WASHINGTON, July 7, 2010 As we enter the summer vacation season, families are looking for travel savings ideas everywhere and are prepared to jam their families into small hotel rooms if the deal is right. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) has a solution for the budget-conscious, weary traveler: rent a timeshare villa for your next vacation.

Many vacationers dont yet realize that they can rent a week or two at a fabulous resort and stay in spacious accommodations with one or more bedrooms and bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room all the comforts of home, said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. While it may be the destination that gets them there, its the guarantee of high-quality accommodations that keeps them returning year after year.

According to PriceWaterhouseCoopers research on the state of the timeshare industry in 2009, nearly half of timeshare purchasers rented first. Among six million-plus timeshare owners, timeshares continue to enjoy an 85 percent satisfaction rate. Timeshare owners place value on having the space to truly rejuvenate a benefit that comes with a timeshare vacation, said Nusbaum. And, because of the pre-paid nature of the product, timeshare owners continue to travel despite historic lows in traditional hotel occupancy. For 2009, the timeshare industry reported an occupancy rating of nearly 80 percent.

We have created a rental engine for consumers to take advantage of the convenience of vacationing timeshare-style. The opportunity for consumers to spread-out with all the conveniences of home as well as enjoy a host of on-site activities and amenities has been very positive, said Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts, home to Holiday Inn Club Vacations. We have seen an increase in our rental activity and our guest surveys reflect high product satisfaction ratings. In addition, we have opened our channels to mini-vacation packages and specials and are beginning to use social media as a way to market directly to consumers, Harrill continued.

There are many ways for vacationers to ensure the right timeshare rental to meet their travel needs. Rentals can be found at aggregated sites such as www.redweek.com and www.tug2.net, as well as with many timeshare developers that may be offering rental packages. We have two to three thousand rentals on our site at any given time, said Brian Rogers, president of the Timeshare Users Group. We frequently encourage travelers to explore this vacation experience because renting provides the perfect try before you buy solution.

ARDAs consumer website, www.VacationBetter.org, is a resource for all timeshare information. Visit it to discover what youve been missing.

About ARDA:

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 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). For more information, visit www.arda.org or ARDAs consumer website at www.VacationBetter.org.

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2010 Like the ladies of the new Sex and the City sequel, data from a survey released by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) shows women are taking girlfriend getaways more than ever. Thirty-eight percent of women have taken a girlfriend getaway with female family and friends, and 63 percent plan on taking one in the next two years. This is a trend that has been seen over the past several years as more women in their 30s and 40s opt to spend some of their vacation time bonding with the girls rather than taking a traditional family vacation.

To support these Girlfriend Getaways, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) offers how-to travel options to help make Girlfriend Getaways fun, affordable and stress-free.

The phenomenon of women traveling together on vacation has exploded because there are more career women with expendable income. They are busy, stressed out and tired from the multiple roles they perform at work and at home and a Girlfriend Getaway gives them the chance to recharge their batteries. This husbandfree and children-free time is a way to reconnect and focus on their own well-being.

Making the Girlfriend Getaway special starts with selecting the right place, said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. Timeshare provides spacious accommodations in fabulous locations and are a terrific option for these girls-only vacations.

ARDAs Girlfriend Getaways Guide provides women with everything they need to plan that once-in-a-lifetime adventure including reasons for considering this kind of getaway including planning tips, types of vacations to consider and how to make the most of your time away.

The Guide is available for download at http://www.vacationbetter.org.

About ARDA:

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 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). For more information, visit www.arda.org or ARDAs consumer website at www.VacationBetter.org.

Washington, DC February 12, 2010 As another gift-giving holiday approaches and with affordability on everyones mind, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) reminds people that theres 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 show there are undisputed, long-term benefits associated with taking vacations that contribute to stronger relationships and better health.

Let Valentines 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, its one of the reasons why timeshare owners continue to travel despite tough economic times. According to the exchange companies RCI and Interval International, among the top most traveled U.S. destinations for timeshare 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 others 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).

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WASHINGTON, October 20, 2009 -- As part of an industry effort to promote the power of travel during National Travel and Tourism Week in May, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) launched the Bring Your Vacation to Life photo and story contest. Contestants were asked to share a memory of a timeshare vacation that impacted their family, health, or enjoyment of life.

American Express gift cards were awarded to first- and second-place photos and one first-place story. The highest award went to Sally Lessig for the photo Al Relaxing and the story Thru the Years. Second-place photo prizes were awarded to Alexis MacDonald for Lexie & Dan Love Myrtle Beach and to Tracy Dunn for For My Next Act.

ARDA recognizes the need for vacations and the long-term benefits associated with taking regular vacations that contribute to better health, relationships, and job performance. In these tough economic times, the large number of entrants reflected the real value of timeshare ownership and how pre-paying for future vacations, guarantees that owners get away at least once a year.

According to ARDA, timeshare owners continue to travel to their timeshare destinations. The ARDA International Foundation (AIF) reported occupancy rates are at 81.6% in the State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry: United States Study, 2009 edition.

Owners are encouraged to share their stories, photos, and videos by visiting www.VacationBetter.org/Vacation-Scrapbook.

About VacationBetter.org
The American Resort Development Associations (ARDA) on-line resource informs consumers of the importance of vacations and the overall health and wellness benefits of enjoying one regularly and economically through timeshare. VacationBetter.org gives vacationing families and consumers a way to learn about traveling better with vacation ownership.

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WASHINGTON, September 22, 2009 -- As the nations children settle in for another school year, many parents and teachers wonder how the summer break affected their childrens academic achievement. Analysis of a U.S. Department of Education study found that children who travel over summer break whether to a beach, historic site or a national park did better in reading, math and general knowledge than their peers who didnt vacation.

The data is clear and gives hard-working parents another reason not to put off a summer vacation trip, said Dr. Bill Norman, Clemson University. Providing kids with the experience of travel broadens their horizons and opens up their minds to learning.

A series of analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between summer vacation travel and academic achievement in children entering first grade. Specifically, the study explored whether going on a vacation, the number of days spent on a vacation and places visited were linked to academic achievement in the areas of reading, mathematics and general knowledge. The results revealed a significant difference in academic achievement and taking a family summer vacation trip. Children that traveled with their family over summer vacation scored higher on academic achievement assessment tests than those who did not travel. The days spent on family summer vacation trips had a modest significant relationship with academic achievement. Lastly, children who visited plays or concerts, art or science museums, historical sites, beaches or lakes, national or state parks, and zoos or aquariums had significantly higher academic achievement scores than those who did not.

To date there has never been a study that plainly shows the correlation between travel and academic achievement, says Jessica Parker, researcher, Clemson University. It was interesting to see the impact on a child when they spend vacation time away with their family.

Over three-fourths (75.2%) of the participants responded that the child had taken a family summer travel vacation prior to starting first grade. For those children that took a family summer vacation trip, the average number of days spent traveling was 11.8 days.

The timeshare industry has always touted the importance of regular vacations for health and wellness, says Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO, American Resort Development Association (ARDA). This study gives families yet another strong reminder that taking vacation has benefits beyond the actual week or two of vacation. (Research Shows Vacations Make Kids Smarter Video)

This research study of how vacation impacts childhood learning used the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study of the Kindergarten Class database from the United States Department of Education. The database contains information on 21,600 children followed from kindergarten through fifth grades. This year study examined childrens early school experiences as well as family and life experiences, such as summer activities. The parents of a subsample of 5,047 children were asked about summer travel. Academic achievement was measured with a series of standardized test in the three areas of math, reading and general knowledge.

Although the results indicate that summer vacation travel and academic achievement are linked, other factors such as income level, parents educational level and language spoke at home may influence these findings.


About VacationBetter.org
The American Resort Development Associations (ARDA) on-line resource informs consumers of the importance of vacations and the overall health and wellness benefits of enjoying one regularly and economically through timeshare. VacationBetter.org gives vacationing families and consumers a way to learn about traveling better with vacation ownership.

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As a nation, we need to focus more on wellness, said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. Its proven that taking two weeks, or whatever you can, to break away from the daily grind will go a long way in promoting both physical and mental health.

The second step to recovery is to realize the health and wellness benefits you will get from taking a vacation. Recent research shows that the long-term benefits associated with taking regular vacations contribute to better health, relationships and job performance. In fact, the statistics are astounding. Men who dont vacation regularly are 32 percent more likely to die of heart attacks; women are 50 percent more likely.

People need to understand the important health benefits they will get from taking time away from their normal routine, says John de Graaf, executive director of Take Back Your Time, an initiative encouraging time outside of work. Vacations are not a luxury but an important part of any healthy lifestyle.

The last step in vacation deprivation recovery is to ensure that the vacation is the best possible experience it can be. ARDA member resorts provide spacious accommodations in stunning locations with all the comforts of home. A timeshare resort offers hassle-free second home vacations designed with the sole purpose of making the most of precious leisure time together.

One to two weeks away from the daily routine leads to better job performance and productivity, increasing reaction times by 30 to 40 percent. In addition, quality of sleep increases by about one hour a night upon return from vacation. Simply put, people cant afford not to take a vacation, says de Graaf.

About VacationBetter.org
The American Resort Development Associations (ARDA) new on-line resource informs consumers on the importance of taking a vacation and the overall benefits of enjoying one regularly through shared vacation ownership. VacationBetter.org is a comprehensive, educational tool for consumers to learn about this travel option and to demonstrate a way for travelers to vacation better.

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).

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Washington, DC, June 17, 2009 -- While Americans patiently wait for the countrys economic stimulus plan to take effect, its clear that a separate plan is needed to spur recovery in another area - the amount of time enjoyed with family. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) recently surveyed visitors to its VacationBetter.org website to determine if they have enough quality time with their immediate and extended families.Nearly half of the respondents felt quality time spent with the family was lacking and a stimulus plan was the solution.

Unfortunately vacation is one of the first things people give up when times get tough economically, and with that goes some of the best quality time you can get with your family, said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. Tough times are when people need connect to their families even more, and it can be done very economically.

In hopes of counteracting the failing tradition of quality family time, ARDA has created the Family Stimulus Plan. As part of this package, ARDA is providing tips and suggestions on how to take time away to renew and rejuvenate with the family on its VacationBetter.org consumer information website. The Family Stimulus Plan[BL1], provides travelers with helpful hints on planning a successful family vacation with either your immediate family or an extended family reunion. It contains event-planning tips, including managing invitations, selecting a location, ice-breaker games, decorations and ways to stay in touch all year long.

Another way to stimulate your interest in a family vacation is to hear from the health and wellness experts. Its a proven fact that people who spend time away reap health benefits far beyond that week or two of vacation. Vacations are not a luxury, but a necessity for good health and well-being.

Owning your vacation with timeshare has shown to be a sure-fire way of guaranteeing that you wont find excuses not to vacation and in fact, will reap all of the benefits of having pre-paid your vacation quality resorts, family-friendly accommodations and regular getaways. In fact, according to an ARDA study, timeshare properties are experiencing an 82 percent occupancy rate despite tough economic times.

As we all focus on the economic stimulus, ARDA encourages us to remember an even more important plan we can enact on our own -- The Family Stimulus Plan. To download a customizable package, visit www.VacationBetter.org/Family-Stimulus-Plan.

About VacationBetter.org
The American Resort Development Associations (ARDA) new on-line resource informs consumers on the importance of taking a vacation and the overall benefits of enjoying one regularly through shared vacation ownership. VacationBetter.org is a comprehensive, educational tool for consumers to learn about this travel option and to demonstrate a way for travelers to vacation better.

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).

Washington, DC May 4, 2009 As part of the travel industrys efforts to promote the power of travel during National Travel and Tourism Week, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) is encouraging timeshare owners to share the secret of better vacationing through its annual contest. Timeshare owners will have a chance to win $1,000 by entering a vacation photo, story or short video depicting a memory of a timeshare vacation that impacted their health, family or overall enjoyment of life.

ARDA points to studies that show there are undisputed, long-term benefits associated with taking regular vacations that contribute to better health, relationships and job performance. However, while vacations are fast becoming recognized as a critical component of wellness and healthy living, Americans are trying to grapple with how to afford a vacation during these tough economic times.

Vacation ownership products continue to offer a tremendous value for the consumer, both economically and emotionally, said ARDA president and CEO Howard Nusbaum who said that the timeshare industry has long promoted the need to take time to vacation at least once a year. According to ARDA, timeshare owners continue to travel to their timeshare destinations despite smaller travel budgets and less discretionary income. In fact, vacation ownership properties are experiencing more than 80% occupancy rates as of March 31, 2009.

The real value of timeshare ownership comes from the discipline of better vacation planning and consistent quality accommodations. Creating lasting memories year after year should be viewed as a necessity, not a luxury.

Purchasing and essentially pre-paying for your future vacations at todays prices take the stress out of planning for one while guaranteeing that you get away at least once a year. Today, there are 76 million baby-boomers that are extremely compelled by the value proposition of better vacationing with timeshare.

Timeshare owners are our industrys biggest advocates and we hope the stories, pictures and videos submitted throughout this contest will help give other travelers a glimpse into a better vacation experience, said Nusbaum.

Winners in each of the three categories story, photo and video will receive $1,000 and the runners-up will each receive $250. Additionally, the winning story, photo and video will be featured on www.VacationBetter.org, www.arda.org, and in ARDAs Developments magazine. Timeshare owners can visit www.VacationBetter.org for further submission details and prize information.

About VacationBetter.org
The American Resort Development Associations (ARDA) on-line resource informs consumers on the importance of taking a vacation and the overall benefits of enjoying one regularly through shared vacation ownership. VacationBetter.org is a comprehensive, educational tool for consumers to learn about this travel option and to demonstrate a way for travelers to vacation better.

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Washington, DC February 4, 2009 As another gift-giving holiday approaches and with affordability on everyones mind, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) reminds people that theres 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 Valentines 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, its 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 others 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).