Interstate Hotels & Resorts today announced that it has entered into a management agreement for The Marker, Dublin’s newest luxury hotel and apartment complex. Located in the heart of the city’s new business and cultural district at Grand Canal Dock, the 187-room hotel is anticipated to open in early 2013. The Marker Hotel is owned by Brehon Capital Partners, a real estate private equity firm, together with Midwest Holdings, its investment partner. It is the 27th managed or signed hotel agreement in Europe for Interstate Hotels & Resorts, and joins other Interstate-managed or signed world-class independent hotels and resorts such as Eilan Hotel Resort & Spa, Texas; J Hotel at Shanghai Tower, China; the Rajasthali Resort & Spa, India; Streamsong, Florida; and The Charles Hotel at Harvard Square, Massachusetts.

Dublin's Grand Canal Dock

“Interstate is well-versed in the nuances of managing high end boutique hotels and destination resorts worldwide. We consider it a tremendous accomplishment and a testament to the results we’ve achieved to receive this vote of confidence with a new owner to manage what will ultimately set the standard of luxury hospitality in Ireland,” said Jim Abrahamson, Interstate’s chief executive officer.

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Interstate Hotels And Resorts Adds The Marker Hotel in Dublin | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Muskoka Communities Inc. is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of its newest vacation cottages, Shamrock Bay Resort. The resort—scheduled to open at the end of this month—is located in Severn Bridge, a picturesque community just 12 minutes from Gravenhurst, Ontario.

Situated on the shores of the pristine Trent-Severn Waterway, Shamrock Bay Resort offers something truly unique: “three-season” vacation cottages in Muskoka. This 53-acre, water-front resort features 286 maintenance-free cottages, each with a private deck and access to the water. The resort represents community-style living with an array of amenities to include an in-land marina large enough for 113 boats, an outdoor heated, saltwater pool, gazebos, playgrounds, bike trails, laundry facilities, barbecue dining facilities, a splash pad, and a new Discovery Center. Future additions to the resort will include an additional 37 boat slips.

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Muskoka Communities Inc. Set to Launch Affordable Vacation Cottages in Muskoka | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Lowe Enterprises announced today that, through an affiliate, it has formed a joint venture with Suncadia Grand Avenue Partners, LLC, a subsidiary of a fund managed by Oaktree Capital Management L.P., to assume ownership of the Suncadia Resort in Roslyn, Wash. The 6,300-acre resort, located 90 miles east of Seattle, features the 254-room Lodge at Suncadia, the Glade Springs Spa, privately-owned residences, three golf courses and a host of other amenities.

“Lowe Enterprises brings the necessary development and resort management capability to continue to make Suncadia a great success and enhance its unique positioning as a first-class lifestyle resort community,” said John Brady, global head of real estate for Oaktree.

Located in the Cascade Mountains, Suncadia is set along six miles of the Cle Elum River with 80 percent of the resort community designated as open space and will have over 50 miles of hiking and biking trails at build out. In addition to the Lodge at Suncadia and Glade Springs Spa, the resort’s premier amenities include three golf courses – Prospector, Rope Rider and the private Tumble Creek Golf Course – a skating rink and outdoor amphitheater, Suncadia Swim & Fitness Center and a variety of dining options. Ownership opportunities within the resort range from condominiums to cabin-style homes to lots for custom homes throughout nine neighborhoods. There are more than 1,200 owners at Suncadia and more than 500 homes have been built.

“Suncadia is a well-located and thoughtfully conceived resort in one of the most beautiful areas of the Pacific Northwest,” said Rob Lowe, co-president, Lowe Enterprises. “Lowe has been part of the Suncadia team from inception and we will continue to offer our guests and homeowners the singular lifestyle and quality service that is a hallmark of Suncadia.” Suncadia Resort is operated by Destination Hotels and Resorts and was developed by Lowe Destination Development, both wholly owned subsidiaries of Lowe Enterprises.

The new joint venture and its subsidiaries will own all aspects of the resort including the real estate, hospitality operations, recreational facilities and utility company. Executive Vice President of Lowe Hospitality Group Tom Luersen will continue to oversee the resort sales program while Lowe affiliate Destination Hotels & Resorts will continue to manage the operation of Suncadia. Suncadia received the AAA Four Diamond Award in 2012. For more information about Suncadia, please visit www.suncadia.com

Lowe Enterprises Joint Venture Assumes Ownership of Suncadia Resort in Washington | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Imagine swimming alongside a tiger shark while on holiday in Pattaya. A terrifying thought? Think again. Pattaya’s most luxurious new condominium and hotel project, the Centara Grand Residence at Na Jomtien has unveiled a unique new landscaping design that will incorporate a water park, wave pool and lazy river that includes a swim through a massive glass shark tank. The tiger shark tank will also include a viewing platform for visitors outside the water.

A tropical canopy-walk style landscaping will surround the 3 tower project and will be undertaken by the same team responsible for the hugely successful Centara Mirage Resort hotel water park in north Pattaya.

The mixed-use Centara Grand Residence will feature 315 residential units and a 200 room hotel managed by Centara Hotels & Resorts.
Due to be completed within three years, the project will cover 20 rai and will have 150 meters beach frontage along with 20,000 square meters of landscaping and public areas.

The stunning project was originally designed by renowned architect Hans Brouwer of HB Design and is now being overseen by leading Thai architect Songsak Visudharomn.

Thai and foreign buyers have been quick to move on what’s been described as the most exclusive project ever undertaken in the resort city. Launched in February 2012, the project’s Tower 1 is already 60% sold with a sales value of 1.4 Billion Baht.

Tower 2 will be officially launched on May 10 at the Siam Paragon Luxury Property Expo in Bangkok and sales are expected to be brisk.

The project is being undertaken by the Tulip Group, the name behind several luxury developments in Pattaya.

”This exclusive condominium project sets a new standard for residential living in Pattaya,” says Tulip Group CEO Kobi Elbaz. “We believe it is set to become the condominium of choice for a private, secluded resort style lifestyle”.

Mr Elbaz says the Centara Grand Residence is meeting the increased demand for higher quality in Pattaya.

“Pattaya is ready for this type of high-end project”, he said. “Our sales demonstrate that people are now looking for luxury in Pattaya. The association with a well known name in Thailand, Centara, also adds to people’s confidence in the project.”

The Tulip Group is also the name behind the Centara Avenue Residence & Suites in the heart of the resort city. This low rise hotel and condominium complex comprises 300 units, also to be managed by Centara Hotels

Centara Grand Residence Unveils Plan To Launch A Second Tower | 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

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

Turks & Caicos Private Island Is an Exclusive Retreat in Paradise

Casual living is the lifestyle on Pine Cay – bare feet are welcome everywhere on this Caribbean island, a secluded 800-acre privately owned island located in the Turks & Caicos archipelago, just 560 miles southeast of Miami.

The rustic island community also remains a refuge of natural beauty. The home owners on Pine Cay have, since the early 1970s, set and retained high standards to protect the indigenous flora & fauna, to limit the size and siting of all buildings, and to contribute to the development of the Turks & Caicos Islands in a responsible manner. From the initial establishment of this private community, a strong and proactive environmental ethic has been in place among Pine Cay members to preserve the island. The limited total membership ensures that the island will forever be uncrowded, with privacy protected for all.

No cars are allowed, and only golf carts roam the natural pathways. The natural splendor and indigenous vegetation are undisturbed, and with the strict regulations on size and siting of homes, plus the 600-acre common green space, the island remains pristine.

The members own the entire 800-acre island of Pine Cay, including the hotel, 2,800-foot airstrip, staff village, covered boat storage and marina. The exclusive 12-room hotel functions much as a country club for the members, and enjoys an excellent reputation. Becoming an owner of property on Pine Cay is much more than buying a Caribbean retreat – it is joining a very exclusive group of like-minded families who treasure their natural hideaway. Homes are simple, cottage like, and set back from the shore to protect each members view and privacy.

Private Island Living on Pine Cay | 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

Affluent Leisure Travelers Remain Committed To Vacations

Affluent leisure travelers interested in resort real estate strongly believe in the value of their vacations, as nearly nine in 10 report that vacationing is important to their well-being and to the health of their personal relationships.

They appreciate leisure travel experiences and activities such as spending time with family and friends, exploring unique and interesting destinations, taking part in new experiences, and setting aside time for rest and relaxation – all components that support their commitment to the concept of vacationing.

These are some of the findings from The Affluent Shared Ownership Buyer: A Market Profile, a study produced exclusively for Interval International, to provide insights about the travel habits and resort real estate preferences of the most affluent U.S. households interested in acquiring some form of resort real estate. Developed from the Ypartnership 2008 Portrait of Affluent Travelers, a comprehensive analysis of highend lifestyles, social values, and travel trends of the top 8 percent of American households defined by current income, the results are being introduced at the 11th Annual Vacation Ownership Investment Conference in Orlando, Florida.

“The fieldwork for this survey was conducted during the tumultuous third quarter of 2008, thus the results provide a unique perspective on how affluent Americans feel about their leisure time, vacations, and real estate,” said Peter C. Yesawich, chairman and chief executive officer of Ypartnership, author of the study. “And the corresponding insights are very provocative.”


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The Affluent Shared Ownership Buyer: A Market Profile | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

History, Luxury and Island Tranquility

In 1922, The Red Book of the West Indies reported “The Crane hotel occupies a high cliff on the Southeast of the Island swept by fresh, invigorating breezes. From its windows is displayed the beautiful sea, fringing with exquisite colors the white soft sandy beach of the hotel’s superb bathing place, that has no superior anywhere in the world.” And recently Crane Beach was named, “one of the top ten beaches in the world” by Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. This is the other side of Barbados, unspoiled, spacious, naturally spectacular, devoid of traffic and formality.

In the 19th Century, The Crane was built as the Caribbean’s first resort hotel and has been known ever since for its sophistication and old-world charm. Set on 40 acres on the Southeastern coast of Barbados, The Crane is best known for its spectacular beach, cooling sea breezes and exquisite restaurants, serving sumptuous cuisine in a truly breathtaking setting.

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

Internationally acclaimed design, branding and marketing company yoo, together with one of Asia’s leading development groups Absolute are set to launch a new apartment complex that will provide buyers with both a beautiful home as well as a secured and guaranteed investment – the perfect antidote to the world’s economical slow down and the safest haven to invest at yooPhuket.

When deciding on a foreign property for purchase, whether to reside in permanently, use as a vacation home or as an investment, it is wise to pick a property that has been developed by a reputable developer; one with a strong track record of well-built construction projects as well as professional after-sales management. Also, the developer should make the buying process as simple and painless as possible. The developer should be well versed in the country’s property ownership laws and regulations and have solutions for any hurdles that buyers may face when buying in a foreign market.

Also, when it comes to purchase a property, a buyer can choose units that are furnished or unfurnished, and of course any buyer that chooses furnished wants their new investment both functionally and stylishly equipped using high quality products. The interior design of a home for sale and the complex the home is set within, regardless of the location or how well it is built, can easily sway a potential buyer’s decision on whether to purchase it or not.


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Thailand’s Most Exciting Designer Development | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

A world away from the city, yet close enough for a weekend getaway, Suncadia is a new all-season resort community located on 6,400 acres of forested land just 90 minutes east of Seattle on the sunny side of the Cascade Mountains.

Providing the quintessential Pacific Northwest experience, Suncadia offers a unique combination of luxury amenities and outdoor activities that has earned it the distinction of “Best New Pacific Northwest Resort” from Seattle Magazine and recognition from Travel + Leisure Golf and Robb Report Vacation Homes as one of the nation’s top resort communities. With 80 percent of the resort community designated as open space, including the central corridor surrounding the Cle Elum River, Suncadia is a forested retreat from city life offering all the luxury and comfort expected from a top resort.

The Cascade Mountains, stretching from Canada to northern California, create a rainshadow across the eastern foothills, which makes Suncadia one of the sunniest Pacific Northwest destinations. With an average of only nine inches of annual rainfall per year, residents and guests can enjoy the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest umbrella-free, while its mountain location ensures enough snowfall for traditional winter recreation activities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing throughout the forested property and ice-skating on the resort’s ice rink. As a recreational playground, Suncadia offers endless outdoor activities year-round, from hiking and biking along 50 miles of trails, to golfing on the resort’s two award-winning courses, to horseback riding and fly-fishing in the Cle Elum River that winds through the resort’s property.

Endless Possibilities
Ownership opportunities come in all shapes and sizes at Suncadia, ranging from single-family home sites and custom homes in the private Tumble Creek community, home to an award-winning Tom Doak-designed golf course, or in Suncadia centered around either of the two public golf courses: the Jacobsen-Hardy designed Rope Rider golf course (under construction) or the acclaimed Arnold Palmer-designed Prospector golf course, to condominium ownership at The Lodge at Suncadia, the first full-service resort condominium lodge in the region.


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