Press Center: Press Releases – Aug. 6, 2004

Consumers Want Vacation Alternatives

Fiscally concerned and travel shy, consumers are finding alternative ways to fulfill their vacation needs. More vacationers are discovering the timeshare resale industry as an attractive option, as consumers can save money and travel closer to home.

SEATTLE, WA – August 6, 2004

Fiscally concerned and travel shy, consumers are finding alternative ways to fulfill their vacation needs. And the timeshare resale industry is an attractive option, as consumers can save money and travel closer to home. Timeshare resale companies like the Holiday Group can save consumers up to 70% off retail timeshares and consumers may then exchange their timeshares for resorts that are closer to their homes.

Since 1992 the Seattle based company has offered pre-owned timeshares as an alternative to retail timeshares. Nearly 50% of a retail timeshare price is devoted to covering marketing and development costs. Resale customers can typically purchase a $10,000 retail timeshare for $3,000 to $4,000.

Resale consumers also enjoy the benefits of timeshare exchange programs, which allow them to trade their timeshare week for weeks at other resorts throughout the world. If a consumer does not wish to travel to Mexico this year, they may exchange their timeshare for a resort closer to home.

As consumers look for vacation alternatives that provide the most value for their hard-earned dollars, the pre-owned or resale timeshare industry is rapidly becoming a major part of the timeshare industry. According to a survey by Ragatz Associates, non-developer sales, the bulk of which are resales, now represent 24% of all vacation memberships sold in the U.S. The survey, entitled “Timeshare Purchasers – A Profile of Recent Activity”, is authored by Ragatz Associates director of research Steve Miner and uses a random sample of timeshare purchasers in the U.S. between May 1, 1999 and April 30, 2000. A total of 1,846 responses were received.

As more consumers search for vacations that offer more value for their hard-earned dollars, many savvy travelers are discovering timeshare resales as an attractive vacation option. In fact, pre-owned or resale timeshares are rapidly becoming a major part of the timeshare industry. According to a survey by Ragatz Associates, non-developer sales, the bulk of which are resales, now represent 24% of all vacation memberships sold in the U.S. The survey, entitled “Timeshare Purchasers – A Profile of Recent Activity”, is authored by Ragatz Associates director of research Steve Miner and uses a random sample of timeshare purchasers in the U.S. between May 1, 1999 and April 30, 2000. A total of 1,846 responses were received.

A pioneer in the resale industry, Holiday now offers financing to help customers meet their vacation plans. Holiday offers ‘ninety days same as cash’ as well as ‘easy credit terms’ on most of its inventory. “Financing will introduce timeshare vacationing to a whole other group of consumers and makes affordable priced resales an even bigger bargain,” says David Skinner, president of the Holiday Group.

“Quality vacationing shouldn’t just be for the wealthy, it should be for everyone. We all need a vacation. Now more than ever”, adds Skinner.

About Holiday Group

Holiday's online timeshare business connects thousands of vacation buyers with discount timeshares every year. Founded in 1992, Holiday was one of the first timeshare companies to host a comprehensive Web site. Holiday is headquartered in sunny Seattle. For more information, visit www.holidaygroup.com.

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Contact:

Geoff Klein
(800) 597-9345
geoff@holidaygroup.com

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