Timeshare News

Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate
5389 South Kirkman Rd Ste 103-106
Orlando, FL 32819
1-888-805-GMAC www.gmactd.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Erika Ives
1-888-805-GMAC – 114
2008 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® CONFERENCE
AND EXPO - A GREAT SUCCESS FOR TIMESHARE DIVISION GMAC REAL ESTATE

On November 7-10th real estate professionals from around the world gathered at the annual NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Conference & Expo, the real estate industry's premier event. Each year over 20,000 real estate professionals and guests attend to learn about the latest industry trends and cutting-edge products available. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is with out a doubt the main exponent in developing new standards for efficient, effective, and ethical real estate business practices of real property. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® was founded in 1908, a century later they continue to be the main association that respectively influences and shapes the real estate industry. Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate was just one of the many exhibiting at this event, more than 400 exhibitors make the REALTORS® Expo the world's largest real estate convention. Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate is dedicated in successfully helping clients buy, sell, or rent by exposing the after market of timeshares. Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate knows it takes more than a simple advertisement on a website to market timeshare correctly. Timeshare is a luxury item it requires very targeted marketing similar to the developers. Exhibiting at the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® was key for Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estates effort in attracting qualified buyers, sellers, and renters. The network opportunities, referrals, and leads generated at the expo proved to show a significant interest in the timeshare industry. This convention continued Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate path in leading the timeshare resale/rental industry. Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate strives for the next generation in timeshare resales/rentals, promising to build consumer confidence and reinforce expectations found common in the hospitality industry. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® exhibitor opportunity has assisted in the focus to sustain and build the evolving market of timeshare resales/rentals worldwide.

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If you would like more information about Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate, please do not hesitate to contact erika@gmactd.com or call 1-888-805-GMAC ext. 114.

Press Release: 2008 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® CONFERENCE AND EXPO

VacationBetter.Org Launches To Educate Consumers About How To Take Better Vacations

September 10, 2008 by Timeshare News

American Resort Development Association Promotes Online Resource

The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) today unveiled its new online resource to inform consumers on the importance of taking a vacation and the benefits of enjoying one — regularly — through vacation ownership. VacationBetter.org is a comprehensive, educational tool for consumers to learn about vacation ownership and to demonstrate a way for travelers to vacation better.

According to ARDA, people are faced with an increasingly diverse marketplace and options in leisure travel particularly blogs and travel related websites, making today’s vacation home market a continually evolving one.

“VacationBetter.org is a comprehensive resource that provides accurate information about vacations and timeshare products,” said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. “People love to vacation, but don’t always understand that there are great options like timeshare available to them. This site will be the ‘go-to’ resource on the Internet for all things timeshare.”

The website includes owner stories and photos, vacation information, and other tools to demonstrate that taking a vacation is an important priority and that a dream vacation can become a reality.

Despite recent surveys that found Americans receive the smallest amount of vacation time among their counterparts abroad with many failing to use it, timeshare owners continue to vacation despite challenging economic conditions. According to a study soon to be released by the ARDA International Foundation (AIF), timeshare owners spent an average of 19.5 days on leisure travel over the past twelve months.

Even Americans who do not take all of their vacation time each year recognize that vacations are much needed “sanity breaks” to prevent burnout from their jobs and daily life. Some studies point to increased stress levels, health risks and strained relationships as contributing factors from too much work and not enough vacation.

The website also provides steps to help the “vacation deprived” ensure that their next vacation is the best possible experience it can be. ARDA member resorts provide spacious accommodations in stunning locations with all the comforts of home. A timeshare resort offers hassle-free second home vacations designed with the sole purpose of making the most of precious leisure time together.

“VacationBetter.org will help begin to shift the mindset of today’s consumer from the feeling of ‘burn out’ to realizing the benefits of vacationing and committing to a vacation,” said Nusbaum.

Everyone deserves not only a vacation, but a better vacation. For more information, visit http://www.VacationBetter.org.

Commercial Property News (07/11/08) Baltic, Scott

Marriott Vacation Club International recently broke ground on the Lakeshore Reserve at Grande Lakes in Orlando. The 500-acre Grande Lakes campus is already home to both a JW Marriott hotel, a Ritz-Carlton lodging, a golf club and spa. The new timeshare resort is proposed to eventually include 340 villas and townhomes, with the initial phase slated for occupancy by summer 2010. Initial prices will range from $26,000 to $40,000 per week, depending on season and floor plan. Planned amenities will include a main pool with zero-entry; a second, "elegant-style" pool; a fitness facility; and a waterside promenade from the resort to the JW Marriott and outdoor grilling areas. Lakeshore Reserve will be Marriott's seventh property in Central Florida. As the economy weakens, industry officials note that the development risk is typically much lower for timeshares than for hotel rooms since they can be, and usually are, erected in phases. A 900-villa Marriott property in Orlando, for instance, recently completed construction a full decade after it began. Marriott Vacation Club International is the vacation ownership division of Marriott International Inc.

Timeshares Daily (07/21/08)

In a July study released by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) with research prepared by Ernst & Young, sales of new timeshares rose 6 percent last year over 2006, totaling $10.6 billion in the United States alone. Although gains were less than in previous years, the sale of new timeshares from 2003 to 2007 increased by a robust 66 percent. ARDA President and CEO Howard Nusbaum remarks, "The continued growth of the timeshare industry in today's economy is a direct indication of strong consumer satisfaction and demand. Vacation ownership, with its flexibility and spacious accommodations, continues to be a preferred travel choice for American families." As of this past January, 4.7 million Americans owned 6.5 million timeshare weekly intervals or the equivalent in points. At that time, there were 180,158 timeshare units in the U.S., with an additional 8,000 units under construction

We've found this very interesting article on the web coutesy of the Orlando Sentinel www.orlandosentinel.com

Florida remained the nation's leading time-share market last year, logging $3.9 billion in sales as the industry overall continued to prosper despite the slump in residential real estate.



According to a report released this week by the accounting firm Ernst & Young, about 23 percent of the country's time-share resorts are in the Sunshine State, and they garnered more than one-third of all sales in 2007.

Nationally, time-share sales totaled $10.6 billion, a 6 percent increase from the year before, according to the report, which was prepared on behalf of the American Resort Development Association International Foundation, the industry's research arm.

U.S. time-share companies last year sold nearly 551,500 time-share intervals -- typically a week's stay at a resort or an equivalent amount of "points" that can be redeemed at a resort. The average price paid in 2007 for a time share -- $19,216 -- was up 3.7 percent from 2006. The average occupancy rate of 80.1 percent was down only slightly from the year before.

The report was good news for the Orlando area, the unofficial hub of the time-share world. The region is home to many resorts and is the headquarters for the time-share divisions of several national brands, including Starwood, Marriott, Wyndham, Hilton and Disney.

"Time share continues to be the little train that could," said Howard Nusbaum, chief executive officer of the American Resort Development Association, the industry's main trade group. The business model is designed to constantly draw potential customers to the product, and one in 10 who visit eventually buys, Nusbaum said.

Time shares have proven to be resilient despite a tough real-estate market in part because people view them more as a travel expense and not a real-estate investment, Nusbaum said.

"They buy it because they believe they get better vacationing," he said. "People don't buy time share for the [price] appreciation factor -- they buy it for the use."



Orlando time-share magnate David Seigel said Tuesday his company has continued this year to set records every week and expects to sell $1 billion worth of time shares in 2008.

Siegel, owner of Central Florida Investments Inc., is topping off a 52-floor time-share development in Las Vegas today and planning to build a 2,500-villa project in Orlando next year.

Year-to-date, he said, business is up about 25 percent from 2007.

"Time share makes it possible for a middle-income family to vacation as good as anybody can," Siegel said.

Sara K. Clarke can be reached at skclarke@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5664.

J.T. Calloway (Webmaster TDGMAC) Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate 1-888-805-GMAC(4622) jt@gmactd.com

    The German Tour operator, "DERTOUR," chose Orlando as the new destination for their annual "DERTOUR Destination Special." Co-sponsored by United Airlines, the group of 100 top-producing travel agents participated in a fam tour to Florida which included a visit to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area prior to thier arrival in Orlando on May 8. In addition to the agents, the delegation included team members from "DERTOUR," as well as Europe-based representatives from the CVB, Universal Orlando Resort, World's of Discovery and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. The agents enjoyed a fun-filled, 4-day itinerary which included visits to Universal Orlando, Sea World Orlando, Aquatica Sea World's newest Water Park, and the Disney theme parks.

Marketing Orlando as the premier travel destination is the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau primary focus. One way to accomplish this is to tell Orlando's "story" to vacationers, meeting planners, members of the travel trade and media across the nation and around the world. Also the Public Relations department of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau sent an e-mail on March 26 to 970 journalists with tips on how to get the most value out of an Orlando vacation.

On March 13th Perspective Magazine attended the official launch party for Emerald Vacation Group’s new and first ever vacation ownership resort in the Maldives, the Turtle Cove Resort & Spa, held at the Raffles Hotel in Dubai.

Chris Jackson, General Manager hosted the event which included a speech from Maldivian Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dr Mahmood Shougee who enthusiastically welcomed the project and applauded it on its dedication to maintaining the beautiful surroundings.

Located on Mahadhdhoo Island on the eastern side of the large Huvadu atoll, the Turtle Cove Resort & Spa is a little over a kilometer long and beautifully formed in the shape of a peacock. Turtle Cove features 77 one bedroom villas and 10 two bedroom villas, a luxury spa, fine dining restaurants, boutique shopping promenade and water sports centre.

VIP owner Sir Bob Geldof also addressed the attendees of the launch and states, “The sheer beauty of the Maldives blows you away. I’m very lucky, I get to come here, be still, look at the sea, the sun, the fish, sleep and be slightly less grumpy. Not bad.”

Other celebrities that were at the launch included jockey Frankie Dettori and boxer Chris Eubank as well as a video testimonial from Elle McPherson.

Emerald Vacation Group is a recently formed division of Dubai based Emerald Properties, which has established itself as a leading property organisation in the UAE and is a member of the Salah Group.

For more information visit www.emeraldvacationgroup.com

Wyndham Vacation Ownership has acquired 33 vacation ownership units at the lakefront Ballards Pointe master planned community in Santee, SC, from Ballards Point 3, LLC. Wyndham Vacation Ownership also entered into a contractual agreement to purchase 78 additional units in two future phases, anticipated to occur through early 2009. Scheduled to operate under the company's FairShare Plus by Wyndham exchange portfolio, this acquisition marks the company's sixth resort in South Carolina. Santee is a year-round destination with championship golf courses, hiking trails, state parks, and shops. The area is most widely known for Lake Marion, a beautiful lake popular for its water activities. Ballards Pointe 3 is the third and final phase of The Shuler Group's Ballards Pointe Development.