Karma Group introduces new Karma app
Karma Group is delighted to introduce their new hospitality app, bringing more convenience and fingertip access to Karma Guests, Owners and Club Members. The app acts like a pocket concierge, allowing users to immerse themselves in the global world of Karma with a host of thoughtfully curated amenities and smart, personalised valet services. “Our new app allows our intrepid Karma guests access to everything Karma, wherever and whenever they like,”said John Spence, Chairman and Founder of Karma Group. “We are committed to always improving the Karma experience for our guests, members and owners and now they can interact and engage directly...
RCI appoints industry leader Robin Mills to the role of Vice President, Business Development, for its EMEA region
RCI is pleased to announce that Robin Mills has accepted the role of Vice President, Business Development, for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Mills will be based in the UK, at the exchange company’s European headquarters in Northamptonshire. A familiar face and trusted associate of many in the shared-holiday ownership and hospitality industry, Mills brings with him more than 30 years of experience in this business sector. He joins RCI from the Club Leisure Group where he served as Managing Director and was responsible for the expansion of its European operations, as well as the development of its points programme....
Interval International reveals highlights of member study
Soon to be available, the Interval International 2018 Membership Profile provides important data about members worldwide, including travel habits, timeshare ownership and exchange preferences, use of technology and social media, and top vacation experiences, in addition to key demographic information. "For nearly 20 years, Interval's membership profile has been an important tool in developing new products, services, and technology to better serve our members and our developer clients," said Jeanette Marbert, president and CEO of Interval International. "These latest insights continue to reinforce the value of shared ownership and provide prospective entrants with key learnings to reach and market to potential...
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...