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March 20, 2012

When it rains, it pours!

About 32 minutes ago, Oaxaca experienced a pretty strong earthquake. Telephone lines are disrupted.

Oaxaca is about 186 Kilometers, which is about 115 miles south east from Acapulco.

From what we gather, Acapulco felt the earthquake, as it measured in the 5's in intensity.

We copied the above from the USGS site, which is located here: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2012/usc0008m6h/

Please let us know if you are in Acapulco and would like to share your experiences with us. You can send your emails to infoaboutus@aimfair.com or, if you are a subscribing member, you can share your experiences on the Forum.

Thank you and we all hope damage in Oaxaca and surrounding areas is held to a minimum.

March 18, 2012

Yes, there is! Although one could argue that the rainbow ended in Puerto Vallarta, or even in the bird sanctuary, it looks to us that it ended right there on the Grand Luxxe Villa deck.

Have a great week!

Thank you Lisa and Dave for capturing and sharing this terrific image....

March 8, 2012

Yes, we would like to thank you for patiently waiting for us to complete our scheduled maintenance. There have been periods when Aimfair.com was not available because of the servicing we performed on our servers and software. For those of you who have encountered our message that the site was unavailable, we thank you for returning. For the rest of you who did not even notice the site was not available, you did not miss a thing.

So, on we go. There are several subjects that we will discuss in the coming days. An important issue to us is continuing to expose scams that persist in our network of Grupo Vidanta contract owners. Another is the issue of safety in Puerto Vallarta and other cities with Grupo Vidanta resorts. Finally, we will discuss the status of construction in Nuevo Vallarta and Riviera Maya, which are the properties where management is spending the lion's share of the company's construction dollars.

As you know, we believe in the age old adage of "a picture is worth a thousand words". If you have photos of your travels to any of the resorts in the Grupo Vidanta network, send the on to us through infoaboutus@aimfair.com and we will post them for you.

Have a wonderful day.....

March 5, 2012

Just so you know, you will be unable to access Aimfair.com after 11PM PDT this evening for maybe two or so hours.

It could last longer for those of you who are in Great Britain, Germany, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. But, please do not give up on us. We will be back in short order.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Bob and Mary Ann

February 16, 2012

A week or so ago, the State.Travel.Gov, which is a service of the Bureau of Consular Affairs in the US State Department, periodically issues statements to keep US citizens informed about security while traveling in Mexico. February 8, 2012 is the date of the most recent statement, and it supersedes the previous statement, which was issued on April 22, 2011.

The statements provide a state by state assessment of recent activities about which travelers should be aware. The link to the statement is: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5665.html

The states that interest we owners of Grand Luxxe Residence Club and other Vidanta resort contracts include:

• Baja California (South): Cabo San Lucas is a major city/travel destination in the Southern portion of Baja California -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: No advisory is in effect.
• Sonora: Nogales and Puerto Peñasco are the major cities/travel destinations in Sonora: U.S. citizens visiting Puerto Peñasco are urged to use the Lukeville, Arizona/Sonoyta, Sonora border crossing, in order to limit driving through Mexico, and to limit travel to main roads during daylight hours.
• Sinaloa: Mazatlan is a major city/travel destination in Sinaloa -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan where you should exercise caution particularly late at night and in the early morning.
• Guerrero: Acapulco, Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo and Taxco are the major cities/travel destinations in Guerrero -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify their exact locations: You should defer non-essential travel to the northwestern and southern portions of the state (the area west and south of the town of Arcelia on the border with Estado de Mexico in the north and the town of Tlapa near the border with Oaxaca), except for the cities of Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, and Ixtapa. In those cities, you should exercise caution and stay within tourist areas.
• Nayarit: You should defer non-essential travel to all areas of the state of Nayarit north of the city of Tepic as well as to the cities of Tepic and Xalisco. The security situation north of Tepic and in these cities is unstable and travelers could encounter roadblocks or shootouts between rival criminals. There is no recommendation against travel either to Riviera Nayarit in the southern portion of the state or to principal highways in the southern portion of the state used to travel from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta.
• Quintana Roo: Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum are the major cities/travel destinations in Quintana Roo -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify their exact locations: No advisory is in effect.

The advisories offered by the Bureau of Consular Affairs are meant to give travelers to locations within the boundaries of the advisory a feel for the potential danger that may arise. Being careful is the best advice anyone can receive.

Mexico is to be enjoyed. We should be careful where ever we are...

February 7, 2012

Perspective Magazine bills itself as the leading shared ownership publisher. It offers articles, insight and information about shared ownership trends and activities in four regions of the world: North America, Europe and Middle East, Asia Pacific and South Africa.

The publisher sponsored its second annual Global Networking Expo, called GNEX 2012, held at the Ritz Carlton Cancun in Cancun, Mexico. One hundred seventy seven delegates got together to discuss the industry and conduct business between January 31 and February 2, 2012. You can read more about the gathering here: http://perspectivemagazine.com/blog/2012/02/04/gnex-2012-is-a-roaring-success/

Of particular interest to us was Grand Luxxe was announced as the winner of Best Design - Interior. This is quite an acknowledgement that we Grand Luxxe Residence Club members own weeks of use at a very special place. Winners were picked by approximately 9,000 votes and input from the delegates.

The categories that were judged and their respective winners are as follows:

• Best Design – Exterior – Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa, Cabo San Lucas
• Best Design – Interior – Grand Luxxe Nuevo Vallarta

• Best Management Company – Classic Holidays
• Best Marketing Program – Corporate Alliance Marketing, Wyndham Vacation Ownership
• Best Place To Work – Hilton Grand Vacations
• Best Project Team – Dial An Exchange, North America Office
• Best Newcomer – Tesoro Resorts
• Best Individual Professional – Sales – Suraj Naik, Royal Resorts
• Best Individual Professional – Marketing – Erika Garcia, CEO, Blue Strawberry Resorts
• Best Green Initiative – Hacienda Tres Rios Resort, Spa and Nature Park
• Best Innovation – MAS International Company
• Best Media – Interval International’s Online Community
• Best Technology – Merlin Software
• Best Financial Services – Consumer Finance, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific
• Best Developer Partner (Over 50 Employees) – CSA Travel Protection
• Best Developer Partner (Under 50 Employees) – Lloydshare Limited
• Best Industry Leader – Bruce L. Thompson, CEO, Gold Key/PHR Hotels & Resorts
• Entrepreneur of the Year – John Spence, Chairman, Karma Royal Group

Congratulations to the Grand Luxxe Residence Club Nuevo Vallarta for winning the competitive category of Best Design - Interior!

January 30, 2012

We all tend to focus on action. Big games, important events, headline grabbers...you know, we don't want to be left out of knowing about the new news.

For example, there were a number of posts toward the end of the year and into the new year that attempted to present the plan for the Nuevo Vallata property for the foreseeable future. Aimfiar members are passionate about transparency, accuracy and truth.

What struck us this evening was we have not heard much about the other properties. Riviera Maya is growing its Grand Luxxe inventory. Two buildings are open and operating. The Grand Mayan and Mayan Palace buildings are open and operating, although we do not know how many. We hear about the Grand Bliss - a building near the Mayan Palace is read to go, but is not open. There is talk about a convention center between the beach and the Grand Luxxe buildings. Of course, there is much going on at Nuevo Vallarta.

But what about Acapulco? The beach is beautiful, the property parallels the beach and we know it is popular. But what do the sales staff say about the future of Acapulco? We know the Mayan Palace Regency has been open for a year now. Are there other plans in the mix?

We know the story at San Jose del Cabo...the property is there and roads are in place. The bridge was dedicated. But what do the sales people talk about in San Jose del Cabo?

One person shouted out - "Mazatlan - you ought to visit Mazatlan". But we do not hear much about what is happening there.

The other jewel is La Jolla de Cortes. Gary III shared his photos of Rocky Point and the changes that are taking place there. At the Mayan Palace, there is a beautiful golf course. Is it being used? How about that great indoor pool and the expansive beach.

The economy has taken its toll for sure. In fact we applaud Vidanta for pushing ahead as much as it has. Opening eight resorts in the last two years is pretty amazing, especially when you see other companies putting on the brakes.

Then there is the safety issue, the issue everyone loves to hate. In reality, we seem to remember more horrible stories about abductions and killings four and five years ago than now. Sure, there are the cartels killing each other, but it seems the impact on tourism is more psychological than physical. We need to knock on wood!

Yet, international travel through airports at Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, San Jose del Cabo and Cancun is up over prior years. It seems people are coming to Mexico and spending time enjoying what Mexico has to offer.

Its just we do not hear much about the other resort properties. It would be great if we could learn what others are saying and promising. What are folks who are not interested in the Grand Luxxe thinking about?

All very interesting....and quiet.

We suppose this is a great way to start a new year.

December 31, 2011

The year 2010 ended with a spectacular view of Grupo Vidanta's Nuevo Vallarta property from the high end of a long rope tied to a boat.


On the east coast, Dave and Terrina shared their year-end trip to Vidanta's Riviera Maya property.

What a great way to end one year and start another!

January, 2011 was off to a great start. Grand Luxxe Towers I and II and the Grand Bliss were open at Nuevo Vallarta, the Grand Luxxe Building One in Riviera Maya was operating and the new Mayan Regency had opened in Acapulco.

During the year, "construction zones" became active, noisy and on the move in Nuevo Vallarta and Riviera Maya.

Yes, it was the good old "Good News - Bad News" story. The good news is our investment in prepaid vacations at Grupo Vidanta are paying off in the form of Grand Luxxe facilities that meet our expectations. The bad news is we have to live through the construction process to build more units to meet increasing demand.

So, the story for the year in those construction zones of the Nuevo Vallarta property was noise, dust, trucks, tractors, jack hammering, inconveniences, etc. Time deadlines and scheduling pressures increased during the last two weeks of November. The Grand Luxxe Punta and Grand Luxxe III A proceeded with their "Soft Opening". Grand Luxxe Building Two opened at the Riviera Maya property.

But what about other parts of Grupo Vidanta's Nuevo Vallarta property or, for that matter, the other Grupo Vidanta resort properties, you might ask?

Poolside at the Grand Mayan pools was full of noise - laughter and sounds of having fun. Same for the Mayan Palace pool, only sometimes it may be bit quieter. The beach? Only the sound of waves.

At the other properties, Acapulco continues to be a beautiful, beach side location; a fellow member reminded us that Mazatlan was a great place for family vacations; John T, Karin G and others spent their vacations at San Jose del Cabo; the Mayan Palace at Puerto Vallarta was popular during the year and the Mayan Palace at La Jolla de Cortes remains a golfer's paradise.

The year here on the Pacific Coast comes to a close in about 12 hours. There are many successes to cheer about. Plans for new facilities in 2012 are exciting. Our Grand Luxxe vacations have been memorable, which is huge for those of us who purchased in 2007.

We look back on all the wonderful contributions from our generous fellow Aimfair members and shake our heads in disbelief. Many have voluntarily provided photos, reviews and comments about changes taking place at the seven Vidanta resort locations. Some names, such as Ron, Linda, Dave and Terrina, Greg, Ross, Bob and Christina, Michael, Marc, Ken, Adele, Pittle, Curt, Tex805, Kathi, Judy, Jim, Wendy, Kack, Gary III, Russ, Don, Barbara T and Barbara P, Charles R, Bud and Lori, Dale, Darrin, Eric and Terri, Gina Marie, Gordon, Jim and Gerry, John T, Len and Nino you may recognize. These and so many others have made this site what it is. We are truly grateful for everyone's support and continued confidence in us.

What does 2012 have in store for us? Only time will tell. Our only hope is that we all enjoy to the fullest whatever it may be.

So, please look around, raise your glass and salute those who are nearby. Here's to a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year, filled with family, friends and new acquaintances!

Cheers!

Bob and Mary Ann

December 16, 2011

Yes, it was one year ago on December 16, 2010 when Aimfair.com introduced its upgraded website platform to address the needs and wishes of its viewers. So, it is sort of a birthday, don't you think?

We are proud of the new platform. Although we continue to learn, we are pleased that we can now "scale" as required by our viewer demands. It was GaryIII who said, he was concerned that there would be so much information that the original site would implode. Well, he was right! Which is why we took the initiative to change.

Change is a big part of our Grand Luxxe Residence Club member lives. We members are demanding yet flexible. Yes, we expect to be treated with respect because we are the reason so much emphasis is placed upon the Grand Luxxe Residence Club brand. And yes, we understand for the most part the issue of synchronizing demand for units with supply of units.

Just consider the changes that have taken place at the Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Maya and Acapulco properties. And, consider when the changes took place, between 2008 and 2011. There were many challenges during these years, for sure!

You may be interested in seeing some of these changes. Have a look at our Happy Birthday Page. Note, the page is a work in process. It will take some time to incorporate many of the photos our members have contributed since 2008.

Oh yes, there is one other business matter. We have entered the second year, which means many Aimfair members will be renewing their membership. After 365 days, the year starts again. Click here to process your renewal. We will be sending emails to everyone as a reminder to renew. Unfortunately for us (because it would be easier), we do not believe in automatic renewals.

Our birthday celebration will take the form of providing an historical perspective of the Nuevo Vallarta and Riviera Maya properties since the end of 2008. Change is taking place in the other six properties too, but maybe the change is not yet as dramatic...yet.

Stay tuned....and a big thank you for your continuing support.

December 11, 2011

Another opening today: The Grand Luxxe Punta Pools

The Grand Luxxe Punta pools open to all Grand Luxxe Residence Club members today. Wow! Just think. At about 8 AM Nuevo Time, Russ was heading out to become one of the first to use the new Grand Luxxe Punta swimming pools.

By now (9:07 AM PST and 11:07 CST in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, the pristine pools in the photos below will be filled with Grand Luxxe Residence Club members. No Lazy River or Wave Pool, but certainly a beautiful place to enjoy your vacation. Also, guess what....no more noise!

November 16 - November 26, 2011

What about the massive lobby? Yes, it probably will open today too, we would guess. Hamburgers and fries - the order of the day. Bet there will be fish too, at least there should be. Maybe someone can advise.

November 18, 2011

November 28, 2011

We all have much to look forward to as the Grupo Vidanta property at Nuevo Vallarta continues on its path to completion.

What Fun! Stay Tuned...

November 24, 2011

Sitting on our deck overlooking Puerto Vallarta in the distance and the bird sanctuary below (We are on the south side of Grand Luxxe Tower I), we started talking about when we first became acquainted with Grupo Vidanta in 2007, when the organization was called Grupo Mayan. We participated in a sales presentation in December that year, because we determined that our Penthouse unit at Paradise Village was becoming too small for our growing family. Our question was could we switch our units from Paradise Village to units on the Grand Mayan property.

Little did we know that our decision to purchase a contract giving us the rights to use a Grand Luxxe Villa Master Suite would turn out so well. Our purchase was pre-construction, based upon promises to perform by a company that we knew nothing about. The description of the Grand Luxxe Villa Master Suite was on a Xerox copy. Contracts were for a Grand Mayan. Wow! Did we have faith!

Little did we know that our faith would pay off as well as it has. We bought because The Grand Luxxe offered the space we needed, the Grand Mayan and Mayan Palace properties were so well maintained and the employees were crisply dressed and eager to please. After we bought our contract, we returned to the Paradise Village to review our contracts and discuss what we had done with our astonished children.

But today, the last four of twelve family members left for home. Each of the three families had their own unit in the Grand Mayan. Fourteen of us had six dinners in house at the Grand Luxxe, plus we thoroughly enjoyed the Mexican Fiesta. Nothing better than seeing six children between the ages of seven and two and a half glued to the stage, listening to the music and watching the dancing.

Yes, every one of the fourteen of us was thankful for being able to enjoy our experience together in good health. It happens every other year, and all are looking forward to 2013. The children will be older, their parents will have more time to enjoy the beach and other activities, and the two of us will be fortunate enough to watch the Vidanta properties grow and evolve, just as our grand children will over the next two years.

So, yes, we have lots to be thankful for and about. Very fitting that we conclude our time with our children and grand children on Thanksgiving Day!

To good health and wonderful times together....

November 23, 2011

Hola!!!

We arrived on the 14th of November and what did we see? Change! Mucho change. From the moment we first passed the entrance gate we noticed all the changes.

So, what did we see? From the entrance gate:

1. The driving range was open.
2. Lighted tennis courts just beyond the 250 yard marker at the end of the driving rage.
3. The dirt hill that we saw grow last year is now invisible, covered by thick foliage.
4. The Train Station/Reception building is huge and taking shape.
5. Grand Luxxe Tower III A is painted and ready to go. We later learned the tower had its soft opening on Friday, November 11, 2011.
6. Grand Luxxe Tower III B is not far behind.
7. Grand Luxxe Tower IV A is about 4 floors and on the way up.
8. Grand Luxxe Tower IV B is just leaving the ground.
9. We turned left onto a new road before reaching the Grand Mayan and headed toward the new train station and the Grand Bliss on our way to the Mayan Palace. We learned then that the Mayan Palace is where we catch our next mode of transportation that will take us to the reception area of the Grand Luxxe. Again, foliage is beyond belief.
10. On the golf cart and off we go, passing the Grand Luxxe Tower II on the left and to Grand Luxxe Tower I. We leave our luggage behind for our bellmen to take care of. As we reach the end of Grand Luxxe Tower II on the left, we come to a "T" in the road, which parallels the Ameca River. Turn left and off you go to Grand Luxxe Tower II and III A. Tower III B is not open. Turn Right and off you go to the Grand Luxxe Tower I and Grand Luxxe Punta. No walking on the road from the Mayan Palace, only golf carts.
11. Entering the Grand Luxxe Tower I and the lobby is the same, except there is more furniture and floor coverings, the Bird of Paradise Sculpture (our name, we think) and the wall behind it changes colors from lights below and behind the sculpture and the piano is in the middle of the walkway from the reception area to the entrance to the pool area.
12. The Grand Luxxe Punta is brimming. We learned it also had its soft opening on Friday, November 11, 2011.

So far we have not seen the other eight members of our family. We proceed to check in and try to take in all the sights, sounds, changes and fellow guests.

At about 6:30 PM, we catch up with our luggage, call our family and head off to the Grand Mayan where they are staying.

Stay tuned!!

November 19, 2011

We received a request from the Grand Luxxe Residence Club asking us to post on the Aimfair.com website an open letter to Grand Luxxe members.

Of course we agreed to do so. Following is the letter:

We are aware that some of you have experienced inconveniences during our soft opening this week and we truly apologize for any shortcomings. Our resort staff has been working very hard day and night to make sure the new towers are up to our quality standards as soon as possible and that all our rooms are perfect for you. Additionally, we are taking significant steps to ensure all our guests have an incredible vacation experience at the brand new Grand Luxxe towers.

We sincerely appreciate all your feedback and we thank you for your patience during this very exciting growth within our organization. Despite any initial shortcomings on our behalf, we are certain the end result will be the vacation resort of your dreams. Our mission is to inspire generations of happiness, and we realize that can only happen when your vacation experience is perfect every time. Our staff is extremely excited to welcome you to these new towers.

We look forward to serving you,

Employees and Management of the Grand Luxxe Residence Club

With all the changes taking place and requirements to synchronize the completion of complex projects with demands for excellence made by guests, it is gratifying to see the Grand Luxxe Residence Club reach out to its members with this letter.

Demands and expectations run high. Sometimes, even the best laid plans result in something less than perfection. Taking responsibility and working hard to make things right for guests who experience less than perfect outcomes is what we expect from organizations that care about their customers.

We applaud management and staff of the Grand Luxxe Residence Club for making the effort to treat all of its members with respect and understanding.

November 8, 2011

Yesterday, we received a notice from Grupo Vidanta announcing the opening of its second Grand Luxxe building in Riviera Maya.

This is great news for all Grand Luxxe members living east of the Rockies because inventory (available rooms) has doubled at the Riviera Maya property. Now there are 72 two bedroom units on the property, which expands to 144 living units, which are one bedroom and their adjacent lock off units.

The announcement also invites members to make reservations during the Christmas Holiday season, which is normally not available. This represents a great opportunity for families, couples and individuals who do not have firm plans for the Holidays.

If you are not a member, you too can make use of these weeks. Just contact your friends, who are Grand Luxxe members and who have been touting their fun experiences at the Grand Luxxe Residence Club properties. Ask them how to rent a week from them. You can also send a note to infoaboutus@luxxeowners.com or to any of members with listings on the Rentals and Sales pages. We are sure they would be more than happy to help you out.

The Grupo Vidanta member announcement opens the door to enjoy a wonderful vacation experience, and now is the time for action! Enjoy!

October 31, 2011

It is 8:30 PM PDT and all is quiet. Not a single swash of soap, not a single rotten egg on the car. Those are symbols of days gone by, when mischievious early teens started spreading their wings. Neighbors who were not well regarded knew so the day after Halloween because of the "tricks" played on them.

Today is a different. Children are taught to be very sensitive toward others. Spontaneity is encouraged, so long as the feelings of others are respected.

Granted when eggs flew, it was not malicious. Fun for the throwers and not so much fun when the throwers' parents took them by the ear to clean up the mess they made.

Luckily Halloween is a one day event. You should have seen all the cute youngsters who are now populating our neighborhood. And they were very polite. They took the allotted number of treats and did not return because they did not get all they wanted. Furthermore, they all said please and thank you.

In Mexico, celebrating the ghosts of former family members, friends and acquaintances is multiple days, starting on October 27 with the celebration of Fiesta de las Santas Animas, or Feast of the Holy Souls. The living family members clean departed family member graves. Temporary alters are erected, food is shared, family members remember the departed and talk to their spirits. The event becomes a celebration of life. That is the 27th of October.

Then comes All Saints Day or Halloween. All Saints Day celebrates the lives of the children who have passed. Los Angelitos are the center of the celebrations. They are the prelude to the final celebration, which is November 2, Dios de los Muertos.

Dios de los Muertos is the Day of the Dead. It is a national holiday, and all the grown-up ghosts arrive in full force. Of course the non-dead friends and family members must celebrate too. The result is picnics by grave sites, celebrations of passed lives and a reincarnation of those loved ones who are no longer present.

Pretty spectacular! Life is precious, but unfortunately death is part of life. Nice to see those departed loved ones remembered each year for all the good things they did and represented.

In both instances there is fun for all. But, my vote is for the process of celebrating the lives of departed loved ones over a period of time as a way of instilling respect for others.

But that is just me....

Enjoy the celebration...

October 18, 2011

Are you ready....

• To view the Pan American Games in Puerto Vallarta, which take place from October 16 to October 23 (that would be now....)?
• To participate in the 5th annual Peace race, walk and general fun day at El Tigre Golf Course on November 13?
• To run the Riviera Nayarit HALF marathon (whew, thank goodness it is not the whole marathon...) on November 19?
• To enjoy Sunday Brunches at the River Walk?

If you do participate, don't forget your camera so you can send us photos of the activities. Plus, take advantage of the spruced up Puerto Vallarta in preparation for the Pan American Games. The city's facelift should be very pleasing for all. Let us in on the fun...

So, you missed seeing all of these neat events? Not to worry....The Banderas News is a great place to keep informed. There are many sections that provide insight to the goings on in Puerto Vallarta. Plus you need not be in town to read the paper. It is delivered as often as you like through the link in this paragraph.

Stay tuned as we find other sources of news to bring you.

October 6, 2011

Yes, we did receive a call on Monday from a person who claimed to work for Luxury Resort Services, which is a company that does not seem to exist. The company's website is www.luxuryresort-services.com.

We called Grupo Vidanta to confirm our suspicions about the company and caller. No, Grupo Vidanta does not authorize any company to contact its members. No, Grupo Vidanta does not knowingly release member's confidential information to any unrelated company or individual.

This scam purports to buy Grand Luxxe contracts on behalf of Cemex. Cemex is one of the world's largest supplier of cement. Supposedly, Cemex buys contracts, writes them off for tax purposes and then allows their employees and customers to use the units. Sounds plausible, doesn't it?

ARDA (American Resort Development Association) has sent many warnings about scams in the industry. So has the Better Business Bureau. Articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal. And Grupo Vidanta has sent us all letters stating management's commitment to stopping the illegal release of member information.

Remember, you are not alone. Send information to Grupo Vidanta or here or to others you know who can get the word out about a possible scam heading our way.

September 22, 2011

Fractional ownership is a form of timeshare. It's just that the fractions are a bit bigger than timeshare fractions. Months Vs. weeks. That sort of thing. Oh, yes, there is one other differentiation - many fractional ownerships offer residual interests, buybacks or outright ownership in properties.

Fractional ownership is one of five ways to buy prepaid vacations. The other forms of prepaid vacation ownership include timeshare interests, interests in Destination Clubs, interests in a Residence Club, or buying outright ownership in real estate.

Each has its benefits and negatives. Only the purchaser can really know what is most important to him or her.

Regardless of one's predisposition, industry leaders see trends that may change our perceptions of not only value, but also what we want from our vacations.

Recently, an organization called FractionalLife.com held a convention for developers and others interested in selling prepaid vacations. The convention was oriented toward fractional vacation ownership. At the conclusion of the convention, a panel of experts provided their predictions of future trends.

Although we Grand Luxxe members do not own fractional interests, there is intellectual interest in trends in Fractional Vacation Ownership because properties we have rights to use are owned outright by Grupo Vidanta, which is a consummate real estate developer.

Competition for new members is fierce! In our view, there will be more changes to the way vacation ownerships are sold and differences are likely to become even more fine. It appears developers offering fractional ownerships may lead the pack, but we feel it will extend to our developer as well. What do you think?

Here is an article. Enjoy comments made by George Sell, a Senior Editor of FractionalLife.com.

September 10, 2011

Kack is in Nuevo Vallarta as we speak. She has provided us all with ((views of the changes that are taking place at the Grupo Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico property.

We are particularly excited about Kack's photos because they provide a glimpse of what the easterly views will become. Why is that important? Because we now see how the first holes of the Nayar Golf course have evolved. We now see how the new building in front of the Grand Bliss is evolving. The lakes and foliage to the east is becoming a reality. Grand Luxxe Building IV is taking shape and appears to be following the format of Grand Luxxe Building III A and B. We see the Grand Luxxe Punta pools taking shape. The Grand Bliss and Bliss models are no longer on the beach. It appears the Mayan Palace reconstruction may be less dramatic than first believed. And, we see the building between the Grand Mayan and Grand Bliss buildings taking shape.

Lot's to see, lot's more to come and the properties are becoming quite stunning.

Check out Current News or Photos and Videos to view her photos.

Thank you Kack, and stay tuned....

September 2, 2011

....if you owned 78,624 weeks in the Grand Mayan or 111,488 weeks in the Mayan Palace (excluding the Mayan Palace in Mazatlan)?

Absurd question, of course. But, the fact of the matter is there are 78,624 total weeks available in the Grand Mayan and there were 111,488 available weeks in the Mayan Palace.

Why "there were"?

Because the Mayan Palace at Nuevo Vallarta is under major renovation. We do not know what the ultimate building configuration will be. What we do know is it will not be the height it once was. Therefore, we have taken 523 Nuevo Vallarta rooms from the Mayan Palace inventory (-27,296 weeks, or -24.4% of what once was the Mayan Palace inventory). Available Mayan Palace weeks are now 84,292, not 111,488.

Oh, wait a minute….there is additional adjustment. Sales personnel told us the company is restricted by law to selling 70% of available inventory. Having no idea whether or not this is true, we will go with it. This reduces the Grand Mayan available inventory to about 55,000 weeks and further reduces the Mayan Palace available inventory to about 59,000 weeks.

So, the question still remains….what would you do with all those weeks?

Our guess is you would try to sell them. And it appears that is just what Grupo Vidanta is trying to do.

Between June and August, we have heard from fellow members about offers to use weeks at reduced prices. These offers have been extended to fellow owners of Grupo Vidanta owned resorts and members of closed groups.

The fact that such promotions exist appears to be common place in the industry this year. Mr. Ron Roberts, President of Sage Marketing Group, Inc. posted a blog about the State of the US Timeshare industry in the LinkedIn Timeshare Professionals Group, which was commissioned by American Resort Developers Association (ARDA) and prepared by Ernst and Young.

An interesting finding that was highlighted by Mr. Roberts is "Ten percent of the timeshare occupancy rate was comprised of renters as more timeshare developers expanded their rental program offerings to reach consumers unfamiliar with vacation products. "

To say that the timeshare industry is very competitive is an under statement. Offers from other timeshare developers reach our desks every day. Consequently, it is our view that Grupo Vidant management wants to remain with the pack. If other companies are going to reel in new prospects through advertising initiatives, it is very likely Grupo Vidanta will try to do the same.

So, is that good or bad for members? Do such programs take weeks from members?

We would guess not. Mr. Roberts further points out that "80 percent of owners continued to travel to their timeshare destination." Members keep occupancy high, and non-members provide new members. In our view, the end result is a continuation of high levels of service, well maintained properties and updated facilities.


What do you think? Send us an email with your thoughts at infoaboutus@luxxeowners.com.