New UK regulations to protect consumers are unveiled
Draft legislation announced by Consumer Minister Jo Swinson today sets out how consumers will also have access to clearer information about any additional costs and more generous time limits for returning goods bought online. The new proposals, the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Payments) Regulations implement the European Consumer Rights Directive and will: increase the time limit for returning goods purchased online or by phone from seven days to 14 days after the goods have been received, should the consumer change their mind ban pre-ticked tick boxes for extras that the consumer may not want or need and that could result in...
CLC World Resorts & Hotels And Interval Leisure Group Partner In European Resort Management Joint Venture
CLC World Resorts & Hotels (“CLC World”) and Interval Leisure Group (“ILG”) (Nasdaq: IILG) have entered into a definitive agreement to establish a joint venture resort management company that will be based in the United Kingdom. ILG will acquire a 75.5 percent ownership stake in the resulting new entity, VRI Europe Limited. Roy Peires, Founder and Chairman, CLC World Resorts & Hotels, said “Partnering with ILG in this exciting venture will strengthen our expansion strategy as we continue adding to our resorts’ portfolio worldwide, enabling us also to offer our products and expertise to an even wider spectrum of clients. Our...
“ Buckle Up Boys, You’re In For A Bumpy Ride”
So said Bette Davis in the opening few minutes of, I believe, “All About Eve” in which she starred against Joan Crawford - all I can remember is that it was in black and white and Davis descends a staircase at a party looking quite stunning and utters these lines as some man lights her cigarette (I really must be getting old.) Don’t ask me why I remember it – I just thought it was a great line. It came back to me this week as there have been numerous discussions and questions over the activities of the Police in...
Interval International To Host Shared Ownership Investment Seminar In Brazil
Interval International will host a Shared Ownership Investment Seminar on August 29 at the Grand Hyatt São Paulo. Interval created the event 15 years ago to educate prospective entrants, lenders, and government officials around the globe about various shared ownership business models. Successful seminars were hosted earlier this year in Argentina and Colombia. “We are seeing an increase in hotel and resort investment and travel activity in Latin America, an important market for Interval. We believe that shared ownership can play a larger role in the region’s tourism development and are very encouraged by the growing interest in this sector,” said...
Package Travel Directive Proposals Released
Last week, the European Commission released its proposals for updating the 1990 Package Travel Directive. Whilst the current directive has guaranteed comprehensive protection to consumers booking pre-arranged package holidays that involve combinations of, for example flights, hotels or car rentals, it does not explicitly cover packages that are combined at the consumer's request. The aim of the revised Directive is to extend the current protection for traditional, pre-arranged packages to new combinations of travel services. If those new combinations of travel services feature the characteristics associated with packages, the consumer is protected under the new rules. For buyers of traditional and customised packages,...
Industry veteran Ron Haylock dies
It is with deep regret that we have learnt of the sudden death of industry veteran Ron Haylock. Ron died on Tuesday evening and the news has come as a shock to us all. We would like to extend our thoughts and condolences to his family and friends at this sad time; he will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Details of the funeral arrangements will follow as soon as these have been made available to us. More about Ron Ron has had an illustrious and varied career, having held the position of MD of RCI for many years and...
RDO Research: How can the timeshare industry target customers more effectively through social media?
RDO has today released the results of a study conducted on its behalf by final year students at the School of Tourism at the University of Bournemouth into how social media campaigns and e-commerce can best be utilised to reach the industry’s target audience, the 30/40-year-olds. The research included a case study of RDO developer Pearly Grey, visits to Club La Costa, Club Olympus and Silverpoint resorts in Tenerife as well as telephone conference calls with senior personnel at key RDO member companies It also included analysing the results of focus group meetings with the target demographic. The research students found that...
Registration for RDO4 2013 Conference now open
Registration for this year’s conference, “RDO 4: Standing Together”, is now open on the dedicated website www.rdoconference.org. Delegates can register online to attend the conference, which will take place from 15 to 17 September 2013, and also book their accommodation at the Lopesan Baobab Resort in Gran Canaria, the chosen venue for this year’s event. Discounted Early Bird rates are available until midnight on 12 July. Further details about RDO4, including information about the venue and an outline schedule for the event are also available on the conference website. Diamond Resorts International®, Holiday Club Resorts Oy, Interval International and RCI have been confirmed...
Vacation Ownership Industry Outlook is Strong According to Latest RCI® Research
The future of the vacation ownership industry looks bright based on findings announced by RCI. RCI released the results of its annual membership profile survey, offering perspective into the purchasing patterns, travel intentions, and key demographics of U.S. owners. RCI also shared findings from another survey which analyzed the perceptions and expectations of vacation ownership among consumers. “Our latest research shows that consumers are happy with the ownership experience, and the flexibility and choice they receive through vacation exchange programs play a big part in that” said Phil Brojan, senior vice president of marketing, RCI. The 2013 RCI® Membership Profile Survey, conducted...
Godspeed Ron Haylock
It is just over two weeks since the industry was stunned to hear of the sudden death of Ron Haylock and I was fortunate to be able to attend the funeral service this Tuesday at Dingley Church, tucked away in the rolling hills of the Northamptonshire/Leicestershire borders – good hunting country they used to call it and I am not sure if there wasn’t at one time a Dingley Hunt. I have to confess to the fact that I spent my formative years as a young barrister in Chambers in Leicester and my Head of Chambers at the time lived...
