ARDA (the American Resort Development Association) has introduced its annual contest for timeshare owners. Enter your vacation photo, story, or short video (up to 3 minutes) depicting a special timeshare vacation memory and you could win a $1,000 American Express gift card. Your entry should represent a special timeshare vacation memory, according to ARDA, that had a meaningful effect on your family, your health, or your overall enjoyment of life.

ARDA has always promoted the fact that taking regular vacations is not just fun, it’s good for your health and well-being. Last year, ARDA launched a new website, VacationBetter.org with the purpose of spreading the message, and encouraging more people to simply “Vacation Better”.

Since the contest runs from May 15, 2009 until August 31, 2009, if you don’t already have that special timeshare vacation memory, you have all summer long to buy timeshare resales or rent timeshare and MAKE a memory.

Statistics show that more than 47 million Americans will not use all of their vacation days, proving that we don’t all “get it” when it comes to the importance of leisure time and days spent on holiday. Yet, perhaps the ease, convenience, and long-term value of timeshare, are reasons that, according to Owners Perspective Magazine, “…vacation ownership properties are experiencing more than 80 percent occupancy rates as of March 31, 2009.”

VacationBetter.org will award 3 first place winners, one for photography, one for their written story, and one for video. In each of those categories, there will also be a second place winner, who will receive a $250 American Express gift card. For the complete contest rules, click here.