Rumor has it: Things are Looking Up for the Timeshare Industry

From the way it looks, the timeshare industry is getting back on track. Commercial construction and investment transaction volume in the hospitality sector is up, travel providers are joining forces to be able to offer their members more destinations, timeshare companies are coming up with more ways to entice members with value add-ons, and hiring is on the upswing.

Rumor #1

The folks from Festiva and Travel to Go are teaming up to give their members more destination options. The informal relationships should give both companies an edge up on the competition. Festiva, billing itself as one of the most successful privately held vacation ownerships in the country, currently has over 95,000 members. The Orlando based company has a number of resorts in the United States and the Caribbean, and a fleet of luxury yachts.

Travel to Go, a family owned and operated business, is a membership vacation services company with nearly 60,000 members. The company has recently upgraded and streamlined its online member support services paving the way for members to have more options, and enhanced products and services. Working together, the two companies could benefit everyone by bringing a more positive awareness of the value of membership travel and increasing membership referrals.

Rumor #2

Timeshare companies are seeking to attract new members and maintain current members with value-added products. Occidental Vacation Club is working to make their program more experiential. First it was their Yacht Club, which offers members access to an exclusive yachting experience. Members have access to a private yacht with a professional crew for a 4-6 hour cruise. They are treated royally with superior service, champagne, and other enticements.

Currently the company is offering members "Route of Wine," a 6 day, 5-night tour of San Francisco, and the wine country of Napa and Sonoma. Highlights of the upscale tour include a private tour of San Francisco, a ride on the Napa Wine Train, visits to top wineries for wine tastings and tours, talks with the winemakers, and winery owner hosted dinner with wine pairings.

Rumor #3

Hiring is on the upswing. Breckenridge Grand Vacation Club, recognized as one of the most successful independent developers in the industry, launched an aggressive sales PR campaign and has already filled their quota for agents. This comes after recently starting work on a new 75-unit timeshare. Now their website lists openings for new hires for operations staff from housekeeping to front desk.

Wyndham Worldwide, an industry and market leader, is expanding their employee pool too. Hiring was spurred by this year's third quarter acquisitions of 57 new properties by RCI, a global leader in vacation exchange, and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands.

Another part of the world that is going gangbusters is the Canary Islands where recruiting is high for multi-lingual OPCs and sales agents.

If recruiting is an indication of the health of vacation ownership, it certainly is looking more vibrant every day.

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