Visions of the World

Timeshare Consumer Alert

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:31:02 BST

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 Visions Of The World are now in the process of helping these clients get their money back.

These Companies may use comments like "Visions Of The World never sell your timeshare." "It is illegal to transfer timeshare now." "Visions Of The World take your money and do nothing with it." These are all tactics to get you to an office to possibly defraud you out of your hard earned cash. These Companies are not members or affiliates with any Governing Bodies and are using tactics which have been used in the past by other Companies i.e. with Cash Back Scams, Property and Land Investment Programs, taking large amounts of money over the telephone on the promise of a buyer.

Where do you think they get your details from?

Please remember the fundamental reasons that made you contact Visions of the World!

Visions of the World are members of TATOC, RDO, ARDA AND CRDA Timeshare Governing Associations in the UK, EUROPE, AMERICA AND CANADA

Visions of the World are recommended by many resorts in Europe and around the World

Visions of the World have been trading for over 12 years.

Visions of the World spend thousands of pounds each and every calendar month on SEO, Social Media, Google, Yahoo and Bing pay per click Internet Advertising.

And Visions of the World are the highest ranked Internet Site within our sector of the Industry for targeted traffic.

These are the real facts so don't be misled into parting with thousands of pounds of your hard earned cash. If you have been called, paid money to, or have an appointment booked with any other Company remember the following!

The TATOC website advises people to ONLY attend an appointment booked by Visions of the World to see one of their representatives. Please see link provided Consumer Alert

Please call the Customer Services team today on 01702 533180 for honest advice and help.

For more information on how to buy, rent or sell timeshare, contact Visions of the World, your timeshare solution company.

Contact Information: Visions of the World Ltd Finance House, 20-21 Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, Essex, UK SS2 6UN +44 (0)870 442 8882

ARDA Reports Timeshare Industry Remains Steady

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:24:55 BST

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 to take a holiday in their property. The reason for this is suspected to be the more spacious accommodation that they enjoy, along with facilities such as fitted kitchens that enable guests to prepare meals in their home from home.

The rental market for timeshare units is also buoyant, with 10% of stays at such properties accounted for by customers that paid weekly rent. Continued innovation in the industry, with regard to new holiday products, has also been welcomed, with roughly 55% of owners surveyed reporting that they are members of some type of points-based programme. These programmes allow members more flexibility as to when and where they can stay, in contrast to the more traditional fixed weeks in specific holiday properties. Another popular product is biennial timeshare, a variant that allows owners to use their vacation weeks every other year rather than annually.

More news that appears to confirm how happy most owners are with their timeshare products is the fact that 45% of timeshare purchases were made by existing owners. Underpinning this strength is the ability of developers to attract lenders that has been demonstrated in recent years and ongoing efforts to educate consumers as to the real benefits that timeshare ownership has to offer.

For more information on how to buy, rent or sell timeshare, contact Visions of the World, your timeshare solution company.

Contact Information: Visions of the World Ltd Finance House, 20-21 Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, Essex, UK SS2 6UN +44 (0)870 442 8882

The Pros of owning timeshare

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:40:11 BST

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 seriously. One of the main benefits of holiday ownership schemes is that they allow people who do not have the resources to buy a property outright, to be able to secure the use of an apartment of villa in a resort with which they have fallen in love.

Paying upfront for many years' holidays may not sound like such a great idea but when you consider the relatively high rate of inflation that many countries around the world are experiencing, together with the extremely low interest rates being offered by high street banks and building societies, it can make a lot of sense. In addition to protecting owners from future price increases, investing in a timeshare property could also motivate busy people to make an extra effort to clear their diaries for a week or two every year, so they can enjoy a holiday abroad and recharge their batteries.

Other benefits that accrue from fractional holiday ownership include the security that comes with paying an annual maintenance fee. Some people may see this fee as something of a burden but those who own their own holiday home outright will know otherwise. The maintenance charge means that you do not have to worry whether or not the resort will be maintained to a reasonable standard over the years and the fact that staff are always resident means your property is always secure, two things of which private owners are never sure.

For more information on how to buy, rent or sell timeshare, contact Visions of the World, your timeshare solution company.

Contact Information: Visions of the World Ltd Finance House, 20-21 Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, Essex, UK SS2 6UN +44 (0)870 442 8882

Perspective Magazine Award Winners Unveiled At GNEX Timeshare And Fractional Conference

Fri, 27 May 2011 14:30:40 BST

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 accolades of fellow industry professionals up for grabs. The categories included Best Timeshare Resort Worldwide, Best Place To Work and Best Individual Marketing Professional.

Perspective Magazine currently sponsors 30 shared ownership events across the globe and in addition to its 4 publications aimed at industry professionals, which cover news from North America, South Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, it also distributes a magazine aimed at consumers that is packed with useful information about timeshare resorts and deals around the world. These magazines can be picked up at international airport lounges, hotels, spas, golf clubs and other places where they are likely to be read by people with the means and motivation to invest in a fractional ownership property.

The awards were presented at the 6 course dinner that was held to celebrate the successful conclusion to the exposition at the Atlantic Resort and each one was presented to the organisation or individual that accrued the most points from a combination of online votes from fellow professionals and blind judging by 3 people with many years of experience in the industry. Among the winners were Wyndham Vacation Ownership for Best Management Company, the Royal Savoy Resort for Best Exterior Design Award and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) for the Best Timeshare Resort Worldwide.

For more information on how to buy, rent or sell timeshare, contact Visions of the World, your timeshare solution company.

Contact Information: Visions of the World Ltd Finance House, 20-21 Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, Essex, UK SS2 6UN +44 (0)870 442 8882

Timeshare Exchange

Thu, 19 May 2011 18:57:04 BST

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 stuck with holidaying in the same place at the same time, year after year. Nowadays things are very different and there are several major exchange companies that facilitate swaps between people with timeshares across the globe.

Some consumers are under the misapprehension that in order to exchange their weeks for a holiday in another resort, they will have to wait for another owner who has the weeks they are interested in and who would like to stay at their property. With so many timeshares on the market, this is not always the way that it works. Firstly, it may be that somebody has already put in a request for your weeks and a third person has put the weeks that you want up for exchange. In such a case it is normally a fairly straightforward matter to complete the transaction, even though it is not a direct swap.

Owners of peak season weeks in popular resorts will often find that their timeshare is accepted immediately by one of the exchange companies and they are free to choose from the weeks that other members have made available. Many developers now include the first year's membership fee of organisations such as RCI in the price of their timeshares, which means that owners can take advantage of the exchange market right from the start.

For more information on how to buy, rent or sell timeshare, contact Visions of the World, your timeshare solution company.

Contact Information: Visions of the World Ltd Finance House, 20-21 Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, Essex, UK SS2 6UN +44 (0)870 442 8882

Holiday Club Resorts Buys Canary Islands Resort

Fri, 13 May 2011 13:47:15 BST

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 expansion plans to make them a truly global enterprise. With a turnover of €68 million in 2010 and 400 employees, Holiday Club Resorts is definitely one to watch in the holiday ownership industry.

The company will take over the day-to-day management of the 5 resorts as well as be responsible for the sales and marketing strategies for each one. They intend to leverage their 25 years of experience in the vacation ownership field to provide a high level of customer service that will keep existing owners happy and attract new ones as well. They currently have around 42,000 customers and this deal will increase that amount by roughly 6,000.

4 of the new properties are in Amadores, home of one of the most popular beaches in the area, and the other is situated in the well-known coastal resort of Puerto Rico. They feature modern apartments built to a high standard with balconies and terraces offering stunning ocean views, giving Holiday Club Resorts an excellent start to their operations in the Canary Islands. The major holiday exchange organisation, RCI, has awarded each development with four crowns, making them an attractive proposition to owners that wish to exchange their weeks for holidays in various destinations around the world.

For more information on how to buy, rent or sell timeshare, contact Visions of the World, your timeshare solution company.

Contact Information: Visions of the World Ltd Finance House, 20-21 Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, Essex, UK SS2 6UN +44 (0)870 442 8882

Hilton Grand Vacations and Strand Capital Group Announce Launch of Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Anderson Ocean Club

Fri, 13 May 2011 13:07:48 BST

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 be located in the existing beachfront Anderson Ocean Club and Spa complex. The accommodation will consist of 152 luxury holiday ownership units that are likely to be very popular.

Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Anderson Ocean Club will provide owners with direct access to Myrtle Beach and be conveniently near to many excellent golf courses, restaurants and upscale shopping malls. Among the amenities planned for the resort are a full-service spa, state-of-the-art fitness centre and plenty of parking with a valet service. The accommodation will feature fully equipped kitchens as well as spacious living and dining areas. Owners will enjoy splendid ocean views with some properties to be situated right on the beach.

As part of the world's leading hospitality group, HGVClub is in a great position to market Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Anderson Ocean Club and can draw on their experience of successfully promoting many first class holiday ownership resorts across North America. Its partner in the venture, Strand Capital Group, already manages 9 developments in the area and is confident that this one will be every bit as successful as the others. Myrtle Beach was recently recognised as the top beach in the USA by users of the TripAdvisor website, so this new resort is sure to appeal to a broad cross-section of American holidaymakers.

For more information on how to buy, rent or sell timeshare, contact Visions of the World, your timeshare solution company.

Contact Information: Visions of the World Ltd Finance House, 20-21 Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, Essex, UK SS2 6UN +44 (0)870 442 8882

Don't treat timeshare as an investment

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 20:06:24 BST

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 is if you really like the place and if you would like to spend some time there on a regular basis in the future.

Whilst it is true that there is a lively exchange market these days, which means that it is not necessary to keep going back to the resort in which you have invested, it is obviously a good idea to buy weeks somewhere that you really like. This way at least you will enjoy your vacation in the years when there might be nothing else available at a time that is convenient for you. Resorts that have a high points value on the exchanges are the best ones to go for as they offer owners a much better bargaining position when they are looking to swap their weeks for time in another resort.

Another thing to bear in mind when buying a timeshare is that there is normally a maintenance fee payable annually, so it is important to establish how much this will be and whether or not it will increase over time. Despite the slightly shady reputation that fractional holiday ownership has acquired thanks to the actions of a few disreputable operators, on the whole the industry is well regulated and allows people that could not otherwise afford a holiday home to buy a share in a luxury apartment or villa.

For more information on how to buy, rent or sell timeshare, contact Visions of the World, your timeshare solution company.

Contact Information: Visions of the World Ltd Finance House, 20-21 Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, Essex, UK SS2 6UN +44 (0)870 442 8882

Buyers find bargains on timeshare resale market

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:27:07 BST

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 on timeshare weeks across the world but buyers should exercise a little caution before jumping in with both feet. Some of the benefits of ownership are only available to people who purchase their shares through official resale programmes and many of the cheapest options are for off-season weeks in undesirable areas. Nevertheless, if you are intent on finding the lowest prices possible, there is no doubt that the Internet is the place to look. Some developers are complaining that they are unable to compete with private resellers as they have to include marketing and advertising costs in their prices but there is little they can do about it.

The main problem for such developers is that they need a healthy resale market to encourage more people to participate in timeshare programmes and to ensure that existing owners can offload their current weeks and buy those being offered by new resorts. Restricting various benefits to owners who purchase directly from the resort developer, as mentioned above, is one solution that is being employed by some companies.

Whether you decide to go through official channels just to be on the safe side, or are happy to take a risk on a private sale, it is always a good idea to carefully read the terms and conditions of any contract before you sign it.

For more information on how to buy, rent or sell timeshare, contact Visions of the World, your timeshare solution company.

Contact Information: Visions of the World Ltd Finance House, 20-21 Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, Essex, UK SS2 6UN +44 (0)870 442 8882

Australian Holiday Ownership

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:57:38 BST

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 years that were examined, sales figures increased by 55% and the number of owner families grew by 20% during the same period.

Also encouraging was the number of owners that took advantage of exchange services, with over 90% using the biggest four companies in 2009. The average amount of money that each party spent on a timeshare holiday in 2009 was more than twice the average in 2005, indicating that world financial issues do not seem to have dampened the enthusiasm of Australian families for this type of break. The average occupancy rate in 2009 was just over 85%, a pretty good figure considering how operators in some areas fared. Improved marketing techniques and new products are thought to be partially responsible for the buoyancy of the timeshare market in Australia, as well as the fact that the local economy has not suffered as much as those of some other countries.

Executives from leading companies such as Wyndham Vacation Resorts, Classic Group and Accor Vacation Club are all optimistic about the future, with Wyndham's CEO saying that he believed the economic downturn provided the industry with an opportunity to promote the cost benefits associated with timeshare ownership when compared to conventional holidays.

For more information on how to buy, rent or sell timeshare, contact Visions of the World, your timeshare solution company.

Contact Information: Visions of the World Ltd Finance House, 20-21 Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, Essex, UK SS2 6UN +44 (0)870 442 8882