Four British children were being comforted by relatives today after watching their parents drown in a tidal whirlpool while on a beach holiday in the Algarve.



Bob and Debbie Fry were sucked into the sea yesterday as they attempted to save their children, Rosie, 11, and George, nine, who had become trapped in strong currents while swimming off a sandy cove at the most south-westerly point of Europe.

The children survived after another man dragged them from the sea, but their parents died in the rescue attempt.

When the parents, from Wootton Bassett near Swindon in Wiltshire, began to struggle, their friend Jean Dinsmore also waded into the waves. Mrs Dinsmore - whose children Lydia, 11, and Alex 9, were at the beach - also drowned.

A fourth adult, a German tourist, successfully pulled his son onto the beach, a popular surfing spot known as Praia do Tonel, but died from a heart attack.

Relatives of the Fry children are understood to have flown to Portugal this morning to comfort them. Rosie and George received counselling at the nearby Hospital do Barlavento Algarvio last night, where they were being treated for hypothermia, and are today understood to be in the care or Mrs Dinsmore's husband, Roy.

Neighbours of the victims spoke of their shock this afternoon and described the parents as friendly, joyful people. Fiona Shaw, who had been looking after the Fry family's cat and goldfish while they were away, said that Mr and Mrs Fry were "two of the friendliest people".

She said: "They were great. Bob was just a big smile, always friendly and willing to have a chat. It would be fair to say they were the perfect neighbours."

Mrs Dinsmore, an accountant, coached the local netball team, a close friend said.

Local maritime police today said that the beach was not overseen by lifeguards because the summer tourist season had ended.

The coastguard last night recovered the bodies of the three British holidaymakers as Iselda Gomes, the civil governor of the Algarve, described their deaths as one of the biggest tragedies to have hit the region.

The Fry and Dinsmore families had been on the beach with Dean and Susan Plumb when the children got into difficulty at about 5.30pm. They were among a group of about five children aged between 6 and 12 who had been playing in the sea. Mr Plumb was treated in hospital but his injuries are not believed to be serious.

Ms Gomes, who was with the rescued children at the hospital, told The Times: “The children were playing in the sea and they called for help. Some of the parents went to help them and they got into difficulties.

“Bob and Debbie went into the sea to try to help their children but the waves were too much for them. Jean saw that they were in difficulty and she went in to help.

“The German father rescued his child and got back to the beach but then his heart stopped. The English children were rescued by another man who was on the beach.

Mr and Mrs Plumb, who come from Swindon, were interviewed by police this morning where they were thought to have been asked to re-create the events of yesterday afternoon.

Ms Gomes said: “The beach can be dangerous but there are warning signs saying that there can be currents. Nothing like this has ever happened in the Algarve before. It is a tragedy.”

The British families were staying at the opulent golf resort of Parque de Floresta, near Sagres.

The Portuguese authorities had mounted a large-scale rescue operation involving the Maritime Police, lifeguards and the National Institute of Medical Emergency.

Commander Marques Pereira of the Guarda Nacional Republicana said: “The adults jumped into the water to save the children. Some got out alive but unfortunately some of the others drowned. All the children survived.”

The beach is just 20 miles from Praia da Luz, the resort where Madeleine McCann disappeared.

Pedro Pereira, commander of the local maritime police, said that Tonel beach, where the tragedy occurred, was closed for the winter and signs warned bathers that there were no lifeguards on duty.

“Because summer season is concluded by September 3, the Tonel beach is closed and there is no life-saving personnel," he told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.

"Reinforcing this, at the entry to the beach there is a sign to warn of this fact."

Police launched an emergency search and rescue operation, involving a boat and helicopter, as soon as they were alerted to the incident, he said.

“As the local commander for this rescue operation, as soon as the distress was known, the necessary staff have been directed to proceed to the beach, namely the medical emergency, life-saving boat, firefighting ambulance, the maritime police, the search and rescue air force marine helicopter, as well as local civil protection resources."

He added: "For the families in mourning I wish to stress my sorrow and compassion. Life continues and despite difficult times to come, good luck to all their seven children that are well.”

He described the weather conditions as sunny and clear and said that police had started to piece together how the accident took place. "Some of the children ran to the water near by a rock in the middle of the beach. Suddenly they called for help and their families’ adults with some other people nearby ran to rescue them from the sea. There are some currents and some deep waters that caused them to get into distress. They asked for help and all the families that are with them, they ran to help them, also some people that were close by.

“Some parents did not find a way to rescue their sons and also to rescue themselves. The final outcome of this tragic situation is four parents dead."

Spanish police are today continuing their hunt for the mother of a British seven-year-old girl seriously injured after a fall from a fifth floor hotel room in Majorca on Monday morning.



Detectives said they had failed to find any trace of Sara Cooper, 45, during a 24 hour search of the immediate vicinity around the hotel where her daughter Gianna, was found just after 7.30am.

"A search of the beaches and coves around the hotel has turned up nothing," said a police spokesman.

"We have widened the search and send up a helicopter in the hope of finding her."

According to local reports Mrs Cooper was last seen leaving the hotel reception shortly before her daughter was discovered on the roof fifty feet below the balcony of room 514 where they were staying.

A police source said they were working on the understanding that Mrs Cooper had left the hotel with nothing.

"She didn't take her passport with her and as far as we know she had no money, credit cards or car keys on her person."

Police have Mrs Cooper's passport and have been showing her picture to holiday makers in local beach bars and restaurants in the hope that they may have seen her.

"At this stage all lines of enquiry are open," he said. "We are looking at every hypothesis ranging from the theory that the woman may have pushed her child and then runaway through to the idea that she saw her daughter had accidentally fallen and then wandered off in a state of shock."

The circumstances of the little girl's fall remain unknown but details of how she was found emerged with an account by one of the guests at the hotel who believes he was the first person to see Gianna after her fall.

Kevin Frieze, 49, who is staying in room 413 on the floor below the Coopers at the Hotel Samoa, awoke to the sound of a child crying sometime after 7am on Monday.

"I became aware that a child was crying and I thought it might be my granddaughter in the room next door," he told the Telegraph. "But when I went out on the balcony I realised it was coming from below."

He peered over the railing to see a small child sitting on the flat roof of the restaurant below.

"At first I thought she had just walked out there from a floor below and called out to see if she was alright. But then I realised something serious had happened, it was a very distressed painful crying, mixed with mumbling and I saw blood on her face and chest. I thought then that she must have fallen."

Mr Frieze, a builder from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire who is on holiday with a family group of seven adults and one child, then woke his wife, Jackie, 45, and they rushed down to the second floor raising the alarm as they went.

"Some cleaners forced open a window on the first floor and climbed out to her, taking some blankets and towels with them to keep her warm.

"Some minutes later, the girl's father joined them on the roof and we sat with his two sons while he tended to his daughter."

He said the girl, who appeared younger than her seven years, was conscious and kept repeating that she was alright but "wanted her mummy".

"The boys seemed half asleep and the father was extraordinarily calm. At one point he called to his sons 'Where is your mother', and the younger boy answered 'she said she was going to run away'.

"We did think it was strange especially when the father answered that she had probably gone for a walk on the beach."

"I asked the boys what floor they were staying on and when they said the fifth my heart sank. It's amazing the girl survived such a fall," said Mr Frieze.

The hospital treating Gianna said that her condition remains "serious but stable". She suffered a broken jaw bone, fluid and blood in her lungs, a damaged liver and gall bladder in the fall.

A spokesman Hospital Universitario Son Dureta in the island's capital Palma said she was transferred Monday afternoon from a hospital in Manacor where she underwent three hours of surgery.

"She is in a serious condition but she is stable," the spokesman said.

The child's father, Martin Ian Cooper, 53, has remained at her bedside throughout. Police said that they would be interviewing Mr Cooper at lunchtime today in the hope of learning more about events leading up to Gianna's fall to find some reason as to why Mrs Cooper may have fled.

A receptionist at the hotel said she doubted that even Mr Cooper had any idea where his wife had gone. "He phoned the hotel late Monday evening from the hospital and asked if his wife had turned up here, I had to tell him that she hadn't."

The family of a holidaymaker left in a coma after being bitten by a mosquito bearing a deadly virus has called for greater awareness of the dangers to tourists in the US.

Michael Nicholson from West Lothian, contracted the little known Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus from a mosquito bite while on a fishing holiday in New Hampshire.

He is being treated in Edinburgh's Western General Hospital and faces the prospect of severe disabilities. The disease has a 35% mortality rate.

Nicholson's sister Sharan McKenzie, said British tourists heading to the US were given no official advice about the dangers of the virus.

McKenzie said: "There is no cure and there is no vaccine, so all you can do is try and prevent yourself being bitten.

"You don't think there is going to be a risk if you get bitten by a mosquito in somewhere such as the US or Spain. We had no idea this would be so devastating."

Mr Nicholson spent six weeks with family and friends in Rhode Island and New Hampshire this summer. He became sick on August 31, a day after flying back to Scotland.

The Government's plan to switch from Air Passenger Duty to an environmental tax on aircraft has drawn a mixed response from airlines.

EasyJet welcomed the move, having lobbied strongly for it. But Ryanair dismissed it as "just another tax on passengers" and British Airways called for the replacement tax to be ditched as soon as airlines join a European emissions trading scheme in 2011.

BA stands to be hit harder by the tax than airlines with younger and less-polluting fleets.

Details of the charge, to be introduced in November 2009, have yet to be finalised following consultation.

But it will be related to emissions - based on the type and age of aircraft and length of route - rather than a tax on passengers. It should apply to cargo flights and business jets which are excluded from APD.

Regional carrier Flybe called on the Treasury "not to penalise isolated areas". The airline's chief commercial officer Mike Rutter instead called for all aircraft older than 15 years to be banned from the UK.

The Government also announced the higher rates of APD would apply to business-only flights from November 2008 until introduction of the new tax.

Cunard Line is to build a new Queen Elizabeth liner, which will enter service in autumn 2010.

The cruise operator has signed a €500 million agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the 2,092-passenger ocean liner.

The vessel, which is the second largest ship Cunard has had built, will bring the Queen collection back up to three after the Queen Elizabeth 2 leaves the fleet in November 2008. Queen Elizabeth will be the sister ship of Queen Victoria, which sets sail in December, and Queen Mary 2.

Cunard president and managing director Carol Marlow said: "The decision to build another ship for the Cunard Line has been taken as a result of the strong booking response to the new Queen Victoria."


Queen Elizabeth will be based in Southampton, and a brochure featuring itineraries is due in early 2009.

Marriott International Inc.'s third-quarter profit fell about 7 percent and the hotel operator trimmed the upper end of its 2007 earnings forecast Thursday as the lodging industry continued to slow from its once-robust pace.

Bethesda-based Marriott said third-quarter net income slipped to $131 million, or 33 cents per share, on revenue of $3.04 billion. That compared with net income of $141 million, or 33 cents, on revenue of $2.70 billion in the same period a year earlier. Per-share earnings for the latest quarter were based on about 31 million fewer shares outstanding.

Marriott attributed its shrinking income to a drop in timeshare profits and a higher tax rate.
Excluding the impact of the company's synthetic fuel business, adjusted profit totaled $122 million, or 31 cents per share, down from $144 million, or 34 cents, a year earlier.

The results beat consensus estimates of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial, who had expected profit of 30 cents on revenue of $2.86 billion.

Even as quarterly results came in ahead of analysts' predictions, Marriott lowered the high end of its 2007 outlook and warned that its 2008 profit would miss Wall Street's expectations.

Still, Arne Sorenson, Marriott's chief financial officer, said the company does not forecast a significant downturn in lodging any time soon.

“There is still significant growth left in the current lodging cycle, albeit at a slower pace than in the past,” he said.

Analysts agreed that there are no signs of a serious recession ahead for hotels. But the company's 2008 outlook does provide fodder for those who fear the cycle is heading down, wrote Jeffrey Donnelly of Wachovia Securities in a research note.

While the company's forecast for growth remains solid, Donnelly said that Thursday's numbers likely would hurt Marriott stock “when the fear of a recession – at least as it pertains to the lodging industry – is so high.”

Marriott's stock fell nearly 5 percent, or $2.04, to $42.28 on Thursday.

For all of 2007, the company sees earnings between $1.88 and $1.90 per share, lower than the $1.88 to $1.96 range it predicted in July. Analysts expected $1.95.

Marriott's fourth-quarter forecast of 61 cents to 63 cents per share was also short of the 68-cent projection from analysts.

Looking ahead to 2008, Marriott predicted profits of $2.10 to $2.25 per share, also below Wall Street's $2.30 estimate. And the company said it expected revenue per available room, a key lodging benchmark known as revPAR, to be 5 percent to 7 percent worldwide.

Marriott and the hotel industry enjoyed a boom in recent years, as a limited supply of rooms and growing demand from travelers pushed up room prices.

But both Marriott and analysts have warned investors not to expect the double-digit revPAR increases seen in past quarters as the economy cools.

Marriott said worldwide revPAR for the company's systemwide properties open at least a year increased 7.7 percent. North American revPAR for company-operated properties grew 7.2 percent.

Quarterly results in the timeshare division dropped $31 million from 2006, hurt by lower development profits and a tough comparison with the year-ago quarter, which posted a one-time gain. Lower results at resorts in Aruba, Orlando, Fla., and Hilton Head, S.C., offset gains in Las Vegas.

A tax credit program bolstered Marriott during the post-Sept. 11 travel slump, but has contributed less in recent years as oil prices, which the credit is tied to, spiked. The credit expires at the end of the year.

Sorenson said the company has yet to feel any major effect from the tightening of world credit markets, but that it could be hit by a drop in relicensing fees that occur when franchisees sell hotels.

With credit harder to come by, fewer hotels could change hands, he said. In 2007, the company expects to reap $20 million in such fees, while only $5 million are forecast for 2008.

“The elephant in the room is the current state of the capital market,” he said.

Ken Leavitt isn't ready to give up his dream of owning and operating a ski resort and water park in Middlefield.

After three days in a New Haven courtroom ended in the appointment of a U.S. trustee, Leavitt is moving forward with plans for the 246 acres of land in the midst of which he still resides.

Judge Lorraine M. Weil, after hearing testimony from several key people and creditors regarding the Powder Ridge resort, appointed a U.S. trustee to oversee the affairs of Powder Ridge.

Leavitt said he is not concerned about the trustee appointment and, in fact, finds it takes a little bit of pressure off himself and his family.

"It's fine," Leavitt said, "It gives (the company) some time to finalize things, like our plans and financing."
The appointment of a trustee means a third party (the trustee) will hire a real estate brokerage firm and then take bids after advertising the property, according to Leavitt.

However, Leavitt said he intends to be among the bidders.
Other interested parties include the town of Middlefield in cooperation with Robert Switzgable, owner of Ski Sundown in New Hartford, who has shown interest in taking over the operation of the Powder Ridge ski resort area.

Leavitt, however, said he is looking forward to the opportunity to purchase the land.

"The way things have been going the past few weeks, I feel pretty confident in the outcome," he said.

Through months of research of ski resorts nationwide, Leavitt has teamed up with a few new players - and investors - to come up with a new resort plan, which will include numerous "top notch" amenities.
Under the new plan - of which there are several slight variations - Leavitt said he anticipates reworking the entire infrastructure of the existing ski resort - built in 1959 and dilapidated through the years.

Included in the plans are timeshare units, which Leavitt described as "top drawer" and "clustered to optimize the open space (of the land)."

To put the timeshare clusters in perspective, Leavitt compared them to Waters Edge in Westbrook - the only other timeshare area in the state of Connecticut.

"Westbrook has over 200 units on 20 acres - including parking - which comes out to an average of 10 units on one acre," Leavitt said, adding how much Waters Edge has benefited the town of Westbrook with a resort. "With (the new Powder Ridge Resort) plan, there would be approximately 300 units ... equal to almost one unit per acre."

Leavitt said he is concerned that people do not understand the full scope of the project and hopes the community will learn more about the benefits to having such a resort in Middlefield.
"The only way people could know is to be informed ... a democracy depends on being informed," Leavitt said.

Leavitt's plan - with the help of three new partners he has incorporated into the future of Powder Ridge - includes such amenities as a new ski lodge, health spa and fitness center and restaurant.

Leavitt hopes residents and officials will consider the substantial tax revenue such a site would generate - an estimated $1 million per year - as well as the benefits of 300 year-round jobs and a ski area/water park that will "be here for 50 years."

Leavitt said he respects the "small-town charm" of Middlefield and, in fact, said it is the character of the area that brought him here.
"We don't want to mess anything up," Leavitt said. "It would be nice if we could all work together and come up with a win/win situation."
Leavitt has plans to attend the Middlefield Planning and Zoning meeting next Wednesday to present his plans to the commission and is hopeful he will receive questions from the public and commission. He also encourages officials to attend the meeting and looks forward to answering questions and addressing concerns from the audience.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Middlefield Community Center.

Hosting the 2010 Fifa World Cup will present the South African hospitality industry with an ideal opportunity to showcase the country's vibrant and growing tourism sector, delegates heard at the inaugural Hospitality Investment Conference Africa in Cape Town.

"It's a perfect opportunity to showcase developments in the industry and to showcase the country," Interval International's Europe, Middle East and Africa managing director David Clifton said at the Arabella Sheraton Grand on Tuesday.

Interval is a multinational company that arranges vacation exchanges for timeshare owners, while Clifton has been in the industry since the 1970s.

"[There will be] millions of tourists visiting and the World Cup will give us an opportunity to show them that the government and the community can deliver."

Addressing the conference, organised by the Tourism Business Council of SA (TBCSA), Clifton described the tourism sector as undergoing a major revitalisation and the effects thereof would spill over into the country in general.

"South Africa is ready for the new era as there is an emerging middle class who want quality and higher-end products," he said.

Clifton said the hospitality industry was undergoing a major shift to the mixed use of hotels, where there is fractional as well as timeshare ownership within a high-quality hotel group.

"Hotel companies you're familiar with will be regenerating products or bringing new products into great locations."

A trend has also developed among "baby boomers" - the generation who are 60 or turning 60 at the moment - who are seeking holidays that offer more city and cultural life as opposed to beach holidays.

Clifton said while beach destinations remained the number one request from consumers, there was an increase in those seeking shorter breaks closer to the city.

Growth despite challenges
World Travel and Tourism Council President Jean-Claude Barmgarten said that despite major disasters, both natural and man-made, the travel and tourism industry continued to grow.

He said while the industry created jobs and wealth, it could also play a crucial role in making the planet a safer and cleaner place to live.

However, fragmentation remained a serious impediment to Africa's hospitality industry growth, said TBCSA chairman Thabiso Tlelai. He said the industry revolved around many different types of businesses, such as airlines, boats, bus companies, hotels, car hire, festivals and events, tour guides, retailing and sightseeing destinations.

Tlelai added that much change was still needed and the key was for Africans to be proactive, taking the responsibility to drive that change rather than just waiting for it to happen.

"If we remain separate and fragmented as we are at this stage, it will take a long time before we realise our economic growth, and the idea of bringing the standards of living of our people to acceptable levels will just remain a dream," he said.

Disney has announced this week that they will be building a new resort in Hawaii's Oahu Island. The luxury resort is set to open in 2011 and will house 800 units. These units will include hotel rooms as well as Disney Vacation Club Villas.

Reports are that the land to be acquired will cost $144 million, and will be paid off while the resort is being built; however, there is no word on the total cost for the entire project. Plans for the resort will be released in early 2008.

Disney has wanted to expand their properties to popular vacation destinations around the world, getting in on a bigger piece of the hotel business "pie". They also say that they chose Hawaii for this project because it is the most requested destination by Vacation Club Members, and in general is a hot spot for timeshare ownership.

Disney is welcomed by the state, and will be creating approximately 1,000 jobs. Disney owned ABC currently shoots their hit show "Lost" in Hawaii as well.

For several years analysts have been anticipating a boom in Dubai's timeshare market. The emirate's central geographical location coupled with its beachfront accommodation, fine dining and shopping malls are considered the ideal ingredients for people to invest in holiday destinations.

But so far the timeshare industry has not developed to the extent that many had anticipated.

The UAE penetration rate for resort timeshare ownership among all income-eligible households is estimated at around two per cent, despite expectations that it will overtake Orlando as the world's largest timeshare market - evidence that the local market remains untapped.

The continued absence of a regulatory framework governing the industry remains the biggest obstacle for investors in local timeshare resorts.

"The market here is relatively non-existent, the main reason being that there are no regulations in place," said Craig Johnson, general manager at real estate consultancy Landmark Properties.

Potential

"But it could become the next big phase of the Dubai property market and will open the doors to a whole new class of buyers who want to holiday in Dubai and want a piece of the property market, but don't want to stay here all year. The introduction of regulations will enable this to come to life."

Timeshare vacation ownership and variations such as vacation clubs and fractional ownership, already enjoy huge growth annually, driven by people's desire for affordable holidays.

On a global scale, the industry boasts over Dh20 billion in turnover, Michael Tolan, CEO of Platinum Resorts International, based in Beirut, said in a statement. Industry experts estimate potential timeshare sales in the Middle East at Dh2 billion annually and growing.

For several years, deluxe apartment operators, property developers, hotel owners and serviced apartment operators have been eagerly awaiting a Dubai timeshare law, expected to focus on consumer protection.

It could provide details of a cooling off period, during which the buyer can withdraw from a sales contract, as well as the process involved in cancelling a contract.

Chris Jackson, managing director of Emerald Vacation Club, which is bringing 48 timeshare units onto the market in Al Barsha, agreed that the industry in Dubai is currently in its infancy.

He linked this to low excess supply of properties, the fact that entertainment attractions in projects such as Dubailand are still under construction and the industry's tendency to hold off until laws are passed.

"Many credible companies don't want to get involved until they know the ground rules," he said.

But he stressed that several global players in the timeshare business, such as The Marriott Vacation Club, already operate in Dubai, confident that their self-imposed regulations will comply with the upcoming law.

Many others are currently building timeshare resorts, which could enable the industry in Dubai to fulfil its expectations.

The Showcase Mall will soon have more space to show off. The venerable Strip retail and entertainment complex last month broke ground on an $80 million, 95,800-square-foot addition at 3771 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Matt Construction Corp. of Santa Fe Springs, Calif. is the general contractor, with Boston-based Kling Stubbins as architect.

The three-level extension will be located immediately north of the existing 4.3-acre, 190,000-square-foot mall originally built by Henderson-based Makena Development and Forest City Enterprises of Cleveland in 1998. City Center Retail LLC of San Francisco and New York-based Angelo Gordon & Co. bought the property for $142 million, or $747 per square foot, in early 2005, after plans for a 52-story, 700-unit Westgate timeshare tower fizzled.

The Showcase Mall and its iconic 100-foot-tall Coca-Cola bottle have become a popular Strip attraction among visitors and locals. The venue's whimsical facade, indoor climbing wall, and unique mix of tenants -- such as M&M World, United Artists Theaters, Adidas and Gameworks have made the mall a Strip success. The mall addition looks to continue the fun with a new three-story, 41,000-square-foot Hard Rock Café.

The café will feature a 700-seat restaurant with outdoor dining, a live concert venue, a main bar and a 3,364 square foot retail store. The three-quarter-acre expansion will additionally incorporate an existing Denny's restaurant and ABC Store, while making room for two to four new tenants, says City Center project manager Tim Bacon. New York City-based Robert K. Futterman is overseeingleasing efforts.

The new building has a sleek modern look with a backlit glass curtain wall fronting the Strip. Construction is being funded by a two-year, $57.75-million loan from Key Bank National Association arranged by the Los Angeles office of Holliday Fenoglio Fowler. It has a 75-percent loan-to-value ratio. The loan was arranged by HFF's Scott McMullin and John Crump.

The Showcase Mall expansion is expected to finish in the first quarter of 2009.

PROJECTS

General Design & Construction is performing a four-story, 70,356-square-foot tenant improvement for the Clark County public defender's office at 309 S. Third St. in downtown Las Vegas. The $611,745 design-build project is expected to finish in spring 2008.

First Asian Bank opened a new $300,000, 4,000-square-foot branch at 3919 Spring Mountain Rd. It marks their second branch in the Las Vegas Valley.

SR Construction completed a $1.9 million upgrade of the Bright Angel Church of Christ at 8560 Bright Angel Way. Designed by SH Architecture, the 6,200-square-foot project entailed a new administration building and site improvements.

MILLION-DOLLAR DEALS

Western American bought the 139,651-square-foot Renaissance Office Park at 2200-2300 Renaissance Dr. for $26.8 million, or $192 per square foot, from Renaissance Office Park LLC. Prudential CRES' Danielle Steffen and Wil Chaffee represented the buyer.

3 Kids LLC bought 44,500 square feet of industrial/office space on 3.5 acres at 3855 W. Harmon Ave. for $8.65 million from Hydrodynamics Corp. Prudential CRES' Danielle Steffen represented the buyer, and Realty Specialists' Michael Longi represented the seller.

Mutual Management, LLC bought 6,200 square feet of industrial space inside Black Mountain Point at 122 Cassia Way in Henderson for $1.3 million, or $204 per square foot, from Black Mountain Point, LLC. Colliers International's Brian Riffel represented the buyer, and Colliers International's Greg Pancirov and Michael De Lew represented the seller.

Subway Nevada, LLC bought 9,000 square feet of industrial space inside Black Mountain Point at 104 Cassia Way in Henderson for $1.2 million, or $137.50 per square foot, from Black Mountain Point, LLC. Coldwell Banker Premier Realty's George Kypreos and Kelly VanAiken represented the buyer, and Colliers International's Michael De Lew and Greg Pancirov represented the seller.

David and Sally Sawyer bought 4,127 square feet of single-tenant office/warehouse space inside the Cecile Business Park II at 4894 Cecile Ave. for $1 million, or $282 per square foot, from QDCPB, LLC. Colliers International's Jennifer Kilpatrick, Brian Riffel and Marie Stiles represented both the buyer and the seller.

Market analysts have said the lack of a regulatory framework is a major factor behind the failure of the timeshare sector to take off in Dubai, reported Gulf News. Craig Johnson, the GM at Landmark Properties, described the local market as 'non-existent' but said the implementation of clear regulations could see timeshare become a major player in the emirate's property market.

Globally, the industry has a turnover of around $5.4bn.

More than 200 Love City residents packed a ballroom at the Westin Resort and Villas Thursday night, October 4, and shared their outrage with Lieutenant Governor Greg Francis about skyrocketing property values under the territory’s court-mandated revaluation.

“We are bearing strain from Bearing Point,” St. Johnian Wilma Marsh Monsanto told government officials, echoing how most people at the meeting felt about the company that conducted the property revaluation.

A 2003 U.S. District Court order required the government to conduct a territory-wide revaluation and set taxes according to market values. The Bearing Point company was contracted to do the revaluation and plans to have it finished by the end of the year, explained consultant Sally Powers.

Bearing Point used a model based on residential property sales between 2003 and 2005 to determine a $360 per square foot value on St. John as opposed to $93 on St. Thomas and $89 on St. Croix.

Legal Action Promised
Residents, some of whom threatened legal action against the government which could bring the entire tax revaluation to a halt, said the model is flawed.

“Your statistical sample is too small,” said resident Bill Morris. “The number of St. John sales is too small to be statistically significant. This will be part of the court case.”

“The people of St. John need to go to court and file a lawsuit,” said Lorelei Monsanto. “It will happen — you are touching all of our lives. If you treat us separately, let St. John keep all of its funds.”

Residents questioned why St. John is being asked to shoulder four times more taxes than the other islands in the territory, when there are far fewer government services on the island.

“Our taxes will be four times higher than the rest of the territory but we get less services,” said resident Lisa Durgin.
With more than half of the island occupied by the non-property tax paying V.I. National Park, market values on the island should not be measured the same as throughout the territory, according to Theodora Moorehead.

VINP Factor Cited
“The St. John situation is unique and critical,” said Moorehead. “What happened on St. John happened because of the National Park. Perhaps we need to consider a special park factor for here.”

“Our ancestors never thought of land as a commodity — it was for our children,” Moorehead continued. “Now land is a commodity and two-thirds of our island is taken up by the National Park who contributes nothing to the government. There must be some way to find a balance.”

Lower Tax Rate Is Forecast
The repeal of a 1936 federal law set the stage for the local legislature to set a new tax rate, which Governor John deJongh is proposing to set lower than the previous rate of .0075.

Hoping to off-set the burden of the revaluation on residential property owners, the administration is proposing different tax rates for four different categories of property .0036 for residential; .0065 for commercial; .0046 for land; .0110 for timeshare.
While each of those rates is lower than the current rate, average tax bills on St. John will still triple for land and double for commercial and residential property owners.

Tax Rates Are Not at Issue
Residents at the meeting, however, were not interested in hearing about the governor’s proposed rates.

“This new rate is a pacifier to the people of St. John which means nothing,” said Kharid Wallace. “What you are really doing is forcing us out of our houses and we won’t go without a fight. We’re at your mercy and something needs to be done.”

The governor is also proposing to increase several exemptions — ranging between $400 and $500 — and combine the elderly and senior exemptions into one higher category. These measures, however, don’t really amount to much, explained Elaine Penn.

“The exemption amounts are almost insulting,” said Penn. “Make them real. Make them significant enough to give some real relief.”

St. John residents would not mind paying 10 to even 30 percent higher taxes than before the revaluation, but just can’t pay what the government is asking, explained Mark Buchalter.

Looking for Equity
“Most people wouldn’t mind an increase in their taxes if it was something reasonable,” said Buchalter. “We simply can’t afford to pay what you are asking.”

There should be equity among all tax payers in the Virgin Islands, explained former Senator-at-Large Craig Barshinger.

“We don’t want to pay four, five or six times as much for the same house on St. Thomas,” said Barshinger. “If we live in about the same the house we want to pay about the same amount in taxes. We should all be shouldering about the same amount.”

The government was mandated to set the new tax system on real market values, explained V.I. Tax Assessor Roy Martin.

“It’s simply supply and demand,” said Martin. “In terms of market sales, they are much higher here than in St. Thomas or St. John. We didn’t create that market.”

The value notices mailed out in July are only a draft and sales from 2006 still must be factored into that figure, Martin added.

Still Need 2006 Numbers
“Please be patient,” said Martin. “All transactions from 2006 still have to be analyzed before the formal values are completed.”
While there might be additional measures proposed to further off-set the burden created by the tax revaluation, Martin did not share any specifics.

No matter what, the government should not force people out of their homes with exceedingly high taxes, explained Moorehead.

“If you are not careful, not too many of these faces will be here in a few years,” Moorehead said. “There is more than one way to skin a cat. No one should be compelled to sell land if they don’t want to.”

Residents with problems or questions regarding their proposed value notices who have not done so yet are still encouraged to contact the Tax Assessor’s Office before the end of October.

The stockbroker, the attorney and the salesman sailed across the Sea of the Moon, vowing never to return.

Jay Carlisle, Hugh Kelley, and Don "Muk" McCallum of Newport Beach dreamed of the tropics in the late 1950s. They'd escape to Moorea in French Polynesia. Farm by day and dally with the local ladies by night. "South Pacific" infused with "Playboy After Dark."

A lot of guys talked that way in those days, then woke up in the morning, had a little hair of the dog and went off to work.

But against all odds, the "Bali Hai Boys" made the jump to their own slice of paradise. They became wealthy celebrities, with a platoon of ex-wives, lovers and children. From one small hotel they built a collection of four resorts on three islands and fathered the iconic over-water bungalow.

Now the wild ride across five decades is winding down. It's twilight of the Bali Hai Boys.

Hugh died in 1998. Muk, 77, still parties hard but battles prostate cancer and arthritis. Jay, 73, his reading glasses on a black string around his neck, oversees the Club Bali Hai, the last small outpost of a once far-flung enterprise.

On a sultry afternoon, Muk ambled down to a table next to Cook's Bay with two mini-bottles of tequila in his pocket. Time for "Muk's Happy Hour," the almost daily story-telling time with guests. Asked if he had any regrets about leaving California so long ago, Muk nodded.

"Regrets, yeah, I have a regret for you," Muk said. "I regret that I didn't do it a decade sooner. I regret that I didn't have 10 more years right here."

Dreaming of escape
When it all started around 1959, the boys weren't really boys – at least in age. Hugh and Muk were in their early 30s, Jay in his late 20s. Jay was the fulcrum of the friendship. He went to Newport Harbor High School, like Muk. He attended USC, like Hugh.

At the end of the Eisenhower era, the three came to share an apartment on Acacia Street in Corona del Mar. Jay woke up before dawn to drive to his job at the Pacific Stock Exchange in Los Angeles. Hugh toiled as an attorney. Muk was a salesman in the family sporting-goods business and ran a tiki bar called "Miss Boo's" in Costa Mesa on the side.

But by night, they chucked the suits and slacks for Hawaiian shirts, cranked up Tahitian music on the stereo, mixed potent drinks and imagined life in lands beyond the sunset.

"We'd go down to the harbor, with all those sailboats, and wish we were getting on one," Jay recalled.

Then one day, Hugh did just that. He signed on to crew a 90-foot yacht racing to Honolulu. When the owners sailed on to Tahiti, Hugh tagged along. It was everything he imagined and more: sultry and green with endless opportunities for "romance." When he heard of an elderly California couple who owned a vanilla plantation called Urufara on nearby Moorea, Hugh went home and struck a deal to buy the land.

It took nearly every penny the boys had. Jay sold his stock-exchange seat. Miss Boo's was sold too. Friends bought shares in the scheme. In June 1960, they flew to French Polynesia.

"This was going to be forever," Muk said. "We dumped everything we owned. If we came back to California, it was going to be as visitors from a faraway land."

Change of plans
The South Pacific has been the graveyard of many a scheme and it looked like the boys were going to join the list. Only two of their nearly 400 acres could be cultivated. Then the price of vanilla crashed when African farmers flooded the market. Authorities would grant them only six-month visas, hamstringing their effort to get a foothold on Moorea.

"The vanilla farming was a disaster, my God, just a disaster," Muk said.

Officials in French Polynesia didn't want their islands to be a haven for dreamy but poor foreigners. The trio had to find a way to make a living or face having their visas revoked.

The boys rented a beat-up old house from a local politician who struggled to run a four-bungalow hotel. Customers were infrequent in the days before jet travel came to the South Pacific. Moorea was only 12 miles from the main city of Papeete. But the only way to the island was by a three-hour trip across the channel called the Sea of the Moon on a smoky diesel freighter. It made the trip just three times a week.

Their landlord was desperate to dump the hotel. The boys were desperate to stay. A deal was struck. The boys bought the hotel, and the hotelier used his influence to get the Americans much-coveted renewable five-year visas.

As a salute to James Michener, whose book "South Pacific" had inspired them to make their journey, they named the rathole of a hotel after the novel's mythical island, Bali Hai. In March 1962, the "Bali Hai Boys" were in business.

The guys knew as much about running a hotel as they did about vanilla farming. They leaned on their skills from back home. Hugh, the lawyer, drew up the business papers. He was also skilled with a hammer and saw and went about working with locals to make repairs and upgrade the shacks. Jay was the guy who could make a budget and keep them on it. Muk was the jovial public face of the enterprise, greeting the freighters at the dock and cajoling visitors to stay at the Hotel Bali Hai instead of one of the spots near the harbor.

They toiled by day, but they drank and danced and sang at night, often at The One Chicken Inn, a bar where overturned crates served as stools.

"We were H&H – hammered and happy," Muk said.

The stranger at the door
Three party-hearty Americans running a hotel in a French colony was gossip- worthy across the South Pacific.

One day, a rare American visitor appeared at the Hotel Bali Hai. He was returning from photographing nuclear tests at Johnston Island. On a stopover in Tahiti, he'd heard about the Bali Hai Boys and wanted to see if it was something that might be of interest to his publication.

"He said he was going to stay with us one night," Jay said. "He stayed three weeks."

The photographer was famed photojournalist Carl Mydans. The publication was Life Magazine, the most popular weekly magazine in the country. The December 1962 story about the boys included mentions of the hardships they had endured in the early going. But the photos sent a far different message: a trio of muscular, tanned and smiling Americans running around in swim trunks and sandals, carousing with beautiful girls in tropical pools by day and partying deep into each Polynesian night.

It was a sensation. Inquiries about reservations skyrocketed. After Life, the story of the "Bali Hai Boys" became hot copy as writers from other American magazines and newspapers made the trek to their doorstep.

"We thought we were golden," Muk said.

The timing was perfect. A new airport in Papeete cut the travel time from the West Coast to Moorea from days to a matter of hours. The Hotel Bali Hai rapidly grew from a small collection of ramshackle bungalows to a 65-unit resort, one of the largest in French Polynesia. By the early 1970s, the boys had expanded to nearby islands, building a 34-unit hotel on Raiatea and a 44-unit resort on Huahine. They introduced the first over-water bungalow, now a staple of tropical resorts. They bought the smallest and last of their properties, the Club Bali Hai, which they turned into a mixed hotel and timeshare operation.

The '60s and '70s were the heyday of the Bali Hai Boys. Jay appeared on "What's My Line" and Muk did ads for Camel cigarettes.

In between, the three became family men, in a fashion.

"Kelley had 10 kids by five women, Jay had three by three and I had two by one," Muk said. "For Moorea, that wasn't so unusual."

Miri Kelley, 33, is the sixth of Hugh Kelley's children.

"We lived in the hotels, that was often our home," she said. "We would go from island to island. Everyone knew my dad. He spoke perfect Tahitian."

Success and strife
Paradoxically, the success pushed the boys into a tropical version of the grind they had left back home. Hugh negotiated deals for land and construction, often overseeing the building himself. Jay spent more time with ledger books in an office than outside in the tropical breezes. Even Muk, whose main job was to entertain the guests, wasn't immune.

"I'd be at the bar in the middle of a story, having a great time, and someone would come over and say the toilet in their unit was overflowing," he said. "Off I would go with the plunger."

Plumbing wasn't the only problem. There was also intermittent labor strife, dollar-exchange fluctuations that eroded profits, and five different fires that damaged the largely wood and thatch hotels. A new Club Med and other modern resorts competed for customers.

"People think after Life magazine, it was all easy," Jay said. "But we had lots of ups and downs. It could get very slow for long times."

Mixing friendship with business is often bad for both, but despite occasional squabbles, the three remained close.

"I think we were very complementary," Jay said. "We kept a sense of humor. Yes, we made money. But it was never just a money thing. We remembered why we came in the first place."

By the early 1980s, the heyday had peaked. The resorts on the other islands closed or were sold. Muk went into a self-imposed exile back to the mainland that lasted 18 years. It ended when he returned for the funeral of Hugh, who died of a stroke in 1998 at age 70. Much of the island turned out to lavish praise on the rake-turned-pillar of the community. Fresh flowers still decorate Hugh's hillside grave on the old vanilla plantation, where one day the other Bali Hai Boys and members of their families will join him.

Muk often talks of Hugh in the present tense, as if the duo is still a trio.

"I miss Kelley every day," Muk said. "I am sure that Jay does too. He was our fighter. You wanted him on your side. A hell of a guy."

Back to the beginning
After the funeral, Muk decided to stay. He and Jay sold the Hotel Bali Hai in 2001, leaving only the small hotel by Cook's Bay.

"The Club Bali Hai is really our style, what we had in mind at the beginning," Jay said. "It's small enough that we can keep track of everything going on."

The staff are family and longtime friends. Miri Kelley runs the jewelry gift shop. Her brother Hiro sells excursions. Many of the maids and office staff have long histories with the men they call "the boys."

"I've been with Muk and Jay for 20 years," said Rose Tetuamahuta, the hotel manager. "Others here have been with them much longer."

The life of Jay and Muk has come full circle. They're roommates again, running one small hotel. Muk farms the old plantation. Jay works in the hotel office. Muk comes down in the evening to entertain guests.

It's a simple operation. And irony of ironies considering the boys booze-soaked heritage, the hotel has no bar after 3 p.m.

"We used to have a bar, but it was just too popular," Muk said. "We'd have fights and people going off together to the docks. Sex on the Beach wasn't just a name of a drink. It got to be too much. So we shut it down."

The postcard views that drew Muk, Jay and Hugh to Moorea remain. The brilliant aquamarine of the bay's shallows giving way to the deep blue of the sea. The distant foam of waves crashing on the reef. The old, weathered pinnacles clad to the very tip in primordial green.

The government bureaucracy that once troubled the trio now has an upside.

"There are so many rules about land ownership here that it will never be Maui," Muk said. "You'll never have wall-to-wall condos. It can't happen."

The lease on the Club Bali Hai runs through 2032, long after the boys expect to be gone. But they have no intention of sailing off into the sunrise.

"I go back to Orange County often enough," Jay said. "But Moorea is home now."

Muk agrees, in his own way.

"I have it in my will that I'm to be stuffed and set out here, so there will be 'Muk's Happy Hour' forever."

CEBU'S premier lifestyle club, Club Ultima, through its chairman Richard King, recently forged an alliance with Country Heights Lifestyle Berhard, a leading company specializing in the provision of lifestyle related services, particularly in Malaysia.

This new linkage will provide the members of Club Ultima a rare opportunity to experience the posh resorts under the Palace Vacation Club (www.palacevacationclub.com).

Country Heights Lifestyle Berhard provides leisure services as well as operates and manages the Palace Vacation Club. It also promotes and sells timeshare memberships in order to expand its reach.

Members of Club Ultima get to exchange the room night privileges according to their membership status with room nights in Malaysian leisure establishments.

A Club Ultima room night coupon is equivalent to an overnight stay in a studio/efficiency room in any of its affiliated resorts under the Club Ultima-Country Heights Lifestyle Berhard arrangement.

Some of Malaysia’s acclaimed leisure establishments are included in the Palace Vacation Club portfolio like the Country Villas in Kajang, Kuala Lumpur, Palace of the Golden Horses, Palace Beach and Spa in Selangor, Ancasa Resort All Suites Apartment in Port Dickson, Nigeri Sembilan, Palm Springs also in Port Dickson, the Leisure Bay Condominium in Penang, Equatorial Hill Resort in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Perdana Beach Resort in Langkawi Kedah and the Borneo Highlands Resort in Kuching Sarawak.

Club Ultima, which boasts of a reputation for luxury and lifestyle, has already achieved accolades for its innovative lifestyle leisure concept. With this new linkage, the ultimate lifestyle of resort living in Malaysia awaits each Club Ultima member.

Lamar University and the Beaumont Foundation of America have announced the eighth of nine Southeast Texas Legends Scholarships - this one honoring Judge Bob Wortham, who, throughout his distinguished career as a federal prosecutor, district judge and private attorney,has been known as an innovator and legal pioneer whose landmark cases have had national impact.

Wortham, now judge of 58th District Court in Jefferson County, served 12 years as U.S.attorney for the Eastern District of Texas before becoming a partner in the Reaud, Morgan and Quinn Law Firm. He began his career as a Jefferson County assistant district attorney and, at age 31, was appointed to serve an unexpired term as judge of 60th District Court - the youngest district judge in the state.

A Beaumont native and Lamar graduate,Wortham is a philanthropist whose generosity has touched scores of individuals and organizations.

"Bob Wortham has been described as a 'force of nature' - a man motivated by service and known for his fairness, his high goals, his innovative achievements and his ability to make others feel valued," President James Simmons said in announcing the scholarship. "We are proud of Bob, as an outstanding alumnus of this university and for his many contributions to his profession and to society."

Simmons' remarks came at an Oct. 2 ceremony and news conference in the Mary and John Gray Library. The Southeast Texas Legends-Judge Bob Wortham Scholarship will assist underserved individuals who attend the university.

The Southeast Texas Legends scholarships - each an endowment of $100,000 - are made possible by a gift from the Beaumont Foundation of America, a non-profit corporation that seeks to expand, enhance and strengthen opportunities for students who are most in need of assistance. Scholarships are being awarded starting this fall.

The foundation grew out of an historic $2.1 billion settlement of a nationwide class-action suit to obtain relief for those who bought defective computers.

"During the initial phase of the foundation's life, its technology phase, it was a national leader in helping close the digital divide," said Frank Newton, president and chief executive officer. The foundation has granted more than $68 million worth of equipment. "Our mission has broadened beyond technology to address a fundamental reality of our global economy: Education is essential for a successful life."

"It is a wonderful tribute to Lamar that this scholarship be instituted in Bob's name, so that others will be inspired by his spirit of goodness and accomplishment and that they will in turn lead and advance the ideals of America for others to enjoy," said Jefferson County Criminal District Court Judge John Stevens, a friend for 30 years and who served as Beaumont division chief and head of the criminal division for the Eastern District of Texas while Wortham was U.S. attorney.

Among the U.S.prosecutors Wortham hired, one is now a federal judge, another is a state judge, four are federal magistrates and three are U.S.attorneys in other districts. "He surrounded himself with good people,"Kiehnhoff said.

Whether in the courtroom or in the community, he said, "Service is what motivates Bob.He's happiest when he's helping the public."

Responding to the Legends Scholarship, Wortham said: "When I was informed this was going to happen, my first thought was I wasn't worthy of such a wonderful honor. But this scholarship goes along with my philosophy of helping people.This money will help young people who may not have opportunities to go to college otherwise. I feel blessed to have this honor bestowed on me. It's a humbling experience."

The length of his term as U.S.attorney is considered "extraordinary,"he said.

Highlights of Wortham's reer include successful prosecution of the drug-smuggling case against wealthy rancher Rex Cauble and the "Cowboy mafia," including the first enforcement of a federal racketeering law passed years earlier; cases that brought about changes in the timeshare industry; enforcement of environmental laws; and bringing federal, state and local law enforcement agencies together in what became a national model. As a state district judge, he worked to assist other judges with caseloads and led in developing a prototype for court scheduling orders that are now standard.

Wortham's achievements have earned scores of honors, including: Outstanding Young Lawyer in Jefferson County, Chief Postal Inspector's Award, ATF's Arson Prosecutor of the Year Award, Drug Enforcement Exceptional Achievement Award, Better Business Bureau John L. Ball Award, Department of Justice Award for Outstanding Service, Department of Labor Award for Outstanding Prosecution and the Press Club of Southeast Texas' inaugural Newsmaker of the Year award.

One cause close to Wortham's heart is the Triangle AIDS Network, which in 2004 honored him with its highest accolade, the Red Ribbon Hero Award, for his "untiring efforts and ongoing support on behalf of persons living with HIV/AIDS."

"I try to treat other people the way I want to be treated,"Wortham said. "If someone needs help and I have the ability to help them, I try to do so. I also try to come up with ideas on how people can help themselves. The Lord has blessed me, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my blessings."

Gooderson Leisure Corporation was established in 1957, when Mr. R.H Gooderson acquired the first of his hotels in Durban, the Lonsdale Hotel, only one block from Durban's Golden Mile. Today, the Gooderson Leisure Corporation who own, manage and provide accommodation and restaurant services to the leisure, international, and conference visitors in KwaZulu Natal celebrate 50 year's within the hospitality industry.

Through the acquisition of a number of hotels, the company grew from one hotel to thirteen hotels in 1970. The company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1968 as Gooderson Hotels Limited (Goodtel). When Alan Gooderson purchased the business from his family in 1979, he pursued a new strategy which included delisting the company from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the sale of non-profitable hotels and entering into the timeshare industry.

The company entered into a partnership in the timeshare industry in 1981, which allowed its management team to gain extensive knowledge of timeshare development, sales and management. The success that the company achieved with the development, sales and management of timeshare properties resulted in the establishment of Goodfin, which offers finance to prospective timeshare owners.

Gooderson Vacation Sales (Pty) Ltd was formed in January 1996 to handle the in-house marketing, sales and letting of all the self-catering and timeshare properties. The ownership and management of these units, along with the three hotels under management provided the company with the infrastructure to not only survive the changing demographics but to accommodate for tourists demand for a variety of holiday destinations.

In March 2006, the shareholders of Gooderson proposed a listing of Gooderson on the Alternative Exchange (AltX) of the JSE Limited. The company converted to a public company on the 26 September 2006, Gooderson listed on AltX.

Hotels and lodges under the Gooderson Leisure banner include the Tropicana and Beach Hotels, both situated on Durban's famous Marine Parade; the Drakensberg Gardens Golf & Leisure Resort, nestled in a tranquil valley on a 860-acre estate offers spacious accommodation and a choice of 2 conference function venues seating up to 200 delegates.

The 29-bedroomed Bushlands Game Lodge offers the ultimate African bush experience; the DumaZulu Cultural Village & Lodge, which provides day visitors and overnight guests with an authentic African cultural experience; and the Natal Spa Hot Springs Resort & Conference Centre situated on the historic battlefields route, which specialises in providing the ideal corporate conference getaway which can accommodate up to 120 people cinema style, as well as the family can take time out to relax and enjoy the 9 hot natural mineral springs!

The Riverhead Town Hall parking lot was overtaken by souped-up GTOs and four-wheel-drive vehicles last week, as a group of self-described motorsports enthusiasts attended the October 2 meeting to make their case for a race track at Enterprise Park at Calverton.

As previously reported, the Riverhead Town Board voted 4-1 to allow Riverhead Resorts to develop upon 755 acres of recreationally zoned property at EPCAL. Riverhead Resorts proposed eight separately themed resorts with a 350-foot indoor ski mountain, hotels and timeshare units. Some residents expressed opposition to the project, preferring RexCorp's plan to build a race track and 10,000-seat arena for competitive auto racing.

Mastic Beach resident Martin Johnson, a member of the Long Island Motorsports Association, asked the town board to rethink its decision to give the bid to Riverhead Resorts and to bring up this subject again at the next town board meeting on October 16. "I'll bring you all the businesses that support skiing and businesses that support motorsports [on October 16]," he said, adding the idea is to show that motorsports is a more popular sport on Long Island than skiing.

If the town of Riverhead does not build a race track, Johnson said, all motorsports-based businesses will leave Long Island. "There was a shop in Port Jefferson ... [which] left for North Carolina," he noted. "The shop took 10 employees along with their value, in terms of property taxes. That's a major loss."

Another motorsports enthusiast, Peter Molinaro, noted the popularity of this pastime. "NASCAR [National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing] is the fastest-growing sport in the US," he said.
"Motorsports is a big part of Long Island," added Donald Schull, a Lindenhurst resident. Stating that there are no legal drag strips on Long Island, Schull said he has to go to Englishtown or Maple Grove, New Jersey to race or watch a drag race. He also disabused the notion that drag racers are "hooligans," asking the town board to "see the technology that's involved." He said he spent $800 on a set of mufflers for noise abatement purposes.

Molinaro said the town board should have supported RexCorp, a Long Island-based developer that works with other Long Island businesses on its projects. "Instead, you voted for a company with contacts in Europe," he added, referring to the Scottish developer, Baldragon Homes Limited, which is affiliated with the Riverhead Resorts project. "We have a voice and we were ignored."

Stating that "both [proposals] were very attractive," Riverhead Town Supervisor Phil Cardinale said the town board believes the Riverhead Resorts project is a better fit for the town. He added that although the ski mountain was part of the project, "we can go forward without the ski mountain if the mountain is not approved [by the town's Zoning Board of Appeals]."

In addition, Cardinale said he has been in talks with RexCorp's chairman and chief executive officer, Scott Rechler, to build a motorsports facility on an adjacent 800-acre parcel of recreationally zoned property. "This was not a choice against motorsports," Cardinale emphasized. "[W]e preferred a resort concept."

"We don't need more hotels, we need motorsports," contended Riverhead resident Ron Pisco. "Motorsports is the most ... feasible thing to have at Calverton."

When Pisco asked about handling the traffic issue, Cardinale responded, "I don't think we could handle [additional] traffic without a south access [road] from the LIE [Long Island Expressway]."
Cardinale said a RexCorp-proposed race track would "be a good fit" for part of the EPCAL property. According to Cardinale, an ideal location would be in the southeast corner of EPCAL, away from Calverton National Cemetery.

U.S. property tycoon DONALD TRUMP's bid to build a $1 billion (GBP500 million) golf resort in Scotland has been scuppered by a 55-year-old fisherman. Trump plans to build an eight storey five-star hotel, two championship golf courses and 950 timeshare holiday apartments beside Aberdeenshire. But the Apprentice star is teed off after villager Michael Forbes refused to sell his rustic house for $750,000 (GBP375,000) - which is right in the middle of the proposed golf site. Trump says, "The sad thing is that a gentleman who has a small area near the site... the area is in total disrepair. Take a look at how badly maintained the piece of property is: it's disgusting. Rusty tractors, rusty oil cans - I actually asked him: 'Are you doing this on purpose to try and make it look bad, so I have to pay some more money?' "He's a tough guy, a tough, smart guy." However, Forbes denies his refusal to sell is over money - insisting Trump "can go back to his own country and bother someone else." He adds, "To me, you can't put a price on it. I just won't sell, and he knows that. My family came from here. My grandfather fished down here, my father fished down here and my uncles fished down here, and I'm last in line and will see it out. "They just went mental because I wouldn't sell. They said they'd make my life a misery, which they are."

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN) recently declared Christopher Feeney as the new senior vice president and treasurer. Feeney will report to Gina Wilson, the chief financial officer. His duties include the development, analysis and execution of financial strategies; management of

Wyndham Worldwide relationships with financial institutions and ratings agencies. He also has the obligation of overseeing treasury operations, risk management and cash management. He will also serve as a close partner in Wyndham Worldwide corporate development activities, including mergers and acquisitions, real estate development and advancing the strategic initiatives of the company's business units: Wyndham Hotel Group, Wyndham Vacation Ownership and Group RCI.

Before now, Christopher Feeney was senior vice president of Mergers and Acquisitions for a leading living service provider called Sunrise Senior Living, Inc. The company operates over 440 senior living communities worldwide. Among his undertakings at Sunrise Senior Living Inc., he led the acquisition of six communities as well as the acquisition of a hospice care company. He was also involved in sourcing equity and construction-debt financing.

He has a load of experience, having served at various offices including the office held at Marriott International, Inc.as vice president, Mergers and Acquisitions. Part of what he did at Marriott was the negotiation of leases, development of non-U.S. profit-sharing rent and tax structures with in-country advisors. He managed relationships with investment banks and acquired a fitness club brand as a new business platform.

Just before he got to Marriott, he worked with Ernst & Young, LLP; Ocwen Financial
Corporation; and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

He was awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Washington & Jefferson College. He got Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Virginia, and masters degree in business administration came from the University of Pittsburgh.

About Wyndham Worldwide
Wyndham Worldwide gives individual consumers and customers a large range of hospitality products and services.

Wyndham Hotel Group includes nearly 6,500 franchised hotels and has more than 539,000 hotel rooms worldwide.

Group RCI gives access to more than 60,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests. It also provides consumer financing to owners. More information about Wyndham Worldwide is available at www.wyndhamworldwide.com

A post-mortem is due to take place on a woman who is thought to have fallen overboard P&O Cruises ship Oceana on Sunday.

The woman, 67, who has not been named, was reported missing by her husband early on Sunday morning as the 2,272 passenger ship was approaching Southampton after a two-day cruise to Zeebrugge, Belgium.

Her body was found near Cowes, Isle of Wight, later in the day.

A spokesman for P&O Cruises said: "We can confirm that a person was reported missing from their cabin just prior to daybreak yesterday morning as Oceana was approaching Southampton.

"Our missing persons procedures were immediately put into action and this included notification of the coastguard. After a search, a person was recovered from the water but was unfortunately pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital. A police investigation is underway with which we are co-operating fully."

British Airways and union Unite have refuted claims that cabin crew are set to strike over Christmas.

A report in the Mail on Sunday said air passengers would be facing travel chaos over the festive season as union representatives were expected to vote in favour of a strike ballot. It claimed BA had broken its promises over work schedules and sick-pay provisions.

Strike action was averted in January after an agreement was made between the union and BA to implement a range of measures including new sick pay procedures and a pay rise of 4.6%.

A spokesman for Unite said: "The agreement made between BA and Unite is being implemented on an ongoing basis. There are no grounds for an industrial dispute."

A spokesman for BA confirmed this. He said: "We have regular dialogue with cabin crew representatives to ensure the successful application of the agreement made last January. This process is continuing."

Growing demand for international travel is promoting climate change and threatening many coastal resorts, United Nations officials have said.

Tourism accounts for 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and this is expected to jump as increasing numbers of people travel, particularly by air.

Speaking during a conference at the Swiss resort of Davos, World Tourism Organisation secretary general Francesco Frangialli said: "The tourism industry is going to double between now and 2020. We cannot afford emissions to double in the same time."

In a report prepared for the conference, the UN agency said global warming may extend the summers of northern countries such as Canada, Britain and Russia and create new opportunities for travel in polar regions.

But other sites are at risk from rising world temperatures and resulting environmental shifts. Scuba diving and snorkelling were seen as under threat from an increase in sea temperatures, while safari operators could suffer at the hands of a "spectacular decrease" in lions, elephants and rhinoceroses in Africa.

The Maldives could lose entire islands with a small increase in sea levels, while urban sites such as Venice and Lower Manhattan could be submerged, it said.

Aqua Dunya, a $1.8bn theme park being developed in Dubailand, will set new standards for theme parks in the Middle East by combining the fun and excitement of a water park with the art of Arabic storytelling, according to Steve Tight, CEO of Al-Sharq Investment, the development's sponsor investor.



'We want to raise the bar for theme parks in the region,' said Tight, who joined Al-Sharq in 2005 after gaining 17 years of international theme park development experience with the Walt Disney Company. 'By and large the family entertainment here is not cutting edge.'

He said the goal is to create a world-class theme park that is reflective of the scope and scale of Dubai's spectacular vision.

'We want to create fantastical moments and build family memories so that people will want to keep coming back. Creating a strong theme that captures visitors' imagination is critical to the success of any theme park. People love experiencing the fantasy of being transported to an imaginary world and they want to stay in that environment for as long as possible,' he said.

Aqua Dunya is based on the tale of an imaginary Bedouin boy, Rakaan, who is fascinated with the sea. He builds a massive steam vessel, the Desert Pearl, and travels the world before returning the ship to anchor in the oasis, where it was covered up by sand until the Aqua Dunya team discovered it in the UAE desert.

The park's centerpiece, the life-like Desert Pearl, will be 330 meters in length, making it larger than the QE2, currently the largest cruise ship in the world, Tight said. It will contain a five-star hotel with 400 state rooms, a 1,400 seat theatre, and a number of rides, all in an air-conditioned environment.

A phased project, on completion the entire development will include 55 rides, three islands, a retail and dining district, three hotels, a nine-hole golf course, 755 timeshare apartments, and an adjacent community with over 2,600 freehold residences.

Deference to local culture

One of the unique features of the park will be its deference to the sensitivities of local culture. 'We wanted to create an environment where everyone can enjoy the park together,' Tight said. 'Unlike traditional water parks, half of our rides are wet, while the other half are dry. Therefore, guests can enjoy the park regardless of whether they are in a swimsuit or local dress.'

Aqua Dunya aims to take existing water parks to the next level. 'We want to explore the use of water in unique ways. There will be a water labyrinth made of thin walls of water where you can run about while remaining dry or you can jump through the walls to get wet. There will be rides that give you a gentle spray or there will be raft rides where you will be almost completely underwater. You can be as wet as you want to be,' Tight said.

Aqua Dunya will reside almost directly adjacent to another mega-theme park, Universal City Dubailand. What impact will it have on Aqua Dunya? 'I think it is a positive thing,' Tight said. 'For Dubailand to be successful, it needs to have enough critical mass to attract visitors.'

The two theme parks will complement each other well because Aqua Dunya is focused on water while Universal will be a dry park, Tight noted. He said Orlando has shown that multiple theme parks in the same location can thrive. The key is the adjacent destinations must be high quality, and Universal 'brings quality that is compelling,' Tight said.

'If the typical Dubai tourist family spends five to seven days in the city, and Aqua Dunya captures one of those days, then we will be successful,' Tight said. The park expects to attract 1.3 million visitors in the first year, which would make it the largest water park in the world.

Mixed use development

The project also represents an example of the evolution toward mixed use development as it will comprise entertainment, hospitality, shared ownership residences, and freehold properties. 'There is tremendous value in integration,' Tight said. 'Guests stay on the property longer, which maximises spending, and there are more touch points to sell additional experiences. You also optimise property values by offering residences that are part of an iconic theme park.'

The park, which is set to open in early 2010, has big plans for expansion, but it will be phased-in based on how demand materialises. 'We would rather chase demand than lead it,' Tight said.

Phase two of the park will include an adventure reef marine habitat, which will be more serene and allow visitors to snorkel with a variety of fish, including manta rays and (friendly) sharks. It will also include one-on-one dolphin swims, which would be a first for Dubai, Tight said.

Ex-workers of the Crowne Plaza Golf Resort and Casino at the Royal Oasis are still waiting on an answer from the Office of the Prime Minister regarding redundancy payment owed to them.

Two months ago, a group of former Royal Oasis workers drafted a letter to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham appealing for his assistance in helping them retrieve monies due to them as a result of the resort's closure.

The 427-acre property which includes a towers, country club, timeshare units and two golf courses closed down in September of 2004 following twin hurricanes and forced the displacement of some 1,300 employees.

Eight months later, government paid out $5 million of the $6.12 million owed in redundancy pay to 900 of the displaced workers who signed a deed of agreement which promised the remaining $1.12 million in "short order."

The others who differed with the amount purported to be owed to them chose another avenue and vowed to fight for their just deserves.

Now with the sale of the resort nearly in the bag and the announcement by Touri-sm Minister Neko Grant that the deal between Harcourt Development Company and Lehman Brothers is expected to be consummated in late October, the ex-workers want to ensure that they are not forgotten.

The property construction and management company controlled by Pat Doherty beat out World Investment Holdings in April to purchase the resort property.

The resort made up one-third of the island's overall room inventory and was the life blood to the area surrounding the International Bazaar.

Foxwoods Development Company (FDC) was in discussions with Harcourt and will reportedly be managing the resort and casino property.

The ex-worker's letter in July, with some 200 signatures attached, sought to get the prime minister's help regarding the redundancy payments.

Since that letter, it was revealed that no arrangement was made in the sale of the Royal Oasis to pay the former workers.

While the group has been in receipt of correspondence from the Office of the Prime Minister acknowledging their letter, there has been no word since.

"I am giving them time with the hopes they would have the common courtesy to indicate their intentions to us," Ceva Seymour, a former Royal Oasis employee and one of the spokespersons for the group, told The Freeport News yesterday.

She noted that the employees of the Royal Oasis have contributed greatly to the economic workforce of The Bahamas and simply want their worth.

With the Red Sox game murmuring in the background, Malcolm MacKay and Minotte Chatfield chew the fat in the lobby of the Surf Hotel.

They certainly don't want for stories. Chatfield, 92, talks about fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. MacKay was also in the service and once got a ride in a jeep with fellow GI Elvis Presley at the wheel. But like a lot of the conversations around here, the talk turns to the Surf Hotel itself. It's one of the last weekends that it will be run by the Cyr family, which bought it 51 years ago.

Long considered one of Block Island's most recognizable icons, the hotel closes for the season Columbus Day weekend. After that, no one knows what will become of the Surf.

Ulric Cyr and his wife, Beatrice, bought the 35-room Victorian hotel in 1956 and have been hands-on owners ever since. But he turns 88 next month, and she's 85. They say they just can't keep up with the day-to-day tasks of running a hotel. Besides the main building, which was built in 1876, they have a cottage and bed-and-breakfast to maintain, for a total of 47 rooms.

Their daughter, Lorraine Cyr, is also a co-owner and usually the first person you see when entering. People ask her why she doesn't take it over. For one thing, she says, she's been with the Surf as long as her parents. The year her parents bought the hotel, she and her sister Barbara - who now runs the smaller Gables Inn down the street - would rush home from school to help bring the place up to snuff. She's been in the thick of it since, working the front desk and handling other nuts-and-bolts types of things. And, at 60, Lorraine says she's near retirement age herself. Her main job now is taking care of her parents, who will be living in the addition she's building to her house on Block Island.

There was talk of passing it on to the grandkids, but they've all got their own things these days. There's also been talk of getting some of the nearly 2,000 regular guests to organize and turn it into it a timeshare. She doesn't discount the possibility, but the logistics of doing so make a it a long shot.

A real estate agent was touring the building with a couple of prospective buyers last weekend. The 11,500-square-foot building, plus the two smaller buildings, are on a 1.4-acre lot priced at $12 million. And though the Cyrs have made some renovations over the years, there are plenty of new building codes for which they've been grandfathered. So whoever buys it will likely have to lay down another chunk of money.

It's a big investment, and anyone willing to make it probably wants a big return. That could mean big changes, and around here, that's not what people want. Families have been returning to the Surf for decades. Folks who first came to the Surf as kids now bring their kids. Guests describe every return as a reunion of sorts, since they know so many of the other guests. And before checking out, visitors will make their reservations for the next year. Some have been requesting the same room for years. "They've got to have a certain view," Lorraine says.

Beatrice says the summer crowd has changed somewhat over the years. They're a little more boisterous, and sometimes there's drunken nonsense in the streets at night. Not at the Surf, though. Early on, they served wine and beer but soon stopped when some families had a problem with it. The hotel has been dry ever since.

Even as the island changes (though more slowly than everywhere else, it seems), the Surf seems unaffected. The lobby, which feels more like a large living room, has a TV, but none of the rooms does. Guests' comings and goings are tracked in pencil in the log by Lorraine, who insists it's easier than using a computer. Only for the past five years have the Cyrs accepted credit cards. Before that, transactions were mainly done with personal checks or cash.

The décor hardly seems the stuff of some fancy corporate consultant. The large stuffed eagle that hovers over Lorraine's head at the front desk has been there since the Cyrs moved in. Even in the middle of the day, the interior is fairly dark. Various touches, like the oversized chess board and checkers set painted by Lorraine, have been added piecemeal.

"We see something we like, we add it," Lorraine says.

Most of the rooms go for $100 to $150 per person. Of the 49 rooms, only a handful have private bathrooms - those go for $200 to $210.

Besides losing the Cyrs' personal touch (for instance, Lorraine was playing setback with guests in the lobby when we checked out), it's the prospect of modernizing that concerns longtime guests. The Cyrs understand that. Their memories of it are just as dear, and they'd like to see it continue in a similar fashion.

Though the hotel has never had an official website, two websites have cropped up since the Cyrs announced this summer that the hotel was up for sale. "Orphans of the Surf" and "Surf Hotel Refugees " are run by and for the hotel's guests. There, they trade favorite Ulric jokes, "Surf haikus" and stories about spending the day on the hotel's famous rocking chairs on the front porch. They also air various rumors about the hotel's future (the latest was that a local hotelier was hoping to turn it into condos).

Fittingly, the hotel itself has a more old-fashioned variation. The front desk bears a book inviting guests to write about their favorite memories. Some of the messages are short - well-wishes and more haikus. Others are lengthy meditations; one ran up to more than seven pages. The Cyrs were on their second book last weekend.

When Beatrice and Ulric bought the hotel, the building had been vacant for 17 years because of a combination of the Depression and World War II. Ulric grew up on Block Island and was conveniently stationed there for the last few years of his service in the Coast Guard Academy.

They met at the laundry business where Beatrice worked, when Ulric brought his clothes in one day. "The next day, he came in with his father's clothes, and the next day he came in with someone else's clothes," Beatrice says rolling her eyes and laughing. Three years later, they were married.

Hotels were in Ulric's family; his parents owned the Sea Breeze on Block Island. And Beatrice had long wanted to open one. Her sister knew someone connected to the owners of the Surf and managed to get her a tour. Looking past the no-frills décor, like the bare bulbs that hung from the ceilings and the kind of damage that 17 years of vacancy can do, Beatrice fell in love with it.

All things considered, the owners were happy to be rid of it and gave the Cyrs a generous deal. (Beatrice declines to give the exact price.)

Beatrice and Ulric live in a bedroom on the first floor during the season and stay at their place in Florida for the winter. Lorraine has a house on the island and lives there year-round.

They used to serve three meals a day; now it's only breakfast. Though seemingly tireless (almost every time we saw her, she was on her feet), Beatrice says full kitchen service has gotten to be too much, and she doesn't like the idea of someone else running her kitchen. Ulric used to do all the plumbing and other maintenance.

"I'd like to be here another 10 or 20 years, but we just can't do it," he says.

They're happy with their run and are proud of the Surf's place on Block Island. Though he's bad with names, Ulric is happy to see the same faces year after year. "They come in here and greet me like some long-lost cousin."

Not to brag or anything, but Ulric thinks the Surf is responsible for the extended season at Block Island. Used to be that everyone closed up after Labor Day weekend. The Surf ventured to wait until Columbus Day to pack up, and soon others followed.

Minotte Chatfield, who lives in Pennsylvania, has been coming to Block Island since 1918 and to the hotel even before the Cyrs owned it. Chatfield remembers when it cost $2 per person, all meals included. "And then one day they raised it," he says, pausing. "To $3." He lets out a long wheezy laugh.

His friend, Malcolm MacKay of Southington, has been coming to the Surf for only 12 years, a relative newcomer.

"Look at the tin ceilings and the tin walls and the wallpaper - it hasn't changed," says MacKay. "It's like you plucked it out the 19th century."

ll India Resort Development Association (AIRDA) has announced the introduction of Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) as a subject by the National Council of Hotel Management & Catering Technology (NCHM), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in the syllabus of the Institutes of Hotel Management.

N.S Bhuie, Director(Studies), NCHM says “The National Council has done extensive research and held detailed discussions with AIRDA and its members to evolve course material which will be relevant to the Indian industry and also provide successful candidates better job opportunities.”

According to B. S Rathor, Chairman, AIRDA “Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) is one of the fastest growing segments of the Hospitality industry and will require a large number of skilled personnel in the coming years. The introduction of Timeshare in the syllabus of the Institutes of Hotel Managements is indeed apt, timely and will cater to such needs.”

AIRDA has collaborated with Ministry of Tourism for finalization of approved guidelines for classification of Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) resorts in India. AIRDA is conducting Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP) training programmes of Ministry of Tourism for increasing awareness in tourism amongst unskilled tourism service providers. AIRDA has recently secured membership of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) which enables members to adopt best in class global practices in the industry.

Rathor says the Vacation Ownership Industry in India is growing at a CAGR of 20% and is a great driver of domestic leisure tourism in the country. The investments made by AIRDA members are in resorts in popular tourism destinations and contribute significantly to the economic growth in these regions.

AIRDA is the national representative of the Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) industry in India and works towards disciplined expansion of the industry by self-regulating business conduct, building credibility and image through education and awareness. AIRDA member resorts ensure fair practices and ethical business policies that work to the advantage of both consumers and developers.

Dubai real estate developers are benefiting from the creation of timeshare resorts and are now selling millions each month, said a report published yesterday.

Timeshare holiday ownership apartments, and its related product spin offs, including holiday clubs and fractional ownership, already enjoy huge growth annually and, on a global scale, boast over dhs20 billion in worldwide turnover as an industry.

As Dubai lines up to compete with favourite holiday destinations like Orlando, apartments and resorts will utilise the powerful attraction to consumers and developers in shared ownership concepts, including timeshare, says Michael Tolan, CEO of Platinum Resorts International, based in Beirut. “Although developer interest in shared ownership is not uncommon, as Egypt, Lebanon and Syria have active projects, Dubai is the new darling of the investment spotlight,” he said.

Hedge fund investments will reportedly yield huge returns from funding the development of timeshare projects and theme parks in Dubai, while enjoying as much as 50 per cent appreciation within 36 to 48 months, in the new Disney of the Middle East, said Tolan.

It is expected that leading real estate developers will make an entry into this highly profitable leisure real estate space in Dubai. Deluxe apartment operators, builders, hotel owners and the many high standard serviced apartment operators in Dubai could take advantage of timeshare and fractional ownership business models in order to capture guests for lifetime partnerships by selling memberships to their clients through shared ownership solutions.

Dubai is exploding with real estate timeshare opportunities, and despite occupancy rates exceeding 80 per cent, real estate prices continue to soar. That type of economic climate is ensuring that timeshare and fractional ownership are vehicles of choice for market savvy developers and companies to sell off excess inventory and convert to leisure sector products such as shared ownership.
Dubai has become the arena for real estate investment.

Marriott Jr., chairman and CEO, Marriott International, Inc.has officially designated the luxurious 23-story, 588-room JW Marriott Hotel Beijing as the company’s “3,000th” property. Marriott’s global growth is unprecedented in its 80-year history, adding more than 100 hotels through the first half of 2007. More than half of the company’s full-service hotel development pipeline is outside North America.

By the opening of the 2008 Olympics, Marriott expects to operate 11 hotels in Beijing to help accommodate the two million visitors expected to visit the city. Another 20 Marriott International-branded hotels are scheduled to open in China through the year 2010.

“With 18 brands globally, we have the broadest lodging and timeshare portfolio in the world, and by year-end 2009, we expect to reach a total of nearly 600,000 rooms, including 120,000 outside the U.S.,” said Mr. Marriott. “Achieving this milestone would not have been possible without the dedication and support of our associates, investors, owners and franchisees. Most importantly, we thank the millions of guests around the world who choose Marriott every day.”

The JW Marriott Hotel Beijing is owned by Hua Mao Surapan Hotel Development Company, Ltd. and will open in November, along with the 305-room The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing. Located in the heart of the capital city, the two hotels anchor Beijing’s newest and most prestigious luxury address, China Central Place.

“During my visit, I have been very impressed with the city’s drive, energy and focus as it prepares for next summer’s Olympic Games,” Mr. Marriott said. “We are thrilled to be part of these exciting times for China and Beijing and look forward to doing our part to help host a historic and memorable experience for all of our guests.”

Marriott’s growth story in China is part of a global expansion that also includes repositioning the company’s core brands and adding new brands to attract emerging customer segments. This spring, the company launched two brands: a partnership with Nickelodeon and Miller Global
Properties, LLC to co-develop a breakthrough concept for families, Nickelodeon Resorts by Marriott, as well as a partnership with boutique pioneer, Ian Schrager, to develop a new boutique lifestyle hotel brand for the growing lifestyle-conscious guest.

A series of bold innovations, exciting designs and new guest services have also been introduced across many of the company’s brands. For its full-service Marriott and Renaissance hotels, the company launched the “great room,” a revolutionary transformation of public space designed for today’s travellers, who smoothly transition between work and play. In addition, both brands offer the cutting-edge “plug-in” connectivity panel that allows the guest to turn the 32-inch flat-screen TV into a personal entertainment centre.

The company’s select-service and extended-stay brands are also undergoing a variety of makeovers. Courtyard and Residence Inn hotels feature the newest generation of designs, and SpringHill Suites is being repositioned as the preferred moderate-tier brand for active, style-conscious GenXers. TownePlace Suites, Marriott’s moderately priced extended-stay brand, is reinventing itself to meet the needs of a growing segment of “do-it-yourself” travelers. Every room is a suite with functional space for living and working and each hotel specializes in helping the guest settle into the local area. Fairfield Inn, Marriott’s most affordable brand, has more than 100 newly designed hotels in the pipeline.

Marriott opened its first hotel in China in 1989, the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, which also was its first hotel in the Asia-Pacific region. In less than 20 years, Marriott’s portfolio in China has grown to encompass more than 30 hotels offering 11,547 rooms representing the following six hotel brands: JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts; The Ritz-Carlton Hotels; Marriott Hotels & Resorts; Renaissance Hotels & Resorts; Courtyard by Marriott and Marriott Executive Apartments.

The JW Marriott Hotel Beijing will have five restaurants and lounges for dining and entertainment. A popular feature of the hotel will be the award-winning luxurious Quan Spa. Respecting the traditional meaning of spas as providing for “health through water,” the
Quan Spa will offer Vichy rain shower treatments, private hot tubs and products from Thalgo which use ingredients from the ocean. The spa’s signature treatment will be an Indoceane Ritual which will combine an exotic beauty elixir for the skin with a relaxing sensorial journey consisting of four steps – Mediterranean, Egyptian, Indian and Chinese.
A bold, forward-thinking complex, China Central Place includes more than 230,000 square metres of high-end office space; eight residential towers; 160,000 square metres of luxury-brand retail shops such as Ferragamo and Gucci; and spacious green areas and a sports centre.

Bluegreen Corp. said it has completed a private offering and sale of $177 million of timeshare loan-backed securities.

The Boca Raton-based resorts and communities firm (NYSE: BXG) said about $200 million in principal of timeshare loans were securitized and sold in the transaction to the company's finance subsidiary, BRF Corp. 2007-A. The company can sell an additional $48.7 million in principal of the company's timeshare loans through Dec. 28.

The proceeds from the securitization were used to pay all amounts outstanding under the purchase facility; provide $24.8 million for general corporate purposes and debt service; pay transaction fees and expenses; and acquire investments to fund an escrow account with the indenture trustee, pending the future sale of the pre-funded timeshare loans.

Three generations ago, the Ferrari family made a wise $2,000 investment and purchased a one-bedroom cabin on a plot of lakefront property in the heart of Kings Beach.

More than sixty years later, the Ferrari family has big plans to redevelop their land, which has grown to house the Ferrari Crown Resort, the Gold Crest motel, Ann’s Cottages, Snowpeak Lodge and Little Bear’s Cottages — and turn it into a family destination that relives the classic spirit of Kings Beach during a former era.

The Ferrari family built the Crown Motel themselves. The family-run lodging opened in the summer of 1956 and many of it’s original clients continue to return each summer, now with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Redevelopment plans focus on providing smaller and more affordable tourist units, as opposed to larger, timeshare units. Ferrari also wants to promote public transportation.

Aqua Dunya Resort and Residences, developed by Ali Sulaiman Al Shehri, along with Interval International, a leading provider of vacation services and an operating business of IAC, has announced the affiliation of Aqua Dunya Vacation Club in the Interval International exchange network.

Situated in Dubailand, construction of the first phase of 170 apartments is scheduled for early 2008 with completion in early 2010. Owners of timeshare at the Aqua Dunya Vacation Club resort will be able to exchange with thousands of Interval International’s members throughout the world.

Steve Tight, Chief Executive Officer of Aqua Dunya, commented: “The integration of a vacation ownership component into the Aqua Dunya Resort and within Dubailand’s portfolio of entertainment offerings provides a flexible alternative for guest accommodation in Dubai. Indeed we can now offer added value to our vacation club members with a wide range of quality international exchange properties through Interval’s extensive global exchange network.”

"Dubai is the regional hub for tourism with hundreds of tourism-related projects under construction or on the drawing board,” said David Clifton, Interval’s Managing Director, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia.

“The Aqua Dunya theme park resort is a highly innovative and compelling leisure development. We are delighted to have a resort of this quality and magnitude affiliated with Interval. It will benefit our members and provide a huge step forward for the vacation ownership industry throughout the Middle East.”

The current demand for timeshare products in the Middle East is extremely robust, with potential timeshare sales estimated by industry experts at US$ 550 million annually and growing. The Aqua Dunya Vacation Club is the first vacation ownership resort announced in Dubailand and will comprise 110 one-bedroom, 400 two-bedroom, 200 three-bedroom, and 45 four-bedroom units, making it the largest single vacation ownership resort in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa.

The Aqua Dunya Vacation Club will be a points-based system that will offer the ultimate in flexibility to its members.

The vacation club will be one of the key elements of the Aqua Dunya Resort, a family destination resort that will also include two theme parks built around a 3.5 hectare lagoon; three themed hotels; a convention centre; a waterfront retail and dining district; a nine-hole golf course, and a residential community.