New Brochure Shows Vacationers How To "Own The Fun".

Free Publication Available Online Offers Tips on Purchasing Timeshare, Vacation Exchange, Selling Timeshare and Resales

WASHINGTON -- As vacation ownership continues to grow in popularity as a travel and lifestyle option and consumers are faced with increased options for ownership and usage, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) has launched a free brochure chock full of advice and tips on how consumers can "own the fun."

"Understanding Vacation Ownership," available free of charge at www.arda.org, offers a wealth of tips on how vacation ownership works, purchasing shared leisure real estate, vacation exchange, and selling a timeshare. The brochure also includes a glossary of timeshare terms.

"By all leisure indicators, timeshare has improved the vacation experience for owners. With the many choices available today in the timeshare marketplace, we offer this brochure to help educate consumers on their options for ownership and the many ways they can tailor vacation ownership to meet their lifestyle needs and vacation dreams," said ARDA President Howard Nusbaum.

While the benefits of timeshare ownership are great, ARDA cautions consumers to do their research before purchasing a vacation ownership interval and offers the following advice:

1. Buy because you plan to use your timeshare in the future.

2. Choose a vacation that fits your lifestyle.

3. Visit a timeshare resort on your next vacation.

4. Read all documents carefully and understand what type of product you are being offered.

5. Ask if the resort is an ARDA member. Members of ARDA agree to follow the ARDA Code of Standards & Ethics and are expected to adhere to the highest standards of quality and service.

6. Look for signs of good management.

7. Verify the resort's affiliation with an exchange company.

8. To maximize your opportunities for exchange, buy the most desirable unit in the most popular season.

9. Vacation ownership is one of the most highly regulated vacation products in today's consumer marketplace.

For consumers interested in purchasing from the secondary market:

1. Check to see if the extensive consumer protection regulations in place when you purchase from a developer apply when you purchase in the secondary resale market.

2. Consumer due diligence is especially important when considering purchasing on the secondary market.

3. Consider using the Internet as a valuable resource.

For timeshare owners interested in selling, the brochure offers advice on selling through the resort developer, a licensed real estate broker, advertising, and how to avoid unscrupulous timeshare resale companies.

Vacation owners report high satisfaction rates with their timeshare purchase, and over three quarters claim owning a timeshare has increased their looking forward to vacations, according to a study released this fall. The vast majority of all owners (80.3 percent) express satisfaction with their timeshare purchase; 75.7 percent say owning a timeshare has increased their looking forward to vacations, and 68.4 percent say owning a timeshare has increased the amount of time on vacations. A full 66.4 percent of all owners say timeshare has increased their learning experiences, and 52.8 percent claim owning timeshare has increased their health and happiness.

"By all measurements, vacation ownership will continue to grow as a lifestyle option, and an educated consumer benefits buyers, owners, and industry players alike," said Nusbaum.

The American Resort Development Association is the Washington D.C.-based professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries. Established in 1969, ARDA today has over 1,000 members ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded companies and international corporations with expertise in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate. The membership also includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, and owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC).