Wednesday, October 27, 2010

What's New at ResortQuest Northwest Florida?

By Michelle Tommey, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

Check out our newest vacation rental, Seawatch “A”, recently added to our Gulf Coast rental inventory on Northwest Florida’s beautiful Emerald Coast

Seawatch "A" is the perfect place for your next family gathering.  Situated in Gulf Trace Community, Grayton Beach, Seawatch "A" is a two-story duplex home that sleeps 16.  "A" is the west side of the home.  Each floor has its own living space so this gives you plenty of space to relax and create family memories.  Enjoy the fabulous views of the Gulf of Mexico from the second floor wrap around deck.  The first floor gives you access to the spacious patio and pool area , and public beach access is located just a short walk away.

Gulf Trace Community sits on the edge of the coast, surrounded by the natural world with the Gulf of Mexico to the south and Grayton Dunes State Park to the east, north, and west. Secluded amidst sand dunes, scrub oaks, and sea oats, Gulf Trace is the perfect vacation spot to relax and enjoy the quiet surroundings and beauty.  To book this home for your next vacation, please contact ResortQuest at 888-909-6807 or visit us online. 

Friday, October 22, 2010

Destin St. Jude Celebrity Golf Tournament
October 22-24, 2010


By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

ResortQuest loves to support great causes, and this weekend our focus is on the Destin St. Jude Celebrity Golf Tournament.  The event takes place at the Baytowne and Raven golf courses within Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.  ResortQuest employees volunteer their time to coordinate the event, help with volunteers, and gather items for the silent auction.  The outpouring of support from local companies and military is amazing, and itís wonderful to see everyone come together for such a great cause. 

The mission of the Destin St. Jude Celebrity Golf Tournament is to raise awareness and funds to support the life saving efforts of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the world's premiere research and treatment center for children with catastrophic illnesses.
           
Celebrities participating this year include Phil Niekro, Hall of Famer and winningest knuckleball pitcher of all time; Roger McDowell, pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves; Jeff Mathis, catcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Ed ìToo Tallî Jones, former player for the Dallas Cowboys; Mark ìThe Lemmerî Lemke, and many, many more. 

Play begins today at 10am with half the teams playing one course and half on the other.  Tonight is the silent auction at the Hilton Sandestin which will include a presentation by St. Judes.  Tomorrow the teams will switch courses and the awards will be announced later in the afternoon.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Wyndham Exchange & Rentals Welcomes ResortQuest, Celebrates Formation of World's Largest Vacation Rentals Business


PARSIPPANY, N.J. (October 20, 2010) — Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, part of Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE:WYN), welcomed ResortQuest to its family of brands following the previously announced acquisition, which was completed on September 30, 2010.

ResortQuest, a leading provider of full-service vacation rentals in the U.S. with a diverse collection of nearly 6,000 high-quality U.S. vacation rental properties, joins Wyndham Exchange & Rentals to form the largest full-service vacation rentals business in the world with a diverse portfolio of more than 85,000 vacation properties in over 100 countries.

“We couldn’t be more excited to combine the talents, leadership and outstanding vacation rental services of both teams to deliver a superior product to our customers,” said Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, who visited ResortQuest’s Destin, Fla., headquarters October 19-20th to celebrate with employees. “Together with ResortQuest, we now offer the greatest and best selection of vacation rentals as well as the opportunity for second homeowners to rent their properties through a trusted, well-known brand.”  

Added Park Brady, CEO, ResortQuest: “This marks the beginning of a mutually rewarding relationship between two great businesses that will benefit consumers, homeowners and employees alike. Building off of ResortQuest’s presence in North America and Wyndham’s strong market leadership position in Europe, we’re excited to work together as one team to deliver a customer service experience that is unmatched by any other global organization in the vacation rental industry.” 
Photograph caption: Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, visits the ResortQuest headquarters in Destin, Fla., to celebrate with employees.

About Wyndham Exchange & Rentals
Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN), is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with access for specified periods to more than 80,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. The vacation exchange business includes RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and provider of travel services to businesses and consumers, and The Registry Collection ® program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program. The vacation rentals business includes Hoseasons, cottages4you, Novasol®, Cuendet®, Landal GreenParks®, Endless Vacation Rentals®, and other renowned vacation rental brands through which vacationers can rent a variety of property types, from city apartments to villas. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange. For additional information visit our media center.

About ResortQuest
Headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., ResortQuest is a leading provider of full-service vacation condominiums and home rentals in the U.S., with a portfolio of approximately 6,000 U.S. vacation rental properties.

Media Contacts:

Wyndham Exchange & Rentals
Leah Latour
(973) 753-6560
leah.latour@rci.com

ResortQuest
Emily Pulis
(305) 942-1663




Monday, October 18, 2010

2010 Florida State HOG Rally
October 20-23, 2010 - Destin/Ft. Walton Beach

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

Hop on your Harley and get ready for the 2010 Florida State HOG Rally!  The rally begins Wednesday, October 20th and runs through Saturday, October 23rd at the Emerald Grande in Destin.  This is the host resort and location for all registration and on-site activities.  If you did not pre-register, the registration fee is $35 and must be completed at the Emerald Grande. ResortQuest is proud to be a sponsor of this revved-up event!

Bikers will enjoy eight self-guided rides and two guided rides during the rally.  Also, there will be not one, not two, but THREE Poker Runs!  The first two Poker Runs will be on Wednesday and Thursday, and will begin at Heritage Cycles Harley Davidson in Fort Walton Beach.  Ten members will each win $250, for a total payout of $2500!  The five stops are at McGuire’s Irish Pub, AJ’s, Hard Rock Café, Hog’s Breath, and the final stop at Helen Back Café.  On Friday there will be a walking Poker Run at the Destin Commons, also featuring a payout of $250 to ten winners.  The stops include Dave’s Dogs, Sunset Shoes, Bark Avenue, Bass Pro Shop and Belk.

Other events include the FREE pizza night at Helen Back Café on Thursday from 7-10 p.m.  There will be bike games on Friday, and Saturday will feature a bike show, more bike games, and the Parade of Flags.  Also down at the Emerald Grande, enjoy live music from Confederate Railroad on Friday night and The Guess Who on Saturday night, followed by a fireworks display at Harbor Walk Village to close the event. 

ResortQuest would like to welcome you to the beautiful Emerald Coast with a special H.O.G. Rally offer on stays of 2 nights or more between October 18 – October 25, 2010 at some of our most popular resorts near the main event site at Harborwalk Village. Visit http://www.resortquestnwfl.com/hog-rally/ for more details.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Thunder on the Gulf, Orange Beach, Alabama
October 13-17, 2010

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

Orange Beach is getting ready for the races!  Thunder on the Gulf will take place this year October 13-17 at the Gulf State Park Pavilion on the beach.  Spectators can check out the massive race boats, racers, festivities and official race merchandise, while enjoying spectacular views of our beautiful coast. 

The Dry Pits will be open to the public from Wednesday through Sunday, 8am to 10pm.  They will also be splashing race boats at the Wet Pits at the Caribe Resort, which you can view from Cobalt Restaurant.  There will be racing in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday and Sunday so come and see these powerboats in motion!

The kick-off party at Florabama starts the fun the night of October 13th.  On the 14th, Happy Harbor will feature a race party.  And if you still haven’t gotten your fill of partying, come on down to Live Bait II on the 16th for another race party, following the Pleasure Island Poker Run which will be open to the public. 

Also in town during the event will be Bon Jovi on Friday night and Brad Paisley on Sunday evening!  These concerts are free but are ticketed events and ResortQuest has just a few tickets left.  Please visit our website for information on how you can get these tickets when you book one of our gorgeous condominiums!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Music Festival, October 8-10, 2010

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

The Seafood, Wine, and Music Festival is once again returning to Panama City Beach October 8-10 at Frank Brown Park.  This year’s festival will feature FREE wine tastings, celebrity chef exhibitions from local chefs, amazing food from local restaurants, and over 75 retail, antique and art vendors.  Don’t miss a sneak peek at the Emerald Coast Cruizin’ car show!
   
New this year, all of the kids activities are going green!  Diesel powered midway rides have been replace with all environmentally friendly amusements.  Children will love meeting Spongebob Squarepants, who will be available during lunch on Saturday and Sunday. 
   
The music line-up this year is phenomenal: Lorrie Morgan and the Bellamy Brothers on Friday, REO Speedwagon on Saturday, and Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Little River Band on Sunday.  Ticket prices vary by day.  Children are free all days until 4pm, afterwards they will require a $7 kids ticket.  General admission for Friday is $20 and $15 on Saturday.  Sunday has two ticket options - $15 from 12-5pm and $25 for all-day general admission.  One-day VIP passes are available each day for $150, and a one-day VIP pass with a guaranteed meet-and-greet with the band is $250 each day.

Come on down and enjoy everything this exciting festival has to offer!  ResortQuest offers spacious condos and vacation homes in Panama City Beach to suit anyone’s needs.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wyndham Worldwide to Acquire ResortQuest

Leader in European Vacation Rentals Enters U.S. Market

Parsippany, NJ (September 22, 2010) – Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE:WYN) today announced that its Exchange & Rentals business unit, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and European leader in vacation rentals, has agreed to acquire ResortQuest, a leading provider in full-service vacation rentals in the U.S.

The acquisition price is approximately $56 million (USD), subject to adjustments. The all-cash transaction is anticipated to close by the end of the third quarter, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

With this acquisition, Wyndham Worldwide becomes the world’s largest full-service vacation rental business, providing access to more than 85,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. ResortQuest will provide a strong platform for the Company’s expansion into the U.S. serviced vacation rentals market.

“Since 2000, we have successfully acquired at least 30 European rental brands, creating what today represents the leading serviced rentals business in Europe, with 2009 revenues of $460 million. Building upon this success, the acquisition of ResortQuest gives us a unique opportunity to build a sizable growth platform in the U.S. rentals market, a $10 billion industry that currently lacks a significant player,” said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO, Wyndham Worldwide. “On a broader level, this acquisition is another step forward in our strategy to deploy a portion of our free cash flow to supplement organic growth with opportunistic acquisitions of fee-for-service businesses, achieving higher growth and greater free cash flow.”

“We are delighted to welcome ResortQuest into our distinct vacation rentals business. Together we will expand our efforts to provide superior rental distribution services to consumers, as well as provide second homeowners the opportunity to rent their properties through a trusted source and well-known brand,” said Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, Wyndham Exchange & Rentals. “ResortQuest is a highly successful, established and well-known U.S. vacation rental brand in major ski, beach and golf destination markets. From the ski slopes of Park City, Breckenridge and Steamboat, to the beaches of the Carolinas and the Florida Gulf Coast – Resort Quest will enhance Wyndham’s existing rental brands in terms of upscale product offering and excellent customer service. ResortQuest’s growing presence across North America combined with our market leadership in Europe enables Wyndham to provide vacationers with the broadest choice of hand-selected, inspected and serviced vacation rental experiences – all backed by the quality, standards and customer service of Wyndham Worldwide, one of the most trusted names in hospitality today.”

"We are very excited about the competitive advantage that joining the Wyndham family will bring in providing additional distribution and marketing services to our homeowners, increased benefits to our employees, and superior marketing in the United States,” said Park Brady, CEO, ResortQuest. "ResortQuest’s goal has always been to provide vacation rental customers with the best choices wherever they want to travel and we are glad to continue our mission to build on the quality vacation rentals we offer customers as part of one of the largest and most global companies in the serviced vacation rental market.”

Wyndham Worldwide retained Kirkland & Ellis for corporate legal services related to this transaction.

About Wyndham Exchange & Rentals Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN), is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with access for specified periods to more than 80,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. The vacation exchange business includes RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and provider of travel services to businesses and consumers and The Registry Collection® program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program. The vacation rentals business includes Hoseasons, cottages4you, Novasol®, Cuendet®, Landal GreenParks®, Endless Vacation Rentals®, and other renowned vacation rental brands through which vacationers can rent a variety of property types, from city apartments to villas. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange. For additional information visit our media center.

About ResortQuest Headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., ResortQuest is a leading provider of full-service vacation condominiums and home rentals in the U.S., with a portfolio of approximately 6,000 U.S. vacation rental properties.

About Wyndham Worldwide As one of the world's largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Worldwide offers individual consumers and business-to-business customers a broad suite of hospitality products and services across various accommodation alternatives and price ranges through its premier portfolio of world-renowned brands. Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses approximately 7,160 franchised hotels and approximately 606,800 hotel rooms worldwide. Wyndham Exchange & Rentals offers leisure travelers, including its 3.8 million members, access to over 80,000 vacation properties located in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of over 155 vacation ownership resorts serving over 820,000 owners throughout North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. Wyndham Worldwide, headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., employs approximately 25,000 employees globally. For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit the Company's website at www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

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Media Contact:
Wyndham Exchange & Rentals
Julie Tenney
(973) 753-6212
Julie.tenney@rci.com  

Investor Contact:
Margo C. Happer
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
Wyndham Worldwide Corporation
(973) 753-6472
Margo.Happer@wyndhamworldwide.com