FIRSTLIGHT THE K CLUB CHOOSES INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL
Luxury Fractional Property Joins The Quality Exchange Network
LONDON, 18 February, 2010 – Interval International, a leading global provider of vacation services and an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq:IILG), welcomes Firstlight The K Club in Ireland to its exchange network. On the grounds of The K Club Golf and Spa Resort in the beautiful County Kildare countryside 22 miles (35 km) from Dublin, Firstlight The K Club owners will benefit from full family membership of the K Club, including its two championship golf courses, venue of the 2006 Ryder Cup and host to the European Open from 1995 to 2007. The resort’s 550 acres (223 hectares) of parkland are laced with walking and cycling paths and also include a luxury AA Five Red Star hotel, country club amenities, and full service spa.
“Firstlight The K Club is a tremendous addition to Interval’s worldwide resort network,” said Darren Ettridge, vice president of resort sales and service for Europe, Middle East, and Africa for Interval International. “The K Club Golf and Spa Resort is world renowned for its spectacular setting and luxury amenities, including a pair of golf courses designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer that rank among Ireland’s finest. It sets a high standard as the first European fractional project launched under the Firstlight brand.”
The resort is set on a one mile (1.6 km) stretch of the River Liffey with an elegantly restored 19th century Georgian mansion, originally modelled after a French chateau, as its centrepiece. In 1991, the historic property was converted into a 36-room hotel and country club surrounded by the original Palmer golf course. Since then, a second course – the Palmer Smurfit course, was developed, along with an additional 33 rooms and suites, a second clubhouse, and full-service spa and leisure centre. Plans call for the acquisition of approximately 30 ready-to-occupy luxury apartments and detached homes in a residential development called Ladycastle.
“As we believe we are destined to become one of the most exclusive and successful private residence clubs of its kind in Europe, it was important for Firstlight The K Club to be able to offer an unparalleled exchange programme for our owners,” said Matthew Spence, managing director of Firstlight International (Europe). “We chose Interval International, as its platform provides immediate access to a unique portfolio of quality resorts worldwide, within a completely managed and user-friendly programme. At Firstlight, we are committed to providing only the best for our owners and we have found that Interval very much reflects this standard.”
Members purchasing six-week shares of spacious and stylishly appointed two- and three-bedroom apartments (from 1,215 to 1,980 square feet or 113 to 184 square metres) and three- and four-bedroom houses (from 2,200 to 3,800 square feet or 204 to 353 square metres) will have full access to the amenities offered by The K Club Golf and Spa Resort. In addition to world-class golf, there is a spa with eight treatment rooms, a 54 foot (16.5 metre) pool, Pilates studio, gym with personal trainers, poolside Jacuzzi, and outdoor hot tub.
There are three restaurants on site in the hotel and the Palmer clubhouse. The clubhouse for the second (Smurfit) golf course is to form the central hub of Firstlight The K Club’s private residence club with food, beverage, and guest services. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, clay pigeon shooting, and horseback riding on resort grounds.
About Interval International
Interval International operates membership programmes for vacation owners and provides value-added services to its developer clients worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for more than 33 years. Today, Interval has an exchange network of more than 2,500 resorts in over 75 countries and offers its resort clients and approximately 2 million member families high-quality products and programmes through offices in 26 cities in 16 countries. Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.
