Timeshare Travel Chinese Style

To have one's own villa on some picturesque beach, from which one can enjoy the scenic coastline and hear the rolling waves? Many people may have such dreams, but most are held back by the exorbitant costs. Yesterday, the world's largest timeshare travel company came to Shanghai for the very first time to help the Shanghainese realise their dreams with the whole new concept of timeshare travel.

Timeshare travel is quite simply a one-time payment at prices lower than normal discounts for the right to use a property for one week each year for a total of 10 years (or 20 or 30 years). By becoming a member of this international network of travellers, one could opt to exchange timeshares with members owning other properties, and in so doing, travel to a different place each time. Particularly tempting is the idea that travel around the world no longer needs to be exorbitant. Timeshare owners can make use of their right to use their properties at the price they paid regardless of how hotel room rates may fluctuate. Therefore, with all other factors constant, timeshare travel expenses may come up to just half of traditional accommodation options, or even less. Even more enticing is the ability to swap travel destinations. As long as your visa application is approved, you can travel anywhere within the network without having to pay additional accommodation fees.

An RCI spokesperson pointed out that living standards in Shanghai are now the highest in China. The sophisticated hotel industry and the appearance of certain serviced apartments have prepared the way for the introduction of timeshare travel in the market. In the meanwhile, China now has about 115 holidays and demand for travel is on the rise. It is estimated that a timeshare travel network of a million members can contribute between RMB 5 billion and RMB 7 billion to the domestic economy, build between 3 and 5 million square metres of real estate, and create up to 20,000 jobs.


Nevertheless a spokesperson from the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administrative Commission said that for RCI to be really rooted in Shanghai, it would have to overcome several obstacles. First, the reliability. When travellers buy hotel timeshares, they have to make a judgement on how reliable the property is, whether it would close down anytime, or even pretend to close down. With a spate of timeshare-related complaints that have surfaced all over China, cautious Shanghainese may adopt a wait-and-see approach. On the other hand, the hotel industry in Shanghai is booming, and the hotel occupancy rate for all the five-star hotels in November was almost 100%, and so it remains uncertain how many additional rooms would be enough for the city

2008 ARDA Convention

Leading vacation ownership companies and service providers have signed on as Signature Sponsors of the 2008 American Resort Development Association (ARDA) Convention and Exposition in Las Vegas. The annual convention, taking place April 6-10 Venetian Resort & Casino, will feature an impressive line-up of speakers and entertainers, including nationally acclaimed speaker, Rick Barrera, author of the inspiring true story Invincible, Vince Papale; and the winner of “America’s Got Talent,” ventriloquist and impressionist, Terry Fator The 2008 Signature Sponsors include American Express, The Family of Orange Lake Resorts, Group RCI , Hcareers, Holiday Systems International (HSI), iBAHN, Interval International, , Redweek.com, Starwood Vacation Ownership, Textron Financial and VacationGuard, Inc.
The convention offers companies prime exposure to 4,000 top vacation ownership industry professionals who gather to network, learn the latest industry trends, and visit hundreds of industry suppliers on the exhibit floor. Thanks to the generosity of the Signature Sponsors, the ARDA convention has become the number one resource for networking with industry leaders, cutting-edge educational programming, and exposure for sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees.“We are grateful to our 2008 Signature Sponsors for their role in making our programs and events possible,” said Howard C. Nusbaum, ARDA’s president and CEO.
The convention’s General Session, sponsored by Group RCI, presents keynote speaker Rick Barrera , a well known speaker throughout Fortune 500 companies for his unique approach to brand-building. . Group RCI is also sponsoring the sixth annual AIF Open Golf Tournament at the in Kissimmee, FL. Interval International is hosting their annual “Party with a Cause” where ticket proceeds will benefit industry research and education. The Breakfast of Champions, sponsored by iBAHN, will feature middle school teacher and inspiration behind Invincible, Vince Papale. The ARDA Awards Gala, sponsored by Holiday Systems International (HSI), will include a cocktail reception, elegant dinner, presentation of the annual ARDA Awards, and entertainment by the “The Human Jukebox,” Terry Fator.
Companies interested in participating as sponsors or exhibitors at the timeshare industry’s premier annual event may contact Sherry Eggers, Director of Sales and Marketing, at 202-371-6700, ext 116 or seggers@arda.org. For more information about the 2007 convention, please visit www.arda.org.
The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) 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 corporate 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).

In depth review of Benefit #2 of Buying a Timeshare

Home-like accommodations

Most timeshare units have floor plans that closely resemble two bedroom, two bathroom condos or apartments, usually with an additional sleeper sofa in the living room. Timeshare unit sizes vary from studios to four bedrooms, allowing plenty of room for families.
Anyone who has been on a vacation with children or groups of friends can tell you that hotel accommodations are not ideal. There are some hotel chains that offer suites, but they are often difficult to find, and two or more bedrooms are hard to come-by. Adjoining hotel rooms are often much more expensive, and usually lack the living, dining, kitchen, and laundry amenities that make your vacation more convenient and affordable. In addition, timeshares come stocked with kitchen utensils, dishes, silverware, etc.. But, unlike your typical rental home, no need to pack sheets and towels.
See more differences between hotel and timeshare condo accommodations »

Real property ownership
If you buy a "deeded" timeshare, you are buying real property. You can give it away, will it to your heirs, rent it, sell it, and so on. Not all timeshares are sold today with deeds. You will need to look carefully at the contract you are offered.