Timeshare Consumer Guide
Monthly News Letter

April 2006

Welcome to the April edition of the Travel and Leisure Group monthly newsletter. The aim of the newsletter is to provide current information that may be of interest not only to buyers, owners and sellers of timeshare but to the consumer in general. We aim to provide information regarding exchanges, resorts and up to date OTE News and other reliable sources.

IN THIS EDITION

OTE News

FIRST TIMESHARE-SPA HOTEL TO OPEN IN RUSSIA

The first full service spa hotel and timeshare resort will open in St Petersburg next year.

The project is a cooperative venture between Holiday Club Finland and the Finnish real estate company Dividum, owned by London & Regional Properties.  It will feature a series of timeshare apartments in accordance with Holiday Club’s city spa concept that combines a versatile, quality spa hotel with timeshare units.

Other features of the development include 285 hotel rooms, a full service spa, sauna, pool as well as a wide range of physical and mental fitness services for adults.

The spa hotel in St. Petersburg is an extension of the Tallinn (Estonia) spa project and the spa hotel that was opened in Are (Sweden) in 2005.  “We are still surveying the expansion of the spa concept to other major cities in the Baltic and Nordic countries,” said Mr Tengman.

The new city spa will be situated at the historical city centre on Vasili Iland, near The Hermitage and other important landmarks.  Its location makes it an excellent Timeshare location.

COURT OF APPEAL RULING FAVOURS CONSUMERS

The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court ruling in favour of credit companies that refused to indemnify consumers against overseas losses.  As a result, people who use their cards abroad and find they have bought faulty goods or services are now entitled to the same ‘money back’ protection as in Britain.

The ruling was a victory for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) that had taken on the banks and credit card companies to ensure safeguards for people making purchases overseas.

A couple had been to a presentation by PR Holidays Ltd., a Liverpool company offering membership of an internet-based holiday club called Network Vacations.  It offered lifetime access to a wide range of discount holiday accommodations all over the world.

The idea appealed to the couple who were looking to end a timeshare deal which tied them to the same place every year and they signed a membership contract that gave them the option to trade-in their timeshare as part payment.

On returning home they became suspicious when they noticed that some of the accommodation on offer was, in fact, available at cheaper rates through other deals.  They then contacted Consumer Direct, the DTI-backed consumer help-line, who told them that Network Vacations – the web site being promoted by PR Holidays – was already in liquidation after a separate DTI action. Consumer Direct also referred the matter to local Trading Standards for action.

Gerry Sutcliffe, consumer affairs minister, said: “Consumer Direct is playing a crucial role in helping consumers and in ensuring that its Trading Standards partners are able to focus on clamping down on rogue traders.”

The company was closed down by the High Court and in his summing up the Judge agreed there were “serious irregularities” and an “unsavoury feel” to the company’s dealings.

Our advice is if in doubt contact Consumer Direct Helpline, a government funded organisation.

Spanish police arrest 28 people in the Canary Islands on holiday club fraud charges

Police in the Canary Islands have arrested a gang which defrauded European tourists out of millions of euros in a holiday club scam.

According to press reports, police carried out five raids and arrested 28 people.  Eight luxury cars were seized along with various documents and ˆ60,640 in cash.  Bank accounts with deposits of ˆ372,783 were also frozen.

Victims of the fraud came from across Europe although the gang appeared to target German nationals.  The holidaymakers were offered discount trips all over the world on payment of deposits between ˆ1,000 and ˆ10,000.  Subsequently they never heard from the gang or the conditions of their ‘membership’ were dramatically changed.

The company, called Design Vacations, was based in the Seychelles but registered in Gibraltar.

We again warn consumers not to be carried away with glowing offers. Take your time and take advice.

OTE to conduct Timeshare owners survey

The OTE is conducting research into the attitudes and perceptions of timeshare by British owners.
In return for timeshare owners completing the survey, you will be entered into a Grand Draw for one of three prizes.
A week’s accommodation for up to four people (subject to availability) at resorts in the UK, the Canary Islands, mainland Spain, Portugal, Austria or Turkey.
The Prizes have been donated by,
Club La Costa
Clowance Estates
Seasons Holidays

To take part, please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=814261790396

Gleneagles to expand

The prestigious hotel and golf course at Gleneagles in Scotland is adding 20 units to its seasonal ownership programme, according to press reports.

At present there are 30 traditional homes with two,three and four bedroom units in the Glenmor development on the Gleneagles Estate.

Below is the history of Gleneagles taken from the official website

When the Gleneagles Hotel opened in 1924 it was described as 'a Riviera in the Highlands' and 'the eighth wonder of the world'. Today, the hotel remains dedicated to excellence, just as it was in its earliest days when "the avowed intention of the management is to create happiness".
The hotel was built by the former Caledonian Railway Company, with its own railway station. The Gleneagles Hotel is now owned by Diageo plc. 
By the 1930s, golf and hotel were the height of fashion. Then as now, the Gleneagles Hotel was the glorious playground for people dedicated to leisure and pleasure in the most luxurious surroundings. 
In the 1950s, Gleneagles was a fixed part of high society's calendar - after the London "season" it was yachting at Cowes, polo at Deauville and golf and grouse shooting at Gleneagles.

Until 1982, the hotel only opened during the summer months. Between 1982-86 more than £11 million was spent on a total renovation and restoration and the elegance and traditions of Gleneagles can now be enjoyed all year round. Total capital investment since 1982 is more than £46 million.
 
In 1986, Gleneagles was awarded the Automobile Association's supreme accolade of Five Red Stars, which it has retained every year. Since 1982, it has won more than 40 awards from the travel, catering and associated industries.
In 1993, the £5.9 million PGA Centenary Course, created by Jack Nicklaus, opened to complement the renowned King's and Queen's courses and form one of the world's finest golfing venues.

The Golf Academy, opened in 1994, enshrines the philosophy that improving a player's performance improves their enjoyment of the game.

Anyone buying a week or more at the resort can use all of the Gleneagles services and one owner per household can play up to three rounds a day on any of the courses during their stay, saving approximately £95 a round in the summer months.

Gleneagles boasts three championship golf courses including the PGA Centenary Course, the venue of the 2014 Ryder Cup.

For Sale! Court Barton up for grabs!

A self-styled luxury timeshare property in south-west England is up for sale.

Property consultants Savills are inviting offers of £2.5million for Court Barton, an attractive Georgian farmstead in Devon with 100-year-old barns that have been converted into 13 cottages.

The development also includes a sauna and solarium, restaurant and bar, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, croquet lawn and an all-weather tennis court.  There is also scope "for further leisure development and business growth".

Court Barton was developed as a timeshare resort in 1982 whereby occupancy rights were attached to a shareholding in the company which owns the freehold.  Vacant possession is available from May 2007 following expiry of the current timeshare agreement.

At present Court Barton has been awarded the RCI Gold Crown, a testament to the quality of the resort.

The Holiday Complex is offered for sale by informal tender, the closing date for offers is Thursday 20th April 2006.

Timeshare makes it big Down Under

Timeshare operators in Australia are bullish this year with operators forcasting membership increases of up to 25 per cent.

According to local press reports, with big brands such as Accor Asia Pacific now involved in the Industry, timeshare boasts a new respectability, thanks in part to increased legislation driven by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Changes in the law mean that timeshare can no longer be sold as a financial investment with the potential for capitol gains.  Instead, it is now marketed as an "investment in lifestyle".

Market leader Trendwest South Pacific is forecasting a 25 per cent membership growth over the next year.

Trendwest South Pacific has 30,000 members and Accor Premier Vacation Club has 12,000 members, up from 8,500 in May 2005.

Developments in North America

New Condo-Hotel Planned For Orlando

International developer Mona Lisa Hotels & Residences is to build a 240-suite condominium/hotel complex called the Mona Lisa at Celebration.

The $50million project is located on a 12-acre site near the heart of the Orlando area theme parks.  Designed by famed architect Morris Adjmi, it will comprise 100 one-bedroom and 140 two-bedroom suites and is near a newly completed golf course scheduled to open this spring.

Mona Lisa Hotels & Residences has developed more than $800million in condominium/hotel projects in the French Alps.  Construction of the complex is by the Michigan-based design/build contractor, the Synergy Group.

Major Expansion Underway at Vistana Resort in Florida

Starwood Vacation Ownership – the timeshare division of Starwood Hotels and Resorts World-wide – has announced expansion plans as its flagship property, Sheraton Vistana Villages in Orlando.
The current phase will increase the number of units to 510 which will include 200 new villas, a new pool complex, a recreation building that will house a second fitness centre, games room and arcade as well as an activities desk with sports, pool games and equipment.

Sheraton Vistana Village opened in 2000 as the first newly built Starwood property after the 1999 purchase of Vistana Inc. by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.  The current expansion is due to be completed in the second half of 2006.  Once this is complete, construction will begin on the next phase.  Upon completion, the resort will have 1,415 villas.

Eye On......................Sunterra's Sahara Sunset Club

Moorish inspired architecture is not the only distinctive feature of Sahara Sunset. This year-round resort is built around a large and beautifully landscaped pool with a bridge spanning over to its own island.

Sahara Sunset has everything required for a first-class family holiday. Each of the beautifully furnished apartments benefits from its own private balcony or terrace, while leisure facilities include both outdoor and indoor pool with relaxing whirlpool.

You will also find a warm welcome at the Casbah Cafe where you can enjoy a good meal and a drink on the terrace.

Room Amenities:

Resort Facilities:

Room Access Information:

Location

By Air:

Nearest Airport is Malaga, 14 Kilometres from resort.

By Road:

From the Airport, take the coast road towards Torremolinos/Fuengirola (N340), and head towards Benalmadena Costa. DO NOT take the E15/N340 bypass road which branches off after 4 Kilometres. Once in Benalmadena Costa go straight ahead at the first roundabout, after which you will pass the Hotel Triton and Hotel Riviera on your left, and Hotel La Roca on your right. Carry on over the windmill    roundabout and when you see a small castle (Castillo Bil Bil) on your left you should turn right into Avenida Rocio  Jurado. Sahara Sunset is positioned on your left. The travel time should not take more than 15 to 20 minutes  depending on traffic flow.

Resort Prices vary due to heavy sale of Sunterra Points. On-site prices start from around £5,000 up to £8-10,000 depending upon the season purchased.

Resale Prices start from £2,000 up to £4,000 dependant upon Unit location/Week number etc…

Each of the subjects in this publication are based on various facts provided by trusted sources including the OTE.

Editor: David James

Previous Editions:
July 2005 Newsletter
June 2005 Newsletter
August 2005 Newsletter
September 2005 Newsletter
October 2005 Newsletter
November 2005 Newsletter
January 2006 Newsletter
February 2006 Newsletter
March 2006 Newsletter