June 2008

This month it’s Aruba, Laguna Beach, and Puerto Vallarta – Star having all the fun it can stand.

We are working with the wonderful Tierra del Sol project on Aruba - the Caribbean Island with the largest percentage of repeat visitors. http://www.Tierra delSol.com Aruba’s only planned development and only 18 hole golf course – Robert Trent Jones II – is launching a fractional project to go along with their extensive development comprised of homes, villas and condominiums plus spa, fine dining, etc.

Mac MacEwan, Ash Offermann and I were there over the past week to launch Star’s marketing and sales program with the Dutch owned luxury resort project. Tough assignment with the sapphire Caribbean calling….

Marriott Vacation Ownership ‘owns’ the timeshare action on the Island. If there ever was a juggernaut of VO development this is it. Three huge buildings; two sold out and the third within a year of sell out. Walking through the lobbies, pools and beaches they are all awash with blissfully pleased Marriott owners. Divi’s OPC are on the street, annoying, but nowhere as bad as in Mexico or Spain.

Is Aruba a long way from SRG’s headquarters in Scottsdale? You bet, but worth the trip!

Our project in Laguna Beach, Sunset Cove, began SoCal Wall Street Journal adverts this week after working with the extensive past renter guest list. Dede Bacon, down from her Tahoe base, has been heading up sales. http://www.sunsetcovelaguna.com Due to local ordinances we have what might appear as a kind of convoluted ownership structure, but just another innovation for us. Sixths and twelfths are being sold right on the beach, I mean right on the beach…sand between the toes!

Down Mexico way our Puerto Vallarta project, Vallarta Gardens, is selling away all the while trying to keep out of the way of the seemingly ever changing registration requirements of the state in which we’re located. Another groundbreaking set of use plans for the two unit types; the Corals and the Sea Stars.

Both tenths but with a combination of fixed, float and rotating to meet US and Mexican National demands. Nothing like it before, but then that’s us. By the way…dealing with the Registry Collection/Mexico is like being in another galaxy far away!

We count our blessings – 75% of our Kirkwood sales team is still with us, but at different deals: Dede Bacon at Laguna Beach, Linnea Stanhope at Meriwether and Melissa Maxey still living in the Carson Valley but heading up telemarketing for Meriwether. First class performers all!