In response to all the postings, I too just received a call from HPM enclosing a proposal to purchase my timeshare in PV. It looks like this company is using the same proposal for more than one resort.
And you're right, if it sounds to good to be true...it usually is.............we did a background check on Mr. Sinclar and it seems that he has a long history of defrauding people in North America....including a jail sentence for embezzlement. BEWARE!
Yvonne L.
Hi, this is my first time leaving a post on this site. I too received a phone call from a "Joe" from HPM this morning offering to purchase my Playa del Sol Grand unit (which is now part of Belair Collection) at an unbelievable price. The letter was worded exactly the same as the one posted earlier on this string with the exception of the resort name. I was told by the caller that a large pharmaceutical company was looking to purchase 50 units at Playa del Sol for their employees/guests and they were willing to pay higher prices because they "wrote off all the expenses" on their corporate taxes anyway. He mentioned that I needed to sign and return the proposal he would send me right away. It did sound too good to be true and I will be contacting my resort directly to inquire more about HPM since I can't seem to find much information on them online. Any feedback would be appreciated if you have a similar situation.
Alberto D.
Last edited by albertod7 on May 02, 2011 04:21 PM
I am sorry but the first message appears to have not gone through. I was just wondering if when you stopped paying did you contact them and were there and repercussions to your credit score??? We purchased in 2000 and just got our maintenance with late fee and it is over $1500. We, like others are feeling totally taken advantage by this fraudulent company.
Mary K.
The Latest Information:
Below is a news article about the financial state of Fairmont Resort properties Ltd:
Press release — Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd. – Northwynd Resort Properties
On March 30, 2009, Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd. was made subject to creditor protection under the Companies Creditor’s Arrangement Act “(CCAA”). This process allows the Company the opportunity to present a plan to restructure its obligations to the benefit of all stakeholders including secured and unsecured creditors, employees and customers. Fairmont time share owners are not affected by this plan of arrangement and continue with the rights their acquired at the time of their purchase. The management of the facility, Fairmont Vacation Villas, is operated by Columbia Villa Management and is also not subject to the CCAA order. It operates independently of Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd. Pursuant to the court order for the plan of arrangement, new management was appointed with Mr. Collin Knight and Mr. Doug Morcom not involved in the management at this time. All debts of the Company at the date of the application were stayed awaiting court approval of Fairmont’s restructuring plan. All goods and services supplied by the Company’s customers since the date of the application are acquired and dealt with in the normal course of business. Notwithstanding the situation of Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd., all timeshare owners will enjoy their vacation at Fairmont Vacation Villas this year and in the future without interruption.
I have found out that the people named on the Northwynd website are all former Fairmont Resort Properties employees. Please help us on our quest to bring this company to justice and send its management to prison where they belong. Attached here is a current list of management from Northwynd Resort Properties and Fairmont Resort Properties.
Patrick Fitzsimonds; Chief Executive Officer Doug Frey; Vice President, Development Eleanor Fornataro; Vice President, Communications / Corporate Services Chris Van Der Deen; Vice President, Operations / Member Services Kirk Wankel; Chief Financial Officer
Patrick Fitzsimonds; Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Fitzsimonds has been involved in the capitalization and development of residential and resort-based real estate in the U.S. and Canada over the course of the past 34 years. He acquired a Masters Degree in Business Administration and went on to executive positions with Shelter Corporation of Canada, Qualico Developments and United Inc.. Patrick's areas of experience include construction, design, cash management and financial structure.
Doug Frey; Vice President, Development
Mr. Frey is a University of Alberta alumnus and has been involved in real estate finance and development for over 20 years. His career path includes increasingly responsible positions with National Trust and Morguard Investments Ltd., and most recently as co-founder and principal in Foxbridge Development Ltd., a real estate development company active in Alberta and British Columbia.
Eleanor Fornataro; Vice President, Communications / Corporate Services
Ms. Fornataro has worked in the timeshare industry for the past 14 years, first with Royal Host Vacation Club, and most recently with Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd.. Eleanor brings valuable experience in the areas of program development, client services, and communications.
Chris Van Der Deen; Vice President, Operations / Member Services
Mr. Van Der Deen has many years of experience in the hotel and resort sector. As General Manager of several Royal Host properties in the early 2000s, Chris developed a keen appreciation of the many facets of hotel management and guest services. Beginning in 2005 Chris led the management team of Columbia Villa Management (later Resort Villa Management) at one of Canada's largest timeshare resorts in Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C., and also took on the General Manager role at Lake Okanagan Resort in Kelowna, B.C.
Kirk Wankel; Chief Financial Officer
Kirk Wankel graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelors of Commerce in 1995 and obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 1998 while working for Arthur Andersen. Kirk has over a decade of industry experience including positions as the Vice President of Finance for BW Technologies Ltd., Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fair Sky Resources Inc., and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Blackline GPS Inc. Kirk has been the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Northwynd since November, 2010.
Thomas N.
thomasn109 wrote:The Latest Information:Below is a news article about the financial state of Fairmont Resort properties Ltd:
Press release — Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd. – Northwynd Resort Properties
On March 30, 2009, Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd. was made subject to creditor protection under the Companies Creditor’s Arrangement Act “(CCAA”). This process allows the Company the opportunity to present a plan to restructure its obligations to the benefit of all stakeholders including secured and unsecured creditors, employees and customers. Fairmont time share owners are not affected by this plan of arrangement and continue with the rights their acquired at the time of their purchase. The management of the facility, Fairmont Vacation Villas, is operated by Columbia Villa Management and is also not subject to the CCAA order. It operates independently of Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd. Pursuant to the court order for the plan of arrangement, new management was appointed with Mr. Collin Knight and Mr. Doug Morcom not involved in the management at this time. All debts of the Company at the date of the application were stayed awaiting court approval of Fairmont’s restructuring plan. All goods and services supplied by the Company’s customers since the date of the application are acquired and dealt with in the normal course of business. Notwithstanding the situation of Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd., all timeshare owners will enjoy their vacation at Fairmont Vacation Villas this year and in the future without interruption.
I have found out that the people named on the Northwynd website are all former Fairmont Resort Properties employees. Please help us on our quest to bring this company to justice and send its management to prison where they belong. Attached here is a current list of management from Northwynd Resort Properties and Fairmont Resort Properties.
Patrick Fitzsimonds; Chief Executive Officer Doug Frey; Vice President, Development Eleanor Fornataro; Vice President, Communications / Corporate Services Chris Van Der Deen; Vice President, Operations / Member Services Kirk Wankel; Chief Financial Officer
Patrick Fitzsimonds; Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Fitzsimonds has been involved in the capitalization and development of residential and resort-based real estate in the U.S. and Canada over the course of the past 34 years. He acquired a Masters Degree in Business Administration and went on to executive positions with Shelter Corporation of Canada, Qualico Developments and United Inc.. Patrick's areas of experience include construction, design, cash management and financial structure.
Doug Frey; Vice President, Development
Mr. Frey is a University of Alberta alumnus and has been involved in real estate finance and development for over 20 years. His career path includes increasingly responsible positions with National Trust and Morguard Investments Ltd., and most recently as co-founder and principal in Foxbridge Development Ltd., a real estate development company active in Alberta and British Columbia.
Eleanor Fornataro; Vice President, Communications / Corporate Services
Ms. Fornataro has worked in the timeshare industry for the past 14 years, first with Royal Host Vacation Club, and most recently with Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd.. Eleanor brings valuable experience in the areas of program development, client services, and communications.
Chris Van Der Deen; Vice President, Operations / Member Services
Mr. Van Der Deen has many years of experience in the hotel and resort sector. As General Manager of several Royal Host properties in the early 2000s, Chris developed a keen appreciation of the many facets of hotel management and guest services. Beginning in 2005 Chris led the management team of Columbia Villa Management (later Resort Villa Management) at one of Canada's largest timeshare resorts in Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C., and also took on the General Manager role at Lake Okanagan Resort in Kelowna, B.C.
Kirk Wankel; Chief Financial Officer
Kirk Wankel graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelors of Commerce in 1995 and obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 1998 while working for Arthur Andersen. Kirk has over a decade of industry experience including positions as the Vice President of Finance for BW Technologies Ltd., Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fair Sky Resources Inc., and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Blackline GPS Inc. Kirk has been the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Northwynd since November, 2010.
A quick check of "Northwynd" reveals: 1. same address in Calgary as Fairmont Properties; 2. same telephone and fax numbers as Fairmont Properties. 3. most of the same management as Fairmont Properties. I guess the evil Knights couldn't bring themselves to even disguise themselves to the extent of paying for a new telephone number. All they've done, apparently, is put a few of their stooges in nominal charge of operations.
Thomas N.
I sent out a mass email over a month ago to rally owners together to demand our orginal contracts an assessment fees be honored. I also proposed that, according to our contract, take a votte and replace the management company and instate someone who will treat us fairly. Only one person responded to this email, so I will take that as no one wants to pursue bringing this company to justice?
Thomas N.
I don't think I got the e-mail you refer to, however, in past posts I have expressed a very strong desire to get to the bottom of the problems at RB.
While it may be possible to replace one management group with another, company ownership is another matter altogether -- I believe it's the RB owners that need to give its timeshare holders a fair shake.
I don't think unhappy timeshare owners lack the will to seek justice, but rather the means. From your post, I don't see how the RB owners can be made to honor original contracts especially in regards to the exorbitant rise in annual fees.
Am I missing something?
Demian A.
I attempted to unload Rancho Banditos by transferring ownership to Carribean Resales as part of a deal with Playa Grande in Los Cabos. No joy. Carribean seems to have done nothing with it. We keep getting bills for maintenance assessment. This year we didn't pay. Now we're getting threatening letters. I'd love to see RB "brought to justice;" money, admin, and property are spread between three countries: Mexico, Canada, and Barbados, if I recall correctly. It would be very costly to litigate. Even voting to replace the management company would be very difficult, though I would certainly vote in favor of a change. Question is, change to what company?
Gordon G.
Is anyone going to answer the question, "What has been the consequences of just not paying them any dues from year to year"? I pay it and use the place. It is more or less a paid for vacation..........by me. What the hell esle can we do? It is certainly not the way that I like to be screwed. Anytime anyone tries to promote a time share to me, I laugh in their face. There are so many good travel deals on line that you simply do not need one. Why add to your list of uncontrolable problems.
Robert K.
Hi, I am not a time share owner at Rancho , but I have spent a total of 4 weeks there this past year. I have always purchased my points from another time share owner, but unfortunately he has sold all of his points for 2012. How many points do you have? What is the cost? I have already checked with Rancho Bander'as Guest Service and I can not use points that I have purchased from someone else unless their maintance fees are currently paid and that would include the maintance fee you will be billed for in Jan. or Feb. of 2012. Interesting in hearing from you. Jenny
Jennifer A.
I actually have never spent my week at R.B. but always exchanged it through Interval. I never got my rebate from Cashback either. Also am upset over the increase in maintenance fees and wonder what action they'll take against me if I stop making my payments. I don't intend to use the points any longer and am happy to simply abandon my ownership. Has anyone else stopped payments and abandoned their timeshare?
Anne W.