Meliá Hotels International, Spain’s leading hotel group, has begun its expansion into the Arab States of the Gulf by announcing the opening of its Meliá Hotels & Resorts brand’s first property, Meliá Dubai.

Located in the heart of traditional Bur Dubai, the hotel, designed by innovative renowned architect Marco Mangili, is situated within easy reach of Dubai’s main shopping and commercial districts and only 10 minutes away from Dubai International Airport. Meliá Dubai is an ideal place for both business and leisure travellers. General Manager Gilles Longuet commented, “We are delighted to open the first Spanish hotel in the Middle East. Over time, the two ancient cultures of Arabic and Spanish have traded language, architecture and heritage. As Meliá opens its doors in the heart of historic Dubai, Spanish hospitality comes to the Middle East. In a sense, Meliá Dubai is home.”

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Meliá Hotels and Resorts to open Meliá Dubai | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Gordon Ramsay has brought his unique style and culinary flair to Las Vegas with the opening Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas, marking the award-winning chef’s first restaurant in Las Vegas. The two-level steakhouse welcomes guests through a “chunnel” entrance and then immediately captures their attention with an eye-catching, restaurant wide Union Jack ceiling mural and custom neon sculpture, handsomely tailored servers and a menu which incorporates a modern approach to the classic steakhouse selections.

“I wanted the space to be bold and innovative, and I imagined doing something new with the steakhouse concept in Las Vegas. To achieve that, we’ve put together an amazing team who together created a contemporary, fresh and innovative menu,” says Chef Ramsay. “I am so excited to be here in Las Vegas, share in the excitement of opening day and start welcoming guests to my very first Vegas-based restaurant.”

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Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas Now Open | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Monet’s Garden, an exhibition at The New York Botanical Garden from May 19 through October 21, 2012, examines the life and work of Claude Monet, the Impressionist master by highlighting his passion for gardening and the inspiration he drew from his living masterpiece, the garden on the grounds of his home in Giverny, France.

Among the many attractions of the exhibition are two rarely seen paintings by Monet, one of which has never been displayed in the United States. Also on view is Monet’s own palette with colors on its surface similar to those visitors will see on his paintings hanging nearby, and rare photographs of him and his gardens, offering intimate insight into his world.

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Monet’s Garden at The New York Botanical Garden | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

AAA projects 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, an increase of 1.2 percent – or 500,000 travelers – from the 34.3 million people who traveled one year ago. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 24 to Monday, May 28.

“The overall economic picture in the U.S. continues to improve, however, Americans faced an unexpected challenge this year as gas prices broke record highs for the first quarter of the year and squeezed many household budgets,” said Brent Hubele, vice president, AAA Travel, The Auto Club Group. “We’re still expecting an up tick in the number of Americans traveling during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, but many will compensate for their reduced travel budgets by staying closer to home or choosing cost-inclusive vacation options like cruises and tour travel packages.”

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AAA Projects 1.2 Percent Increase In Memorial Day Travel | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Marriott Rewards members can get the royal treatment for less when staying at more than 20 JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, and Marriott Executive Apartments in the Caribbean and Latin America. From now through July 9, 2012, Marriott Rewards members receive 25 percent off weekend room rates in suites and executive level rooms, access to the executive lounge, and late checkout at 4 pm.

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Marriott Rewards Members Can Upgrade Their Weekend in the Caribbean & Latin America | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Leading luxury exchange program celebrates successful 2011 and a decade of growth and achievement at ARDA World

The Registry Collection® announced at the ARDA World 2012 Annual Convention and Exposition that it added 18 new luxury properties to its network of affiliated resorts last year. The program now offers members vacation options at approximately 200 properties available for exchange in 40 countries and across six continents. As the largest program of its kind, The Registry Collection offers members access to more luxury properties than any other luxury exchange network.

“We had another tremendous year of growth, adding some very exclusive luxury resorts to our network,” said Gregg Anderson, global vice president, The Registry Collection program. “Each year, we continue to expand our affiliate base, which has led to a decade of success. We are proud of the support we have provided our affiliates and their owners since our founding in 1992, and are looking forward to the next 10 years and beyond.”

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The Registry Collection® Adds 18 New Properties | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Online Video Channel Also Benefits Resort Developers At Point of Sale

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), launched Interval HD, an online video channel featuring approximately 50 destination and resort videos for member families. This dynamic vacation planning tool capitalizes on consumers’ increasing usage of video in most every aspect of their lives. In fact, Google statistics revealed that 46 percent of personal travelers watched travel-related videos in 2011, an increase of 27 percent in the past two years.

Videos currently featured on Interval HD include destination overviews showcasing popular locations such as Orlando, Las Vegas, and Cancun. In addition, resort features focus on some of the most desirable vacation experiences available through exchange, a benefit that gives members the ability to trade their resort week or points for comparable accommodations in the Interval network, and Getaway vacation rentals.

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Interval HD Helps Members Channel Vacation Possibilities | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

RCI Weeks members are able to search, deposit weeks, confirm vacations and more on streamlined-version of RCI.com

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange, announced today at the ARDA World 2012 Annual Convention and Exposition that it has created the first smartphone booking platform in the vacation exchange industry. With this new smartphone-optimized site, RCI® Weeks subscribing members can log on to RCI.com from a smartphone to book vacations with the touch of a finger.

“In this increasingly mobile world, we recognized an opportunity to provide members the added flexibility of planning their exchange vacations with a smartphone-optimized booking experience that no one else is yet offering their members,” said Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. “This new mobile site helps users reap the benefits of RCI membership in a way that is easy, portable and fun.”

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Book Whenever You Want On Smartphone-Optimized RCI.com | 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

Road-tripping is practically an American rite of passage and with that in mind, Yahoo! Travel released the 10 great all-American road trips. These distinctive routes include both roads less traveled and tried-and-true must-sees throughout the country’s finest landscapes.

• Alaska: Seward Highway
  Make way from metropolitan Anchorage into the Alaskan wild via the 127-mile, sea-and-mountain-skirting Seward Highway. This easily navigable cross section of America’s largely untamed Last Frontier makes a fantastic jumping-off point for wilderness adventure. Expect a scenically shifting backdrop of foraging wildlife (Dall sheep, moose, eagles), mountain peaks, thick forests, and hanging glaciers, inviting camping, hiking, fishing, and picnicking just off the highway’s edge. Plus, look to the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet in the summer and fall for Beluga whale-watching (in summer and fall).
• Arizona: Dine’ Tah Scenic Road
  It doesn’t get more all-American than the Navajo Nation’s ancestral lands: Whiz by sacred mountains, canyons, forests, and desert vistas, and stop off to peruse the wares of talented local artisans or to ogle ancient cliff dwellings and prehistoric drawings.
• California: Pacific Coast Highway (aka Route 1)
  Tracing nearly the entirety of the state’s fabled coastline from Monterey to Morro Bay the route runs through the artsy enclave of Carmel-by-the-Sea and the breathtaking natural beauty of Big Sur via the meandering, cliff-topping 123-mile portion that twists alongside the crashing waves, towering redwoods, and barking sea lions of the rugged, sea-sculpted central California coast.
• Colorado: San Juan Skyway
  Roll through the Rockies via southwest Colorado’s 233-mile San Juan Skyway loop, passing through two alpine national forests; four mountain passes; and a handful of charming Old West mining and railroad towns. The 50-mile Million Dollar Highway section of the route (from Silverton to Ouray) boasts particularly scenic curves through tunnels and atop waterfalls in the Red Mountains and Uncompahgre Gorge.
• Florida: Florida Keys Overseas Highway
  This 127-mile water-wonderland of a highway spans more than 40 bridges, traversing Florida Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico, as it hops from isle to isle en route to quirky Key West from mainland Florida. Highway highlights include stops at the scenic Seven Mile Bridge; snorkeling, diving, fishing, and wildlife-viewing excursions; and waterfront dining and resorts in the Keys’ charming fishing villages.
• Minnesota: North Shore Drive
  Stretching from Duluth to Grand Portage, the 154-mile North Shore Drive paves a scenic path through rugged Minnesotan wilderness, bordering boreal forests, the jagged Sawtooth Mountains, and a sweeping Lake Superior shoreline.
• New York: Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway
  Just four hours northwest of New York City, the bucolic Finger Lakes region comprises the surprise setting for the largest wine-producing region east of California. Hit the 87-mile Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, which circles the Cayuga lakeshore, and provides haven for some of the region’s finest wineries (try Sheldrake Point Winery) and historical Women’s Rights movement sites (visit the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls).
• North Carolina & Virginia: Blue Ridge Parkway
  Connecting two national parks—Shenandoah in Virginia with the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina—the Blue Ridge Parkway traverses 469 miles through blue-misted Appalachian highlands. Take in forest-blanketed mountain vistas, ripe for fauna (look for bear, deer, and beaver) and flora viewing (interesting factoid: the parkway’s namesake “blue” haze is attributed to the hydrocarbon release from the some 130 tree species).
• Oregon: Mt. Hood Scenic Byway
  The 105-mile Mt. Hood Scenic Byway follows a half-loop around one of Oregon’s iconic landmarks: the Cascades Range’s glacier-coated, 11,245-foot-high Mount Hood. Cruise past farmlands, vineyards, and orchards; temperate rain forests and alpine timberline; gushing waterfalls and rivers; and parts of the historic Oregon Trail.
• South Dakota: Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
  The 70-mile Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway winds through South Dakota’s storied Black Hills, weaving together towering granite formations, narrow tunnels, spiral bridges, and hairpin curves, with blockbuster sights like iconic Mount Rushmore and the nearby, yet-to-be-completed Crazy Horse Memorial.

Yahoo! Travel Releases Ten Great All-American Road Trips | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Hilton Hotels & Resorts, the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, today expanded its global portfolio to 80 countries with the opening of Hilton Doha, its first hotel in Qatar.

The new visually stunning 309-room Hilton Doha is ideally located on the headland of the capital city’s prestigious Corniche and boasts a number of leading features including a 750-capacity ballroom, a dedicated conference wing and the first eforea: spa at Hilton in the Middle East.

The hotel also features seven state-of-the-art meeting rooms, six restaurants and bars, an outdoor swimming pool, a kids club, a private beach and a view of the Arabian Gulf from every bedroom. Hilton Doha will also open Qatar’s very first Trader Vic’s bar and restaurant.

Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts said: “With so many new striking features, Hilton Doha is set to become an exceptional example of the high standards, quality and unrivalled experience guests expect from Hilton. Our brand is recognised for entering new markets and successfully creating landmark products that appeal to both leisure and business travellers. Hilton Doha continues this legacy and this is an exciting milestone for us.”

The hotel is a convenient 15-minute drive from the airport and near to the heart of Doha’s upscale commercial, retail and diplomatic district, including the famous Souq Waqif and Museum of Islamic Art.

Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Hilton Worldwide, Middle East & Africa said: “We have worked hard to create a world class hotel to best reflect Qatar’s growing ambitions to be a major global player. It’s no secret that Doha is set to become an important sporting and cultural Middle East hub and we’re looking forward to bringing the Hilton brand’s trademark hospitality and service to such an exciting and motivated city community.”

Hilton Hotels and Resorts Opens First Hotel in Qatar | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Fairmont Heritage Place, the private residence club offering from Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, today announced that it has assumed management of The Residence Club at El Corazon de Santa Fe, Santa Fe’s only downtown fractional ownership property.

Fairmont Heritage Place, El Corazon de Santa Fe features 22 two-bedroom vacation residences and 50 whole-ownership homes designed in the classic Pueblo Revival style that provide the ultimate in comfort and luxury. Located two blocks from the city’s historic Plaza, the property includes two residence options; the single floor “Terra” residences and the split-level “Montanas” residence. Both feature full kitchens with designer appliances, flat screen HD televisions in the living room and master bedroom, dining area, luxury bathroom amenities and products, kiva fireplaces and a private balcony or patio. The elegant vigas, clay plaster walls, art and iron work throughout the units display a warm sense of place. Recently, the property expanded its clubhouse and reception area, added a new owners’ fitness area and private owners’ park and refreshed various furnishings throughout the resort. In addition to these amenities, owners and guests will enjoy concierge services, discounts on fine dining, spas and golf in and around Santa Fe, and amenities such as pre-arrival grocery shopping.

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Fairmont Heritage Place Announces New Luxury Residences at El Corazon de Santa Fe | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

The long anticipated Ritz-Carlton Mobile App will more than surprise users. Always anticipating the unexpressed needs of guests and travelers worldwide, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. debuts a mobile application that goes well beyond basic hotel search and reservation functionality, initiating a distinctive experience before a hotel visit has even begun.

Most notably, The Ritz-Carlton App includes Presidential Tips. As president of the luxury hotel company, Herve Humler has seen and experienced all that is so unique and exquisite about Ritz-Carlton hotels – from a secluded garden in Sanya to a one-of-a-kind Viennese crystal chandelier in Doha, he shares his favorite tips about each hotel with consumers.

“In my role, I am fortunate to be able to visit all of our stunning locations around the world,” said Herve Humler, president and COO . “I want to enrich the Ritz-Carlton experience for our guests further with details about the things I have found to be quite unique and memorable in my travels. With The Ritz-Carlton App I can now do that very easily and in real-time.”

Imagine arriving at a destination with special access to VIP insider information. Using The Ritz-Carlton App for Apple iPhones and Android smart phone devices, guests can turn their stay into something truly extraordinary. To learn Presidential Tips, guests simply use the App to scan a QR code at the time of check-in.

In addition, The Ritz-Carlton App will debut with 20 hotels providing QR code experience tours on-property. Examples among the first hotels to launch are:
• The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, where guests can participate in a Cultural Art tour led by QR codes that will allow them to learn more about the hotel’s art collection.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, where guests will be able to learn more about wine pairings at the Highest Hotel in the World.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin, where young guests will be able to enjoy a digital scavenger hunt, led exclusively by QR codes and clues at each stop.
• The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park, the hotel’s signature 10-year anniversary cocktail will be served on a napkin that features a special QR code; it holds the cocktail’s recipe for guests to take home with them.

But the unique aspects of the app don’t stop at exclusive tips and tours. GPS technology also allows the application to recognize when a guest has arrived at a Ritz-Carlton and can provide location specific advice, information and even exclusive offers. With the tap of the finger, guests can learn more about local area culture and customs, concierge tips and even the hotel’s art collection. The App also integrates The Ritz-Carlton World Concierge global recommendations from Four Square, the social media platform. New destination and landmark tips are populated by Ritz-Carlton Concierge experts all over the world every week.

Engaging the capabilities of the App, guests can also easily keep up with a resort’s activity calendar so they’ll never miss a wine tasting, s’mores roast or activity for the children. And, just in case they need reminding, they can enable push notifications directly to the App’s message mailbox.

Find, explore and reserve any Ritz-Carlton Hotel around the world with one touch. Make reservations, check itineraries, and even manage Ritz-Carlton Rewards accounts in a simple, convenient format.

Download the Ritz-Carlton App at www.RitzCarlton.com/App now available globally.

Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company Debuts Mobile App | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Marriott International’s world-class luxury hotel brand, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, has announced plans to open a new 131-room JW Marriott Hotel in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, in 2014. The property will be operated by Marriott under an agreement with Grupo Velutini, a Panamanian subsidiary of Fondo de Valores Inmobiliarios (FVI).

The official announcement event took place today at the hotel site inside of the Blue Mall with participants including President Leonel Fernandez; J.W. Marriott, Jr. chairman of the board, Marriott International; Luis Emilio Velutini, owner and president of Grupo Velutini; and Rob Steigerwald, chief operating officer, Americas, Marriott International.

“The Dominican Republic is a highly desirable destination for today’s luxury traveler and a growing business hub in the Caribbean,” said J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman of the board, Marriott International. “This makes it ideally suited for our JW Marriott brand, which is now in 22 countries around the world.”

Located in the Piantini area, Santo Domingo’s primary business, commercial and residential district, the JW Marriott Santo Domingo will be located in the first seven floors of a 15-story mixed-use tower being built above the existing Blue Mall Santo Domingo, which opened in 2010 and features 20,000 square meters of commercial space over six floors, including high-end retail such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Salvatore Ferragamo and Carolina Herrera.

“We are thrilled to be bringing the JW Marriott brand of luxury to Santo Domingo,” said Luis Emilio Velutini, owner and president of Grupo Velutini. “And with its prime location above the Blue Mall and in close proximity to major businesses, we know that it will be successful.”

“We are fortunate to begin this partnership with Mr. Velutini and FVI, which has one of the largest real estate portfolios in Latin America,” says Laurent de Kousemaeker, chief development officer for Marriott International, Inc. in the Caribbean & Latin America “We currently have two other hotels in Santo Domingo and believe that the JW Marriott luxury brand will be very well received in the city.”

In addition to 131 guest rooms and suites, the hotel will feature a three-meal-a-day restaurant, a lobby bar and lounge and a pool snack bar. It will have 589 square meters of meeting space, including a ballroom and two smaller rooms; as well as a fitness center and swimming pool.

The primary architect for the project is Gomez Vasques Aldana Asociados, a well-known Mexican firm with extensive experience in the hospitality industry throughout Latin America and in Santo Domingo.

“Each JW Marriott delivers a warm, authentic, relaxed and elegant environment that is unique to the luxury segment,” said Mitzi Gaskins, vice president, JW Marriott brand management, Marriott International. “The JW brand continues to grow and we are excited to add this hotel in Santo Domingo — the first Caribbean hotel in our global portfolio.”

JW Marriott Luxury Brand to Open New Hotel in Dominican Republic | 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

Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, has celebrated the opening of its first European resort.

Nestled on the bay of Sóller in Mallorca, Spain, Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa is the latest addition to Jumeirah’s portfolio of luxury spa hotels and the five-star resort is ideal for travellers who want to discover the local traditions, connect with the destination and enjoy an internationally recognised service.

Strategically located in the northwest of the island of Mallorca, Puerto de Sóller is a small fishing village famous for its bay, its port and its location, one of the most charismatic sites in the island: the Orange Valley found in the Sierra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Crowning a cliff overlooking the splendid bay of Sóller, Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa occupies an area of 18,000 square meters, offering 120 rooms and suites, two restaurants, four bars, two swimming pools and Talise Spa.

The resort is divided into 11 low-rise structures respecting the harmony of the landscape and integrating the visitor into the exceptional natural environment. The interiors of the hotel in Mallorca have been carefully selected in order to create a contemporary and comfortable look. Different shades of beige and earth colours and local woods such as olive and pine, local crafts and vernacular architecture, spacious rooms with large windows overlooking the sea, mountains or harbour make the resort an unparalleled experience.

Two new restaurants have also been opened, Es Fanals and Cap Roig, with the latter promising to become a culinary must on the island thanks to its creative cuisine with a strong local accent and the use of the freshest seasonal products.

The luxurious hotel boasts three terraces, one of them ideal for watching the sun go down whilst enjoying cocktails and tapas. Young pirates aged 3 to 12 will appreciate the Barbaroja Kids Club, while teenagers and adults will enjoy the guided tours, cooking classes and yoga sessions on offer.

Almost 200 kilometres of tracks run along the coast which can be explored by bike or by foot and the island features 26 golf courses. There is the opportunity to go diving, snorkelling and fishing and the hotel can also arrange boat rentals with experienced skippers who will guide guests to secluded beach coves, ideal for travellers looking to experience Jumeirah beach holidays.

Talise Spa at Jumeirah Port Soller occupies over 2,200 square meters and offers magnificent views over the Port of Sóller and the Sierra de Tramuntana. It features ten treatment suites and a thermal area equipped with a Hammam, an ice room, a glass-panelled sauna overlooking the valley, a relaxation room with fireplace and an outdoor heated Hydropool.

Talise Spa offers a complete programme of treatments that combine the latest cosmetic innovations from prestigious brands like Barcelona-based Natura Bissé, Aromatherapy Associates, Linda Meredith and Bastién Gonzalez.

Jumeirah’s First European Resort is now Open | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

More than 562,000 foreign tourists visited Mexico’s sun and beach destinations over the recent Spring Break period, according to Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism. This figure includes nearly 77,000 spring breakers which marks a 7.2 percent increase in spring breakers, year over year.

Despite travel warnings issued by certain US jurisdictions, 382,376 Americans traveled to Mexico over the holiday period marking a 7.3 percent increase. Beach destinations were the principal vacation spots chosen by American travelers aged between 16 and 25 years old.

The number of spring breakers which visited these particular sun and beach destinations during the recent holiday season totaled 76,886 tourists.

The most visited destinations were Cancun and the Riviera Maya which attracted more than 50,000 spring breakers, an increase of 8.4 percent. Puerto Vallarta and Nueva Vallarta, welcomed 15,503 tourists, an increase of 7.3 percent.

For the third consecutive year – despite an aggressive travel warning issued by the Government of Texas – the world famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders chose Mexico’s beaches for the production of their 2013 calendar.

During their time in the Riviera Maya, the 29 cheerleaders recorded two programs which will be broadcast on national television as well as local TV stations in Dallas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Images of the cheerleaders in different locations around the Riviera Maya will also be used in magazines, official publications and social media outlets.

Mexico Attracts Over Half a Million Visitors Over Spring Break Vacation | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq:IILG), announced the affiliation of The Grande Bay Resort & Residence Club in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Tucked into a hillside steps from the quaint town of Cruz Bay, the resort’s luxury villas have panoramic views of neighboring St. Thomas to the west and the British Virgin Islands 15 miles to the east.

“The Grande Bay Resort & Residence Club offers our members the opportunity to vacation in St. John, one of the most desirable destinations in the Caribbean. They will be able to enjoy the unspoiled natural beauty and wealth of recreational activities of this exclusive locale, which is the least populated and most secluded of the U.S. Virgin Islands,” noted David Gilbert, Interval International’s executive vice president of resort sales and marketing.

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Interval International Welcomes Grande Bay Resort | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Desert Club becomes vacation resort brand’s eighth destination

From the American Resort Development Association’s (ARDA) 2012 Convention & Exposition at the Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino, Holiday Inn Club Vacations today announced that it has added an eighth location to its portfolio of vacation resorts, a 648-unit property located one block from the Las Vegas Strip. Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Desert Club Resort is the brand’s first expansion in the western U.S., joining the flagship location, Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort in Orlando, Fla., and six other Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts.

Like all Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts, this location at Desert Club Resort offers more space, more amenities and more things to do, featuring one- and two-bedroom luxury villas with access to several amenities including:

- Fitness center
- Outdoor pools and a hot tub
- New Gold Mine Bar & Grill restaurant
- Marketplace with grab and go food and beverages, plus convenience items
- Game room, activities center and putting green
- In-unit spa services
- Complimentary shuttle service within the resort and to locations on The Strip
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Concierge services providing reservations for area shows, attractions, dining, transportation and more.

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Holiday Inn Club Vacations® Expands To Las Vegas | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq:IILG), announced the affiliation of La Gran Reserva Anapoima in Colombia to its exchange network. Located on the outskirts of the exclusive tourist destination of Anapoima, southwest of Bogota, the master-planned community will feature 69 fractional villas. It is being built by well-respected developer Constructora Bolívar S.A. that owns and operates Zuana Beach Resort, a successful timeshare property in Santa Marta, Colombia.

“We are pleased to welcome La Gran Reserva Anapoima to our global network. This development further demonstrates Constructora Bolivar’s commitment to the shared ownership industry and opens up a new market to the company,” said Craig M. Nash, chairman, president, and CEO of Interval Leisure Group. “There is high demand among South American consumers to own vacation products and we believe these luxury villas will appeal to them.”

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La Gran Reserva Anapoima Joins Interval International | Owners Perspective Magazine - Timeshare, Fractional Ownership / Shared Real Estate & Luxury Travel Magazine