully integrated into leisure real-estate developments to maximize..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/572.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 28 Dec 2011 11:19:00 +0000Interval International welcomes The Village Coconut Island, the latest Absolute World Group resort to join its global vacation exchange network. The private residence club is part of an exclusive mixed-use development on a private island off the east coast of the popular holiday island of Phuket, Thailand. "The Village Coconut Island has been developed to create the ideal vacation residence..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/571.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 21 Dec 2011 09:49:00 +0000RCI has announced that it is holding a series of three half-day Shared Holiday Ownership workshops. These are open to anyone involved in or who wishes to find out more about Shared Holiday Ownership. Monday 6th February, Ceylan Intercontinental - Istanbul Wednesday 25th April, Edinburgh - Scotland Tuesday 22nd May, Vienna - Austria The programme will incorporate: Why Shared..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/570.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 21 Dec 2011 09:31:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of the fractional residences at Vale d'Oliveiras Quinta Resort & Spa. The mixed-used resort is located in the village of Carvoeiro, in the western part of the Algarve. The property has 22 acres of landscaped gardens laced with walking paths within its gated grounds. On-site amenities include two outdoor swimming pools, a health club with..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/569.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 16 Dec 2011 11:08:00 +0000On 16th December, RDO’s National Chapter in Madrid will be relocating to: Edificio Melior C/Diego de León 47 28006 Madrid The office telephone number, 00 34 915640612,remains unchanged http://www.rdo.org/news-items/568.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 14 Dec 2011 10:53:00 +0000The Anfi Group’s brand will be represented in more than 250 races worldwide over the next twelve months and will feature prominently in the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia or the Tour of Spain. The logo will be displayed on the jerseys and bikes of the Saxo Bank cycling team. The main attraction of the Danish squad is team leader, Alberto Contador - triple champion of the Tour de France and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/567.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 14 Dec 2011 10:51:00 +0000On 11th December, Daily Mail columnist and investigate journalist Tony Hetherington replied to a reader’s letter in www.thisismoney.co.uk about Club Class. The reader met Bridge View Consultants to discuss how she and her husband were mis-sold a timeshare but they were persuaded to join Club Class International’s holiday discount scheme - Club Class were to take over the timeshare and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/566.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 13 Dec 2011 13:19:00 +0000ARDA’s second instalment of a new series ‘Timeshare Fans’ of the Month, features Hilton Grand Vacations. In the series, owners explain why they’re happy with their timeshare purchases and love the shared ownership lifestyle. Hilton Grand Vacations quizzed its international owners while they were out and about on holiday, and captured some stunning locations as well as very..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/565.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 12 Dec 2011 09:09:00 +0000Chinese visitors are at the heart of a plan to build a luxury tourist village deep in rural south west Wales at Pantglass Hall according to China-based Maxhard Ltd. The development, near Llandeilo, would be “marketed to a select international clientele” and would feature a 92-bed hotel, 80 holiday homes with a pool on a 22 acre site in Carmarthenshire. Pantglas Hall, which is a well..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/564.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 12 Dec 2011 09:08:00 +0000Preferred Residences has signed an affiliation agreement with the Private residence club at Essque Zalu Zanzibar. The eco-friendly property, which also includes a boutique hotel, is on the exotic island of Zanzibar off Africa’s northeast Tanzanian coast. Essque Zalu Zanzibar overlooks the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and its white sandy beaches and coral reefs. The club comprises 40..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/563.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 08 Dec 2011 08:12:00 +0000Sales training company Levitin Group is now offering online “Train the Trainer” webinars. The webinars are aimed at managers and team leaders in the timeshare industry who are in a position to provide sales training to their companies’ sales people, managers and marketers. In other words, the webinars teach managers and trainers how to train their team using the Levitin Group Online..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/562.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 08 Dec 2011 08:07:00 +0000Summer Bay Resorts and RCI recently announced a multi-year renewal of their affiliation agreement. With the renewal of this agreement, Summer Bay Resorts’ high-quality group of properties continues to be a part of the RCI® network of affiliated resorts. “We have enjoyed a long-standing and successful relationship with Summer Bay Resorts, and are pleased to be continuing that relationship,”..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/561.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 02 Dec 2011 09:33:00 +0000Agreement Encourages Sharing of Industry Information Among U.S. and European Timeshare Developer Members and Global Travellers. Brussels, November 29, 2011 – The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) welcomes a new cooperative working alliance with its US-based sister organisation the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) following approval by both Boards of Directors. Each association..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/560.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 30 Nov 2011 15:28:00 +0000RCI recently announced updates to its travel programme, a well established service that aims to assist members with non-timeshare related holidays. RCI Travel is a full-service travel provider through which members can book airfare, rental cars, hotels, cruises and more, often at discounted rates. In addition to a new website look and feel that is more convenient and user-friendly for members, the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/559.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 29 Nov 2011 14:34:00 +0000Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Limited and Citadel Trustees Limited are pleased to announce that Lauren Wagner, who joined the Group as In-House Counsel in the Spring of 2011, has been appointed to the Board of Directors with immediate effect. Lauren studied at the College of Law in London and qualified as a UK Solicitor in 2007. Lauren has worked both in private practice and in-house, specialising..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/558.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 28 Nov 2011 11:02:00 +0000To Washington just over a week ago where an RDO delegation made a presentation to the ARDA Board on RDO and its activities, which resulted during the Convention, in both parties agreeing to the setting up a Co-operation Agreement between the two organisations (see Press Release to follow). The RDO Board had approved this agreement a week earlier. There were about 200 delegates at this "small"..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/557.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 25 Nov 2011 10:10:00 +0000Tourism Alliance, the trade body which RDO UK joined this January, has completed research that points to the UK losing out on £1 billion this year from “missed" inbound tourism because tourism taxes are putting off foreign visitors from coming to the UK. The new research finds that APD has already cost the UK economy over 23,000 jobs in the last 7 years and if the government sticks..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/556.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 24 Nov 2011 15:24:00 +0000A petition was made on 30th September 2011 by the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) to close down seven Club Class companies, detailed below. These companies are linked to ITRA, an organization whose activities arewell-known both to RDO’s enforcement department and to consumer bodies such as TATOC, the UK based association for timeshare owners. Club Class companies..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/555.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 24 Nov 2011 10:06:00 +0000Azure Services Ltd has included first hand holiday experiences from guests staying at the five-star Radisson Resort and Spa, Golden Sands, Malta by way a video on its website. TV presenter Anne Davies visited the resort to see what members enjoy and to speak with them about their holiday experiences both at the hotel and with Azure’s Vacation Club, situated within the property. The video..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/554.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 22 Nov 2011 07:58:00 +0000Setting the Standards for Vacation ownership What is RDO? RDO (Resort Development Organisation) is the trade association for vacation ownership across Europe, encompassing a number of usage types including timeshare, fractional interests, private residence clubs, condo hotels, destination clubs etc, all aimed at providing holidaymakers with quality holiday accommodation through various concepts..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/553.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 17 Nov 2011 12:47:00 +0000Thursday 17th November RDO (Resort Development Organisation) condemns the activity of companies that set out to defraud timeshare owners and, having appointed an enforcement officer in 2007, combatting deceptive practices has become a high priority for the organisation. Headed by a former Spanish police inspector, RDO now has a 3 man Enforcement Team which works directly with organisations such..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/552.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 17 Nov 2011 12:02:00 +0000Take a look at all of the action from this years RDO2 conference in Marbella. For photo's, presentations and more films from RDO2 2011 conference please visit www.rdoconference.org http://www.rdo.org/news-items/551.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 16 Nov 2011 14:11:00 +0000Ihre Ferienwohnung.eu, a German on-line holiday magazine, reports that an increasing number of people, primarily in the US but increasingly in Europe and elsewhere in the world, are convinced by the timeshare concept. A brief explanation as to how timeshare works is supplied, emphasising the additional services - more akin to a stay at an hotel - such as room service, breakfast or laundry service...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/550.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 15 Nov 2011 08:17:00 +0000Interval International announced the affiliation of Bantry Bay International Vacation Resort, near Cape Town, South Africa. The property overlooks the Atlantic Ocean on Cape Peninsula's exclusive Atlantic Seaboard and offers guests panoramic sea views from every unit. Guests can wake to the sound of the surf below their private balconies and still be minutes from cosmopolitan restaurants and shopping,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/549.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 15 Nov 2011 08:16:00 +0000Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has backed a new 20.12 per cent discount scheme among hotels and B&Bs which aims to increase domestic tourism within the UK. A dozen or so holiday brands - including Bourne Leisure, Superbreaks and Hoseasons - have signed up to the initiative, which is due to be launched early next year. The 20.12 per cent discount initiative will be launched next year by VisitEngland..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/548.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 14 Nov 2011 09:49:00 +0000Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, one of the largest privately owned hotel brands in the UK, has announced plans to focus on the growth of its spa hotels with the introduction of the Spa Collection. The first capital expenditure under the new strategy will see the group invest £4m in the refurbishment of its flagship spa hotel, the Macdonald Inchyra Hotel & Spa, Stirling. The spa at the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/547.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 14 Nov 2011 09:47:00 +0000Holiday Club Saimaa, comprising three different hotel types, villas, flats and holiday homes opened to the public on 1st November this year. The complex benefits from a luxury spa, an ice arena and a number of restaurants and will soon boast an 18-hole Pay and Play golf course, making it highly attractive to both domestic and international tourists. The Holiday Club Saimaa spa hotel project is..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/546.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 11 Nov 2011 09:37:00 +0000
Interval International has affiliated the Golden Tulip Mangosteen Resort and Spa, in Phuket. From its hillside location near Nai Harn Beach, visitors have a stunning 180o panorama of the Andaman Sea, including four bays and the distant island of Phi Phi. Situated on just over five acres (two hectares), Mangosteen Resort is home to Phuket's only Ayurveda spa. 
Other on-site amenities underline..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/545.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 08 Nov 2011 08:42:00 +0000Hapimag has again been able to maintain its high occupancy rates of recent years during the summer of 2011. Beach destinations such as La Madrague in France or Paguera in Spain, the newly opened city residence in Dresden in German and the resorts and residences in Switzerland proved particularly popular. The upcoming winter season is also looking promising. Hapimag again recorded more than one..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/544.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 08 Nov 2011 08:40:00 +0000RDO is delighted to announce that the 2012 Conference - RDO3 will take place on 23rd September to 25th September 2012 at the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel & Spa, London- www.pestana-chelseabridge.co.uk. More details will be announced as they become available via the RDO Conference website www.rdoconference.org, the RDO weekly news round-up and RDO's social media channels. http://www.rdo.org/news-items/543.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 07 Nov 2011 15:15:00 +0000Flagship Consulting announced that it has finalised a strategic alliance with Peppercom,, a leading US communications agency headquartered in New York and currently ranked 25 on the US PR Week list. The move is designed to enable both agencies to offer their clients an increased range of services and greater geographical reach. In addition to Flagship’s core services - including media relations,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/542.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 27 Oct 2011 09:22:00 +0000Interval International has announced the appointment of Sherif Khalil to vice president of resort sales and business development for Middle East and North Africa. He reports to Darren Ettridge, senior vice president of resort sales and business development for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Based in Dubai, Khalil is responsible for securing new resort affiliations throughout the region and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/541.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 27 Oct 2011 09:21:00 +0000LiveShareTravel, a timeshare and fractional online magazine has become a silver affiliate of TATOC. At the same time, it is to collaborate with TATOC to help promote consumer interests. It will take the latest news, information and advice on buying shared ownership products to a wider audience of existing owners and potential buyers. LiveShareTravel will have a regular column in TATOC’s..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/540.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 27 Oct 2011 09:17:00 +0000On 10th June 2011, the Spanish Government approved a draft bill to implement the second Timeshare Directive (2008/122/EC) RDO Spain responded to the draft, recommending a series of amendments designed to ensure the draft reflected the realities of the industry. Following these submissions, the draft was slightly modified by the Ministry of Justice and then RDO made further comments on this second..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/539.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 26 Oct 2011 14:32:00 +0000Interval International has announced that Azul Fives Hotel & Private Residences by Karisma in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, has joined its global exchange network. This is the second property operated by Karisma Hotels & Resorts to affiliate with Interval, following Azul Sensatori in 2009. Azul Fives also features Karisma’s innovative Gourmet Inclusive concept created to appeal to sophisticated..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/538.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 24 Oct 2011 15:26:00 +0000Preferred Residences has added Kittitian Hill in St. Kitts and Nevis to its exchange network. Located on 400 acres, the resort will feature a mix of whole and fractional ownership villas, cottages, and townhomes with panoramic views of the nearby islands of St. Barth’s, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, and Saba. Situated at the heart of the property, the village will include an array of fine..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/537.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 24 Oct 2011 15:22:00 +0000MIA at Riviera Maya, a fractional property near the popular resort towns of Cancun and Playa del Carmen has been affiliated to Interval International. Located in a former fishing village, MIA offers members a relaxing experience and easy access to the unspoiled beaches, nature parks, ecological reserves, and archaeological sites in the area.” The resort wraps around a common area laced..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/536.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 24 Oct 2011 15:19:00 +0000Interval International has revealed that its US.resident members own approximately 1.9 weeks of shared ownership vacation time or its equivalent, travel an estimated 22 nights per year solely for leisure purposes, and report household income of approximately $121,175 per year. Additionally, twenty percent state they are likely to purchase additional vacation time in the future. These findings are..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/535.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 24 Oct 2011 15:14:00 +0000CBC International, one of the UK’s most successful collection agencies, has become a TATOC silver affiliate. CBC International has worked within the timeshare sector for several years handling the collection of annual maintenance fees and finance charges. The team works closely with resorts, management companies and developers to ensure payments are made in time. “In this way, quality..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/534.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 24 Oct 2011 15:11:00 +0000 We have heard reports that a company called Landmark Portfolio Investments Pte Ltd based in Singapore, is making claims that it is affiliated to RDO, the Resort Development Organisation. Members of the public should be aware that this company is in no way associated with RDO and should seek legal advice before signing any paperwork or making any payments to this company.http://www.rdo.org/news-items/533.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 21 Oct 2011 14:07:00 +0000The luxury resort, Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands has achieved TATOC’s prestigious accreditation award. The resort is one of Malta’s quintessential five star hotels with a 90-metre outdoor lagoon pool and direct access to the private fully serviced sandy beach. Within the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa is the Island Residence Club (Interval International) as well as..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/531.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 13 Oct 2011 13:39:00 +0000Interval International has announced the expansion of its affiliation with King’s Creek Plantation LLC. The multi-year contract broadens the relationship established more than a decade ago and comprises all three phases of King’s Creek Plantation in Williamsburg, Virginia, as well as properties developed during the term of the agreement. Owners who enroll in Club Explore can convert..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/530.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 13 Oct 2011 13:35:00 +0000Silverpoint Leisure has released two amazing videos to showcase its incredible holiday products. The films, which were a year in the making, were created to give current and prospective members a real taste of the incredible experiences they can expect from their Silverpoint holiday product. The first of the two films, which is driven by member testimonials, features the innovative Silverpoint..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/529.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 07 Oct 2011 10:54:00 +0000I returned from what I thought was a really good conference determined to write a blog on the highlights of the event, but such is the demand for instantaneous news and views, that by the time I am back at my desk I have already provided a piece for RCI Ventures and Perspective Magazine on the conference and on what 2012 holds for the industry and am beginning to run out of "bon mots"! This..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/528.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 07 Oct 2011 10:47:00 +0000We are delighted to announce that Marriott Vacation Club and Holiday Club Hungary (HCH) have signed an independent broker agreement which will enable HCH to promote a selection of Marriott luxury timeshare resorts located in Europe. HCH has 20 years’ experience in the Hungarian timeshare market, and is well equipped to promote the Marriott Vacation Club European product offering to Hungarian..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/527.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 05 Oct 2011 08:50:00 +0000Adding to the company’s current suite of award-winning websites, Silverpoint Leisure has released its new Social Community website. The global leisure company, which has luxury holiday resorts around the world, has created this multi-language portal to enable customers and the general public to engage with the Silverpoint community via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube all in one convenient place. Said..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/526.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 03 Oct 2011 15:46:00 +0000Interval International has affiliated Velence Resort on the shore of Lake Velence, 37 miles (60 km) south of Hungary's capital, Budapest. The timeshare units have private balconies, fully equipped kitchenettes, satellite TVs, and Internet access. From the beach and boardwalk, guests have panoramic views of Lake Velence, Hungary's third largest lake. Covering 27 sq km, it is one of the warmest natural..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/525.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 03 Oct 2011 15:44:00 +0000Freedom Bay, which will open in 2013, will be located on the southwest coast of St. Lucia and is The Registry Collection’s first affiliated resort on the island. Freedom Bay offers visitors the best of what the island has to offer, including mountainous terrain, rainforests, coral reefs and sunny beaches. It is situated within the UNESCO World Heritage Site at the foot of the iconic Pitons;..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/524.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 03 Oct 2011 15:43:00 +0000The RCI Award for Developer Achievement (RADA) programme recognises Silverpoint’s outstanding success with a number of RADA Distinction awards The sales team at Silverpoint Leisure took home the awards in acknowledgment of their exceptional performance. The new award programme was launched by RCI to “reward sales and innovation amongst its European affiliates in the timeshare industry”...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/523.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 03 Oct 2011 15:42:00 +0000Interval International announced the affiliation of Residence Rio Falze in Madonna di Campiglio, a prestigious ski resort in the Italian Dolomites. This destination offers excellent alpine skiing from December through April and is a mecca for hikers from June to September. During the winter season, Residence Rio Falze is within walking distance of cross country skiing and a short drive (via the resort's..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/522.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 03 Oct 2011 15:40:00 +0000Interval International has added Jungle Bay Resort & Spa on Dominica in the West Indies to its exchange network. The mixed-use property was built in accordance with the international sustainable tourism guidelines set by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES). The resort’s 35 treehouse-style cabins are tucked away on a hillside on 55 acres near Morne Trois Pitons National Park, one..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/521.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 03 Oct 2011 15:38:00 +0000The European Commission has decided to step up legal action against Spain, Poland, Slovenia and Lithuania to ensure that consumers benefit from the protection granted under EU rules on timeshare sales. Meanwhile, cases against ten other Member States have now been closed, after the countries concerned recently transposed the Directive into their national law. The EU rules (the Timeshare Directive)..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/520.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 30 Sep 2011 11:43:00 +0000The Committee of Club Las Calas has announced that, under an umbrella agreement provided by the Club’s management company, Resort Solutions Limited, it has entered into a strategic partnership with Club Leisure Group to promote and sell the latter’s Spice leisure product, both on-site at the Club’s resort in Lanzarote and via off-site marketing and sales activities. Club Las Calas..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/519.aspxResort Development OrganisationSat, 24 Sep 2011 00:34:00 +0000RDO member Flagship Consulting has been shortlisted for a prestigious PRCA (Public Relations Consultants Association) award for its work on the English Language Day ‘Location Lingo’ campaign. The campaign is shortlisted for the coveted Media Relations Award and was focused around helping the client, education charity The English Project, to encourage the UK public to actively participate..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/517.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 22 Sep 2011 17:14:00 +0000Carisma Global Group is delighted to announce its recent affiliation to RDO. The group plans to work in Green Energies, TICs, Real Estate and the hospitality and leisure industry. It started its expansion plan on a shared-ownership project in the leisure and tourism industry through a joint-venture with Mendoza´s Nature Resorts. In the near future Carisma is to announce that it will be incorporating..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/518.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 22 Sep 2011 17:14:00 +0000LiveShareTravel, the shared ownership showcase and online magazine has welcomed Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket as a sponsor of its consumer guide to buying timeshare and fractional properties. Phil Watson managing director of Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket said: "It became very clear that LiveShareTravel has a strong passion for both travel and shared ownership and this is something that..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/516.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 22 Sep 2011 17:12:00 +0000The Registry Collection programme announced that it has continued to grow its network of luxury, affiliated properties with the addition of 14 new resorts since the beginning of 2011. This includes 10 new affiliations in North America and the Caribbean. Under the RCI umbrella, The Registry Collection program offers members access to more than 180 properties available for exchange or under development..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/515.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 22 Sep 2011 17:11:00 +0000RCI has announced an affiliation agreement with Rohit at Copper Point Resort, Ltd. that adds the Copper Point Resort in Invermere, British Columbia to the company’s network of affiliated resorts. Copper Point Resort is an award-winning luxury mountain resort that opened its doors in May 2011 in the Columbia Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Visitors will find this sleek modern alpine retreat..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/514.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 22 Sep 2011 17:08:00 +0000Interval International has added the Ocean Two Resort and Residences in Barbados to its exchange network. The beachfront resort is situated on the south coast of the island, known for its natural beauty and warm year-round climate. Ocean Two’s 70 residences feature a tropical chic décor, modern furnishings, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, WiFi high-speed Internet..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/513.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 16 Sep 2011 08:34:00 +0000RCI recently introduced its latest innovation, RCI® Presenter, a touch-screen sales tool to help RCI affiliates in their efforts to educate and interest consumers about timeshare and the benefits of exchange. Available exclusively to RCI affiliated resorts, it is being offered free of charge to those affiliates that enroll in the RCI TV Resort Showcase package. RCI Presenter, which was developed..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/512.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 16 Sep 2011 08:32:00 +0000Drafting the CEO's report for the AGM to be held at RDO2 on 27th September, it was interesting to see what had been achieved this year on a reduced budget – reduced, because of diminished levies as sales by members are adversely affected by the current economic conditions across the UK and Europe. I won't dwell long on the detail here, but during this year we have achieved the following: ..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/511.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 14 Sep 2011 12:11:00 +0000Final preparations are being made to this year's conference RDO2 "Mapping the Journey" 26 - 28th September 2011, Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa, Marbella. This year’s business sessions andinternational line-up of speakers from diverse backgrounds will cover a wide range of topics including branding, improving performance, thriving in a consumer driven environment, current trends..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/510.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 12 Sep 2011 13:13:00 +0000Wyndham Exchange & Rentals today announced the appointment of Bob Milne to the newly-created position of President for Wyndham Vacation Rentals, North America. In this newly-created role, Milne will be responsible for leading and growing the company’s North American rental businesses which include brands as ResortQuest, Steamboat Resorts and The Resort Company. He will be based in Parsippany,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/509.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 09 Sep 2011 12:46:00 +0000Interval International and Steel Magnolias Ministries/Operation Any Soldier have joined forces to honour more than 100 active military families, wounded warriors, and veterans through the gift of travel. In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of September 11th, U.S. servicemen and women have been presented throughout the past year with week-long, villa vacation stays to enjoy at Interval’s..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/508.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 09 Sep 2011 12:43:00 +0000RCI signed 34 new affiliations in the first six months of 2011, resulting in the addition of 56 new properties to its network of affiliated resorts including Palmyra Resort & Spa in Jamaica, Fiesta Americana Villas Acapulco in Mexico, Inn at St. Ives in Michigan and Huangshan Grandview Resorts Hotels in China. The new affiliations, nine of which are currently under construction, were added to..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/507.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 09 Sep 2011 12:30:00 +0000Interval International has affiliated Resort Suites at Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa located near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is part of the spectacular 800 acre Sunway Integrated Resort City, which attracts 30 million visitors a year and houses more than 7 million square feet of world-class facilities. The resort's 36 timeshare units are studio apartments with kitchenettes, living, and dining areas..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/506.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 06 Sep 2011 15:47:00 +0000A couple of weeks ago, I was talking to a very helpful lady in the Exchange Department of one of Europe's 2 Exchange Companies. I have to admit straight away that I am not the world's most reliable timeshare owner, in that I am notorious for forgetting to deposit my week for exchange if that's what we've decided to do that year, or conversely, fail to book a week at our home resort until it's almost..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/505.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 05 Sep 2011 08:30:00 +0000Royal Holiday Club, with 8 resorts in key Mexican destinations and owned/controlled inventory in 190 other resorts, has selected SS&C’s TimeShareWare (TSW) Enterprise to manage its sales and marketing, club management, accounting, and members website. As part of the agreement, TimeShareWare will be customized to support Royal Holiday’s complex Portuguese language requirements. The..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/504.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 02 Sep 2011 10:20:00 +0000With this programme, timeshare owners can exchange their timeshare week for a discount on the price of a cruise on up to four cabins per exchange booking. Alternately, if a member has already used their deposited week, they can still save on their cruise holiday with RCI’s special members-only rates. “We are delighted to present this exciting new holiday option to timeshare owners in..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/503.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 02 Sep 2011 10:18:00 +0000With this agreement, RCI will continue to offer exchange services to owners at all nine Macdonald resorts throughout the U.K. and Spain but it will now also manage and service Macdonald’s white-label points-based program, Options Vacation Club, through the RCI Points® program. With 40 hotels and nine resorts in England, Scotland, Wales and Spain, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts is one of..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/502.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 02 Sep 2011 10:15:00 +0000Levitin Group has announced the upcoming launch of Timeshare U, the timeshare industry’s first and only online training university. It is the only place where salespeople, managers and marketers can have 24/7 access to educational videos, podcasts, webinars and courses from industry experts in an entertaining and interactive environment. “Industry staff, from new hires to seasoned pros,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/501.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 26 Aug 2011 13:25:00 +0000Interval International announced that Joe Hickman, executive director for Asia Pacific, was recognised with the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Timeshare Industry by ATHOC (the Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council). The presentation took place at its 20th annual National Industry Awards ceremony held in the resort town of Surfers Paradise. The award acknowledges Hickman’s..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/500.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 25 Aug 2011 13:37:00 +0000With this updated application, users can enter their past and future vacations by either searching by any destination around the world or by specific RCI affiliated resort name. They can also upload their favorite photos and videos from their trips by pulling from existing Facebook albums or uploading them from their computers or mobile devices. The benefits of the app go beyond the ability to keep..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/499.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 25 Aug 2011 13:36:00 +0000Flagship Consulting Ltd has announced that it will be once again supporting a charity to fight Malaria by running the adidas Women's 5K Challenge on September 11th in Hyde Park. Jackie Murphy, Casey Mead and Laetitia Redbond are going to run for Flagship under a mosquito net, probably being chased by Malaria No More's Executive Director, Sarah Kline, who has promised to run as Mozzy Man. Jackie..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/498.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 22 Aug 2011 16:36:00 +0000RCI has renewed its exclusive affiliation agreement with the 35-year old Mexican hotel group El Cid Resorts. The agreement includes El Cid Resorts’ six developments in Mazatlán, Cozumel and the Mayan Riviera. Each of the El Cid Resorts attracts visitors with its first-class oceanfront accommodations, luxury spas and friendly and dependable service. Mazatlán’s four locations..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/497.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 19 Aug 2011 12:36:00 +0000RCI has announced the introduction of RCI Weeks PlatinumSM to Europe following the programme’s successful debut in the U.S. The new premium tier of membership gives timeshare owners access to exclusive exchange privileges and year-round lifestyle benefits. These opportunities include room upgrades, exclusive “first look” access to specially acquired vacation inventory and rebates..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/495.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 18 Aug 2011 11:32:00 +0000Club La Costa Travel has been shortlisted for the Retail Travel Company of the Year TTG Travel Awards, run by the industry’s leading trade magazine, Travel Trade Gazette. Julie Fenlon, Group Travel Manager of Club La Costa Travel, commented that Club La Costa Travel had responded to significant advances in many areas as new CLC resorts in Turkey and Florida had led to increased demand for..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/496.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 18 Aug 2011 11:32:00 +0000Interval International has expanded its global resort network with the addition of Jinfeng Yinhua Holiday Hotel, part of the Shengteng Vacation Club. In the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lijiang City, China, the vacation ownership apartments offer the ideal vantage point from which to explore the history and customs of the Naxi people, who have lived in Yunnan Province for 800 years. "Lijiang..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/494.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 18 Aug 2011 11:28:00 +0000Welcome to what will be the last issue of RDO e-News in its current format, as the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) announces changes to the way it keeps members and the wider timeshare community informed about the latest industry news and the organisation’s own activities. From 23 August, RDO e-News subscribers will receive a weekly RSS feed with the latest industry news. Anybody who..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/493.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 09:39:00 +0000The programme for this year’s RDO2 Conference in Marbella (26-28 September) is being finalised with new speakers confirmed and details of the business sessions now available. New speakers include: Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, a strategic management and marketing expert specialised in technology and tourism; Paul Loftis, CEO of Promo Guardian, an internet based global lead generator for the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/492.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 09:37:00 +0000RDO has completed the re-launch of all its online communication channels with a new, revamped www.gofractional.org website, following the re-launch in June of the main RDO website and www.gotimeshare.org. Like the other sites, www.gofractional.org is now a more modern and user friendly website, with many new features such as social media integration. The gofractional site is dedicated to promoting..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/491.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 09:33:00 +0000RDO is taking a four page spread in the September edition of the easyJet inflight magazine in an attempt to reach a wide international audience and educate them about timeshare and the role of the trade body. As well as including advertisements from RDO members, there will be an article from RDO giving background information on timeshare and explaining why is it important that consumers deal only..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/490.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 09:29:00 +0000Officials from the Spanish Ministry of Justice were receptive to RDO Spain’s recommendations about the proposed draft legislation to implement the EU Timeshare Directive in Spain, which RDO presented to them at a meeting held on 28 July. RDO recommended that the new legislation should be a literal transposition of the directive, without any additional requirements for businesses. They also..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/489.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 09:25:00 +0000RDO Germany has stepped up its campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of timeshare and spread a positive image of the industry through the German media by issuing a number of press releases on relevant topics. The increased media activity follows a recent meeting with the consumer protection associations in Germany. In one of the press releases, RDO Germany points out that the timeshare industry..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/488.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 09:22:00 +0000Interval International has restructured its Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEAA) sales team to capitalise on the company’s recent success in these markets and enable further growth. As part of the changes introduced, David Clifton, the current managing director for EMEAA, will take on the role or senior executive for business development in the region. At the same time, Darren Ettridge..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/487.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 08:54:00 +0000RCI and Orange Lake Resorts, home to Holiday Inn Club Vacations, have announced the renewal of their affiliation agreement, first signed nearly 30 years ago. The multi-year agreement covers Holiday Inn Club Vacations’ six family-friendly resorts, which are strategically located close to some of the top attractions in the US such as the Great Smoky Mountain National Park or the theme parks..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/486.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 08:52:00 +0000Club La Costa has announced that it’s giving its second resort in Turkey, Kusadasi Village, expected to open in 2012, the ‘California’ branding, the hallmark of the group’s top quality resorts in Spain. A large, multi-facility resort of 750 accommodations, with 500 more planned, Kusadasi Village is being sold as luxury freehold holiday apartments with rental leaseback agreements,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/485.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 08:50:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of ShareLuxe Club, owners of two traditional Japanese townhouses (known as machiyas) in Kyoto, Japan, and an open air villa on the Indonesian island of Bali, and the Hotel Savoy on the Portuguese island of Madeira. ShareLuxe Kyoto Kizashi-Kamishichiken is a fully renovated century-old machiya in a historic area of Kyoto, combining traditional..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/484.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 08:46:00 +0000The Park Residences at The Crane, the latest addition to The Crane Residential Resort in St Philip, Barbados, has joined The Registry Collection network of luxury resorts. Perched on a cliff overlooking Crane Beach on the southeast coast of Barbados, The Park Residences at The Crane comprises 130 garden one- and two-bedroom residences, many with private pools. Guests have easy access to the resort’s..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/483.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 08:44:00 +0000Diamond Resorts International has introduced sustainable gardens at several of its flagship resorts worldwide, in the company’s latest initiative to promote eco-awareness and encourage properties to go green. Ka’anapali Beach Club in Maui, Hawaii; The Historic Powhatan Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia; and Vilar do Golf in the Algarve, Portugal, are the first to utilise on-site sustainable..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/482.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 08:42:00 +0000Notitur, the quarterly tourism magazine published by AMDETUR, the Mexican Association of Tourist Developers, is now available to subscribers both in Spanish and in English. The magazine features information about the vacation ownership industry in Mexico and other countries, as well as articles on other general tourism topics. To subscribe to the magazine, email aurora@amdetur.org.mx. A digital..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/481.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 16 Aug 2011 08:37:00 +0000It has been brought to Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Ltd's attention that Sky Services UK/New Horizon Resorts are using its company name and logo in an unauthorized manner and are making untrue statements, advertising that consumers’ rights in New Horizon Resorts are legally protected by them. Neither Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Limited, nor any of its associated companies are involved..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/480.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 15 Aug 2011 15:27:00 +0000We are in the middle of what is supposed to be the "silly season" for news and normally with politicians on holiday the media is stuck for good stories to run. This year they must think their Christmases have all come at once - or perhaps not as both news editors and politicians rush back from their holidays to deal with the continuing euro crisis, the US debt problems and more locally -..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/479.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 10 Aug 2011 13:22:00 +0000 RDO developer member Silverpoint has reported that a company calling itself Silverpoint Leisure Sales LTD has been writing to Silverpoint owners offering to sell their weeks. They are asking for a fee of £499.00 to be paid by Direct Bank Transfer to a Swiss bank account. They use Silverpoint’s address in Tenerife and a US phone number. We have been asked to point out that this..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/478.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 27 Jul 2011 12:21:00 +0000The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) has issued a final reminder that special Early Bird Rates for this year’s RDO2 Conference at the Don Carlos Resort & Spa in Marbella, 26-28 September 2011, will end at midnight on 15 July. The Early Bird member rates of 750 euros include three nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation, welcome cocktail, lunches, gala dinner and wrap party,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/477.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 14 Jul 2011 09:15:00 +0000The first meeting of the Industry ‘Panel of Experts’, set up to look at the issues surrounding exit routes and how to bring in a new, younger ownership demographic to assure the long-term future of the timeshare industry, was held on Tuesday, May 9th. This group is made up of representatives from developers, the exchange companies, trustees, resale companies, the RDO Secretariat and management..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/476.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 14 Jul 2011 09:10:00 +0000The Spanish Ministry of Justice has presented new draft legislation to replace existing timeshare regulations and comply with the EU Timeshare Directive, which aims to provide protection for consumers in respect of certain aspects of timeshare, long-term holiday products (also known as holiday clubs), resale and exchange contracts. The draft legislation has now been submitted for consultation to..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/475.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 14 Jul 2011 09:08:00 +0000The website of UK-based fraudulent resale company Gallent Marketing has been closed down following a warning issued by RDO Enforcement. Gallent Marketing was using the logos and testimonials of reputable exchange companies without permission, and falsely claimed to be a member of RDO, TATOC and ARDA on its website www.gallentmarketing.com. The company was also cold calling owners with tempting..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/474.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 14 Jul 2011 09:05:00 +0000One of Club La Costa’s premier UK resorts, Trenython Manor near Fowey in Cornwall, has achieved the highest 5-star rating for its standards of food hygiene in the nationwide ‘Scores On The Doors’ scheme. At the same time, Head Chef Richard Bennett has also been nominated under a separate scheme to receive a Gold Star for his ‘healthier eating’ dishes, which use the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/473.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 14 Jul 2011 09:03:00 +0000The European leg of the 2011 RCI Christel House Open golf tournament, held at Ealing Golf Club in Middlesex, UK, in June, raised £15,000 for the children’s charity. The event attracted executives from the shared ownership and hospitality industries – both as competitors and spectators - who enjoyed a sunny day’s golf followed by a gala dinner and charity auction. The auction,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/472.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 14 Jul 2011 09:01:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of Naima Village, a new resort located in the town of Castellaneta on the Salento Peninsula, an off-the-beaten-track area of rich archaeological heritage and scenic beauty in the south east of Italy. Scheduled to open in May 2012, Naima Village will include 105 villas with two studio units, 92 one-bedroom and eleven two-bedroom apartments, all..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/471.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 14 Jul 2011 08:58:00 +0000The Lubner Group, based in Florida, has been launched to provide interior design and resort renovation services for a wide range of hospitality industries. Previously operating as Robb & Sucky’s Hospitality Design Division, The Lubner Group’s team of seasoned design professionals, headed by Dan Lubner, offer highly specialised work for timeshare resorts, hotels, fractional ownership..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/470.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 14 Jul 2011 08:56:00 +0000RCI has further expanded its holiday exchange network with the affiliation of The Residence Club in Slovakia and Kamelya World Vacation Club in Turkey. The Residence Club is located in the mountain village of Donovaly in Slovakia’s Low Tatras National Park, a popular destination for skiing and other outdoor pursuits. Besides a choice of luxurious one- and two-bedroom apartments, guests can..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/469.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 14 Jul 2011 08:54:00 +0000Diamond Resorts International continues to expand its global portfolio with the acquisition of substantial assets of Florida-based Tempus Resorts International. Tempus operates Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, which provides more than 700 fully furnished one, two and three bedroom units just minutes away from the major theme parks. Tempus also has ownership in the beachfront..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/468.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 14 Jul 2011 08:52:00 +0000Merlin Sofware is venturing into the Chinese market with a new partnership with Universal Vacation Club, an exclusively Chinese timeshare club developed by Shanghai-based travel business Pacific Sunrise. Universal Vacation Club has more than 6,000 members and an inventory of resorts in Sanya (Hainan province), Lijiang (Yunnan province), Yangshuo (Guangdong province), Huangshan (Anhui province) and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/467.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 14 Jul 2011 08:50:00 +0000The new Silverpoint Hotels & Resorts website, which went live only a few weeks ago, was voted “Best Site of the Month” for June by independent reviewers TopSharepoint.com, in recognition of its “exceptional design and implementation standards”. The www.silverpointhotelsandresorts.com site is one of a suite of websites – all available from the main www.silverpoint.com..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/466.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 14 Jul 2011 08:47:00 +0000 Let me apologise straight away for slanting this blog on the subject of the UK tourism industry, when I am sure there are other issues we should be concentrating on at this stage, such as the Greek economy and the possible ramifications for Europe's banking industry. A recent article in” The Caterer and Hotelkeeper” was brought to my attention by Sue McNicol who runs our UK Chapter..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/465.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 21 Jun 2011 09:37:00 +0000The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) has secured an impressive line up of experts on a variety of fields as guest speakers for this year’s RDO2 Conference, including Howard C. Nusbaum, Dr Alan Fyall and Jim Madrid, who will join leading motivational speaker Jim Lawless. Jim Madrid is the Founder of Entelechy Training and Development, a California based Human Performance firm. An accomplished..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/464.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 13:49:00 +0000RDO has relaunched its www.rdo.org and www.gotimeshare.org websites introducing a more modern, user friendly format with many new features such as social media integration. RDO’s Chief Executive, Paul Gardner Bougaard, says: “We wanted to give our websites a fresh look to keep up with the times and reflect what members and consumers want to see nowadays, something which is informative,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/463.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 13:43:00 +0000The Mindtimeshare blog and Twitter feed launched by head of RDO’s Enforcement team, Alberto Garcia, early this year, have proved to be a huge success and valuable tools in the fight against timeshare fraud. The blog constantly achieves high rankings on Google searches, simply by providing accurate details of suspected fraudulent companies that are cold-calling timeshare owners and trying to..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/462.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 13:37:00 +0000Professor Vicente Navarro, a tourism expert at La Laguna University in Tenerife, called for an end to the “timeshare myths” and negative tales of harassment of tourists that are tarnishing the industry, as part of the course “Reflexions on the tourism sector in the Canary Islands” held recently in Tenerife. “It is not fair that the whole timeshare industry should suffer..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/461.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 13:11:00 +0000A website that was allegedly displaying logos from prestigious timeshare and exchange companies on their home page without their authorisation has been closed down by its hosting company, following a warning issued by RDO Enforcement. The company had started cold-calling timeshare owners with “too good to be true” offers for reselling their membership, according to the Enforcement team,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/460.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 12:51:00 +0000Interval International has strengthened its presence in South Africa with the opening of a regional resort sales and service office in Cape Town, demonstrating the company’s commitment to this country, which is considered one of the new emerging markets. Interval first arrived in South Africa in 2008 through an affiliation agreement with SunSwop, the Lifestyle Resorts division of hotelier..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/459.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 12:46:00 +0000Senior representatives from more than 80 companies from around the globe took part in the inaugural Global Networking Expo, GNEX 2011, held at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, on 11-12 May, which organisers Perspective Magazine deemed “a resounding success”. “The event certainly surpassed our expectations and we received an exceptional amount of positive feedback from delegates..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/458.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 12:42:00 +0000The latest timeshare performance index from Fitch Ratings shows that timeshare delinquencies for loans with asset-based securities (ABS) in the US dropped by more than 19% in the first quarter of 2011, compared to the same period last year. The index also shows a slight increase in defaults in the same period, but this is expected to be a short-lived trend, and default levels remain well below the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/457.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 12:40:00 +0000Absolute World Group has announced a new partnership with Merlin Software for all its vacation ownership and fractional ownership projects. Bryan Lunt, Chairman of Absolute World Group, explains the benefits of the new partnership: “Merlin Software uses the latest cloud computing technology and runs across the internet. Because it is completely web-based, we can all view the same live data..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/456.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 12:37:00 +0000Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) has acquired the Ohana Islander Waikiki Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii, from Outrigger Enterprises Group, and plans to transform it into an upscale urban timeshare resort, the Hilton Grand Vacations Club – Waikiki Beach Walk. HGV will manage the sales and marketing of timeshare intervals and oversee the timeshare homeowners’ association management, whilst Outrigger..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/455.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 11:29:00 +0000The Pestana Group has launched a new loyalty programme, the Pestana Priority Guest, which allows clients to earn points and use them both at the Pestana Hotels and the Pousadas de Portugal. Pestana Priority Guest card holders will also be entitled to discounts at restaurant and bars at the Pestana Hotels and Pousadas de Portugal, even if they are not staying there. Customers earn points according..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/454.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 11:20:00 +0000Orlando-based Sol Melia Vacation Club has been officially rebranded as Club Melia, as parent company Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts in Spain also changed its name to Melia Hotels International. “We are extremely proud and excited about our new name, new look, new branding and positioning,” said Denis Ebrill, Executive Vice president of Club Melia. “It’s an upscale, updated..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/453.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 11:17:00 +0000Residences at The Palmyra Resort and Spa in Montego Bay has become the first Jamaican affiliate to The Registry Collection fractional property exchange programme. The Palmyra Resort & Spa has its own private beach and three PGA-ranked golf courses. Members will also be able to enjoy its luxury spa, two seafront swimming pavilions, onsite restaurants and bars and the services of a private butler,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/451.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 11:15:00 +0000TimeShareWare (TSW), the developer of software solutions for the shared ownership industry, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with advanced eCommerce platform, Vacation Storebuilder (VSB), that will help increase rentals for shared ownership resorts and clubs. Under the agreement, TimeShareWare clients will be able to deploy VSB-powered branded vacation rental and club websites, which..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/452.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 11:12:00 +0000Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket has launched a Blackberry version of the Timeshare Guide application launched for iPhone mobile devices earlier this year, which gives owners resort overviews and other useful information, as well as direct and live links to check availability of weeks. Like the iPhone version, the new Blackberry app can be used both on and offline to avoid roaming charges. Features..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/450.aspxResort Development OrganisationWed, 15 Jun 2011 11:09:00 +0000Since its inception over 30 years ago the timeshare industry has, rightly, been proud of the quality of its resorts; the facilities, maintenance and service have always been second to none. It does not, therefore, make sense that with quality as one of its main attractions, this tourism sector is left out of the most important quality brand in Spain, which is so valued by customers. Taking this..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/442.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 13:02:00 +0000The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, informally known as the Cookies Regulations, came into force in the UK in May 2011. These regulations amend the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. The revisions include the following: Data security breach notification. A requirement for Member States to adopt provisions requiring providers of public communications..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/443.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 13:02:00 +0000The first meeting of the Industry ‘Panel of Experts’, set up to look at the issues surrounding exit routes and how to bring in a new, younger ownership demographic to assure the long-term future of the timeshare industry, was held on Tuesday, May 9th. This group is made up of representatives from developers, the exchange companies, trustees, resale companies, the RDO Secretariat and management..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/444.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:57:00 +0000Last time I was talking about the resurgence in Spain's tourism industry in 2010 after 2 very difficult years and the efforts the Spanish Government is putting into reviving their position in the world rankings. I was going to major on the Top Tourism destinations 2010 today, but I was in our Madrid office yesterday discussing with Maria Rodriguez who runs RDO in Spain and Alberto Garcia, Head of Enforcement..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/445.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:56:00 +0000I touched on these figures a couple of blogs ago, if anyone is counting, when talking about Spain's strategy for regaining its No2 slot in world rankings for International Tourist arrivals. The Tourism Alliance, of which RDO is a member, sent us recently the latest figures for 2010 and France remains the world's No 1 International Arrivals Destination, with 76.8 million arrivals in 2010, well ahead..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/446.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:55:00 +0000The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) has unveiled further details of this year’s “RDO2 Conference: Mapping the Journey”, which will take place at the Don Carlos Hotel in Marbella from 26 to 28 September 2011. Jim Lawless, former CEO of Change Consultants, Optimise and in-house counsel at UK computer giants Fujitsu, has been confirmed as the key note speaker. He is an inspiring..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/441.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:52:00 +0000According to a recent report from Wharton University, “Beyond Beaches: Spanish Tourism makes a Comeback” - http://www.wharton.universia.net/index.cfm?fa=viewArticle&id=2013&langua..., latest sample figures for 2010 show that tourists are returning to Spain after 2 bad years. 2010 recorded the first increase in tourism numbers since 2007. According to the Ministry of Tourism, foreign..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/145.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:51:00 +0000The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for this year’s “RDO2 Conference: Mapping the Journey”, which will take place at the Don Carlos Hotel in Marbella from 26 to 28 September 2011. The RDO Conference is the prime event for everybody in the European timeshare and fractional ownership industries. Delegates have the opportunity..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/102.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:34:00 +0000Personal Travel Group and Geo Demographic Market Research in breach of OFT rules The High Court has granted the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) enforcement orders against two holiday clubs: Personal Travel Group Limited (PTG) and Geo Demographic Market Research Ltd (GDMR). The orders also apply to seven individuals, two of whom are directors of PTG and were directors of holiday club Incentive leisure..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/144.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:33:00 +0000At a trial in Fuengirola that took place on May 9th, six individuals pleaded guilty to fraud and four to ‘illicit association’. A further seven failed to turn up at court. The accused accepted sentences of between one and two years in prison and must refund their 300 victims the total amount defrauded, ie € 500,000. It is, however, unlikely that they will serve custodial sentences. Most..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/429.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:27:00 +0000Personal Travel Group and Geo Demographic Market Research in breach of OFT rules The High Court has granted the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) enforcement orders against two holiday clubs: Personal Travel Group Limited (PTG) and Geo Demographic Market Research Ltd (GDMR). The orders also apply to seven individuals, two of whom are directors of PTG and were directors of holiday club Incentive leisure..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/449.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:24:00 +0000In February 2011, a new Directive in respect of certain aspects of timeshare, long term holiday products (also known as holiday clubs) resale and exchange contracts comes into force around Europe. This Directive replaces the current timeshare Directive, which has been repealed. General terms A 14 calendar day cooling off period (harmonized throughout Europe) applies from the day of conclusion..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/131.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:21:00 +0000Brussels 20th December 2010 - The European Court of Justice has released its decision in the case involving Macdonald Resorts Limited (MRL) concerning the VAT treatment of points. The HM Revenue & Customs argued that the supply made by MRL was a supply of club membership and all points sales were subject to UK VAT. MRL argued that the supply of points was linked to immovable property and should..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/132.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:19:00 +0000Earlier this week, the OFT announced that it has launched court action against three companies and individuals involved in the marketing or sale of holiday club memberships and other similar products, alleging that the traders mislead people about the sale of their timeshares. The companies involved are Incentive Leisure Group Limited, Personal Travel Group Limited and Geo Demographic Market Research..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/117.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 12:19:00 +0000Brussels 17th December 2010 – in a press release issued December 7th, the Anfi group reports that a further 9 claims brought by owners represented by Claims Directive have been rejected by Several judges in Las Palmas, making a total of 14 consecutive rulings in favour of Anfi Group in the last two months. Claims Directive, which is located in Arguineguín Gran Canaria claims to represent..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/448.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:45:00 +0000Brussels 17th December 2010 – in a press release issued December 7th, the Anfi group reports that a further 9 claims brought by owners represented by Claims Directive have been rejected by Several judges in Las Palmas, making a total of 14 consecutive rulings in favour of Anfi Group in the last two months. Claims Directive, which is located in Arguineguín Gran Canaria claims to represent..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/118.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:41:00 +0000Timeshare owners should be on their guard if contacted by either Barclays Sterling Ltd & CAS Consumer Arbitration Services, both of which have been brought to the attention of the police in the UK. Barclays Sterling Ltd, which does not appear to be registered at Companies House but which quotes a Lancashire address, is reportedly contacting timeshare owners and advising them that a buyer has..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/119.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:39:00 +0000Timeshare owners who have been defrauded by Resale Firms*, Holiday Clubs, Cash Back Schemes, Class Actions, Fly Buys*, etc. should contact RDO’s Enforcement team on enforcement@rdo.org as soon as possible. The Enforcement team requires a detailed written summary of the case (including dates, name of the company, an outline of what the offer included and details of payments made), and a copy..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/146.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:34:00 +0000Brussels 8th July 2010 - The police in Spain have arrested a person behind fraudulent timeshare resale company Benedetti & Asociados. This company, which operated from offices on the Costa Del Sol, targeted Spanish timeshare owners and RDO has received a number of complaints about its activities this year. The arrest follows a report that RDO’s enforcement team sent to the police in Marbella. RDO..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/147.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:27:00 +0000It has been brought to the attention of RDO [Resort Development Organisation] that two Singapore based companies, United Wealth Management and Beaufort Park Pte Ltd may be informing timeshare owners during presentations that they are registered with RDO. United Wealth Management and Beaufort Park Pte Ltd are not associated with RDO in any way and are not authorised to act on its behalf. Members..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/120.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:27:00 +0000Brussels 15th June 2010- Contrary to the statement made by Claims Directive, a company located in Arguineguín Gran Canaria that claims to represent timeshare owners’ interests, the timeshare industry both in Spain, the rest of Europe and USA as well as other international territories is extremely robust. Some of the world’s biggest hotel brands operate within the timeshare industry,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/447.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:26:00 +0000You've seen an advertisement or had a call out of the blue - something in itself to be wary of as your details have probably been obtained through a stolen database - and are now considering whether to join a class action against your resort developer or even exchange company. So what's the reality behind these schemes; is this just another scam, a way of obtaining money from timeshare owners under..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/121.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:20:00 +0000Brussels 15th June 2010 - Contrary to the statement made by Claims Directive, a company located in Arguineguín Gran Canaria that claims to represent timeshare owners’ interests, the timeshare industry both in Spain, the rest of Europe and USA as well as other international territories is extremely robust. Some of the world’s biggest hotel brands operate within the timeshare industry,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/148.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:20:00 +0000Brussels 8th February 2010 - Increased crack-downs on bogus holiday clubs and tighter measures to combat rogue operators are just some of the ways RDO is actively working to protect consumers. Timeshare may have taken off faster in the States, but across the pond European consumers are becoming much more aware of the options, value and flexibility that shared ownership can offer. resorts in sought-after..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/149.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:18:00 +0000Between 2007 and 2010 the Spanish police and other enforcement agencies such as Trading Standards in the UK stepped up their efforts to tackle companies that were defrauding timeshare owners and the general public at large. This has resulted in the closure of almost 70 companies, some of which were wound up by the authorities and others ceased trading of their own accord, frequently due to pressure..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/122.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:18:00 +0000Brussels 19th August 2009 - An ex-police inspector is leading a project organised by RDO (Resort Development Organisation) to warn consumers about the dangers of bogus discount travel membership clubs - more commonly known as holiday clubs - and fraudulent resale companies. The project aims to draw attention to unscrupulous companies that deliberately deceive consumers and pressurise them into signing..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/84.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:17:00 +0000Brussels 15th June 2010 - Contrary to the statement made by Claims Directive, a company located in Arguineguín Gran Canaria that claims to represent timeshare owners’ interests, the timeshare industry both in Spain, the rest of Europe and USA as well as other international territories is extremely robust. Some of the world’s biggest hotel brands operate within the timeshare industry,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/123.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:16:00 +0000It has been brought to our attention that a Singapore based company called River Marketing Limited is including the RDO (Resort Development Organisation) logo on correspondence sent to consumers. This company does not have permission to use the logo and has not applied, not been accepted, for membership of RDO. RDO vets the credentials of potential applicants carefully so that it can be confident..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/124.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:14:00 +0000If you have been invited to a presentation to discuss ways in which to dispose of your timeshare/ points or to join a class action scheme against your resort developer but then signed up for membership of a holiday club, we would like to hear from you. The European trade body for timeshare, *RDO (Resort Development Organisation) is currently looking into the activities of a number of holiday clubs..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/125.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 14 Jun 2011 11:08:00 +0000RDO’s Enforcement team has issued a warning about www.quitamelamultipropiedad.com, a new resale company targeting Spanish owners wanting to sell their timeshare. The company’s website promises owners a 100% guaranteed sale, the sort of claim that should always raise suspicion, according to Alberto Garcia, head of Enforcement. “Besides, this company appears to be linked to others..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/440.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 07 Jun 2011 12:20:00 +0000More than 100 entrepreneurs from across the Middle East and North Africa region were introduced to the different timeshare and fractional opportunities in the region at the Shared Ownership Masterclass hosted by RCI on 30 April at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. For the second year running, the interactive Masterclass was incorporated in the programme of the three-day AHIC (Arabian Hotel Investment..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/439.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 07 Jun 2011 12:18:00 +0000Holiday Club Resorts (HCR) has considerably expanded its existing international portfolio of 31 resorts with five new properties in the Canary Islands, adding 6,000 new owners to its 42,000-strong membership base. Following a deal with the local Puerto Calma Group, HCR will undertake sales, marketing, resort management and customer services of five resorts on the southern coast of Gran Canaria -..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/438.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 07 Jun 2011 12:13:00 +0000The Karma Royal Group has announced the acquisition of the Alpen Club in Schliersee in the Bavarian Alps, Germany, which marks the return of the group to Europe and brings the total number of resorts in their portfolio to 18. Located on the shore of an Alpine lake, close to the ski slopes and only 45 minutes from Munich, the Alpen Club offers 85 rooms and a range of facilities including a spa, swimming..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/437.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 07 Jun 2011 12:01:00 +0000Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) and Strand Capital Group have announced they are collaborating on a new project in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: the Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Anderson Ocean Club. Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Anderson Ocean Club will be comprised of 152 luxury oceanfront vacation ownership units within the existing Anderson Ocean Club and Spa. Renovation work will start in the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/436.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 07 Jun 2011 11:58:00 +0000Interval International will host the next of its regular Shared Ownership Investment Conferences at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Bridgetown, Barbados, on 31 May and 1 June, prior to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Conference. It was in Barbados where Interval first introduced this conference back in 1998. Since then, the company has taken the event to different locations around the world..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/435.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 07 Jun 2011 11:50:00 +0000The Registry Collection has announced the multi-year affiliation of The Residences at Snowmass Club in Snowman Village, Colorado (US), to its luxury exchange programme. Nestled within the Rocky Mountains near the popular skiing resort of Aspen in Colorado, the high-end residences available for fractional ownership include two- and three-bedroom units and larger townhouses. All homes feature eco-friendly..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/434.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 07 Jun 2011 11:42:00 +0000The Anfi group has reported that cases filed by owners represented by Claims Directive were rejected by a judge in Las Palmas (Canary Islands). This is the fifth ruling in favour of Anfi regarding similar claims. Anfi reports that Claims Directive has been targeting its members offering them legal assistance in cases against the group, with the promise of recovering a higher amount than their initial..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/183.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 15:56:00 +0000The Registry Collection is launching a series of roadshows to reach interested developers in key second home locations across Europe. The first four events will be hosted by Nick Turner, vice president Europe, The Registry Collection and Fractional Ownership Developments, who said: “We have invested heavily in big global events over the last few years but it’s apparent there is a gap..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/36.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 15:49:00 +0000The new Directive, replacing the current Timeshare Directive, is to be implemented into national law by all European Union Member States by 23rd February 2011. This law also covers timeshare exchange, fractional ownership, resale and holiday clubs. As part of the implementation process in the UK, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) issued a consultation paper in July and recently..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/129.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 15:47:00 +0000I don’t have a problem with the legitimate consumer watchdog sites , they clearly do a good job and RDO works with many of them from time to time. I also understand the old adage that “good news doesn’t make for good newspaper sales”. There is undoubtedly a huge gulf between how timeshare is reported in the media and the consistently high satisfaction rates found amongst..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/100.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 15:46:00 +0000We have just put up on the RDO website, a paper on Travel trends 2010 prepared by Flagship, a UK based PR company, who act for and advise RDO and are themselves members of the organisation. It is well worth reading. This is of course an issue of real interest to RDO members for obvious reasons and is why at the RDO1 October Conference, we have asked the Director of the Travel and Tourism Research Institute..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/98.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 15:45:00 +0000With all the attendant publicity given to horror stories, of holidaymakers and travellers stuck at airports and hotels, unable to travel home due to the no-fly ban across Europe, and the decision by Ryanair not to compensate travellers, which was reversed shortly thereafter, it is worth reflecting that “no news is good news”, in that nothing much was heard during this period of crisis from..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/99.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 15:45:00 +0000In Europe, a new timeshare Directive is to be implemented into national law by all European Union Member States no later than 23 February 2011. Whilst the Directive currently in place relates to timeshare alone, the new Regulations will include resales, exchange and long-term holiday products – also known as discount travel membership clubs or long-term holiday clubs. This extension has been..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/81.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 15:44:00 +0000Cruise Industry Overview 2008 12.6 Million passengers (worldwide) took a cruise in 2007 with 12.8 Million passengers estimated for 2008 Cruise Industry is the fastest growing category in the travel industry with an annual passenger growth rate of 8% p.a. The average length of a cruise is 7 days Utilization is constantly over 100% 35 new state of the art ships are contracted..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/74.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 13:39:00 +0000The ‘noughties’ was a landmark decade for the travel industry. New, far flung destinations such as Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico exploded onto the mainstream and previously exclusive destinations such as the Maldives and Caribbean became more accessible to the masses. Budget airlines changed the way that people think about their weekends, opened up a whole host of destinations in the former..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/71.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 13:33:00 +0000Bogus Operators RDO’s Enforcement team has recently issued warnings on a number of suspected fraudulent operations and is urging members and consumers to report any contact received from companies such as Blue Chip or Mason, Goodwin & Lisco. Blue Chip was one of the bogus resale companies on the Costa del Sol closed down by Spanish Police in 2010, yet they seem to have resurfaced and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/104.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 11:44:00 +0000Sponsorship opportunities are now available to OTE members who wish to promote their brands on the new timeshare website www.gotimeshare.org and related microsites. The website aims to counter negative online coverage about timeshare in Europe, and has proven to be very successful in its first couple of months. The site received just under 3000 unique visitors in February. Nearly half of the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/427.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:46:00 +0000The approval of the EU Timeshare Directive earlier this year was without doubt a major landmark but the job to protect consumers doesn’t end there according to the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE). “Although consumers will be better protected once the new Directive is implemented, there is always room for improvement”, said OTE’s Secretary General Peter van der..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/428.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:46:00 +0000The Timeshare Association (TATOC) has launched a new glossy quarterly magazine under the title of Sharetime. The new magazine, a first for the Association, is available to TATOC’s members and can also be downloaded from the Association’s website. It includes features on legislation, resort and industry news and other articles of interest to members, as well as an introduction to the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/425.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:44:00 +0000Final preparations are underway for the official launch on 25 March of the Resort Development Organisation (RDO), the new name for the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe. The launch will coincide with the publication of the EU Economic Impact Study, a key report on the timeshare industry currently being prepared by the University of Nottingham in the UK. The change of name reflects the evolution..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/426.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:44:00 +0000In the last month, Spanish police has raided three resale companies on the Costa del Sol which are being investigated for alleged fraudulent activities. Rainbow Solutions Marketing, also called RSSL, was operating in Mijas since summer 2008 using the cold call approach. They were allegedly asking timeshare owners for upfront payments of up to £1,000 but only committed to market the sale of..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/424.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:43:00 +0000Susan Duncombe, Business Development Regional Director for the UK, Ireland and Malta at Group RCI, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Timeshare Council, the UK National Chapter of OTE. Susan has been at Group RCI since 2005, when she joined as Sales Director responsible for the Spanish, German and Italian markets. Previously, she had run her own event management and marketing company,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/423.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:42:00 +0000The Ealing Golf Club in West London has been confirmed as the UK venue for the Group RCI Christel House Open charity golf tournament, which is played simultaneously across five continents. The Ealing Golf Club is a challenging, yet not physically demanding, par 70, 6191 yard course designed by Harry Colt, the renowned designer of Wentworth, Sunningdale and Muirfield. The date of the international..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/422.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:41:00 +0000Bond... Jennie Bond. That was the name whispered by guests at Club La Costa Monterey Royale in Tenerife, where the former Royal correspondent and reality TV celebrity was recently spotted on holiday with her husband. In an interview with a locally based British reporter, the much-travelled TV presenter is reported to have said she was very impressed with Tenerife in general and the ‘seriously..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/421.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:40:00 +0000The positive economic impact that timeshare resorts have on their surroundings was one of the topics of this year’s “Tourism and the Environment” forum, held by Hapimag in Berlin in January. OTE Chairman, Richard McIntosh (Hilton Grand Vacations) was one of the key speakers at the event, where personalities from the fields of science, politics and the tourism industry discussed..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/420.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:39:00 +0000Executive Quest, Inc., the executive search firm for the timeshare, fractional and vacation ownership industry, has re-launched its website www.execq.com with new features and more practical downloadable information. The website aims to be a useful recruitment resource for both clients looking for qualified, executive-level personnel, and candidates looking for a new move in their careers. It has..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/418.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:38:00 +0000Interval International has affiliated the Thai resort of Twin Peaks and Panchwati Vacations in India to its global network of vacation resorts, expanding its portfolio in the Asia Pacific region. Panchwati Vacations is a mixed-use property located twenty minutes from the vibrant city of Kolkata – India’s former capital previously known as Calcutta. Amenities include a swimming pool and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/419.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:38:00 +0000Hapimag, the leading company in the European market for holiday rights of residence, has reported a five per cent growth and positive results for 2008, despite the difficult economic climate. The company closed the 2008 financial year with an operating income of 165.4 million Euros, a 5.1 per cent increase on the previous year. This was the first time the company presented its results in euros..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/417.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:36:00 +0000The head of RDO’s Enforcement team in Spain, Alberto Garcia, was one of the guests at a special programme about the timeshare industry which was broadcast on local Canary Islands radio station, Radio Canarias, on 24 March. The ‘Bungalow 103 with Ignacio Moll’ programme offered a debate about timesharing which helped dispel misconceptions about the industry and explain the different..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/415.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:35:00 +0000RDO is meeting the Consumentenautoriteit, the Netherlands’ equivalent to the Office of Fair Trading, later this month to help them develop an awareness and enforcement campaign against Discount Travel Membership Clubs (DTMCs) and other fraudulent practices affecting the timeshare industry. The Dutch Consumer Authority approached RDO for advice and a better understanding of the timeshare industry..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/416.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:35:00 +0000TATOC, the Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees) claims that their new HelpLine handled more than 6,000 calls in 2008, helping timeshare owners save more than £1 million. The Helpline was set up last year with funding provided by the Timeshare Partnership Trust, a body set up and funded by RDO, to support worthwhile causes in the industry. More than half of the calls received..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/414.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:34:00 +0000Reigning champion and hot favourite, Master Minded, defended its crown in style, cruising to victory at this year’s Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. In an interview with Racing UK prior to the race, Barry Hurley, Chairman of Seasons Holidays, was confident that Ruby Walsh and Master Minded would repeat last year’s “stellar performance”...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/413.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:33:00 +0000The Moness Hotel and Country Club in the Scottish Highlands, part of the Worldwide Leisure Group, recently hosted the stars and film crew of “Transatlantic Sessions”, a series of music programmes to be shown on BBC (UK) and RTE (Ireland) later this year. Now in its fourth series, “Transatlantic Sessions” brings together the best of American, Irish and Scottish music, putting..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/411.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:32:00 +0000Staff at the luxury Anfi Emerald Club in Gran Canaria, part of Anfi Tauro Golf and Luxury Resorts, had the opportunity to improve their swing with top tips from renowned Spanish professional golfer, Jesus Mari Arruti, during his recent stay at the resort. The 2007 PGA Spanish champion played a VIP game with hoteliers from the south of the island and offered an exclusive “golf clinic”..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/412.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:32:00 +0000Attendance at the Ragatz Associates’ ninth Fractional Interest Conference, held in San Francisco last month, was down to 400 delegates (compared to 740 last year) because of the economic crisis, but organisers remained upbeat about the event and the future of the fractional ownership industry. “It is a slow time for everyone, but we feel quite positive overall regarding the economy,”..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/410.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:31:00 +0000The Registry Collection, the luxury exchange programme offered by Group RCI, has achieved an important milestone with 160 exclusive properties now available for exchange or under development in its portfolio, just seven years after the programme was introduced. Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO of Group RCI, said: “This segment of our business has shown tremendous momentum and we view this..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/408.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:30:00 +0000Jim Lewis, president of Disney Vacation Club, has been elected Chairman of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the trade association representing the vacation ownership industry in North America. ARDA’s president and CEO, Howard C. Nusbaum, commented on his appointment: “Jim’s passion for the product and in-depth knowledge of the industry puts ARDA in very capable..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/409.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:30:00 +0000Preferred Residences has recently added Flagberry Hill Club and Resort in the US Virgin Islands and Spirit Ridge Residence Club in Canada’s British Columbia to its portfolio of luxury shared ownership resorts. Flagberry Hill Club and Resort will be the first environmentally sustainable development in St Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands. The mixed-use resort, which includes a 40-unit boutique..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/407.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:29:00 +0000The Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE) has changed its name to Resort Development Organisation (RDO) to reflect the evolution of the vacation ownership industry since its beginnings in the 1960s. From buying the right to spend a fixed week at one resort to part owning a holiday property or buying a legal interest to have personal use of a luxury hotel room, much has changed in the timeshare..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/405.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:28:00 +0000Sales and marketing training company, Levitin Group, has launched ‘ePercipio’, new breakthrough online training technology for the timeshare, fractional and resort real estate industry. The new software was presented at the 2009 ARDA Convention in Orlando. The new technology offers a solution to companies that are having to cut down their training budgets in the current economic downturn...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/406.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:28:00 +0000VOASA Annual Conference 24-25 May, Southern Sun Grayston, Johannesburg. The annual conference of the Vacation Ownership of Southern Africa (VOASA), bearing the theme “Evolution of an industry”, will have Mr Howard Nussbaum, President of ARDA, as its key note speaker this year. ATHOC 2009 Conference 13-15 September, Courtyard Marriott Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Australia Annual..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/404.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:23:00 +0000The largest provider of holiday rights of residence in Europe, Hapimag, has announced a new partnership with Dial an Exchange which will allow members of both organisations access to new holiday destinations via inventory sharing. Hapimag’s 140,000 members will have the opportunity to try new resorts in international destinations, whilst members of Dial an Exchange will now have access to..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/402.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:21:00 +0000The Fractional and Shared Ownership Trade Association (FSOTA) has become the first new member of the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) since it changed its name from Organisation for Timeshare in Europe to reflect changes in the vacation ownership industry. While remaining a stand-alone association, FSOTA members will now be bound by RDO’s code of conduct, which aims to protect consumers..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/403.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:21:00 +0000The results of the first EU Economic Impact Study, a comprehensive report on the timeshare industry prepared by the University of Nottingham in the UK, will be unveiled later this month. A media event is planned in Madrid to present the key findings, which will also be released to journalists and industry members throughout Europe and will be available on RDO’s website. Further details will..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/401.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:19:00 +0000Traffic to the new timeshare website www.gotimeshare.org continued to increase over the past month, as the site’s first five sponsors were confirmed. The number of visits to the site rose by 4.6% and the number of pages viewed increased by 3.48% in the last month. There was also an 18% increase in traffic from main search engines Google and Yahoo. The site was launched by RDO in January..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/400.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:18:00 +0000This year's Group RCI Christel House Open Golf tournament will take place at the Ealing Golf Club in Perivale (England) on 15 June. As in previous editions, the event is expected to attract many timeshare and hospitality industry professionals from around Europe. Participants will enjoy a day of golf and networking, while raising funds for the children's charity Christel House. Spaces for the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/399.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:16:00 +0000Representatives from RDO Spain and the Enforcement Project met last month with the Spanish European Consumer Centre (ECC) and the National Consumer Institute to review their ongoing cooperation in the fight against fraud. The meeting served to share the latest information about fraudulent activities in the vacation ownership industry, including details of the most active companies at the moment,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/398.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:15:00 +0000A conference on the threats to tourism resorts posed by Discount Travel Membership Clubs (DTMCs), organised by the Tenerife government, served as an ideal platform to raise awareness of this issue and call for a unified fight against this fraudulent practice. Speaking at the conference was RDO’s Head of Enforcement, Alberto Garcia, alongside Mike Haley from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT),..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/397.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:14:00 +0000Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket has become the first timeshare industry company to sponsor The Travel Channel, overcoming previous opposition towards timeshare advertising. As the main sponsor for May, the company will be featured heavily throughout this month, including a competition to win a stay at The Moness House Hotel & Country Club in Scotland. The Travel Channel is a global cable..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/396.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:13:00 +0000Group RCI has launched a new TV channel available to members in the UK and the US on its website.www.rci.comThe new RCI TV channel will be rolled into other regions throughout this year. The RCI TV channel gives members information about Group RCI products and services, as well as travel and resort information. Viewers can access a Destination Review Channel with video footage of the resorts, and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/394.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:11:00 +0000Club La Costa has won its High Court case against Inventory Solutions for the publication in 2008 of unfounded and defamatory allegations in a recorded telephone conversation with one of Club La Costa’s trading partners. In order to protect its commercial relationships and reputation, Club La Costa issued a High Court writ against Inventory Solutions after they refused to retract the statements..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/395.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:11:00 +0000Interval International is responding to the growing demand for shorter stays and weekend trips with the launch of its online ShortStay Exchange programme. The new programme, available to Interval Gold members, gives them the opportunity to take shorter holidays and enjoy greater flexibility. It also encourages them to broaden their experiences and try different resorts from Interval’s extensive..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/393.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:09:00 +0000The 2009 American Resort Development Association (ARDA) Conference had a special significance as the trade association celebrates its landmark 40th anniversary this year, an opportunity to look at the achievements of the past and draw a new road map for the future. Almost three thousand timeshare industry professionals gathered at his year's ARDA convention and tradeshow, hosted at the Orlando World..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/392.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:08:00 +0000The Fractional Summit 2009, held at the Hilton Metropole in London in April, gave fractional real estate professionals from around the world an overview of the current state of the industry in Europe with a two-day programme of presentations and real life examples. Piers Brown, Founder of Fractional Life, who chaired the event, was encouraged by the level of attendance this year, which was around..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/391.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:07:00 +0000ATHOC 2009 Conference 13-15 September, Courtyard Marriott Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Australia Annual conference for the holiday ownership industry in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, organized by ATHOC (Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council). 11th Annual Vacation Ownership Investment Conference 14-17 September, The Peabody, Orlando This year’s theme is “Opportunity..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/390.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:05:00 +0000The industry trade body for vacation ownership, RDO (Resort Development Organisation) has launched a website providing information and advice on fractional ownership. Extremely successful in the US, fractional ownership, which is essentially another form of timeshare, is increasingly popular in Europe and over 90 properties are now available under fractional schemes in destinations such as Portugal,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/389.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 10:01:00 +0000RDO and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) agreed measures for closer collaboration at pan-European level to take effective action against companies that defraud consumers, at a meeting held last month. “It was a very successful meeting,” said Alberto Garcia, Head of RDO’s Enforcement Project. “Working closer together we can build up evidence against key offenders in an effective..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/387.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:59:00 +0000The latest statistics released by the RDO Consumer Services show a significant decrease in the number of consumer complaints received during 2008, compared to the previous year. Last year there were just 81 complaints against RDO members, compared to more than 120 in 2007. Overall, RDO received nearly 2,100 consumer enquiries during 2008, a mixture of requests for general information and advice..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/388.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:59:00 +0000European timeshare is a thriving industry with a loyal and satisfied clientele, according to a study carried out by The Christel DeHaan Tourism and Travel Research Institute of the Nottingham University Business School on behalf of the Resort Development Organisation (RDO). The European Timeshare Study canvassed owners and developers in 12 European countries about their views and experience of timeshare..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/386.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:57:00 +0000The International Riviera, a multi-billion new resort development in Tunisia created by the BW Group, has affiliated with The Registry Collection luxury exchange programme. The five-star residential resort development will comprise 60,000 wholly-owned and shared-ownership properties. The large scale project has attracted a high level of interest from international banks, investor funds and other..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/385.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:56:00 +0000Interval International has added six South African resorts to its vacation exchange network, following an affiliation agreement with Zorgvliet Private Residence Club. The resorts are sold both on a fractional and traditional timeshare basis. This latest addition gives owners a range of new holiday options, from safaris to wine tours, from golf to health and spa resorts, and the opportunity to explore..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/384.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:55:00 +0000Sea Links Golf & Country Club in Ho Chi Minh has become the first Vietnam property in Group RCI’s worldwide network of affiliated resorts. Situated on sandy hills overlooking Mui Ne Bay, Sea Links Golf & Country Club is reputedly the leading golf resort in Vietnam, offering luxury accommodation and facilities which include an 18-hole golf course, restaurants serving Asian or European..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/383.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:53:00 +0000Club la Costa Resorts & Hotels has announced plans for a new residential golf development, the California Golf Resort - Turkey on the country's west coast near Kusadasi, which will follow the opening of their first Turkish resort, Club La Costa Adonis, in August “Turkey offers so many advantages, especially for the British buyer as it is out of the Euro zone,” explained Roy Peires,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/382.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:52:00 +0000Seasons Holidays has developed a new website which allows members to share their personal experiences with other members and gain greater knowledge about the resorts. The new site is available on www.myseasonsholidays.com. The site features a large number of 'Resort Knowledge Base' articles about events, days out, activities, attractions, shopping, beaches and kids’ stuff close to each Seasons..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/380.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:51:00 +0000Seasons Holidays has announced the opening of its brand new resort on Portugal’s Algarve, the Mar Da Luz in Praia da Luz, expected on 5th July 2009. The new resort has 43 spacious apartments equipped with everything from satellite television to under floor heating. Facilities on the resort include adult and children swimming pools, fully landscaped Mediterranean gardens, sauna, Turkish bath..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/381.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:51:00 +0000Marcos Agostini has been promoted to vice president, resort sales and service, Latin America for Interval International. He will oversee Interval’s exchange network in Central/South America and Mexico and be responsible for developing the company’s client base in the region. Agostini joined Interval in 1993 in the company’s Venezuela office and has held various management positions..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/379.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:50:00 +0000VOASA, the Vacation Ownership Association for Southern Africa, held its first conference since changing its name from the Timeshare Institute of South Africa to reflect changes in the industry. The event took place at the Southern Sun Grayston in Johannesburg last month. One of the main industry issues discussed at the conference was the new Consumer Protection Bill in South Africa, which will change..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/378.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:49:00 +0000A team from Group RCI successfully completed the gruelling “Four Peaks Challenge”, raising in excess of £247,000 for underprivileged children. The challenge involved the ascent (and descent) of four summits in under 48 hours, covering a distance of around 2,000 miles. The RCI team not only completed the challenge in 47 hours 23 minutes, but also won the Fastest Mixed Team Category..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/377.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:39:00 +0000Hutchinson & Co Trust Company and Citadel Trustees have announced a number of changes in their management team to reflect the Group’s recent expansion and diversification. Veranne Wilkinson has taken over as Managing Director of both Hutchinson and Citadel, together with all the other European Group companies. She joined the Group in 1996 and has vast experience in providing services to..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/376.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:38:00 +0000European timeshare resale broker, Travel & Leisure Group, has announced a new partnership with Rightmove Overseas, the UK’s leading property website for properties for sale and to rent. According to Jim Wilson, advertising and marketing manager for Travel & Leisure Group, the new partnership will increase the visibility of the business and give their clients a better chance of finding..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/375.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:37:00 +0000Ventures magazine, the business publication of Group RCI, is now available online at www.rciventures.com. The new website is designed to support the printed magazine and provide greater access to the latest news within Group RCI and across the shared ownership industry. The majority of the content on the website is internet exclusive, including breaking industry and Group RCI news, tips and ideas..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/374.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:33:00 +0000Fractional Index www.fractionalindex.com, the first website specifically dedicated to low cost fractional ownership, was launched in June with the aim of helping the fractional property sales and resales market grow. Fractional Index acts as a sales lead generator and a source of news and information for the worldwide fractional properties, private residence clubs and condo hotel markets. The..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/372.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:31:00 +0000Luxury property brand, Quintessentially Estates, has been announced as supporting partners of the Fractional Life Expo 2009 consumer event www.fractionallifeexpo.com, which will take place in London from 14 to 16 September. Quintessentially Estates is a provider of exclusive and personalised property services, such as concierge services, with offices around the world. The Fractional Life Expo..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/373.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:31:00 +0000Generator Systems and Perspective Magazine have confirmed details of The Forum, the new industry event to be held at the Sofitel Hotel, London Heathrow Terminal 5, on 9-10 December 2009. The Forum will be a gathering of industry professionals where they will be able to share their views and experiences, discuss current issues, find new opportunities and make deals. The two-day event will feature..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/371.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:20:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of Residence Marsa Sicla’ on the southern coast of Sicily, to its vacation exchange network. The resort is located in Sampieri near the seaside town of Pozzallo. It has 82 apartments, all with either a covered veranda or a private garden (or both), and a range of amenities including sporting facilities, swimming pool, solarium and a club..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/369.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:19:00 +0000The houseboat Mdina, Venice – the first of ten new timeshare houseboats from Maltese developers, Marketing and Promotion Ltd – was christened in June and shipped to the north Italian city where it will operate. The houseboat was built in Malta at a cost of about half a million euros, and will be available on a timeshare basis for 25 years. For a price between 12,000 and 20,000 euros,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/370.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:19:00 +0000A major scam in which more than 50 timeshare owners in Tenerife had been conned of a total 1.5 million euros was uncovered by Spanish Police last month, and seven people arrested. The fraudsters had been operating under different company names, and had been under investigation since February. Owners would be approached with the promise of a buyer for their timeshare and asked to pay an average..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/368.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:18:00 +0000The Government of the Canaries, together with the Tenerife Tourist Board, hotel association ASHOTEL and the authorities of Adeje and Arona, have set up a committee to fight against the fraudulent activities of Discount Travel Membership Clubs (DTMCs) on the island. This initiative is a direct result of the conference on the threats posed to tourism resorts by DTMCs organised in May, in which RDO’s..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/367.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:17:00 +0000The industry website www.gotimeshare.org, launched by RDO earlier this year to counter negative information about timeshare on the internet, has been accredited as a source site by Google for inclusion into Google News. Google has a strict screening procedure to select which sites are allowed into Google News and there are supposedly only 4,500 websites accredited on its source list worldwide. This..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/366.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 13 May 2011 09:14:00 +0000Owners Perspective, the new magazine for the vacation ownership industry launched in January, will be distributed at the airport lounges of British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and Emirates Airlines around the world, following a series of agreements signed by its publisher Perspective International. The deals are part of the publisher’s strategy to reach affluent business and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/365.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:22:00 +0000Marketing and sales positions were the worst hit by the recession according to the results of the annual salary survey of the vacation ownership industry published by Executive Quest. As more companies cut back on marketing and tour flow, those in marketing positions had a reduction in compensation of between 10 and 20 per cent, whilst sales managers and vice presidents, whose salary is often tied..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/364.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:21:00 +0000Europe’s leading timeshare resale company, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, and Four Chairs Advertising have launched a new TV ad to educate consumers about timeshare. The 60 second commercial is being shown on the new Travel Deals Direct channel 647 on the Sky platform. The ad aims to raise consumer awareness, explaining the concept of timeshare and its multiple benefits, rather than sell..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/363.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:20:00 +0000Major timeshare clubs will provide nearly 200,000 room nights for football fans during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in various resorts across South Africa, following an agreement between VOASA, the Vacation Ownership Association of Southern Africa and MATCH, FIFA’s service agent for accommodation. The agreement is part of the MATCH Ville concept which offers “follow your team” accommodation..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/362.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:19:00 +0000RDO’s ongoing campaign to eradicate Discount Travel Membership Clubs (DTMCs) in Tenerife reached a new peak last month with Head of Enforcement, Alberto Garcia, being interviewed on this issue for the main TV news programme for the Canaries. The interview focused on explaining what DTMCs are and how consumers are being targeted by then, and followed the recent news that the local authorities,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/361.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:18:00 +0000The new Holiday Club Naantali Residence, which opened in Naantali, Finland, in May this year, has joined the RCI network of affiliated resorts. Holiday Club Naantali Residence has 40 high quality studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, all with sea views. The resort also offers a choice of restaurants and bars, as well as different indoor and outdoor activities on-site. Guests can also relax..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/359.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:17:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of the new Domina Golf and Ski Resort in Tarvisio, in the Italian Alps, which is due to be completed in the summer of 2010. The mountain resort is located in Tarvisio, a popular skiing destination in the northeast region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. It will offer 60 kilometres of both alpine and cross country ski trails and an 18-hole golf course...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/360.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:17:00 +0000The San Diego Suites at Club La Costa’s California Beach Resort on Spain’s Costa del Sol was the setting for a charity evening in support of the Rhys Daniels Trust. The poolside event was the perfect place to unwind for the 156 golfers, including well-known sportsmen and showbiz personalities, who had been competing during the day at La Cala golf resort in the annual Max Clifford Celebrity..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/356.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:15:00 +0000Interval International has added Dames De La Mer, a fractional ownership project comprising a fleet of sailing boats based in Turkey, to its vacation exchange network, providing members a new experience not previously available to them. The yachts, constructed by French company Beneteau, are all Cyclades 50.4 class with four double cabins and a single cabin for the captain, a lounge and a kitchen...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/357.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:15:00 +0000Fractional Summit 2010, Europe’s largest business to business fractional property conference, will take place on 18-19 February 2010 at the Marriot London, Grosvenor Square, organisers Fractional Life announced. The two day event will explore the different facets of the fractional property marketplace and why the European fractional property industry continues to gain momentum despite the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/355.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:14:00 +0000The new industry website www.gotimeshare.org had its most successful month to date with an increase of 90 per cent in the number of visitors in July, month on month, as a direct result of its inclusion into Google News. The site, created by RDO to counter negative online information about timeshare, became one of only 4500 accredited source sites for Google News worldwide in July. Since then, traffic..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/354.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:13:00 +0000Hapimag, the leading provider of holiday rights of residence in the European market, has reported a successful first half of the year with sales increased by 2.4 per cent and a good occupancy rate across its resorts. The company enjoyed total sales of 81.9 million euro during the first six months of 2009, compared to 80 million in the same period last year, with its 56 European resorts reporting..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/353.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:11:00 +0000The Timeshare Association (TATOC) has announced it will be holding its 10th annual conference at the Nottingham Belfry Hotel in Nottingham (England) from 12 to 14 March 2010. The chosen theme for next year’s conference is “Working Together”, because, as David Eastburn, Chairman of TATOC explains, “this past year has shown that now more than ever, all parts of the industry..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/352.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:05:00 +0000Interval International has announced the addition of West Sands Phuket Beach Club in Thailand and Accor Vacation Club Freshwater Point Resort Broadbeach on Australia’s Gold Coast to its exchange network. West Sands Phuket Beach Club is set in 48 lush acres with its own private beachfront on Mai Khao Beach. Designed to have minimal impact on the environment, the resort has won the Green Development..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/350.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:03:00 +0000The Canadian Resort Developers Association (CRDA) has announced that the Resort Development Summit scheduled for October 14-16 in Toronto has been postponed to 2010. Instead, CRDA’s board and executive leadership team will hold a special meeting to discuss the current challenges faced by the industry. “The decision to postpone the Resort Development Summit was not an easy one,”..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/351.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:03:00 +0000Two new luxury options have been added to The Registry Collection Exchange Programme: Halcyon Hills Luxury Resort & Spa on the Greek island of Samos, and Venice on Water in Italy. Due to open in 2011, Halcyon Hills will have 19 different properties, all with sea views, including one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, apartment suites, and one-bedroom ‘kampanas’, properties with their..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/349.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:02:00 +0000Perspective International Ltd has appointed Kristie Irvin as North America Account Manager, in a bid to increase the timeshare and fractional ownership magazine publisher’s presence in the American market. Kristie Irvin has experience of both publishing and the timeshare industry, having worked in telemarketing for Fairfield Resorts (now Wyndham Vacation Ownership) and handled two resort publications,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/348.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:01:00 +0000Two young Canarian sailors, from a group of eleven children sponsored by the Anfi Group, are heading to the Optimist World Championship after qualifying in the Spanish leg of the biggest youth dinghy sailing competition in the world. One hundred and fifty children from all over Spain took part in the week-long competition in Tarragona, where they had to sail for up to six hours a day and follow..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/346.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:00:00 +0000A new destination is available to Club La Costa members following the opening in August of The Apollonium Club La Costa Spa & Beach Resort on Turkey’s south-west coast. The resort, which incorporates Club La Costa Adonis Private Members Club, is a comprehensive holiday village with 350 units, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness facilities, minigolf, tennis, water sports, ground chess and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/347.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 17:00:00 +0000Inspired by the classic Space Invaders computer game, Seasons Holidays has launched a viral game where players can win two weeks’ luxury accommodation every year for life by keeping their virtual sun loungers clear. In the Sunbed Invaders game, players control a holidaymaker who, using a water hose, must soak any oncoming people and blast them back into the pool to stop them taking over the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/345.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:59:00 +0000Group RCI has launched a new programme to reward sales and innovation amongst its European affiliates in the timeshare industry: the RCI Award for Developer Achievement (RADA). There are four main award categories, which will recognise the Top European Performer, Top Regional Performer, Top Newcomer and an award for Developer Innovation. Affiliates can also nominate a member of their staff for..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/344.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:58:00 +0000Billed as the largest and most diverse fractional ownership and shared asset ownership exhibition in the world, Fractional Life Expo returned to London for a third consecutive year, taking place at Broadgate Event Venues in the heart of the City, 14-16 September. Fractional Life Expo, hosted by celebrity entrepreneur Chelsy Baker, gathered 27 exhibitors representing fractional property, jet, yacht,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/343.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:57:00 +0000The Fractional & Shared Ownership Trade Association (FSOTA) has relaunched its website www.fsota.org to provide more comprehensive information and advice for industry members. The new site was presented at Fractional Life Expo in London. FSOTA is a recently formed organisation dedicated to the responsible and sustainable growth of the fractional and shared ownership industry in Europe. The fractional..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/342.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:56:00 +0000The impact the new EU timeshare directive will have on Maltese businesses was amongst the issues highlighted by RDO at a seminar organised by Group RCI in Malta. Representatives from RDO and the Malta Tourism Authority presented updates on legislation, tourism statistics and issues affecting the Maltese timeshare industry to a group of around 40 developers and marketers gathered at the “It’s..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/341.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:55:00 +0000Club La Costa has reported that more of its customers are booking cruises than ever before, with bookings in 2009 reaching £1 million sales four months earlier than in the previous year, and record sales expected for 2010. This reflects the current trend of increasing interest in cruising, with the introduction of new, bigger ships and a greater diversity of destinations and on board activities...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/340.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:52:00 +0000Affluent leisure travellers remain committed to their vacations according to a study produced for Interval International by the Ypartnership, presented at the 11th Annual Vacation Ownership Invstment Conference in Orlando in September. “The Affluent Shared Ownership Buyer: A Market Profile” provides insights about the travel habits and resort real estate preferences of the most affluent..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/338.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:51:00 +0000The US timeshare industry continues to demonstrate its resilience despite the economic downturn according to the latest figures released by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). Although overall sales reflect the national trend of lower consumer spending, a high occupancy rate of 80 percent, compared to 60.4 per cent hotel occupancy rate, shows that timeshare owners continue to enjoy..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/339.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:51:00 +0000Hapimag has completed the renovation of its resort in Binz on the island of Rügen in Germany and the expansion of the resort of Tonda in Tuscany, two major projects carried out in cooperation with Swiss architect Pia Schmid. The deserted historic village of Tonda, located between Siena and Florence, was taken over by Hapimag in 1974 and converted into a resort. This year, Hapimag added an extension..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/337.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:50:00 +0000The Australian Timeshare and Holiday Industry Council (ATHOC) held its annual conference and awards on Australia’s Gold Coast from 12-14 September, bringing together more than 150 delegates from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, China, Singapore, The United States and the United Kingdom. Under the title, “Moving Forward Together”, the three-day conference featured insightful presentations..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/336.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:49:00 +0000Publisher Perspective International Ltd has announced the appointment of Matthew McDaniel as new editor of the group’s timeshare and fractional ownership trade and consumer magazines, Perspective and Owners Perspective. Matthew began his career in publishing 20 years ago and has worked as an independent writer for different companies in the shared ownership industry, as well as being editor..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/335.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:48:00 +0000Industry members will soon be able to confirm their attendance to The FORUM Conference, this year’s new industry event to be hosted by Generator Systems and Perspective Magazine at the Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel, 9-10 December. The organisers recently launched two dedicated websites for the event, www.perspectivemagazine.com/forum and www.generator-systems.com/events, where those interested..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/334.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:47:00 +0000As the cream of the tourism industry gathered in Barcelona at ABTA’s annual Travel Convention to discuss current issues and predict future trends, there was food for thought for the timeshare industry too, reported RDO’s UK PR consultant, Jackie Murphy. While many speakers reflected on the impact of the economic downturn on the travel industry, it was the presentation by Malcom Preston..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/333.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:46:00 +0000The Registry Collection has secured its first ever properties in Asia through two new affiliations, with Absolute Developments and IFA Hotels & Resorts, which will give members a choice of six fractional ownership resorts and three private residence clubs in Thailand. The move into Asia follows analyst reports which point at an increase of more than 40 per cent in investment in Asian real estate..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/332.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:45:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of Azul Sensatori, a luxury all-inclusive resort operated by Karisma Hotels in the exclusive Petembich Bay area, on the Mexican Caribbean coast known as the Riviera Maya. The resort features the Gourmet Inclusive® concept which means that guests can enjoy a host of all-inclusive amenities and services in a relaxed, yet upscale atmosphere. Azul..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/331.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:44:00 +0000The Fractional & Shared Ownership Trade Association (FSOTA) has announced a special introductory offer for new members joining between now and 1 February 2010. Membership of FSOTA is free for RDO members that offer fractional products, and available to other companies at a special rate of 1,216 euros per year, with the price being frozen for a two year period. The Association is open to any..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/330.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:43:00 +0000A new commercial explaining the role of RDO and the importance of buying through an RDO member will be aired up to ten times a day during the month of November on Sky’s Travel Deals Direct (channel 647). The advertisement slot was offered to RDO by Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, as part of their current campaign on the Sky TV channel to educate consumers about timeshare. Viewers will..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/329.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:42:00 +0000The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) is offering members exclusive discounts of ten per cent on a series of services from exchange companies, marketing and advertising suppliers, solicitors and accountants. Companies taking part in the scheme include the two primary exchange companies, Interval International and Group RCI, with discounts available for advertisements in their publications: Interval..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/328.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:39:00 +0000Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels has closed down four of its five off-site sales operations in the UK which were proving less effective in the current financial climate, in a bid to focus on new programmes aimed at increased Fly-Buy activity. As well as the company’s sales and exhibition centre in London’s West End, which continues to operate, Club La Costa has kept its Essex-based..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/326.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:34:00 +0000Valhalla Associates Limited and Luxury Leisure Properties International (LLPI) have announced a partnership to jointly service owners and developers of mixed-use hotel and resort complexes where leisure real estate is integrated with luxury hotel operations. Both companies offer advisory and project management services ranging from product concept, market research and financial feasibility analysis..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/327.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:34:00 +0000Interval International has added two new affiliations in popular winter sun destinations: Gardenia Resort on Egypt's Red Sea Riviera and Grand Laguna Beach on the Dominican Republic. Gardenia Resort, a mixed-used property in Hurghada scheduled for completion in 2011, will have 175 timeshare units, combining studios, and one and two bedroom units. Facilities at the resort will include restaurants..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/325.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:33:00 +0000The Registry Collection has been recognised with the 2009 Overseas Property Professional (OPP) Industry Award in the Best Fractional Service category. According to the feedback from the judges, “the size, scale and expertise of this international company protects the buyer and its growing specialist knowledge creates value for a wide variety of developers.” The Registry Collection..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/323.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:32:00 +0000Citadel Trustees Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Hutchinson, has signed a mutual co-operation agreement with Best Group to provide a one-stop for commercial, legal and trustee services to real estate developers looking to enter the fractional market. The agreement means that once Best Group has taken the developer through the initial commercial feasibility phase, then Citadel will structure the legal..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/324.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:32:00 +0000Occupancy at Hapimag resorts remained high during the summer months at 87.6 per cent, with 1,130,000 overnight stays, a level similar to last year's, despite the economic crisis. The most popular resorts were La Madrague in France and the recently extended resort in Tonda, Italy, as well as Hapimag's German resorts, which reported an average 98 per cent occupancy rate. Winter bookings show the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/322.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:31:00 +0000Recent timeshare purchasers are younger, wealthier, and savvier, according to the Vacation Timeshare Owners Report: 2009 Edition, prepared by Penn Schoen & Berland Associates for the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). The new report shows how the profile and attitude of buyers is gradually changing, with significant differences between traditional timeshare owners and new purchasers. According..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/321.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:30:00 +0000RDO’s Enforcement team in Spain confirmed that five companies have been recently closed down by the Spanish authorities on the Costa del Sol, on suspicion of fraudulent activities related to timeshare. The companies closed include First Legal Services, a class action company operating from Estepona, and Multisur, a resale company operating from Fuengirola, where five people were arrested...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/320.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:29:00 +0000The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) has agreed to the creation of a self-regulation system for OPC (off premises contact) activity, suggested by RDO as an alternative to the possible complete ban previously suggested by the Government. This is the result of RDO’s close cooperation with active timeshare companies in Malta, all of which have now decided to become members. RDO will now start working..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/319.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:27:00 +0000Movers and shakers in the fractional ownership industry, gathered at a breakfast meeting organised by OPP, called for the appointment of a “fractional champion” to help raise awareness of shared ownership and its potential. Amongst those present were Paul Gardner Bougaard, chief executive of RDO and head of the Fractional and Shared Ownership Trade Association (FSOTA); Piers Brown, founder..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/318.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:26:00 +0000Industry members resident on the Costa del Sol and others coming from the UK and Portugal took part in RDO’s special golf event held at Santana Golf and Country Club on 30 October. Participants enjoyed a challenging round of golf in glorious autumn sunshine, rounded off with a traditional Spanish barbecue and discussions and replays of shots well into the night. The winner of the Individual..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/317.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:25:00 +0000RDO has warned its members against any unsolicited approach by an organisation in the UK using the names of 'Owners Action', 'ITRA' and 'Bridge View Consultants LTD'. Allegedly, this organisation has been contacting Group RCI members to inform them they may be entitled to compensation from RCI. It is thought that this organisation may be offering members participation in a proposed class action..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/316.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:23:00 +0000In a new initiative from the Resort Development Organisation (RDO), the Legislative Council has recently sent members two Information Notices concerning important legal developments affecting the industry such as the new Timeshare Directive and the Rome I Regulation. The first paper details the future requirements of the new Timeshare Directive in order to give members an insight into how their..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/315.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:19:00 +0000Interval International has announced two new affiliations to its exchange network: Geovillage Sport and Wellness resort on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda, and the five star Royal Club at Bonnington Tower in Dubai. Geovillage Sport and Wellness Resort is developer Gavino Docche’s first venture into timesharing. Set on 14 hectares of Mediterranean gardens near Olbia, on the northeast coast..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/314.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:18:00 +0000The Group RCI web-based TV channel, RCI TV, launched earlier this year and until now only available to RCI members, is now live and available to all consumers on www.rci.com. Consumers will be able to find information about Group RCI products and services, as well as travel and resort information. Viewers can access a Destination Review Channel and a Resort Showcase channel, with video footage and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/313.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:17:00 +0000Consumer shared ownership magazine, Owners Perspective, has launched an online fractional property guide at www.fractionalpropertyguide.com, featuring an exclusive collection of fractional properties selected from approved advertisers. Consumers can find, at their own pace, essential information about each property, including images and a video. When they are ready to discuss a potential purchase,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/312.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:16:00 +0000The importance of nurturing existing customers and the need for greater innovation in the timeshare industry were amongst the dominant themes discussed at The Forum, the industry event organised by Generator Systems and Perspective Magazine in London on 9-10 December. With a full programme of interactive panel discussions, The Forum aimed to give industry professionals a platform to share their..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/310.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:15:00 +0000Most active leisure travellers in the United States are receptive towards timeshare, with 2.3 million households interested in purchasing some form of vacation time during the next two years, according to the study ‘Future Timeshare Buyers: 2009 Market Profile’ released by Interval International. The study was developed from a nationally-representative sample of active leisure travellers..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/311.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:15:00 +0000Spanish Police have arrested a network of 22 people in Tenerife and Malaga, on the Costa del Sol, on suspicion of fraudulent timeshare resale activity. The fraudsters were helped by disgruntled employees of the companies which manage the timeshare resorts, who would provide them with the timeshare owners’ contact details. Some victims were conned several times by the scheming network, whose..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/309.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:14:00 +0000Next year’s Fractional Summit, taking place on 18-19 February at the Marriott London, Grosvenor Square, will include a special session by the Fractional and Shared Ownership Trade Association (FSOTA), aimed at raising awareness of the role of the organisation and attracting new members. FSOTA is a newly formed trade association, under the RDO umbrella, dedicated to promoting best practice..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/308.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:13:00 +0000RDO has announced that Secretary General, Peter van der Mark, will leave the organisation at the end of 2010, after 11 years holding the role. Peter was amongst the founders of RDO (then the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe) in London and has focused on lobbying from RDO’s office in Brussels since 2003, successfully ensuring maximum input in the development of the new European Directive..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/307.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:12:00 +0000As we approach the season of good will, RDO brings good news for members interested in sponsoring the timeshare website www.gotimeshare.org, by reducing sponsorship costs by half. The top sponsorship package, which includes banner advertising and the opportunity to submit four articles or resort features per year for publication on the website, as well as displaying the company logo and description,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/306.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:11:00 +0000The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) will hold its much anticipated 2010 Conference at the Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa in Marbella, on 5-6 October next year. The announcement was made at The Forum industry event in London. RDO 1 will be the organisation’s first conference since changing its name to RDO and, according to Robin Mills, Chairman of RDO’s Communications Council,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/305.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 16:09:00 +0000Marriott International has indicated its intention not to invest in new timeshare developments in the current economic climate, after the publication of its 2009 fourth quarter and full year results showed a decline of 23% in timeshare contract sales year on year. On a more upbeat note, Marriott stated that it expects the timeshare business to pick up in 2010, forecasting US$175 million to US$200..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/281.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 15:01:00 +0000FractionalStaff.com, a new website dedicated to the recruiting of professional sales executives for the purpose of fractional property sales has been officially launched following a successful test-mode period since August 2009. The site has already reached the top spot on Google for the search term “fractional jobs” and is attracting high quality applicants. It is a new service from industry..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/280.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 15:00:00 +0000Sol Melia Vacation Club has announced that three of its resorts are now affiliated with The Registry Collection luxury exchange programme. The new affiliations are for Sol Melia Vacation Club at The Reserve at Palma Real and The Reserve at Paradisus Punta Cana, both in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and for Sol Melia Vacation Club at Gran Melia Palacio de Isora in Tenerife, on Spain’s Canary..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/279.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:59:00 +0000Around 270 fractional property industry professionals and press gathered at the Marriott London Grosvenor Square on 18 and 19 February for the third annual Fractional Summit. “This year we achieved our biggest attendance yet,” said Piers Brown, Founder of Fractional Life. “It was great to see so many new faces from around the world, as well as a bigger press focus, which is important..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/278.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:58:00 +0000Perspective Forums (www.perspectiveforums.com), the first standalone social networking platform dedicated to the timeshare and fractional ownership industry, is already attracting a good deal of interest and positive feedback from the industry just weeks after its official launch. The new site, an initiative by Perspective Magazine said to combine the most popular features of Facebook, Twitter and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/277.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:57:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of Firstlight The K Club and Spa Resort in County Kildare, Ireland, to its exchange network. The resort is set on a one mile stretch of the River Liffey in 550 acres of parkland, and includes 30 ready-to-occupy luxury apartments and detached homes in a residential development called Ladycastle, as well as a luxury AA Five Red Star hotel in a restored..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/276.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:56:00 +0000More than a year on since the European Parliament and Council of Ministers signed off the new EU Timeshare Directive, RDO is still waiting for drafts of how the new law will look in each member state. Most countries are working on drafts which should be published shortly. Eugene Miskelly, Chairman of RDO’s Legislative Council, says: “We are carrying on with the ground work so that we..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/275.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:55:00 +0000The number of consumer complaints received against RDO members has nearly halved during 2009, compared to the previous year. A mere 50 complaints against RDO members were received in 2009, with 93% of them resolved promptly and satisfactorily. “It is significant that the number of complaints against RDO members continues to fall, but our objective is to bring this number down even further,”..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/274.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:54:00 +0000RDO is asking consumers throughout Europe who think they may have been targeted by supposed class action schemes and fraudulent resale and holiday club operators to come forward and help the Enforcement team gather evidence to present a strong case to the police. As part of RDO’s renewed drive to protect the consumer, the Enforcement team will be putting together a database with detailed information..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/273.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:53:00 +0000A greater emphasis on protecting consumers and providing them with more information about timeshare will be the focus for the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) this year, as outlined by the organisation’s Chairman Richard McIntosh. “Safeguarding consumers’ interests is our top priority,” said McIntosh, “and the work of RDO’s Enforcement team is more important..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/272.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:52:00 +0000RDO has turned to micro-blogging site Twitter in its latest effort to engage with the media, the industry and consumers and keep them informed. RDO’s official Twitter feed @RDOOfficial has regular updates, news and comments on all matters relating to timeshare. While the official RDO tweets focus mostly on news, RDO’s Head of Operations, Sue McNicol, has also started her own Twitter..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/270.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:43:00 +0000Hapimag, the leading European company for part-time rights of residence, has reported improved sales and company results for 2009 despite the difficult global economic situation, continuing the positive trend of previous years. The company’s operating income for 2009 was 171.6 million euros, an increase of 3.7% on the previous year, whilst its sales revenue grew by 7% to 37.8 million euros...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/271.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:43:00 +0000The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) has launched a dedicated website – www.rdoconference.org - and opened on-line registration for the RDO1 Conference: The Road Ahead, which will take place at the Don Carlos Resort & Spa in Marbella (Spain) on 4-6 October 2010. The new website has information on the Conference venue, schedule, confirmed speakers and sponsorship opportunities, with..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/269.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:40:00 +0000Juan Vela Ruiz has been elected as the new president of the Mexican Resort Development Association (AMDETUR) for 2010 and 2011. The appointment was announced at the association’s recent General Assembly.http://www.rdo.org/news-items/268.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:39:00 +0000Details have been announced for this year’s RCI Christel House Open. The UK leg of the annual international charity golf tournament will be held at the Ealing Golf Club in West London on Monday 7 June. The Christel House Charity Golf Day takes place simultaneously at 18 sites across six countries and gathers thousands of timeshare and hospitality industry professionals from around the world. Participants..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/267.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:38:00 +0000TATOC, The Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees), urged delegates attending its annual conference at The Belfry Hotel in Nottingham, England, from 26-28 March, to spread the word about the benefits of timeshare. Mark Cushway of Resorts Properties told delegates that everyone involved with timeshare had the opportunity to change the industry in a positive way. “It is time..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/266.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:37:00 +0000RDO’s Enforcement team is continuing its campaign against the fraudulent activities of discount travel membership clubs (DTMCs) in the Canary Islands by lobbying the local authorities. In a recent meeting with the Tourism Minister for Gran Canaria, the Head of RDO’s Enforcement Project, Alberto Garcia, explained the modus operandi of these companies and the damage they are causing, not..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/265.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:36:00 +0000Travel & Leisure Group has been appointed as the first ever authorised reseller for Diamond Resorts International (DRI) points. DRI members could previously only sell their points privately to close family members or other owners. While they can continue to do so, the new partnership will allow them to sell points to members and non-members through the Travel & Leisure Group, provided that..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/264.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:35:00 +0000The website of trade publication Perspective Magazine,, achieved the top ranking on Google.com searches for the term "fractional news", according to publishers Perspective International. According to Perspective International’s CEO Paul Mattimoe [pictured], "quality content, loyal repeat visitors and natural growth" have been the key to achieving regularly high search engine..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/263.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:34:00 +0000SkiStar, one of the strongest hospitality brands in the Nordic region, has moved into shared ownership with the affiliation of two of its resorts – SkiStar Vacation Club Fjällhotel and SkiStar Vacation Club Snötorget in Sweden - with the RCI network. The resorts are located in Sälen, one of the best skiing and snowboarding areas in Sweden famous for hosting the start of Vasaloppet,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/262.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:32:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of Emirates Vacation Club, a private residence club in Dubai, Mjejane Game Reserve at Kruger National Park in South Africa, and the Peninsula Bay Resort on the Indonesian island of Bali. The Emirates Vacation Club’s first phase consists of 32 luxury units located within the 48-storey Emirates Grand Hotel, which is renowned for its innovative..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/261.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:31:00 +0000Timeshare owners have a new, safe way of selling, buying, renting or exchanging their weeks through Timeshare Shopper, a new auction website launched by Worldwide Hypermarket at the TATOC annual conference. Inspired by successful auction sites like eBay, Timeshare Shopper puts owners in control of the whole process, allowing them to advertise their timeshare at the price they believe is fair,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/260.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:30:00 +0000Top timeshare professionals from around the world exchanged ideas for the industry’s future at the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) 2010 Convention and Exposition, held at the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from 14 to 18 March. ARDA members were joined by 369 international colleagues from around the world, with representatives from Mexico and from the UK being..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/259.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:29:00 +0000With a massive backlog of flights now facing holidaymakers trying to get home, despite the opening of European airports, timeshare resorts which are members of the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) have been working tirelessly to provide emergency accommodation for stranded guests, helping them get home whenever possible now that the flight ban is officially over. Families with children have..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/258.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:27:00 +0000Recruitment site www.timesharestaff.com has introduced the option of advertising single position / single location jobs for shorter periods of 30 days at a time, in addition to its longer term recruitment packages, in a bid to ease the rebuilding of timeshare sales and marketing teams. “There is definitely movement again within the shared ownership industry,” said CEO, Paul Mattimoe...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/256.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:09:00 +0000Hapimag is investing around one million euros on the construction of a striking new restaurant in the sand dunes at the resort of Hörnum on the German island of Sylt. The new “Breizh” restaurant, expected to be completed by August 2010, will have a modern design combining glass and wood, enabling guests to enjoy great views of the North Sea while dining. The menu will be characterised..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/257.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:09:00 +0000Mayhills Resorts in Gangwon Province, one of the most popular ski areas in the Republic of Korea, is the latest addition to Interval International’s vacation exchange network. The 357 studios and one- and two-bedroom units, all with balconies, occupy a 12-storey tower with panoramic views of the mountains. Guests have access to two restaurants, a fitness centre, sauna, games room and a convenience..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/255.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:08:00 +0000RCI has enhanced its portfolio in Asia and the Middle East with the affiliation of several new properties to its vacation exchange network in recent weeks. Asia is a growing market for fractional and vacation ownership products. The new properties, including four resorts in Vietnam, two in Indonesia and a sea-villa resort in Malaysia, bring the total of RCI affiliated resorts in Asia to nearly 150...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/254.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:07:00 +0000Leaders from the vacation ownership, fractional and private residence club industries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) gathered in Dubai for the Shared Ownership Summit, held on 1 May as part of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2010. Co-hosted by Bench Events, Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) and RCI, the Summit focused on the increasing relevance of shared ownership products..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/252.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:06:00 +0000Ragatz Associates presented the results of its latest research on “The shared ownership real estate industry in North America” at the organisation’s 2010 Fractional Interest Conference in San Francisco. According to the research, the estimated total sales in the shared ownership industry in 2009 amounted to US$ 860 million, down 44 per cent on the results of the previous year...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/253.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:06:00 +0000The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has arrested Hudson Gabay of British American Homes, who was wanted in connection to a US$ 15 million real estate scam. Gabay had been targeting British investors with offers for the Elliot’s Landing development in Florida. Despite the fact that he didn’t own the land when he started marketing it, Gabay pocketed around US$ 15 million from deposits..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/251.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:05:00 +0000APD Leisure and Marketing, a holiday club operator based in North Lancashire (England) suspected of fraudulent activity, has been wound up in the High Court following a successful Insolvency Service probe. The company allegedly cold-called members of the public to tell them they had won a holiday and then made them attend a sales presentation where they were encouraged to join the holiday club...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/250.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:03:00 +0000RDO Spain will host the first in a series of workshops to inform members about the new ‘Q’ Quality Standard for timeshare companies on 27 May in Gran Canaria. The event aims to explain the importance of having a dedicated quality standard for the timeshare industry which is recognised both nationally and internationally, and the benefits that compliance brings to timeshare companies...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/249.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 14:02:00 +0000RDO has introduced The Chief Executive’s Blog on www.rdo.org, the organisation’s latest initiative to increase positive online coverage of timeshare and engage with the industry, the media and the public in an open, honest online debate. Paul Gardner Bougaard, RDO’s Chief Executive, will regularly offer his views on key industry issues, ranging from consumer trends to the industry’s..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/248.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:57:00 +0000The timeshare industry has come to the rescue of stranded holidaymakers affected by the ongoing volcanic ash crisis, with many resorts which are members of the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) providing emergency accommodation. During the first flight disruptions in April, many resort teams worked flat out to ensure that owners had somewhere to stay and helped with last minute travel arrangements...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/247.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:56:00 +0000A recent poll about the Canadian recreational market brought interesting results for the timeshare industry, showing an increased public interest for condominium-style recreational homes and other timeshare products. The percentage of people interested in purchasing a condominium at a resort rose from 6% last year to 24% in 2010. Overall, 10% of the people interviewed nationally said they would..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/246.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:52:00 +0000Global hospitality and vacation ownership company, Diamond Resorts International (DRI), has stated its commitment to sustainability by joining The International Tourism Partnership. Part of The International Business Leaders Forum, The International Tourism Partnership brings together leading companies in the hospitality and tourism industry that share the same commitment to finding practical solutions..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/245.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:51:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of its first ever property in Bangladesh, the Bengal Vacation Club at Sea Pearl Beach Resort and Spa in Cox’s Bazar. Due for completion in October 2011, Sea Pearl Beach will offer a mixture of studios, one- and two-bedroom units with sea views and access to the world’s longest natural white sand beach on the Bay of Bengal. Facilities..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/243.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:50:00 +0000Citadel Trustees Ltd has recently announced its appointment by Spanish resort developer Novaterra and the Cypriot fractional developer, the Petevinos Group. Citadel will provide bespoke Escrow and Stakeholder services to Novaterra for their shared ownership programme at the Arcos Gardens Golf Club & country Estate. The luxury golf resort is located 20 minutes from the city of Jerez, the home..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/244.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:50:00 +0000RCI’s web-based television network, RCI TV, has been viewed more than one million times since its launch last year. The service, initially exclusive to RCI members, was made available to the general public in November 2009. RCI TV was launched to help promote the benefits of timeshare to consumers, through a range of entertaining and educational high-definition videos. Consumers can find practical..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/242.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:49:00 +0000A white paper outlining key trends in the travel industry for 2010 and beyond, prepared by RDO member, Flagship Consulting, provides a useful insight for timeshare companies into the preferences of British travellers. The research and publication of the Travel Trends 2010 white paper is part of the creation of content for RDO’s online campaign, which has also seen the launch of RDO Twitter..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/241.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:48:00 +0000New, tough legislation to regulate the activity of OPC (off premises contact) representatives of timeshare companies has been introduced in Malta, following previous discussions between RDO and the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). The new regulations establish strict requirements for timeshare companies wanting to use OPC activity, including the payment of a pre-paid deposit to guarantee the good..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/240.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:47:00 +0000Mexico’s Ministry of the Economy has established new information requirements and regulations for providers of timeshare services. The new Official Mexican Norm (NOM) will be effective from mid July 2010. The new NOM broadens the definition of timeshare service provider and prohibits them from using raffles, gifts, prizes or lodging certificates to offer their services without clearly explaining..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/239.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:46:00 +0000The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) has announced details for its traditional pre-conference golf tournament. The RDO1 Golf Competition will be held at Golf Rio Real, a challenging 18 hole course owned by the Rio Real Hotel Considered one of the best golf courses in Marbella, Golf Rio Real was inaugurated in 1965 and designed by Javier Arana. It has its own country club and golf learning academy. Registration..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/237.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:45:00 +0000Representatives from the 30 European Consumer Centres (ECC), gathered in Mallorca for the network’s annual three-day conference earlier this month, had the opportunity to learn more about timeshare and the role of RDO and the Enforcement Project. Alberto Garcia, head of RDO’s Enforcement Project, was invited to make a presentation to the ECC Network, to help dispel any misconceptions..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/238.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:45:00 +0000The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) has responded to a statement issued by Claims Directive claiming that “the timeshare industry in Spain is set to collapse” with strong arguments that demonstrate the health of the industry not only in Spain, but in the whole of Europe and in the US. The assertions made by Claims Directive, a company that claims to “offer timeshare advice..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/236.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:43:00 +0000Marriott Vacation Club has launched a new, points-based Marriott Vacation Club Destinations programme in North America and the Caribbean, offering greater flexibility, further personalization and more opportunities for owners. Lee Cunningham, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Marriott Vacation Club, North America and the Caribbean, said: "Over the years, we have successfully..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/235.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:40:00 +0000RCI has launched a new and greatly enhanced website, www.rciventures.com, which the company describes as a ‘must read’ source for news and views on the shared vacation ownership industry in Europe, Middle East, Africa and India regions. The new site includes interactive features such as regular podcast from the ‘Ventures Visionaries’ industry leaders and online subscriptions..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/233.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:39:00 +0000Perspective International celebrates an early finish to its expansion project with the announcement that a new Asia Pacific edition of Perspective Magazine will be launched at the ATHOC Convention in New Zealand in September 2010, months ahead of schedule. This will be the fourth version of the shared ownership industry magazine, which has grown from a small European publication into a globally..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/234.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:39:00 +0000Timeshare owners and resorts with available inventory can now rent their unused weeks to holidaymakers looking for resort-based apartment accommodation thanks to Holiday Letting Shop (HLS), a new holiday resort rental business and website. The www.holidaylettingshop.com website features a live search, reservation and secure payment facility, and allows holidaymakers to look for accommodation by..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/232.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:37:00 +0000A new report into the Australia and New Zealand fractional market claims the sector there could generate anything from AUD$9 billion to AUD$70 billion in sales revenue, with potential consumer demand from up to 470000 households. The Australia and New Zealand Fractional Market 2010 report was commissioned by The Registry Collection and compiled by Ragatz Associates, Australian market research firm,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/231.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:35:00 +0000The Village at Machrihanish Dunes on the southwest coast of the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland, considered a haven for golfers, has been affiliated to The Registry Collection luxury exchange programme. The area is home to The Machrihanish Golf Club, designed by Old Tom Morris, which opened in 1876. Its first tee, regarded by many as the greatest opening hole in golf, lies just across the road from..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/230.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:34:00 +0000New legislation approved in Florida will provide relief to timeshare owners’ associations (HOAs) and developers left to foot the bill for those owners who can no longer afford to make their maintenance fee or mortgage payment, by shortening the time needed to complete a foreclosure action. While judicial processes for timeshare interest foreclosures can take as long as 18 months, the new process,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/228.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:31:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of two properties from Tau Resort’s collection of beachfront and boutique eco-resorts: Tau nahui and Tau Santa Maria in Mexico. According to Marcos Agostini, Interval International’s vice president for Latin America, the new resorts “will give members the opportunity to experience some of the rich cultural traditions and ecological..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/229.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:31:00 +0000Following a report from RDO’s Enforcement team, Spanish police have arrested the person behind the fraudulent timeshare resale company Benedetti & Asociados, which was targeting timeshare owners on the Costa del Sol. Using the name of a company which had in fact been dissolved in 1989, the fraudsters were approaching timeshare owners with the promise of a corporate buyer, demanding an..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/227.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:30:00 +0000A new procedure to fight against the fraudulent activities of Discount Travel Membership Clubs (DTMCs) in the Canary Islands was agreed following a meeting between RDO’s Enforcement team and the local authorities. Attending the meeting were representatives from the Consumer Affairs, Tourism and Development departments in the Canary Islands Government, as well as the Head of the EU’s..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/226.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:29:00 +0000RDO has warned owners to be wary of any approach inviting them to join a class action scheme against their resort developer or exchange company, as these are often a cover up to make them join an expensive Holiday Club under false pretences, something which has been illegal since 2008. Class actions in Europe can take many years to come to a conclusion and money may never be paid out in the end,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/224.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:27:00 +0000RDO welcomes the announcement of the UK Government’s formal consultation on the proposed Timeshare, Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange Contracts Regulation 2010, which aims to transpose into UK law the EU Timeshare Directive approved in February 2009. Industry members, enforcement authorities, consumers and other interested parties are invited to submit their views before 1 October 2010...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/225.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:27:00 +0000The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) has unveiled details of the sessions, guest speakers and social events that members will be able to enjoy at the RDO1 Conference which will take place at the Don Carlos Resort & Spa in Marbella (Spain) on 5-6 October 2010. Panel sessions scheduled will look at a wide range of topics such as which fractional structures work best, what the next generation..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/223.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:26:00 +0000Seasoned timeshare conman Garry Leigh was killed in an accident while cycling on the A-7 in Marbella, on Spain’s Costa del Sol where he was based. The brother-in-law of Costa killer Tony King, Leigh had been involved in a variety of timeshare related scams and one of his companies, Incentive Leisure Group, was recently raided for breaches of consumer law. http://www.rdo.org/news-items/222.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:23:00 +0000Plantation Resort at Myrtle Beach in South Caroline has contracted TimeShareWare to provide a complete software solution for the premier vacation destination, installing the entire TimeShareWare Enterprise suite. The TimeShareWare software platform includes solutions for lead and tour management, contract processing, sales and marketing, owner accounting, loan servicing, property management, reservations..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/221.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:22:00 +0000Real estate agents suffered a 300% drop in income and compensation was generally lower than last year as the timeshare industry continues to battle the recession, according to the 2010 Salary Study published by Executive Quest. On the plus side, sales managers and directors took a minor cut in compensation while training specialists and directors saw their compensation increase by more than 200%,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/220.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:21:00 +0000Interval International has affiliated Bali Palms in the East Bali town of Candi Dasa, a beachfront resort with fractional vacation residences available in studios or apartments in 3, 6 or 9 month increments. All the units have a private balcony or porch with panoramic views of the ocean and the surrounding mountains, including Bali’s highest and most sacred Mount Agung. The nearby coral beds,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/219.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:20:00 +0000RCI has announced the affiliation of Sithonia Beach Club at Porto Carras, in the popular Halkidiki area of mainland Greece, to its global vacation exchange network. Sithonia Beach Club is part of the mixed-use Porto Carras Grand Resort, which also includes four luxury hotels, a casino, modern Thalassotherapy and spa facilities, a conference centre and an 18-hole golf course. Guests can also enjoy..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/218.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:19:00 +0000The Pestana Group has signed an agreement for the management of a new luxury aparthotel in Casablanca, which will become the group’s first ever property in Morocco. The new Pestana Casablanca is a modern four star condo-hotel with 104 one- and two-bedroom apartments. The beachfront aparthotel is part of Anfa Living Resort, a multi-purpose venture designed by Norman Foster & Partners located..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/217.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:18:00 +0000Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels has purchased Encantada Resort in Orlando, Florida, the company’s first mixed use resort in this popular American holiday destination. Encantada is located just 8km from Walt Disney World and in close proximity to other renowned theme parks in Orlando. The resort has its own natural lake and a wide range of entertainment and sport facilities nearby, including..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/216.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:17:00 +0000RDO has issued a warning to consumers after an increasing number of reports of a new scam targeting members of the public who had purchased a holiday club membership that included a cashback offer. The victims are being told that their cashback certificate is not registered correctly and invited to travel abroad, usually to the Canaries or mainland Spain, to solve the problem. Once there, they are..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/214.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:14:00 +0000RDO, alongside industry members, enforcement authorities and other interested parties, has been invited to respond to the UK Government’s consultation on the implementation of the EU Timeshare Directive. The consultation on the proposed Timeshare, Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange Contracts Regulations 2010 is open until 1 October 2010 and will lead to new national legislation to comply..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/213.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:12:00 +0000Bob Cotton OBE, who was Chief Executive of the British Hospitality Association until July this year, has been confirmed as guest speaker at the Resort Development Organisation’s RDO1 conference, this year´s main industry event taking place at the Don Carlos Resort & Spa in Marbella (Spain) on 4-6 October. “Bob Cotton has been active for nearly 40 years in the hospitality sector,..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/212.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:10:00 +0000RCI recently announced that Gordon Gurnik has expanded his leadership role to oversee RCI for Europe, Middle East, Africa and India (EMEAI) in addition to his current role as the head of North America. This will enable the company to combine and leverage the strengths of both regions to grow the business globally. Gurnik is a veteran of RCI who began his career over 20 years ago in RCI’s Indianapolis..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/211.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:07:00 +0000“See you in Marbella!” is the message from Richard McIntosh, Chairman of the Resort Development Organisation (RDO), as the final countdown begins for this year’s RDO1 Conference, taking place 4-6 October. “We are very excited about the forthcoming conference,” McIntosh says. “It will be great to get the industry together once again to share ideas and work out..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/210.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:06:00 +0000Consumers should be wary of any unsolicited calls from Equity Secure, a firm that claims to secure ‘equity release from your timeshare commitments’, according to the latest alert issued by RDO following several complaints received. Equity Secure operates using a website but does not appear to have an office in the UK. The firm has been wrongly informing timeshare owners that their maintenance..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/209.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:04:00 +0000The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is extending its digital remit to deliver more comprehensive consumer protection online. From 1 March 2011, the rules in the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing, which currently only apply to ads in paid-for space and sales promotions, will apply in full to marketing communications online in all sectors and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/208.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:03:00 +0000TATOC, the Timeshare Association has re-launched its Sharetime magazine in digital format, which is now available on its own dedicated website www.sharetimemagazine.com. The quarterly magazine will no longer be printed and will only be published online. The website also has the latest industry, general holiday and travel news, of interest to timeshare owners, committees and affiliates. Previous..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/207.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 13:02:00 +0000Interval International has announced the affiliation of Multiresidence de l’Elysee on the stylish Rue de Colisee in the heart of Paris. The six-storey building enjoys a prime location in an upscale neighbourhood on the right bank of the River Seine, close to the Champs-Elysees and the fine shopping and dining Paris is famous for. The resort offers a choice of five 30-square metre studios..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/206.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:57:00 +0000Anfi Group and the town council of Mogan in Gran Canaria have been given the green light by the Supreme Administrative Court to go ahead with the Anfi Tauro Golf & Luxury Resorts development, after winning an appeal. The resort, which is targeted at high end European visitors, already boasts a luxury hotel, a selection of freehold bungalows and villas, an 18-hole championship golf course, golf..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/205.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:56:00 +0000The first fractional real estate conference, Fractional Summit USA, which was held at the InterContinental Miami on 31 August and 1 September, has been deemed a success by organisers Fractional Life. The two-day seminar covered a wide range of topics, from the fundamentals of fractional development to rentals, exchange and rental programmes, destination clubs and marketing, among others. It also..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/204.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:53:00 +0000Following a steady first half of the year with total sales of 80.4 million euros, Hapimag is set to expand its portfolio with new addresses in Dresden (Germany), Lisbon (Portugal) and the Ligurian coast in Italy. Construction of the new city residence in Dresden is already advanced and the opening is scheduled for November 2010. The building occupies the site of the former British Hotel in the old..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/203.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:52:00 +0000Perspective Forums, the social media platform for the shared ownership industry launched by Perspective Magazine earlier this year, has proved popular with industry members attracting more than 3300 registered members who exchanged over 25,000 ‘friend requests’. “With the creation of Perspective Forums, we set up a timeshare and fractional community where members could seek each..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/202.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:51:00 +0000Industry leaders at the Vacation Ownership Investment Conference (VOIC), which took place at The Peabody in Orlando on 4-6 October, shared encouraging insights to hint that the timeshare industry is on the rebound. Although tourism in general is bouncing back, with lodging occupancy up nearly three per cent, timeshare sales were down by 33 per cent in 2009. This, however, was partly attributed to..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/201.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:47:00 +0000RCI TV, the web-based television network launched last year by RCI, has gone multilingual with the introduction of Spanish subtitles and more than 60 videos in Spanish, with more being added on an ongoing basis. Geoff Ballotti, CEO of RCI, explains: “Because RCI has more than 200,000 members in Latin America and about 30,000 Spanish speaking members in Europe, RCI TV in Spanish was a natural..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/200.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:46:00 +0000David F. Palmer has been named new President and Chief Financial Officer of Diamond Resorts Corporation, responsible for overseeing worldwide operations and management. Previously the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Diamond Resorts International, Palmer was instrumental in guiding the company through the global economic crisis over the past two and a half years, securing..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/199.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:43:00 +0000A recent economic impact study published by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) concludes that the timeshare industry in the US generated an estimated US$69 billion of economic output in 2009. The report, developed in association with Ernst & Young, also highlights other benefits the timeshare industry brought to the American economy, such as the creation of 465,800 full- and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/198.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:42:00 +0000Interval International has added The Reef Playacar Resort and Spa in Mexico’s Riviera Maya to its exchange network. Located in Playa del Carmen, the beachfront property features 202 suites surrounded by tropical gardens. Nearby attractions include the Maya site of Tulum, the eco-theme park Xcaret and the Island of Cozumel. The resort offers an all-inclusive plan which provides access to..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/197.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:41:00 +0000The Residence Club at The Baglioni Marrakech, a new resort in Morocco with villas created by renowned designer Jade Jagger, has joined The Registry Collection luxury exchange programme. The Baglioni Marrakech is an exclusive mixed-use resort set in 34 acres of parkland at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, expected to open in late 2011. It will offer a hotel operated by Baglioni Hotels, a luxury 1500..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/196.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:40:00 +0000The UK Chapter of RDO has submitted its official response to the consultation paper issued by the BIS (Department of Business, Innovation and Skills) on the implementation in the UK of the new EU Timeshare Directive. “As an industry, we are in full support of the introduction of these Regulations as they are set to provide levels of protection that previously did not exist, particularly in..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/195.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:39:00 +0000There was a lively debate on the subject of transparency within sales and marketing practices in the timeshare industry at RDO1, following the announcement of the results of a global trade and consumer study recently conducted by Perspective magazine. Moderator Paul Mattimoe, CEO of Perspective International, kick-started the debate by asking the panel whether there was a need for changing the way..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/194.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:36:00 +0000The use of social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter as key tools to engage with customers was a recurrent topic throughout RDO1, and the subject of a thought-provoking session moderated by Jackie Murphy, a consultant to RDO. Delegates learnt some staggering facts about social media and the profile and volume of its users. For example, they heard that 64 per cent of the UK population have..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/193.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:35:00 +0000Under the general title, ‘The road ahead’, RDO1 provided delegates with valuable insight into what the future may hold for the timeshare and fractional industries, while looking at what lessons can be learnt from other sectors. Guest speaker Professor Leo Jago, Acting Director of the Travel Research Institute at the University of Nottingham, talked about the main trends in tourism that..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/192.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:34:00 +0000RDO1, the first annual conference held by the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) since it changed its name, “exceeded all expectations” according to Robin Mills, Chairman of the Conference Working Group. “The venue, the sessions, the speakers... all were of the highest quality,” said Robin. “The level of attendance and the enthusiasm shown by all those who came was..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/191.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:32:00 +0000The average sales price of timeshare products held steady in 2010 despite a turbulent economic environment, as developers focused on expanding the options given to existing timeshare owners, according to the 2010 State of the Timeshare Industry: US study, commissioned by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). “Large timeshare developers intentionally reduced the scope of their..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/189.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:29:00 +0000The need for the creation of a trade association for the Asia-Pacific region was amongst the main conclusions drawn from the Alternative Ownership Conference – Asia Pacific (AOCAP), which took place in Phuket, Thailand, from 10-12 October. Robin Mills, Chairman of RDO’s Communications Council, moderated the conference and told delegates about the important role of an association within..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/187.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:27:00 +0000Aldea Thai, a high class resort in Playa del Carmen that blends “the sophistication of the Thai-Balinese spirit with the laid back soul of the Caribbean” has joined the RCI network of affiliated resorts. Located in Playa Tukan, Aldea Thai has one- and two-bedroom units that offer luxury accommodation with a private pool or Jacuzzi and ocean views. The resort has a giant swimming pool..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/186.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:22:00 +0000Interval International has added Villa Bossi Pucci Residence Club, a resort located in the heart of the Chianti region of Tuscany, Italy, to its global vacation exchange network. The 21 fractional residences at Villa Bossi Pucci are housed in buildings that once comprised a farming village, set amidst olive orchards and vineyards in the Tuscan hills. Each residence has generous interior space and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/185.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:21:00 +0000The Pestana Group has announced a new project in Argentina, the Pestana Buenos Aires Golf Hotel & Residences, to be added to the other two units the Portuguese Hotel Group already operates in Argentina. The Pestana Buenos Aires Golf Hotel & Residences will be built in the Buenos Aires Argentina Golf Club in Bella Vista, just 25 minutes from the capital. Construction work will begin next..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/184.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:20:00 +0000Spanish Police has recently closed down nine resale companies in the resort of Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol on suspicion of fraudulent activities. Four people were arrested during the raids, including Christopher Gerald Hannington, who was also wanted by Interpol. The nine companies closed down are: Inside Europe (Dentro de Europa), Viva Choice, Viva Travel Spain S.C., Viva International Vacation..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/182.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:14:00 +0000Work continues across EU countries to meet the deadline of 23 February 2011 set for the implementation of the new Timeshare Directive. In Germany, a new timeshare law has already been passed and will be implemented from 23 February 2011. France is the only EU country that has already implemented the new Directive. In the UK, the Government’s Department of Business, Innovation and Skills..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/181.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:13:00 +0000The Resort Development Association (RDO) has issued a call to action for timeshare owners, urging them to contribute one euro each to help fund the Enforcement Project and the Consumer Helpline, now that the responsibility for funding both has been passed to the Timeshare Partnership Trust (TPT). RDO has fully funded the Enforcement Project for the past four years. In this period, the Enforcement..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/180.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 12:12:00 +0000Marriott International has announced plans to split the company’s businesses into two publicly traded companies, spinning off its timeshare operations and development business as a new independent company in late 2011. The new company will focus on the timeshare business under the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton brands, whilst Marriott International will concentrate on the lodging management and..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/164.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 11:44:00 +0000Perspective international has announced plans to launch a collection of internet protocol TV channels, to be known as Perspective TV, periodically over the next 24 months. The first channel, aimed at consumers and yet to be named, is due to be launched as a Beta version in spring and fully operational by the second half of the year. This consumer channel aims to educate both existing timeshare..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/163.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 11:42:00 +0000The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) has launched a new website, www.ARDA-ROC.org, aimed at the one million members that make up its resort owners coalition (ROC), to keep them better informed and thus encourage them to be more active. The site provides information about legislative and regulatory policies, not just from around the US but also from other areas like the Caribbean, which..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/162.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 11:40:00 +0000Delegates at this year’s Fractional Summit Europe, which took place in London on 17 and 18 February, were reminded of the low awareness and understanding of the fractional concept amongst consumers, and the need for the industry to pull together to realise the huge potential of this growing sector. The two-day programme of presentations and panel discussions covered topics such as the rise..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/161.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 11:38:00 +0000Leading Vacation Club Silverpoint has selected resale experts Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket as its exclusive broker for all offsite resales, also including those of Silverpoint Leisure’s partner in Malta, the Island Residence Club (IRC). This initiative aims to give Silverpoint timeshare owners additional peace of mind and protection. Since Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket is against the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/160.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 11:37:00 +0000Leading French developer Group Cela has announced the affiliation of three new resorts to RCI – Cela Alénya, Cela Chamrousse and Cela Orelle – and renewed the affiliation agreement for its two existing RCI resorts, Cela Canet Malibu Village and Cela Canet Malibu Premier in Languedoc Roussillon. Cela Alénya, in the southern part of the Languedoc Roussillon region, is set..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/159.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 11:36:00 +0000Rimondi Grand Hotel & spa Resort on the north coast of the popular Greek island of Crete has joined Interval International’s global vacation exchange network. The mixed-use hillside resort, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, combines one- and two-bedroom hotel suites and two- and three-bedroom villas, available in five-week fractional shares. All the villas have a separate lounge with..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/158.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 11:35:00 +0000Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds has become the first English property to join The Registry collection luxury exchange programme. Located in an exclusive corner of rural Gloucestershire on a 600-acre private estate that is also a nature reserve, Lower Mill aims to give owners and guests a “back to nature” experience. Visitors can fish, sail or canoe on the lakes and enjoy a countryside..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/157.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 11:34:00 +0000Andrew Miln, Regional Director for the UK, Ireland and Malta at RCI, and David Clarke, Finance Director of Seasons Holidays, have been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Timeshare Council, RDO’s UK national chapter. Andrew replaces Susan Duncombe as RCI’s representative on the Board. He joined the company in 2008 and is responsible for all RCI affiliate relationships within the..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/156.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 11:33:00 +0000The Tourism Alliance, of which the UK Chapter of RDO is a member, has welcomed the new tourism strategy recently unveiled by the British government as potentially the most significant step forward for Britain’s tourism industry for many years. The new strategy aims to generate four million additional overseas visitors to the UK over the next four years, bringing in £2 billion worth of..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/155.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 11:32:00 +0000The implementation of the new Timeshare Directive in several European countries from 23 February was seen as positive news across the industry, but RDO warns there is still work to do and compliance may bring new challenges for developers. “Unfortunately some countries still have some way to go before definitive laws are in place, which creates uncertainty and makes it a more difficult process,”..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/154.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 12 May 2011 11:30:00 +0000It has been brought to RDO's [The Resort Development Organisation's] attention that a Singapore based resale company called World Axial Asia may be telephoning timeshare owners, informing them that they are representatives of RDO. This company is not associated with RDO in any way and is not authorised to act on its behalf. Members of the public should be on their guard if contacted by this company..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/127.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 06 May 2011 12:45:00 +0000NorthCourse Report, April 2009 Consumer trends Minimum disposable annual household income €90,000 p.a 49% state their travel patterns will not change over the next 12 months 34% state that fractional ownership would best suit their personal lifestyles (32% state hotels and 34%, rented apartments) 46% are likely to buy a fractional residence Destinations ..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/152.aspxResort Development OrganisationSun, 01 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts, home to Holiday Inn Club Vacations, was unveiled as the new Chairman of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) at their annual Convention and Exposition which took place at the Orlando World Centre Marriott from 27 to 31 March 2011. The overall message from the Convention was that there is growth ahead for the timeshare industry...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/135.aspxResort Development OrganisationSun, 01 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000The Concept The timeshare industry is over 30 years old, and generates revenues of over $9.4bn per annum. Today, there are 6.7 million timeshare owners worldwide, of which over one and a half million reside in Europe alone. Yet few realise the extent of timeshare's contribution to the economies of Europe and to providing all year round tourism and employment. The modern timeshare concept provides..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/77.aspxResort Development OrganisationSun, 01 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000With the theme “Sharing Success”, the annual conference of TATOC, The Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees), held at the Park Royal Hotel near Warrington, England, from 11 to 13 March 2011, was deemed “excellent”, according to feedback from the more than 100 delegates attending. Harry Taylor, the current CEO of TATOC who was confirmed as the new Executive..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/107.aspxResort Development OrganisationSun, 01 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000I am trying to avoid what I would call a “Unite moment” i.e I do not want to be accused of giving away the contents of an important industry meeting at the time it took place, so I have left a decent interval before talking about this particular one. So “Momentous” may be a little hyperbolic a description as we foregathered in the MacDonald Hotel, on a wet Manchester morning..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/97.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 18 Apr 2011 13:01:00 +0000A couple of weeks ago in the OPP News, there was a call for the establishment of a European wide cooling-off period in the cases of sales of freehold, often second-homes abroad, in order to avoid some of the scams perpetrated on people looking to buy their “Place in the Sun” . So often you hear of UK citizens in particular, who have sold up everything to move to the Southern Mediterranean..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/96.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 18 Apr 2011 12:59:00 +0000say “it’s that time of the year again” because we are all about to pack our bags and head off to Spain for the industry’s 2010 Conference. When I say “that time of the year again” this is not strictly correct, as in 2009, the RDO Board decided not to hold a conference in recognition of the fact that European economies were still in crisis and members would not be..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/95.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 18 Apr 2011 12:56:00 +0000Monday 4th October saw an unusually high influx of executives, managers, sales staff etc from leading European, American, Asian and South African timeshare and fractional developers, exchange companies, law firms, accountants etc , converge on the Don Carlos Hotel in Marbella on the Cost del Sol, for RDO 1 our 2010 industry conference , the first under the new RDO name. Apart from all the usual outside..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/94.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 18 Apr 2011 12:55:00 +0000Timeshare Owners, A Call to Action Last week the RDO Chairman sent the following letter out to all Developer members of our organisation and I have set it out below in full, as I believe it is something that should be made available to all those involved in our industry: TIMESHARE OWNERS, A CALL TO ACTION For over 4 years now, the Resort Development Organisation - the RDO, has funded a team..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/93.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 18 Apr 2011 12:53:00 +0000The Registry Collection is launching a series of roadshows to reach interested developers in key second home locations across Europe.http://www.rdo.org/news-items/80.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 18 Apr 2011 11:36:00 +0000Key Findings for 2007 General characteristics of the timeshare industry in Europe In 2007 1.5 million European households owned timeshare. The UK and Ireland form the largest market having 589,653 timeshare owners, followed by Germany and Italy. Most resorts are concentrated in Spain, with 26.3% of the total, 14.94% in Italy and 11.05% in the UK & Ireland There were a..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/73.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 14:34:00 +0000While the timeshare concept might be straightforward, the process by which it is turned into reality is somewhat more complex. The box below illustrates the principle stages in the chain that turns the concept into a product. Individual companies might undertake more than one of these activities – for example developers may market and operate their properties. Timeshare resort developers Timeshare..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/78.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 13:34:00 +0000Brussels 9th October 2009 - FSOTA (Fractional & Shared Ownership Trade Association) announced today a special introductory offer for new members. Companies that join the FSOTA between now and 1st February 2010 will receive full membership of the association at 1,216 Euros per year. This price is frozen for a 2 year period. Membership of the Association is open to businesses involved directly or..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/83.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000The RDO Conference is the only event for everyone involved in the European timeshare and fractional industries. It’s a great place to share ideas and work out ways for everyone to move forward for a successful and profitable future With a new format, engaging business sessions, excellent social events and great value delegate rates, RDO1 is set to be a must attend event. In addition to great..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/101.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000There will of course be situations where owners may need to dispose of their timeshare/points. However, as Timeshare is regarded as a long-term investment in holidays, as opposed to an investment in real estate, it would be unrealistic to rely on realising the original purchase price. Bear in mind that some resorts/unit sizes are far more popular than others and ; as sales depend on current supply..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/108.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000Contact/Attend your local police station to report the crime and to make a written statement on the official forms. This must also be typed to ensure all necessary parties can read the statement. Any documentary evidence should also be properly exhibited and attached to the statement. The statement should be translated into the language that has the jurisdiction of the crime. The statement should then..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/109.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000The figures below have been kindly provided by Ragatz Associates, a business unit of RCI, and are extracted from their “Resort Timesharing Worldwide: 2003 Edition Summary Report”. Worldwide $9.4 billion timeshare sales in 2002 6.7 million households own the rights to about 10.7 million timeshare weeks 5,425 timeshare resorts, of which around 25% are situated in Europe ..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/151.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000Ragatz Associates’ “The shared ownership resort real estate industry in North America: 2011” survey, presented at their Fractional Interest Conference in San Francisco (14-16 March), shows a drop in timeshare sales but concludes that the market is on the rebound as consumer confidence in the product remains strong. According to the survey, there are 331 fractional interest projects..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/136.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000Interval International has recently announced the affiliation of Arco del Saracino on Italy’s Salento Peninsula, and Villas d’Agua in the Portuguese Algarve to its global vacation exchange network. Arco del Saracino is located in the village of Lido Marini, in a relatively unknown part of Italy which is reminiscent of Greece “with its shallow turquoise-sea beaches, marine grottoes..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/137.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000 Belonging to RDO helps members to grow their business in a number of ways, notably through: Quality Endorsements Members can use the RDO logo on all their sales literature, business stationery and websites. The logo acts as a positive endorsement for customers who can be reassured that they are dealing with a company committed to offering the best in European timeshare and fractional ownership. Europe-wide..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/128.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000Tourism officials in the Cypriot resort of Paphos have introduced new penalties and an increased police presence to crack down on illegal timeshare touts, according to reports in the Cyprus Mail. Nassos Hadjigeorgiou from the Paphos regional board of tourism said a concerted effort is underway to rid the resort of illegal touts before the start of the summer season, with fines of more than 1500..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/134.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000The fractional and private residence club (PRC) market in the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean is showing small signs of recovery, particularly at the high end, despite sales being down for the first half of 2010, according to a half-year report issued by US fractional consultant Richard Ragatz. Total sales in the shared-ownership resort real estate industry during the first six months of 2010..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/188.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000Group RCI members will soon be able to enjoy a relaxing spa experience at a choice of two new resort affiliates in Turkey, the Salutaris Thermal Resort and Kartas Thermal and Spa Resort. Due to open in October 2009, the Kartas Thermal and Spa Resort is located in the Cavlak area of Bogazliyan, close to the historic city of Kayseri and Cappadocia. Accommodation is offered in hotel rooms and one-..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/358.aspxResort Development OrganisationTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000Resorts UK & Ireland: * England 74 * Wales 10 * Scotland 22 * Ireland 7 * Total 113 Weeks in the portfolio: * UK & Ireland 189,000 (72% already purchased) * Scotland 56,000 (81% already purchased) Average accommodation units per resort: * England 30 * Wales 31 * Scotland 51 * Ireland 15 * Total 3,780 Average rooms per resort: * England 53 * Wales 57 * Scotland..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/150.aspxResort Development OrganisationSat, 01 Jan 2011 01:00:00 +0000Fairmont Heritage Place, the private residence club division of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, has signed a multi-year agreement with The Registry Collection, to provide its owners with access to a broad range of luxury resort experiences. Members of The Registry Collection can now stay at Fairmont Heritage Place properties, which include luxury home developments spanning a range of world-class..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/138.aspxResort Development OrganisationSat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, Hard Rock International’s first ever all inclusive hotel and casino and the brand’s debut in the Caribbean, has joined RCI’s vacation exchange network. The 1800-room resort occupies 121 acres on Macao Beach and is home to the largest casino in the Dominican Republic, with 457 slot machines and 40 gaming tables..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/139.aspxResort Development OrganisationSat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000Solicitors If you feel that your genuine grievances are being rejected both by the timeshare company and by your credit card issuing bank or finance company regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974, you could consider obtaining a fee quotation from a solicitor for handling the claim. Or you could refer the claim against your card issuing bank to the Banking Ombudsman (pamphlet available from 020-7404..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/110.aspxResort Development OrganisationSat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000If you paid by means of a Visa credit card, you should be aware that Visa introduced a rule in November 1996 (which is not linked to any legislation) and Mastercard more recently (which is linked to the EU directive), which set out that a customer buying timeshare with a credit card is entitled to a 10-day cooling off period, irrespective of whether there is local cooling off legislation in place or..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/111.aspxResort Development OrganisationSat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000Nearly two months after the formal deadline given for the implementation of the new EU Timeshare Directive, only eleven European countries have completed the process. Work is continuing to reach the same level of consumer protection across the rest of Europe. The Directive has already been implemented in Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/103.aspxResort Development OrganisationSat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000Brussels 27th May 2009 - There are over 1.5 million timeshare owners in Europe and the vast majority *(87%) are happy with their holidays, with almost three quarters thinking that their timeshare accommodation is better than other self-catering holidays they have taken, with quality of accommodation the most important consideration for owners. This is according to a comprehensive study into timeshare..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/85.aspxResort Development OrganisationSat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000Brussels 22nd April 2009 - The Fractional and Shared Ownership Trade Association (FSOTA) has become a member of the trade body for vacation ownership, Resort Development Organisation (RDO). RDO promotes best practice and fair trading in the industry while protecting consumers through its code of conduct. While remaining a stand-alone association, FSOTA members are now bound by this code. Formerly..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/86.aspxResort Development OrganisationSat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000The Resort Development Industry is specifically regulated by national laws implementing the 1994 Timeshare Directive. The 1994 timeshare Directive and its national implementation laws are based on three corner stones of consumer protection: Ensuring that the consumer is given sufficient information in the contract on what they are actually buying to make an informed purchase decision; ..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/82.aspxResort Development OrganisationSat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000 1452 resorts in 25 countries in Europe. These resorts contain 83 026 units. The average resort comprises 57 units. Some 200 000 European citizens are employed as a result of timeshare’s economic activity. 1.4 million families own timeshare in Europe. Around 620 companies operate wholly or exclusively in the sector, and have a combined estimated turnover of €..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/76.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000Brussels 25th March - OTE (Organisation for Timeshare in Europe) announced today that it has changed its name to Resort Development Organisation (RDO). The new name is reflective of developments in the vacation ownership industry, which has changed dramatically since the 1960s when timeshare was first sold, giving the consumer a fixed week at one resort. Since then new forms of vacation ownership have..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/87.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000If you have a complaint about a non-RDO member's sales presentation, it is best to (jointly) sign a letter of complaint and to send it recorded delivery to the timeshare resort in question rather than writing to its trustees or head office elsewhere. Set out concisely what aspect of the sales talk you now find was inaccurate, and who made the misleading statements about which you are complaining. Ask..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/112.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000If you wish to cancel during the timeshare cancellation period, it is best to communicate this in writing by recorded delivery to the seller's office. Remember that if two people signed jointly, both should also sign the cancellation letter or formal Notice. You should give the contract number and the date on which you signed the agreement. Posting the cancellation recorded delivery relieves you of..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/113.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000Club Prive at Cape Royale Luxury Hotel and Residence in Cape Town, South Africa, has joined Preferred Residences, the exclusive membership and exchange programme offered by an operating business of Interval Leisure Group. Club Prive is a new shared ownership offering within this stately hotel which is situated against Table Mountain and offers panoramic views of the city and the Atlantic coastline...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/140.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels (CLC) has recently announced a number of key appointments at the company: Leslie McCann has joined as Marketing Director, while Richard Carrick has been appointed as a consultant and Martin Andrew as new Commercial and Distribution Director. Leslie McCann has more than 30 years’ experience in the timeshare industry, and was Group Marketing Director for LSI..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/141.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000Hapimag maintained a stable operating income and expanded its portfolio in 2010, but couldn’t avoid a negative group annual result of -7.8 million euros, caused by factors such as the weakness of the euro against the Swiss franc and reduced occupancy as a result of the volcanic ash cloud in April 2010. While the operating income was similar to that of 2009 at 171.7 million euros, operating..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/105.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000Hapimag maintained a stable operating income and expanded its portfolio in 2010, but couldn’t avoid a negative group annual result of -7.8 million euros, caused by factors such as the weakness of the euro against the Swiss franc and reduced occupancy as a result of the volcanic ash cloud in April 2010. While the operating income was similar to that of 2009 at 171.7 million euros, operating expenses..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/106.aspxResort Development OrganisationFri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000Travel public relations specialist Flagship Consulting recently picked up two awards at the annual Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Travel Marketing Awards ceremony in London. The consultancy won the “Best Strategic PR Campaign” award for their consumer awareness campaign for campsite online guide www.pitchup.com and was awarded the “Best Use of Social Media” Silver..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/142.aspxResort Development OrganisationSun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000Former RCI executive Vivienne Noyes-Thomas has embarked on the greatest adventure of her life, trekking to Everest Base Camp to raise funds for Christel House, the charity that helps children from backgrounds of abject poverty. On 7th April, she left for the ten-day long climb up to Base Camp, where she and a group of friends will spend the night in freezing temperatures at 17,600ft of altitude...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/143.aspxResort Development OrganisationSun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 RDO is in the first instance a trade association representing the timeshare industry in Europe. RDO therefore represents member companies and as such look after their interests. However, RDO's consumer policy allows for consumers to address complaints about members with RDO. RDO provides this consumer service free-of-charge and aims to resolve valid complaints against member companies. RDO's members..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/114.aspxResort Development OrganisationSun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000The Contract The contracts of RDO Members shall always be clear and comply with national Law and the EU Timeshare Directive and provide you with full protection. The printed agreement or contract will include all your rights and obligations. RDO Members must ensure that buyers receive in writing and in their own language all information which a prudent purchaser would reasonably require to make..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/115.aspxResort Development OrganisationSun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000Why timeshare could be right for you! There are many reasons why millions of families have chosen timeshare over traditional package holidays or owning a holiday home. By investing in future holidays, timeshare owners have peace of mind and security of ownership, paying only for the vacation time they actually use. They can relax knowing that the quality of accommodation is a known factor. Timeshare..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/116.aspxResort Development OrganisationSun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000The approval of the EU Timeshare Directive earlier this year was without doubt a major landmark but the job to protect consumers doesn’t end there according to the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE). “Although consumers will be better protected once the new Directive is implemented, there is always room for improvement”, said OTE’s Secretary General Peter van der Mark...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/89.aspxResort Development OrganisationSun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000Brussels 5th February - The OFT is appealing for complaints from timeshare owners who have received unsolicited approaches by scammers claiming to be resale agents and promising a 'guaranteed buyer' and a high price for their unwanted timeshare. The OFT is aware that many owners have already lost hundreds of pounds to bogus timeshare resale companies with some having also been conned into paying thousands..http://www.rdo.org/news-items/90.aspxResort Development OrganisationSun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000The Timeshare, Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange Contracts Regulations 2010 were laid in Parliament on Wednesday 15th December 2010 and are to come into force on 23rd February 2011. A copy of the regulations is attached, but can also be downloaded from: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2960/pdfs/uksi_20102960_en.pdfhttp://www.rdo.org/news-items/130.aspxResort Development OrganisationThu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000The OFT and Trading Standards have launched a campaign to raise awareness of scams by encouraging people to drop scam mail they have received into ‘Scamnesty’ bins located at public places around the country between the 1-26th February 2010. It is also possible to report bogus web sites, telephone calls, emails or even text messages through the Consumer Direct website (www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty)...http://www.rdo.org/news-items/126.aspxResort Development OrganisationMon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000