IMPORTANT CHANGES AFFECTING BUYING & SELLING OF WEEKS
Selling your week:
We currently offer a free way for owners to list their weeks for sale and be introduced to buyers looking to buy holiday ownership at Thurnham Hall. This is run and moderated by volunteers and we recommend the use of escrow to protect both buyers and sellers in any transaction. Continue reading “IMPORTANT CHANGES AFFECTING BUYING & SELLING OF WEEKS” »
10% Discount Code
10% off all transfers at Lowcosttravelextras.com using code SAVE10, valid until 30 June 2011.
French Resorts Added
As promised we have added information for the French resorts.
The resorts that have been added are;
Le Club Mougins – French Riviera
Royal Regency – Paris
Le Manoir des Deux Amants – Normandy Countryside
La Résidence Normande – Normandy Countryside
Accomodation availability and details can for these resorts can now be checked via the ThurnhamHall.com website at French Resorts
We will add further resorts as requested.
Spanish Resorts
As promised we have added information for the Spanish resorts.
The resorts that have been added so far are;
Royal Sunset Beach Club
Sunset Bay Club
Sunset View
Royal Tenerife Country Club
Santa Barbara Golf & Ocean Club
Sunset Harbour Club
Club del Carmen
Jardines del Sol
Cala Blanca
White Sands Beach Club
White Sands Country Club
Los Amigos Beach Club
Royal Oasis Club at Pueblo Quinta
Sahara Sunset
Accomodation availiability can for these resorts can now be checked via the ThurnhamHall.com website at Spanish Resorts
We will add further resorts as requested, the next resorts to be added will be the French resorts.
New Website Area
As requested by several members we have begun to add information on other resorts.
The resorts that have been added so far are;
Woodford Bridge Country Club
Cromer Country Club
THe Kenmore Club
Broome Park Golf & Country Club
Wychnor Park Country Club
and Pink Lake
Accomodation availiability can for these resorts can now be checked via the ThurnhamHall.com website at UK Resorts
We will add further resorts as requested, the next resorts to be added will be the Spanish resorts.
Discount Code For Holiday Transfers & Airport Parking
Latest offers from lowcosttravelextras.
15% off code, SAVE15, 15% off all transfers valid 06-19 May 2011. Terms and conditions apply.
or …
20% off transfers when you book your transfer with any other extra. Valid 06-19 May 2011.
and …
Lanzarote Transfers from £3.91 pp each way
Alicante Car Hire from £8 per day
Single Trip Insurance from £0.97 per day
Gatwick Airport Lounges from £15pp
Manchester Airport Parking from £2.87 per day
Availability Check
You can now check booking availability at Thurnham Hall via thurnhamhall.com. This should be useful if you can’t get availability through Diamond Resorts or if you want to book a one or two night stay.
You can also check availability and make reservations at the Mill Inn and Pattys Barn
Daily Mirror Investigation into Diamond Debt Collectors
Diamond Resorts sends in debt collectors as the fee strike
There are two words that members of the Diamond Resorts holiday club detest even more than “Diamond” and “Resorts”.
They’re “Daniels Silverman”, the debt collectors brought in to try to force poor members into coughing up ever-escalating annual management fees. Not that we can see Daniels Silverman having much luck, judging by the number of very angry Diamond Resorts members who say they’re refusing to pay-up.
“They have had enough from us over the years,” says Anne Lawrenson, of St Helens, Merseyside, whose annual fees have rocketed from £228 to £702. More…
RCI 10 Year Gold Crown Award
A presentation has been made In recognition of the hard work and dedication of the entire team at Thurnham Hall, not just present now, but over the past 10 years. Group RCI’s Vicky Dubois presented a 10 year Gold Crown award to Interim Resort Manager Lorna Cardwell and Thurnham Owners Club Chairman Ian Hollins. This award recognises resorts that have consistently achieved the highest RCI Quality rating of Gold Crown. Thurnham Hall is now one of the few elite
resorts that can claim an uninterrupted 10 year period of Gold Crown recognition. Ian Hollins commented that he was delighted that the dedication of the staff and the quality of such a special resort was being recognised and thanked all staff past and present for their help in achieving this accolade. RCI’s Vicky Dubois reinforced RCI’s commitment to Thurnham Hall owners in helping them secure the holiday exchanges they want, both through weeks and RCI Points.
Kevin Haygarth Promotion
I regret to advise you that Kevin Haygarth has accepted a well deserved promotion internally to European Food and Beverage and Entertainment Area Manager.
Whilst I understand that you will find it sad to see him leave Thurnham I trust you agree that this is a good and positive move both for Kevin and for the rest of our European operations as Kevin will now be able to implement the same kind of positive changes across Europe as he so successfully implemented at Thurnham Hall.
Rest assured that his replacement will be someone who fits the Thurnham profile and who has the backing of Kevin. We expect the recruitment process to be complete by year end and a full handover to have taken place within the next 3 to 4 months. At the moment Lorna Cardwell is acting as Interim Resort Manager.
Lorna Cardwell Interim Resort Manager
“I would like to inform you that from the 1st December 2007, Lorna Cardwell will be the acting Resort Manager at Thurnham Hall whilst the recruitment and selection process for this position are taking place.”
Steve Rixon UK & ALP’s Resort Service Director Diamond Resorts International®
Zori, our Housekeeping Manager, retired on 17th December, after 18 years service at Thurnham Hall.
Zori, our Housekeeping Manager, retired on 17th December, after 18 years service at Thurnham Hall.
Zori started here in 1989 when BSC Leisure owned the resort! You can see that she has witnessed many changes but has always maintained a happy and cheerful personality and has always done her very best to look after us. She will be missed by all of her co-workers, friends, the owners & longtime visitors of Thurnham Hall.
Very many thanks to all those who contributed to Zori’s retirement.
Timeshare Association Board choose Thurnham Hall for Board meeting dinner
The Timeshare Association (TATOC) www.tatoc.co.uk chose Thurnham Hall for their Directors Dinner hosted by Group RCI’s Vicky DuBois. TATOC is the leading Consumer Timeshare Association in Europe and represents Club Committees and will shortly be available to Individuals. Their Consumer helpline receives in excess of 3000 calls per annum to help owners and fight scammers. The tatoc board was meeting at Pine Lake for a 2 1/2 day strategy meeting and chose to visit Thurnham Hall for the first time for dinner in the Chapel. The feedback was excellent and many members of their board are looking forward to returning to spend some quality time with their partners. Many thanks to RCI for choosing to host the dinner and for selecting Thurnham Hall for such a prestigious event.
Members Survey Results
The survey closed 27.01.08. A really big “thank you” to everyone who contributed. The items in italics are direct quotes from respondants.
Thurnham Hall General
1) If you were staying as a guest at Thurnham Hall, please give your opinions on whether you would like to see the following facilities made available.
- A later checkout (70% would like to see this)
- Courtesy shuttle to Lancaster (78.9% would like to see this)
- Facility to charge to room during stay (71.1% would like to see this)
- 63.5% would like to see broadband/wifi access available in rooms, 3.8% would hate to see it.
- 1 respondant would hate to see a baby sitting service available and think it’s a terrible idea 19.3% would like to see some form of early evening childcare for older children (5-11yr olds) but 50% would be unlikely to use personally.
- 69.3% would like to see bath robes in rooms (3.8% would hate this)
- 69.2% would like to see free DVD/VHS rental
- 65.4% would to see breakfast in the restaurant during the week too
- 53.9% would like to see free laundry facilities
- Only 28.9% thought a daily maid service was a good idea
- 51.9% would like to see toiletries replaced FOC
2) As an owner, please rate whether Thurnham Hall should offer the following facilities
- 61% would like us to offer Broadband / Wifi in rooms
- 40% would like us to offer room service
- 40% think we should offer toys and games for family use
- 70% think we should offer the facility to charge to account
- 72.3% think we should offer a resale program or assist in some way
- 44% think we should increase the rental week inventory
3) Are there any other facilities that you think should be made available to guests staying at Thurnham Hall?
- Yes. an accessible toilet for disabled persons in the main building (space exists around the waiters station to create one) plus access for the disabled to the Chapel (e.g. via the separate passage way if necessary)
- Small shop for essentials
- free use of towels when using pool
- Dog Kennels for use by guests visiting with dogs.
- library/book exchange and quiet sitting area
- As a 15th century building bring back the maids uniforms and tea on the lawn as we used to have. Foreign visitors loved it and have asked why we have taken this British tradition away. After all thats why they come to visit the UK
- DVD player in room.
- The open area of grass (between Woodlands and newest development) should be kept short so that children can play on it. One should be able to use the Great Hall for sitting and enjoying without feeling pressured to order a drink or meal.
- WiFi is a must!
- One has to be careful not to spoil the atmosphere of Thurnham by trying to turn it into a lively resort with all sorts of things on offer. The maxim ‘Horses for courses’ should be borne in mind.
- Resale opportunities
- easier overnight/short break booking /discounts for owners who have shown loyalty over the years – used to feel special now feel swallowed up in the “corporate” approach
- I would like to see the main hall, which is a great attraction to all guests, retuned to its original state and the bar removed.Most people agree that it has taken away the character of the main hall.
Thurnham Hall Forum
4) How useful did you find the owners guide?
- 14.7% – it helped but still confused about some things
- 38.2% – it was OK – a pretty comprehensive bible
- 38.2% – it was good and they were now much clearer about their options
- 5.9% – it was fantastic and they wouldn’t be without it now
5) How useful do you find the forum?
- 7.3% – not registered (they have now)
- 34.1% - registered but not really used it at all
- 34.1% - occasionally log in to see what’s new
- 7.3% - receive a digest and log in if there’s a new discussion going on
- 12.2% - log in occasionally
- 14.6% - log in regularly
Thurnham Hall Website
6) How do you find the website?
- 0% – not very good
- 27.5% – OK, some bits better than others
- 52.5% - it was good – lots of info and easy to navigate around
- 20% – it was fantastic – well done
Timeshare General
7) If you could exchange your 1 week for 3/4 weeks holiday would you consider it good value?
- 15% – yes very interested, please tell me more
- 37.5 – yes providing it didn’t cost any more money
- 25% – possibly, would depend on what the cost was
- 25% – don’t think so – am happy with what I have
- 5% – definitely not
Overall – how do you rate your timeshare experience?
- 2.4% – wish never heard of timeshare and regret getting involved
- 19% – not particularly happy. Want out but don’t want to lose money invested
- 33.3% – ok, have had some good holidays but perhaps are not getting the best from our ownership
- 28.6% – good – have found ways of making timeshare work
- 16.7% – fantastic. Very glad we have a timeshare!
Additional comments
- Have had great holidays but only because we’ve made it so. Our problem is availability. We never seem to be able to get into the resorts we want. This may be because we only holiday within the UK. Visits to Thurnham have always been great, love the place and what’s on offer to do and see.
- We were very happy until Sunterra. The quality and service and food went down hill.
- Have rarely been able to achieve the holidays we want so exchange experience poor but have a soft spot for Thurnham Hall
- We have been told by Sunterra that until we pay our management fees we can’t bank our week. This is leaving it too late to bank.
- we think the maintenance fees are on the dear side.
- The main problem with Thurnham is the cost & the attitude of Sunterra who don’t treat us as valued customers.Huge contrast with our experiance with our other time share owned with Pestana.
- Was fantastic until Sunterra took over – now no options except pay up more and more
- Experience since Sunterra took over has been very poor, with lost weeks.
- would like to get out of time share don’t use it have not used it since suntarra took over.
Gaye hangs up her tap shoes
Gaye Hayes, our much loved Reception Manager, retires on October 31st 2008 after 10 years of exceptional service at the Hall. Before joining us at the Hall, she led a colourful life pursuing her passion for dance, in the West End and on screen alongside Household names like Van Johnson, Tommy Steele, Elizabeth Taylor and Dennis Waterman.
Gaye’s mum Molly spotted her passion at the tender age of 4 when she couldn’t stop her dancing and at just 12 years of age she moved from home in Morecambe to attend the Corona Stage Academy in London using the stage name “Gaye Lindsey”. Closer to home she couldn’t stay away from the bright lights and went on to become a Pontins Blue Coat at the Middleton Sands Holiday Camp in Morecambe (Embassy or Castella anyone?).
We can’t believe she’s taking early retirement this year and would love to give her the best send off possible as a thank-you from the owners.
Gaye Hayes retires
Gaye Hayes, our much loved Reception Manager, retired on October 31st 2008 after 10 years of exceptional service at the Hall. She was given a good send off by friends and staff at the hall. With the money raised from her collection, we bought her a 19” LCD Screen TV with built in Freeview which she had previously chosen.
Diamond Resorts has acquired Sunterra
Diamond Resorts has acquired Sunterra for $16.00 per share in cash, creating a leading vacation ownership company
Check out their website at http://www.diamondresorts.com/
See also http://www.sunterra.com/acquisition/pdf/member_owner_eng.pdf
Sunterra Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement with an affiliate of privately held Diamond Resorts, LLC, based in Las Vegas. Under the terms of the agreement, Diamond Resorts’ affiliate have ccompleted a tender offer for all of Sunterra’s issued and outstanding common stock at a purchase price of $16.00 per share in cash, a 35% premium over the March 8th closing price of Sunterra’s common stock. The total value of the transaction is approximately $700 million, including $375 million of existing Sunterra debt. The debt financing supporting the Offer was financed by a bank group led by Credit Suisse, which had provided a definitive financing commitment to Diamond Resorts.
John D. Ziegelman, Chairman of Sunterra, said, “Both our management team and our Board of Directors believed that, following a detailed review of strategic alternatives, the Diamond Resorts Offer wass the best approach to maximize shareholder value and is in the best interests of Sunterra’s stockholders, customers and employees. We look forward to working with Diamond Resorts to effect a smooth transition.”
The Sunterra board of directors had unanimously approved the acquisition. Following the Diamond Resorts affiliate’s acquisition of at least 90% of Sunterra’s outstanding shares, the Diamond Resorts affiliate will merge with and into Sunterra, with any shares not tendered in the tender offer being converted into the right to receive $16.00 per share in cash. Sunterra will remain headquartered in Las Vegas.
The Sunterra board of directors has received opinions from its financial advisors, Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith, Inc. and Duff & Phelps, LLC, that the consideration to be paid to Sunterra stockholders in the transaction is fair from a financial point of view. Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP and Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber, P.A. are acting as legal counsel to Sunterra.
Thurnham Hall Dinner Saturday 6th March 2010
Thurnham Hall Dinner
Saturday 6th March 2010
7.00 for 7.30
Please find below the menu choices for the Thurnham Hall Dinner on 6th March. We need to order in advance so can you please phone the hall on 01524 751766 with your menu choices or alternatively e-mail your selection through to thurnhamhall@diamondresorts.com Please ensure that you give the full names of the guests along with their choices to ensure that everyone gets the correct food.
All sounds rather delicious and my stomach is rumbling as I type this!
Homemade Soup of the Day with bread from our bakery. Duo of Compressed Melon, Fresh Fruits & Coulis Corn-fed Goosnargh Chicken Liver Pate, Classic Cumberland, Melba Toast Rillettes of Smoked Salmon, Chive Mousse & Homemade Bread ~~~ Roast Ribeye of Beef, Yorkshire Pudding & Horseradish Crème Fraiche Pan-seared Salmon Supreme, Wilted Spinach, White Wine Sauce Slow-Roasted Belly Pork, Apple Infused Mash, Cider Scented Jus Blush Tomato & Red Pepper Crepes, Roast Pepper Sauce, Smoked Applewood Gratin ~~~ Selection of Cheese, Biscuits & Homemade Chutney Raspberry Compote with Tarragon Cream Talbot’s Traditional Sticky Toffee Pudding, Fresh Cream Classic Chocolate & Praline Torte, Hazelnut Oil, Whipped Cream
From the feedback that we had after last years dinner, many of the diners were happy to sit and chat after the meal so we have arranged for Bill Roberts, the resident pianist, to play in the hall. He will be able to tailor his set so that if people would like to dance he will play some up tempo numbers so that we can have a boogie. If however, people want to sit and chat then the background music will be less intrusive.
Dress for the evening is smart/casual. If you want to wear black tie you would be more than welcome. I am certainly going to take the opportunity to get my glad rags out!
Attendance is not restricted to owners. Anyone with an interest in Thurnham Hall is more than welcome.
Photographs of last years dinner can be seen here
Pippa Wilson – Thurnham Owners Club Committee member
Thurnham Summer Lunch on 12th July 2008
To all Thurnham Hall Lunch Addicts (and anybody else who may be interested).
Arrangements have been made for a Summer Lunch on 12th July 2008 at Baritones Restaurant at Thurnham. 22 people have already expressed a desire to attend. Dawn has confirmed that the Restaurant room will comfortably hold 32 people so there is plenty of scope for further people to attend if they wish. The menu is shown below and if anyone else would like to come, please let me know by mailing me here.
Cheers
Terry Ennis
Commitee Changes
Pippa Wilson stands down from the committee
Robin Ainsworth co-opted onto the committee
With regret we have had to accept the resignation of Pippa Wilson from our committee. Pippa is having to stand down for personal reasons to do with her family. I’m sure you will all join me in thanking her for her time on the committee, and to wish her well.
Pippa will still continue to work on some back-office functions, notably web-hosting and our forums, which many of you know she has been involved with for some years. So happily we will not be losing Pippa completely.
So far as going forward, those of you who were at the last AGM will recall that the third place candidate for the committee positions was Mr Robin Ainsworth. The existing committee unanimously agreed that Robin ought to be invited to join the committee to take up the remainder of Pippa’s tenure – this year and the next year – and he has agreed to do this.
Robin is currently taking a hand-over from Pippa and will be attending our next committee meeting in March. I am sure he will make an address to you as part of this new topic to introduce himself and this news will be covered again in our next newsletter.
Sincerely,
Peter Scott A/Chair and committee owner representative – Thurnham Owners Club
