Perspective Magazine released an interesting study of the readership of Owners Perspective Magazine in the publication’s November edition. Their justifiable point is that Owners Perspective Magazine offers an effective venue for advertisers who want to get their message to timeshare buyers, timeshare owners, vacationers who consider buying timeshare in the future and even travelers who rent timeshare.

But in the process of making this point, the publication also offers all of the timeshare industry, as well as individuals who want to sell timeshare, a reliable profile of who is interested in buying timeshare or who may want to buy timeshare soon.

Profile of Timeshare Owners and Prospective Timeshare Buyers

The timeshare survey shows that the most popular countries for timeshares owned are:

• Europe timeshare (including UK timeshare) at 57 percent.
• US timeshare (which includes always-popular Hawaii timeshare) and Canada timeshare at 31 percent.
• Asia timeshare and Australia timeshare at 7 percent.
• Caribbean timeshare and Mexico timeshare at 3 percent.
• Middle East timeshare and Africa timeshare at 2 percent.

The average age of timeshare owners and owners of vacation property is between 56 and 62 but the average age of those who are interested in buying timeshare is between 42 and 48. They are 54 percent males and 46 percent females, and include 42 percent that are currently non-owners of timeshare but who want to buy timeshare in the future. Another 36 percent are current timeshare owners; 16 percent own fractionals; and 6 percent who are overseas property owners.

The Perspective Magazine article describes its readership as, “… more highly educated on average … technologically hip and like to compare prices. … they have an understanding of the pros and cons of vacation ownership and they’re aware of (timeshare) scams. They demonstrate an aversion to OPCs and scratch cards, they don’t trust telemarketers, and they are generally suspicious of sales techniques.”

Remember that these facts are not based on timeshare owners across the board but specifically on timeshare owners who also read Owners Perspective Magazine. However, one can’t help but assume that this look offers a reliable overview of timeshare ownership and timeshare interest.

And the takeaway? Don’t let the naysayers fool you. Timeshare owners are not frustrated and dissatisfied with their timeshares and vacation ownership; even in a declining economy, occupancy rates are around 80 percent and reported satisfaction rates even higher at 86 percent, according to a recent study from Smith Travel Research.

Neither are timeshare owners a group who were duped into making a purchase they did not understand. Timeshare and timeshare resales are a strong industry that has served millions and millions of timeshare buyers and timeshare renters well, and that continues to make improvements to all aspects of its products and services.

Here’s a link to some of the Frequently Asked Questions by timeshare buyers and those who are looking to buy timeshare in the future: http://www.sellmytimesharenow.com/timeshares/index/content/buyerfaq/

People who have money to spend these days are often home shopping and why not? The residential real estate market is flooded with homes at rock bottom low prices, supported by the lowest interest rates in decades. And if it is the right time to buy real estate, does this include buying timeshares or timeshare resales?

Yes, suggest Bankrate.com in an article titled, “Should you buy a timeshare now?” that was published on the real estate section of their website. The article starts by pointing to the 2009 decline in annual timeshare sales as validated by ARDA that reported timeshare sales down 8 percent from 2008 to 2007.

But—and this is a valid and unchanging truth about timeshare sales—DO NOT buy timeshare as an investment strategy. Bankrate.com quotes Judi Kozlowski, a broker with Re/Max Properties SW in Orlando, Florida who says, “Only those who want to use the timeshare should get into the market. Timeshare is an investment in your time and family, not a financial investment.”

Lisa Ann Schreier, founder of Timeshare Insights reinforces the message, “Timeshare isn’t a business for consumers; it’s a vacation alternative. A timeshare should only be thought of as an investment in your future vacations.”

Buy Timeshare and Timeshare Resales

I don’t know where you are investing these days; most of us are pretty perplexed by that challenge. But I do know that there are a few things definitely worth your “investment”.

• Invest your time in creating a greater sense of stability and more peace of mind. Buying timeshare today means you lock-in today’s vacation accommodation rates (currently at very competitive prices) for a lifetime of vacations. When you buy timeshare, you make vacation planning the easiest it can possibly be.
• Invest your heart in those people you care about most. Build stronger family bonds and create more meaningful moments and lasting memories. Even young children are affected by the negative news of an unstable economy, a collapsing job market, threats of terrorism, and today’s “reality”. Timeshare vacations afford you and your loved ones a time and place to forget about the daily grind, reconnect, and restore.
• Invest in yourself. Take better care of your health, which often includes both exercising more and relaxing more. Carve out time to recharge yourself in new venues and favorite vacation spots. Not only do you owe it to yourself, you owe it to those who depend on you.

As Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of ARDA points out, a timeshare has a value proposition that comes from using it. Yes, now is a great time to buy timeshare, especially right-priced timeshare resales, but buy timeshare because you plan to use and enjoy it, and never because you are looking for a financial investment.

Timeshare exchange company, Trading Places International was recently named one of the top 75 companies in Orange County (California) on the Orange County Register’s Top Workplaces for 2009 List.

“We’ve always been conscious of the fact that our employees seem to enjoy working for us, and our goal has always been to create an atmosphere in which we can strike a balance between working hard and having fun.” says RJ Jackson, president of Trading Places International timeshare company and timeshare exchange. “It is very gratifying to discover, through the results of the employee survey, that we have indeed succeeded in that goal.”

Trading Places International has been in the travel, vacation ownership, and timeshare exchange industries for more than thirty-five years. The company has over 71,000 timeshare owner members at more than thirty timeshare resort locations, including South America timeshares, Mexico timeshares, United States timeshares (mainland), and Hawaii timeshares.

Trading Places International, which boasts a 95 percent confirmed timeshare exchange request rate, is a preferred partner of Sell My Timeshare NOW. Timeshare owner benefits of timeshare exchange with Trading Places include:

• No mandatory membership fee
• Low exchange fees
• Search available inventory before depositing your timeshare week
• Online exchange services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Additional discounts and perks for Trading Places’ Vacation Exchange Club members

All of the companies that made the OC Register‘s Top Workplaces List were selected based on a survey involving 31, 311 employees at 121 companies across the county. The survey addressed compensation and training, company leadership, workplace flexibility, and diversity.

Click here to read a Q & A about Trading Places International timeshare company:
Trading Places International: The perks of being a small business

Before you know it, the WIN (Women in the Industry) Orlando Conference will be here.

Scheduled for January 28-29, 2011, the educational and networking opportunity begins with an evening reception at The Fountains. On Saturday morning, the conference sessions run from 9AM to 2PM at The Marriott Learning Center also in Orlando. This conference marks WIN’s second Orlando event, with the first having been in Orlando last January.

WIN reminds everyone in the timeshare industry that although its purpose is to advance the opportunities for women in the timeshare and vacation ownership industry, its membership is open to men and women, corporations and individuals. WIN works to foster the growth of women in timeshare, offering networking, mentoring, and charity, business and educational opportunities.

Benefactors of WIN include: Group RCI, Marriott Vacation Clubs International, CARE, ICE, Wyndham Worldwide, and Shell Vacations. Others in the timeshare industry support WIN as event sponsors or as patrons.

More Information on the Timeshare Industry’s WIN, Women in the Industry

To learn more about the Orlando WIN Timeshare Conference or how you can be part of WIN, visit the organization’s website at: www.womenintheindustry.org

You can also email them at: info@womenintheindustry.org or call (561) 912-8031.

For specifics on the Orlando WIN event, contact: Ellen Devine

You could be visiting a Disney theme park free this year. And if you are a Disney Vacation Club Member, (Disney timeshare owner) or you have a Disney timeshare rental, then you will be enjoying the benefits and savings that go along with Disney timeshare, Disney timeshare resales, and Disney timeshare rentals on top of your theme park ticket savings.

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day

For 2010, Disney is launching its new “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” promotion designed to encourage volunteerism. In order to participate in the program you must sign up online at: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=Give-A-Day-Get-A-Disney-Day

You and up to eight members of your family can participate (children must be age six or older) by volunteering to serve in one of hundreds of volunteer opportunities available across the US. Once your participation in a designated volunteer activity has been confirmed by the HandsOn Network, (the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute), you will receive an email with instructions on how to print your Disney theme park voucher. Full details are available at the Disney Give a Day, Get a Disney Day website.

If you use your free pass at Disneyland® Resort in California, you can redeem your voucher for a 1-day ticket to either Disneyland® Park or Disney’s California Adventure® Park. If you choose Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida, you can redeem your voucher for a 1-day ticket to one of the follow: Magic Kingdom® theme park, Epcot®, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® theme park, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ theme park. (Tickets are not valid for admission to a Disney Water Park admission, DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park or Disney’s World Wide of Sports® Complex.)

With this kind of savings, a Disney vacation becomes more affordable than ever. Now image how much you can save by buying right-priced Disney timeshare resales or enjoying a Disney timeshare rental?

Across the US, Disney has been sharing its message about the program. Here’s a YouTube video of the Disney Give a Day, Get a Disney Day promotion in Dallas, Texas.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment (formerly Busch Entertainment Corporation) has announced it will continue its long-running, “Here’s to the Heroes” promotion.

Through this promotion, men and women who are active members of any branch of the US military received a free single-day ticket to any one of the SeaWorld Parks. This includes, SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Antonio, SeaWorld San Diego, the two Busch Garden parks (Tampa Bay, Florida and Williamsburg, Virginia) Sesame Place (Pennsylvania), Water Country USA (Williamsburg), and Adventure Island (Tampa). Making the benefits even better, the member of the armed forces not only gets free admission, but can get one free admission each for up to three direct dependents.

The promotion applies to any active duty, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman. Excluded from the offer is admission to: Discovery Cove, Aquatica, and the Christmas Town portion of Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.

Opportunities for Everyone in Timeshare Resales and Timeshare Rentals

Discounts such as these to our men and women in the military are well deserved. And to make vacation planning even better, there are also great timeshare deals in timeshare resales and timeshare rentals available for anyone at all of these popular destinations:

• Orlando timeshare
• San Antonio timeshare
• Tampa timeshare
• Florida timeshare
• Pennsylvania timeshare
• Williamsburg timeshare