The timeshare industry is an important sector of the resort industry. With sales of more than $10.5 billion, it is an attractive choice for people who want to own a vacation home or condo. This is mainly because of its flexibility, as it allows you to stay in a particular location every year for a set fee.
The industry was largely fueled by the baby boomers who were buying timeshares for their retirement years and establishing a habit of annual trips, as well as by millennials who had disposable income and were looking for ways to take their families on exciting vacations. This generation will be the largest buyer of timeshares for a number of years to come.
Increasing competition from other hospitality businesses, such as Airbnb and TripAdvisor, has also had an adverse impact on the timeshare industry. This has led to increased costs for the owners and higher maintenance fees, thereby affecting sales.
Consolidation
The timeshare industry is undergoing consolidation in stages. Generally, this occurs over a period of 25 years. It is a normal process and reflects the growth of the industry from an initial opening phase to aggressive growth, outgrowing competition, and then reaching a final stage where the top three companies dominate.
Brands and Their Competitive Advantages
Large branded companies such as Disney, Starwood, Marriott, Hilton, and Wyndham have brought a degree of credibility to the timeshare industry that has helped it gain widespread acceptance. They have also provided a level of innovation that has helped the timeshare industry evolve and become more popular with consumers.
Points Based System
As travelers became more interested in exploring the world and not just staying at a single resort each year, timeshares were forced to change. This led to the development of a points-based system, whereby you buy a certain amount of points that can be used at a variety of resorts throughout the world.
These points can be exchanged for hotel room reservations and/or other timeshare-related products, such as spa memberships or golf courses. This method has a high level of loyalty among consumers, especially those who travel frequently.
ARDA estimates that the global timeshare market is worth nearly $10 billion annually, making it one of the most valuable tourism industries in the world. This figure is eclipsing Major League Baseball ($7 billion), the music industry (PS5.8 billion) and the sports industry (PS7.2 billion).
In the United States, 9.6 million households own a timeshare product. This represents a significant percentage of the country’s population.
As the youngest generation of buyers comes of age and begins to spend their money on vacations, the timeshare industry will continue to evolve and expand its customer base. This trend will also be driven by increased demand from the millennial population as they start their families and become more comfortable with the idea of timeshare ownership.
While the timeshare industry is facing challenges, it is still a viable option for individuals who are looking to make annual trips. This is because it offers a wide variety of benefits and has a strong reputation for reliability and quality.
