Marriott Vacation Club Timeshare Committed to the Environment

Marriott Vacation Club resorts strive for environmental excellence through Audubon International Program.

The Timeshare Authority blog has the opportunity to, once again, share updates with you about Marriott Vacation Club timeshare’s commitment to protecting and preserving our environment. Because Marriott takes its environmental responsibility so seriously, the company is frequently in our news as we report to you on awards or rankings Marriott timeshares, resorts, and golf courses are receiving from the Audubon Society and other environmental groups.

Marriott Vacation Club timeshare is now partnering with Audubon International, making an even greater effort to ‘green’ its North America timeshares and Caribbean timeshares, enrolling more of them in the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program for Hotels. Already 28 Marriott resorts are part of the program and by 2011, the company expects participation from all 43 resorts in the region.

Extending Marriott Vacation Club’s (Marriott timeshare) current Green Initiative, the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program focuses on both environmental education and environmental awareness, tailoring best management practices to be both efficient and green. To earn the Green Leaf rating, a timeshare or hotel must meet requirements for water conservation, water quality, resource conservation, energy efficiency and waste minimization. Fred Realbuto, Director of U.S. Green Leaf Operations at Audubon International says, “We’re pleased to have Marriott Vacation Club work with us to better protect and sustain our land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources. Our program is unique in that it is international in scope, uses a standardized process for evaluating environmental performance, provides environmental education and conducts visits to verify eco-rated practices.”

Here are only some of the many updates The Timeshare Authority blog has been privileged to bring you about the environmental efforts at Marriott and Marriott timeshare:

Topics: Caribbean Timeshare, Marriott Timeshare, Timeshare Blog, Timeshare News

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Today’s Timeshare Interview Looking

Last weekend was Halloween; you had costumes, parties, and goblins to deal with, and you may have missed Today’s Timeshare, in which Dave Thackeray of RCI interviewed Robin Mills, the chairman of the Resort Development Organisation’s Communications Council. Fortunately, you can still listen in, as this episode of internet radio is available at RCI Ventures Today’s Timeshare, via iTunes, and here on The Timeshare Authority blog.

Not only is Robin Mills an entertaining speaker, but his insights on European timeshare and its contrasts to US timeshare are very interesting.

Some of the points you will want to catch:

How the timeshare industry adds value to the consumer experienceEnhancing web accessibility for the European timeshare industrySocial media outreachWays ARDA is serving the US timeshare industry that Europe can copyIncreasing communication in general within the industry and between the industry and ownersA look at RDO1, the first annual conference of the Resort Development Organisation

And in closing, Robin shares his visions for the future and some interesting projects … truly enlightening for anyone who wants to buy, rent, or sell timeshare, or enjoys timeshare ownership or service to the shared ownership industry.

Podcast: Play in new window

Topics: European Timeshare, Timeshare Blog, Timeshare News

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Take this Timeshare Industry Survey

Our friends at Resort Trades magazine and AskMando.com are conducting a CustomerCount© survey, reaching out to 18,000 hospitality professionals to better understand how the timeshare and vacation ownership industry feels about timely issues. Included on the survey are topics such as: timeshare resales, going environmentally green, social media, and timeshare sales and marketing budget issues.

Tim Wilson, Publisher of The Trades, says, “We are hoping to gather important information that will give a snapshot of what’s to come in the vacation ownership industry. The survey will run for about a month, and we will publish some preliminary results from time to time prior to the detailed analysis scheduled for the first of the year.”

The survey officially launched on October 27 and will run throughout the month of November. You will find the survey at: www.resorttrades.com/survey

If you are part of the timeshare or hospitality industry and received an invitation, please take a few minutes and respond to this survey. Not only does your voice matter but for each respondent, a $1 donation will go to Christel House, to help underprivileged children worldwide.

This survey was designed by Mobius Vendor Partners, a ten-year-old business process design and management company specializing in servicing the needs of the timeshare industry.

For more information visit www.askmando.com or call 931-484-8819.

Topics: Timeshare, Timeshare Blog, Timeshare News, Timeshare Resales

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World Travel Award Winners… Wonder if They Stay in Timeshares?

Who will be the Face of Travel for 2010? This year’s winner of the World Travel Awards’ Face of Travel 2010 is scheduled to be announced on Sunday, November 7, crowning one celebrity as a global travel ambassador.

Nominees include: David Beckham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Costner, Kevin Spacey, Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, and Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickenson. The winner is the individual who is considered to have ‘boosted’ the travel and tourism industry most this past year.

In case you are wondering why these individuals made the list, here are ways some of them have impacted travel:

Usain Bolt is the key figure in Jamaica’s tourism campaign, “Once You Go, You Know”Bruce Dickenson, musician and pilot, was nominated because of his new job as marketing manager of Astraeus Airlines.David Beckham is currently serving as England’s 2018 World Cup Ambassador.Kevin Spacey is a US actor, London resident and television commercial spokesperson for American Airlines ads promoting transatlantic travel.After a series of regional events, the winners for all the global categories of The WTA 2010 will be announced at the 17th Annual Grand Final Gala Ceremony, to be held at the Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel in Mayfair, London on the eve of World Travel Market.

While these celebrity icons may be earning the recognition, it really seems that anyone who found great deals on travel this year, like right-priced timeshare resales or timeshare rentals was the real winner.

Consider opportunities including Jamaica timeshare resales, Jamaica timeshare rentals, and London timeshare resales.

Topics: Caribbean Timeshare, European Timeshare, Timeshare Blog, Timeshare News

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It’s Not Timeshares, But it is a Hotel with Instant Pancakes

In news that has nothing to do specifically with timeshares but much to do with vacation, travel, and leisure recreation, Holiday Inn has announced that it will begin updating its bars to become social hubs. The changes are part of a two-year-long global brand re-launch that has involved IHG’s Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties.

The social hub concept will be test-marketed in a limited number of Holiday Inn properties in 2011, with plans to implement the idea brand-wide in 2012. Within or adjacent to the former bar area, expect to find video games, a dining area or dining patio, fire pits, and business centers. Menus will feature lunch, dinner, lots of sharable appetizers, and even breakfast. A unique highlight of the hub’s food service will be self-serve pancakes that can be ready in approximately 17 seconds.

Instead of Peach Bellinis and Pomegranate Mojitos, Holiday Inn is making a very purposeful move to pancakes and family-friendly social areas. What does this say about travel trends and what this generation of vacationers is seeking? Holiday Inn believes its guests would, “rather intermingle than be in-room loners.”

If the company’s research is accurate, then you have to think that this goes hand-in-hand with the ever-increasing timeshare occupancy rates, consistently topping hotel occupancy rates. Yes, people have vacationed in timeshares because they generally translate to prepaid vacation accommodations but timeshare rentals are on the rise too. And perhaps it all reflects a growing desire among people to spend enjoy family time at vacation destinations that offer more of the comforts of their own home, whether that is a spacious timeshare unit or a hotel with a game room hub and custom pancake selection.

Topics: Timeshare Blog, Timeshare News, Timeshare Rentals, Timeshare Resales

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Who Decorates Your Favorite Hotels and Timeshares: Frequently it’s Robb & Stucky Hospitality

This is the first in a series of blog posts contributed by timeshare industry specialist Marge Lennon of Lennon Communications Group, Inc. (Fort Myers, Florida). Marge will be looking at who is decorating many of your favorite resorts and timeshares and what considerations come into play in this process.

Founded in Florida in 1915, Robb & Stucky Interiors is a nationally respected interior design and premium furnishings retailer with 20 showrooms in Texas, Arizona, Nevada and Florida, including showrooms in Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton. The company’s Hospitality Design Division (RobbStucky.com/Hospitality) has expanded both domestically and internationally with increasing commercial design assignments for hotels, condominiums, timeshare and fractional resorts located from Denver to Dubai.

Earlier this fall, The Breakers Palm Beach selected Robb & Stucky Interiors to redesign 69 luxurious guest rooms and suites in the Palm Beach, Florida resort. According to Dan Lubner, Hospitality Design Division President for Robb & Stucky, “We were thrilled to create the furnishings for this property. Our intention was to ensure that the new interiors pay tribute to the historical relevance of the 114-year old resort while still providing guests with the comfort and elegance of today’s contemporary furnishings.”

“Due to the historic character of the building, the units were not identical in size,” said Kris Kolar, ASID and Robb & Stucky’s Vice President of Interior Design. “This meant that space planning was a critical element of the project and furnishings had to meet certain requirements to complement the premium taste levels of the resort’s guests.

Founded in 1896 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Breakers Palm Beach, with its 540 guest rooms and Italian Renaissance-style architecture is one of America’s iconic resort destinations, located on 140 acres of oceanfront property in the heart of the island of Palm Beach in Florida.

Robb & Stucky Interiors (previously completed various assignments for The Breakers, including furnishings for the landmark property’s residential apartments, located at One North Breakers Row, which resulted in a prestigious Silver PRISM design award for the “Best Living Room for a Low Rise Condominium” by Gold Coast Builders Association.

Topics: Florida Timeshare, Timeshare Blog, Timeshare News

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