ARDA

If you assume that married couples with children own the majority of timeshare units, you are correct. The average timeshare purchaser is likely to be middle to upper income, married, and somewhere between ‘fortyish’ and ‘fiftyish’. A large percentage of the timeshare vacation property sold today is to people in this demographic, and quite honestly, it accounts for a lot of timeshares.

According to an article published recently by Hotel Interactive, the sales of new timeshare units in the US climbed by 16 percent in 2006 to a total of $10 billion. The article, which is based on a study conducted by Ernst & Young, LLP, and released by ARDA International Foundation, also said that among the 625 US timeshare resorts surveyed, timeshare sales are up 81 percent over the past five years. But as you will quickly realize if you look at the vast inventory of timeshare resales available at Sell My Timeshare NOW, while many people are buying timeshare, many people are also selling timeshare.

Dennis Serpone, president of Singles Marketing Group adds an interesting twist to the topic of who’s buying timeshare units. In an article published in the June 2007 edition of Perspective, A Timeshare & Leisure Property Magazine, Serpone suggests that timeshare sales today should be directed more toward singles than couples. In “The Singles Experience,” Serpone describes singles as the, “largest group of the most receptive overlooked people in the world”. Serpone says that most singles hate the way they currently vacation, traveling alone or with a friend to a resort where they are left to mingle primarily with families or couples. He points out that singles generally “have more disposable income, more time and desire to travel, (and) less family obligations…”

The article also announces plans for “the first totally dedicated singles resort”, which I suppose means first totally dedicated singles timeshare resort. The resort is planned for Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands and will feature fifty beachfront timeshare units, anticipated to sell for $15,000 to $25,000 per timeshare interval week.

It’s all an interesting idea. While I don’t anticipate that timeshare developers will ever neglect couples because couples represent the heart and soul of the timeshare vacation market, it would be nice to see the needs and interests of the millions of adult singles also addressed by the timeshare industry. Choices and options are always a good thing.

President of Welk Resorts takes on more responsibilities with the American Resort Development Association.

The American Resort Development Association, known as ARDA, is the professional association for the vacation ownership (timeshare) and resort development industries. With over 1,000 members, ARDA protects and advances the needs of its timeshare industry related membership.

This month, Jon Fredricks, CHA, RRP, president of Welk Resorts was elected as the new chairman of ARDA. Howard C. Nusbaum, RRP and ARDA’s president and CEO was quoted in Hotel Interactive Magazine as saying, “Jon Fredricks is an exemplary Leader in timeshare, fractional, and private residence club development, with a history of stewardship as an active member of the ARDA Board of Directors and as chairman of the ARDA California Legislative Committee.”

Welk Resort timeshares include:

• The Welk Resort – San Diego timeshares
• The Welk Resort – Desert Oasis timeshares (Palm Springs and Escondido)
• The Welk Resort – Branson timeshares

For those of you “mature” enough to remember the impresario of television’s champagne music, Jon Fredricks is the grandson of the late musician, entertainer, and bandleader, Lawrence Welk. And to refresh your memory, take a look at this great piece of video we found on www.youtube.com…and a one…and a two…

Before you buy vacation property, learn the facts.

According to statistics recently released by the National Association of Realtors, four out of every ten homes sold are purchased either as investment properties or as a second home. As today’s baby boomer generation enters their peak income earning years, as well as comes into inherited money from previous generations, this trend is expected to escalate.

The vacation home market it thriving and with it comes new options for ownership beyond the traditional cabin in the woods or condo on the beach. Fractionals and private residence clubs are choices for people looking to buy deeded property to use on a part time basis. Destination clubs are another option in which owners do not acquire a deed to a specific property but instead gain the right to use a portfolio of homes.

Condo hotels or condotels are actual operating hotel properties that offer some or all of their suites for sale to individuals. While the hotel units may be privately owned, the condo hotel management assumes responsibility for running the hotel and providing contracted management of the units to be rented like regular hotel rooms. Owners can schedule the units at any time for their personal use.

And of course, there are timeshares and vacation club memberships which offer a variety of products from deeded ownerships, to right-to-use, to points-based programs. Timeshares enable you to buy vacation property yet pay for only the days and nights you actually schedule to use. While new timeshare in 2005 sold for an average price of more than $17,000 per week or interval, resale timeshare is available at much lower prices. If you are among the many people who are looking for vacation ownership, ARDA, the American Resort Development Association, has developed the following questionnaire to help you decide which option is best for your lifestyle and your budget:

1. How much time will we be using the vacation home?
2. Is the destination choice difficult to purchase in, or seem over-valued due to location popularity?
3. Are we looking at this second home as an investment and/or family legacy, or perhaps primarily as an annual ‘go to’ vacation spot?
4. How much time and money are we willing to invest in home maintenance or decor?
5. Is it important to be in the same vacation home every time we visit the area, or do we prefer variety?
6. What level of luxury are we seeking, and are we realistically able to achieve it in a second home?
7. Is it important for the vacation home to be deeded?
8. What is our annual vacation budget?

Here’s one more important addition to the list: Before you buy any vacation property, visit www.sellmytimesharenow.com and look into your opportunity to buy resale timeshare at excellent prices.

A free webinar promises a new look at the up-and-coming fractional industry.

NorthCourse Leisure Real Estate Solutions is a division of the RCI Global Vacation Network, that specializes in providing advisory services, research, and asset management to the leisure real estate industry. Their clients include ARDA, Walt Disney, Shell Vacation Ownership, Vistana, the Marriott Corporation, Hilton Timeshares and Hotels, the Hard Rock Café, Hyatt Timeshare, Fairfield Resort Timeshare and Trendwest Timeshare Resorts, to name only a few. On February 27, 2007 NorthCourse will host the seventh annual Fractional Interest Symposium as a free webinar.

Although this online symposium is directed primarily toward persons already in, or contemplating entering the fractional industry, many consumers will be interested in this discussion of the vacation ownership industry. The seminar is free, however, participants must pre-register and receive approval in order to listen to the 90-minute session.

Topics of discussion will include a general look at the latest industry facts and trends, including the findings from the 8th Annual Fractional Interest Report, which documents that the fractional industry in North America increased by 32 percent between 2005 and 2006. Other topics will look at opportunities for growth in the fractional market in the Middle East, Europe, China, and Australia.

Kevin Wallace, chief executive officer of NorthCourse Advisory Services, says, “Our latest research indicates that the fractional ownership industry is growing by leaps and bounds.”

If you are interested in learning more about one of the fastest growing aspects of timesharing, the fractional market, you may want to visit the NorthCourse website.