Wisconsin Dells - Timeshare plans move forward

Plans for a multi-unit timeshare condominium development at Wilderness Hotel and Golf Resort are underway after the Lake Delton Plan Commission approved the conceptual plan Monday. Development at the hotel will also include an enclosure for the existing wavepool, a lobby and banquet facility.

General Engineering's Brad Boettcher, representing the resort, said the condo development will have several phases of about 100 units each for a total of about 400 units. About 44 of the first units will be three bedroom, 40 two bedroom, 10 one bedroom and six will be presidential suites of four bedrooms.

In response to audience concerns about what timeshares mean for premier resort tax and room tax, Trustee Tom Diehl said they are not subject to it, but that the village is "trying to be proactive." He said they are working with the industry to try and address issues in the law, to make sure the village and the Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau doesn't "get the short end of the stick."

Boettcher explained that the plan addresses runoff with wet and dry detention ponds, and that a private water system facility may be acquired and used by the village, if so desired. The development will require a lift station according to discussion with the village engineer, he said.

The development would add about 1,312 parking stalls, Boettcher said, which is more than the required 1,154 when calculations are made considering the condos, lobby and banquet facility. Diehl requested the resort find out how many parking stalls are already on the property for their next appearance before the commission.

Trustee David Schultz asked how the development would affect the nearby horse rides and trails, to which Wilderness officials said they are discussing the matter with the trail owners. Village President Frank Kaminski told them he wanted the police chief to be involved in the discussion and approve the decision.

Pending state approval, the wavepool will be enclosed using a new material that would let in natural light but allow for year round use, with energy savings. This would be the first use of the material in Wisconsin.

Site review and other plans are not complete, village engineer John Langhans told the commission, which is why the development only received conceptual approval at this time.

Also at Monday's meeting, Brian Kleismet of The Glade Condominiums LLC, further explained his development plans, for which conceptual approval was already given. He said some minor "tweaks" have been made to address setback and fire issues.

The duplex units at 1041 Canyon Road will be between 3,200 and 3,600 square feet and have rooftop gardens and penthouses. Kleismet said he would like to start building in June or July. The commission voted to recommend to the board to approve the conditional use permit, after stipulating that the condos would be owner-occupied and not rental units.

Kleismet said he would come back before the board for each new construction, as the owners will have the opportunity to make "minor changes" to one of the two different plans. Therefore, he said, the density of the development might be less than proposed, but never more.

The development will also still have to come back before the village for site review and discussion of utilities like fire hydrants.

Kaminski also said the board will want control of the proposed piers in the future, too, to control density.

Audience members raised concerns about runoff and increased lake traffic. Kleismet said he has worked with the Department of Natural Resources to create a stormwater management plan that will help with overflow and the clarity of water going into lake. The plan includes rain gardens, and cisterns in the buildings that will hold the water to be "recycled" and used for irrigation.

Langhans added that the village is currently reviewing the stormwater plan by its own standards.

Club Sunterra Affiliates New Hampshire Resort

Sunterra Corporation's (NASDAQ: SNRR) Club Sunterra announced today that it has affiliated a third New England vacation ownership resort, the Valley Inn Resort, which is located at Waterville Valley in the heart of New Hampshire's 770,000-acre White Mountain National Forest.

Andy Gennuso, President of Sunterra's U.S. marketing arm, said, "This agreement offers our members yet another New England vacation experience, complementing the two Cape Cod affiliations already in place. It exemplifies Club Sunterra's commitment to giving our members the most flexible leisure product in the vacation ownership industry."

The Valley Inn Resort, approximately 70 miles from Manchester and 2 hours from Boston, boasts a heated pool that allows guests to swim from the inside to the outdoors, even when it is snowing. Guests can also enjoy tennis courts, access to the White Mountain Athletic Club, and 60 miles of marked trails. A free shuttle bus offers connections to the Waterville Valley Ski Area, and throughout the Village Center for convenient shopping and dining. The region offers activities to suit numerous vacation styles and experiences, including golf, hiking, bicycling, skiing, boating, theatre, and amusement parks.

The resort, developed and managed by well-known New England developer Robert Reposa, features a variety of unit sizes and styles, including two-story townhouses, trail-view suites, and one-bedroom units. Club Sunterra members will begin booking into the resort in 2006.

Sunterra is one of the world's largest vacation ownership companies with more than 300,000 owner member families and over 90 affiliated resort locations throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Mexico. Sunterra news releases, as well as additional news and information on the Company, can be found at www.sunterra.com.

Statements about future results made in this release, including the projections regarding the availability of units at The Valley Inn Resort constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. The Company cautions that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important assumptions and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are specified in Sunterra's Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2004.

Here is a link to a recent article in the Caymanian Compass newspaper regarding the sale of the Indies Suites Resort in Grand Cayman. The interval owners found out after the fact that the developer had sold the resort, which was damaged by Hurricane Ivan, and they were also informed that they would receive no compensation for their interests.

http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=1002032

Discover Timeshare an online timeshare seller, is now offering a series of online workshops to help educate consumers about timeshares. Prospective buyers can view the entire series online and determine if timeshares are a good fit for their travel needs.

"While 80% of timeshare owners say they're happy with their timeshares, zero percent enjoy the buying process" the Discover Timeshare web site says.

With a mix of 2-3 minute online videos, audio interviews and slide shows, the workshops are designed to answer the big questions most timeshare buyers have. Segments include:

- 11 questions to answer before you buy any timeshare.
- How to quickly determine the true value of a timeshare membership.
- When and how to buy RCI Points.
- Easy tips for saving money when you buy RCI Points.
- Avoiding the most expensive traps when buying a timeshare.

And while the workshops are advertised as hype-free alternatives to timeshare sales pitches, they do have a purpose - to sell more timeshares.

"Our best customers are people who geniunely understand the benefits of owning a timeshare ... Using online video technology we can educate the customers in a way that's convenient for them. And is good for business."

Workshops are free and accessible at http://DiscoverTimeshare.com/