• The vacation ownership industry in the Caribbean continues to gain momentum as an alternative to traditional hotel-based vacations. According to a recent industry study of Interval International members, the Caribbean is the top international destination of choice for its U.S. members. Full report here.
• Sell My Timeshare NOW, a leading timeshare resales and timeshare rental company, has just released their first-quarter 2007 Hot Properties List. The list, prepared by an outside researcher, looks at over one thousand timeshare properties and ranks them by the number of buyer offers received, based on the records of Sell My Timeshare NOW, LLC.

Jason Tremblay, CEO of Sell My Timeshare NOW, says, "We think the list will be tremendously helpful to people who have timeshares they want to resell. The list will also benefit people who wish to buy timeshare resales. The 2007 Hot Properties List tells you, based on Sell My Timeshare NOW's data, which timeshare resales have received the most offers in the first quarter of 2007. We are happy to share this research with consumers. The more you know about a timeshare deal before you buy, the more likely you are to select the resale timeshare that is best for your vacation needs."

The top ten timeshare resorts receiving the most offers at Sell My Timeshare NOW, for the first quarter of 2007 are...well, you'll have to just check it out here.

• The old rules of time share condos don't apply to the new fractional resort concept proposed to the Santa Rosa Island Authority recently. Fractional ownership resorts are being embraced by hoteliers such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Holiday Inn, who generally market the facilities as "vacation clubs" which are available for nightly stays through travel websites according to the Santa Rosa Island Authority in Florida. The members of the Santa Rosa Island Authority tabled the proposal for conceptual approval.
• Marriott International, a leading lodging company, developing and operating vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands reported timeshare sales and services revenue increased 21 percent in the first quarter of 2007, primarily driven by the 2006 contract sales at the company's Maui resort which were not reportable in the prior year.

May 10, 2007
Bangalore