Five and Almost 10 With...Perry Newton

Perry is with AZURE Resort who I had the distinct pleasure of meeting during the recent ARDA Conference.


What was your first job in timeshare?

OPC

What was the greatest lesson you've ever been taught?

Treat people the way you would like them to treat you.

Where is your favorite vacation spot?

Turks & Caicos, Peovo

If you could change one thing about timeshare, what would it be?

Create a universal resale market value.

What is your favorite color?

AZURE Blue of course!


Thanks Perry!

Want to be included in this blog?  Just drop me an e-mail at lisa@timeshareinsights.com.

Why The Timeshare Industry MUST Focus on Ownership

I came across a site with this edited for brevity only copy:

Endless Choices

No matter your destination, we will have a great selection of inventory for you. Are you bringing the whole family, or is it just you and your spouse? Not to worry! Unit range from studios all the way up to three-bedroom suites. Each resort also offers its own unique amenities, so it is easy to find the resort that offers the best options for you. Finally, you have the ability to choose a different place every single year. Don’t settle for one vacation–save money and travel the world.

 

Upscale Features

When searching, you’ll find that all these suites are spacious and well-appointed. Just within the suite itself you will find high end amenities such as private balconies, whirlpool tubs, a washer and dryer, and full kitchens. Venture out into the resort and you’ll find even more luxury—lobby fire places, infinity pools, lazy rivers, and poolside bars are just a few! It’s not hard to find a resort that offers unique features to make your vacation more convenient and enjoyable.

 

Space

A suite at a resort gives you the option to have more space to relax. Many resorts offer multi-bedroom units that often feel like a luxury apartment, rather than a stuffy hotel room. If you’re bringing kids or lots of friends, you have the option to space everyone out in separate bedrooms. But you’ll also have a conjoined living area so that you can all spend quality time together. A week of vacation spent in a cramped hotel room can take a lot of fun out of the vacation.

 

Privacy

With these full units, you will be able to relax in the privacy of your own suite. Many resorts offer lockout units so you can choose how private you want to be, and since the suites can be so large, you won’t feel like you are on top of other units. Enjoy a private balcony or patio, to bask the outdoors in your own secluded area. Unlike those thin-walled hotel rooms, you can enjoy full peace and quiet—or let the kids be loud!

 

Entertainment on Site

Luxury resorts often offer great things to do right on site, so you don’t have to stray far for a good time! When looking for the perfect resort, see if they have pools and fitness centers, or bars, casinos and scheduled live performances. Resorts also often have scheduled activities for all ages such as aerobics classes, volleyball tournaments, and craft nights. If you’re looking for more private activities, you can even retreat to your own suite where you can watch movies from the resort’s DVD library, enjoy a soak in your own whirlpool tub, or cook dinner together as a family.

 

Food Options

Most resort suites come with a kitchen or kitchenette for the convenience of cooking from your own room. Cooking food is a great way to save money on vacation. Resorts also usually have at least one or two on-site restaurant options so you don’t need to travel to eat out. For an afternoon snack check out a poolside bar! Whatever you need, luxury resorts make it easy to have multiple dining options on vacation.

Exploration

While resort suites offer many reasons to stay onsite, they also make a great home base for exploring the surrounding area. Luxury resorts offer great resources for you to wander around and see various sites. Many resorts offer car or shuttle services to take you where you need to go, and concierge services are very helpful for informing you of the best local spots to check out.

 

This all sounds like copy for the promotion of buying timeshare, right?  Not so fast.  This copy comes directly from a RENTAL SITE.  Any many of these available rentals are in fact, you guessed it, timeshare resorts.

The final bullet point on the site sums it up

Save Money

Last, but certainly not least, you will save money when you rent a resort suite through ____________. Our rental units are available by-owner and are 70% off official resort prices. So the choice is yours—you can stay in a confined, stuffy hotel room, or enjoy endless amenities, perks, and activities by staying in a resort rental suite.

The timeshare community has put forth a lot of time, effort and money into promoting vacations.  I say much of this is totally unnecessary.  Who is anti-vacations?  Who doesn't want to take a vacation?  No-one, that's who.  But when all the benefits of owning a timeshare, to wit: endless choices, upscale features, space, privacy, entertainment on site, food options and exploration are available to anyone and everyone with the cost or the responsibilities of ownership, where does that leave current owns and the much talked about potential owners?

There are many good and valid reasons to purchase and own a timeshare,  However, the timeshare community isn't doing enough to give the public those reasons. The vacation rental industry is giving the public a lot of reasons to NOT purchase and own.

The ball has been placed squarely in the timeshare community's court.  Who is playing?
 

 

Five and Almost 10 With...Fermin Cruz

Fermin Cruz is the Vice President of the Americas for Dial An Exchange

What was your first job in timeshare?
My first job in timeshare was with ICE in 2001. It was a great experience with a high growth, innovative company! I was in marketing and business development.

What was the greatest lesson you've ever been taught?
Listen and learn from someone who has been there before!

Where is your favorite vacation spot?
I love the waters of the Caribbean and the wildlife of Alaska. Is there such a spot?

If you could change one thing about timeshare, what would it be?
I would love to see a change in the traditional sales and marketing process. I would love to see an evolution of marketing efficiency and would love to change the market and industry perception that timeshare or “vacation ownership” is not a “sought after” product.

What is your favorite color?

Black

If you'd like to be featured in this interview series, just drop me a note at lisa@timeshareinsights.com