VacationBetter.org Helps Bring Timeshare to Travelers November 17, 2008
Posted by Bryan Connelly in : ARDA, General, New Features, News & Events, RCI, Timeshare Rental, Timeshare Resale, Timeshare Resource, Travel, Uncategorized, VOIC , add a commentAccording to a survey conducted by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), Americans receive the smallest amount of allotted vacation time compared to our European and Asian neighbors. The importance of leisure time is paramount however. Vacations revitalize and rejuvenate mind, body and soul; they bestow a sense of reward in a world that demands so much. In an effort to educate people about the importance of vacationing, ARDA has developed VacationBetter.org.
Emphasizing the benefits of taking time off from the daily grind, the website is an informational resource about vacation ownership: timeshare, fractionals and private residence clubs. The goal of this website is to inform you about vacation ownership and to demonstrate a way for travelers to vacation better. VacationBetter.org is not about selling timeshares, but illustrating how the concept of timeshare can expand the vacation experience for your entire family.
This is similar to BuyATimeshare.com and the devotion we have to bringing people to the great potential of vacation ownership and vacationing regularly. This not only adds to the overall health and quality of life, but the owner is able to make time off a scheduled event, rather than an expensive inconvenience.
President and CEO of ARDA, Howard Nusbaum, said “VacationBetter.org is a comprehensive resource that provides accurate information about vacations and timeshare products.” People, who do often vacation, typically fail to realize that there are valuable options like timeshares available to them. ARDA’s new website will be the go-to source for all things timeshare.
Nusbaum explains as this world becomes ever-more complex, it can be overwhelming to rummage through the millions of timeshare-oriented website and forums on the web. “People are faced with increasingly diverse marketplace and options in leisure travel particularly blogs, and travel related websites, making today’s vacation home market a continually evolving one.”
Faith Tourism and Timeshare Use Bring Strength to U.S. Economy PART 2 November 15, 2008
Posted by Bryan Connelly in : ARDA, General, New Features, News & Events, Travel, Uncategorized , add a commentFaith tourism is one of the oldest forms of travel in the world. People have been making pilgrimages, and traveling great distances to acquire knowledge and spiritual enlightenment for millennia. Kevin J. Wright is president of World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) and author of several religious travel guidebooks. The Colorado-based tourism association is comprised of travel providers and consumers around the globe. Recently Wright hosted the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference. This was the first gathering of this worldwide marketplace. Representatives from 30 countries across 6 continents gathered to discuss the position of faith tourism.
This assembly is a testament to the potential this pious sector of the industry holds for U.S prosperity. According to the WRTA, the faith tourism industry generates $18 billion annually with 300 million faith-based travelers. “2009 is the year of faith tourism.” It is reportedly so popular that the travel industry is hoping to capitalize on it. “Faith tourism has evolved to the point where a gathering of this magnitude is necessary for the industry to respond to the need of today’s faith-based consumers” said Wright—“Especially during times of increasing challenges and uncertainty.”
There is the increasing market in the U.S. that has the potential to make a great contribution to the current economic state. During the 2009 WRTA Expo and Educational Conference, they stated the goal of the market is to contribute to the overall growth and health of the global economy, travel industry and individual travel providers. Wendy Fracchia—group coordinator at Morris Murdock Travel LLC, a Utah-based full-service travel agency brings folks on guided tours to church historical destinations.
“You have those of Jewish faith traveling to Israel, Catholics visiting Italy and Muslims traveling to Mecca. Faith-based travel is an important part of the industry as a whole. So we have a lot of experience,” Fracchia said. “We offer our clients fully guided tours to Church historical destinations such as Palmyra, New York; Nauvoo, Illinois; Kirtland, Ohio; Independence, Missouri; and many more destinations. We also have Book of Mormon tours to Honduras, Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala that are a wonderful mix of cultural studies, history, and adventure as you walk amongst the Aztec, Inca, and Mayan ruins.”
Faith Tourism and Timeshare Use Bring Strength to U.S. Economy PART 1 November 11, 2008
Posted by Bryan Connelly in : ARDA, Customer Comments, General, New Features, News & Events, Timeshare Rental, Timeshare Resale, Timeshare Resource, Travel , add a commentTourism in the U.S. doesn’t bring to mind huge economic importance—but in today’s rough times, every penny counts. The U.S. tourism industry is fast becoming an area of interest, with a lot of potential in some divine areas. Who better to save the travel sector than religion? Faith Tourism, or traveling for religious enlightenment, makes up a surprising amount of world travelers to and from the United States.
Figures that concern the U.S Department of Commerce is the estimated decline in U.S. bound travelers by 1.6 percent in 2009. By the end of 2011, it is projected that overseas arrival will not exceed the record levels in 2000. As the dollar gains strength and the global economy cools, the need to make America more attractive to international travelers is growing. The U.S. Government is helping the tourism industry in hopes that sparking international interest will help our disposition.
Most people that travel today, get to those destinations by renting a timeshare resort anywhere across the country. Many are traveling beyond the U.S. and recent reports indicate that folks are traveling to churches and historical sites. Travel Industry Association (TIA) has a cooperative agreement with the Department of Commerce to create the nation’s first official travel and tourism website. Discoveramerica.com has already logged over 1million minutes of research by travelers worldwide and more than 1.1milllion page views in the first three months of operation.
Roger J. Dow, president and CEO of the TIA said “we are welcoming more international visitors—who spend as much a $4,000 per traveler, per visit. It’s critical to strengthen the American Economy.” To attract tourism the dept of commerce has launched 6 websites designed for English, French, Spanish, Japanese and German languages rich content in dozens of popular U.S. cities and all 50 states and 5 U.S. territories with hundreds of attractions and activities. 5 nations, Japanese, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico generate 75% of all inbound travel.
According to the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the number of U.S. residents venturing beyond the U.S. and Canada and Mexico increased by 3.6% between 2006 and 2007. The number traveling for religious reasons grew by 7.4%. TIA reports North American religious travel market, which accounts for moth than ½ of the global faith-tourism industry’s annually turnover of about $18 billion.
Travel Industry Rebounds in Poor Economy November 8, 2008
Posted by Bryan Connelly in : ARDA, Bluegreen Resorts, Disney, Fairfield Timeshares, General, Hilton Grand Vacation, JetShare, Marriott Timeshares, New Features, News & Events, RCI, Sunterra/Diamond Resorts, Timeshare Rental, Timeshare Resale, Timeshare Resource, Travel, Westgate Timeshares, Wyndham Timeshares, silverleaf , add a commentDespite folks paring costs anywhere they can, consumers have not completely cut leisure travel out of their lifestyle. The travel industry is bouncing back. People who do still travel are adapting their annual routine, staying closer to home for a change. The attitude that followed the U.S. financial crisis has caused people to vacation at their own part of the country—enjoying their nearby cities and mountains. People are seeking more local destinations, finding unbeatable deals on their own side of the ocean and not giving up their plans to travel.
Rather than buying airfare to cross the open seas, Americans are exploring Canada, Mexico, Central and South America. Both the Peso and the Canadian dollar have dropped significantly, making travel to these country and great value for neighboring Americans. Today, people are forced to look deeper for deals on everything from gas to Christmas presents. They are beginning to explore the timeshare industry as an alternative to hotels or staying the night on grandma’s futon.
Owners of timeshares at far-off tropical destinations for instance, have not been able to ante up to the airfare, let alone venture the cost of fun. So their international timeshare sits and waits while the owner searches further to get the best deal for this year’s holiday trip. At timeshare resale companies like BuyATimeshare.com we are seeing a tendency in those who rent and buy timeshares. Consumers are placing less emphasis on international trips, only traveling as far as Hawaii to vacation, and renting a resort near their family for the holidays.
People are become more educated about the timeshare industry they are reaping the benefits of the resale market. BuyATimeshare.com has made buying timeshares on the resale market as easy as it gets. Like everything, you always pay less when it’s ‘used.’ But a stay at a luxury resort does not carry any ‘used-car’ problems—and will cost far less than retail. The search for value is greater than ever and travelers will cut back on spending by shortening trips and down scaling the level of hotel they stay at, and have switched to a more local destination. With companies like BuyATimeshare.com looking to sell timeshares, there is no reason to spend too much or cut back too much on your next vacation.