In an attempt to clarify what VailSkiVacations.com offers I’ve decided to put forth this post detailing the general operations and business model of the company.  Readers of this blog should be aware of its connection to the company, blogs function in a reader friendly manner that makes updating them quick and effortless.  As a result, they’re a convenient location to inform readers of the happenings related to their realm.  This post will take that one step farther by informing readers how VailSkiVacations.com, and its subsidiaries operate.

A basic overview of the company highlights how the business is divided to better serve unique markets; VailSkiVacations.com offers clients a quick, convenient and locally ran portal for booking accommodations in the Vail Valley while VailBeaverCreekLuxuryProperties.com is your source for real estate in the Vail Valley.  Both components operate from the same office located in Vail, CO where they’re staffed by intelligent locals committed to offering superior customer service.  We achieve this by working in a dynamic market where relationships and networking offers the best access to properties.  This is where we excel, as locals we have outstanding relationships with many property management companies and brokers in the Vail Valley.

Our company differs from our competition by blending the best components of a property management company with those of a travel agent.  We own no properties, nor have any allegiance to a set company ensuring an unbiased approach to our selection of properties.  This in turn guarantees we have access to a wide array of properties, translating to competitive prices and better options.

As noted in my previous post, we’ve begun to expand our operations past the Vail Valley and into the Front Range in hopes of alluring this market towards our innovative business.  If you’re interested in properties or rentals in the Denver area check out this post or these websites; LuxuryRentalsofDenver.com and LuxuryPropertiesofDenver.com.

It’s been a few years since Vail’s reconstruction began, and while many of the projects have finished including the Arrabelle and the Vail Plaza Club a new batch of luxurious lodges, hotels and condos are projected to be completed in 2010. This second batch has certainly caught our attention; from the stunning Club at Solaris to the highly anticipated Ritz Carlton in Lionshead there is plenty to be excited for.

Truthfully, Vail has reached a new pinnacle in which it now accommodates more guests than ever, looks amazing and has certainly solidified its reputation as a world class skiing destination. Below we’ve highlighted a few projects that will certainly grab your attention, from revolutionary design to flawless guest service each soon to be finished project is a quality investment of your time or interest.

The Club at Solaris

Estimated Completion: April 2010

Since its beginnings the Club at Solaris (previously discussed here) has garnered attention, its set out to revolutionize not only design in Vail but how the real estate market works. The Club at Solaris is intriguing because it offers a wide array of fractional ownership opportunities with unique twists, the premier offering is a membership guaranteeing accommodation at any time of the year and whenever and however often you desire it. Limited ownership guarantees this as an illustrious investment, but it has a myriad of perks that include great access to Vail Mountain and the Village as well as the extensive amenities located in the building.

The Ritz Carleton Residences at Lionshead

Estimated Completion: November 2010

No longer will the Ritz Carleton in Bachelor Gulch (reviewed here) gain all of the Vail Valley’s praise, it will have to learn to share with its compatriot located in the newly renovated Lionshead Village. This stunning building will feature over 100 residences ranging in size from 2 to 6 bedrooms; these great accommodations will be complemented by stunning interiors and a wide array of amenities. Yet it’s the Ritz Carleton’s superior guest service and attention to detail that solidifies its reputation as one of the leaders in luxury residences. This is certainly going to have a pronounced effect on Lionshead Village as the Ritz Carleton and Arrabelle will reinvent this smaller, more reserved village of Vail.

For more information or help booking accommodations or inquiring about fractional ownership in either of these properties check out VailSkiVacations.com or call us at 1-877-411-8245 or visit our sister sites: LuxuryPropertiesofDenver and LuxuryRentalsofDenver

Here’s an excerpt from the Vail Daily’s December 6th article chronicling new construction in the Vail Valley.  Vail’s extensive makeover is starting to unwind and the town looks great, with the completion of a few more projects in the next few years Vail will truly assert itself as one of the most luxurious ski towns in the world.

‘Renaissance’ chugging along in Vail

An update of construction projects

Melanie Wong
mwong@vaildaily.com
Vail, CO Colorado

Four Seasons

Work continues in the next couple weeks on the building’s roof, and interior work is ongoing in all the wings of the resort. Scaffolding was installed around outside of the building, and the property has been wrapped and sealed in critical areas to prepare for interior work throughout the winter.

Four Seasons Resort Vail includes a 121-room hotel, 16 condominiums and 19 “fractional residences.” The site is located just southwest of the main Vail roundabout and will include a restaurant, spa, pool, library, apres ski lounge and shops.

Arrabelle at Vail Square

Crews are finishing up the street and landscaping work at the new village.

The Arrabelle has 66 condos, 36 hotel rooms, a spa, meeting rooms, a restaurant, locker rooms, offices, stores, parking and a loading dock. The stores include Burton, Vail Sports, Patagonia, Quiksilver and Starbucks. The restaurants are Blue Moose Pizza, Centre V, the Vail Chophouse and Rimini, a sweets shop.

Vail Cascade Resort and Spa

Over the next few weeks, the resort’s hotel entrance will be finished. The hotel’s back patio will also be finished soon with a new hot tub, fire pits and pool.

In the spa, work on the men’s locker room is complete and final installations for the women’s locker room are under way. A new air conditioning system is also being installed throughout the building.

Ritz Carlton

The steel is going up for the building’s frame, and the project is on schedule to be completed in November 2010.  Vail Resorts’ Ritz-Carlton Residences are in Lionshead at the corner of South Frontage and West Forest roads, next to the Vail Marriott. It will have 71 condos.

From the Vail Daily comes reports of a strengthening Real Estate market in Vail where October posted 2008’s highest overall sales. Great properties in Vail and Beaver Creek helped bump these numbers, particularly the Westin which we’ve covered in past posts here.  Though the economy faces a troubled future investment in the Vail Valley has illustrated the strengths of the market and what a resilient place it is.  The following is an excerpt from the Vail Daily, the full article can be found here.

VAIL VALLEY, Colorado – October was the biggest month so far this year for real estate in Colorado’s Vail Valley, according to figures released Wednesday by the Land Title Guarantee Company.  The boost came from 40 closings worth about $32 million at the recently opened Westin Resort in Avon.  The total dollar volume for October was $167,624,200, which equates to an overall average sales price of $956,373.

There were seven transactions over $4 million. Four of those transactions were at the Willows in Vail.
Rod Slifer, founding partner of Slifer, Smith and Frampton Real Estate, said he felt the majority of the closings came from the Westin Resort and Arrabelle.  “If you pulled out those two, I think the number would be a lot lower,” he said. “If you go back a lot of years, the number of transactions has declined every year, but the dollar amount of the transactions have increased.”  With the economy struggling, Slifer said the report was good news for the Vail Valley.  “I think we all know the economy is slowing down,” he said. “We just need to hang in there.   “Snow would help, too,” he added, “but if we could have numbers like these every month, I’d be a happy man.”

A stunning opportunity to own a residence in the Vail Village awaits at One Willow Bridge, this accomplished collection of Fractional Residences offers guests the Platinum rated luxury they desire.  One Willow Bridge excels through a perfect blend of great customer service, and outstanding accommodation.  Located in the heart of Vail Village the property is easily accessible and just yards away from the scenic Gore Creek, great restaurants like Sweet Basil and Vail mountain.

Fractional Ownership is a great method of reducing the inconvenience and cost of owning a vacation home in Vail or Beaver Creek, through a deeded contract owners receive ownership for a predefined adjustable fraction of the year.  This reduces your cost as you’re not buying the unit in full, have less responsibilities for maintenance, and don’t see the unit go to waste when you’re not using it.

If these images of One Willow Bridge or the concept of Fractional Ownership have caught your attention feel free to contact our knowledgeable, local real estate brokers at 1-877-411-8245.  We’d be more than happy to converse with you and can provide detailed information regarding Real Estate in the  Vail Valley.  Our company’s free lance Real Estate component specializes in matching clients with their dream home, because we’re not committed to pushing or selling any single property we can provide a wide array of options to help you find exactly what you want.

      The fastest growing segment of the travel industry is in fractional ownership sales. The newest properties feature locations, luxury, cost, and convenience that provide the owners with incredible value while guaranteeing their families unforgettable vacation experiences forever. 

     When real estate is the topic, obviously people ask about location, location, and location. In Vail and Beaver Creek specifically, there are literally twelve fractional properties currently available. Due to popularity and demand, there could be as many as sixteen in the next five years. Most of these properties have fabulous locations right in Vail Village where you walk right to the lifts, or actual ski-in/ski-out in Beaver Creek. Owning a whole ownership property with these locations often would require an investment ten times greater.

Photo: Ritz Carlton at Bachelor’s Gulch 

      Typically, most fractional properties feature luxurious high-end finishes throughout the available homes. This is certainly true for the properties offered in the Vail and Beaver Creek areas. It is the quality of these homes coupled with their excellent locations which create significant value for the owner.

Photo: One Willow Bridge Road 

      One of the most compelling reasons to purchase fractional ownership is cost. Although the size of the fraction differs from property to property (usually ranging from 1/4 to 1/13 interest), buyers can own the time they need without completely breaking the bank. For vacationers that are committed to skiing Vail and Beaver Creek, their vacation dollars are channeled into a deeded asset that can be willed or resold. Prices specifically range anywhere from $50,000 to $1.9 million. One large difference for fractional ownership is it equates to a greater asset than timeshare weeks, and have shown potential for good appreciation. A fractional ownership rarely is considered a great “investment,” however, and should not be purchased typically as a property to flip for profit. As with any situation, there are exceptions for truly rare offerings with overwhelming demand.

     Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, fractional ownership offers its owners a convenient, easy, and hassle-free way to vacation. The Homeowner’s Association or maintenance fees for the property are always completely inclusive of all related expenses to home ownership and property management. What does this mean? It means the owners just show up, enjoy the time with their family, and leave with a smile on their face. Most properties offer year-round storage, so they simply leave their skis and equipment behind, and when they return all their skis have been stored, tuned, and waxed for their next round of fun.

     Another major consideration for fractional ownerships is the scheduling process. Every program is a little different so a buyer should always seek representation to make sure they are getting into the right ownership for their use needs. The ability to be flexible with dates, although sometimes impossible with kids’ school schedules, allows any schedule to work better for the owner. There are options for “fixed” week programs also.

     There are many ways to get involved with owning a part of the Vail and Beaver Creek vacation experience.The most popular way today is to secure a fractional ownership which allows folks to own only the time they need while enjoying luxurious vacations every year without the headaches of maintaining a second home.