Former head of British Hospitality Association to speak at RDO1

Former head of British Hospitality Association to speak at RDO1

Bob 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, and an outstanding ambassador for the UK hospitality profession.



RDO to lead industry response to consultation on EU Directive

RDO, 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 with the EU Directive by the established deadline of 23 February 2011.



RDO warns owners of growing holiday club cashback scam

RDO 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 often conned into signing a contract agreeing to buy timeshare points as a way of ‘recouping’ their cashback, and persuaded to pay significant sums of money for a deposit.



Spanish Police close down fraudulent resale company on Costa del Sol

Spanish Police close down fraudulent resale company on Costa del Sol

Inmobiliaria El Solucion, a fraudulent resale company operating from Costa del Sol, was closed down by Spanish Police on 22 July, following an earlier tip off from RDO’s Enforcement team.

One British woman who was the business bank account holder was arrested in the raid. However, the main person responsible for the company, Malcolm David Kennedy, is still at large. Kennedy is a renowned fraudster who was arrested in 2006 for his involvement in several major timeshare scams.



First Florida resort as Club La Costa continues global expansion

Club 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 several first-class golf courses. Encantada is scheduled to open to guests in 2011.



Pestana Group announces its entry in Morocco

The 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 in the exclusive Boulevard de La Corniche, close to Casablanca’s historic centre.



Sithonia Beach Club in Greece joins the RCI network

RCI 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 on-site activities including tennis and horse riding, as well as several swimming pools.



Fractional vacation resort in Bali affiliates to Interval International

Interval 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, teeming with colourful tropical fish and other marine life, offer prime snorkelling opportunities.



2010 salary study shows realtors suffered most from recession

2010 salary study shows realtors suffered most from recession

Real 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%, according to the survey.



Plantation Resort at Myrtle Beach partners with TimeShareWare

Plantation 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 and web-based owner servicing.



Garry Leigh killed in cycling accident

Seasoned 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.



Programme details for RDO1 conference announced

2010 Conference

The 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.



RDO lifts the lid on fraudulent class action schemes

RDO 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.



STOP PRESS: Consultation on EU timeshare directive announced

RDO 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. EU member states have until 23 February 2011 to introduce national legislation to comply with the Directive.



RDO agrees action against DTMCs with authorities in the Canaries

Discount Travel Membership Clubs

A 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 Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) for the Canaries.