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Vacation Ownership, NORTHWIND Supports Trend with Strong Condominium and Timeshare Owner Management Applications |
Markham, Ontario, Canada � September 3, 2003 � NORTHWIND, a leading supplier of hospitality systems that enhance profitability and strengthen guest service for both independent hotels and multi-property operating companies, announced it is adding new Condominium Owner Management and Timeshare Owner Management modules to its robust Maestro suite of hospitality enterprise applications to serve the growing number of hotel companies converting properties to ownership units. The new modules will be released for worldwide installation in the fourth quarter of this year. Calculating and tracking the revenue sharing between owners, as well as the accurate accounting of expenses and fees, is at the heart of any ownership system, but today�s complex condo and timeshare interval operations with multiple companies, associations and properties require considerably more. NORTHWIND�s Condominium and Timeshare Owner Management systems are designed from the ground up to deliver the most versatile functionality and revenue tools for leisure operations of all sizes and descriptions. �The trend of converting hotel properties to timeshare and condominium ownership units is increasing in many segments of our industry,� said Jacob Dehan, president of NORTHWIND. �A majority of the top hotel companies in North America are expanding their ownership divisions. The operators of these new ventures have different functionality needs than traditional hotels. Ownership properties still require reservations, interfaces, housekeeping and CRM; but condominium and timeshare management is really about revenue sharing, not just adding up posted numbers. NORTHWIND has developed the most comprehensive and flexible ownership functionality in the industry by partnering with the experts in condo and interval management � the property operators themselves. Our Condominium Owner Management and Timeshare Owner Management applications are the result of that partnership.� Three leading companies with whom NORTHWIND partnered to develop its vacation ownership modules are profiled below.
Revenue and Guest Service Functionality For
Interval Owners
"Accounting is very serious business with percentage ownerships; our
owners expect us to provide the correct amount of rental pool income from
their units monthly. All unit rental revenue is paid to owners using
a formula based on the percentage of their possession in their timeshare
agreement. Many hotel companies are branching out into vacation ownership
because rental revenue is attractive, and they all need strong financial
management for their owners integrated with their hotel system. Most timeshare
management systems focus on tracking unit sales, leads, and contracts;
the NORTHWIND Timeshare Owner Management system does the best job of actually
running a property, managing our complex accounting, and handling our guests
after they become owners. It is very important that interval properties
continue to provide the highest guest service for their owners; NORTHWIND
excels at tracking guest preferences and ensuring our owners are well cared
for.�
�Taboo is running as a resort hotel, but we have a growing emphasis on ownership units,� said Taboo�s director of finance and administration, George Walinga. �To prepare for our ownership launch, we worked with NORTHWIND six months to establish system functionality guidelines for our demanding high profile operation. We are a unique, prestigious destination with four different condo, timeshare and interval setups and a full-service resort hotel. Owners at Taboo buy their units and reserve weeks for their own use. We have condo owners who rent out their units, and we offer interval ownerships where timeshare buyers can own a percentage of a unit and become part of the rental pool. Since Taboo is breaking new ground in ownership operation, we are working with the government to comply with requirements for the sales and management of some of our units. NORTHWIND demonstrated their commitment to our operation by including our government reporting requirements in the Maestro Timeshare Owner Management application. Taboo will use both the Maestro Condo Owner Management and Timeshare Owner Management systems for our multiple operations.� Taboo�s condominium and timeshare associations are set up as separate corporations with separate boards of directors, management agreements, rental pools, and maintenance fees, creating a demanding environment for any system. �NORTHWIND was the right choice for our operation because the system is flexible enough to meet all our requirements,� continued Walinga. �Another reason for our decision to use the NORTHWIND Condominium Owner Management and Timeshare Owner Management systems is our planned growth. The new Mike Weir Golf Academy and our aggressive build-out plan over the next 10 to 15 years demands we have an ownership management system that will expand to easily include the additional corporations, associations and rental pools coming online. NORTHWIND is working with us and delivering everything we need.� About NORTHWIND
Based in Markham, Ontario, Canada, with a network of dealers and offices worldwide, NORTHWIND is a leading supplier of software for hotel owners and operators who need to manage their enterprise in a real time environment for maximum operational control and profitability. Designed to handle any size hotel, resort, meeting/conference center, multi-property and for the enterprise, NORTHWIND's Maestro solution offers the most productive working environment, which includes the following suite of products: PMS, Sales & Catering, Club/Spa Management, Corporate Reservations Office, Multi-Property Management, Condominium Owner Management & Timeshare Owner Management, Yield Management, GDS Connectivity and ResEze (Internet Reservations). This comprehensive multi-platform (Windows 9X/NT/2000/XP, Unix/Linux, Terminal Server & Web Enabled) suite is recognized as the solution of choice for progressive and demanding organizations. NORTHWIND is a total solution provider that offers leading-edge technologies, and unparalleled training and support. NORTHWIND will be demonstrating its systems at the Historic Hotels of America 2003 Annual Meeting in St. Louis, MO, October 22-24, 2003 and IH/M&RS Show in New York City, NY, November 8th-11th, 2003. |
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Contact
60 Renfrew Drive, Suite #235 Markham, ON L3R 0E1 Phone: (905) 940-1923 ext - 229 1-888-NORTH88 (667-8488) Fax: (905) 940-1925 Email: [email protected] http://www.maestropms.com |