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Interval International, a leading global provider of vacation services, and Southern Sun Hotel Interests (Proprietary) Limited (“Southern Sun”), a leading hotel group in the region, announced they have entered into a long-term, exclusive affiliation agreement. This includes Southern Sun’s six existing Lifestyle Resorts, representing one of the largest vacation ownership programmes in Southern Africa, as well as any future developments added during the term of the agreement.
In addition to the affiliation, Southern Sun has selected Interval to provide a comprehensive package of customised services, including programme-design support and back-office points-based reservation services. This seamless integration will leverage Interval’s global infrastructure and complement Southern Sun’s resources. Interval specialises in working with resort developers to create vacation ownership programmes of every configuration, including points-based club products.
“We are honoured to have the opportunity to provide a wide range of value-added services for Southern Sun’s owners. The company has been a major player in the region’s vacation ownership industry for many years and we look forward to working with Southern Sun, as they take their already successful business to the next level,” said Craig M. Nash, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Interval Leisure Group, parent company of Interval International. “We are also very pleased to offer our members the chance to visit these quality resorts in Southern Africa, a destination that’s known worldwide for its one-of-a-kind vacation experiences set amidst spectacular scenery.”
Graham Wood, managing director of Southern Sun said, “We are extremely proud of our partnership with Interval International. The two teams worked incredibly hard to make this dream a reality. Going forward, we will be able to offer our Lifestyle Resort owners true world-class service excellence and a wide variety of choice on a global scale.”
Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts division operates a multi-location vacation ownership programme with six properties situated at destinations including Garden Route, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga. The programme currently comprises approximately 33,000 members, or more than eight percent of the country’s existing timeshare owners, who own in excess of 43,000 vacation ownership weeks. These consumers will benefit from the services to be provided by Interval under this agreement, which commences in February 2009.
According to the Timeshare Institute of Southern Africa (TISA), some 400,000 owners hold weeks or points for timeshares in the country and a recent survey revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents feel that timesharing has increased the amount of time they spend on holidays. With the affiliation of Southern Sun, Interval has gained a strong platform for future growth in the region. Alex Bosch, executive director of TISA said, “We are excited to have a company of the magnitude and reputation of Interval significantly enhance its presence in South Africa. This is a truly positive development for the industry and provides real choice in the marketplace.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
