Malta is home to luxury timeshare

by Anthony Manduca

Four premium Maltese timeshare properties have won prestigious international accolades for quality and service, in a graphic demonstration that Malta boasts some of the finest timeshare in Europe.

RCI, the world's leading timeshare exchange organisation, has awarded its coveted Gold Crown awards to the Maltese holiday complexes, placing them among the elite in this sector of holiday accommodation.

The Mistra Village Complex, at St Paul's Bay, has received a Gold Crown award for eight consecutive years, while the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort at St George's takes the top accolade for the fourth year running.

The Coral Reef Club in Qawra achieves top ranking for the second year and San Lawrenz Leisure Resort on Gozo takes the title for the first time.

According to figures released by RCI Malta ranks number seven in the top 10 destinations for exchange in the UK timeshare market. The top 10 destinations are (in order): Canaries, Spain/Balearics, UK and Ireland, Florida, Portugal/Madeira, Other USA, Malta, Caribbean, Greece and Canada. Malta's share of where UK residents own their timeshare amounts to four per cent, equal to Florida. The Canary Islands have 34 per cent, Spain and Balearics have 21 per cent, UK and Ireland have 20 per cent and Portugal and Madeira have 11 per cent.

To achieve Gold Crown status a property must first meet set criteria for accommodation, facilities and service levels. In addition it must achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction and RCI asks all exchange guests to complete comment cards following their exchange holidays, which are calculated. The company's staff also closely monitor standards through regular inspections.

Nelson Hitchcock, group managing director, RCI Europe, said: "The Gold Crown award represents the highest standard of holidays at a timeshare complex according to the people who matter most - its guests. All timeshare complexes linked to RCI's exchange network boast superior levels of quality, but to achieve our highest award elevates a property to the luxury category."

A further five resorts received Hospitality Awards, given for outstanding service to guests during their stay. Bugibba Holiday Complex and Breakpoint Holiday Complex receive the accolade for the first time, Club Salina Wharf and Pergola Holiday & Leisure Club receive the award for the second time and Club Riza for the fourth year running.

According to independent research, the high quality of accommodation is one of the principal reasons why people buy timeshare - and why a million Britons are set to enjoy a timeshare holiday this year.

RCI has 21 timeshare resorts in Malta linked to its exchange network. RCI's exchange service allows its 2.5 million timeshare-owner members to trade the holiday weeks they own for alternatives in more than 3,500 resort properties worldwide which are affiliated to its global network.