PUBLISHED WEEKLY, EVERY SATURDAY

Keeping an eye on the industry, The GateHouse is a timeshare blog powered by InsideTheGate.com, your best source for daily timeshare news and information.

Known as “the world’s biggest after-hours timeshare watering hole”, The GateHouse brings you the Inside Track for timeshare news, exposés, ideas, gossip, argument, speculation, editorial comment and opinion.

Who’s doing what to whom, and where and when, and why should you care? You’ll find the juicy stuff here, the inside and breaking news you’ll never get from any of the news feeds.

Do you have tips or rumors you’d like to share with the timeshare community (ANONYMOUSLY)? Something you’d like us to investigate or follow up on? Promotions, new projects, kudos, someone who quit in a huff or left for greener pastures? Has someone been naughty and had their peepee whacked? Has someone passed away who should be remembered in our Obituaries section?

Email: gatekeeper@insidethegate.com (but don’t do it from your office computer!)

And come back frequently, because we’re investigating hot tips all the time and getting past the gatekeeper here is just a matter of opening the door and coming inside.

Some Special Features from InsideTheGate.com you might want to check out this week:

• CURRENT NEWS HEADLINES (stuff you might have missed last week)
• SCOOP DU JOUR (published weekly, every Friday)
• OFF TOPIC (Just for fun, from the goofy to the profound, published weekly, every Monday)
• ON THE ROAD Timeshare Resort destinations and reviews, travel deals and more! (Published weekly, every Monday)

The GateHouse is a compendium of tips, facts, gossip, rumors, speculation and editorial comment provided by Inside the Gate as an outlet for the free expression of its readers and for their entertainment. Inside the Gate makes no assertion as to the veracity of the items contained herein. If erroneous information is inadvertently included and a correction to this information is subsequently sent to Inside the Gate, the correction will be prominently published. Opinions published within Inside the Gate are the opinions of the authors thereof and are not necessarily the opinions of Inside the Gate. Email: gatekeeper@insidethegate.com

Every day, throughout the timeshare universe, sales reps reach out to shake the hands of the newest sales guest they’ve just met and begin the multi-step process of attempting to persuade an often suspicious prospect that being a timeshare owner or member is the best thing since ‘sliced bread’ –– and when the rep doesn’t make the sale some of their peers will ask them ‘where’d ya get weak’?

So what’s the Scoop? What’s up with that “where’d ya get weak’ misnomer? Find out at “Is There a Sociopath in the House?”.

TATOC, the Timeshare Association focusing on consumers based in Manchester, England, has issued a Consumer Alert, as follows:

It has been brought to the attention of TATOC that Access Legal Services is cold calling timeshare owners with reports of calls made to Silverpoint members.

The cold callers offered to assist the timeshare owners to relinquish their ownership. A home-sit style presentation was part of the process.

TATOC urges all timeshare owners who receive a cold call from any company to proceed with extreme caution. No ownership or personal details are provided by the resorts, exchange companies or government bodies so please question how and why they have your information.

If you have been contacted, then please call the TATOC Consumer Helpline for assistance or contact your resort for confirmation of any inferred business relationships.

You can contact the team on 0845 230 2430.

Access Legal Services. Apparently a timeshare transfer/relief outfit. Got it?

Keith Trowbridge’s Executive Quest has announced the completion of its 13th annual industry salary survey. The results originated from the 27,000+ contacts maintained by the company through its monthly newsletter subscriptions and include salary, commissions, bonuses, and perks earned in 2012 for reporting in 2013. Many executives received non-cash perks such as a company automobile, health and life insurance, contributions to a 401(k), or housing for family-visitors. The survey results are available for purchase at http://www.execq.com/salarystudy.htm .

TWEET OF THE WEEK:

Roadside motels are a good place to stay if you haven’t decided yet whether you want to kill someone or be killed.

— Julius Sharpe (@juliussharpe) May 13, 2013

Email the Gatekeeper (or leave a comment below).

"If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me." -Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Do you have tips or rumors you’d like to share (ANONYMOUSLY)? Something you’d like us to investigate or follow up on? CONTACT: gatekeeper@insidethegate.com

Have you seen this video yet? If so, it’s worth watching again. This is Canadian astronaut / International Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield performing a revised version of David Bowie’s Space Oddity (aka “Major Tom”) — inside the space station! Called “the Space Cowboy” by friends, he did a great job of singing and the video editing is outstanding.

Seriously, this video is a lot of fun!

Find out more:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtGG8ucQgEJPeUPhJZ4M4jA
Twitter: twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AstronautChrisHadfield?­­­fref=ts
Google+: plus.google.com/113978637743265603454/po­­­sts/p/pub

>> EASTERN USA TIMESHARE NEWS:

MADISON: This is interesting. The Madison-based non-profit advertising watchdog group truthinadvertising.org (TINA) is accusing Washington-based Resorts360 Vacation Club of operating an illegal pyramid scheme.

According to TINA, Resorts360 tells prospective participants that by purchasing one of its four membership plans (ranging in price from $795 to $9,995), they can receive travel discounts and, more importantly, an opportunity to earn a substantial income. Advertising that membership “offers unlimited opportunities” and that participants can “earn a five-figure monthly income,” Resorts360 presents itself as a lucrative business opportunity for the ambitious self-starter.

BUT, according to Bonnie Patten, Executive Director of TINA, the company’s compensation program is based exclusively on providing payments to members for the recruitment and enrollment of new participants, and not on the retail sale of any product or service, making its business plan the quintessential pyramid scheme.

Some might just call it multi-level-marketing, like Pre-Paid Legal, but “pyramid scheme” sounds reasonable, too, I guess.

ANYhow, according to the FTC, pyramid schemes are inherently misleading and deceptive and thus in violation of the FTC Act. And while the method of regulation varies, all 50 states have laws that prohibit pyramid schemes. In Washington, where Resorts360 is based, the Attorney General’s office has noted that “pyramid schemes are among the most persistent and troublesome rip-offs facing consumers today.”

Consequently, TINA has sent a letter to Rodger Rutter, founder and CEO of Resorts360 (and a former commercial airline pilot with Frontier Airlines), demanding that the company immediately cease its illegal operation. TINA has also sent complaint letters to Charles Harwood, acting director at the Federal Trade Commission, and to Bob Ferguson, Washington Attorney General. In addition, TINA has contacted the Better Business Bureau, urging that it reevaluate its positive rating of the company.

Stay tuned…

Email the Gatekeeper (or leave a comment below).

"If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me." -Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Do you have tips or rumors you’d like to share (ANONYMOUSLY)? Something you’d like us to investigate or follow up on? CONTACT: gatekeeper@insidethegate.com

>> EASTERN USA TIMESHARE NEWS:

ORLANDO: Let me see if I’ve got this straight. The Finn Law Group P.A. has filed a lawsuit on behalf of eight timeshare owners against Bluegreen Corporation alleging it provided false and damaging credit information to Experian and Equifax and that the credit reporting agencies refused to correct the inaccurate information.

So far so good. But here’s where it gets hinky. The plaintiffs say they purchased one or more timeshare interests from Bluegreen, apparently in the form of points. According to the trust agreement, the plaintiffs were designated “owner beneficiaries” but they did not possess legal title to the property. Each of the plaintiffs in the suit eventually became delinquent on their owner beneficiary obligation and their timeshare accounts were deleted. Bluegreen reported those delinquencies/”deletions” as foreclosures to Experian and Equifax.

The argument here seems to be a matter of semantics. The members who defaulted on their payments are saying that if you don’t actually own the property, then you can’t be foreclosed upon and they object to the use of that word, especially since the use of that word has affected their credit rating.

They might have a point, technically speaking, but I have to wonder if they think that using a different word to describe their failure to fulfill their contractual obligations would have resulted in a different outcome from the credit reporting agencies.

Regardless of the circumstances that may have caused them to walk away from their obligation, did those 8 people really think they would suffer no consequences for their actions?

It will be interesting to see where or how far this lawsuit goes.

WEST PALM BEACH: CONSUMER ALERT: Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock is warning residents about a timeshare-related scam where people are impersonating the Clerk’s office employees in order to get money and/or personal information such as bank accounts and Social Security numbers.

“It is extremely important to remember that Clerk’s office employees will not call you to request money or your personal information,” Clerk Bock said.

Here’s how it works: People claiming to be Palm Beach County court clerks are calling citizens around the country to inform them of money from a timeshare fraud settlement in the court registry. These fraudsters tell their targets that they must first wire money to claim a portion of the settlement. The callers identify themselves with a three-digit “clerk I.D.” number and call from phone numbers with a 561 area code.

Clerk’s office employees do not have three-digit identification numbers, and would never call to request money in order to claim proceeds from the court registry.

“If you receive one of these calls or texts, make sure to write down as much information as you can about the call, and contact my office as soon as possible,” Clerk Bock said.

Anyone who sent money because of one of these scams also is urged to contact local law enforcement.

For more information about the Clerk’s office, please visit www.mypalmbeachclerk.com or call (561) 355-2996.

Email the Gatekeeper (or leave a comment below).

"If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me." -Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Do you have tips or rumors you’d like to share (ANONYMOUSLY)? Something you’d like us to investigate or follow up on? CONTACT: gatekeeper@insidethegate.com

>> Eastern USA Timeshare News

WILKES-BARRE: I took an idle swing through the Boycott Sundance Vacation page on Facebook the other day, mainly to ascertain if it’s still there following the ongoing campaign by Sundance to get it removed. Yeah, it’s still there, and ‘membership’ is now up to 1,315. Getting BIGGER.

While I was there I noticed that a member of the Boycott page had recently posted this picture, which I purloined, with the question: “Would you put up with this in a condo or hotel?”

It seems she and her husband went on vacation at one of Travel Advantage Network‘s resorts, Sea and Breeze in Tybee Island, Georgia and discovered two uncovered outlets like the one she took a picture of (she put the pamphlet there herself to “make a joke of this exceptional vacation”. She said there was nothing exceptional about it, and when they mentioned the outlets to the rep they met with for a survey he merely suggested they should upgrade to the V.I.P. Program.

(In case you haven’t been following this continuing saga, TAN is the fulfillment company for Sundance Vacations.)

Can you see me grimacing and shaking my head from where you are? Well, I am. And rolling my eyes, too.

Oh, and since I’m here, I’ve discovered that one of the Boycott members has been busy making short PowToon videos about Sundance, such as this one that asks: Wholesale Vacations: What Are You Actually Buying?

Very clever, don’t you think?

It’s been a little quiet on that front for a while, but stay tuned for the next exciting episode of “Sundance Vacations vs Boycott Sundance Vacations: As the Worm Turns”… I’m sure something will turn up.

Email the Gatekeeper (or leave a comment below).

"If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me." -Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Do you have tips or rumors you’d like to share (ANONYMOUSLY)? Something you’d like us to investigate or follow up on? CONTACT: gatekeeper@insidethegate.com

>> EASTERN USA TIMESHARE NEWS:

VIRGINIA BEACH: Do we all know that Ocean Beach Club’s newest addition, the $70 million Oceanaire Resort, earned the distinguished Project of Excellence Award at the 2013 ARDA World Convention? The international award is presented to the premier new resort that demonstrates excellence in architecture and amenities and benefits the local community.

This is a Gold Key|PHR resort, and word on the street is that not only are most of the summer weeks sold out already but that this will also be Gold Key’s last timeshare resort on Virginia Beach. There are also rumors that developer Bruce Thompson is looking toward the Outer Banks for his next timeshare resort, which would delight Gold Key owners if true.

It does seem to be accurate that Gold Key|PHR has its eyes set on development in the Outer Banks (among other locations), which draws a considerable number of vacationers from Hampton Roads. But would it be timeshare resort or something else? We’ll have to wait and see.

And for those of you who don’t know, Gold Key|PHR actually comprises four integrated companies;

• Gold Key: The timeshare marketing and sales organization
• Professional Hospitality Resources (PHR): The resort and restaurant management company
• Gold Key Resorts Development: The development arm
• Heritage Properties: Real Estate and Asset Company

That’s just for your continuing eddication and edification.

Email the Gatekeeper (or leave a comment below).

"If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me." -Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Do you have tips or rumors you’d like to share (ANONYMOUSLY)? Something you’d like us to investigate or follow up on? CONTACT: gatekeeper@insidethegate.com

>> WESTERN USA TIMESHARE:

WorldMark, the Club is getting BIGGER in two areas in Washington this year.

LAKE CHELAN:  In North-Central Washington, about 3 hours from Seattle, the new WorldMark Chelan – Lake House is now accepting reservations for arrivals beginning June 15, 2013. The resort offers one- and three-bedroom condominium-style units with full kitchens including stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, flat screen televisions, electric fireplaces and oversized decks for entertaining.

Never heard of Lake Chelan? You don’t know what you’ve been missing. It is a narrow 55-mile-long lake, the largest natural lake in Washington state and its name is from a Salish Indian word meaning “deep water”. It is very blue and very beautiful.

The Lake Chelan Valley, a year-round destination, is known for having more than 300 days of sunshine a year, which makes it very popular with Seattle residents (folks from Spokane like it, too). The town offers a quaint downtown with shops, galleries, restaurants and wineries, and visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as golf, skiing, boating and snowshoeing.

Most of which is a lot more than it offered when I visited there with my family when I was still a young ‘un and it was a great vacation destination even then. Try it out!

ORCAS ISLAND: Meanwhile, the Deer Harbor Resort, nestled on 11 acres on Orcas Island, is undergoing renovations and is anticipated to open to WorldMark owners and guests later this year. The property has been available in the past through rental channels, however once the renovations are complete and the resort reopens, it will be conveyed into WorldMark, The Club for credit usage!

The Deer Harbor Resort overlooks the Deer Harbor Marina, where boating, kayaking, and whale-watching charters are just steps away. Visitors can hike the trails of the 5,000-acre Moran State Park, see the expansive marine vistas from the summit of Mount Constitution or enjoy a whale watching and wildlife tour in the Pacific Ocean. Once the renovations are complete, the property will offer individual cottages with studio and one-bedroom units.

Called by locals “the emerald isle” and “the gem of the San Juans”, Orcas Island covers a mere 57 square miles of rural and hilly terrain, with curving roads that wind through forests and past artists’ studios, fields with old apple barns, and the occasional turn-of-the-century prune dryer. At its farthest Western point, Deer Harbor is a hub for all things marine — kayak (and bike) rentals, whale/wildlife tours, sailing excursions, power and sailboat rentals

It’s all good!

Email the Gatekeeper (or leave a comment below).

Do you have tips or rumors you’d like to share (ANONYMOUSLY)? Something you’d like us to investigate or follow up on? CONTACT: gatekeeper@insidethegate.com

This week’s timeshare sales tip:

No Winking!:

REMEMBER: Whether a sales guest is a single person, two or more singles or a ‘couple’, and regardless of anyone’s ‘orientation’, it is never a good idea or appropriate for the sales rep to become involved in any manner or form of flirtation regardless of how innocent or harmless it may appear to be during the sales presentation.

Even the mildest form of flirtation can be taken the wrong way or misunderstood by anyone, and any timeshare rep who participates in any form of flirtation whatsoever thinking it well help them make sales and close deals is wasting time and playing a fool’s game.

And because of the nature and topics involved in selling timesharing (travel, vacationing, romance, exotic trips, candlelight dinners, lying around the pool soaking up the ‘rays’, etc.), it can be easy if not outright tempting for a rep or sales guest to push the flirtation envelope. When that happens and is allowed to continue you can rest assured that the purpose (and outcome) for the ‘get-together’ (the sales presentation) has become compromised.

It is indeed the savvy TS Pro who will control all aspects of the sales presentation and when even a ‘wink’ (no pun intended) of flirtation arises that PRO will not allow the ‘mood’ to continue. Instead the PRO will remain focused on the business at hand, selling and closing timeshare plans. And by doing so the rep will laugh all the way to the bank.

Join us for a pithy morning meeting timeshare sales tip of the week, originally published in InsideTheGate.com, to help you to greater success in selling timeshare. Brief and to the point, these sales training tips are designed to get you thinking, to expand your knowledge, to help you to become all that you can be in the timeshare sales arena.

Whether you're an industry veteran or a green pea, it never hurts to brush up on your skills!

Copyright InsideTheGate.com All rights reserved

QUOTABLE QUOTES: “Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?” -George Carlin

Traditionally, statistics have shown 70% of gays and lesbians plan two or more vacations a year and 54% plan three or more vacations. According to Community Marketing, Inc., San Francisco, CA, 79% of LGBTs in the U.S. hold a valid passport. 51% of these passport holders used their passport to travel to another country; gay men slightly higher compared to lesbians.

Returning to a favorite place is the leading motivator for selecting a destination; but LGBT-friendly reputation can’t be discounted. Location and price are prime motivators for hotel selection. LGBT reputation ranks third. LGBT media ads are important sources of travel information for gay men and lesbians, right behind word-of-mouth and travel websites.

The shortsighted bigoted morons lurking within the timeshare biz crowd out there might at least think of how this demographic could positively impact their bank balance before getting all snotty about gay and lesbian timeshare resorts…

Just sayin’…

Email the Gatekeeper (or leave a comment below).

Do you have tips or rumors you’d like to share (ANONYMOUSLY)? Something you’d like us to investigate or follow up on? CONTACT: gatekeeper@insidethegate.com

Ron Haylock
1944 – 2013

Industry veteran Ron Haylock, 68, passed away unexpectedly on the evening of May 7, 2013, shocking and saddening all who knew him.

Ron’s entire career was in the travel and tourism industry, especially in the shared ownership sector. He joined RCI Europe in 1984 when timeshare was in its infancy and remained for 12 years during a period of rapid growth, retiring in 1999. During his tenure with RCI he turned a struggling European operation with a handful of employees into a highly successful organisation with a turnover of £110 million and a workforce of 1,200.

Following his retirement from RCI, Ron was instrumental role in creating Europe’s trade body, Resort Development Organisation, changing the fragmented structure of the European Timeshare Federation into the current model that exists today. He subsequently became chairman of RDO (then OTE).

Among his other major appointments he was a Director with Club Leisure Holdings and Chairman of Hoseasons Holidays, Kirker Holidays and Holiday Autos.

He was also involved in a number of charitable organisations including Fauna and Flora International and Christel House International, where he served as Vice-Chairman. For a number of years he was also Chairman of the governing council of the University of Nottingham.

Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with his family and friends at this sad time.