11.11.09
Honoring our Veterans
“There is no tribute, no commemoration, no praise that can truly match the magnitude of your service and your sacrifice,” said President Obama in a speech at the Arlington National Cemetery today.
The president and others throughout the world came together in many different ways today and earlier this week to commemorate Veterans Day through parades, memorials, meetings and celebrations honoring past and present service men and women and their families.
Only those who experience serving our country firsthand and their family members can truly understand the mental, physical and emotional trials that must be faced on a daily basis often thousands of miles from home and any loved ones. While we should remember to honor our those who serve our country on a daily basis, Veterans Day is a time when we can come together as families and communities to pay respect to and honor those who have sacrificed so much for all of us.
So whether you are honoring Veterans Day this year at a Festiva Resorts location with a famous celebration such as Branson, in your own hometown, or at a nearby military base or memorial, take the time to thank those you know who have personally served or who have family members who have served or are currently serving our country. Even if you don’t know anyone who has served, the next time you see someone in uniform, offer them a smile, handshake and word of thanks. They deserve it!
Please feel free to comment and let us know how you are honoring our veterans today, or any day.
11.05.09
Don’t miss Disney’s Food & Wine Festival
A few months ago we wrote about the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival which began in September and is going through this Sunday, Nov. 8.
It’s the last weekend of this fabulous event, so if you are staying at the Blue Heron Beach Resort this weekend or anywhere in the Orlando area, don’t miss it!
The festival has filled Epcot with tasty regional food and drink from around the world, and features concerts and entertainment that keep spirits high for days. Admission to the festival is included in the park’s ticket price, and visitors can enjoy everything from tapas and live cooking demonstrations and wine seminars. Other features of the festival include beer and wine tasting, dining to music, and merchandise from cookbooks to specialty kitchen items.
USA Today advises that some festival events are ticketed (ranging from $35 to $375), so check out the schedule and book early if you’re planning to go. Some events accepting reservations include Epcot wine schools, tequila tastings, French regional lunches, cheese seminars, and food and wine pairings and more!
According to Fodor’s, admission to Disney’s parks is on the rise, but Festiva Adventure Club members can already save plenty on accommodations at the Blue Heron, and Fodor’s Travel News offers additional tips on how to save.
If you missed it this year, it’s never too early to plan ahead! Contact Owner Services to find out how you can book your Festiva Resorts reservations in advance.
11.03.09
Clean Eating
With cold weather creeping in, the holidays upon us and New Year’s resolutions around the corner, many of us get a new (or renewed) interest in getting in shape this time of year. It’s always good to stay active any time of year, especially in the winter when the weather keeps you inside and the family dinners keep your belly full.
One step towards keeping healthy and fit during the holidays (and any time) is practicing ‘clean eating.’ A healthy diet along with enough exercise will keep you looking and feeling great through the holiday feasts!
According to the Eating Clean Works blog,
Eating clean is the practice of eating whole, natural foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates. It also means staying away from the junk that typically makes up the Standard American Diet (S.A.D) These types of food include man-made sugar, bad fats (hydrogenated, trans-fat), preservatives, white bread, and any other ingredients that are unnecessary. An easy way to remember if a food is clean is: “if man made it, don’t eat it.”
A person that eats clean generally practices the following:
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- Eliminates refined sugar
- Cooks healthy meals
- Packs healthy meals
- Makes healthy choices when dining out
- Drinks a lot of water
- Eats 5-6 small meals per day
- Eliminates alcoholic beverages (or significantly limits it)
- Always eats breakfast
To find out more about Clean Eating including meal planning and quick, cheap and healthy meals for the whole family, check out Clean Eating Magazine and Clean Eating Online.
It can be hard even for the most healthiest of eaters to stick to their regular diet when you’re on vacation. One of the many great things about vacationing at a Festiva Resort is that most of the time you will have a full kitchen in your condo, cabin or villa, so you can save money, eat healthy and spend time with your family by cooking most of your meals in!
10.27.09
Happy Halloween from Festiva Resorts!
There’s nothing better in the fall than carving pumpkins with your family, making Halloween-themed treats, watching a scary movie in the dark or exploring a local haunted house.
Halloween is just a few days away, so most likely you already have your costume or your kids’ costumes planned. As the spooky holiday falls on a Saturday this year, there’s a full weekend of opportunities for ghostly entertainment.
Festiva Resorts would like to share a few Halloween recipes, safety tips and other fun ideas for you and your family to make the most of the holiday spirit!
Safety First
The combination of excitement, costumes and candy can make for a fun and hectic evening if you have young children. Establishing guidelines for your little ghouls and goblins before the costumes go on will help keep you worry-free and allow the kids to have fun. Review these Halloween Safety Rules and then play the Halloween Safety Game with your kids to be sure they understand.
Scary or Delicious?
If you are having a Halloween party or looking for a way to get your kids (and yourself) into the spirit, why not try a fun themed recipe like Mummy Dogs or Oozing Monster Mouths?
You will be a hit if you treat everyone to a delicious seasonal breakfast Saturday morning of pumpkin spiced cream cheese rolls.
Treats for a Cause
If you and your children want to make Halloween less about a sugar rush and more about helping out, you can make this Halloween count by trick-or-treating for UNICEF. Asking for modest monetary donations instead of candy can help UNICEF get water, education and medicine to the children who need it most. Too old to go door to door? Host a Halloween party to benefit UNICEF and help a great cause while having a ton of fun!
Go all out – Or stay in!
If you are a thrill-seeker, be sure to get your fill by finding the best haunted houses and attractions in your area. If you prefer to stay in the comfort of your own home or if the weather keeps you from being outside, curl up in the dark and check out a few classic Halloween Movies that will keep you on your toes, from the funny to the frightening.
If you will be in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Banner Elk, N.C., Portland, Maine, or Atlantic Beach, N.C., this weekend, check out our Festiva destination blogs to find out what’s going on in the local area!
10.20.09
Several Festiva destinations make Conde Nast Reader’s Choice lists
The 2009 Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards was available for the first time to all readers of the popular travel magazine rather than a select sample. More than 25,000 respondents rated the world’s best cities, islands, transportation agencies, hotels and resorts on a five-point scale. Several destinations in Festiva’s family were among the top in their categories.
Southern City
Charleston, S.C., home of Festiva’s Church Street Inn, was only 1.7 points shy of winning the best U.S. City title, coming in second to San Francisco. Over the last few years, Charleston has become a top destination year round for history, arts, culture, dining and shopping. There’s no better way to experience the charm of the Holy City than by staying at the Church Street Inn, in a prime location on the famous City Market.
Island Living
Two of the top 10 best U.S. islands and five of the top nine Caribbean and Atlantic islands can all be experienced through a Festiva vacation.
Hilton Head Island, S.C., known for its wildlife preserves and pristine golf courses, and home of Festiva’s award-winning Main Street Inn, is an easy pick for one of the country’s best island escapes. The Outer Banks of North Carolina also topped the list, where the Outer Banks Beach Club in Kill Devil Hills is the Festiva Adventure Club’s island treasure.
If you have not yet been on a Festiva Sailing Vacations adventure, then now is the time to start planning. With five current itineraries to choose from throughout the Caribbean, you really can’t go wrong. Conde Nast Traveler’s best islands that can be visited on Festiva’s yacht charter division include St. John, St. Barts, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and St. Maarten. St. Maarten is also home to Festiva’s Atrium Resort, providing another way to experience one of the best islands around.
If you haven’t visited any of these fabulous destinations, contact Festiva Resorts today and we will send you there!
10.19.09
New timeshare owners are getting younger
ARDA has published findings from a recent survey on timeshare owners. Two interesting facts are that 58% of new timeshare owners are under age 45, and half of the recent purchasers surveyed had previously stayed at a timeshare or vacation ownership property before purchasing. If you are not a member of Festiva Resorts but would like to stay at one of our fabulous properties, go to our Family of Resorts page and contact the resort you wish to visit. Continue reading the full article below, courtesy of ARDA.
According to Study Half of Recent Purchasers Rented Timeshare Prior to Buying
(Washington, October 19, 2009) — According to Vacation Timeshare Owners Report, 2009 Edition by the ARDA International Foundation (AIF), recent timeshare purchasers are younger, wealthier and happy with their vacation product. Overall, more than six in ten timeshare owners are age 45 or older, with Baby Boomers ranked as the largest generation of timeshare owners (45 percent). However, recent purchasers are younger than timeshare owners in general, with 58 percent under the age of 45.
About half of recent purchasers rented a timeshare prior to buying (48 percent), and four out of five purchased from a developer or resort. The average household income for all owners is $92,405, and recent purchasers have an average household income of $94,933. Motivators for purchasing were the quality of accommodations, saving on future costs, and the credibility of the timeshare company. Over half say they purchased a timeshare to save money on future vacations.
“This study underscores the flexibility and value of vacation ownership products for a broad range of consumers and lifestyles. The value of timeshare that comes from its use gives people the discipline to have a better vacation year after year,” said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO.
Other results from the study include:
- Timeshare owners spent an average of 8.18 days on timeshare vacations in 2008.
- On average, the total number of guests on a timeshare vacation was 3.71, including the owner.
- Eighty-six percent of all timeshare owners responded that owning a timeshare was an excellent, very good, or good experience.
- Sixty-nine percent of all owners would recommend their own resort or vacation club.
- On average, timeshare owners have owned their intervals for 8.26 years.
- Timeshare owners say that beaches (52 percent), attractions/entertainment (48 percent), and shopping (39 percent) are the most appealing resort characteristics.
- Eighty-one percent of all owners say that their timeshare offers a vacation home away from home.
For more information visit www.ARDA.org or download an executive summary of Vacation Timeshare Owners Report, 2009 Edition.
About ARDA
The American Resort Development Association is the Washington D.C.-based professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries. Established in 1969, ARDA today has over 1,000 members ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded companies and international corporations with expertise in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate. The membership also includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, and owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC). Visit ARDA’s consumer website at www.VacationBetter.org.
About AIF
The ARDA International Foundation (AIF) conducts research and develops education programming for the timeshare industry. The Foundation’s mission is to “support, conduct, and disseminate research and technical studies that will enhance and improve knowledge for the public and the industry, and develop educational resources that will optimize value, operations, acceptance, and service for the industry and the public.”
Methodology
This research was sponsored by the ARDA International Foundation and conducted by Penn, Schoen, and Berland Inc., a global market research firm. Interviews were conducted among a national sample of timeshare owners between May 8 and 15, 2009 — approximately 7 months after the U.S. financial crisis began in late 2008. The report is based on analysis of 945 “traditional timeshare owners,” including 195 “recent purchasers.” Recent purchasers are defined as owners who made a timeshare purchase in the United States in the past twelve months. Unlike the last study, which relied on a single panel provided by the research vendor, the 2009 Vacation Timeshare Owners Report sample draws from multiple email sample vendors operating in the U.S., resulting in a relatively more diverse, random sampling of timeshare owners.
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10.16.09
Beauty after the rain
We’ve seen a lot of rain over the last few months in many parts of the Southeast. While it may put a damper on some outdoor activities, particularly if you’re vacationing at a Festiva Resort, it can be a fun challenge to find things to do that will keep you dry and entertain the whole family.
Many of the resorts in the Festiva family have weekly planned activities for all ages such as crafts, games and fitness classes, and you can also take advantage of indoor pools, other indoor sports or just relaxing in your fully-equipped condo, cabin or villa.
To find out what amenities are available at our resorts and what attractions are nearby, visit our website and check out the ‘Resort Amenities,’ ‘Things to Do,’ and ‘Local Links’ sections for each resort.
We also have blogs at several of our resort locations that will keep you informed of the latest news, events and attraction information in the area where you may be vacationing. Be sure to click the links below to help you plan your next Festiva vacation. Also, if you have advice or tips for these locations, particularly for rainy day activities, please feel free to leave comments that may help other visitors to those areas.
Festiva Resorts Atlantic Beach Blog
Festiva Resorts Banner Elk Blog
Festiva Resorts Myrtle Beach Blog
Don’t forget, once the rain and bad weather passes by, the world can look a little bit more beautiful.
Recently spotted rainbow near the Blue Ridge Village in Banner Elk, NC.
10.13.09
New boardwalk, old homes and revived opera
Three popular vacation destinations that are home to one or more Festiva Resorts have exciting events coming up. If you are visiting one of our resorts in Myrtle Beach, Charleston or New Orleans this month, you are surely in luck.
Myrtle Beach Area
The summer may have ended, but true beach combers will love the lighter crowds and cooler weather on the Grand Strand in the Myrtle Beach area. There are still plenty of attractions and events to enjoy, and look for off-season discounts!
For those of you saving your swimsuit for the summer, the new Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is due for completion this summer. This mile long walkway will be the perfect way to cruise the sights of the Strand while enjoying the warm weather. Festiva has seven properties in the Myrtle Beach area, so contact Owner Services to book ahead today!
Historic Charleston, S.C.
Charleston is famous for its historic downtown, particularly the residential area complete with hidden gardens and breathtaking homes. During the fall, some of the most historic and impressive homes open their doors to the public for the Preservation Society of Charleston’s Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens.
This is an opportunity not to be missed as visitors are invited into private homes only open to the public for this event. The 33rd annual event is running every Thursday through Sunday until October 25, so get your tickets now if you are going to be visiting Festiva Resorts’ Church Street Inn this month.
New Orleans
Typically when one thinks of Bourbon Street in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter, food, spirits and general debauchery come to mind. The Inn on Bourbon is doing something a little different while bringing back a tradition that goes back to 1796 in the city: live opera. The Inn is on the site of the old French Opera House which burned down in 1919, and guests and the public alike can now hear live opera performances approximately once a month, according to a USA Today article.
For more information on experiencing live opera while visiting Festiva Resorts’ Frenchmen Orleans, visit the New Orleans Opera Association and check out their Opera on Tap series, or Bon Operatit!, the opera trio that makes regular appearances at the Inn on Bourbon and is also available for private events.
10.07.09
Let us know what you think!
We want to hear from our members and guests, so if you have visited a Festiva Resort or one of our locations, please feel free to leave us a comment here, or on our testimonials page.
Let us know what you think!
We also have several blogs about to the fabulous destinations where our properties are located, so please visit them and share your experiences with us. We would love to hear from you whether you are a local with inside tips on a favorite restaurant or unique local business, or someone who has visited that destination with Festiva Resorts or any other time.
We love to hear about fairs and amusement parks!
Our resort destinations often have interesting and exciting events happening throughout the year and while we try to cover as many as we can, sometimes we may miss one. If you know about an upcoming event in one of our resort areas, please leave a comment and let us know about it, or if you have recently attended such an event, tell us all about it!
We like to keep our owners, members and guests informed about the latest news, events, attractions and businesses in our resort areas, and we strive to stay active in and support those local communities. Your help is appreciated!
Read our Portland Blog to find out where you can see spectacular fall color like this.
Please leave a comment here or visit one of our destination Blogs and share your experience!
Festiva Resorts Atlantic Beach Blog
10.06.09
Timeshare Industry Proves Resilient
Press release from ARDA:
Occupancy, Satisfaction Rates Remain Strong
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 6, 2009 – Despite the tighter credit market and high unemployment rates, the U.S. timeshare industry continues to demonstrate its resilience.
Although overall sales continue to reflect the national trend of lower consumer spending, timeshare owners continue to enjoy their pre-paid timeshare vacations, with an 80 percent occupancy rate and an 86 percent product approval rate. This compares with a 60.4 percent hotel occupancy rate, according to Smith Travel Research.
“The downturn in our economy has hit the tourism industry particularly hard; the timeshare segment, however, due in part to its pre-paid nature, is better equipped than most to weather a downturn,” said Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). “The good news is that timeshare owners are still vacationing, and occupancy remains strong. Coupled with our industry’s emphasis on new efficiencies and improvements to our business model, we will come through the current downturn and be ready to meet the expectations of customers.”
Preliminary 2009 second quarter research indicates that nine out of 10 owners were current on monthly payments, a .2 percent increase over the preceding quarter. Volume per guest (VPG) was up by two percent ($2,043), reflecting better sales efficiencies.
In addition, use of exchange options that offer timeshare owners the ability to trade resort destinations or amenities other than those of their “home” location are also strong. Interval Leisure Group reports that transaction levels for the first half of 2009 were consistent with the same period for 2008, demonstrating that owners continue to enjoy their timeshares.
Several leading timeshare developers agree with Nusbaum’s outlook.
“We’ve had the best summer on record, and sales continue to be robust. Just because the economy has slowed doesn’t mean we have stopped doing what we do—we’ve taken a closer look at how we can refine our processes and products to deliver memorable vacations that families want to come back to year after year,” said Don Harrill, president and CEO of Holiday Inn Club Vacations.
“At Disney, we have confidence in vacation ownership. In fact, we’re enlarging our footprint outside of the Orlando area by the opening of our newest resort in California and developing one in Hawaii,” added James M. Lewis, president of Disney Vacation Club.
Sergio Rivera, CEO for Starwood Vacation Ownership said, “Closing rates have held up better than expected given the discretionary nature of the product. This supports our belief that consumer dynamics will be strong over the long run.”
This comes as no surprise to David Palmer, CFO of Diamond Resorts International. “Our closing rates this year are identical to those last year, and our collections remain strong. Additionally, our diversified cash flow business model has allowed us to substantially decrease our reliance on the capital markets.”
Most developers report that decreased sales are, in part, a result of purposely slowed sales to maintain a healthy cash flow. As a result, the industry expects to limit new construction until inventory levels are reduced.
“An increase in volume aided by improving consumer sentiment and recovering capital markets will accelerate absorption,” said Nusbaum. “Most of all, demographics are on our side, with baby boomers and succeeding generations eager to purchase a piece of flexible vacation real estate, allowing them the better vacationing and the undeniable value proposition that timeshare offers. Our industry is primed to fulfill the increased consumer demand for quality vacation experiences.”
ABOUT ARDA
The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) is the Washington D.C.-based professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries. Established in 1969, ARDA today has over 1,000 members ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded companies and international corporations with expertise in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate. The membership also includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, and owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC). For more information, visit www.arda.org or ARDA’s consumer website at www.VacationBetter.org.
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