Hapimag reports increased sales in the first half of 2009

Hapimag

Hapimag, the leading provider of holiday rights of residence in the European market, has reported a successful first half of the year with sales increased by 2.4 per cent and a good occupancy rate across its resorts.

The company enjoyed total sales of 81.9 million euro during the first six months of 2009, compared to 80 million in the same period last year, with its 56 European resorts reporting particularly strong sales despite the economic downturn.



Number of visitors to www.gotimeshare.org shoots up by 90 per cent

The new industry website www.gotimeshare.org had its most successful month to date with an increase of 90 per cent in the number of visitors in July, month on month, as a direct result of its inclusion into Google News.

The site, created by RDO to counter negative online information about timeshare, became one of only 4500 accredited source sites for Google News worldwide in July. Since then, traffic directed to the site from Google has more than doubled.



Details of 2010 Fractional Summit announced

Fractional Summit 2010, Europe’s largest business to business fractional property conference, will take place on 18-19 February 2010 at the Marriot London, Grosvenor Square, organisers Fractional Life announced.

The two day event will explore the different facets of the fractional property marketplace and why the European fractional property industry continues to gain momentum despite the current downturn in whole ownership sales.



Star studded charity event at Club La Costa California Beach Resort

Club La Costa

The San Diego Suites at Club La Costa’s California Beach Resort on Spain’s Costa del Sol was the setting for a charity evening in support of the Rhys Daniels Trust.

The poolside event was the perfect place to unwind for the 156 golfers, including well-known sportsmen and showbiz personalities, who had been competing during the day at La Cala golf resort in the annual Max Clifford Celebrity Golf Challenge. Sky Sport football pundit, Andy Gray, and former world snooker champion, Dennis Taylor, were amongst the guests.



Interval affiliates fleet of fractional ownership yachts in Turkey

Interval International has added Dames De La Mer, a fractional ownership project comprising a fleet of sailing boats based in Turkey, to its vacation exchange network, providing members a new experience not previously available to them.

The yachts, constructed by French company Beneteau, are all Cyclades 50.4 class with four double cabins and a single cabin for the captain, a lounge and a kitchen. All boats are fully crewed and can either be sailed or powered by diesel engine. They will operate in the Eastern Mediterranean.



Two new Turkish health resorts for Group RCI

Group RCI members will soon be able to enjoy a relaxing spa experience at a choice of two new resort affiliates in Turkey, the Salutaris Thermal Resort and Kartas Thermal and Spa Resort.

Due to open in October 2009, the Kartas Thermal and Spa Resort is located in the Cavlak area of Bogazliyan, close to the historic city of Kayseri and Cappadocia. Accommodation is offered in hotel rooms and one- and two-bedroom units sleeping up to six people. Prices are expected to range between 2,000 and 8,000 euros per week.



Seasons Holidays members enjoy improvements at Whitbarrow Village

Seasons Holidays announced the completion of the latest improvements at its Whitbarrow Village resort in the Lake District, and further enhancements planned for the next few months.

The shingle outside the resort’s Troutbeck lodges has been replaced by pristine lawns and the same is expected to be done to the Kirkstone Lodges soon. As well as the Jacuzzi, a new resort shop is opening this summer too.



Finland’s Holiday Club Naantali Residence affiliates with RCI

The new Holiday Club Naantali Residence, which opened in Naantali, Finland, in May this year, has joined the RCI network of affiliated resorts.

Holiday Club Naantali Residence has 40 high quality studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, all with sea views. The resort also offers a choice of restaurants and bars, as well as different indoor and outdoor activities on-site.



New Italian Alps resort joins Interval’s exchange network

Interval International has announced the affiliation of the new Domina Golf and Ski Resort in Tarvisio, in the Italian Alps, which is due to be completed in the summer of 2010.

The mountain resort is located in Tarvisio, a popular skiing destination in the northeast region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. It will offer 60 kilometres of both alpine and cross country ski trails and an 18-hole golf course. Visitors will also be able to enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides and other activities such as horse riding, mountain biking, climbing, paragliding, and various water-sports on Lake Raibl.



RDO brings campaign against DTMCs to Spanish TV news

RDO’s ongoing campaign to eradicate Discount Travel Membership Clubs (DTMCs) in Tenerife reached a new peak last month with Head of Enforcement, Alberto Garcia, being interviewed on this issue for the main TV news programme for the Canaries.

The interview focused on explaining what DTMCs are and how consumers are being targeted by then, and followed the recent news that the local authorities, assisted by RDO and the European Consumer Centre, have created a committee to fight against this type of fraudulent activity in Tenerife.



Timeshare clubs in South Africa to provide accommodation for World Cup

Major timeshare clubs will provide nearly 200,000 room nights for football fans during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in various resorts across South Africa, following an agreement between VOASA, the Vacation Ownership Association of Southern Africa and MATCH, FIFA’s service agent for accommodation.

The agreement is part of the MATCH Ville concept which offers “follow your team” accommodation and transportation services for the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, available primarily through FIFA’s network of participating tour operators.



Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket launches new TV ad

TV Ad

Europe’s leading timeshare resale company, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, and Four Chairs Advertising have launched a new TV ad to educate consumers about timeshare.

The 60 second commercial is being shown on the new Travel Deals Direct channel 647 on the Sky platform.

The ad aims to raise consumer awareness, explaining the concept of timeshare and its multiple benefits, rather than sell timeshare from the TV.



Results of salary study for the timeshare industry announced

Marketing and sales positions were the worst hit by the recession according to the results of the annual salary survey of the vacation ownership industry published by Executive Quest.

As more companies cut back on marketing and tour flow, those in marketing positions had a reduction in compensation of between 10 and 20 per cent, whilst sales managers and vice presidents, whose salary is often tied to a percent of sales revenue, had a decrease of 25 per cent.



Owners Perspective magazine confirms distribution deals at airport lounges

Owners Perspective, the new magazine for the vacation ownership industry launched in January, will be distributed at the airport lounges of British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and Emirates Airlines around the world, following a series of agreements signed by its publisher Perspective International.