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INSIDER
RESORTDEVELOPER.COM
vacation industry review
JULY – SEPTEMBER 2015
For almost four years, Interval International’s Club Interval Gold has
been stretching flexibility even further with its points-based exchange
product for owners of traditional fixed and floating weeks. It allows
owners the option to convert their week into points they
can use toward full-week exchanges, as well as short-
stay vacations, cruises, spa escapes, exchange
uptrades, and essentially expand the ways they can use
their timeshare.
Improving Member Retention
But what’s delighting many homeowners’ associations at
aging resorts is that Club Interval Gold seems to not only attract new
owners, but also helps retain maintenance fee–paying owners and
improve the resort’s bottom line.
Just ask Andy Gennuso, president of Great Destinations, a com-
pany that works with resorts and associations to offer owners greater
vacation flexibility and options. “Club Interval Gold adds new life to
legacy resorts and gives the owner the benefit of a contemporary
exchange.”
Great Destinations has been introducing clients to the Club Interval
Gold product for three years. “So far, we’re close to 5,000 owners
who’ve either upgraded to the points product or purchased new inven-
tory at a legacy resort coupled with Club Interval Gold.”
Gennuso can point to many individual examples of success. “I do
know that one of the original properties we started with sold almost
400 intervals over the course of two years, which got them almost to a
fully subscribed owner base again.”
Customized Print and Digital Tools
“Club Interval Gold provides an alternative for front-line
sales, and allows developers or HOAs to offer a new
product to existing owners of traditional fixed and float-
ing product for in-house sales,” says Michelle DuChamp,
Interval’s vice president of business development. “And
our promotional materials and program promotion collateral explain the
benefits clearly and attractively to the prospective purchaser.”
The materials include a guide to using the points system, charts
showing points values for various unit sizes and week designations,
camera-ready ads, and in-room marketing pieces that help get guests
into the salesroom. DuChamp adds that most of the print and digital
tools can be customized with the resort’s specific call to action.
Reflecting on the evolution of the timeshare product and the
prospect base, Gennuso observes, “These buyers don’t want their
father’s Buick. They want the flexibility and variety the points lifestyle
provides. And, with Interval’s support, we’ve been able to offer buyers
a bright shiny new car.”
“In five short years, Community has
seen a lot of spectacular growth,” notes
Madeline Berges, vice president of e-
commerce and digital marketing for
Interval International. “We’ve expanded
to more than 210,000 profiles and that
number increases every day.”
Since Community launched in May
2010, more and more members have
turned to the forum—which can be
found at IntervalWorld.com—to con-
nect with others, seek advice, and
share their vacation, travel, and
exchange experiences. Berges adds,
“Not only does Community allow mem-
bers to communicate with and help
each other, it provides Interval with
greater insight into member interests,
behaviors, and concerns that the com-
pany can then use to better serve
members and our resort partners.”
M I L E S T O N E S
W H A T M E M B E R S L O V E
Club Interval Gold Adds New Life to Older Product
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ACOYA Private Residence Club
The luxury resort is situated in the heart of
Willemstad on the island of Curaçao, Dutch Antilles.
ACOYA Private Residence Club features 118 one-,
two-, and three-bedroom units set around a natural
lake, and offers amenities such as a gourmet restau-
rant, an infinity pool, and a spa and wellness center.
The resort was developed by Mahesh Daswani, with
20 years of experience in real estate development.
Meridian Financial Services
Meridian Financial Services has announced several
contract acquisitions for 2015. These include: Los
Cabos Golf Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico;
Coosawattee River Resort in Ellijay, Georgia; HV
Global Management Corporation in St. Petersburg,
Florida; Laurel Springs Resort in Cosby, Tennessee;
and Beachwoods Condominium Association in Kitty
Hawk, North Carolina.
Westgate Resorts
Westgate Resorts was recently recognized as
Interval International’s number-one membership-
producing developer worldwide, based on new
memberships received during the previous calendar
year. David A. Siegel, president and CEO of
Westgate Resorts, accepted a plaque from Craig M.
Nash, chairman, president, and CEO of Interval Leisure Group (photo at left). In addition,
Westgate was presented with the Leisure Time Passport Top Producer plaque.
A F F I L I A T I O N S A N D A W A R D S
ACOYA PRIVATE RESIDENCE CLUB