SPIRIT RIDGE RESIDENCE CLUB JOINS PREFERRED RESIDENCES
First Preferred Residence Affiliate in Canada to Join Luxury Program
Miami, Florida, March 11, 2009 – Spirit Ridge Residence Club has joined Preferred Residences™, a hospitality branded membership and exchange program for luxury shared ownership resorts. Located in Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada, the property offers visitors to the appealing South Okanagan area an array of vacation experiences.
This new addition to Bellstar Hotels & Resorts’ Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa will incorporate 37 two- and three-bedroom units that range in size from 1,800 to 2,000 square feet. Each unit showcases golf course, desert, lake, or mountain views and features high-end appointments that include designer-series stainless steel appliances, a theater-style entertainment system, and an outdoor living area with gas fireplace and grill. Owners and guests also will enjoy all the amenities at Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa, as well as exclusive access to a 4,500-square-foot clubhouse, lounge, heated outdoor pool, wine cellar, golf storage, and full concierge service.
“We have enjoyed a mutually rewarding relationship with Ed Romanowski and his team at Bellstar since they chose Interval International to provide exchange services for their first vacation ownership project five years ago,” noted David C. Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing, Preferred Residences. “Now, we have the privilege of expanding the relationship by welcoming Spirit Ridge Residence Club as a charter member of our Preferred Residences program.Bellstar will benefit by connecting with a globally recognized hospitality brand, while retaining their unique identity.”
“The Preferred Residences membership and exchange program provides the right fit and product for our discerning buyers at Spirit Ridge,” said Ed Romanowski, president and chief executive officer of Bellstar. Mr. Romanowski added, “Owners in the Spirit Ridge Residence Club want to be sure that they can exchange the use of their luxury residences with other similarly appointed residences around the world. We’re certain that Interval and Preferred Residences will be able to deliver this to the owners and members of Spirit Ridge Residence Club.”
The resort’s location in Osoyoos is just a five-minute drive from the U.S.-Canadian border and a four-hour drive from Vancouver. Visitors to the area can enjoy Canada’s only true desert, a warm-water lake, desert-links golf, lush vineyards, skiing, and a vibrant Canadian Aboriginal culture. In fact, Bellstar is developing the resort in conjunction with the Osoyoos Indian Band, who are the majority owners of the adjacent winery and own the vineyards, a desert cultural center, and other area attractions.
In addition to the sales and marketing opportunities for developers, Preferred Residences offers owners “high-touch” exchange services and year-round leisure and lifestyle benefits tailored especially for sophisticated, affluent travelers. These include preferential pricing at participating Preferred Hotel Group affiliated properties worldwide, complimentary Prestige membership in Priority Pass™ airport VIP lounge program, personal concierge services accessible 24/7 online and via phone, discounts on the Delta AirElite private jet program, and complimentary annual membership in Hertz #1 Club Gold®.
About Bellstar Hotels & Resorts
Bellstar designs, develops and manages unique hotel and resort properties in the Okanagan Valley, Kootenays and West Coast of British Columbia and in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta. The collection currently includes eleven condo-style resorts, with additional resorts to open in the near future. The portfolio can be viewed at www.bellstar.ca.
About Preferred Residences™
Preferred Residences™ is a hospitality branded membership and exchange program for luxury fractional resorts, private residence clubs, and condominium-style hotels. The program gives developers the opportunity to promote their upscale vacation residences within a network of exclusive accommodations and to deliver high-quality vacation experiences to owners of exceptional real estate. Members have access to a rich menu of benefits and services designed to enhance a sophisticated lifestyle. Preferred Residences is an alliance between Interval International, a leader in vacation ownership for more than 30 years, and the Preferred Hotel Group, representing more than 700 of the world’s finest independently owned hotels in over 75 countries.
