Posts Tagged ‘Appeal’

The appeal of North America

The appeal of North America
There is plenty to see and do for travellers to North America. Veronica Matheson has a few tips on what to look out for.

Read more on thewest.com.au

Condo Hotels Appeal to U.s. Baby Boomers, Especially the Trump Brand

With more baby boomers approaching retirement age each year, (approximately 75 million will retire within the next 15 years in the U.S.) and a large number of them looking for second homes, condo hotels are a concept that is gaining widespread popularity.

This new real estate trend allows individuals to own a hassle-free condominium within a luxurious hotel or resort. As owners, they can enjoy all of the amenities and services of the hotel. Best of all, when they’re not using their condominium, it can be placed in the hotel’s rental program, where it will generate revenue, helping to offset the costs of ownership.

Condo hotels, or “condotels” for short, are usually high-rise, luxury buildings in high-demand locations, such as Las Vegas, Orlando and Myrtle Beach. They have the look and feel of world-class hotels with many of the same perks and amenities, from on-site restaurants and resort-style pools to housekeeping and concierge services.

The difference is that each suite is an individually-owned condominium unit. The hotel management company takes care of operating the hotel’s various departments and offering guest services along with maintaining and renting out the condominium units.

Condo hotels have particular appeal to baby boomers, who are just now hitting financial peaks in their careers and are also inheriting hefty sums of money from their parents.

These boomers are in a position to travel more than ever, and owning a vacation home, which they can visit on a whim, makes travel easier. A second home is even a status symbol to some, like owning a fancy car.

Many baby boomers are also looking to invest in real estate as an alternative or supplement to investing in the stock market. They love the hassle-free nature of condo hotels.

Many brand-name hotel chains have jumped at the chance to meet the baby boomer demand for condo hotels including Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Hilton, Four Seasons, Sonesta, Starwood, Clarion, Regent International, Rosewood, Conrad Hotels and Le Meridien. All have condo hotels either in operation or in development.

But probably the brand that has received the most notoriety and had the most sales success is Trump International, a name made famous around the world by real estate mogul Donald Trump.

The Trump International Hotel & Tower has come to represent the epitome of prestige and refinement in the condo hotel industry, offering upscale amenities to meet the high expectations of today’s baby boomer.

Infinity pools, full-service spas, state-of-the-art fitness centers, gourmet restaurants, private libraries and butler service are just a few of the features available to owners of Trump condo hotel units.

Trump International condo hotel properties are available at several locations in Florida such as Fort Lauderdale. The upscale condo hotel developer has also made his way to Hawaii with a condo hotel in Waikiki currently under construction. That property set a record for U.S. residential sales when it sold all of its 460 condo hotel units on opening day and turned away many more buyers.

Theater, nightlife and the excitement of New York are all available in downtown Manhattan at Trump’s SoHo condo hotel. For those who say the Big Apple is not for them, there is the Trump Chicago or Trump New Orleans.

Trump has recently gone global. Trump International properties are under development in Toronto, Canada; Dubai, UAE; Panama City, Panama; and Baja, Mexico.

Because of cheaper land and labor costs, the pricing of Trump International properties in countries like Panama and Mexico is often far less than that for U.S. Trump properties, making them all the more appealing to investors.

Regardless of the location, a Trump condo hotel offers the ultra-upscale lifestyle that has come to define the Trump brand and have special appeal to today’s baby boomer.

Many who purchase a Trump condo hotel say they enjoy the thrill of owning a Trump as much as the actual use of an elegant second home. They also are quick to point out the condominium’s appreciation potential.

As world-class properties in prime locations, Trump condo hotels are a welcome addition to any investment portfolio.

For baby boomers and others considering the purchase of a second home, a condo hotel residence is worth careful consideration. And when choosing between properties, it’s the Trump brand that has become synonymous with prestige and excellence in the condo hotel industry.

The Universal Appeal of Orlando

The area surrounding Orlando, Florida is one of the worldâ??s hottest tourist destinations, welcoming almost 50 million visitors per year. Its literally hot too, with a subtropical climate â?? summer temperatures regularly reach 90°F (32°C), while even in winter they rarely drop below 50°F â?? and hundreds of unique theme parks and tourist destinations, as well as attractive natural features such as springs, lakes and sandy beaches, all contributing to its success.

Nearby Lake Buena Vista is home to Walt Disney World, the most visited resort on Earth. It includes four separate theme parks, two water parks and many hotels and restaurants, with enough rides, slides and other entertainments to occupy children for at least a week â?? aside from the main rollercoasters and arcades, there are more varied attractions such as the â??Animal Kingdomâ?? wildlife park, hang gliding, and a lagoon where you can snorkel with live sharks!

Another of the areaâ??s most popular destinations is Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, which hosts high-speed roller-coasters, rides for younger children, live shows and technological marvels such as interactive 3D environments, all based around favourite movies, cartoons and stories. Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, E.T., the Incredible Hulk, Dr. Seuss and Jaws are all here, with a new Harry Potter-themed area coming soon.

Animal-lovers are well catered for in Orlando at the huge 200 acre SeaWorld amusement park which houses many marine creatures such as orcas, dolphins, sea lions, sharks, sea turtles and false killer whales, with shows including water skiing and human acrobats, and ten rides. Nearby Gatorland boasts thousands of alligators and crocodiles, along with many snakes, other reptiles, insects and birds. Visitors can get closer to some of the parkâ??s residents during the regular â??Up Close Encountersâ?? with trainers and thereâ??s even a chance for anyone over 12 â?? and fearless â?? to have a go at ‘gator wrasslinâ?? in the Trainer for a Day events. And at Blue Spring State Park, during the winter thereâ??s a chance to see Florida manatees in the wild as well as a huge variety of birds and other wildlife. Canoeing, swimming and scuba diving are popular activities.

There are simply hundreds of other things to do in and around Orlando: slightly older children may enjoy the Florida Music Festival, a visit to the Cirque de Soleil, the huge Orlando Science Center or the John F. Kennedy Space Center, the working NASA spaceport on Merritt Island where visitors can view flight-ready and used space craft and rockets. On a less technological note there are stunning sights at the World of Orchids and the beautiful Harry P. Leu gardens – an oasis in the city with lakes, a butterfly garden and historical museum.

Unsurprisingly for such a popular destination, there is also a huge range of accommodation in Orlando and the surrounding area, from hostels to 5 star hotels and private villas â?? in fact, the only place in the country with more hotel rooms is Las Vegas. Itâ??s also a fantastic area for shopping, with everything from Tiffanyâ??s to the specialist Asian shops and restaurants of â??Little Saigonâ??, and food including traditional Cajun, Cuban-style and round the world cuisine.