Spain moves a step closer to implementation of EU Directive
The Spanish Ministry of Justice has presented new draft legislation to replace existing timeshare regulations and comply with the EU Timeshare Directive, which aims to provide protection for consumers in respect of certain aspects of timeshare, long-term holiday products (also known as holiday clubs), resale and exchange contracts. The draft legislation has now been submitted for consultation to several Government departments, consumer associations and other stakeholders including RDO. Responses will be gathered over the next months, before the law is finally submitted to Parliament for approval. Maria Jesus Rodriguez, General Manager of RDO Spain, says: “The process of implementation of the...
Fraudulent Gallent Marketing website closed down
The website of UK-based fraudulent resale company Gallent Marketing has been closed down following a warning issued by RDO Enforcement. Gallent Marketing was using the logos and testimonials of reputable exchange companies without permission, and falsely claimed to be a member of RDO, TATOC and ARDA on its website www.gallentmarketing.com. The company was also cold calling owners with tempting resale offers and requesting an upfront payment to secure the sale. RDO Enforcement posted a warning about Gallent Marketing on its Mindtimeshare blog (http://mindtimeshare.wordpress.com/) and informed all affected parties who had fallen for the scam, believing the company was backed up by...
Trenython Manor scores top marks for food hygiene and healthy eating
One of Club La Costa’s premier UK resorts, Trenython Manor near Fowey in Cornwall, has achieved the highest 5-star rating for its standards of food hygiene in the nationwide ‘Scores On The Doors’ scheme. At the same time, Head Chef Richard Bennett has also been nominated under a separate scheme to receive a Gold Star for his ‘healthier eating’ dishes, which use the best locally sourced produce wherever possible. Richard has been at Trenython since 2003, having previously worked in Switzerland, and on the QEII and Eden Project, amongst others. His award will be presented in October. Trenython, an elegant 19th...
Charity golf tournament raises £15000 for Christel House
The European leg of the 2011 RCI Christel House Open golf tournament, held at Ealing Golf Club in Middlesex, UK, in June, raised £15,000 for the children’s charity. The event attracted executives from the shared ownership and hospitality industries – both as competitors and spectators - who enjoyed a sunny day’s golf followed by a gala dinner and charity auction. The auction, alongside sponsorship and other activities, helped raise money that will go directly into programmes and services to help children attending Christel House learning centres in India, Mexico, South Africa, Venezuela and the US. Vivienne Noyes-Thomas, European Development Coordinator of Christel House,...
Interval International adds Naima Village in Italy
Interval International has announced the affiliation of Naima Village, a new resort located in the town of Castellaneta on the Salento Peninsula, an off-the-beaten-track area of rich archaeological heritage and scenic beauty in the south east of Italy. Scheduled to open in May 2012, Naima Village will include 105 villas with two studio units, 92 one-bedroom and eleven two-bedroom apartments, all featuring open-air verandas with a garden at the front and a solarium to the rear. The Mediterranean style units will be wheelchair accessible and the resort will have equipment and staff dedicated to handicapped persons. Amenities will include...
New interior design and renovation service for the hospitality industries
The Lubner Group, based in Florida, has been launched to provide interior design and resort renovation services for a wide range of hospitality industries. Previously operating as Robb & Sucky’s Hospitality Design Division, The Lubner Group’s team of seasoned design professionals, headed by Dan Lubner, offer highly specialised work for timeshare resorts, hotels, fractional ownership and private residence clubs, as well as developers of high-rise condominiums and single-family communities in North America and around the world. The Lubner Group is currently working on projects in Las Vegas, Sanibel Island and Key West, Florida, and is in negotiation with developers to install products...
RCI affiliates resorts in Turkey and Slovakia
RCI has further expanded its holiday exchange network with the affiliation of The Residence Club in Slovakia and Kamelya World Vacation Club in Turkey. The Residence Club is located in the mountain village of Donovaly in Slovakia’s Low Tatras National Park, a popular destination for skiing and other outdoor pursuits. Besides a choice of luxurious one- and two-bedroom apartments, guests can enjoy 24-hour room service courtesy of the adjacent Residence Hotel, as well as an Ayurveda and spa centre, restaurants and bars. Kamelya World Vacation Club is part of the luxurious Kamelya World Holiday Complex, a seafront resort in Colakli which...
Award for new Silverpoint website
The new Silverpoint Hotels & Resorts website, which went live only a few weeks ago, was voted “Best Site of the Month” for June by independent reviewers TopSharepoint.com, in recognition of its “exceptional design and implementation standards”. The www.silverpointhotelsandresorts.com site is one of a suite of websites – all available from the main www.silverpoint.com site – recently created by Silverpoint to provide its customers with in depth information on the company and its range of leisure products. The site is designed to keep Silverpoint Vacation Club and owners of the four Silverpoint resorts in Tenerife up to date with the latest news...
RDO Consumer Services Department
RDO is in the first instance a trade association representing the timeshare industry in Europe. RDO therefore represents member companies and as such look after their interests. However, RDO's consumer policy allows for consumers to address complaints about members with RDO. RDO provides this consumer service free-of-charge and aims to resolve valid complaints against member companies. RDO's members do believe that it is important that RDO undertakes this service for the consumer and count on RDO being fair and equitable. It has to be emphasised however that RDO will mediate between its members and consumers filing complaints but will not enter...
New Directive Covering Timeshare, Long Term Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange
In February 2011, a new Directive in respect of certain aspects of timeshare, long term holiday products (also known as holiday clubs) resale and exchange contracts comes into force around Europe. This Directive replaces the current timeshare Directive, which has been repealed. General terms A 14 calendar day cooling off period (harmonized throughout Europe) applies from the day of conclusion of the contract or the day when the consumer receives the contract All advance payments are prohibited, including acknowledgement of debts A separate form of cancellation has to be provided to the...