Research showing a very high level of product knowledge of and receptiveness to timeshare among U.S. consumers was released at the conference. Based on a survey of American consumers conducted by Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell (YPB&R) for the ARDA International Foundation (AIF), the research supported the widely held belief that timeshare has come of age, as reflected in an on-site poll of conference attendees.

“Perceptions of timeshare are very positive,” said Jon Fredricks, president, The Welk Resort Group and incoming ARDA Chairman. “Consumers are going into the sales presentation with a good understanding of the product.”

When asked the questions below, the following percentage of consumers surveyed answered “yes:”

• You can stay in condominium-style accommodations that are larger than traditional hotel rooms. 80%
• You can exchange vacation time at other like resorts operated by the same resort developer. 87%
• You can exchange vacation time at other resorts all over the world through exchange companies. 80%
• Timeshare is an asset you can give to heirs. 66%

“Americans are much better educated and understand the industry even more than we imagined,” said James M. Lewis, president, Disney Vacation Club.

Lewis and Fredricks were joined on a panel of industry leaders discussing the research by Antoine Dagot, president and CEO, Hilton Grand Vacations Company, LLC; Franz S. Hanning, president and CEO, Wyndham Vacation Ownership; and Deborah Linden, RRP, CEO, Island One Resorts. The session was moderated by Peter Yesawich of YPB&R.

“America is an ‘ownership society,’ so it naturally follows that consumers are, increasingly, owning their vacations,” said ARDA President and CEO Howard C. Nusbaum, RRP.