Frank Madden sentenced to 40 months in prison for defrauding consumers
Frank Madden admitted to three counts of fraudulent trading at Bournemouth Crown Court and was sentenced to 40 months in prison on Tuesday this week. He was previously convicted on two occasions and was under a suspended sentence when he became involved in the same activities again and Trading Standards managed to secure the funds to prosecute him, despite suffering from ‘savage’ cuts. After luring people in to meetings with thousands of cold calls, he pressured them into parting with large sums of money, telling them they would enjoy fantastic holidays in return – but the holidays were hardly ever available and...
RCI continues support of children around the world as title sponsor of the Christel House Open
RCI celebrates its 12th successive year as title sponsor of the annual RCI® Christel House Open International Charity Golf Tournament. The tournament is held in several locations and aims to raise awareness and funds for Christel House International, a charity committed to bettering the lives of impoverished children around the world. “Christel House has helped improve the lives of thousands of children by providing them with the skills to become independent adults,” said Gordon Gurnik, president of RCI. “I’m thankful to those who have contributed to the success of these charitable golf tournaments and Christel House’s mission to drive out poverty and better the...
Marriott Vacations Worldwide to acquire ILG to create a leading global provider of premier vacation experiences
Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (MVW) and ILG have announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which MVW will acquire all of the outstanding shares of ILG in a cash and stock transaction with an implied equity value of approximately $4.7 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, ILG shareholders will receive $14.75 in cash and 0.165 shares of MVW common stock for each ILG share. For further information and to read the release in full, go to: http://ir.marriottvacationsworldwide.com/news-releases/news-release-details/marriott-vacations-worldwide-acquire-ilg-create-leading-global...
UCLA architecture masters students present final designs for Karma Group Mykonos development
Karma Group Founder and Chairman John Spence and Georgina Huljich of P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S tasked 14 masters students from the Department of Architecture and Urban Design at UCLA to design an approximately 40 room hotel for a piece of land in Mykonos, Greece, owned by Karma Group. During the course of his Distinguished Visiting Fellowship in the Department of Architecture and Urban Design at UCLA, John worked closely with the students as they developed their ideas, including sponsoringan immersive research trip to Mykonos. The final presentations were made to a panel of industry experts, including John and Georgina and the results were...
Award-winning Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina joins Interval network
Interval International has announced the long-term affiliation of the award-winning Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina – an exclusive beachfront, full-service destination resort in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. In addition, Interval will provide reservation services to Pink Shell vacation club members. The property is overseen by Boykin Management Company (BMC), an independent operator that currently provides services to hotels, resorts, and conference centers. “We are pleased to partner with this successful hospitality business with a long- established track record as it enters the vacation ownership business,” said Marcos Agostini, Interval’s executive vice president of global sales and business development. “The Fort...
ITRA (International Timeshare Refund Association) loses another court case
A consumer was awarded a total of £9765.90 at Workington County Court in March in a case against ITRA. The amount included a full refund of all monies paid to ITRA, plus costs and interest. The judge ruled that ITRA was guilty of misrepresentation in the sales process, deceiving the consumer by making false statements and promises and breach of contract for not carrying out promised work. She stated that ‘there was a complete failure by ITRA to comply with the Consumer Rights Act.’ This is the third case that the Task Force has provided free support to consumers making claims against...
Alliance Group becomes the first RCI affiliated resort in Georgia
Alliance Palace in Batumi, part of Alliance Group, has joined RCI, to become the first RCI-affiliated resort in Georgia, now being part of the RCI Holiday Exchange network. Floors 1-6 of the impressive 41-storey building are operating under the Courtyard by Marriott brand, while the remaining floors are luxury apartments. Overlooking the Black Sea, the resort is in an ideal location to appeal to tourists, with the impressive building being an attraction in its own right. Georgia’s tourism market is going from strength to strength, with significant numbers of visitors flooding in to appreciate the beautiful landscapes and tourism attractions the country...
Hapimag posts largest annual profit for over 15 years
The Hapimag Group has announced that it posted consolidated profit of EUR 11.1 million in 2017. This is Hapimag’s best annual result for over 15 years. The operating results of EUR 12.9 million are also pleasing. The Hapimag resorts made a significant contribution to the improved operating performance. Total revenues at the resorts increased by 2.5 % to EUR 86.4 million compared to the previous year. “We are delighted that we haven’t had to compromise on the quality of our services despite this cost optimisation. We again received 17 HolidayCheck Awards thanks to good ratings from guests,” says Hassan Kadbi, who has...
Interval International affiliates Marriott’s Bali Nusa Dua Gardens resort in Indonesia
Interval International has announced a new addition to its global network - Marriott’s Bali Nusa Dua Gardens, a stunning tropical retreat on the Indonesian island of Bali. “Bali is known for its extraordinary natural and cultural offerings combined with a very high level of hospitality,” said Marcos Agostini, executive vice president of global sales and business development for Interval. “It’s only fitting that Marriott Vacation Club has introduced one of its world-class resorts in this tropical paradise.” Fifty-one spacious resort apartments, which range from studios to one- and two- bedroom guestrooms, include separate living and dining area, complimentary Wi-Fi, kitchenette, private balcony,...
Interval International and Spinnaker Resorts renew multi-site affiliation
Interval International and Spinnaker Resorts have announced the renewal of their multi-site affiliation. The agreement encompasses nine resorts in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; Branson, Missouri; and Ormond Beach, Florida. Spinnaker Resorts properties offer first-rate amenities, including state-of-the-art swimming pools, extensive health and fitness facilities, and a host of recreational programs. The unique topography and flavor of each location provide owners with a wide array of vacation experiences. On Hilton Head island, where travelers can enjoy a multitude of white-sand beaches, ocean activities, and golf courses, among other family-friendly outings, resorts include Bluewater Resort and Marina, The Carolina Club, Egret Point,...