Timeshare Resales Leader Steps Up to Expand Timeshare Owner Options

DOVER, NH--(Marketwire - 08/13/10) - Sell My Timeshare NOW, the global leader in timeshare resales and rentals, announces that the company is expanding its services, introducing important new options for timeshare owners.

Jason Tremblay, the company's founder and CEO, says, "Timeshare owners want and need choices in how they resell their timeshares. In addition to the owner-advertising option Sell My Timeshare NOW has always offered consumers, we are expanding our timeshare brokerage service capabilities and will begin presenting those services as an additional option when sellers contact us."

As part of the new business model, Sell My Timeshare NOW is transitioning to a sales team almost exclusively comprising licensed real estate professionals. The company is serious about de-emphasizing timeshare advertising as its primary product: beginning last March, it has been conducting in-house training at the corporate offices in Dover, New Hampshire, to help prepare employees for the required testing they will face in obtaining state real estate licenses. Tremblay says that he sees this as investing in the company by investing in its employees, and that SellMyTimeshareNOW will also be looking to hire additional licensed real estate professionals for its Orlando, Florida offices.

Sell My Timeshare NOW offers by-owner timeshare advertising sold by trained timeshare sales professionals, and its affiliate Timeshare Broker Services offers a full range of professional real estate services. In 2009, the company's websites generated 61,743 offers to buy timeshare resales and 85,949 offers to rent timeshares.

Consumers who want to resell their timeshare intervals or timeshare points through Sell My Timeshare NOW can pay a one-time advertising fee ($599) for sale-by-owner advertising and marketing that the company provides through its highly visible, well-positioned websites. The owner's timeshare ad remains on the company's websites, continuing to be marketed until it sells, with the timeshare owner benefiting from a money-back guarantee should the timeshare sell through other means.

For owners who would rather let a licensed professional handle the details of the sales transaction, Timeshare Broker Services may be the better choice. Customers of Timeshare Broker Services pay no up-front fee to advertise their timeshares but will pay the greater of either a 15 percent commission or $2,000 when the sale of their timeshare closes. Brokered timeshare sales are conducted in much the same way as the sale of traditional real estate. "Both options are good choices," according to Tremblay, but he says the company recognized the importance of making timeshare broker services more readily available to consumers, since many people simply don't feel comfortable or have the time to be involved in the sales process personally.

Tremblay describes the overall timeshare industry as being in a period of growth and redefinition and discloses that Sell My Timeshare NOW recently obtained formal legal advice from the highly respected law firm of Baker & Hostetler LLP, affirming that the business practices of Sell My Timeshare NOW and Timeshare Broker Services are in full compliance with Florida real estate brokerage laws. Sell My Timeshare NOW is counseled by Robert J. Webb, RRP of Baker Hostetler, a board certified Florida real estate lawyer with substantial experience in commercial real estate, timeshare and hospitality industry law.

About Sell My Timeshare NOW

Averaging more than 2 million pageviews per month, Sell My Timeshare NOW provides internet advertising and marketing solutions for timeshare owners seeking to sell or rent timeshare while offering timeshare buyers and timeshare renters competitively priced vacation ownership and rental opportunities. The company offers timeshare brokerage through Timeshare Broker Services. Headquartered in Dover, NH with offices in Orlando, FL, Sell My Timeshare NOW has been recognized on the Inc. 500 and 5000 Lists for two consecutive years as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S.

Contact:
Contact:Jay BadeVice President of Business Developmentjaybade@sellmytimesharenow.com 603-516-0680

Introducing a new group... the Licensed Timeshare Brokers Association

A NEW ASSOCIATION of licensed Real Estate brokers have formed recently in an effort to provide specialized services for owners with timeshares who want to sell. They organized, in part, to become one voice; a voice of honesty and integrity in an industry fraught with scam artists and fly-by-nights. Their mission is a simple one; to provide transparent services to timeshare owners who wish to sell collecting a commission ONLY after the timeshare is sold. The President of the non-profit corporation, Judi Kozlowski, admits “It took us a few years of trying to start to get started, but we are all on board now, and we are all headed in a united direction; That is to assist timeshare owners by first helping them find a marketable price point to list their timeshare, posting to the MLS, and then performing all advertising, dealing with buyers offers, etc. JUST LIKE REGULAR REAL ESTATE WORKS! In the end our goal is to help timeshare owners who want out, out of their timeshares and help buyers who want in, IN, dealing fairly and honestly with all the people we deal with.

One of our brokers, Saundra Mock , has specialized in timeshare resales for over 16 years and handles timeshares from just about anywhere and is knowledgeable in just about every product available.

We have other brokers who specialize in the area they are located in, or in a specific product or set of products; it just depends. The point is our association gives sellers choices that are scam free. You can find a list of our associates at www.ltrba.com . If you are seller or a buyer, you can trust an associate of the Licensed Timeshare Resale Brokers Association.”

Disney Vacation Club being scammed? - ShareConnectGrow Blog post - a community of resort managers and their suppliers

Disney is under attack, well.. its owners are. But that affects us all. Everyone should pay attention and do what we can to help Disney stop this scam as soon as possible!

Disney Vacation Club being scammed? - ShareConnectGrow Blog post - a community of resort managers and their suppliers

Timeshare Industry Insiders Rant of the Day!

Here is my rant of the day... take it for what its worth. and if you have no idea what I am talking about, then I am most likely not talking to or about you.

We all work so incredibly hard to build and maintain our reputations in this industry. The timeshare industry is a small one, regardless of how vast it appears to the outside world. It is a social network of relationships and deals, pros and cons, guys in white hats and scamsters. We build our circles and we are more likely then most industries to support and help our contacts and buddies.

On the flip side, the competition is fierce. The timeshare industry can be one of the more competitive spirited industries out there. This is actually one of the reasons why we network and build our circles, our families of contacts and business associates. This helps to "protect" us when the competition strikes and also, it helps once we are established to keep our business partners when new competitors are born and trying to climb our ladders.

I believe in the competition and the fair fight... when it's fair. And I am well known for being one to take on a challenge, stand up for what I feel is right, protect my contacts and network, and try to keep a clean professional image in the industry that has supported me since I was a child. I can be just as fierce as my competition... but I play and fight fair. To me, there is no glory in winning if you had to cheat or lie or steal to do so.

I know of a company who got itself started by copying advertising and even logos and graphics from their competitors. The name branding that had been implemented was being turned around and consumers often believe they are with one company, because its name is so similiar and the website appears in the same colors and formats, and even the quotes and stats are repeated and duplicated. This is blatanly lying and misleading the consumer.. and it is stealing from the other company. If you are not able to produce a legitimate, uniique approach to gaining clientele, then just go to work for the people you want to copy for heavens sake. Your peers in the industry know what you are doing, and they will not respect you nor bring you their business because of it. You might steal a few misled consumers, but in the end, they will also fade away because you are not genuine or legitimate.

Timeshare News since Ive been "away"

I havent posted much this past few days because I was in the process of moving to a new apartment. But just because I was out of commission, doesnt mean the timeshare world was!

How about Franz Hanning, CEO of Wyndham, and his scirmish at the basketball game? I am sorry, but I not only had to laugh but also call him my hero of the week! He simply did what so many of us wanted to do! I appreciate his passion and enthusiasm over the sport, and our team!

I am sure you took note of the news on my homefront, the Resort Trades (www.ResortTrades.com). We announced our new website platform at Askmando (www.AskMando.com) and also announced the new resort editions that we are now offering resorts. Once we started the planning stages, I heard that our competitors were also doing this. I have to say it somewhere so I will say it here.. they are not really our competitors. They are an international magazine, and we are a national newspaper. There is indeed a difference. We try to report the news, they publish stories and advertorials. Neither is better then the other as they sit in different formats and are for different purposes. However.. they are considered our competitors. I wish them the best. They are a great group of people... and so are we!

Robb & Stucky, our favorite developers decorator (home interior design for great condos!) was recognized on May 15 by the Lee Building Industry Association (Lee County, Florida) for design excellence during the annual Pinnacle Awards!! Congratulations to them and congratulations to their Publicist, Marge Lennon!

Wyndhams headline for the week was "Wyndham Green Partners With Plastic FREE Ocean to
Raise Awareness About Pollutants in Our Waters". I have to say that I have gained a new respect for them by this simple headline. Great press release and great program for them to get involved in. If we all stop and think about it, the timeshare industry can really contribute a lot of good, or bad, to the environment and tasks such as what Wyndham is taking on certainly are to be respected and admired!

SPI software.. maybe you have heard of them and maybe you havent. If you havent, it simply means that your job position doesnt require you to know about service providers to your resort behind the scenes.. but the rest of us know them. They had a headliner this week as well.. SPI Software’s VP of Client Services Gordon McClendon Asked to Serve on Federal Issues Committee of American Resort Development Association (ARDA). I think that Gordon will be great at this venture and I trust that he will take this position seriously and with pride. This is probably the most important committee in ARDA and holds great responsibility for assisting in the protection and education of all developers and timeshare industry businesses.

Another sound and proud week in the timeshare industry! Cant wait to see what this upcoming week brings to us! I will as always, keep you informed!

ARDA released new warning to timeshare owners today

AMERICAN RESORT DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
CONSUMER ADVISORY ON RESALE COMPANIES

ADVISORY IV
May 14, 2010

As part ARDA’s effort to provide consumers with guidance about the secondary marketplace and useful tips about
the resale process, this advisory is to make consumers aware of two deceptive resale solicitations that target timeshare
owners.
According to an April 2010 release issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(FDACS), the newest scheme is being used in combination with other unethical or fraudulent resale solicitations.
Beware of ‘Reloading’
The practice of ‘reloading’ is when an individual or company contacts a consumer who has already been victimized
by an unethical resale company. The claim is that they can recoup the upfront-fee lost in the original scam. The call
may actually be from the same company that conducted the first scam, only reorganized under a new name. Or the
call may be from a disgruntled former employee of the original company who uses the victims’ contact information
to run a new scam.
The FDACS warns that in either case the chances are minimal that consumers will recover any money. The latest
twist on this particular fraud has someone calling the original victim claiming to be from the first company that
took the upfront fee. This time, the caller will offer to refund the victim’s money, but will ask for a credit card
number “to facilitate the transaction.” If consumers again provide credit card numbers, they will lose money a
second time.
Bogus Rental Offers
Timeshare owners should also be skeptical of rental company solicitations that claim the company can rent owners’
vacation weeks or their “extra/bonus” weeks. While bonus weeks or bonus time is a legitimate benefit offered by
some – but not all – timeshare resorts, owners cannot rent them and may be in violation of their resorts’ rules if
they do. (Bonus weeks or bonus time is generally unused time that can be reserved only by other owners for a low
fee typically 30 days before the time is available.
The alleged rental company entices the consumer by claiming to have interested renters. The company quotes an
unrealistically-high rental rate, asks for an advance fee (upwards of $700) and a credit card number so the company
“can be authorized to represent the consumer in the rental transaction.” The advance fee is taken and the consumer
never hears of rentals again.
ARDA cautions consumers to make sure they understand the disclosures, promises, transfer protocols and recourse
available to them prior to writing a check, giving a credit card number or any other form of payment to a reseller.
And please check with your home owners association to see if a less expensive option is available to you. For more
resales information, please visit www.ARDA.org/resales. Visit ARDA’s consumer web site at
www.VacationBetter.org for more information about timeshares.

The Resort Trades

The Resort Trades

Great way for the timeshare industry to give back to the less fortunate! Women in the Industry is a favorite of mine. I am a member and these ladies are super!

WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY LAUNCHES TRAVEL AUCTION
Second Annual Event to Raise Funds for Women’s Charities
Contact: Georgi Bohrod (619)255-1661
WIN: Cathy Backus (702)604-9411


WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY LAUNCHES TRAVEL AUCTION
Second Annual Event to Raise Funds for Women’s Charities


WIN (www.womenintheindustry.org) will launch its second annual Travel Auction May 18, 2010. It will run through May 28. This exciting opportunity is available to WIN members and their friends and families. The bidding on these vacation weeks starts at just $200 and includes opportunities to vacation at resorts located all over the world.


WIN is a non-profit organization that promotes, educates and connects women in the vacation industry. The purpose is threefold: To unite and ignite combined strengths; to offer education scholarship and research opportunities; and to partner with charities that support the health, education and welfare of women and adolescent girls in need.


Cathy Backus, Co-President of WIN who chairs the philanthropic committee of the organization says proceeds from last year’s auction “afforded WIN the opportunity to provide Girls Inc. with funds to support underprivileged girls to be the first generation in their family to attend college; WIN also championed a Gal to Gal Foundation fundraiser titled “Send Me on Vacation,” a similar concept to the Make a Wish Foundation, that sends adult women with stage 4 breast cancer on vacation.”


Part of the proceeds from this auction will provide funding to The Auskell Medical Clinic. This clinic on Abaco Island in the Bahamas provides comprehensive healthcare to local residents and visitors alike, using the services of experienced general practitioners, consultants and specialists in the various disciplines of medicine. This year WIN chose to add this clinic to the list of charities we support to help fund the purchase of a much needed mammography machine for the women on the island. The remainder of the proceeds will go to support women’s charities voted upon by the WIN members.


Check out the information below and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to get a good deal on a vacation and support women’s charities!

To donate vacation weeks email cbackus@csatravelprotection.com or ellen.devine@bluegreencorp.com . Bidding begins May 18 bid at: www.biddingforgood.com/WINcharity

Alain Carr, President of CARE interviews

Alain Carr interviews with me and Management & Operations magazine for viewing on AskMando TV. Alain talks about the timeshare industry and how CARE (Cooperative Association of Resort Exchangers) is working with the timeshare industry to improve customer care and travel fulfillments.

View the video here.. http://bit.ly/9ech9w

Florida AG cracks down on timeshare resale companies - South Florida Business Journal:

Florida AG cracks down on timeshare resale companies - South Florida Business Journal:

Again, if the Timeshare Resort Developers will work directly with the resale industry, particularly one of the few rare companies that truly puts an effort forth to assist the timeshare owners, then the owners of that Resort Developer would not be caught up by using a company like the ones listed here in this article.

CARE Conference

Timeshare News about Cooperative Association of Resort Exchangers.

The C.A.R.E. conference held on April 24th through the 27th, was the 50th Silver/Gold Semi-Annual CARE conference. It was held in New Orleans which was the location of the first CARE conference 25 years ago.

CARE members stayed at the Hilton New Orleans on St. Charles Street just blocks away from Canal Street. The Hilton hosted CARE's events which included a cocktail party, Roll Call, an auction, panel discussion and networking sessions among other itenerary events.

The Fall conference is scheduled for Sept. 25th-28th in Scottsdale Arizona and next years Spring 2011 conference was announced to be held in Chicago.

CARE offers reservations departments and individual rental fulfillment companies to network and share inventory through exchanges and or wholesale rental fulfillment. This enables each company to better serve the requests of their owners and renters needs. CARE is directed by a Board of volunteers. For more information on joining CARE, please visit their website at http://www.care-online.org/ .

MyResortNetwork.com at the CARE conference

Lance, Mike and Craig from MyResortNetwork.com at the CARE conference in New Orleans!

Update on ARDAs Model Timeshare Resales Act

It has been a little over a month since the ARDA convention where the Proposed Model Resales Act was such a hot topic! Many in the timeshare industry, from Developers to consumers, recognize this matter as one of high priority. The Model Resales Act will be used to guide Resale Companies in ARDA with policies that will better protect and serve both buyers and sellers of timeshare on the secondary market. The ultimate goal is to help set precedence for legislation on the state government levels that will benefit the industry as well as provide protection to consumers.


Recently, Management & Operations Magazine, sister publication of the Resort Trades interviewed Ken McKelvey. Mr. McKelvey, CEO of Defender resorts had also told us that much of the terminology in the Act was confusing even to someone coming from the resale industry. He felt however that this was a good foundation to start from and that future comment and suggestions would help mold the Act to its desired outcome.

I became curious as to any updates or developments on this topic, so I contacted Howard Nusbaum, President of ARDA and asked him what has transpired since the convention last month. According to Mr. Nusbaum, ARDA is still reviewing both verbal and written feedback about the Proposed Model Resale Act.

Concerning these questions about the Act, Mr. Nusbaum stated that “Several comments reveal some serious misunderstandings which lead us to believe the Task Force needs to be clearer in the drafting and that ARDA needs to do a better job of explaining the act and not assume that everyone is familiar with the nuances of previous legislation and/or legal opinions.”

Mr. Nusbaum went to further explain that despite the questions and misunderstandings, many comments ARDA has received have been extremely helpful in providing knowledge of what issues need to be further addressed and have also pointed to many good recommendations.

This process is still in its early stages and a large number of people in the industry are still new to many of these ideas that have been sited. The timeshare industry is encouraged to continue asking questions and providing feedback while ARDA and the Resale Task Force continue to move through the stages of completing and implementing the Act.

Mr. Nusbaum stated in conclusion that “The members of the Model Resale Act Task Force are reviewing and incorporating these comments. When that is complete it will be sent to the ARDA Board of Directors for their review”.

A recommended reading of the article “Resales 360” will be in the June edition of ARDA’s popular magazine Developments, for those following this topic and wishing to learn further information.

Thank you to Mr. Nusbaum for taking time to share this update information!

Ron Jons Cape Caribe Timeshare Resort- Andy Jarmusz

See my ARDA interview with Andrew Jarmusz, Project Director of Ron Jons Cape Caribe Resort, discussing how the resort has handled marketing through this economy.


http://bit.ly/cSIguz

Who is Trident Business Management?

“Analyze, Strategize and Capitalize”.




At the 2010 ARDA convention in Las Vegas, Management & Operations magazine interviewed both managing partners of Trident Business Management to be aired on its website, www.AskMando.com.

Bill Tsao, Managing Partner, explained to AskMando TV that between himself and his partner, Jim Danz, they have a combined total of over 40 years experience in the timeshare industry ranging from Sales and Marketing to Financial mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Tsao explained to AskMando TV, that Trident Business Management is positioned to assist distressed developers by working with lenders and other new capital sources who are interested in working within the timeshare industry. Trident Business Management then continues its services to its clients through advisory and managerial assistance.

Jim Danz, Managing Partner, explained to AskMando TV that he is proud of Trident Business Managements ability to offer the industry an “all inclusive” solution. Rather than simply focusing on one aspect of a developers needs, Trident offers assistance in all areas such as finance containment, property management, sales and marketing performance and asset management.

Jim describes Trident Business Management as a “Best in Class team of professionals who are specialists in each of their own areas of expertise”. With such well known professional experts in the timeshare industry placed on Tridents Advisory Board such as Greg Sheperd and Frank Morrisroe, Jim and Bill truly do have the right to be proud and confident in the ability and position of this organization. The Advisory Board, which is the source of Tridents power and status, uses its combination of experienced timeshare professionals to “Analyze, Strategize and Capitalize” for its clientele.

Make sure to visit www.AskMando.com and watch both interviews with Bill Tsao and Jim Danz from the 2010 ARDA convention for more information about Trident. Also make sure to visit their website, www.TridentBusinessManagement.com for more information on the Advisory Board and the services offered to the timeshare industry

To View the interview with Jim Danz visit http://bit.ly/8YvNEP

To View the interview with Bill Tsao, visit http://bit.ly/djWUjf

Pueblo Bonito Resorts Corporate Sales

With some of the most romantically designed luxury resorts in areas such as Los Cabos, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas, the Pueblo Bonito Resorts are my personal favorite timeshare and fractional system in Mexico. Each Resort is designed with its own uniqueness while maintaining the same flow of beauty, romance, perfection and total embodiment of hospitality and class. Don’t just take my word for it though. Each of these resorts has been given prestigious awards from Conde Nast and Travel + Leisure Magazine among others.


From the timeshare and fractional aspect of these developments, I have always been fascinated with the success of the sales and marketing teams led by Mr. Eric M. White, Corporate Sales Director for Pueblo Bonito Resorts. I had the distinguished honor of interviewing Mr. White at the 2010 ARDA convention in Las Vegas this year. With his infectious sense of humor he described the challenges that Pueblo Bonito has faced this past year between the economy, the drug wars at the borders, the H1N1 flu and Category 5 hurricanes. He jokingly admitted that he was “Just waiting for the locusts” to arrive!

Mr. White expressed however during our interview that despite the challenges of 2009, his resort sales in Cabo San Lucas are up over 65% for the month of March year over year. With the acquisition of over 1800 acres of “Territorial Reserves” including 3 miles of coastal frontage, Pueblo Bonito is moving forward with its construction plans for 36 holes of golf in relationship with Jack Nicklaus, 9 holes being waterfront. Expansion of sales is occurring for Sunset Beach as well as phase II of the Fractional division of the resort, Monte Cristo. Pueblo Bonitos success story continues to unfold!



Be sure to watch this interview on AskMando Tv by following this link. http://bit.ly/bN0rlK

If the link does not work, just copy and paste it in to your internet browser.

2010 ARDA Timeshare Industry Convention

The convention hall is clear and the corridors quiet and empty. The 2010 ARDA convention has ended and we are all back home reflecting on our experiences and discussions that held our attention during the week.


Several topics stood out both officially, and unofficially. Whether you were involved in a session, or talking to a colleague in the corridor, you likely were involved in conversations about Social Media Marketing, Technology, Timeshare Resale’s or of course, RCI.

Social Media Marketing started first thing Tuesday morning with a session on teaching sales forces to use and train through social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook. Simultaneously a session on website design and marketing was being held by some of the industry’s top internet marketers. The theme then continued into the hallways with the revealing of new smart phone apps by 6Dimensions Consulting for the Resort Trades and AskMando.com. A first ever Scavenger Hunt was held using text messaging clues and RCI was quick to show their own new interactive skills and technology. Unmistakably our marketing and media platforms are changing in today’s world. The timeshare industry made it clear last week that we are not afraid to branch out into the world of tomorrow’s media, marketing and technology trends.

Every buyer, seller, resort sales agent and Developer knows that Timeshare Resale’s have long been the quiet elephant in the room. Finally, it is at the forefront of discussion and ARDA is working diligently to help everyone involved with the proposition of its Model Resale Act. All developers like it or not, are realizing the issue can no longer be swept under the carpet and that an agreement must be made between themselves and resale companies in order to protect the product and the clients.

In many circles, in fact the majority of them, RCI was almost always mentioned. It seemed that the industry has noticed RCI’s renewed strength, energy and advancements in technology. When speaking to Chip Rogan, Vice President of Sales for InnSeason Resorts, who recently signed with RCI, Chip stated that “We are thrilled with the innovative cutting edge technology and tools RCI will be providing us to enhance the sales and ownership experience for our customers and team members”. This clearly says it all about the mood of RCI’s current flow within the industry.

Clearly there is a sense of change in the air within the timeshare industry. After attending the 2010 convention, it should be clear to everyone that our industry will flex and mold to the needs and trends of our market, clients and colleagues.