Shell Vacations Hospitality is proud to announce the launch of its redesigned website today, completely overhauling the existing http://www.ShellHospitality.com to create a bright, interactive and user-friendly window allowing customers to book excellent deals quickly and easily.

The new website provides users with a comprehensive overview of the destinations, including special offers, featured resorts, “go green and save” and last minute deals. Guests will experience a visually stimulating aesthetic with panoramic destination graphics in a new wide-screen format. Other new features include:

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Shell Vacations Hospitality Launches Redesigned User Friendly Website | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Spence Enterprises LLC, based in Northern California, is excited to announce the completion of a luxury member-owned private residence club located on Costa Rica’s best beach, Playa Flamingo—The Palms Private Residence Club.

A labor of love developed by Bob Spence, he discovered the property in 2005 and it had the potential to be the permier location in all of Costa Rica. The 32-villas are adorned with only the finest appliances and finishes. The Palms is now available for sale under both whole ownership and private residence club ownership. For second home buyers looking for an authentic experience in a land virtually untouched by the modern-day resort scene, The Palms is the answer.

Offering all the advantages of vacation home ownership with the services and amenities of a first-class resort, The Palms offers it’s owners a luxury sanctuary and a more authentic experience. The private residence club appeals to those seeking to have access to beachfront real estate in an eco-sensitive country full of activities for every member of the family. Unlike other developments in the United States and Central America, The Palms represents a great value without sacrificing quality or luxury. Potential owners can purchase 1/8th or 1/10th starting at $129,000.

Bob Spence fell in love with Costa Rica’s Gold Coast several years ago during a trip with a personal friend. The company purchased five properties in Costa Rica, The Palms, being its crown jewel. All five Costa Rican properties are premier, rare, and privately-titled Pacific Ocean beachfront properties. Mr. Spence prides himself on developing all of the properties to the highest standards so that their owners may enjoy Costa Rica as much as he and his family have over the years. Over the past 40 years, Mr. Spence has been a successful businessman, investor and real estate developer. Spence Enterprises LLC owns a number of diversified business interests and its operations include properties in the United States, Australia, and Costa Rica.

Costa Rica remains the “hot spot” in Central America. The country is one of the most environmentally protective and bio-diverse countries in the world. It’s stable, democratic and safe – and the opportunities for second-home purchases are varied, memorable and affordable. Costa Rica, the most popular country in Central America, offers beautiful beaches and eco-tourism activities including hiking, zip lining, rainforest trekking, scuba diving, golfing, sport-fishing, surfing and charming towns to explore.

Costa Rica represents only .03% of the earth’s surface and yet contains 6% of the entire planet’s biodiversity. Over a quarter of the country is under ecological protection programs through national parks and reserves.

Nine volcanoes and 500,000 species of fauna and flora are part of Costa Rica’s ecosystem.

The Palms provides the most authentic experience in Costa Rica and is situated on the exclusive Playa Flamingo beach. Located in the heart of the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica’s Northern Pacific Coast—The Gold Coast—Playa Flamingo is ideal for swimming, body surfing and boogie-boarding. Renowned for its clear warm waters (80 degrees year round), soft white sand, breathtaking sunsets—Playa Flamingo is one of the most desired beaches in Guanacaste. There are no other real estate offerings in Costa Rica or Central America that are literally steps away from the beach like The Palms. Other developments may overlook the water from atop a high cliff or do not offer direct access to the ocean due to roads running between beaches and resorts. Only five percent of Costa Rica’s coastline is privately titled property. The remainder can be leased from the government, but not owned (including the Four Seasons Papagayo property). The
Palms is a rare exception of privately titled Costa Rican beachfront and insures value for generations to come. The Palms has protected competitive advantages and more attractive natural aesthetics than future projects in the  development pipeline.

Guanacaste’s climate and culture are unique among the Costa Rican provinces. There is little rain and consistent sunny skies from November to April. From May to October the climate is cooler, with regular afternoon showers that support Costa Rica’s tropical vegetation.

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New Beachfront Luxury Property in Costa Rica | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Known throughout Thailand as the ‘Pearl of the South’, Phuket was once only noted for its rich deposits of tin ore, from which its wealth was derived. Today, it is better known as a veritable tourist paradise, with its magnificent long white beaches, its lush tropical vegetation, its crystal clear waters, its fantastic sea life, its calm and relaxing atmosphere, its night life, its mouth-watering seafood and luxurious resorts. Small wonder, the clients of Absolute World love their vacations in Thailand, for they can now buy into their fantastic new beach resort The Village Coconut Island as a  perfect holiday getaway.

The Village Coconut Island is an exciting and unique resort set on a coconut fringed island 5 minutes by boat off the east coast of Phuket, and boasts an exotic lifestyle that appeals to the sophisticated buyer looking for excellent investment value in addition to the benefits of the perfect whole or fractional ownership second home proposition, ideal for families and couples alike.

Inspired by the simple charm of the Thai longtail boat, the 44 beautifully appointed pool villas with panoramic sea views and 116 luxurious Jacuzzi suites are available for rental and purchase at prime locations throughout the resort with between two and five bedrooms, and are designed for a comfortable waterfront lifestyle, well away from the heavily developed resorts of Phuket. With 550 metres of untouched island beachfront, The Village Coconut Island is a real ‘Escape to Paradise’, while its close proximity to Phuket International Airport and other major tourism areas, makes it the ideal location for the traditional Thai holiday retreat for those seeking their perfect island idyll or ‘Robinson Crusoe’ existence.

All their villas have a large private swimming pool or private terrace Jacuzzi, landscaped gardens, spacious interiors with luxury furnishings, air-conditioning, Satellite TV, DVD player, state-of-the art appliances and amenities, fully equipped western kitchens and plenty of indoor/outdoor living spaces. Many villas have direct beach frontage, undisturbed privacy and absolutely amazing views of Phang-Nga Bay.

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The Village Coconut Island – Where solitude is sublime! | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

In the rolling hills not far from the mythic cities of Florence, Siena and San Gimignano is one of the largest private landholdings in all of Italy. Rich Italian history and vast ownership, including movie stars and Italian nobility, is Castello di Casole – a signature development of Timbers Resorts.

With vineyards and orchards of olive trees patterning the hillsides, a historic castle is poised to open as a boutique hotel. Originally owned by the Bargagli family, an ancient and noble family of Siena, the Castello (castle) and surrounding estate dates back to 1680 and provides a vision of events that influenced the economy and culture of farm life in Tuscany. Today, Castello di Casole is a luxuriously appointed five-star resort and residence club featuring fractional and wholeownership opportunities in artfully restored and reconstructed Casali farmhouses.

The history of the Castello di Casole estate is deeply rooted in the Tuscan agricultural system of centuries past. At the time the castle was built, around 1700, dramatic changes in the social and agrarian landscape were underway. The rural houses throughout Tuscany began shifting to the sharecropping agreements, helping to dispel the centuries-old oppressive tradition of feudal serfdom. Here, for the first time in history, peasants became a party in a legal agreement – at the same level as the owner. Crop rotation needs and the tending of livestock created a yearround need for workers, and the job offered peasants far more favorable conditions than any other at the time.

The view that welcomes today’s visitors along the road from Casole d’Elsa towards the Castello, as well as from Monteriggioni, is an intimate reflection of its original 18th Century Tuscan landscape. It remains every bit as pastoral and pristine as it was over 200 years ago.

Owners at Castello di Casole enjoy a lifestyle as rich and diverse as Tuscany itself. Situated on many acres of land, the Casali range from 4,000 to 7,000 square feet. Each farmhouse features deep traditional Tuscan style with a complete range of modern amenities including a private infinity-edge pool and guesthouses. Additionally, each Casale is separately named after one of the original farms on the estate with its own custom style, layout and color scheme.

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A Tuscan Dream | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

TradeWinds Fractionals Offers Individuals the Cruising Lifestyle – Without the Hassle and Expense of Purchasing, Maintaining, Dockage and Crewing

When people are thinking about buying a yacht, their dreams are always the same. They see themselves at the helm, sailing crystal-clear waters with their family and friends, drinking cool cocktails as the sun sets over another beautiful bay or walking along a moonlight ribbon of sand on an exotic island. What is not considered is who will clean the boat, cook the food, make the beds, put fuel in the tanks, maintain the engine, check the generator and keep all the systems up and running!

Let us introduce you to the world’s first company to make luxury, crewed catamaran experiences available through private membership clubs – providing superior yachting in some of the most-attractive locations on the globe.

For some people, it takes some thought to wrap their mind around the concept of fractional ownership. So consider this: The initial high purchase price and subsequent running costs are the main concerns of yacht ownership for private use. Surveys show that yacht owners will, on average, use their yachts four weeks of the year, while dockage and maintenance costs remain a year-round expense. Therefore, fractional ownership is the smarter and more economical approach, and could also enable you to purchase a larger and more luxurious yacht than originally budgeted for. You can still enjoy the fun and satisfaction of ownership when you step onboard, however you experience none of the problems of crewing, cleaning, maintaining and repairing.

Quite simply, fractional ownership reduces your initial outlay and ongoing costs. Experience all the fun and the  pleasure of a luxury yachting lifestyle, at a fraction of the cost commitment. So you can purchase the yacht of your dreams, without the nightmarish associated costs. You enjoy the yachting experience – we do all the work!

Ports of Call
There’s no feeling that can compare to sailing in open water, but what makes the experience all the grander is calling on some of the most beautiful, warm locales to be found in the seven seas. The TradeWinds Group is always exploring and adding new ports of call, with a current roster that includes:

• Antigua and Barbuda – Visit the largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands to enjoy the restaurants and nightlife and learn the fascinating history of Antigua at English Harbour, once the headquarters of the British fleet in the Leewards. Then, in stark contrast to the larger Antigua, head over to explore the pristine and vastly undeveloped 68-square-mile sister-island Barbuda.

• Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Billing itself as “The Big Little Island” with fewer than 6,000 inhabitants, Bequia exudes friendliness and has some of the most relaxed and easygoing people in the world. But that should come as no surprise, as this Windward Islands gem is the perfect place to kick back and enjoy a steel drum band or a quiet candlelight dinner for two.

• Bocas del Toro, Panama – Located in the heart of Central America, Panama’s Bocas del Toro Islands are best toured by boat. On the land itself, ecotourism thrives with four types of protected marine turtles nesting on the islands’ beaches and the red-billed tropic bird serving as the main attraction for bird-watchers. A vibrant bar scene enlivens the nightlife here.

• Guadeloupe – The five islands that make up the Guadeloupe Islands in the Leewards each provide a different experience: Basse-Terre is known for the spectacle of its natural beauty, with the islands national park and La Soufrière volcano; Grande-Terre has sugar cane farms covering most of the island and offers tours of the Gardel sugar factory; the tiny (11-kilometer) La Désirade; Les Saintes, known for its small coconut-filled cakes; and Marie-Galante with “the best rum in the world.”

• Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama – Las Perlas (or the Pearl Islands) are perhaps best known for – what else – pearls. Perhaps most famous is the La Peregrina pearl, whose owners have included kings and queens, and more recently Elizabeth Taylor. If you want to find your own treasure, the white-sand beaches and pristine waters ensure that the search, even if it is not fruitful, will be pleasurable.

• Lefkas, Greece – Located in the Ionian Sea, Lefkas is the only island linked to mainland Greece. Less commercialized than some of the neighboring islands, Lefkas maintains its rich Greek heritage and time-honored traditions. And because it is Greece, gastronomic delights can be found in family-run tavernas.

• Orhaniye, Turkey – With Turkey having quickly become a tourism hotspot, it’s nice to know there is a place where adventurers can discover the true Turkey; unspoiled, peaceful and incredibly inviting to visitors. Historic sites, unparalleled natural beauty and restaurants offering authentic Turkish cuisine make time spent here truly unforgettable.

• Placencia, Belize – Home of “barefoot perfect” beaches, Placencia is a Central American paradise with 16 miles of natural sandy beach, virgin rainforest, a mangrovelined lagoon where naturalists can seek out howler monkeys and wild deer. History buffs will love the partially excavated Maya ruins Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun, once great Mayan city-states.

• Sint Maarten – The Caribbean’s Sint Maarten/Saint Martin is less a melting pot and more a plate of two delicious dishes side by side. The smallest land mass in the world to be owned by two countries, the Sint Maarten side of the 37-square-mile island is an authentic Dutch Treat that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (but not considered European territory), while the Saint Martin side is an “overseas collectivity” of France and technically part of the European Community.

• Tobago – Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that comprise the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Sea. The island is a veritable cornucopia of culture, its African heritage infused into island life and reflected in local folklore, music and dance.

• Tortola, British Virgin Islands – The capital and largest of the British Virgin Islands, Tortola captivates visitors with stunning views of crescent beaches, pristine blue bays, lush terrain and a warm and welcoming spirit. The island offers simple pleasures on all fronts, from surfing to sport fishing and from shopping to sunning.

So would you like to start your cruise in Gaudeloupe, spend time exploring and then return to port in Tortola? No problem! It’s your yacht and your Personal Concierge will help you to plan the itinerary of your dreams!

Your Yacht
Your yacht is a custom-built Fountaine Pajot TradeWinds 59 catamaran, especially designed by naval architects Berret- Racoupeau, with your comfort in mind, and it will be available for cruising in the Caribbean in early 2012. There is a beautiful, luxurious master suite for you, the owner, and three double cabins for your guests – all with island beds and private en-suite bathrooms. Your yacht is fully air conditioned, with a spacious custom-designed interior.

A comfortable saloon and open-plan dining area comes fully equipped for you and your guests. Sumptuous sofas on the upper deck create the perfect setting for cocktails in a tranquil bay where you can just chill out and watch the world go by.

If you are feeling energetic, there are lots of toys to play with including full dive gear, snorkels and fins for the less adventurous, and kayaks for those who want to explore! Everything you need for a fun and relaxing sailing experience is here for you.

Security and Flexibility
Your Fountaine Pajot TradeWinds 59 catamaran will be purchased and owned by a British Virgin Islands-registered company, of which you will be a 20% shareholder. Only three 20% shares per yacht will be offered for sale, with the remaining 40% owned by the TradeWinds Group. This ensures that you and the other 20% shareholders will get first priority on bookings and usage.

The initial term of ownership is six years, after which the yacht is sold. Upon completion of the sale, you will receive 20% of the proceeds. Alternatively, should all three 20% shareholders agree upon entering into a new management contract with the TradeWinds Group after the initial six-year term, the sale of the yacht would instead occur after 12 years. The yacht will be Caribbean based at one of TradeWinds existing yachting destinations, and your Personal Concierge will assist you in your yearly choice of sailing experiences.

€250,000 secures your 20% investment in the Fountaine Pajot TradeWinds 59 catamaran. Your annual operating expenses, consisting of maintenance, insurance, dockage, yacht registration and sundry expenses are included in the yearly contribution of €15,000.

As a TradeWinds Fractional owner, with flexibility being the key, you have two options of usage:

Option 1
A yearly usage of six weeks of sailing, on a bareboat basis. You have complete flexibility in how you use your cruising time and where you sail. Your Personal Concierge will assist you in planning and booking your sailing time. The free services of a skipper are mandatory, in order to assist with the yacht’s systems, handling and navigation.

This option is perfect for the owner who wants to be in charge of his or her own yacht, and it requires a certain level of sailing proficiency.

Option 2
A yearly usage of three weeks of sailing, on a fully crewed all-inclusive basis. Again, you will have the flexibility of choosing when and where you want to sail. However, with this option you can sit back and let your professional crew look after the details, such as provisioning, cooking, cleaning, yacht handling and navigation. Your full service includes all meals and drinks, crew, cruising permits and taxes, fuel and water. This option is perfect for the owner who desires a high level of service and pampering while sailing. It is true five-star treatment for all guests on board.

A unique combination of the two above options is also available. You simply choose your sailing experiences for the following season, and off you go!

The TradeWinds Group
The concept of TradeWinds was born in the mid-1990s with a dream and a vision. A dream of cruising in warm, shallow waters; of scuba diving at breathtaking coral reefs and of relaxing at sunset on beautiful catamarans anchored at tranquil islands. The dream became a reality in 1999 when we started our first crewed charter operations in Sint Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles.

Today, over a decade later, more than 35,000 guests have cruised with TradeWinds at our 10 exotic destinations, stretching from Central America and the Caribbean Islands to the Mediterranean and Ionian Seas.

For more information, contact Garry Cosgrove at the TradeWinds Group: garry@tradewinds-fractionals.com.
Alternatively, contact TradeWinds via regular mail at TradeWinds Group, PO Box 4760, Road Town, Tortola, VG 1110, British Virgin Islands; by telephone on +44 770 668 5031; or on the Web at www.tradewinds-fractionals.com.

What’s Unique About TradeWinds as a Fractional Provider? Plenty!

• The people who started the business 12 years ago are the same people who run the business today.

• We only use our own fully trained and experienced crews, maintenance staff, operations staff and reservations team, all of whom are fully committed to giving our guests the service and the quality that they deserve.

• We have cruised the beautiful waters of the Caribbean for over a decade, ensuring you get the best out of your cruising experience.

• We are committed to service, quality and fun, to ensure our guests the best experience of their lives! All you have to do is arrive, climb on board, have a wonderful vacation and leave the rest to us.

• We provide you with your own Personal Concierge Service.

• We offer you flexibility of choice in cruising destinations, within the group network. [/member]

Come Sail Away | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

The Newly Opened Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail Has Become the Standard for Living in the Vail Valley

Nestled within one of Colorado’s most storied and well-known mountain retreats, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail, brings a new standard of living to the Vail Valley. Unveiled in December 2010, the grandeur of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail mimics the region’s mountain luxe atmosphere with sophisticated décor and a spacious layout.

The stunning 500,000-square-foot property includes a 121-room resort plus 19 fractional Residence Club condominiums and 16 Private Residences for the ultimate in Four Seasons living. With a prime location just minutes from the heart of Vail Village, residents have instant access to upscale boutique shopping, fine dining, adventurous summer activities and unparalleled skiing at one of North America’s most acclaimed skiing destinations. As the only Colorado property in the highly selective Four Seasons mountain resort collection, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail is the perfect home away from home for all four seasons.

Tailored to provide residents with the ultimate in service and lifestyle, Four Seasons Residence Club offers 19
fractional condominiums, each complete with breathtaking views of the scenic Rocky Mountains and expansive floor plans. Significantly larger than the average condominium in Vail, Four Seasons Residence Club vacation homes are limited in number, available to those who cherish privacy and unparalleled service amidst quiet luxury. Owners can choose from a charming two, three or four bedroom plan ranging from approximately 1,800 to 3,500 square feet that feature custom detailing, cutting edge technology and high-end amenities.

Each residence is finished throughout with custom wood cabinetry, detailed stonework, exquisite hardwoods and limestone flooring. Premium-brand appliances in the kitchen such as Sub-Zero, Wolf and Miele provide ample space for creating the perfect home cooked meal. For convenience, the on-site Owner Services Team can pick-up and stock the fridge with groceries and goodies requested by the owner, allowing for more time to enjoy the finer things in life.

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Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

An eco-friendly slope side community

This isn’t news; no one has been immune to the changes in the economy in the past few years. Every person, organization and business entity has had to adapt or die. Resort real estate is no exception.

It’s a truth, many of us would rather not believe, however, most ski resorts rely on real estate sales to fund their ski resort operations. The chairlifts and ski runs are an amenity.

So, what are resorts in smaller more remote markets doing to capture attention and sell real estate?

Schweitzer Mountain Resort is a ski and summer resort located 11 miles outside of Sandpoint, Idaho and 90 minutes from the nearest airport, Spokane International Airport. The resort has released MountainSide, a 34- lot community with a mix of fractional homes, single-family homes and premium lots for custom construction.

The original plan at this site, named Trappers Creek at the time, was a collection of premium home sites with design guidelines in place for spacious, whole-ownership, single-family homes. The idea was to sell these premium home sites adjacent to and above the alpine ski village allowing buyers to build exactly what they wanted, with their own design/build team. At that time, there was a market for bare land. “We weren’t in the development business at that time,” explained Schweitzer CEO Tom Chasse, “but we’ve adapted.”

Schweitzer Mountain pulled the Trappers Creek community from the market, took a hard look at their buyer, and their preferences, and rolled out a new product with a new name in the same premium, ski-in/ski-out location.

MountainSide at Schweitzer
“We planned a community for the eco- and price- conscious buyer. Something with a smaller footprint, lower maintenance costs, less impact on the environment, and a smaller price point.”

Their market research showed that buyers were having a hard time visualizing what their home would look like. Buyers wanted to simplify their lives; they wanted to be conservative in their spending and in their consumption.

This process allowed Schweitzer officials to change their thinking and develop a product that meets the demand of buyers in the new economy.

Phase I fractional residences at MountainSide, designed by Sun Valleybased Ruscitto, Latham and Blanton, are 3-bedroom, 3 ½ bath stand alone homes with timber ceilings and eastern facing windows and terraces with stunning views of the sunrise over the mountains and Lake Pend Oreille below. At just under 2,000 square feet, the floor plans dedicate more space to open living areas and kitchen.

The exterior design combines simple contemporary architecture with a variety of roof lines and an exterior material palate of timbers, glass, stone and cedar siding. The design blends these elements into an architectural composition inspired by simplicity and grounded by its mountain environment.

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MountainSide at Schweitzer | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Serene Surroundings in Southern California

The Villas at Rancho Valencia – A Timbers Resorts Residence Club is a private residence club offering 1/8th residential interests in 12 spacious luxury villas. Reminiscent of California haciendas, the villas are situated on the grounds of the 40-acre Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa – An Auberge Resort in Rancho Santa Fe, California, one of the nation’s most affluent communities.

Originally opened in December 2006, Timbers Resorts was hired to oversee the real estate operations at The Villas by the ownership of the resort and assumed sales in January 2009. Villas are priced at $425,000 per deeded residential interest. Owners request four pre-planned weeklong vacation periods for each calendar year, leaving nearly 40% of the year unreserved and accessible to owners on a space-available and short notice basis.

Built and developed in 1989 by Harry Collins, Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa has created an ambiance of style that is reflected in the beautiful landscape that surrounds the property. Rancho Valencia’s tranquil and private environment has attracted celebrities such as Bill Gates, President Clinton, Michael Jordan and Rene Russo, to name a few. Today, Rancho Valencia is owned by longtime San Diego residents and founders of Qualcomm, the Jacobs family.

Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa – An Auberge Resort offers 49 luxuriously appointed resort casitas, each with a fireplace and private garden terrace. The resort is a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux and is the only Relais & Chateaux property in Southern California. Rancho Valencia consistently has been ranked as a favorite North American resort by readers of Tennis, Wine Spectator, Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report and Travel + Leisure.

The 12 units at the exclusive Villas at Rancho Valencia feature custom furnishings, handpainted tiles and private garden patios. Each villa is comprises 3,500 square-feet of indoor and outdoor living space. All of the villas have identical floor plans with three bedrooms including two master suites with steam showers and jetted tubs, open living/dining area, and a spacious private terrace with Viking gas grill and in-ground spa. Features include a fully equipped gourmet kitchen, four flat-screen televisions, surround sound entertainment center, wet bar, a private entry court, private heated plunge pool, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and a patio grill.

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Fractional Resort Profile: The Villas at Rancho Valencia | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Cheaper flights and new routes are just two reasons the ski season’s becoming a permanent fixture on the family holiday calendar. Fiona Klonarides spotlights five of the world’s top places to stay and ski – including The Four Seasons Vail and The Sebastian which both open this month – where snow, spas and chic chalets are all part of the seasonal ownership lifestyle.

In 2001 a 5,000-year old rock drawing depicting a man on skis holding a stick was discovered at Steinjkjer in Norway; in 1924, the oldest ski found to date was unearthed in a mire near Kalvträsk in Sweden. Far from being any old plank, experts carbon dated it back to 3200 BC. It seems as if we’ve been skiing, in some form or another, “since snow began.” It’s hard to prove exactly who the father of skiing as we know it really was, but modern day legend points to Scandinavia again – this time to a man called Sondre Norheim from the Norwegian farmlands of Telemark. Norheim supposedly invented the first bindings made of birch so that skiers could go further, faster, without worrying about their skis coming off. In 1870, Sondre Norheim took things a big step further by designing a short, curved, flexible ski made for easy turning in soft snow. In fact he was quite the skier himself, winning the first Norwegian national skiing competition aged forty-three in Christiania, now Oslo and there’s even a book about him on Amazon.com.

The St. Moritz story
The story of the ski resort, on the other hand, begins in Switzerland. In September 1864, St. Moritz hotel owner Johannes Badrutt made a bet with four of his British summer guests at the end of the summer. He invited them to return for the winter, assuring them that if they didn’t enjoy their snow-bound visit he’d cover the cost of their journey from London to St. Moritz and back. However if they liked the place in winter they could stay as long as they wished, as his guests. The deal was sealed and the guests returned, delighted with the generous terms of the wager. They came for Christmas and didn’t leave until Easter.

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Snow Place Like Home | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Take a wine hotel set in its own estate, enhance the consumer offering with an exclusive shared ownership product and you have a high end destination experience that is hard to beat, even in today’s world of luxury long-haul holidays. Fiona Klonarides discovers why fractional ownership and fine wines are a match made in heaven – or Tuscany, California and South Africa to be more precise…

The wine connoisseurs may call them “New World”, but South African wines have a 350-year old winemaking tradition behind them. New cultivation methods and rich ancient soil is producing a string of exuberant, sunkissed award-winners that reflect the country’s sustainable cultivation ethic and diverse viticultural earth and they just keep getting better.

A new breed of restaurants in the Cape Winelands that showcase South African food with a contemporary twist have been engraving their names on the region’s food map. Franschhoek’s Le Quartier Francais and Reubens, for example, are well known favourites while twenty minutes away Stellenbosch has its own star, Terroir. When it comes to famous names, Constantia is a stand out in the wine world and La Colombe, located within the Constantia- Uitsig Wine Estate, is up there in the stratosphere along with such legendary names as The Fat Duck in Bray, England and El Bulli in Spain.

Even Gordon Ramsay, arguably Britain’s most volatile and versatile chef couldn’t resist bringing his brand to Cape Town and he couldn’t have picked a more five star setting. Maze, at Sol Herzner’s ultraexclusive, ultra-expensive urban oasis One and Only resort which opened last year (where views of Table Mountain come as part of the whole suite experience) is Ramsay’s first venture into African territory.

Overlooking the harbor at the V & A Waterfront, the 170-seat restaurant is an experience in itself. Maze’s heart is its show kitchen, and there’s a glass-fronted patisserie, the Wine Loft (packed with Cape Pinotage and Shiraz, home to 6000 bottles – yes three zeros – of famous and rare South African vintages and more than a hundred wines available by the glass, no less) while the outdoor terrace serves South African oysters, kingklip, yellowtail, Cape crayfish and Mozambican prawns as well as local game cooked Ramsay-style.

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Grape Escapes | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Vacation Home Industry Veterans Bring a Private Residence Club to the ‘Paris of the South’

Asheville, North Carolina, also known as ‘The Paris of the South’ and one of the “Most Alive Places to Be,” is a natural fit for those seeking an invigorating location with distinctive luxury home ownership options – which is exactly why Residence Club Partners and Destination Club Partners picked Asheville for their latest Private Residence Club – The Asheville Club at 151.

The Asheville Club at 151, previously a collection of unsold luxury condos atop the boutique Hotel Indigo in Downtown Asheville, is the manifestation of a simple idea: Utilize the fractional sales concept to re-gain momentum and realize new sales and profits.

How’d the condos get their groove back? Two vacation home industry veterans, Residence Club Partners and Destination Club Partners, saw the location and the product as an opportunity to meet the evolving needs of today’s second home buyers by repositioning as a private residence club.

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Residence Club Partners is a group of real estate sales, marketing and design professionals focused on helping developers and builders find sound and creative ways to market and sell their unsold real estate, even in a difficult market.  Residence Club Partners strives to create harmony between the goals of the developer and dreams of the second home buyer in today’s “new” marketplace. And as the landscape changes – so too must the strategy change. Residence Club Partners provides real estate developers a proven way to utilize the fractional sales concept to essentially re-gain momentum in their communities and realize new sales and profits.

“We achieve this harmony by modifying the approach to the product offering, branding, marketing and ownership models so they match the life paradigm of the majority of today’s second home buyers,” says Mark Peterson of RCP.

Strategic partners to RCP, Destination Club Partners, (DCP) based in Park City, Utah, launched the first ever luxury private residence club in 1991with the very successful Deer Valley Club – the genesis for a better way to own a second or vacation home. Since the Deer Valley Club, DCP has launched over 30 additional private residence clubs in the US, Mexico and Bermuda with sales totaling over $1.7 billion.

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The Asheville Club at 151 | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

The new brand brings top locations, upscale design and a luxury lifestyle to the Asia Pacific region with a “best of all worlds” product

The Resort Residences Collection will feature properties within established luxury lifestyle destinations in Australia and Asia where there is a high barrier to entry because of supply and price constraints and areas that have high tourist visitor numbers and are within easy access of major metropolitan populations. Properties will feature exceptional quality and design standards associated with bespoke luxury properties. Design will be timeless and timely and showcase sustainability and technological benchmarks.

“The Asia Pacific region has an outstanding selection of destinations and lifestyle experiences,” says Founder and Managing Director Jeremy De Zylva. “Many individual houses and apartments in established holiday destinations have co-ownership potential, and the Resort Residences Group is actively sourcing recently completed resort developments and individual holiday houses and apartments in leading Australian holiday destinations such as Noosa Heads, Byron Bay, Port Douglas and Hamilton Island. Overseas expansion plans will also target Queenstown in New Zealand, Bali and Phuket.”

Melbourne-based Resort Residences Group will target properties within established integrated branded resorts that offer a range of resort facilities and hotels services, and where properties cannot be sourced within an established resort, the focus will be on properties within an established holiday destination that has extensive external amenities and experienced service providers.

Resort Residences Group is keen to talk to developers and owners of luxury property who may be interested in co-ownership and opportunities to work together. The company plans to market and manage the Resort Residences Collection, a portfolio of luxury co-owned resort real estate in Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia and the Pacific located in premier island, beach, ski, golf and country destinations. The properties will be marketed and sold as shares in a co-ownership scheme registered with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission as a Managed Investment Scheme, giving each purchaser a freehold title which is held as tenants-in-common.

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Resort Residences | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

History, nature and relaxation combine to create the perfect getaway in Canada’s Southern Gulf Islands

Escape to the natural beauty and tranquility of Mayne Island Resort and Spa – an extraordinary island retreat in British Columbia, Canada’s Southern Gulf Islands, easily accessible mid-way between Vancouver and Victoria. Surrounded by a stunning Island landscape of bays, valleys and high-rock bluffs, the Island is geographically blessed by a warm climate and conveniently positioned at the center of the five southern Gulf Islands.

More sunshine than the nearby Okanagan, a mere 80 centimeters of rain a year and spring flowers in February are just a few of the reasons why the southern Gulf Islands are referred to as Canada’s Hawaii. The wide variety of terrestrial and marine habitats mean that the wildlife found in the Gulf Islands is abundant and diverse. Orcas, porpoises, sea lions, seals and otters call the surrounding waters home; eagles, falcons and turkey vultures soar overhead. Thousands of resident and migratory species of seabirds, shorebirds and waterfowl thrive on the bounty of the nutrient-rich ocean waters.

Seals, sea-lions, salmon, sole and killer whales splash and swim in the waters. In the intertidal zone, pools formed by depressions in the sandstone are home to many small creatures. Located on a dramatic bluff on Mayne Island, just 20 feet above the calming waves of the Salish Sea, Mayne Island Resort is a very special place of great natural beauty. The resort is nestled at the far edge of a cliffside meadow and is surrounded by stands of mature fir, pine and arbutus trees, providing a spectacular view of Bennett Bay and the National Heritage Park of Campbell Point.

Landscaping and gardens reflect this natural beauty by incorporating some of the plants indigenous to Mayne Island. Complimenting these plantings are species that local gardeners have found to thrive in the San Juan archipelago environment. A certified landscape architect has helped design gardens that are beautiful as well as drought resistant.

Much of the island is covered by trees – arbutus, douglas and grand fir, western red cedar, alder and maple – and in the shade of the trees grow honeysuckle, huckleberry, salal and Oregon grape.

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Mayne Island Resort and Spa | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Enjoy the Beautiful Clowance Estate in the Cornish Countryside or the Brunston Castle in the Peaceful Girvan Valley – Either Is Perfect for Leisure and Relaxation

Just imagine … a share in a luxurious holiday home at a fraction of the usual cost, and with all the benefits of an exclusive holiday resort. But what makes Seasons’ fractional offerings even more appealing is that there are no annual fees. Hard to believe, yes, but true – because of an ingenious purchase and lease-back program.

“One of the biggest objections otherwise satisfied timeshare owners have to purchasing more time is having to pay additional management fees,” says Seasons Group Marketing Director Leslie McCann. “The key edge we’ve got for owners is they don’t pay management fees. With our formula, owners who are already really happy with their experience can enjoy more for less annual cost.”

If you’re wondering how such a plan is possible, you’ll be pleased to learn it’s actually surprisingly simple: Owners buy a six-week fraction and then lease back half of their weeks to Seasons. In return, the owners don’t pay any management costs.

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Seasons Holidays Offers Affordable Fractional Ownership | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Dreaming of a luxury vacation home in a stunning location with all the amenities of a five-star resort and all of the benefits, but none of the hassles, of ownership? Welcome to dreamland!

Caribbean Residence Clubs and Italian Residence Clubs have been reshaping the vacation experience since 2002. As one of the world’s premier real estate experts, the clubs are transforming the lifestyles of their clients with the vacation home model of the future – luxury private residence clubs.

Residence clubs offer both whole and fractional ownership opportunities located in exclusive resort complexes with services, amenities and settings you could not get with even the most expensive vacation home. But, incredibly, annual residence club fees are much less than the property taxes and operating costs of a luxury vacation home.

With fractional ownership in residence clubs, the purchase price is in proportion to the amount of time spent in the home. It is excellent value offering world class recreation, entertainment, and dining, plus an unequaled level of service and convenience, at a fraction of the price.

As well as all the above mentioned amenities, whole ownership offers even greater flexibility and an excellent vacation investment. For both fractional and whole ownership, residence clubs manage condominium and villa rentals, as well as offering opportunities to visit other resort destinations. There is no need to be tied exclusively to one location.


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Caribbean Residence Clubs and Italian Residence Clubs – PRC Luxury Home Ownership in the Caribbean and Italy | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Perched upon a cliff top above pristine beaches and rolling surf, at the farthest extremes of an elevated limestone peninsula at Bali’s southernmost tip, lies a resort blessed with an eye-boggling, unobstructed view of the Indian Ocean.

Karma Kandara Resort is a Bali vacation resort occupying a spectacular real estate just 20 minutes from Ngurah Rai international airport. The property features a wide choice of luxury Bali villas and accompanying amenities that redefine first class – bridges, stone walkways and little paths meander through vivid tropical gardens connecting 46 expansive private beach villa residences, along with the luxury villa resort’s exceptional facilities.

Karma Kandara Bali is blessed with the most exhilarating views imaginable – a seemingly limitless vista of ocean and sky, 180 degrees of blue on blue brilliance. Each Bali villa rental residence comprises two or three pavilions with roofs of alang alang grass or sirap wood tiles, framing an infinity pool and garden courtyard complete with timber deck. Each bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom, while the living rooms of our Bali villas are open plan, comprising fully equipped kitchens, lounge and dining areas.

Karma Kandara Resort: Luxury Villas on Bali’s Southernmost Tip | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

If you love to golf, then you either have golfed in many of the locations on the following list – or long to do so at some point in the future. Playing these courses often enough to know the holes and the way each green rolls – well, that probably sounds like a pipe dream. But owning real estate at one or more of these destinations just might help make some of those dreams a reality. For each of the 10 global destinations, we highlight a specific course and a local or nearby shared-ownership property. A tee time might be closer than you think…

1. St. Andrews, Scotland
The course: consensus among golf historians is that Scotland is the birthplace of golf, and St. Andrews is its cradle. The Old Course is the most famous, but there are seven courses in total with varying degrees of difficulty at St. Andrews. While reservations may be made for the Old Course, the Old Course Ballot is a daily lottery held each day for tee times the next day.

The real estate: The Markers Club is the premier lifestyle club with a portfolio of luxury homes situated among some of the world’s most legendary golf destinations and with private club access. One such place is the Royal & Ancient Residence #9 The Links. Perfectly situated with two balconies overlooking the 18th green and 1st tee of The Old Course, #9 The Links may well be the most desirable private residence in world golf. Arranged over three floors, this luxury residence boasts over 3,000 square feet and provides five bedrooms, comfortably accommodating eight people. If the view alone isn’t enough, the accommodation also has a designer kitchen, private courtyard, seven washrooms, golf bag mud room, Wi-Fi, and Bang & Olufsen home entertainment system.
www.themarkersclub.com

2. County Down, Northern Ireland
The course: Royal County Down is just one of many golfing options in this part of Northern Ireland. Royal County Down’s Championship Course (one of four there) features the narrowest of fairways and “bearded” bunkers with overhanging lips of marram, red fescue and heather.


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The Next Best Thing to Owning a Golf Course | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Arcos Gardens Golf Club & Country Estate is set in the stunning countryside of Cadiz province near the picturesque town of Arcos – an area that many refer to as “The Real Spain.”

In contrast to the busy and overdeveloped Costas, Arcos Gardens offers countryside views within a tranquil setting, a boutique hotel and fairway suites, which overlook the much-acclaimed championship golf course.

Arcos Gardens Golf Club & Country Estate is a low density community designed exclusively for the ultimate in luxury living. Here you will discover worldclass amenities, first-class service, and attention to detail that are complemented by the area’s natural beauty and diversity of experience.

Arcos Gardens is surrounded by rolling hills, winding rivers and peaceful lakes, and the Country Estate itself is nestled within a landscape filled with olive groves, orange trees, cotton fields, sun flowers and vineyards. Where else in Andalucia could you imagine owning a luxury home where you have easy access to places like Cadiz, Seville, Gibraltar and the stunning beaches of the Costa de la Luz, …and yet be only a couple of hours from Portugal and an hour from the Costa del Sol?

Championship Golf
As well as the regular golfer, Arcos Gardens already attracts Europe’s elite: We are very proud to have been the preferred golf course and golf resort in Andalucia chosen by both the Swedish Golf Federation and the English Golf Union to host their winter training facilities.


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Arcos Gardens: The Real Spain | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Combine a Unique Investment with a Luxurious Lifestyle

Michael Hobbs and Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs fell in love with the beautiful area of Le Marche, Italy five years ago. In 2007 they decided to spend more time in Italy, creating their fractional ownership business, Appassionata.

This is real Italy, a place of olive oil, pasta, wine and sunshine, Roman ruins and renaissance palaces. The area has 500 piazzas and over a hundred towns boasting great works of art; 73 historic theatres and the largest number of museums and galleries in Italy; and 2 national parks, 4 regional parks and 5 nature reserves.

Situated halfway down the east coast of Italy, Le Marche has 180 kilometers of coastline, stunning beaches and 26 medieval towns facing the turquoise Adriatic Sea. The hills and valleys are some of the most beautiful in Italy, with a wide variation of horticulture and agriculture, creating a magical patchwork quilt of colors throughout the year.

Skiing and snowboarding in the nearby Sibillini mountains are popular past times during the winter months, as is walking in the national park. Cycling is also very popular, whether you prefer a gentle ride along the coastal cycle paths or a 30-kilometer ride visiting the hilltop towns!

After meeting holiday home owners in Le Marche who had already purchased a property, it became clear to Michael and Dawn that the majority of people who had bought a property outright were having some regrets. Negotiating their way through Italian bureaucracy, finding a reliable building team, landscaping, and furnishing their new home was hard work and left little time to relax. After completion they were concerned about the management and upkeep of the property and the house often stood empty for months. The cost of running and maintaining a holiday home, when it is only used for a few weeks of the year is not very efficient.


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Embrace Italian Life | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Upscale ski-in, ski-out Mountain Spirit Resort in British Columbia, Canada, a wise choice with $11 million investment in conference center.

Offering upscale resort luxury at Kimberley Alpine Resort, Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa is located in the heart of the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. The new resort is attracting attention from recreational property investors this year due to its proximity to the new $6 million Conference Centre and Paralympic Training Centre being built at the Alpine Resort – the first of its kind in North America.

With the 2010 Winter Olympics taking place in B.C., the whole province of British Columbia is attracting attention for its world class winter recreation. The Kimberley Alpine Resort was voted overall favorite resort in the Pacific Northwest by OnTheSnow.com in 2009 and is one of the largest ski mountains in B.C. and the southern anchor for the famed Powder Highway. The area’s championship golf courses and magnificent surroundings provided by the Canadian Rockies, have increased its popularity as a four season resort destination. So much so that Delta Airlines now has direct flight service from Salt Lake City to the Canadian Rockies International Airport.


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Resort Living Re-defined at British Columbia Mountain Resort | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine