Latin America Experience Profile on Timeshare/Mixed-Use Projects

  Mexico

Acapulco

Consultant to Princess Hotel management and on-site hotel senior staff on a mixed-use conversion and new build golf-oriented timeshare at the Acapulco Princess and Pierre Marques . Worked with Allen & Philp Architects, Scottsdale , Arizona .

Full service conceptual planning with Fairmont Hotels in the launch of a fractional mixed-use project integrating the product with purpose built units on the facility golf course. Developed a marketing and sales plan in concert with the development plan.

Cabo San Lucas

Consultant to Grupo ICA project team on new-build mixed-use timeshare hotel project for Ritz Carlton-Cabo del Sol . Prepared the marketing and sales plan and product development with Mexican architectural firm of Gomez-Vazques-Aldana on product offering.

Lead consultant to Fiesta American Hotels on their initial launch project into timesharing as a hotel mixed-use at the Cabo del Sol project. Worked with Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo architects. Studied and advised on alternative sites in Cancún, Puerto Vallarta , Huatulco, and Manzanillo for launch as system product. Made numerous presentations to senior management on feasibility, product development, offering, and marketing/sales strategic planning. Helped structure JV with Hilton Grand
Vacations Company .

Due diligence analysis of Club Regina Los Cabos at Westin property in concert with proposed acquisition by Fiesta Americana Hotels . Included product, marketing, financial, and administrative analysis.

Prepared economic analysis and cash flows for Médano Beach Resort in concert with product design prepared by Gomez-Vazguez-Aldana architects. Created detailed marketing and sales , financial, and administrative analysis.

Puerto Vallarta

Due diligence analysis of Westin Club Regina property in concert with proposed acquisition by Fiesta Americana Hotels . Included product, marketing and administrative operational analysis.

Resort analysis for product expansion of Krystal Resort – Puerto Vallarta for Chartwell Hotels as an integrated mixed-use project and multi-site product. Included assessment of marketing/sales, and admin operations.

As VP of Design, Development, and Construction for Marriott Ownership Resorts John Sweeney (Chairman, GRI) coordinated the program planning for timeshare mixed-use at Marriott Casa Magna Hotel-Puerto Vallarta , a purpose-built product with and shared infrastructure/amenities. This project, called the Palmeras Vacation Club by Marriott , was structured as a joint venture with Cemex, a major Mexican corporation.

Due diligence analysis of the Allegro Nuevo Vallarta Resort for Occidental Hoteles ( Spain ) in connection with the acquisition of the Allegro Resorts Company . Acquisition finalized.

Full resort analysis of the Las Palmas-Puerto Vallarta for Villa Group to include product review, marketing and sales, administrative operations and financial study.

Cancún

Due diligence analysis of Westin Club Regina property in concert with proposed acquisition by Fiesta Americana Hotels . Included product, marketing and administrative operational analysis.

Lead consultant to Fiesta American Hotels regarding the partial conversion of the Fiesta Americana Hotel Cancún property as a hotel mixed-use timeshare facility. Made presentations to FA Board and senior management on feasibility, product development, offering, and marketing/sales strategic planning.

Resort analysis for Krystal Resort – Cancún for Chartwell Hotels in integrated mixed-use project and multi-site analysis for product expansion. Included full assessment of marketing/sales, and administrative operations.

Sales and Marketing operational analysis for Imperial Fiesta Resorts . This included and evaluation of lead generation marketing programs, sales methodology, and administrative procedures.

Resort analysis of Allegro Cancún , Allegro Playacar , and Hideaway at Playacar Resorts as part of due diligence for Occidental Hotels ( Spain ) with the acquisition of the Allegro Resorts company. Acquisition finalized.

As VP of Design, Development, and Construction for Marriott Ownership Resorts John Sweeney (Chairman, GRI) coordinated program planning for timeshare mixed-use at Marriott Casa Magna Hotel-Cancún for purpose-built product and shared infrastructure/amenities. This project, called the Palmeras Vacation Club by Marriott , was structured as a joint venture with Cemex, a major Mexican corporation.

Conducted a comprehensive Timeshare University session, with support from RCI Mexico , in Cancún for current/aspiring developers, and government tourism officials from Mexico and other Latin American countries. The session was attended by approximately 200 participants.

Cozumel

Resort analysis of Allegro Cozumel resort as part of due diligence for Occidental Hotels ( Spain ) in connection with the acquisition of the Allegro Resorts company. Acquisition finalized

Nayarit

Prepared preliminary Business Plan for launch of hotel mixed-use vacation community. Costa del Pueblo , with condos, single family homes and varied upscale fractional products. This is a 700-acre master planned oceanfront environment with ancillary golf and marina amenities. This project will have a flag hotel brand and be one of the largest, private stand-a-lone vacation projects in Mexico when fully developed. Assignment also entailed an analysis of the existing single family home vacation community, Costa Custodio .

Costa Rica

Punta Arenas

Preparation of the Tango Mar Resort preliminary Business Plan. Conversion of existing hotel units and creation of new product in established beachfront resort. Process evaluated empirical review of local all-inclusive resorts in this market area, and marketing liaison with outlying properties. This property focused on eco-tourism and environmentally sensitive design.

Golfo Papagayo-Liberia

As VP of Design, Development, and Construction for Marriott Ownership Resorts John Sweeney (Chairman, GRI) prepared preliminary site analysis for Marriott Hotels and Marriott Vacation Club International on mixed-use 250 room Marriott hotel and 100 timeshare condos in oceanfront environment. Due diligence included high-level negotiation with Costa Rica Tourism officials and negotiations with Minister of Tourism and the Vice President of Costa Rica.

Colombia

Cartagena

Global Resorts prepared an analysis for the partial conversion of the Cartagena Hilton to timeshare conversion. Prepared economic and product analysis.

Venezuela

Isla Margarita

Resort analysis of the Hilton Suites timeshare property including marketing and sales programs and product evaluation. Critique of sales center and referral/general lead generation programs. Preliminary strategic development plans for expansion of the resort under the Hilton Hotels brand.

The Hilton Suites assignment lead to an extended resort adjacent to the Hilton, Margarita Golf with an additional hotel and golf course condos in timeshare and full ownership plan. Resort analysis included site planning input and product development. Additional work involved setting up a U.S. broker network for marketing the property in the United States .

Resort analysis for Hilton Hotels on Las Palmeras , Hippocampus Villas , Dunes Beach Resort , and Lagunamar Hotel Resort and Casino properties for product analysis and evaluation of marketing and sales operations.

Brazil

São Paulo

Work sessions under the aegis of RCI Brazil with various clients planning on entering the timeshare industry in Rio de Janeiro , Recife , Florianópolis, and Buzios market areas.

Argentina

Buenos Aires

Assignment for Banco de Galicia measuring depth of the installment receivables market in Argentina , and performing analysis on projects with defaulted loans. This involved financial modeling for recasting debt and providing additional development and land financing for Playa Palace and Club Pyramid .

Conducted a comprehensive Timeshare University session, with support from RCI Argentina and Ragatz Associates in Buenos Aires for developers, lenders, government tourism officials, and aspiring developers from Argentina and Uruguay . The session was attended by approximately 300 participants.

Pinamar

Full resort analysis for Arapasis Resort in marketing and sales programs and expansion of the site development plan. Prepared detailed economic plan. Conducted extensive “counselor selling” sales training. Evaluated other land holdings for client in the market area for long-term strategic plan. Met with Pinamar government officials regarding rezoning of land for additional entitlements, and adding a new resort.

Performed financial analysis and resort operational audit for Playa Palace and Club Pyramid with the Doura Group in concert with assignment for Banco de Galecia , a major Agentine bank . In concert with Ragatz' organization, undertook focus groups and a detailed survey of owners and potential owners at these resorts.

Bariloche

Prepared preliminary analysis for converting the LLao LLao Hotel and Resort to timeshare facility in western Argentina Andes Mountains ski resort and lake district. Business Plan entailed adding additional condo units ancillary to the hotel product and expansion of the amenity base for the property.

Mar del Plata

Full resort analysis for Residencias Cooperativas de Tourismo ( RCT Club Vacacional ) including property site plan, unit mix and configuration, and amenity program. Prepared financial analysis with development and sales projections.

Uruguay

Punta del Este

Prepared economic analysis for revised development and marketing plan for Solanas Resorts including Solanas Country Club and Solanas Forest Resort after empirical inspection of the property and work session with principals.