Timeshare News

Orlando Sentinel (FL) (03/16/09) Garcia, Jason

Florida's timeshare industry is supporting state legislation that would shield some of its business from county bed taxes. The legislation would ensure that timeshares pay such taxes only when they are rented out like hotel rooms. It would exempt such other transactions as promotional stay-over packages and room rentals made via timeshare exchange programs from taxes. Backed by the American Resort Development Association, the plan has been moving quickly through the Legislature in Tallahassee. As of mid-March, it had already cleared a couple of committees in the Florida House and one in the Senate without a single vote against it. Jason Gamel, ARDA's vice president of state government affairs, remarks, "It is important to our industry to have that in law. It provides comfort to our owners. With the importance of keeping tourism flowing into our state, we do not want our owners to pay any more tax." The legislation would further ensure that taxes are not collected on the membership fees owners pay to belong to exchange programs, which ARDA says are usually around $100 annually. Timeshare exchanges have grown dramatically in recent years, as nearly 80 percent of timeshare owners are members of exchange companies. As a group, they make around 4 million trades a year.

Portland Business Journal (OR) (03/16/09) Marks, Gene

Gene Marks, author of "The Streetwise Small Business Book of Lists," writes: "It's actually become OK to own a timeshare." Marks uses his thrifty friend, Fred, as a case study. For the past several years, Fred has turn a timeshare he owns into some pretty major business benefits. Fred bought his one-week unit in Hawaii for around $5,000, despite having no interest in going to the Aloha State. Marks writes: "He was told [correctly] that Hawaii, Florida and the Caribbean are the most popular timeshare locations around. So he figured owning a one-week timeshare would be a valuable trade-in." This particular timeshare is affiliated with RCI, which runs a sizable timeshare exchange system for its members. Under the system, owners can put their week up for exchange with someone else's timeshare for a week in another location. Marks, though, cautions: "Fred has to plan way, way ahead to exchange his timeshare--I mean, like, two to three years ahead. Every time he does this, he pays a fee." Regardless, Fred continues to make the timeshare work for him. One year, he donated the unit to charity and enjoyed the free publicity his business received as a result. Another year, Fred used the timeshare as a grand prize in a sales contest to motivate his staff. Fred has also given his timeshare away to star employees. Marks, a former senior manager with KPMG in Philadelphia, concludes: "Not only can Fred use it himself once his kids are shipped off to reform school, but he can also resell the property. Granted, he probably won't get the original five grand he invested, but maybe he can put a couple grand in his pocket after many years of use."

Erika Ives
1-888-805-GMAC ext. 114

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TIMESHARE DIVISION GMAC REAL ESTATE RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR BEING TOP 10 COMPANY

Orlando, FL, 2/27/2009 — Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate based in Orlando was honored with an award as one of the Top 10 companies world wide during 2008. The award was presented at the GMAC Real Estate Business Conference in the Caribbean in February.

“I’m proud to present this award for outstanding achievement to Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate,” said John Bearden, president of GMAC Real Estate. “ This award represents a deep commitment to excellence, hard work and Premier Service® delivered by the Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate team. Their professionalism and dedication ensures that the expectations of their customers and clients are exceeded.”

Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate specializes in providing timeshare marketing services around the world. Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate is located at 5389 S Kirkman Rd. Suite 103-106 Orlando, FL 1-888-805-GMAC. For additional information, go to www.gmactd.com.

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Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate
5389 South Kirkman Rd Ste 103-106
Orlando, FL 32819
1-888-805-GMAC www.gmactd.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Erika Ives
1-888-805-GMAC – 114
2008 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® CONFERENCE
AND EXPO - A GREAT SUCCESS FOR TIMESHARE DIVISION GMAC REAL ESTATE

On November 7-10th real estate professionals from around the world gathered at the annual NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Conference & Expo, the real estate industry's premier event. Each year over 20,000 real estate professionals and guests attend to learn about the latest industry trends and cutting-edge products available. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is with out a doubt the main exponent in developing new standards for efficient, effective, and ethical real estate business practices of real property. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® was founded in 1908, a century later they continue to be the main association that respectively influences and shapes the real estate industry. Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate was just one of the many exhibiting at this event, more than 400 exhibitors make the REALTORS® Expo the world's largest real estate convention. Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate is dedicated in successfully helping clients buy, sell, or rent by exposing the after market of timeshares. Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate knows it takes more than a simple advertisement on a website to market timeshare correctly. Timeshare is a luxury item it requires very targeted marketing similar to the developers. Exhibiting at the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® was key for Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estates effort in attracting qualified buyers, sellers, and renters. The network opportunities, referrals, and leads generated at the expo proved to show a significant interest in the timeshare industry. This convention continued Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate path in leading the timeshare resale/rental industry. Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate strives for the next generation in timeshare resales/rentals, promising to build consumer confidence and reinforce expectations found common in the hospitality industry. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® exhibitor opportunity has assisted in the focus to sustain and build the evolving market of timeshare resales/rentals worldwide.

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If you would like more information about Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate, please do not hesitate to contact erika@gmactd.com or call 1-888-805-GMAC ext. 114.

Press Release: 2008 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® CONFERENCE AND EXPO

VacationBetter.Org Launches To Educate Consumers About How To Take Better Vacations

September 10, 2008 by Timeshare News

American Resort Development Association Promotes Online Resource

The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) today unveiled its new online resource to inform consumers on the importance of taking a vacation and the benefits of enjoying one — regularly — through vacation ownership. VacationBetter.org is a comprehensive, educational tool for consumers to learn about vacation ownership and to demonstrate a way for travelers to vacation better.

According to ARDA, people are faced with an increasingly diverse marketplace and options in leisure travel particularly blogs and travel related websites, making today’s vacation home market a continually evolving one.

“VacationBetter.org is a comprehensive resource that provides accurate information about vacations and timeshare products,” said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. “People love to vacation, but don’t always understand that there are great options like timeshare available to them. This site will be the ‘go-to’ resource on the Internet for all things timeshare.”

The website includes owner stories and photos, vacation information, and other tools to demonstrate that taking a vacation is an important priority and that a dream vacation can become a reality.

Despite recent surveys that found Americans receive the smallest amount of vacation time among their counterparts abroad with many failing to use it, timeshare owners continue to vacation despite challenging economic conditions. According to a study soon to be released by the ARDA International Foundation (AIF), timeshare owners spent an average of 19.5 days on leisure travel over the past twelve months.

Even Americans who do not take all of their vacation time each year recognize that vacations are much needed “sanity breaks” to prevent burnout from their jobs and daily life. Some studies point to increased stress levels, health risks and strained relationships as contributing factors from too much work and not enough vacation.

The website also provides steps to help the “vacation deprived” ensure that their next vacation is the best possible experience it can be. ARDA member resorts provide spacious accommodations in stunning locations with all the comforts of home. A timeshare resort offers hassle-free second home vacations designed with the sole purpose of making the most of precious leisure time together.

“VacationBetter.org will help begin to shift the mindset of today’s consumer from the feeling of ‘burn out’ to realizing the benefits of vacationing and committing to a vacation,” said Nusbaum.

Everyone deserves not only a vacation, but a better vacation. For more information, visit http://www.VacationBetter.org.

Commercial Property News (07/11/08) Baltic, Scott

Marriott Vacation Club International recently broke ground on the Lakeshore Reserve at Grande Lakes in Orlando. The 500-acre Grande Lakes campus is already home to both a JW Marriott hotel, a Ritz-Carlton lodging, a golf club and spa. The new timeshare resort is proposed to eventually include 340 villas and townhomes, with the initial phase slated for occupancy by summer 2010. Initial prices will range from $26,000 to $40,000 per week, depending on season and floor plan. Planned amenities will include a main pool with zero-entry; a second, "elegant-style" pool; a fitness facility; and a waterside promenade from the resort to the JW Marriott and outdoor grilling areas. Lakeshore Reserve will be Marriott's seventh property in Central Florida. As the economy weakens, industry officials note that the development risk is typically much lower for timeshares than for hotel rooms since they can be, and usually are, erected in phases. A 900-villa Marriott property in Orlando, for instance, recently completed construction a full decade after it began. Marriott Vacation Club International is the vacation ownership division of Marriott International Inc.

Timeshares Daily (07/21/08)

In a July study released by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) with research prepared by Ernst & Young, sales of new timeshares rose 6 percent last year over 2006, totaling $10.6 billion in the United States alone. Although gains were less than in previous years, the sale of new timeshares from 2003 to 2007 increased by a robust 66 percent. ARDA President and CEO Howard Nusbaum remarks, "The continued growth of the timeshare industry in today's economy is a direct indication of strong consumer satisfaction and demand. Vacation ownership, with its flexibility and spacious accommodations, continues to be a preferred travel choice for American families." As of this past January, 4.7 million Americans owned 6.5 million timeshare weekly intervals or the equivalent in points. At that time, there were 180,158 timeshare units in the U.S., with an additional 8,000 units under construction

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We've found this very interesting article on the web coutesy of the Orlando Sentinel www.orlandosentinel.com

Florida remained the nation's leading time-share market last year, logging $3.9 billion in sales as the industry overall continued to prosper despite the slump in residential real estate.



According to a report released this week by the accounting firm Ernst & Young, about 23 percent of the country's time-share resorts are in the Sunshine State, and they garnered more than one-third of all sales in 2007.

Nationally, time-share sales totaled $10.6 billion, a 6 percent increase from the year before, according to the report, which was prepared on behalf of the American Resort Development Association International Foundation, the industry's research arm.

U.S. time-share companies last year sold nearly 551,500 time-share intervals -- typically a week's stay at a resort or an equivalent amount of "points" that can be redeemed at a resort. The average price paid in 2007 for a time share -- $19,216 -- was up 3.7 percent from 2006. The average occupancy rate of 80.1 percent was down only slightly from the year before.

The report was good news for the Orlando area, the unofficial hub of the time-share world. The region is home to many resorts and is the headquarters for the time-share divisions of several national brands, including Starwood, Marriott, Wyndham, Hilton and Disney.

"Time share continues to be the little train that could," said Howard Nusbaum, chief executive officer of the American Resort Development Association, the industry's main trade group. The business model is designed to constantly draw potential customers to the product, and one in 10 who visit eventually buys, Nusbaum said.

Time shares have proven to be resilient despite a tough real-estate market in part because people view them more as a travel expense and not a real-estate investment, Nusbaum said.

"They buy it because they believe they get better vacationing," he said. "People don't buy time share for the [price] appreciation factor -- they buy it for the use."



Orlando time-share magnate David Seigel said Tuesday his company has continued this year to set records every week and expects to sell $1 billion worth of time shares in 2008.

Siegel, owner of Central Florida Investments Inc., is topping off a 52-floor time-share development in Las Vegas today and planning to build a 2,500-villa project in Orlando next year.

Year-to-date, he said, business is up about 25 percent from 2007.

"Time share makes it possible for a middle-income family to vacation as good as anybody can," Siegel said.

Sara K. Clarke can be reached at skclarke@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5664.

J.T. Calloway (Webmaster TDGMAC) Timeshare Division GMAC Real Estate 1-888-805-GMAC(4622) jt@gmactd.com

    The German Tour operator, "DERTOUR," chose Orlando as the new destination for their annual "DERTOUR Destination Special." Co-sponsored by United Airlines, the group of 100 top-producing travel agents participated in a fam tour to Florida which included a visit to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area prior to thier arrival in Orlando on May 8. In addition to the agents, the delegation included team members from "DERTOUR," as well as Europe-based representatives from the CVB, Universal Orlando Resort, World's of Discovery and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. The agents enjoyed a fun-filled, 4-day itinerary which included visits to Universal Orlando, Sea World Orlando, Aquatica Sea World's newest Water Park, and the Disney theme parks.