SXMElections.com

CUPECOY--After a period of quiet following the news in late January that timeshare exchange network RCI had suspended its relationship with Sapphire Beach Club and Resort, some Sapphire timeshare owners were informed via newsletter over the weekend that the resort would be going through renovations and had signed a preliminary agreement at the end of 2014 "initiating the process of affiliation to a prestigious hotel chain" that remained unnamed.

The newsletter item also disclosed that the property would not be sold, which had been a subject for speculation by many.

RCI had not disclosed any reasoning for the suspension in its notice, but it was understood to be tied to the property's multiple maintenance issues. An anonymous source said at the time that it was the result of numerous complaints and that the resort would be given three months to rectify the situation, after which the RCI relationship might be reinstated pending a thorough investigation in May.

In the newsletter, Sapphire Developer Philippe Verdier said "difficulties resulting from deferred maintenance operations" had been the cause of a temporary suspension of RCI services and that these were "planned to be restored, after an inspection in the coming weeks."

In relation to the maintenance issues, he said not all of the "planned actions" had been realised fully, "since certain owners have not paid their assessment despite reminders that were sent to them directly and by the collection agency.

"... For all those who will not bring back their account in good standing, their

contract will be cancelled and the repossessed weeks will be sold as promptly

as possible."

The signing of the preliminary agreement with the unnamed hotel chain was said to be for the facilitation of the resort's development and upgrading. It is a North American 4-star chain "with strong growth in Northern America and in Europe." The affiliation is planned to be finalised on completion of needed "improvement works" and funding was said to have been requested to carry out these works.

Verdier opened by saying, "After a long transition period of several months during which a possible sale of Sapphire was reviewed, such was finally not concluded."

Attempts to obtain updates had not been successful and the newsletter item seems to be the only update given to the timeshare owners.

Verdier further referred clients to Interval International for any external exchanges, citing the prices to be "apparently cheaper by 15 per cent to

20 per cent than those with RCI."

Clients also were told a limited number of weeks would be available at heavily discounted prices for Sapphire members only, based on existing cancellations.