The Timeshare Industry began over three decades ago when families shared vacation homes in Europe.
Companies providing the ability for owners to exchange timeshare vacations emerged soon
after and real timeshare industry growth began.
During the 1970 's and 80 's new timeshare sales practices earned a less than positive
reputation. However, because of the natural growth cycles of the timeshare industry and efforts
from its leaders and more effective regulation, most of the negative practices have
been eliminated from the industry.
In the early days the timeshare industry had little respect. However beginning in
the 1990s the timeshare industry experienced a renaissance and it continues
to mature. New developer sales and timeshare resales activity continue to grow beginning
a new era for this once questionable industry.
Initially timeshare properties were marketed as investments. Timeshares are not
in fact investments and one should not buy a timeshare with the expectation of reselling
it for a profit. While one might buy a timeshare property to make an investment
in a lifestyle, few timeshares appreciate—only the ones in choice locations during
specific seasons.
The increasing positive image of the retail and timeshare industry is a result
of two main factors. One is the influx of well established companies into the new
sales market such as Marriott, Disney, Hilton, Hyatt, Wyndham and others. These
corporations have spent significant resources informing the public of the many benefits
of timeshare and counteracting the poor reputation that lingered from the early
days of the timeshare industry. Branding by Marriott, Hilton, Disney, Westin, Hyatt and others
has improved product image and helped new timeshare sales & resales.
The second factor is that people are realizing that the concept of timeshare is
a real vacation option. With the improved industry reputation, more and more people
are attracted to the idea of timesharing as opposed to discrediting the concept
because of those early, new sales techniques and marketing. The day has come where
consumers are waking to the idea of “Today I am going to look at buying a timeshare.”
The timeshare industry is the fastest growing segment of the Travel and Tourism
industry. A study released by the ARDA International Foundation (AIF) in 2007 and
conducted by Ernst & Young, LLP points out indicators of future growth and accelerated
growth in the future. In 2006 14,000 new units were built and 11,000 in 2007. In
2008 and beyond, the current forecast is for about 47,000 new units. The Ernst &
Young study showed a new sales growth of 81% over a five year period. Additionally,
the number of timeshare owners in the U.S. grew from three million in 2002 to 4.4
million in 2006 with 1,615 resorts operating in the U.S. and 176,232 timeshare units.
The AIF study further found that U.S. new sales reached a new high of $10 billion
in 2006.
Developer/Hoteliers also have found that occupancy rates for timeshare units exceed
those of their hotels.
What does that say about the timeshare industry? Demand is growing for new timeshare
vacation products and as resale opportunities are discovered the secondary market
will grow proportionately as it has at Stroman Realty.
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Timeshare Resale Study - Table of Contents