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The United States continues to be the world leader in vacation ownership
with approximately 2 million owners.
Timeshare, or vacation ownership, has sparked a revolution in consumer
travel. With close to 5,000 resorts
worldwide and global sales estimated at nearly $6 billion, vacation
ownership is now the fastest growing segment
of the tourism industry.
"The average age of today's timeshare buyers is 48 years old," noted
ARDA Chairman Edwin H. McMullen, Sr.
"Research shows us that 75 million Americans will turn 50 in the next
18 years. We believe this bodes well for the
timeshare industry as Baby-Boomers continue to choose timeshare as
the most affordable and enjoyable way to
vacation."
In addition, ARDA reports a separate survey reveals the vacation ownership
industry is enjoying high approval
ratings from its owners and achieving levels of satisfaction unequaled
in the hospitality industry. More than 85
percent of timeshare owners report being satisfied or very satisfied
with their vacation purchases, according to a
survey of 2,653 U.S. owners.
ARDA President Cynthia Huheey attributes the sustained and strong rise
in timeshare popularity to several
factors. "The continued sophistication and attractiveness of purpose-built
timeshare units, increased flexibility
provided through exchange companies, participation of revered hospitality
firms, and the influx of public
company capital have all contributed to consumer support for the timeshare
experience that has fueled these
strong growth figures," says Huheey.
The 1997 U.S. sales figures were calculated by American Economics Group,
Inc., a Washington-based
independent research firm retained by ARDA for this project. As the
professional association of the recreational
real estate, resort and vacation ownership industry, ARDA represents
over 1,000 companies and 4,000 resorts
worldwide, including second-home resorts, community development properties,
vacation timeshare resorts and
fractional interests.
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