There are many timeshare resort companies in existence today. It is a big business with much competition. Resorts often change hands as they are bought and sold by the large hotel chains and timeshare resort companies.
The major players int he timeshare industry. Three major players in the timeshare resort industry are Westgate Resorts, Wyndham Resorts and WorldMark Resorts. Find out what distinguishes the timeshare resort companies and how their resorts differ from each other.
Westgate Resorts is one of the three largest public or private timeshare companies in the world. Central Florida Investments, Inc. owns full service resorts, hotels and raw land rights for future development, under Westgate Resorts. Present resorts are located in major resort cities in the United States, including Orlando, Florida; Miami, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Tunica, Mississippi; Mesa, Arizona; Park City, Utah; Williamsburg, Virginia; and Branson, Missouri. Of the ten U.S. locations, most of the resorts are in Central Florida, specifically near or in the Orlando area. All the resorts are family-friendly. While all the resorts offer very comfortable and attractive units, the numbers of amenities the resorts offer do differ. The resorts in the most popular places, closest to the major theme parks and other off-site amenities such as those in Orlando, tend to be more luxurious, many complete with their own top-quality restaurants, mini golf-course, spa, heated pools, etc. There are also different accommodation choices ranging from studios to larger units with four-bedrooms to suit any budget. They set themselves apart by decorating each resort with a theme appropriate to its surroundings.
Because the timeshare business has slowed in the recent couple of years, Westgate has had to downsize right after seeing a period of growth before the strain in the economy hit, but still remains competitive and strong and today.
The Wyndham Worldwide brand name was bought by Cendant Resort Group in 2005. Wyndham was associated with upscale luxury hotels all over the world.
The Wyndham Resorts owned by Wyndham Worldwide boasts resorts and hotels located in North America, Hawaii, Asia Pacific, the Caribbean and the South Pacific areas of the World. The Wyndham bought out the prestigious Fairfield Resorts as well. One of their award-winning resorts, spread across 14,000 acres of lush landscaping and beautiful panoramic lake views, is the Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Bay located in Fairfield Bay, Arkansas. Many of the resorts specifically managed by Wyndham have the distinction of being “Gold Crown” as rated by RCI, one of the top resort exchange companies. This rating is based upon on-site recreational opportunities, guest services, accommodations, access to area entertainment, shopping and other attractions as scored by the RCI members after their stay. Some of the resorts and hotels they are affiliated and associated with around the world also have the Gold Crown designation. Wyndham Resorts offers different vacation experiences, such as family, spa, golf, all-inclusive, and romance vacations.
The Wyndham Resorts are associated with the leader in timeshare resort development, Cendant Resort Group, making their timeshare inventory the most extensive in the industry.
There is an air of mystery surrounding WorldMark Resorts. You may have known WorldMark Resorts as Trendwest Resorts, Inc. at one time. Cendant, the owner of Trendwest Resorts at the time, nearly went under in 1998, after being involved with a merged company who was accused of overstating its financial condition before the merger. As a result, stock prices plummeted in one day and Cendant nearly flopped. The Cendant owner cancelled his retirement plans and miraculously got things back on track; in 2005 he bought the Wyndham Worldwide brand name.
WorldMark Resorts is a membership club of Wyndham Worldwide, the parent company of WorldMark and Wyndham Resorts. It has many locations of its own, as well as associate and affiliate resorts and hotels in North America and Fiji. You will find many of the very same resort inventories that are associated with the Wyndham Resorts because they are under the same parent company. WorldMark Resorts can be proud that so many of their resorts have the distinction of being rated “Gold Crown” by RCI. This rating is based on RCI members’ comment cards that score on-site recreational opportunities, guest services, accommodations, and access to area entertainment, shopping and other attractions. The WorldMark Palm Springs, California resort is just one example of an RCI Gold Crown Resort of International Distinction. WorldMark Asia Pacific also has many Gold Crown resorts in Australia.
You may be hesitant to buy stock under the WorldMark Resorts brand, but rest assured, you are sure to have a great selection of resorts from which to choose for your premium vacation experience.
Do Your Homework Before You Buy a Timeshare. Many resort chains end up being bought out by another of the major players in the luxury hotel and timeshare industries. Many people put a lot of importance in the quality and affordability of their holidays to reward them the fun and relaxation they deserve in life. Timeshares and vacation clubs allow them to have choices in vacation locations, while still being able to manage their expenses. If you’re in the market for a timeshare unit, make sure to do your homework on the owners and developers to find out how financially stable they are. You want your properties to continue to be well maintained in order to keep the values going in the right direction.
