Westin Kierland opens timeshare resort

Starwood Vacation Ownership, a division of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., Tuesday announced the grand opening of its fourth Westin-branded vacation ownership resort, The Westin Kierland Villas in Scottsdale.

The resort is located on 10 acres within the 730-acre master-planned community of Kierland, home of the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa.

"The Arizona market is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations for the vacation ownership industry and we are pleased to extend our visibility in the state," said Raymond L. Gellein, Jr., chief executive of Starwood Vacation Ownership.

The first phase of the timeshare resort includes 51 two-bedroom villas, with fully equipped kitchens, separate living rooms and dining rooms.

Upon final completion, Westin Kierland Villas will have a total of 158 two-bedroom villas.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide owns more than 740 properties in 80 countries under the names St. Regis, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton and W brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership Inc.

For more: www.starwood.com.

Timeshares still a buyer's market

Timeshares in some 1,600 resorts around the country are booming and, according to the trade publication "Vacation Ownership World," perhaps 3 million U.S. households own them. But rather than selling the old one-week-at-one-resort timeshare (an "interval vacation"), most developers are selling points that allow you to make shorter stays at more resorts all over the world. You trade points through exchange companies.

Cost. The average price of a two-bedroom timeshare in the United States is $13,500. Most resorts offer financing, but the average loan is seven years, with an interest rate between 15.9 and 17.9 percent. Many buyers use a home equity line.

Deeds. If the timeshare is fully deeded in perpetuity, you can rent it out and pass it to your heirs when you die. Right-to-use properties won't provide those options.

Availability. Fixed week means you have to show up the same week each year. Points-based systems are more flexible, but not inflation-proof. It could cost 100 points to score a timeshare in Hawaii now but 120 points next year. Be aware of changing conditions (like low demand for studio units or off-season weeks).

Resales. "It's a lot like driving a new car off the dealer's lot. Half the value is lost as soon as it is sold," says one major timeshare operator.

"It's a buyer's market... It has been for years and years," says Bill Rogers of the Timeshare User's Group, www.tug2.net. (Consumers buying timeshares from other consumers pay an average of $5,000 compared to $14,800 from a developer.)

The Web site www.vacation-realty.com finds that many owners receive 50 percent or less of what they paid - except at premium resorts (run by such companies as Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt). Owners there can get as much as 85 percent of the original purchase price.

Planning. "You have to be pretty organized," warns a longtime timeshare owner who begins planning his family's West Coast vacations a year in advance.

Travel tricksters abound

Consumers in the Holland area, like everyone else, are always looking for great deals on vacations in the summer. As a result, many fall for tricks or scams that result in wasted time and lost money instead of wonderful vacation memories.

A typical travel scam may begin with a fax at your office from an official-looking promoter claiming Orlando vacations or Caribbean cruises for $199. Or you get a mailing or phone call giving you the "great news" that you have been selected to receive a "free" vacation. You quickly call the company to book your cruise or "deluxe resort weekend," but later learn that you must pay port taxes, service charges or buy membership in a travel club, often costing hundreds of dollars more. Many victims receive cheap space-available promotional rooms or just worthless "certificates" that have numerous restrictions which make taking their trips almost impossible. Some folks receive nothing at all. The "great deal" becomes terrible in a hurry.

How can you tell if the vacation deal is bogus? Watch out for high-pressure sales tactics like demanding your credit card number immediately to "hold" the prize. If they ask you to "identify yourself" by giving them your credit card number or they want to send your "travel package" to your home by FedEx or UPS overnight (often a trick to avoid the U.S. postal inspectors), beware!

If an offer seems too cheap, most often the promoter isn't telling you such things as:

* The "luxury hotel" may be miles from the beach and in terrible condition. Many "winners" pay hundreds of dollars to "upgrade" their poor accommodations.

* The "cruise" may actually just take you across a harbor to a timeshare development, where you are stuck listening to a five-hour high-pressure pitch for risky investment condominiums.

* The advance payments do not cover major expenses like transportation to hotels, meals, customs fees and taxes. Your final out-of-pocket costs could easily be as much as booking a real vacation through your local travel agent.

Always check the Better Business Bureau report on the vacation seller. Visit our Web site, www.holland.bbb.org, or call us 24 hours a day at (800) 6-THEBBB. We will report if we know the company and whether it has received complaints. If you have problems, use our Web site complaint form or mail details to us at: BBB, 40 Pearl, N.W., Suite 354, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Our office serves Holland and all of Ottawa and Allegan counties.

Ken Vander Meeden is president of the Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan.

Shopping rights website launched

Complaints over goods and services bought abroad have risen
Charity Citizens Advice has launched a website to help shoppers who encounter problems with goods and services bought in another EU country.
The website will include a guide to consumer rights and tips on how to best get complaints resolved.

The launch follows a two-thirds rise in complaints received by Citizens Advice about goods and services bought abroad in the past year.

Timeshare and holiday clubs were the cause of four out of ten complaints.

Half the complaints related to goods or services bought on the trader's premises but the rest were on purchases made via the internet, fax or by phone.

According to the European Commission, some 12% of Europeans have bought goods or services from sellers in other EU member states with over half of these purchases made on holiday.

Ruth Bamford, manger of the European Consumer Centre, an advice network run by Citizens Advice said that problems with goods bought abroad were common.

"We think the problems seen by the European Consumer Centre are just the tip of the iceberg - many more consumers simply give up because they wrongly feel there's no redress once they've left the country concerned," Ms Bamford said.

Harborside Resort at Atlantis Begins Phase Two Construction

Construction of Phase Two, including 116 luxury villas, of Harborside Resort at Atlantis will begin on July 1, 2004. The resort currently has 82 villas and is a 50/50 joint venture between subsidiaries of Starwood Vacation Ownership Inc. and Kerzner International Limited.

Harborside Resort at Atlantis is the only vacation ownership resort associated with the award winning Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas. Its owners and guests have full privileges at all of the resort's amenities, including the largest casino in the Bahamas and Caribbean, an 11 million gallon marine habitat with more than 50,000 animals, numerous water attractions including slides, pools, snorkeling and a lazy river, numerous restaurant choices from fine to casual poolside dining. The resort also features championship golf, a full-service luxury spa, and an upscale shopping complex. The second phase of Harborside Resort at Atlantis will include new three-bedroom lock-off villas that will accommodate up to twelve guests.

The company is currently interviewing local Bahamian general contracting firms and recognizes The Bahamas' efforts to regulate the industry in a way that protects both consumers' and developers' interests. The Bahamian government is currently considering several changes to the current Timeshare Act that would assist in attracting new business to the islands.

"The vacation ownership industry is quickly becoming an important part of the Bahamas' economy. Following the tragedy of September 11, we quickly found out how resilient the timeshare industry is and how important these owners are to our economy" said Allyson Maynard-Gibson, Minister of Financial Services and Investments of the Bahamas. "We are working closely with developers to make changes to our current Timeshare Act that will entice more developers to consider The Bahamas when exploring new opportunities to build."

"We are extremely pleased with the Bahamian government's recognition of the long-term contributions that vacation ownership will have in The Bahamas. We are excited to begin construction of the second phase of Harborside Resort at Atlantis which upon completion will be the largest vacation ownership resort in the Bahamas," said Raymond L. "Rip" Gellein, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Vacation Ownership.

Harborside Resort at Atlantis will have a total of 198 villas when the second phase opens. The vast majority of Harborside employees will be local Bahamians. Kerzner International Limited will manage the resort and sales and marketing efforts will be led by Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 740 properties in more than 80 countries and 110,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W® brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwood.com.

Timeshare leader RCI hands £7m account to WWAV

LONDON - RCI Europe, the world's biggest timeshare company, has hired WWAV Rapp Collins to handle its £7m direct marketing business as it tries to improve its relationships with members.

The company's 3m members can trade timeshares across its 3700 affiliated resorts. However, RCI intends to relaunch its membership scheme and corporate identity this year to promote itself as more than just a timeshare exchange.

RCI has briefed WWAV to create an aggressive brand development strategy. Key to this will be highlighting the range of other travel services, including car hire and flights, that the company offers.

WWAV was appointed following a pitch against a number of undisclosed agencies. It is the first marketing agency to be hired by RCI Europe's vice-president and group marketing director Jonathan Mindell, who joined the company last year.

WWAV will be responsible for producing and managing RCI's direct mail, email communications and telemarketing, targeting its 600,000 European members in 16 different languages.

Mindell said part of his mission is to adopt a stronger CRM focus. One of his main challenges is to change consumers' perceptions of the timeshare market, which in the past has come under fire for aggressive sales methods.

Prior to joining RCI, Mindell spent a year working as a marketing consultant having left Citibank in 2002, where he was sales and marketing director.

RCI is owned by Cendant, which also owns car rental companies Avis and Budget, and hotel brands Travelodge and Days Inn.

RCI's members receive copies of its customer title, Holiday Magazine. The publication is the 83rd bestselling magazine in the UK and had a circulation of 207,270 last year.

Fines scam by Costa conmen

TOURISTS are being targeted by swindlers trying to con them into paying bogus traffic fines after they come home from Spanish resorts.

It is believed that conmen - based on the Costa del Sol - have found home addresses on databases, including timeshare ownership lists, on the Canary Islands.

Victims have received official-looking letters from an agency said to be working on behalf of the Justice Department of Gran Canaria. They say the tourist has been found guilty of a traffic offence and must pay a fine and costs.

The British Embassy in Spain has warned about the sting and trading standards officers around Britain have been alerted.

Widower Richard Kirk, 69, from Swinton, received a letter last week demanding £85 for an alleged offence committed in March.

It said that if he did not pay before June 25, Spanish authorities would seek compensation through the British judicial system and a county court judgement would be issued against him.

The letter said money should be sent by international bank transfer to an address in Madrid, the Spanish capital.

The envelope was postmarked Mijas Costa, a seafront resort on the Costa del Sol.

Mr Kirk said: "I've not been to Gran Canaria for about 12 years and I have never driven there.

Worried

"At first I was quite concerned and wondered if someone had got hold of my driving licence and used it on the island. My late wife Rita and I used to own timeshare properties on Gran Canaria and Tenerife. But I sold them in early 2003."

Mr Kirk alerted the Citizens' Advice Bureau. He said: "There is every chance that some elderly people might just be worried and pay the money."

Last month the M.E.N. reported how a man from Denton received notification of a motoring fine after visiting the Canary Islands although he had not driven during his trip. It appears this was part of the scam which is targeting large numbers of people.

Mr Kirk's case was one of two which Salford and Swinton CAB have dealt with in the past week. Swinton CAB manager Steve Thompson said: "Our major concern is to alert potential victims who might be conned into paying the fine."

Ron Pennington, of Salford Trading Standards, said: "We would urge anyone from Salford who has received such a letter to contact us so that we can pass on the information for the Spanish authorities to investigate.

"If anyone in Greater Manchester receives such a letter they should contact their local trading standards officers."

A statement on the website of the British Embassy in Spain says: "The `fine' MUST NOT be paid. This is a new scam."

It instructs victims to contact police in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria.

"Free" holiday scams warning

The European Consumer Centre (ECC) in Dublin today warned consumers of the dangers of "holiday scam promotions".

The Europe-wide consumer watchdog said that promotions usually end up costing consumers money without the pleasure of going on holiday.
It said there were two main problems with these promotions: There are always hidden charges and the promotions are invariably connected with timeshare or holiday clubs.

Mary Denise Fitzgerald, ECC's PR and marketing manager said that the "free" holiday promotions are usually offered to the public through free scratch cards, cold calling or direct mail.

"Almost daily ECC Dublin receives queries from consumers about "free holiday" promotions. The typical complaint is that the consumer has paid an administrative fee to guarantee his/her booking but have been unsuccessful in securing a date for departure," she said.

"The consumer tries to cancel the booking and look for a refund but none is forthcoming. Other consumers have been encouraged to pay more than the administrative fee to cover transfers etc and still have problems securing their holiday," she said.

"Our advice to consumers is simple: If asked for money to book a "free holiday", alarm bells should start ringing. Do not hand over money until you see the terms and conditions of the contract," said Tina Leonard, manager at ECC Dublin.

Cruise Club opens at Bobby's Marina

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten has a new vacation experience with the opening of Cruise Club, located at Bobby's Marina.

Cruise Club offers a week-long catamaran cruise, complete with a captain and private chef, to anyone willing to pay US $8,000 to $20,000 for the package, Carla Daly told The Daily Herald at the opening at Le Blue Peter restaurant on Friday.

St. Maarten was chosen as one of the bases for this unique vacation option because "Cruise Club considers St. Maarten the heart of the Caribbean."

"It is not timeshare. Many people, when they hear about this vacation package, think it is timeshare. Cruise Club is geared towards the local population and to visitors interested in chartering the boat for the week," she explained.

The charter, including food, beverage, water skiing and snorkelling equipment, is a one-time-deal purchase, with the buyer having the option of chartering the vessel again. Once a charter is purchased, the buyer automatically receives a lifetime pass to use any of the RCI resorts for just the payment of a maintenance fee and without owning timeshare weeks.

Another plus of chartering the four-cabin vessel is that with one charter, the buyer will be entitled to a lifetime pass aboard selected cruise lines for the cost of food and beverage.

A lot of people are interested in the novel chartering package already, Daly said. People interested range from tourists and residents to boat owners.

Currently the boat Empathy docked at Bobby's Marina is a model of the vessel that will be used for the charters. Twenty catamarans are being built in France at present and will be used at bases in St. Maarten, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the Bahamas, the Grenadines and St. Thomas. The operation in Tortola, BVI, has already started.

For more information about Cruise Club, call 551-3361 or visit the office at the marina.

Consumer Timeshare Magazine Debuts as Industry-First

Arizona-based specialty magazine publisher, announced today the launch of its newest publication, Hiatus Travel Magazine. Hiatus is an unbiased national consumer travel magazine that will speak solely to vacation and timeshare enthusiast families.
Ongoing research has shown that one of the biggest barriers for the timeshare industry is the consumer's lack of knowledge of the product and how it works. David Wood, Editor in Chief says, "Hiatus will change all of that.

It will change the way people buy and exchange timeshare property."
By providing useful resort information and continuous education on the
timeshare product, Hiatus has positioned itself as an ambassador for the
vacation ownership industry, and an entry point for consumers interested in
learning about the product. "Hiatus will decipher the facts, myths and
inaccuracies of buying a timeshare and encourage families to thoroughly
explore the array of vacation ownership options available to today's
discriminating traveler," states Wood.
Hiatus aims to be the one-stop vacation planning resource for timeshare
owners and potential owners. Destination features will cover worldwide
locations, both popular and remote, that have timeshare accommodations
available for purchase, exchange or rental. In addition to destination
features relevant to any traveler, Hiatus offers extensive ongoing education
on timesharing for the owner and the potential owner. Resorts and activities
will be reviewed by editors and recommended based on the editor's first-hand
experience. Readers can also write reviews through the extensive resort
database on http://www.gohiatus.com. Each issue will also feature one or more of the
Bigfish signature comparison charts, which allow the reader to compare many
resorts or products side by side on a number of criteria. This extensive
collection of reviews and information allows owners and potential owners to
feel confident in the resort they buy or exchange into.
The quarterly magazine was unveiled to the timeshare industry at the
American Resort Development Association's (ARDA) Convention & Expo held in May
in Las Vegas. As the vacation ownership industry's first truly unbiased,
consumer travel magazine, it was received with much interest and praise.
"Hiatus is truly one-of-a-kind in the industry. There are owner newsletters
and resort developer magazines out there, but this is the first to present
third party, audited resort and activity reviews, with insightful, appealing
travel articles and photography. It's turning heads in timeshare," says Wood.

Hiatus Travel Magazine is an independent, unbiased consumer publication
for the travel and timeshare enthusiast. Hiatus is published by Bigfish
Publications, a Scottsdale-based specialty consumer and leisure magazine
publisher. The publisher, editors and writers do not invest or maintain any
personal financial stake in any firm whose product or service is reviewed in
Hiatus Travel Magazine.

Macdonald Hotels bids to head off timeshare row

SCOTLAND’S largest hotels group is heading towards confrontation - and possibly the courts - with 4,000 angry Highland timeshare owners following a dispute over use of leisure and marina facilities at one of the company’s top hotels.

Macdonald Hotels owns the Loch Rannoch Hotel, situated next door to extensive timeshare facilities at Loch Rannoch Highland Club.

But for the past year it has barred owners and their families from using the hotel following a decision last summer by the club to switch the lucrative management contract away from Macdonald to Timeshare Management Services, a company run by former club members.

The row looks set to rumble on, and is likely to finish up in the Scottish courts, say owners, as a claim by the hotel group over back-fees plus costs amounting to around £1 million still remains outstanding.

Now, John MacDonald, chief executive of Macdonald Resorts, a subsidiary of the hotel and leisure chain, has written to timeshare owners offering to reverse the decision to bar them from the hotel - but only if they pay for the privilege.

MacDonald said: "Notwithstanding the escalating legal dispute, we are now taking positive steps, and using our greatest endeavours to restore the goodwill previously enjoyed."

He added that the hotel group intends to treat "our heightening legal action" against the Highland Club committee as an entirely separate issue to the group’s relationship with the timeshare owners.

However, Macdonald’s apparent stand-down has a financial sting in the tail, that involves timeshare owners now being asked for a hefty £1,495 fee for a week’s use of the hotel facilities, which the company is "offering" at a £500 discount. Also, in what MacDonald describes as a "second gesture of goodwill", the offer carries with it two nights free bed and breakfast for two at any UK hotel, "subject to availability".

According to one owner, Edinburgh-based Laura Intably, the owners are furious at what is being seen as a "backdoor" way of trying to get into their favours, and regain a contract worth thousands of pounds a year. The fee, she claims, is simply a way of Macdonald getting back at the timeshare owners and their management firm for taking the management deal away.

Describing the letter as "unsolicited and deceptive", she said she has the support of many owners. Intably also claimed that, by accepting the proposed offer, owners run the risk of losing the right to use their lodge week plus voting rights, and she urged owners to "check the small print", which she claims could contravene the Timeshare Act 1992.

"Clearly this is aimed at taking advantage of owners visiting the resort this summer, with a view to using access to the hotel’s pools and leisure facilities as leverage," she added.

The next Highland Club AGM is a month away and Intably added: "All this is a blatant attempt by Macdonald to gain enough votes too regain their lucrative cash cow."

Another timeshare owner, who lives in Kinloch Rannoch but asked not to be named, said: "You are talking about thousands of timeshare owners who have been poorly treated by Macdonald Resorts and who voted unanimously last July to switch their management contract away from the hotel group. No-one is going to be fooled by this so-called offer which is aimed at dividing our ranks. It will fail to do so."

Probe as violence flares at law firm's weekend

ONE of Edinburgh’s most prestigious legal firms has launched an investigation after trouble flared during a corporate weekend at a luxury timeshare development.

It is believed two senior legal staff at top corporate lawyers Dickson Minto have been suspended following a fracas last weekend at the up-market Langdale resort in the Lake District.

Among the allegations being investigated are that two members of the legal firm’s staff were physically assaulted by colleagues attending the corporate event.

Other employees have complained that drinks were thrown over them and that they were verbally abused.

Another senior Dickson Minto staff member was fished out of the hotel’s ornamental pond in the early hours of the morning after a marathon drinks session. Hotel workers offered to escort him to his room but he insisted on returning to the party.

More than 100 guests from Edinburgh and London were invited on the luxury weekend by the Charlotte Square-based firm, which specialises in international deal-making.

The break was held at the 35-acre Langdale timeshare estate near Ambleside which specialises in activity breaks offering clay pigeon shooting, hot air ballooning and sailing. Trouble flared in the early hours of Saturday morning after a dinner and drinks session at the £100-a-night hotel and lodge complex.

Two senior members of the legal firm began arguing and others became involved.

It is claimed by those present that during a series of incidents one male member of staff was headbutted and another punched.

The Evening News has been told that a female employee was slapped on the face and another had drink thrown over her. Others complained of being verbally abused. Despite complaints, police were not called to investigate the incidents.

A spokesman for the timeshare development confirmed there had been a series of incidents during the two-day trip.

He said: "We had a group from Dickson Minto staying with us at the weekend. A lot of people got very drunk and there was some trouble in the early hours of Saturday morning.

"Two people were fighting, although it’s not very clear what it was all about. The only sign of damage was some broken glasses.

"One guest who was very drunk was standing on the edge of our pond at around 6am when he apparently slipped and fell in.

"A towel was fetched for him and he was wrapped in it. He refused to go back to his room and wanted to rejoin the party.

"The police were not called. We were not asked to.

"They held a barbecue the following night but it passed very peacefully."

A company source who was present at the weekend event said: "A lot of people were very upset about what had taken place. They were very angry that people had been headbutted and punched and that no action had been taken at the time.

"Several female staff members were very upset at the verbal abuse they were given by two employees.

"As a result of the weekend, two lawyers were suspended from duty on Tuesday while the firm investigates."

Dickson Minto was formed in 1985 but has rapidly grown to become one of Scotland’s most highly regarded corporate law firms.

The practice has won several industry awards for its services and boasts of having handled more than £20 billion of private equity deals.

A spokesman for the legal firm said: "We are making no comment whatsoever."

Study indicates timeshares growing in popularity

A study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) revealed that in 2002, timeshares generated $67 billion for the U.S. economy and created 222,500 direct and 253,600 indirect jobs, representing nearly $16 billion in payroll and related income.

“This comprehensive study confirms the timeshare industry’s significant economic contributions and its prominence as a growing force within the hospitality sector,” said ARDA President & CEO Howard Nusbaum. “The regions surrounding timeshare resorts benefit from the generation of a loyal base of repeat visitors, new jobs, and consumer expenditures, as well as the industry’s elevated occupancy rates and overall stability.”

The study, the largest and most comprehensive ever conducted by the ARDA, also revealed that timeshare owners spend nearly $1,784 per trip and that timeshares registered an average occupancy rate of 79% in 2002, compared with an average U.S. hotel occupancy of 59%. In addition, timeshare ownership contributed $3 billion for current resort operations and future maintenance and refurbishment of timeshare units and resort facilities.

PwC conducted the timeshare economic study during the fall of 2003 surveying 3,359 timeshare owners, 54 timeshare entities and two leading timeshare exchange companies.

Marcos Agostini, newly appointed chairman of the Caribbean Hotel Association Timeshare Committee, said Puerto Rico is well-suited for the development of timeshares.

Agostini, who is also director of the Caribbean-Latin American region for vacation-exchange company Interval International, said running a timeshare resort is complex, as it involves many aspects such as sales, marketing, and maintenance, but the ability and expertise of hoteliers in Puerto Rico could be applied to running a timeshare.

“Puerto Rico is a high-demand destination, and it has many experienced hoteliers who have demonstrated the island’s potential for tourism and have transformed many big hotels into very successful operations,” said Agostini.

Referring to Interval International’s internal reports, Agostini said the Caribbean is an emerging market for timeshares. In fact, it is the third market chosen by prospective timeshare buyers, after Europe and Australia. He also said the Caribbean is the preferred travel destination for Interval International customers.

The timeshare industry has grown so fast in the Caribbean in recent years because more vacationers are realizing the region offers great value and a pleasant climate year-round. “Resort developers have recognized the need for vacationers to escape to the Caribbean and have built timeshare facilities to meet this need,” said Agostini.

Timeshares’ Economic Impact on the U.S. Mainland

Total direct impact


$17.2 billion of output*
222,500 jobs
$6 billion of income**

Total indirect impact


$27.1 billion of output
253,600 jobs
$10 billion of income

Total fiscal impact

$6.4 billion tax revenue*** *Includes timeshare owners’ vacations, average expenditures per trip and total estimated spending.
**Resorts income.*** Includes timeshare property taxes and occupancy taxes for guests vacationing in rented timeshare units.
Source: American Resort Development Association 2004 Timeshare Economic Impact in the U.S.

Preferred International Locations to Which Interval Members Plan to Travel in Next Two Years*

Caribbean: 74.1%
Europe: 35.6%
Mexico: 24.5%
Canada: 20.6%
Asia: 9.9%
Central & South America: 6.6%
Oceania: 5.1% *Multiple responses permitted.
Source: Interval International 2003 Membership Profile