Capturing
the Spirit of the Holidays
By ARDA Staff
December
11, 2012
In the midst
of the annual holiday season, we decided to ask our members how they made this
time special for their guests and for their communities. We were pleased to see
that nearly everyone had something to share!
For
December’s “Faces of Timeshare” we profiled a few unique stories:
This past Thanksgiving,
Holiday Inn Club Vacations treated a
family of longtime owners to a special day. Chef Josh Moynihan spent part of
his holiday creating a wonderful family memory for the Ripple family. Chef Moynihan
spent the morning in the Ripples’ villa cooking up a delicious Thanksgiving
meal, complete with two 12-pound turkeys and all the trimmings.
Sharon and
Tom Grupe used their Wyndham Vacation
Ownership (WVO) ownership to
bring four generations of their family together for Thanksgiving…all 38 of
them! Family members from across the country flew in to Wyndham Bonnet Creek
Resort in Orlando, Florida for the big event. Their Thanksgiving feast had the whole
family pitching in, and members of the Resort staff helped secure space for the
large family to eat Thanksgiving dinner together. “They were so wonderful; I
feel like they’re part of the family,” Sharon said.
Owners at Christie Lodge, located in Avon,
Colorado at the base of Beaver Creek resort, also share their holidays with the
staff and employees during their annual vacation. Each year, owner Dr. Jirina
Fishman hosts a family-style meal and party for her guests and staff at
Christie Lodge who work to make her stay so memorable. The Christie Lodge staff
also lends a hand to help set up her dinner party and gathers together extra tables
and chairs for her special night.
ARDA members
also take time not only to care for their guests, but also to give back to
their local communities. Christie Lodge has Salvation Army Drop boxes
throughout the resort for owners and employees to donate everything from
clothing and furniture to packaged food items left over from their timeshare
stay. The Salvation Army ensures that the items go to those less fortunate
throughout Vail Valley and the local surrounding communities.
Interval International raises money to fill Thanksgiving gift baskets with
non-perishable food items that are distributed to deserving families in the
Miami area. In December, Interval’s Annual Holiday Toy Fest benefits deserving
children who can visit with Santa Claus and select a holiday gift.
For more
details read the full press release and check out our new "Holiday Memories" Pinterest board for some great photos.