Forget the Roses…Give Your Sweetheart the Gift of Time

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Washington, DC – February 4, 2009 – As another gift-giving holiday approaches and with affordability on everyone’s mind, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) reminds people that there’s no gift like the gift of spending time with your loved ones and away from the strains of daily life. ARDA points to a growing body of research that shows there are undisputed, long-term benefits associated with taking vacations that contribute to stronger relationships and better health.

“Let Valentine’s Day be the reason to give a pledge to your family and yourself to take at least a one week vacation this year,” said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. “Medical research shows that spending quality time with loved ones – not the occasional day here or there – has proven beneficial in strengthening relationships and rejuvenating your overall well being.”

According to ARDA, such medical data supports the view that vacations should be seen as a necessity rather than a luxury. The timeshare industry has long since promoted the need to take time to vacation at least once a year. In fact, it’s one of the reasons why timeshare owners continue to travel despite tough economic times. According to the exchange companies Group RCI and Interval International, among the top most traveled U.S. destinations for timeshare in 2008 were Florida, Nevada and South Carolina.

“People are looking for options to get the most value out of their vacations,” said Nusbaum. “Timeshare accommodations allow for families to enjoy each other’s company eating around a dining room table instead of spending money at restaurants every night or sharing a pizza on a hotel bed.” And timeshare ensures this process will happen at least once a year, every year, which means a healthier, more relaxed life.

For further information, please visit www.VacationBetter.org.

About ARDA
The American Resort Development Association 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 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).