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• Before and after you purchase a timeshare you must be your own advocate. New buyers need to do their homework. It is never wise to jump into any purchase that requires a sizeable investment before you do the research. Find out all the information you need to calculate the cost of a timeshare. Add up such costs as mortgage payments and all expenses like annual maintenance fees (does the plan have a fee cap?) and taxes, broker fees, finance charges, closing fees and even travel costs. Compare these costs to the cost of renting similar accommodations in the same location for the same length of time and in the same time period. Include amenities too. If the timeshare still looks good after the comparison, then go on to the next step.

• Check with the local consumer protection agency in the company’s home state to see if there are any complaints against the company. Check out the property, quality of the resort and availability of units. Talk to current owners about their experiences—does the owner keep up the maintenance of the property? Make sure you understand all the paperwork involved, find out about cancellation policy and other issues of concern. Set up an escrow account for undeveloped properties and a written commitment from the seller as to when the facilities will be finished. That way, you protect yourself should the developer default.

• Once you take the plunge and become an owner you need to continue to advocate for yourself by keeping informed of the latest timeshare legislation, getting actively involved in timeshare advocacy groups, and if you really want your voice heard, become a member of your timeshare’s Board of Directors.

Breckenridge Grand Vacations Peaking Again

Welk Resorts Celebrates 50 years in the Business with Further Expansion

More New Construction Rumored

Future Growth Predicted in New Global Markets

It’s another winning year for Breckenridge Grand Vacations. The world famous timeshare company was recently honored with two Gold ARDY awards at the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) World Convention.

Breckenridge Grand Vacations (BGV) captured the gold in the categories of Best Manager or Team– BGV’s Event Team, and for best In House Sales Team–BGV’s Grand Lodge on Peak 7.

“The fact that we won two team prizes speaks volumes. All of our teams are winners and they are comprised of people who love the resort, the area and their job,” said Dave Stroeve, Vice President of Sales.

“Winning these awards is a testament to what a great place Breckenridge Grand Vacations is to work,” Stroeve said.

This is not the first time BGV has won the prestigious ARDY Award. BGV’s team members have won the award in numerous categories over the past eight years including last year’s winning of the top ARDY award by BGV’s Marketing Service Team.

Breckenridge Grand Vacations is the parent company of Gold Point Resort, Grand Timber Lodge and the Grand Lodge on Peak 7.

Upcoming shortly is a very high end, luxury 75-unit timeshare to be located at the base of Peak 8. Groundbreaking is scheduled for this spring.

Dial An Exchange (DAE), who recently exhibited at the ARDA World Convention, continued to receive incredible feedback from industry colleagues about its recent expansions and increased visibility within the market, a press release stated.

Innovative concepts, such as the Global Advantage Program, have allowed DAE to successfully grow its brand and its visibility within the market.

Record numbers of timeshare owners who are looking for alternatives to the traditional system of exchanging have been using DAE’s fresh approach to exchanging, resulting in an overall global increase of 22% in timeshare exchanges in 2012.

During the ARDA World Convention, DAE promoted its new programs to more than 3,000 industry professionals, from an eye catching exhibit booth in the convention center of the Westin Diplomat hotel, Hollywood, FL.

“The ARDA convention is great for us. It allows us to meet with our prospects and clients face to face to discuss new products, services and gives us all an opportunity to catch up with all our industry partners,” said Fermin Cruz, VP Americas Region.

“Creating new products to offer is a requirement in our changing market. Our partners have needs for innovative solutions and we are striving to meet those needs with the quality of service that has been a large reason for our growth over the years,”Cruz said.

With its recent global expansions and steadily growing membership, DAE continues to be the largest privately-owned timeshare exchange company in the world. DAE offices are being built all over the globe to meet the growing demand of its clients.

Such offices, like the newest location in Munich, Germany, services customers and resorts across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Croatia.

Other centrally located offices in Europe such as the location in Bulgaria serves members across Eastern Europe, including Russia, Greece and Turkey, with the ability to service those customers in their native languages.

These new locations add to the long list of already established locations worldwide such as the United States, China, India, South Africa, Thailand, New Zealand and DAE’s corporate headquarters on the Gold Coast of Australia.

Dial-An-Exchange is the timeshare exchange provider for RedWeek members.

DAE membership benefits include a Free membership option, Gold Advantage membership option, low exchange fees, a 3-year credit for every banked week, 24/7 live access to exchange weeks, personalized customer service, worldwide vacation availability, discounted rental weeks in prime locations and informative monthly e-Newsletters providing travel tips, destination ideas and money saving promotions and offers.

At DAE, the timeshare owners’ needs come first and foremost and quality of service is never compromised.

Over 3,000 delegates from 35 countries representing the shared ownership industry were at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa this past week in Hollywood, Florida,for one of the top events on the timeshare calendar – ARDA World 2013.

The event’s global sponsors include some of the biggest names in travel, including American Express, Diamond Resorts International, Hilton Grand Vacations, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Starwood Vacation Ownership, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, RCI and Interval International.

The conference, was held from April 7-11, 2013, and more than ever the emphasis was on technology.

Key presentations include Don Tapscott’s talk on “The strategic value of IT Investment” with many other educational sessions on the subject that covered everything from Internet marketing to using software to provide better customer service.

SPI Software was one of the exhibitors, and VP of Customer Service Gordon McClendon participated on a panel session entitled “Pork Chops and Applesauce…Technology to Satisfy Customers.”

The SPI Software booth showcased SPI Orange, a system which offers cloud-based solutions for owner/member websites and remote access management.

 SPI Orange encompasses the full range of the vacation ownership enterprise from Marketing, Sales, Reservations, Maintenance Billing and Loan Servicing and main benefits include:

1. Industry Best Practices/improve business operations.
2. Reduced time required for routine tasks.
3. Nimble adaptation to changing business environment
4. Lower Costs.
5. Superior reporting
6. Immediate Access to On-going Technology Development
7. Enhanced Customer Experience

Breckenridge Grand Vacations has once again made a major impact in the Awards program of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

The success in the annual international competition for the best timeshare sales and marketing teams and individuals is a credit to the company, said David Stroeve, RRP, Vice President of Sales.

“We are made up of the right people, doing the right things and treating people right.”

Over the past eight years, Dave and his team have won the prestigious ARDY in numerous categories. This year is no different. When the winners are announced this week at ARDA World 2013 in Hollywood, FL, Breckenridge Grand Vacations (BGV) will be again represented by a slate of stellar finalists.

In the category of Marketing Team, the BGV Event Team is a top ranked finalist. Last year the BBGV Marketing Services Team won the “ARDY” for best in the world.

Also nominated this year is John Liner for his excellence as Sales Management Executive. Two returnees to the limelight are Drew Meirow and Brent Henry, both finalists last year in the categories of Traditional Line and In-House Salespersons.

The entire In-house sales Team of Grand Lodge on Peak 7 has been named as finalists in the ARDA award program. Last year the Project Team at Grand Lodge on Peak 7 carried home the highest honor.

Breckenridge Grand Vacations is the parent company of Gold Point Resort, Grand Timber Lodge and the Grand Lodge on Peak 7. Timeshare rentals start at $143/night.

Upcoming shortly is a very high end, luxury 75-unit timeshare which will be located at the base of Peak 8. The groundbreaking is scheduled for this spring.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide has announced that Robert A. Miller, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the company’s international region, will retire by the end of this year.

A 35-year industry veteran, Miller started his career in 1978 with the co-founding of American Resorts Corporation which was purchased by Marriott International, Inc. in 1984.

The new division launched Marriott as the first branded hospitality company to enter the timeshare industry by more than a decade.

“Bob leaves an impressive legacy. His leadership in the early formation of the industry helped structure important legislation and consumer regulations that created a platform on which the industry would grow,” said Stephen P. Weisz, president and chief executive officer for Marriott Vacations Worldwide.

Miller came on board with Marriott when it acquired American Resorts, where he was the president and chief operating officer. He served as president for the timeshare division until 1996 and grew the business from $5.4 million to nearly $258 million during that time and also led the Marriott Golf business.

Throughout his career, Miller has been an active member of the vacation ownership industry. He was a member of the board of directors for Interval International for more than five years.

Miller has also played a key role in the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) by serving as its treasurer in 1997, and then as chairman from 1998 – 2001. He is currently a member of the executive committee and the board of directors, as well as chairman of the ARDA International Foundation.

In 1991, Miller was named ARDA’s Resort Industry Executive of the Year, due to his enduring efforts to bring the segment to the forefront of the hospitality industry, and in 2005, received ARDA’s ACE Lifetime Achievement Award.

2011 Figures Impressive and Indicators Continue to Look Positive for Travel Industry 

The U.S timeshare industry contributed an estimated $70 billion in consumer and business spending to the national economy in 2011, according to a study conducted by Ernst & Young for the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

“With the easing of capital markets and pent up demand for travel and family vacations, sales are beginning to increase once again, reported Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of ARDA. "The $6.5 billion timeshare industry is making a major impact on local economies throughout the country.” 

“It’s encouraging to see these numbers – we aren’t just bringing people a better way to vacation, we are making a serious bottom-line economic impact, “Nusbaum said.

The impact of the timeshare industry on the U.S. economy extends beyond timeshare resorts, including the economic impacts of sales and marketing offices, corporate operations, the construction of new resorts, the renovation of existing resorts, and the significant impact of expenditures of vacationers during timeshare stays.

This study estimates the comprehensive private and public sector benefits generated by the timeshare industry. Combined direct, indirect, and fiscal impacts in 2011 by the U.S. timeshare industry included $70 billion in consumer and business spending, 493,000 full- and part-time jobs, $23 billion in salaries and wages, and $7.7 billion in tax revenue.

Overall, the travel industry has been creating jobs 26 percent faster than the rest of the economy since March 2011, creating 271,000 new jobs in that time. There are over 194,200 units in 1,548 timeshare resorts in the United States, encompassing a significant portion of the U.S. hospitality industry.


Spending by timeshare owners and guests during timeshare stays was estimated at $9.3 billion in 2011. About $1.5 billion was spent on-site at resorts, while $7.8 billion was spent off-site in the communities where the timeshare resorts are located. In addition to private sector benefits, the timeshare industry contributes significantly more federal, state, and local tax revenue per employee than the average industry, totaling $7.7 billion in 2011.


Photo Credit: Sheraton Vistana Resort, Orlando, FL


Source: ARDA

California-based Welk Resorts, an industry leader having over 40,000 owners in San Diego, Palm Springs, Cabo San Lucas, and Branson, MO, received the 2012 ACE Employer of the Year Award from the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

It’s no surprise that Welk Resorts was recognized with this prestigious award, one that recognizes an employer who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to its employees.

For the award that is given to individuals, teams or resorts that have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments with remarkable service and dedication to the profession, ARDA selected Welk Resorts because, “They treat their employees like family. From training and continued-learning opportunities to promotion from within the company, rewards for healthy living, and a vacation-donation program, Welk Resorts has a long tradition of giving back to its employees.”

Welk Resorts is no stranger to receiving recognition for its outstanding guest and owner satisfaction, especially with the company’s take-pride attitude to meeting the needs of today’s families with their “I will take CARE of it for you” mentality.

With numerous Trip Advisor awards, ranging from becoming number one in the Cabo market within three months of opening their Sirena del Mar (see photo) property to being named number 11 in the “Top 25 Resorts In The World” in 2011, Welk Resorts is well on its way to exceeding all expectations. Welk Resort’s appeal is undeniable.

From 2009 to 2011, when most development and timeshare companies were retrenching, Welk Resorts grew its top-line revenue more than 17 percent to $105 million. Jon Fredricks, President of the thriving company, credits Welk’s success to a corporate culture that provides fertile ground for creating the high-performance teams.

Keeping a long standing tradition alive that was established by founder Lawrence Welk, a bandleader who hosted one of TV’s most enduring series, is what sets Welk apart from others within the industry. Welk employees demonstrate the ideals established by their beloved Lawrence: kindness, compassion and generosity. “This is the Welk legacy that we are challenged to live up to every day,” says Jon Fredricks, President and CEO of Welk Resorts as well as the grandson of Lawrence Welk. 


“Winning the ACE Employer of the Year award is really about our employees—they are who make us shine. We are honored to acknowledge them in this way. There were over 475 ARDA Award submissions this year and competition was fierce, which makes us doubly proud for receiving this prestigious award,” said Fredricks.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide's Owner Services was recently recognized with the inaugural American Resort Development Association (ARDA) Circle of Excellence "ACE" Award for Excellence in Customer Service at the annual ARDA Awards Gala at the 2012 Convention & Exposition held in Las Vegas. 

"Receiving the first-ever Excellence in Customer Service 'ACE' Award is a testament to our dedicated associates' commitment to and focus on our Owners," said Ron Essig, vice president of Owner Services for Marriott Vacations Worldwide. "It is this dedication that has enabled us to reach high levels of success operationally and to consistently increase our customer satisfaction scores."

Owner Services is home to more than 650 associates worldwide and focuses on providing excellent customer service to more than 420,000 Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and Grand Residences by Marriott Owners and Members in 14 languages around the globe. Last year, the team handled over a million in-bound calls and had a customer satisfaction rating of over 94 percent.

Owner Services prides itself in offering flexible work schedules that allow associates to balance their work/home life; internal advancement and career growth opportunities; and direct manager to associate relationships. Offices are located in Salt Lake City, Utah, with international offices in Mexico City, Mexico; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Singapore and Cork, Ireland.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation is the leading global pure-play vacation ownership company. Through a spin-off in late 2011, Marriott Vacations Worldwide was established as an independent, public company focusing primarily on vacation ownership experiences. Since entering the industry in 1984 as part of Marriott International, Inc., the company earned its position as a leader and innovator in vacation ownership products.

The company preserves high standards of excellence in serving its customers, investors and associates while maintaining a long-term relationship with Marriott International. Marriott Vacations Worldwide offers a diverse portfolio of quality products, programs and management expertise with more than 60 resorts and more than 420,000 Owners and Members.

ARDA (American Resort Development Association) has joined C.A.R.E (Cooperative Association of Resort Exchangers) as an Associate member.

“It is a great honor to welcome ARDA as a new member of our organization,” said C.A.R.E. president Alain Carr. “C.A.R.E. appreciates the participation of Howard Nusbaum and Jason Gamel at our conferences this past year, and C.A.R.E. has benefited from the knowledge and insight in our industry that they were generous enough to share with us.

Because C.A.R.E.’s values are directly in line with ARDA’s, C.A.R.E. has always been a strong supporter of ARDA and has been directly responsible for many C.A.R.E. member companies becoming and maintaining memberships with ARDA.

Reciprocally, ARDA has been extremely supportive of C.A.R.E. and its efforts to deliver outstanding vacation services to owners and members.

“ARDA looks forward to sharing valuable industry information with C.A.R.E. members through increased opportunities,” said ARDA president and CEO, Howard Nusbaum. “While we’ve participated in C.A.R.E. events in the past, becoming an Associate Member will enable ARDA to educate a broader audience about the policies that impact owners and efforts the industry is taking to protect the integrity of the product and the value of vacation ownership.”

ARDA is the Washington D.C. based trade association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries (timeshares) with almost 1,000 corporate members ranging from privately-held firms to publicly-traded corporations with extensive experience in shared ownership interests and leisure real estate.

C.A.R.E. (Cooperative Association of Resort Exchangers) is a trade association that has helped provide opportunities for vacation fulfillment and exchanges and revenue enhancement through increased networking opportunities since 1985. Its membership is comprised of developers, wholesalers, travel clubs, HOA’s, resorts, and management and exchange companies. Its member companies offer inventory at over 2500 properties and service over one million vacation owners and members.

Bluegreen Corporation, "A leading provider of Colorful Places to Live and Play®", today announced that it has been selected as a finalist for the 2011 American Resort Development Association (ARDA) Awards.

This annual competition honors organizations and businesses in the timeshare and resort industry that have achieved the highest level of excellence in a variety of different categories. The ARDA Awards Program recognizes nominees based on outstanding sales and staff accomplishments, product design and advertising.

Bluegreen has been selected as a finalist in sixteen categories each of which fall under a larger category including Resort Design, Management and Administration, and Advertising, Promotion and Communications. A panel of independent volunteer judges selected finalists. Each category entered by Bluegreen included competition from other organizations and business in the timeshare and resort industry.

“To have been selected as finalists in sixteen categories is a significant honor for Bluegreen Corporation and its associates who work hard every day to stay on the forefront of the timeshare and resort industry,” says Ellen Devine, Executive Assistant to Bluegreen’s President and CEO, John Maloney.

Bluegreen’s 2011 ARDA Awards finalist nominations represent many departments within the company. Specific categories included Interior Design, Resort Amenities, Resort Architecture, Green Sustainable Programs, Video Production, Special Events, Company Magazine and Website, Food & Beverage Programs, Administrative Staff Members and more.

Since 1996, Bluegreen has managed, marketed and sold a flexible vacation ownership plan with more than 222,600 owners, over 54 owned or managed resorts, and access to more than 4,000 resorts worldwide.

Bluegreen Corporation resorts include La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club in Aruba, Daytona SeaBreeze, Daytona Beach, and the Pono Kai Resort on Kauai's Coconut Coast. Take a timeshare rental vacation and see for yourself why Bluegreen Corporation is at the top of the industry.

The website Business News Express posted an article on March 3, 2011, written by Kris Hana, titled "Illegal Timeshare Sales on the Rise." In that article, Hana quotes Florida timeshare victim advocate attorney Susan Budowski, who warns consumers to be aware that with the resurgence of the timeshare industry, timeshare scams will rise with it.

Hana notes that Howard Nusbaum, President of the American Resort Development Association, stated “The travel and timeshare industry is seeing a resurgence of travel in 2011, terrific news for the timeshare industry.” And that has led Attorney Budowski to explain that this also brings more victims of deceptive sales practices by unscrupulous sales representatives.

Reports Hana, Budowski adds, “Unfortunately many timeshare owners are getting taken advantage of multiple times. I have seen those who have been misled or coerced into buying a timeshare and then later desperate to get out of their contract, attempt to sell their timeshare only to be taken advantage of by a resale company.”

This is evidenced, says Hana, by a recent SWAT team raid of a purported timeshare resale company by the Orlando Police Department. A spokesman for the Orlando Police Department said, “The company was taking two to four thousand dollars per customer without providing any services. The raid and arrests were a result of timeshare owners from Florida to Canada filing multiple complaints.”

Attorney Budowski advises timeshare owners that feel they have been a victim of a resale scam to contact their local authorities. She adds, “The majority of legitimate real estate transactions do not require an upfront fee to try to sell or rent a property; if a company does, that should raise a huge red flag.”

Budowski also warns of a surge in timeshare cancellation companies on the Internet and utilizing similar unscrupulous telemarketing firms to take advantage of timeshare owners’ misfortunes, reports Hana. “These companies make false claims of legal expertise and claim to guarantee refunds and/or cancellations of timeshares, and like the resale companies, require an upfront fee, many times exceeding what it would cost to hire an attorney.”

The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) has launched a new website devoted to the needs of timeshare owners. The ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC) has been a big influence among 'homeowner associations', representing and lobbying for the needs of many committees across North America.

Its new site - ARDAROC.org - will cater to existing timeshare owners "who already own the product, and understand it, but look at some of the issues facing owners today," according to ARDA's CEO and president, Howard Nusbaum.

ARDAROC.org is geared up to inform and motivate timeshare owners to take action on issues that affect them. Among the key features at ARDAROC.org is an interactive map for owners to select their home state and learn about the latest news and issues that ARDA feels should be useful to them.

Stories making headlines include news of a major change proposed by a house bill in the state of Utah under the Timeshare and Camp Resort Act which could allow delinquent owners to avoid obligations to their homeowners association without penalty under certain conditions - a situation that ARDA will fervently lobby against to protect HOAs.

The latest addition to ARDA's web repository is funded by a cross section of the timeshare industry including major developers, management companies, and other industry service providers.

ARDAROC.org is ARDA's third website. The Association's home base, ARDA.org, caters to industry needs, while the consumer-facing VacationBetter.org is a flag waver for the affirming benefits of timeshare for prospective owners.

ARDA is a Washington D.C.-based trade association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries (timeshares). ARDA has almost 1,000 corporate members ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded corporations with extensive experience in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate.

The membership also includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, industry vendors, suppliers, and consultants; as well as owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC).