Hatteras Realty, one of the island’s largest real estate and property management businesses has been sold to Wyndham Vacation Rentals, the world’s largest professionally managed vacation rentals business. The sale was completed on Jan. 1. Wyndham Vacation Rentals is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals and the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, a publicly traded company on the New York Stock exchange. (NYSE: WYN). The former owner of Hatteras Realty was Stewart Couch, who died at age 61 on last Feb. 21, 2012 while vacationing with friends in Nicaragua. Couch was a community leader who grew up on Hatteras Island and graduated from Cape Hatteras School. He went to work for Wallace Beckham, then the owner of Outer Beaches Realty in Avon. Couch went on to purchase the fledgling Hatteras Realty from former Hatteras islander Pete Costenbader and to grow it into the company that it is today, one of the largest on the island, with offices in Avon, Hatteras village, and in an old, historic island cottage in Waves. The company was located in a cottage in Avon, back when Stewart bought it, John Couch, Stewart’s brother, said in a news story about his death. “He was driven,” John said, “to take something and make it as good as he could and to take it as far as he could. “He loved his family. He loved his career. He loved Hatteras Island,” said John.
Bob Milne, president of Wyndham Rentals North America and Amy Helle, general manager of Hatteras Realty, made the announcement of the sale to Hatteras Realty homeowners jointly yesterday. Today Helle had this to say about the sale, “Joining a global hospitality leader like Wyndham is great news not only for our employees but for our guests and owners as well. Stewart Couch’s wish has always been to find a buyer that would be an ideal fit — one that has similar philosophies about providing our guests the best vacation, our homeowners outstanding property management, our sales clients superior brokerage services and each of us a positive fun work environment in which we can fulfill our professional and personal goals. “Hatteras Realty and its employees are thrilled to welcome Wyndham Vacation Rentals to Hatteras Island,” she added. “The opportunities that Wyndham will open up for us as a company are vast and the positive influence and exposure it will provide for Hatteras Island can be seen worldwide.” Backed by one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Vacation Rentals provides access to more than 100,000 vacation rental properties in over 600 unique destinations worldwide. “Specializing in the managed vacation rental segment, Wyndham works closely with property owners to ensure all rentals meet its standards for customer service, quality and comfort,” the company said in e-mail. “With a diverse and celebrated collection of more than 25 rental brands including Canvas Holidays by Wyndham Vacation Rentals, Hoseasons by Wyndham Vacation Rentals, James Villa Holidays by Wyndham Vacation Rentals, Landal GreenParks®, Novasol® by Wyndham Vacation Rentals, and The Resort Company® by Wyndham Vacation Rentals, Wyndham Vacation Rentals delivers distinct vacation experiences, ranging from beachfront condos, private homes, villas, castles and houseboats, with many properties offering kitchens, washers and dryers, maid service, spa and fitness centers, and golf courses.”
For additional information on the new owner, you can visit the media center or wyndhamvacationrentals.com. Wyndham Vacation Rentals also can be found on Facebook. “By joining the Wyndham Vacation Rentals family,” the company said in its e-mail to homeowners, “you will benefit from Wyndham’s size and scale, which brings opportunities to market Hatteras Realty to millions of new consumers through our enhanced global distribution channels.” As part of this transaction, the company said that Helle and the entire management team of Hatteras Realty would continue to serve homeowners and work with them regarding the future management of their property. “Additionally,” the Wyndham e-mail said, “the hospitality professionals many of you have come to know at Hatteras Realty will remain in their positions.” The company assured homeowners that it has “gone to great lengths to ensure the transition will be transparent and smooth. With that said, we will continue to focus on the day-to-day operations, including reservations, housekeeping, front desk, accounting, and oversight and management of your property. In addition, the terms, fees, and provisions of your existing Property Management Agreement remain the same.”
For more information, you can go to the Hatteras Realty website at http://www.hatterasrealty.com/ or visit the company’s Facebook page.
January 3, 2014, Hatteras Realty is Sold to Worldwide Company, Wyndham Vacation Rentals by Irene Nolan, retrieved from: http://islandfreepress.org/2014Archives/01.03.2014-HatterasRealtyIsSoldToWorldwideCompanyWyndhamVacationRentals.html