Timeshare disputes among top complaints

The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said it expects timeshare disputes to be among the top complaints again this year.

CASE said it expects the number of complaints to reach 2,000 by year-end.

For full story, click here (Source: Channelnewsasia.com)

Future Timeshare Buyers: 2009 Market Profile

Okay, here goes:

1. More than nine out of ten active leisure travelers in the United States report they are familiar with the concept of timesharing, reinforcing the wide-spread belief that this form of vacationing has established itself as a recognized, understood, and increasingly popular alternative to more traditional lodging accommodations
2. Approximately 2.3 million households state they are interested in purchasing some form of vacation time during the next two years.

Just two findings from ‘Future Timeshare Buyers: 2009 Market Profile’, which was developed from a nationally-representative sample of active leisure travelers who have expressed interest in acquiring some form of vacation time during the next two years, and supplemented through insights revealed in the Ypartnership/Yankelovich, Inc. 2009 National Leisure Travel MONITOR(SM). The study was authored exclusively for Interval International, which is releasing the results during the American Resort Development Association’s (ARDA) 2009 Fall Conference, held in Washington, D.C.

More information at this link,  Courtesy / Source: CNNMoney.com

ARDA’s 2009 Fall Conference

All roads for resort industry folk lead to The Fairmont Hotel in Washington DC for ARDA’s 2009 Fall Conference scheduled today to Nov 6th.

Keep checking back here and we’ll share news of what transpired at the conference for you!

For your info, here’s the program schedule. (Source: ARDA website)

More further reading on this event, click here ( Clara Rose @ Examiner.com)

ARDA response re: Florida Attorney General’s move

Yesterday, we had reported in our post ” Scanner on against Scammers ” about Florida’s Attorney General filing a lawsuit against 2 resale companies.

The response from ARDA on this issue has been swift.

In a press note titled ‘ARDA applauds Florida Attorney General’s office for recent injunction against fraudulent Timeshare Resale Operations’, they state unequivocally:

We applaud the efforts made by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum to investigate dishonest resale companies whose actions taint the industry’s reputable resale companies. ARDA continues to work with its members to ensure transparency on both they buying & selling process.

Scanner on against Scammers

The South Florida Business Journal reports that

Florida’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit and requested an emergency injunction against two related South Florida timeshare resale marketing companies

Full article at this link

Do you Facebook & Twitter?

Over at www.TheTimeshareauthority.com, Jason Tremblay has this interesting post about the 3 ways Timeshare & Hospitality Industry are using social media to increase business, keep in touch with customers and whole lot more.

Check out the post here

ARDA announces winners

Last week, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) announced the winners of the 2009 “Bring Your Vacation to Life Contest” at their vacation website.

This annual contest is launched in conjunction with the National Travel and Tourism Week in May. Participants are asked to share a memory of a timeshare vacation that touched their lives and their family’s.

This year’s winners were entitled to an American Express gift card.  The winners were Sally Lessig, Alexis MacDonald, and Tracy Dunn (respectively).

On the subject of vacations,  here’s a video featuring Howard Nusbaum, President & CEO of ARDA, talking about how Vacations makes kids smarter!

U.S Industry updates

2009 State Legislative Roundup

If that headline interests you, please click here to the ARDA website to check out news reports & happenings at their state level legislatures.

Dubai as a timeshare destination

Titled ‘ Dubai Timeshares, the perfect winter escape ‘ the website www.timesharesdaily.com reports,

Dubai timeshares are easily accessible and affordable—making them a great winter escape for British tourists.

Check it out here

Wyndham 3rd quarter results

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation has announced results for the 3 months ended September 30, 2009.

Gross Vacation Ownership Interest (VOI) sales were $366 million for the third quarter of 2009, a 35% decline from the third quarter of 2008.  This decrease was primarily driven by the previously announced initiative to reduce the capital deployed in this business, which included sales office closures and a reduction of marketing efforts that resulted in fewer tours.

For the full report of the Press Release carried on Reuters.com, click here