Mark is the producer of the popular and award-winning Ronn Owens radio program on KGO-AM radio in San Francisco. He created a Timeshare column for the San Francisco Examiner newspaper and resumes it here.
Howard Nusbaum is the President and CEO of the American Resort Developers Association (ARDA). He has presided over the industry-lobbying arm for going on nine years, during which the industry enjoyed enviable double digit growth every year. One thing has changed - he no longer has to “yeah, but” when he tells outsiders he works with timeshare. Recently he sat down for a wide-ranging discussion of the industry. It is the most recent of several interviews I have conducted with Nusbaum during his tenure, but the first in about six years. (I intentionally did not reread any of the old ones; however, later this week I will dust off one of the old ones and reprint it for comparison purposes).
Here are some of the issues Howard Nusbaum discussed.
Industry Consolidation Among the reasons the flags (hospitality brands like Hyatt, Hilton and Four Seasons) have been gravitating toward timeshare is the added benefit they receive from maximizing mixed use properties. Bringing more people to the property, whether they are hotel guests, timeshare owners or conference attendees increases use of revenue generating facilities such as restaurants, spas and golf courses.
The Economic crisis Unlikely to double-digit revenue growth, likely to negatively impact new projects that would otherwise come on line in a few years (click here for "A Humbling experience")
Owner Protection
Working with developers and local authorities, ARDA makes an attempt to quash the companies specializing in resale rip-offs, especially the “post card” companies that prey on unsophisticated owners, using lies and half truths, making it seem like they are doing the frustrated owners a favor by taking the deed off their hands, as long as they get paid 3 grand at the same time. He feels they primarily “prey on the elderly”.
Nusbaum would like to see transparency come to the secondary market, minimizing, if not eliminating upfront fees prior to the resale of ownerships. He feels, accurately, that “too many companies focus on getting upfront fees” having little incentive to actually sell the timeshare, having been paid in advance.
ARDA has conducted Resale forums to brainstorm ideas to bolster the secondary market.
The use of the internet
Through the years ARDA has primarily been a resource used by the industry. Members of the public have not been very aware of the organization or its services. They are attempting to change that with public relations efforts, including the creation of a consumer oriented site, VacationBetter.org, emphasizing the importance of vacations, both for quality of life and better health. Of course, the site also emphasizes how timeshare can improve the quality of vacations.
For more info: Check your local listings for Peter Greenberg's radio program. I am scheduled to be a guest at qbout 8:40AM Pacific hour Saturday December 20. Questions or comments, email here
In the first part of our sitdown Howard Nusbaum, ARDA CEO, discusses the current economic crisis, consolidation in timeshare, outreach to owners and perspective owners.In the conclusions, Nusbaum shares why, despite the current situation, his outlook... Read More
Melissa writes- Excellent point about the real value your timeshare ownership keeps on giving to you and your family. Timeshares are meant to be used and enjoyed. I own one in Branson that I bought on the resale market for $700 and I’m renting... Read More Topics:
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In Tahoe Marriott Vacation Club has two properties side by side with the Tram to Heavenly between them. One is the Marriott Vacation Club Timber Lodge and the other is the Grand Residences by Marriott – Tahoe. They opened simultaneously in 2002.The... Read More Topics:
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By most reports, sales of timeshare have not been dramatically impacted thus far by the economic crisis. Many developers report sales figures reasonably close to projections.Nobody, however, is indicating whether projections were lowered in order to... Read More Topics:
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Traditional timeshare is generally sold with a down payment, maybe 10%, and a loan for anywhere from 3-15 years. In recent years, much was purchased for cash, taking advantage of discounts for full payment. A typical buyer might make the purchase using... Read More
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It occurs to me as I reflect on this Sunday morning that the current economic crisis demonstrates the value of timeshare in a very tangible way. At this point, our family has been part of vacation ownership for more than twenty years. And because... Read More
This is a column that ran in my original Examiner column sometime between 2001 and 2003.Hotels charge guests when they use the phone. Local calls – a buck. Toll-free calls – 75 cents. Don’t even ask about long distance – you may... Read More
This is a column that ran in my original Examiner column sometime between 2001 and 2003click here for part II don’t know about you, but it does not cost me half a buck to make the call to Dominos when I want a pizza delivered to my home.Some developers... Read More