Interval International welcomes Five Senses resort, a new shared ownership property in Brazil
Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services, announced the affiliation of Five Senses Resort to its vacation exchange network. Situated in north-central Brazil in Palmas, Tocantins, the fractional property is being developed by JRC Engenharia, one of the largest construction companies in this region. “We are excited that the Five Senses Resort group chose Interval for its first shared ownership project, and we look forward to working with them on this impressive resort,” said Marcos Agostini, Interval’s executive vice president of global sales and business development. “The flexibility of this product is particularly suited to the evolving needs of...
Jason Gamel named new President & CEO of ARDA
The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) has recently announced that Jason Gamel will be the new president and CEO, following an extensive national search lead by executive search firm, Spencer Stuart. In late March, the ARDA executive committee endorsed Gamel as the successful candidate. Gamel brings more than twenty years of experience in the hospitality and timeshare industries, including his current role as senior vice president of legal at Wyndham Destinations. “I am incredibly excited that Jason has been selected as ARDA’s new leader. His rich history in timeshare law, experience running ARDA’s state government affairs, coupled with his last five...
RCI celebrates 45 years of providing unforgettable vacations
RCI, the world’s largest timeshare vacation exchange network, is celebrating 45 years of delivering unmatched vacation memories that last a lifetime. The company has been revolutionizing the vacation ownership experience since 1974, offering its members the flexibility to exchange their vacation ownership for time at different resorts around the world. Since its inception, RCI has delivered more than 56 million vacations to its members around the world. Christel and Jon DeHaan started RCI, pioneering the timeshare exchange concept. A little over a decade later, the company confirmed more than 300,000 exchanges, welcomed more than 1,000 affiliates and made Inc. 500’s list...
Interval International expands global resort network with Sunrise Suites by Lifestyle in the Dominican Republic
Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services, added Sunrise Suites by Lifestyle, a mixed-use all-inclusive resort in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, to its vacation exchange network. Located on the northeast coast, the Puerto Plata area is a highly sought-after vacation destination, renowned for its stunning beaches, coral reefs, and waterfalls. “We are pleased to welcome the latest Lifestyle Holidays Hotels & Resorts property,” said Marcos Agostini, Interval’s executive vice president of global sales and business development. “Under the leadership of Markus Wischenbart, president of Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club, the company has become one of the top timeshare developers in...
RCI supports children around the World as title sponsor of Christel House Open International Charity Golf Tournament
For the 13th year in a row, RCI®, a worldwide leader in vacation exchange, will be the title sponsor of the annual RCI Christel House Open International Charity Golf Tournament. The tournament will feature several locations across Europe and North America, which aims to raise awareness and funds for Christel House International® (CHI), a charity committed to bettering the lives of impoverished children around the world. “Supporting our communities is one of the core values that makes up our DNA as an organization,” said Olivier Chavy, president of RCI. “Year after year, the Christel House Open directly supports efforts to end the cycle...
Interval International adds ninth Plaza Hotéis property in Brazil to its worldwide resort network
Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services, announced the addition of Plaza Barra First in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This property joins eight Plaza Vacation Club resorts that are currently part of Interval’s exchange network and are located in some of the country’s most popular vacation destinations. Plaza Vacation Club is owned and operated by Plaza Hotéis, one of Brazil’s leading hotel brands. “We are proud to add a Rio location to the points-based vacation program that we launched five years ago,” said Carlos Henrique Schmidt, chairman of Plaza Hotéis. “We made the decision to partner with Interval because...
Julian Houchin appointed Group Resort Management Director, CLC World Resorts & Hotels
CLC World Resorts & Hotels (CLC World) has announced the appointment of Julian Houchin as Group Resort Management Director. Julian has broad experience in global hospitality across a variety of disciplines and with a track record of turnaround success of underperforming hospitality businesses. Most recently, Julian and his partners developed a hospitality business in Croatia, successfully positioning Sun Gardens Dubrovnik, a 5-star mixed-use integrated resort, to compete with other luxury family resorts in Europe and affiliating the resort with The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW). Julian will be looking to “challenge the status quo on all fronts”, applying his experience and passion...
Karma Reef presents barefoot luxury on the idyllic island paradise of Gili Meno
Located on the tiny, traffic-free island paradise of Gili Meno, Karma Reef offers sanctuary – a world away from the noise and demands of everyday life. Guests at the resort enjoy exclusive access to a secret beach, where they indulge in blissful spa treatments, feast on freshly caught seafood, or kick back with a cocktail before strolling barefoot to their beautiful beachfront bungalow or luxurious glamping tent. An ode to authentic, sustainable architecture that is consciously designed to leave the lightest possible footprint on the environment, all of Karma Reef’s beachfront lumbung-style bungalows are stylishly appointed with comfort in mind. Perfect...
Eze directors sentenced to prison
On March 21st, Eze Europe Ltd director Dominic O'Reilly was sentenced to 28 months in prison and his daughter Stephanie to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. Both were also banned from becoming company directors for nine and six years respectively. Last November, Dominic O'Reilly and Stephanie O'Reilly had pleaded guilty to offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 relating to misrepresentation regarding the selling of "Leisure Credits" or 'Concierge Services", a so-called holiday and lifestyle product, as well as connected purported legal assistance to timeshare owners. In sentencing, Her Honour Judge Laurence Creed said that the O’Reillys...
Member Relations Manager for EUROC is appointed
The Board of EUROC is pleased to announce the appointment of Jane Gilmartin as the Member Relations Manager for EUROC (European Resort Owners’ Coalition). Jane has an extensive career in timeshare and the holiday industry generally, stretching back to 1996 where she worked amongst other things as an overseas tour manager in Europe, Canada and the USA. She spent three years with Sunterra as a team leader before it was taken over by Diamond Resorts International (DRI) which then led her to working for its related travel partner; The Big Journey Company as Operations Manager. With a brief spell in Human Resources, she...