ARDA Study Shows that Timeshares = Happier Vacations
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
ARDA (American Resort Development Association) recently held a study to learn the vacation patterns of timeshare owners vs. the average traveler. The study was conducted by the research group Leger and involved 1,000 participants.
The study revealed that in the last three years, 33% of timeshare owners took four or more vacations compared to only 18% of non-owners. Most of these timeshare vacations are spent with family and friends. Timeshare owners also proved to have happier and more satisfying vacations.
President and CEO of ARDA, Howard Nusbaum shared, “When the cover story in Time Magazine asks ‘Who Killed the Summer Vacation,’ our answer has to be ‘it sure wasn’t the timeshare owner’. Not only do timeshare owners vacation more, they also experience a happier, more relaxing vacation time, usually spent with their loved ones—which we all know is tough to come by with today’s hectic lifestyles.”
Nusbaum is referring to a recent New York Times article in which writer Jack Dickey describes the death of the summer vacation.
The study surveyed happiness through the seven “vacation lifecycle phases.” From planning the vacation to the feeling once the trip is over, timeshare owners experienced higher levels of satisfaction.
Nusbaum continues, “The ease of planning, spacious accommodations, and the ability to choose resorts all over the world all lead to a better overall vacation experience for timeshare owners.”
Participants were asked, what is the most important part of planning your vacation. 45% of participants shared that relaxation is the most important aspect to their vacation. For timeshare members, this relaxation starts during the planning and pre-vacation stages. By knowing that their vacation is prepaid by annual dues, members are at ease when it comes to planning and reserving their trip. Timeshare owners can also anticipate the quality and size of their accommodations, providing even more peace of mind.
To learn more about ARDA, visit ARDA.org. To learn more about timeshare ownership, visit SellMyTimeshareNOW.com.
