Timeshares on Roatan?.... they may be just around the corner! According to Ernst & Young study... Timeshare sales climbed 16
percent during 2006 to $10 billion over 2005 sales of $8.6 billion,
according to a study of the U.S. vacation ownership industry conducted
by Ernst & Young, LLP and released today by the ARDA International
Foundation (AIF). The survey of 625 timeshare resorts throughout
the country shows robust growth over a five-year period, with sales up
81 percent and average resort size growth of 32 percent.
As of January 1, 2007, there were 1,615 vacation ownership resorts
operating in the U.S. There are a total of 4.4 million U.S.
timeshare owners, up from 4.1 million in 2005, 3.87 million in 2005, 3.4
million in 2003, and three million in 2002.
The number of timeshare units in the U.S., as of January 1, 2007 was 176,232, with 14,000 newly constructed units in 2006. Looking ahead, study respondents predict continued growth as they continue to build new resorts, including approximately 11,000 new units forecast for 2007 and firm commitments for approximately 47,000 new units in 2008 and beyond.
Beach resorts remain the most common primary designation of resorts (23.9 percent), and country/lake resorts second (15.4 percent). Golf (9.7 percent) is the amenity most often available nearby and/or on-site.
Two-bedroom units represent the most common size (63 percent), followed by one-bedroom (22 percent), three-bedroom or larger (nine percent), and studios (less than six percent). The average price of a timeshare interval or points equivalent in 2006 was $18,502.
As vacation exchange remains one of the most popular characteristics of timeshare, all responding resorts reported an affiliation with some exchange program, with 96 percent affiliated with one or both of the two major exchange companies, RCI and Interval International, and 24 percent of resorts reporting a self-administered program, generally in addition to the exchange company affiliation.
Keep a watch out... Roatan timeshares may be just around the corner!
