September 2009 Developments - 13

participants submitted their funny bad luck stories, in hopes of winning a free vacation rental. After reviewing thousands of stories, the EVR judges chose the 25 funniest entries, and America voted for their favorite ﬁnalist. Mr. Kom won a one-week vacation rental at the resort of his choice from EVRentals. com (valued at up to $2,500), plus $2,000 in VISA® gift cards. Ms. Ramirez won a oneweek vacation rental (valued at up to $1,500) at the resort of her choice. Additionally, during the 12-week voting period from May 13-June 24, 2009, 12 people became instant winners of a one-week vacation through EVR’s daily on-line scratch-off game, and another 107 people won instant prizes. for Vacation Travel Club. VSA was using a complex home-grown data management process, which included multiple database layouts in Microsoft Access and Excel, to track tours, sales, and memberships. As their sales continued to increase, so did the manpower needed to manage their evergrowing client database. Based on high recommendations, price, quick responses, and a mature software product, MAGNA was the best pick for VSA founders and owners Denver Wood, Brent Hedrick, and Tom Wood. MAGNA will save them hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in operational costs by identifying guests who have already toured and managing all tours, contracts, and memberships in one system. Ocean World Chooses Whitewater for Third Straight Expansion Vivaldi Park’s Ocean World, located in South Korea, has opened its newest, 50,000 square-meter expansion the Dynamic Zone. The addition features three of WhiteWater’s most popular attractions: the Family Boomerango (winner of the 2008 IAAPA award for Best New Product), a Master Blaster, and a Giant RainFortress. Riders on the six-person Family Boomerango go vertical as they shoot up a wall, pause, and then fall back into the sensation of weightlessness as they transition over a hump and into a splashdown pool below. The Master Blaster uphill water coaster is gravity-defying with drops and curves guaranteed to thrill riders of all ages. The AquaPlay Giant RainFortress is both multi-level and interactive and is highlighted by two six-ton tipping buckets. This is the third expansion for Vivaldi since its ﬁrst WhiteWater installation in 2005 that included a Family Raft Ride and Speed Slides. The park followed up in 2006 with an Extreme River and indoor AquaPlay AP1050 structure, and in 2007 with the design and equipment of a fully themed Surf Wave Pool and outdoor AquaPlay AP200. Palace Vacation Club, Malaysia, Joins the RCI Network of Afﬁliated Resorts Group RCI and Palace Vacation Club, one of Asia’s most innovative brands in the vacation ownership industry, have announced a new multi-year afﬁliation. The agreement makes RCI the exclusive thirdparty exchange provider for Palace Vacation Club and allows subscribing members access to a broad array of exciting vacation opportunities. This new afﬁliation adds two beautiful vacation destinations, Country Villas and Palace of the Golden Horses, to the global vacation destinations offered to RCI members worldwide. RCI’s relationship with this award-winning developer spurred from an earlier afﬁliation of Palace Vacation Club’s fractional product with The Registry Collection® exchange program. Cowabunga Bay Drenches Utah with the World’s Biggest Splash! Magna Timeshare Software Implemented at Vacation Services of America Vacation Services of America has implemented MAGNA Timeshare Software in their sales ofﬁces and administration ofﬁce. Vacation Services of America (VSA) is a well-established seller of memberships September 2009 • Developments 13

September 2009 Developments

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2009 Developments