What’s Fueling the Values-Driven Travel Trend?

1/07/2015 Unknown
American spending and buying is undergoing a profound change according to recent studies of consumerism in the U.S. Where a person travels is no longer a reflection of status, but a reflection of that person's values. Travelers look for ways to connect their travel with people and cultures, and often hope to make a contribution to society while traveling. It's all part of a new values-driven consumerism that according to a survey led by social theorist John Gersema, is carried over to consumer purchases made in all industries.  The survey, conducted over the past 21 years, also shows a long-term behavioral shift. It looks like Americans are returning to the values-driven consumption of our society prior to the years of indulgent spending started in the 80's.

The Great Recession and September 11th rearranged our Priorities

Most travel industry professionals feel value-driven travel was triggered with the events of September 11th and accelerated by the Great Recession. Americans reevaluated what was really important to them and family reemerged at the top of the list.  Multigenerational travel is booming. Americans look at family travel as a way to strengthen the connection with those they care for, as well as an opportunity to celebrate and remember life’s special events. 

Timeshare Ahead of the Trend

Timeshare is perfectly set up to satisfy the multigenerational travel trend. Timeshare provides the ultimate setting for families to connect through travel. Resorts typically have accommodations that offer plenty of space for families to stay together in a comfortable home setting. They also offer a multitude of activities that families can participate in together, and specific recreational areas set up for special celebrations.

Authentic Travel

The term experiential or authentic travel is a term currently being used to describe an emerging trend in travel. Travelers want to get in touch with the local experience. They want a unique and authentic experience that allows interaction with the people and culture of the area they are visiting. As Joshua Bush, CEO of Park Avenue Travel in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, puts it, "the global recession in 2007 and 2008 made people realize it’s not all about collecting things and material wealth, it's about experience."
Companies specializing in authentic or experiential travel say it is not the same as green travel. Their clients want to concentrate on what they can do for a village or an individual rather than saving the whole planet. People want to not only interact with the local culture, they also want to do something to give back to that culture. Projects involving sustainability, education, and health and wellness are popular.

Should timeshare get behind Authentic Travel?

Though the timeshare industry has been heavily involved in green travel, authentic travel really hasn’t been something we have heard much about. One resort that gives its owners and guests an opportunity to experience a bit of authentic travel is Royal Resorts, a timeshare company with resorts throughout Mexico. The company has a Sea Turtle Protection program that rescues and releases baby sea turtles, and protects their nests. Owners and guests staying at the resort during the season from August to November can watch the release of the turtles. A true authentic experience would give owners and guests the opportunity to actually participate in the protection and release of the turtles, and afford direct interaction with the people of the area.
Should timeshare get involved in providing authentic travel experiences for owners and guests? Do you know of any timeshare resorts that are doing it now? Give us your comments at www.timeshare-info.org 


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Travel Resolutions for 2015

12/31/2014 Unknown
While you are making your 2015 New Year resolutions think about including your travel resolutions too. Here are a few to help you get started.

Resolutions for Travelers

  1. Travel more often – By now you've probably read a number of articles about the benefits of travel. It's true that vacationing is good for you. Taking a vacation reduces stress, prevents burnout and makes you more productive when you return to work. A vacation also helps to increase happiness and boosts creativity. 
  2. Experience new places – Travel to a place that you have never been to before. There's nothing like a new environment to stimulate and inspire you. Get out of your comfort zone. Try an exotic location and make it a point to meet the locals. Prepare yourself by learning a little of the language before visiting so you can impress the natives.
  3. Make it a giving experience – You can make a difference while on vacation. There are travel companies that specialize in philanthropic, service travel or stewardship travel. These companies offer the opportunity to learn about and share with other cultures, as you also donate your time to help. Pick a cause and destination that interests you and use your skills to make a positive impact on areas such as the environment, public health, education and wildlife care and conservation. Check out www.globalvolunteer.org, www.globeaware.org, or www.globalworkstravel.com. 
  4. Leave technology behind – Try really disconnecting while on vacation. Leave your devices at home, or at least try a destination remote enough where they won’t work. You might discover something about yourself that you didn’t know and you’ll be better able to entirely immerse yourself in your surroundings and enjoy your trip without distraction.
  5. Rent a condo for a week with multi generations – Vacationing with the family is good for the soul. Sharing the travel experience with family members of all ages is the ultimate quality time. Work, school, chores, commuting and more leave little opportunity to spend meaningful time with loved ones. Vacationing together gives you that time to leave the distractions at home and really communicate with each other as you also develop lasting memories.

Resolutions for Timeshare Industry Professionals


  1. Speak to at least one owner a week – Just as you need to communicate with your personal family, it’s also important to communicate with your timeshare family too. Make it a point to get to know your owners. A friendly hello, how are you is fine, but real communication includes finding out what’s going on in their lives and how they feel about their ownership. Personal contact allows owners to share what they like about their timeshare, but also to give feedback on what they would like improved.
  2. Visit a competitor’s resort – What better way to keep up on what’s going on at your competitor’s resort, but by experiencing it firsthand. Schedule a friendly visit, or even a short stay. Find common ground and see what you can both do to improve.
  3. Cross train yourself or a staff member – Train sales people to work in operations, or accounting staff to work at the front desk, and vice versa. That way, you'll always be prepared and able to jump in and help in an emergency, or when staff is on vacation or out ill. 
  4. Take at least one ARDA Webinar – Knowledge is power. As professionals, it’s important to keep learning. ARDA Webinars offer the convenience of learning new information or a skill without having to leave the office, or from the comfort of your home. (www.arda.org/AIFwebinarseries) 
  5. Become an expert on the area where you work – Learn everything you can about your resort's area. Search for fun, unexpected, or out of the way places that you can recommend to owners and guests. Be the one that owners go to when looking for special places to visit or things to do that enhance their stay.
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Thinking about Traveling for the Winter Holidays?

12/24/2014 Unknown
There may still be time!
It's holiday time and our thoughts turn to family and friends and the inevitable questions of where and when to get together. If you’ve waited this long to decide, you might be considered a bit of a procrastinator, but there still may be time to pull it off.  Just so you know for next year’s plans, the optimum time to book flights for Christmas travel would have been October 8th. According to Orbitz, that’s when prices were 5% below average for the time period, and they then rose slowly to more average holiday prices by Oct. 28th. So what’s a procrastinator to do now? 

Getting There

  • At this late date it might be easier to drive rather than fly, particularly if family members live fairly close together. 
  • Consider holding your holiday get together a week or two earlier, or later than the actual holiday.  The holiday window is approximately December 21st-January 6th. If you can do it, try getting together before the 21st and after January 6th. This may not work for some families, of course, but if you are flexible it will certainly help to avoid the the stress of flying during the holidays, save you a lot of money and could start a new holiday tradition.
  • There may not be any cheap days to fly during the holidays, but there are days the airlines designate for cheaper flights. You certainly are not going to get a good rate the day before the holiday itself, and there’s a great chance there will be no availability on those days. Because both Christmas and New Year's are on Thursday this year, a Sunday departure is not a good bet either. A better bet is to travel on the day of the holiday. Traditionally, flights on the holiday are less expensive.
  • Be sure to check all airlines for flights at this time of year and look for special air sales. An American Airlines Europe fare sale is running right now that features travel dates from December to spring with blackout dates of December 17th-24th. Amazingly, it includes discounted fares the week of Christmas. 

Staying There

Maybe you are one of the lucky ones that has a timeshare week scheduled for this holiday season, or maybe you thought ahead and exchanged for this time early, but if not: 
  • Be flexible in your choice of destinations and be willing to try a new place.
  • Check exchange sites like RCI, Interval International, and Dial-An-Exchange for last minute exchanges and unsold inventory.
  • Rental sites such as RedWeek.com and ResorTime.com are also options to consider.
It’s worth a little effort to get all your family and friends together and who knows, this could turn out to be your best holiday ever. Happy Holidays!


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Travel is Trending - Increases in Both Domestic and Global Travel

12/17/2014 Unknown
2015 is shaping up to be a good year for the timeshare industry.  Adding to ARDA’s latest glowing report that shows significant growth in 2013 are more positive predictions from travel industry experts of increased domestic and global travel in 2015. As the recession has receded, confidence in the economic situation has returned, and both domestic and global travel has increased. After four consecutive years of growth that surpassed the world economy by 1.5 percent, predictions are that 2015 should be an even bigger year for the travel industry.    
These 2013 travel statistics from industry experts, are helping to fuel the positive outlook for 2015:
  • 70 million international travelers visited the U.S.  
  • International travelers visiting the U.S. spent a record $181 billion on goods and services
  • U.S. residents took 1.6 billion trips for leisure purposes 
  • Spending on leisure travel generated $91.9 billion in tax revenue

Travel’s economic impact important to trade balance and job creation

Even President Obama agrees that travel is a significant influencer on many of his economic priorities such as the U.S. trade balance and job creation. This spring, Obama met with leaders of America’s travel industry at the White House to talk about more activities to spur economic growth through travel and tourism. Discussion included the renewal of Brand USA, a public-private partnership that has successfully marketed the U.S. as a tourist destination. 

Americans are keeping it domestic

According to a recent survey by Skift.com, only 13 percent of Americans traveled abroad last year. And of those who did travel abroad, more than 75 percent made more than $100,000 a year.  Issues such as as a weak dollar, high ticket prices, and safety, are some of the reasons Americans are preferring to vacation in their home country.  

International travelers 

On the other hand, the international travel market is growing rapidly, and many of those travelers are traveling to the U.S. America’s competitors in the international travel market were the first to realize the importance of travel promotion - the targeted marketing of countries to potential international visitors. In 2010, after losing ground to the important global market, the US Congress passed the Travel Promotion Act (TPA). That act also created Brand USA, a destination marketing organization for across the globe promotion of the U.S. According to the U.S. travel Association, Brand USA’s efforts has helped add an additional 1.1 million incremental visitors to the U.S. - an increase of 2.3 percent. 

Niche Markets are Trending

A recent article in Travel Age West Magazine reports that the new travel markets on the rise are experiential travel, upscale adventure travel and wellness travel. Hotels and airlines are incorporating more personalized services and the latest technologies. The cruise industry is debuting new ships that combine ocean-going and river cruise itineraries.

Sources:



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Who’s Buying Timeshares Now?

11/26/2014 Unknown
New timeshare buyers are a diverse group according to a recent Shared Vacation Ownership study from ARDA International Foundation (AIF). Younger and culturally diverse, these new buyers are fueling the timeshare industry's current growth mode of 7.9 percent up from 7.2 percent in 2012. 

What Defines the New Buyers?

Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of ARDA says, "We're excited not only about the fact that sales are up in our industry, but also about why they are up. While existing owners continue to enjoy the lifestyle and purchase more timeshare, it's the new owners that are responsible for the majority of qualified new sales." Statistics from the Shared Vacation Ownership study show just who these new buyers are and the reasons they can qualify for a timeshare purchase.

They are younger and more diverse 

  • Almost 10 years younger than conventional owners - median age of 39
  • 42% are African American or Hispanic

They are highly educated, employed, have families, own homes 

  • 72% are college graduates
  • 79% are married or in a committed relationship 
  • 51% have children under age 18
  • 72% are employed full-time
  • $94,800 is median household income
  • 91% own a home

They do their research before they purchase

  • 75% had some form of experience with timeshare before purchasing
  • 35% attended multiple sales presentations
  • 44% vacationed at the resort before they bought
  • 42% experienced timeshare by renting first

They understand value

  • 36% bought their timeshare to save money on vacations
  • 31% bought a timeshare for the vacation flexibility it offers

More Good Signs

Other trends from the Shared Vacation Ownership study showed that the overall purchase price of a timeshare rose to an average of nearly $20,000. Timeshare owners are spreading their vacations evenly between summer, fall and spring, and 40% are as likely to travel under 500 miles as they are to travel 1000 miles or more. Though 75% of owners vacationed at a timeshare resort, the study showed 16% converted their timeshare to a different type of vacation-related purchase such as a cruise or airline ticket. 

Sources





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What do Eric Cantor and David Gregory Have in Common?

11/19/2014 Unknown
Attendees at this week's ARDA Fall Conference in D.C. are in for a treat - both Cantor and Gregory are keynote speakers at this year’s event. The Honorable Eric Cantor, former House Republican Majority Leader, speaks Thursday at the legislative luncheon. David Gregory, the former host of Meet the Press, is a keynote speaker later in the afternoon on Thursday. The two are both masters of reinvention, having both survived and flourished after being fired from their previous positions. They are sure to have some interesting insights to share.

Eric Cantor

From 2001 to 2014, Eric Cantor served as United States Senator for Virginia’s 7th congressional district. During that time, he was also House Majority Leader and House Minority Whip. In a surprising upset, Cantor lost his bid for re-election in 2014 to economics professor, Dave Brat. It didn't take Cantor long to get on with a new life. He resigned early from Congress on August 18, 2014, and immediately went to work as vice chairman of investment bank Moelis & Company for compensation many times greater than his Senate salary.  With his years of legislative experience, Cantor is the perfect choice of speaker for the legislative luncheon sponsored by ARDA’s Resort Owner Coalition (ARDA-ROC).  This grassroots coalition (made up of timeshare owners) lobbies to protect timeshare owners from detrimental legislation.

David Gregory

David Gregory was the host and moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press for six years where he had a reputation for asking tough questions of many of the world’s leaders. Since 2001, he was also NBC’s chief White House correspondent and often featured on NBC Nightly News, the Today Show, and MSNBC. In August of 2014, Gregory was fired from Meet the Press and was paid $4 million to leave NBC. It was rumored he also had to sign a contract not to speak out against the network. Gregory, like Cantor, has bounced back as a much in demand moderator and speaker. In his presentations, he speaks openly about the topics he is well-versed in: politics, current affairs, and popular media’s responsibilities in mass communications.

More Conference Speakers

Other featured speakers at the conference are: Marci Rossell, former CNBC Chief Economist and co-host of Squawk Box, and Chris Cillizza, journalist, political pundit and author of the Fix column at the Washington Post.

Not Attending the Conference?


In case you are unable to attend the fall conference, ARDA will post the important issues covered at the conference on its website. (www.arda.org) 

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ARDA International Foundation Promotes Professional Growth for Success

11/05/2014 Unknown
ARDA kicks off its fall conference on November 12th in Washington, D.C. It;s sure to offer many opportunities for attendees to learn about key timeshare issues, set goals for the future and network with colleagues, but ARDA is not just about conferencing a few times a year.  ARDA International Foundation (AIF) offers a continuing source of education programs. What began in 1982 as a research tool to keep up with the rapid growth and change of the timeshare industry now has evolved into much more. AIF offers timeshare industry members multiple opportunities for professional growth.

AIF Education 

Timeshare professionals who are looking to gain expertise in a certain area of the industry need look no further than AIF's education programs. Through AIF, education participants can increase their industry knowledge, develop skills and earn professional designations including the Associate Resort Professional (ARP), Registered Resort Professional (RRP) and Certified Timeshare Supervisor (CTS).  

University Partnerships = More Industry Awareness

As a means of bringing new people into the timeshare industry, AIF partners with universities to provide resources to build course curricula, and internship programs to familiarize students with the industry. AIF's scholarship programs offer networking opportunities for both students and professors that help to bring them closer to the timeshare community on a personal level.

Suppliers also Benefit

Those supplying goods and services to the timeshare industry can earn AIF's Supplier Certification designation. It's a win-win situation. Suppliers become more knowledgeable of the industry, the characteristics of timeshare buyers, and trends and legal issues. Timeshare buyers gain savvy suppliers who know what the industry needs and can provide the best services.

Easy and Convenient Access to Learning

AIF offers easy and convenient access to professional development opportunities through its online learning platform.  Professionals may participate in self-study-courses, downloadable research, and webinar presentations accessible through computer or smart phone. Courses like Timeshare 101 teach the basics to industry newbies. Partnership Strategies helps timeshare professionals strengthen their customer skills with new ways to market and service the timeshare product.

Leadership Development

ARDA LEAPS is a program specifically designed to nurture and develop future ARDA leaders. The one year program requires nomination by an organization. As part of the selection process, nominated candidates must submit a 500 word document on why they should be in the program. After completion of the year long program, ARDA LEAP's candidates are encouraged to continue service to the industry such as mentoring new LEAP candidates, and participating on an ARDA committee.

Future of the Industry

As the timeshare industry continues to grow and evolve, it is important that those of us working in the industry continue to grow and evolve too. Professional development opportunities for industry professionals and education partnerships that develop awareness of our industry, help to keep the industry growing and thriving.


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