Timeshare Companies Strive to Keep Owners Informed

In early January, Bluegreen Corporation broke out of the gate with a guest post on RCI Ventures Magazine, a leading online timeshare magazine. The trend continued in early February with an online interview about Social Media with an online blog.

You might be saying “Well, that’s great, but what does that have to do with me?”

Short answer—this, and actions like this, offer you, the consumer:

• Accurate information
• Accessibility
• Informed decision making

Accuracy

First of all, whether you’re a Bluegreen owner, other timeshare owner, or just curious about timeshare, there are more outlets now than ever that offer legitimate, first-hand information (this blog, for example). This means that regardless of whom you end up choosing as your vacation ownership provider, the information you get is not only accurate, but straight from the source; while the web is a vast pool of information, results often contradict each other, leaving the inquirer confused and frustrated. We as an industry are doing our best to keep you in the know at all times.

Accessibility

When it comes to accessibility, all you have to do is open your [probably already opened] FaceBook or Twitter account, and search for the company you have a question about. Can’t find the answer? Tweet at or leave a comment on their wall, and watch as your query is answered in pretty good time. If “googling” doesn’t provide clear answers, timeshare companies are readily available to help answer your questions.

Informed Decision Making

There are few things that make consumers feel better than knowing they’ve made the right decision based on the knowledge available; informed customers make informed decisions, which in turn make happy customers, as well as repeat business and referrals. This way, we all win. Being transparent and open [and helpful] about the products and services we have to offer puts us at the forefront of a customer’s decision-making cycle.

Added Bonus

Not only do customers reap the preceding benefits from the timeshare industry’s use of Social Media, we as proprietors reap a benefit as well – engaged customers. This awesome presentation relays that companies with planned social strategies realize ROI in a big way. This goes for every industry, everywhere, so login to your favorite Social Media platform and get in touch with your favorite brands today. While 2012 might signify the end of the world to some, Bluegreen and the timeshare industry as a whole are just getting started on this Social Media odyssey.

Bluegreen Corporation resorts are 3-5 star resorts that want to cater to the middle-class and the wealthy, providing unique activities and service for both.  A lot of people, from the middle class to the affluent, are rewarding themselves for surviving the economic down turn, and deciding to treat themselves to experiences rather than new “things”.  Maybe it is because when it comes down to it, family and our memories are our most important treasures.

Hotels like the Ritz Carlton, Hilton Worldwide and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts are just a few hotels launching campaigns to attract wealthy clients.  Some of their creative ideas are to create a drink named after the guest, create a special dish from their favorite recipe or go snorkeling by moonlight.  The idea is to spend a long weekend having more fun than you could have ever imagined.

However, spending a lot on advertising is a little risky as our economy is still tenuous.  Travel and luxury are not necessities, so they are often the first to go when times get tough.  Destinations that depend on tourists can attest to that.  The ripple affect of the economic downturn a few years ago affected the entire world, especially our neighbors in Mexico.

If you are ready to travel, no matter your economic class at the present, consider going to a Bluegreen resort.  They are located all over the United States, and they will be sure to make you feel special.  For more on this story, go to The New York Times.

One such change is the development of shoe scanners.  Janet Napolitano, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, says travelers may not have to take off their shoes during security screenings in the future.  The hope is that a scanner will be developed that passengers can walk over that will detect bomb substances.  Up to this point, a scanner with that kind of capability has not been developed.  Companies like GE have in fact developed scanners but the scanners have not been approved for one reason or another by the government yet.

Small travel bottles for liquids will continue, however, because scanners can not differentiate between explosives and harmless liquids currently.  Napolitano does not know when a scanner capable of doing that will be developed, so there is not a foreseeable end to that restriction.

Another development that the TSA is implementing  is the “Known Traveler” pilot program, to be launched soon, for frequent flyers.  In this program, people who provide personal information to the government will be allowed to keep their shoes on and their laptops in bags during screening.  If you are a frequent flyer that stays in Bluegreen resorts, you may want to consider joining the program to speed up the screening process for yourself.

Right now, at Boston airport, security personal have been trained to open discussions with passengers to look for suspicious answers or nervous body language.  The airport personal have also been trained to look at items like whether or not a passenger purchased a one way ticket with no luggage.  In the past, flags like this were not encouraged to be brought to anyone’s attention, however, moving forward, staff will be allowed to detain passengers for further questioning based on using the type of intelligence that previously would not have detained a passenger.

All of these measures taken by TSA give passengers more reason to vacation, and less reason to dread the check in process.  Now, if we could only go back to having our loved ones greet us at the gate again upon arrival, just like the good ol’ days, flying might be fun again.   For more information on this story, go to Bloomberg.

“We are working on a risk-based security initiative that recognizes that the vast majority of travelers are not terrorists,” John said. To that respect, airlines are moving towards a profiling system where customers can register with the government and the airlines to move them along through security.  It’s based on profiling, but not hateful profiling as you might imagine.  If you are traveling to a Bluegreen Corporation resort, you may be asked some questions about your destination.

Douglas Laird, president of Laird & Associates and former security director at Northwest Airlines, helped develop a profiling system called CAPPS (Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System) used by the Northwest before 9/11.  With that system, the system looked for passengers who had previously registered with the airline.  ”It didn’t look for the bad guy, it looked for the knowns. So, taken to the extreme, if you were a Platinum Elite at Northwest, you were given a good score. If you had never flown on us before you were given a not very good score,” Douglas said.  The system looked at items such as whether the name and address on your credit card information matched the name and address you provide as your address on the airline ticket and whether you are a buying a one way ticket with no luggage or a round-trip with luggage.

The new security measures the TSA plans to focus on are more intelligence based than relying on scanners and screenings.  For now, they are testing out the new profiling system in Boston and security staff are opening up a discussions with passengers and asking pointed questions.  They have been taught to read facial expressions and body language to look for signs of stress, and take measures from there.

Ron wants to add intelligence into airport screening. “In other terms, instead of just looking for bad items, we need to look for bad people.”  For more information on this story, visit CNN Travel.

Bluegreen Corporation resorts are also located all over the United States so if you are travelling for business or leisure, there may be a resort in your location.  A lot of the resorts have wi-fi, laundry facilities and are conveniently located to restaurants, conference halls and attractions.

For more on this story, visit MarketWatch.

The TSA previously attempted to start their Registered Traveler program in 2006, and ended the program in 2008.  The data collected from passengers during that time has been destroyed according to the TSA.

The new Trusted Traveler program will use the same information that you already give airlines such as your name, gender and birth date, plus any available frequent flier program data.  Instead of a quick check against watch lists, the TSA will check members more thoroughly with intelligence data.  Eventually, a bar code on boarding passes will tell screening agents which passengers are enrolled in the program and it will be the first time checkpoints are linked to intelligence on passengers.

The benefits to registering in the Trusted Traveler program will include being spared shoe and computer removal, however, you will still be subject to full body scans or patdowns. You will also be subject to random full screenings.

If you are a frequent flyer, this registration might make sense.   However, if you are not a frequent flyer, taking your shoes off and removing your laptop may not seem like too much of an inconvenience after all the other inconveniences the airlines subject us to these days.  If you are traveling to a Bluegreen vacation resort, they will make sure to pamper you after a day of travel screenings.    Their staff will greet you with enthusiasm and be ready to make sure you are taken care of in style in their fine resorts.

For example, if you are planning on flying, try making your travel days on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday as those travel days tend to have cheaper fares than on Sunday, Monday or Friday.  Another suggestion is to ask your travel agent if there are any flights leaving out of alternative airports in your area offering less expensive ticket prices.  Alternative airports are great for travelling as the fares are often less expensive, the lines are shorter and the airports are easier to navigate through.

If you are booking a hotel, call the hotel directly to see if they are offering any discounts that booking sites do not advertise.  Bluegreen Corporation resorts often offer discounts that may not be advertised on sites such as Travelocity or Expedia.   Check with your resort or hotel to see if they offer free wi-fi, and download Google Voice or Skype so you can phone home for free.

If you are planning on renting a car, rent from off-airport locations as the rates are often less expensive.   Hotels often offer shuttle service from the airport, so you can call a car rental service the next day from your hotel or resort.

It’s still possible to book your end of summer vacation and send the kids back to school with a story to tell and memories that will last a lifetime.

If you are traveling to a Bluegreen Corporation resort for your Labor Day recreation and rest, a lot of their resorts come equipped with kitchens, so you can make some of these festive Labor Day recipes away from home.  Since these vacation resorts are close to town, shopping will not be a problem to find these common food items.

Delish.com has come up with some tried and true easy to make recipes that will please your family and friends.  From easy appetizers to main dishes, these dishes will up the fun at your Labor Day get together.  If you are looking for health conscience dishes, Delish.com offers healthy options too, like the Roasted Eggplant and Feta dip.   Eggplant with feta, chopped onion, and chile pepper makes a tasty dip with only 75 calories per serving.  Pair this with carrot sticks, celery stalks and pita chips, and you can have a guilt free snack that is good for you too.

The Grilled Tomato and Scallion Salad looks fantastic, along with the Spicy Lamb Shish Kebobs.  Delish.com also offers up some great drink recipes that you can make using the alcohol, or without.  So check out the recipes at Delish.com, and make your Labour Day celebration one your family and friends will remember.