Visions of the World

It has been brought to our attention that there are several new companies emerging within the UK timeshare industry that are misleading clients into travelling to an office on the promise of an unconditional offer.THERE IS NO BUYER.We have spoken to some of our clients that have attended an appointment with these companies and believe they have been falsely promised and possibly defrauded out of thousands of pounds. The customer services team at ... more >

The 2011 edition of the report on the state of the timeshare industry in North America, which was commissioned by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and carried out by Ernst & Young, paints a positive picture that should please most resort developers and managers. Despite the slow pace of the economic recovery, during which occupancy rates at hotels in the USA have only reached 58%, nearly 80% of timeshare owners still elected... more >

There are many good reasons to invest in fractional holiday ownership, some of which are fairly obvious and others perhaps less so. The first thing to consider before purchasing a share in a holiday property is, of course, whether it is located somewhere that you are likely to want to return on a regular basis for the foreseeable future. If it is, then investing some of your hard-earned cash may be a proposition that is worth thinking about serio... more >

The shared ownership industry's first ever Global Network Exposition was held in the Bahamas in the early part of May this year and many companies with representatives who attended were keen to find out who had won one of the Perspective Magazine Awards. The leading trade publication in the timeshare and fractional ownership industry put a lot of effort into the judging and there were 34 categories with an elegant crystal trophy and the accol... more >

One of the attractions of fractional holiday ownership, apart from the opportunity of owning your own slice of paradise at a much lower cost than would be possible if you had to buy the whole property, is the exchange opportunities that are available to owners these days. When timeshare was first introduced, it was not possible to swap one's weeks for those at another resort or to swap them for different weeks in the same resort. Owners were ... more >

Five resorts in Gran Canaria that were previously owned by Puerto Calma Group have been acquired by Holiday Club Resorts, the Finnish vacation ownership company. Established in 1986, it is one of the largest firms of its kind in Europe and prior to this acquisition owned and operated 26 resorts, 23 of which are located in Finland. The purchase of the new developments, which are home to a total of 241 apartments, is part of the company's expan... more >

These two companies, that together have a vast amount of experience in the timeshare industry, have teamed up to launch a new resort at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Strand Capital Group is the area's leading developer of oceanfront properties and will be responsible for the management and development of the resort whilst HGVClub will be taking care of the sales and marketing side of things. The new resort is expected to open in 2012 and will... more >

Although some of the less scrupulous companies in the industry may try to convince potential buyers that timeshare ownership is a good investment that will appreciate over time, this is not always the case. However, what fractional ownership does have to offer is a relatively inflation-proof way of paying for future holidays at today's prices. If you are thinking about purchasing a week or two at a resort then the main factor to consider... more >

Owners of timeshares in areas as diverse as Florida, Mexico and Hilton Head Island in South Carolina are almost giving their shares away, claim some industry watchers. Whilst it is certainly true that one lady sold her week's share in a unit for the bargain price of $1, owners of shares in upmarket developments are not as likely to be forced into giving them away due to financial problems.An online search will turn up hundreds of cheap offers... more >

Despite the tough global economic conditions that have prevailed over the last few years, the Australian Timeshare Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC) recently reported that business in the industry was expanding at a healthy pace. Although this was based on a comparison of figures from 2005 with those from 2009, judging by the comments from leisure company executives with interests in the country the trend looks to be continuing. Over the four yea... more >

This well-known hospitality giant recently completed a $400m deal, consisting of the issue of investment-grade asset-backed notes that had a 98% advance rate, demonstrating continuing enthusiasm and confidence in this type of ABS by investors. The notes were issued by an indirect subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide: Sierra Timeshare 2011-1 Receivables Funding LLC. The advance rate is the amount of credit that lenders are prepared to extend a company ... more >

Since the late 1960s when the first timeshare resort was developed, the industry surrounding fractional ownership of holiday properties has grown exponentially to meet increasing demand. Unfortunately, one part of the business that has lagged behind is the resale market for owners of timeshare properties. Many resort developers have done nothing to solve this problem, meaning that thousands of owners are left to their own devices if they want, or... more >

In 1963, when holiday ownership was a completely new concept, Hapimag, a Swiss leisure company with an innovative approach, formed its first club for timeshare owners and since that time has gone from strength to strength. The company, which owns 57 resorts in 16 different countries, has recently completed its acquisition of a property at The Edinburgh Residence, a collection of 29 suites spread over three adjacent Victorian houses in Edinburgh&#... more >

Despite being pushed into 4th place last year by a surge of interest in the burgeoning tourism opportunities in the Far East, Spain could well bounce back in 2011 to regain its top 3 spot if the rise in bookings reported by online travel agents is anything to go by. The first two months of this year have already seen a marked increase in arrivals, with 2.66 million people heading for the sun soaked Canary Islands in January alone, many choosing t... more >

Thanks to the dubious practices of a number of holiday clubs and bogus resale companies, timeshare has long been tarnished with a shady image that, on the whole, is completely undeserved. Whilst there are sharp operators in the holiday ownership business, the majority of companies are straight down the line and in it for the long haul. One only has to look at some of the companies that have developed timeshare resorts over the last few years - Ma... more >

Marriott International recently announced their intention to split their luxury timeshare division into a separate company, leaving them to concentrate on the hotel management and franchise business that they are renowned for around the world. One of the reasons behind this decision is the demand for higher returns from investors that are not keen on capital-intensive operations such as the development of timeshare resorts. Nevertheless, the Marr... more >

The very name Egypt conjures up images of majestic pyramids shimmering in the desert heat and beautiful mosques in the historic city of Cairo but there is much more to discover in this country than monuments to ancient civilisation. In recent years several Red Sea resorts have sprung up to cater for visitors looking for a more conventional holiday, two of the most popular of which are Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. Both of these resorts are renown... more >