I will be heading to Myrtle Beach for the South Carolina Regional ARDA conference on Monday and Tuesday. I will be conducting video and audio interviews. Anyone going who is interested in being inteviewed, contact me to set up a time and place to meet while there.
fredastemick@yahoo.com
Showing posts with label ARDA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ARDA. Show all posts
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Fractional Life joins ARDA, the American Resort Development Association
Source: www.FractionalLife.com
Luxury fractional ownership brand and fractional real estate conference organiser, Fractional Life is delighted to announce the company’s membership application to ARDA has been approved three weeks prior to the inaugural Fractional Summit USA 2010 Conference, 31 Aug – 1 Sep, InterContinental Miami .
Piers Brown, founder of Fractional Life, said: “Fractional Life and ARDA both share a common vision of the future which, despite these challenging times, is to help drive sales within the fractional real estate market.”
ARDA, established in 1969, has identified and responded to many Real Estate industry challenges throughout its history and serves the vacation ownership and resort development industries including fractional real estate.
“The fact that Howard Nusbaum, President and CEO, and Darla Zanini, Executive Vice President have both confirmed their attendance at our inaugural Fractional Summit USA conference is great news. This demonstrates the resolve of both organisations to come together to continue to reflect changing fractional consumer, trade and industry needs. Fractional Life feels very privileged to be an ARDA member,” Piers concluded.
With less than three weeks until the conference, only limited delegate tickets remain.
Fractional Summit USA 2010 has been devised to attract the most incisive and dynamic minds in both fractional and traditional Real Estate.
Fractional Summit USA’s conference theme, ‘New World, Global Landscape’ will stimulate delegate ‘know how’, whilst sharing and delivering fresh insights on new market dynamics.
Fractional Summit USA is the ideal place to get up-to date with the current market. With its global appeal, the Conference is held over 2 days and packed with renowned speakers, group panels and presentations from worldwide experts. The event offers the perfect platform to network, learn and exchange information and ideas
Luxury fractional ownership brand and fractional real estate conference organiser, Fractional Life is delighted to announce the company’s membership application to ARDA has been approved three weeks prior to the inaugural Fractional Summit USA 2010 Conference, 31 Aug – 1 Sep, InterContinental Miami .
Piers Brown, founder of Fractional Life, said: “Fractional Life and ARDA both share a common vision of the future which, despite these challenging times, is to help drive sales within the fractional real estate market.”
ARDA, established in 1969, has identified and responded to many Real Estate industry challenges throughout its history and serves the vacation ownership and resort development industries including fractional real estate.
“The fact that Howard Nusbaum, President and CEO, and Darla Zanini, Executive Vice President have both confirmed their attendance at our inaugural Fractional Summit USA conference is great news. This demonstrates the resolve of both organisations to come together to continue to reflect changing fractional consumer, trade and industry needs. Fractional Life feels very privileged to be an ARDA member,” Piers concluded.
With less than three weeks until the conference, only limited delegate tickets remain.
Fractional Summit USA 2010 has been devised to attract the most incisive and dynamic minds in both fractional and traditional Real Estate.
Fractional Summit USA’s conference theme, ‘New World, Global Landscape’ will stimulate delegate ‘know how’, whilst sharing and delivering fresh insights on new market dynamics.
Fractional Summit USA is the ideal place to get up-to date with the current market. With its global appeal, the Conference is held over 2 days and packed with renowned speakers, group panels and presentations from worldwide experts. The event offers the perfect platform to network, learn and exchange information and ideas
Friday, May 14, 2010
ARDA released new warning to timeshare owners today
AMERICAN RESORT DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
CONSUMER ADVISORY ON RESALE COMPANIES
ADVISORY IV
May 14, 2010
As part ARDA’s effort to provide consumers with guidance about the secondary marketplace and useful tips about
the resale process, this advisory is to make consumers aware of two deceptive resale solicitations that target timeshare
owners.
According to an April 2010 release issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(FDACS), the newest scheme is being used in combination with other unethical or fraudulent resale solicitations.
Beware of ‘Reloading’
The practice of ‘reloading’ is when an individual or company contacts a consumer who has already been victimized
by an unethical resale company. The claim is that they can recoup the upfront-fee lost in the original scam. The call
may actually be from the same company that conducted the first scam, only reorganized under a new name. Or the
call may be from a disgruntled former employee of the original company who uses the victims’ contact information
to run a new scam.
The FDACS warns that in either case the chances are minimal that consumers will recover any money. The latest
twist on this particular fraud has someone calling the original victim claiming to be from the first company that
took the upfront fee. This time, the caller will offer to refund the victim’s money, but will ask for a credit card
number “to facilitate the transaction.” If consumers again provide credit card numbers, they will lose money a
second time.
Bogus Rental Offers
Timeshare owners should also be skeptical of rental company solicitations that claim the company can rent owners’
vacation weeks or their “extra/bonus” weeks. While bonus weeks or bonus time is a legitimate benefit offered by
some – but not all – timeshare resorts, owners cannot rent them and may be in violation of their resorts’ rules if
they do. (Bonus weeks or bonus time is generally unused time that can be reserved only by other owners for a low
fee typically 30 days before the time is available.
The alleged rental company entices the consumer by claiming to have interested renters. The company quotes an
unrealistically-high rental rate, asks for an advance fee (upwards of $700) and a credit card number so the company
“can be authorized to represent the consumer in the rental transaction.” The advance fee is taken and the consumer
never hears of rentals again.
ARDA cautions consumers to make sure they understand the disclosures, promises, transfer protocols and recourse
available to them prior to writing a check, giving a credit card number or any other form of payment to a reseller.
And please check with your home owners association to see if a less expensive option is available to you. For more
resales information, please visit www.ARDA.org/resales. Visit ARDA’s consumer web site at
www.VacationBetter.org for more information about timeshares.
CONSUMER ADVISORY ON RESALE COMPANIES
ADVISORY IV
May 14, 2010
As part ARDA’s effort to provide consumers with guidance about the secondary marketplace and useful tips about
the resale process, this advisory is to make consumers aware of two deceptive resale solicitations that target timeshare
owners.
According to an April 2010 release issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(FDACS), the newest scheme is being used in combination with other unethical or fraudulent resale solicitations.
Beware of ‘Reloading’
The practice of ‘reloading’ is when an individual or company contacts a consumer who has already been victimized
by an unethical resale company. The claim is that they can recoup the upfront-fee lost in the original scam. The call
may actually be from the same company that conducted the first scam, only reorganized under a new name. Or the
call may be from a disgruntled former employee of the original company who uses the victims’ contact information
to run a new scam.
The FDACS warns that in either case the chances are minimal that consumers will recover any money. The latest
twist on this particular fraud has someone calling the original victim claiming to be from the first company that
took the upfront fee. This time, the caller will offer to refund the victim’s money, but will ask for a credit card
number “to facilitate the transaction.” If consumers again provide credit card numbers, they will lose money a
second time.
Bogus Rental Offers
Timeshare owners should also be skeptical of rental company solicitations that claim the company can rent owners’
vacation weeks or their “extra/bonus” weeks. While bonus weeks or bonus time is a legitimate benefit offered by
some – but not all – timeshare resorts, owners cannot rent them and may be in violation of their resorts’ rules if
they do. (Bonus weeks or bonus time is generally unused time that can be reserved only by other owners for a low
fee typically 30 days before the time is available.
The alleged rental company entices the consumer by claiming to have interested renters. The company quotes an
unrealistically-high rental rate, asks for an advance fee (upwards of $700) and a credit card number so the company
“can be authorized to represent the consumer in the rental transaction.” The advance fee is taken and the consumer
never hears of rentals again.
ARDA cautions consumers to make sure they understand the disclosures, promises, transfer protocols and recourse
available to them prior to writing a check, giving a credit card number or any other form of payment to a reseller.
And please check with your home owners association to see if a less expensive option is available to you. For more
resales information, please visit www.ARDA.org/resales. Visit ARDA’s consumer web site at
www.VacationBetter.org for more information about timeshares.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Update on ARDAs Model Timeshare Resales Act
It has been a little over a month since the ARDA convention where the Proposed Model Resales Act was such a hot topic! Many in the timeshare industry, from Developers to consumers, recognize this matter as one of high priority. The Model Resales Act will be used to guide Resale Companies in ARDA with policies that will better protect and serve both buyers and sellers of timeshare on the secondary market. The ultimate goal is to help set precedence for legislation on the state government levels that will benefit the industry as well as provide protection to consumers.
Recently, Management & Operations Magazine, sister publication of the Resort Trades interviewed Ken McKelvey. Mr. McKelvey, CEO of Defender resorts had also told us that much of the terminology in the Act was confusing even to someone coming from the resale industry. He felt however that this was a good foundation to start from and that future comment and suggestions would help mold the Act to its desired outcome.
I became curious as to any updates or developments on this topic, so I contacted Howard Nusbaum, President of ARDA and asked him what has transpired since the convention last month. According to Mr. Nusbaum, ARDA is still reviewing both verbal and written feedback about the Proposed Model Resale Act.
Concerning these questions about the Act, Mr. Nusbaum stated that “Several comments reveal some serious misunderstandings which lead us to believe the Task Force needs to be clearer in the drafting and that ARDA needs to do a better job of explaining the act and not assume that everyone is familiar with the nuances of previous legislation and/or legal opinions.”
Mr. Nusbaum went to further explain that despite the questions and misunderstandings, many comments ARDA has received have been extremely helpful in providing knowledge of what issues need to be further addressed and have also pointed to many good recommendations.
This process is still in its early stages and a large number of people in the industry are still new to many of these ideas that have been sited. The timeshare industry is encouraged to continue asking questions and providing feedback while ARDA and the Resale Task Force continue to move through the stages of completing and implementing the Act.
Mr. Nusbaum stated in conclusion that “The members of the Model Resale Act Task Force are reviewing and incorporating these comments. When that is complete it will be sent to the ARDA Board of Directors for their review”.
A recommended reading of the article “Resales 360” will be in the June edition of ARDA’s popular magazine Developments, for those following this topic and wishing to learn further information.
Thank you to Mr. Nusbaum for taking time to share this update information!
Recently, Management & Operations Magazine, sister publication of the Resort Trades interviewed Ken McKelvey. Mr. McKelvey, CEO of Defender resorts had also told us that much of the terminology in the Act was confusing even to someone coming from the resale industry. He felt however that this was a good foundation to start from and that future comment and suggestions would help mold the Act to its desired outcome.
I became curious as to any updates or developments on this topic, so I contacted Howard Nusbaum, President of ARDA and asked him what has transpired since the convention last month. According to Mr. Nusbaum, ARDA is still reviewing both verbal and written feedback about the Proposed Model Resale Act.
Concerning these questions about the Act, Mr. Nusbaum stated that “Several comments reveal some serious misunderstandings which lead us to believe the Task Force needs to be clearer in the drafting and that ARDA needs to do a better job of explaining the act and not assume that everyone is familiar with the nuances of previous legislation and/or legal opinions.”
Mr. Nusbaum went to further explain that despite the questions and misunderstandings, many comments ARDA has received have been extremely helpful in providing knowledge of what issues need to be further addressed and have also pointed to many good recommendations.
This process is still in its early stages and a large number of people in the industry are still new to many of these ideas that have been sited. The timeshare industry is encouraged to continue asking questions and providing feedback while ARDA and the Resale Task Force continue to move through the stages of completing and implementing the Act.
Mr. Nusbaum stated in conclusion that “The members of the Model Resale Act Task Force are reviewing and incorporating these comments. When that is complete it will be sent to the ARDA Board of Directors for their review”.
A recommended reading of the article “Resales 360” will be in the June edition of ARDA’s popular magazine Developments, for those following this topic and wishing to learn further information.
Thank you to Mr. Nusbaum for taking time to share this update information!
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