THE SANCTUARY RESORT & SPA AFFILIATES WITH INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL
Miami, FL, February 2, 2004 – Interval International, a leading global vacation exchange company, announced the affiliation of The Sanctuary Resort & Spa , a vacation-ownership resort in Playa Azul, Guanacaste, on the northwest Pacific coast of Costa Rica .
"We are delighted to be adding this beautiful ocean side property to our global exchange network," said Marcos Agostini, Interval International’s region director for the Caribbean and Latin America , Resort Sales and Service Department. "It provides our members with the opportunity to stay at a premier resort in a renowned eco-tourist destination."
The Sanctuary Resort & Spa is composed of 10 elegantly appointed two-bedroom villas and five luxury suites set amidst more than eighty acres of natural tropical forests and lush gardens. Additionally, 72 condominium units are projected for completion by the summer of 2005. With over a mile of secluded beachfront on the northwest coast of Costa Rica - considered an ecological treasure, the property caters to nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts from around the world.
The property features on site and nearby amenities such as fine restaurants, a full-service spa, ocean side swimming pools, organized child care facilities, a recreation-conference building with a community movie viewing center, a mini-mart, and a Laundromat. A gym /wellness center is under construction and expected to open in the spring of 2004. Activities that are available to guests nearby include PADI dive center, sports fishing, kayaking, rafting, bird watching, tennis, horseback riding, and ecological tours.
"The success of The Sanctuary was achieved by maintaining the natural beauty of this tropical paradise, while offering first-class accommodations, amenities and services," said Ben Benjamin, founder and chief executive officer of the Sanctuary Resort & Spa S.A., the resort developer.
One of the most bio-diverse countries in the world, Costa Rica is bordered by the Pacific and Caribbean oceans in Central America and characterized by extraordinary ecological systems. The country’s unique biological reserves, scenic beauty, and strategic position in the heart of the western hemisphere, have made it an increasingly popular eco-tourism vacation experience, with more than one million tourists visiting the country each year. In fact, tourism increased in the first two months of 2003 when compared to the same period the prior year.1
Costa Rica boasts 20 national parks, eight biological reserves, and a wealth of other protected areas that have captivated eco-tourism lovers for decades. The diverse range of activities available to visitors includes horseback riding on the beach, hiking mountainous paths in tropical rainforests, and guided bird-watching tours. The Tortuguero National Park, in particular, is renowned for the yearly hatching of baby sea turtles, and natural canals with protected species such as the manatee, crocodile, and otter.
Owners at The Sanctuary Resort & Spa become members of Interval’s upgraded membership program, Interval Gold, affording them not only the opportunity to exchange their accommodations for those at other resorts in Interval’s worldwide network, but access to specially priced travel and leisure services. Members also receive quarterly travel magazines and newsletters, printed and electronic international resort directories, and a host of other privileges.
The Sanctuary Resort & Spa was developed by the Sanctuary Resort & Spa S.A., a family owned company, founded by CEO Ben Benjamin and his son Mitch, in 1995. The company’s mission is to create high quality properties following strict design and construction standards.
Since 1976, Interval International has led the vacation ownership industry with innovative products and the highest levels of quality, service and value complemented by a global network of 2,000 resorts in 75 countries. With its headquarters located in Miami , Florida , Interval employs nearly 1,700 people worldwide and serves its developer clients and more than 1.5 million member families through 26 offices in 17 countries. Interval provides its members – timeshare owners from around the world – with a variety of exchange services and year-round travel related benefits to enhance their vacation experiences. Interval International is an operating business of IAC.
For more information on Interval International, contact: Marcos Agostini, region director for the Caribbean and Latin America, Resort Sales and Service Department , telephone: 305-666-1861 ext. 7087; fax: 305-668-3466 ; e-mail:marcos.agostini@intervalintl.com
1Costa Rica Tourism Board and Costa Rica Ministry of Tourism
