How Can ARDA Be Global….When the “A” Stands for American? 

By Howard Nusbaum

May 14, 2012

As I travel the world talking to timeshare developers, owners and other industry watchers, it occurs to me that many of them are probably wondering how ARDA can say that it has a global reach when our title has “American” in its name.

Well, the only real part of our charter that is uniquely "American” is our advocacy effort. One of the big things we do for our members is to monitor and impact the regulatory issues that affect timeshare by engaging in lobbying efforts. These efforts focus on the establishment of a legislative environment that enhances consumer confidence and protection.

But beyond this, everything we do is global. 

Our convention attracts industry people from around the world, and this year it was dubbed “ARDA World” to highlight the focus on global issues and opportunities, as well as the global marketplace in which we all operate. 

In addition, the ARDA International Foundation (AIF) offers professional and educational development and important primary research to our members. We are close to releasing our World Wide Shared Vacation Ownership Survey that will give perspective on the timeshare market in many countries around the world.

So whether our owners want to travel to Breckinridge, Bangkok, or Belize, they will be supported by the “ABCs” of ARDA.

Why Was Convention So Upbeat? 

By Howard Nusbaum

May 11, 2012

This year’s convention was the best I’ve seen in years. And it’s not just that Las Vegas is such a great destination—what has changed is the mood of the industry. After several years of struggling in the economic downturn, things are changing. The feeling was electric.

I believe the biggest positive factor right now is renewed access to capital, which is driving built-up demand to make new deals and form new global alliances.

For some developers, especially those large enough to go straight to the “Street” for securitizations, the credit freeze began to melt in 2009. But for many mid-sized and smaller developers, the hypothecation lending took much longer to de-frost. It is only within the past six months that the world of credit has stabilized for the vast majority. The good performance of our consumer notes coupled with healthier balance sheets has opened a wider flow of capital for the larger part of the industry. And, if this downturn taught us anything, it is that access to capital is at the foundation of our business.

Pairing this with the positive changes the industry has made and the overall entrepreneurial spirit that exists among us made for an upbeat convention, and hopefully an upbeat year to come. 

Celebrate National Tourism Week 

By Lou Ann Burney

May 9, 2012 

While our industry always celebrates the value of vacationing, the week of May 5-13 gives us yet another reason to do so. This week is National Tourism & Travel Week, a week-long annual celebration of the tourism industry that began in 1984 with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan.

ARDA is marking this week as a time to revisit our consumer outreach campaigns that showcase timeshare as a better way to vacation. VacationBetter.org, ARDA’s consumer website, houses our current Timeshare Fan initiative—where you can get a first-hand look at real timeshare owners and learn why they love vacationing with timeshare.

We are now expanding upon the success of this initiative to feature stories and highlights from vacation resort employees who help make vacations a special and time-honored tradition for owners. In addition to monthly owner spotlights, we will be sharing profiles of the “Faces of Timeshare” to not only celebrate the efforts of those working in the industry, but also to provide consumers an inside look at the resorts and the employees who make our owners rave about their annual vacations.

Take some time this week to plan your next vacation!  

The State of Florida: Working Hard for Timeshare Consumers 

by Jason Gamel, ARDA State Affairs

May 7, 2012 

 What do the Florida Office of the Attorney General, Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) all have in common?

They are all working tirelessly to protect timeshare owners from fraudulent actors in the secondary resale market. In the past six months, the industry has seen the passage of landmark timeshare resales legislation (thank you to Attorney General Bondi and her staff), dozens of investigations and arrests made by DACS related to timeshare resales fraud, and educational efforts spearheaded by DBPR to inform consumers about their rights as timeshare owners. After meeting with representatives from each of these offices this week, I am more convinced than ever that Florida is truly finding ways to help those who take their hard-earned vacations there.

Expect plenty of industry cooperation in the upcoming months to help identify fraudulent businesses (that have targeted timeshare owners as their victims) and to aid in the drafting of future legislation to put more tools in the hands of law enforcement to eradicate fraud in the industry. Along the same lines, expect increased educational efforts to come from the state and the industry that will put consumers in a better position to make good decisions about how they sell their timeshare interests. You can also visit www.arda-roc.org/resales for information related to timeshare resales and other consumer protection issues.

For now, if a consumer wishes to file a formal complaint against a person or company who they suspect may be involved in fraudulent activity, we encourage them to visit the Florida Attorney General’s website, the Florida DBPR website, and the Florida DACS website.

ARDA and ARDA-ROC are very excited about working with these agencies and see great things happening for the industry and consumers in 2012 and beyond.

Hawaii Update  

by Jason Gamel, ARDA State Affairs 

April 30, 2012 

On Friday, April 20, several timeshare industry representatives testified in front of the Maui County Council to oppose Mayor Alan Arakawa’s proposed increase in the timeshare property tax rate from $15.00 to $16.15 per $1,000 of assessed value. While we remain positive about preventing an increase, the County also became aware that its prior property tax revenue assumptions were overstated, meaning the Mayor will have to revise his budget to include $6 million in revenue increases. At this time there is no indication that Maui County would be interested in cutting spending vs. raising more revenue, explaining the proposed increase in the timeshare property tax rate. Click here to view the testimony submitted by ARDA, ARDA-Hawaii, and ARDA-ROC. We’d like to thank the representatives from Starwood Vacation Ownership, Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, Diamond Resorts International, Sands of Kahana Resort, ARDA, ARDA-ROC (Resort Owners’ Coalition), and the law firm of Imanaka, Kudo and Fujimoto for their presence at the hearing on April 20 as well as the owners and developers who submitted testimony. 

On May 3rd, the Maui County Council will have another public hearing to take testimony on the proposed property tax rates, including the timeshare rate. Even though the industry has made its position clear to the council over the past two years, ARDA and ARDA-ROC will continue to express its concerns about any increase to the timeshare tax rate.  

We need your help. Please share your concerns with the County Council Members. For contact information or to review talking points on this subject, visit the Maui County Tax Center on the ARDA-ROC website. 

Unfortunately, this will not be the last time that ARDA, ARDA-ROC, and the timeshare industry will be doing battle with the Maui County Council on property tax issues. Rest assured that we are continuing to look at ways that the industry can convince the council that taxing the timeshare industry is not a long term solution for the county’s budget issues.  Please check back with us in the next few weeks for more information.

Take Two Weeks and Call Me in the Morning 

March 27, 2012

We’ve seen the research:  vacations are important for your good health. Then why do Americans leave at least two of their 14 vacation days on the table annually? It’s because they don’t have the extra money and don’t make the time to plan. 

We know that timeshare vacations are an antidote to both of those problems. Once they have pre-paid, most owners find a way to use the time they’ve purchased – committing themselves to regular vacation time.  And the planning aspect is easy when you own timeshare. 

ARDA is encouraging our members to highlight the health benefits that regular, “get-away” vacations can provide.   

“People need to realize that taking time to unwind is an important health benefit,” says Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. “Relieving stress, spending time with family, and re-energizing will pay dividends throughout the rest of the year.”  

So, pass on this doctor’s advice—“Take Two Weeks and Call Me in the Morning!” 

ARDA Issues Tips for Exchange

by Lou Ann Burney

March 16, 2012 

 
As a part of our consumer education campaign, ARDA worked with RCI and Interval International to issue a news release with consumer tips on “Making the Most of Exchange.” We are sharing these with the media, posting on VacationBetter.org, and getting the message on exchange out through our social media channels.

After all, this is one of the main reasons people continue to buy and love their timeshare vacations. Here are the tips…feel free to share them!

Tips for getting the most out of your timeshare exchange:

Deposit early: In general, the earlier you deposit your interval the greater trading power you will receive. This will result in more available vacation choices. Members of the RCI Weeks program can deposit their timeshares up to two years before their start dates.

Be flexible: The more specific you make your vacation searches, the less options you will find. Allowing for some flexibility in the dates you plan to travel or the destinations or resorts you want to visit will greatly increase your chances of finding a match.

Strength in Numbers: Members who own multiple weeks or points intervals can deposit them at once and may be able to redeem them to secure additional units to travel with family and friends. RCI also allows its RCI Weeks subscribing members to combine units so they can trade up and exchange for an interval with a higher trading power.

Exchange Online: Search for your next vacation online at your convenience by visiting IntervalWorld.com or RCI.com. These online sites allow subscribing members to search through thousands of vacation options and complete their vacation exchange in a few simple clicks.

Protect Your Vacation: Purchasing vacation protection gives timeshare owners the peace of mind in knowing that if they need to cancel their exchange vacation for any reason, the deposited interval they used for exchange will be restored and they will receive a credit for the exchange fee they paid that can be used toward another exchange in the future.

Watch and Learn: Get the story on placing pending requests, finding a pet-friendly resort, and more by watching Interval’s informative tutorials on IntervalWorld.com or by visiting RCI.com and checking out the educational videos at RCI® TV.