MIAMI, Sept. 1, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Interval International, a leading global provider of vacation services and an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq:IILG), has added Villa del Palmar Cancun Luxury Beach Resort & Spa to its exchange network. With the development of its first shared ownership resort in the Mexican Caribbean, The Villa Group is building on its success in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, and Loreto.
"The Villa Group has played a leading role in the Mexican market for more than 25 years," noted Craig M. Nash, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Interval Leisure Group, parent company of Interval International. "Fernando and his team's expertise in all aspects of resort marketing and development has enabled them to deliver high-quality resorts and best-of-class service to their owners and resort guests. The newest addition to Villa's portfolio will afford its visitors another wonderful vacation experience from which to explore Cancun and the nearby Isla Mujeres."
Currently under construction, the property will be situated on 35 acres along Mujeres Bay, opposite Isla Mujeres, and a 15-minute drive from downtown Cancun. The first phase is slated to open in 2010 and two additional phases are expected to be completed by 2012. Each villa will be elegantly decorated and include a living room, dining room, full kitchen with granite countertops, modern appliances and electronic equipment, and a spacious terrace.
"Opening this luxury resort in Cancun will continue our tradition of developing family-style accommodations with personalized service in Mexico's key vacation destinations," said Fernando Gonzalez Corona, The Villa Group president. "Our affiliation with Interval provides Villa owners with an excellent selection of resort properties and quality vacation accommodations comparable to that of their home resorts."
In addition to the private beach, on-site amenities are planned to include a swimming pool and poolside bar, restaurants, a beauty salon, a fitness center, a business center, and meeting rooms. Scuba diving, fishing, golf, shopping, and dining are all nearby, as are ferries to Isla Mujeres and the Cancun hotel zone.
Other attractions and entertainment opportunities can be found nearby: the town of Playa del Carmen, Mayan ruins and towns, theme and ecological parks, nature sanctuaries, crystal-clear ponds (known locally as cenotes), and the island of Cozumel.
Interval International operates membership programs for vacation owners and provides value-added services to its developer clients worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for more than 33 years. Today, Interval has a network of approximately 2,500 resorts in more than 75 countries and offers its resort clients and about 2 million member families high-quality products and programs through offices in 26 cities in 16 countries. Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.