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Wesley Kogelman Attends the ARDA World 2012 Convention & Expo in Las Vegas April 6, 2012

Posted by Bryan Connelly in : ARDA, Customer Comments, General, New Features, News & Events, Timeshare Rental, Timeshare Resale, Timeshare Resource, Travel, Uncategorized , add a comment

Over the past week, leaders in the timeshare industry gathered in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the ARDA World 2012 Annual Convention & Exposition. This event is hosted by the American Resort Developments Association, the national trade association for the entire timeshare industry.

BuyATimeshare.com president and CEO, Wesley Kogelman, attended the convention to learn about changes to timesharing and to discuss the future of the secondary timeshare marketplace.

Meeting with several key players, Kogelman was able learn about upcoming legislation and new ways to expand the services of timeshare resales. As a reoccurring subject this year, resort developers are beginning to accept the value of the secondary market, and how they benefit from by-owner sales and resales.

RCI celebrated the ARDA World conference by announcing its new Online Tour Generation program. This will allow affiliated resorts to reach potential timeshare owners online.

And while the subject of “engaging the consumer online” is not a new subject at these sessions, Kogelman was please to learn about some about new and upcoming legislations, and to gain insights from key players in vacation exchange. BuyATimeshare.com is constantly looking to expand its customer-base and the services it can provide to timeshare owners, renters and sellers.

There are constructive conversations beginning to happen, where timeshare resales are being established as an affordable way for consumers to vacation. While more developers seem open to working with companies like BuyATimeshare.com, many still hesitate. Unfortunately, while they are waiting for a different solution to come along, the industry remains a market-driven creature that they cannot control.

ARDA’s data shows that almost 20% of new purchases are taking place on the secondary market. Kogelman attributes this to the ability for consumers to do their research before signing on the dotted line.

Potential Timeshare buyers are more educated than ever before, they go right to their Iphone or Android and search: “buy timeshare”, “buy a timeshare”, or “timeshare for sale” during a resort tour and place offers on Buyatimeshare.com and literally save thousands of dollars on the same vacation property.

A timeshare week on the resale market is worth whatever someone will pay for it. This is unlike the inflated retail prices charged by the resorts. This is an issue that Kogelman hopes to overcome, as the timeshare industry will never reach its potential customers in an online environment without companies like BuyATimeshare.com.

With systems like Timeshare Pulse already in place at BuyATimeshare.com, vacationers can design their own vacations right down to the amount of money they spend on a timeshare. It would be in the developer best interest to embrace the secondary market as the solution it is.

While developers and mainstream resorts are still experimenting with ways to reach the consumer online, the same internet has educated the consumer to look elsewhere. Online companies like BuyATimeshare.com understand how to reach the timeshare buyers and sellers to create a mutually beneficial system. Hopefully, by ARDA World 2013 in Hollywood, Florida, this topic will be recognized as a vital step in the progress of the entire timeshare industry.

Branson, Missouri, Rocked by February Tornado March 2, 2012

Posted by Bryan Connelly in : ARDA, Customer Comments, General, Hilton Grand Vacation, News & Events, Timeshare Rental, Timeshare Resale, Timeshare Resource, Travel, Uncategorized , add a comment

On Wednesday, February 29th, Missouri’s historic Downtown Branson was hit hard by a powerful tornado. Wind and rain damaged many of the key theaters and resorts along the city’s main strip.

The EF2 tornado strolled up the famous waterfront shopping area. Tearing down signs and shattering window, even the massive Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel could not escape unscathed. With windows blown out and damage throughout the top floors, the Hilton is currently closed due to that storm.

Other key destinations such as The Legends Theater, The Andy Williams Moon River Theater and the Branson Variety Theater all sustained significant damage. According to tourism officials, most of the damage was cosmetic, and won’t prevent many of the shows and entertainment from going on.

Officials say it is important for vacationers and timeshare owners alike to know that Branson is open, and most of the attractions are still available and the performances are on schedule.

The NTOA Meeting Helps Timeshare Owners to Better Understand Their Industry February 28, 2012

Posted by Bryan Connelly in : ARDA, Bluegreen Resorts, General, Hilton Grand Vacation, Marriott Timeshares, New Features, News & Events, RCI, silverleaf, Sunterra/Diamond Resorts, Timeshare Rental, Timeshare Resale, Timeshare Resource, Travel, Uncategorized, Westgate Timeshares, Wyndham Timeshares , add a comment

The National Timeshare Owners Association (NTOA) held its latest meeting at The Villages on Sunday, February 19, 2012. This latest meeting was aimed at helping timeshare owners and developers to better understand the issues facing the industry and the variety of resources available to them.

An expert cast of speakers presented their take on such topics as the current state of the resale market, exchange options and even a lesson on timeshare scams from the Attorney General’s office of Florida.

Nearly 160 timeshare owners from around the country attended the meeting for the valuable educational and networking opportunities available at every NTOA meeting.

Peter Emery, Sales Manager of CashOutATimeshare.com lead a discussion for timeshare owners who are looking at potentially selling or renting out their vacation properties. And according to the NTOA blog site, “we’re pleased to report that only a week later, some timeshares have already been sold!”

Rich Muller presented a powerful warning to timeshare owners and developers regarding alleged “Consumer Advocacy Groups.” Shep Altshuler, A representative from TimeSharing Today Magazine presented a discussion on the importance of owner participation in their home resort and the right every timeshare owner has. Those who attended the meeting left with a number of resources to call should they have any questions.

The National Timeshare Owners Association is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping timeshare consumers to better understand their properties and their rights as owners. The next meeting of the NTOA will be held in Baltimore on Sunday, April 15, 2012. This is typically the largest NTOA event of the year. To register, contact Ed Hastry.

BuyATimeshare.com and Wesley Kogelman Sponsors Non-Profit Organization “Send Me On Vacation” February 25, 2012

Posted by Bryan Connelly in : ARDA, Charity, Customer Comments, Donate a Timeshare, General, Marriott Timeshares, New Features, News & Events, Timeshare Rental, Timeshare Resale, Timeshare Resource , add a comment

In an effort to support survivors of breast cancer, Wesley Kogelman and Buy A Timeshare.com donated $1,000.00 toward the non-profit organization Send Me On Vacation (SMOV). While attending the 2012 GNEX Conference in Cancun, delegates like Kogelman took the opportunity to help sponsor a vacation in 2012.

SMOV is dedicated to providing an all-expense-paid trip for women and their families. After an exhausting battle with the dreadful disease, breast cancer survivors are given a chance to visit somewhere stress-free and rejuvenating. A much needed retreat, these vacations allow women and their families to begin the healing process and celebrate life.

Wesley Kogelman, founder and President of Buy A Timeshare.com is no stranger to the importance of a vacation. The internet advertising and marketing firm specializes in timeshares and helping families secure affordable vacation properties through by-owner resales and rentals. Along with helping a breast cancer survivor after treatment, Kogelman received a complementary membership with SMOV to keep up with industry topics and future sponsorships.

Wesley Kogelman Named as Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club Foundation February 23, 2012

Posted by Bryan Connelly in : ARDA, Charity, Customer Comments, General, New Features, News & Events, Timeshare Resale, Timeshare Resource, Travel, Uncategorized , add a comment

In recognition of his contributions made to The Rotary Foundation Wesley Kogelman became a Paul Harris Fellow last week at the Rotary Club of Souhegan Valley.

Donations are made to Annual Program Funds, PoilioPlus, or the Humanitarian Grants Program to help enrich the lives of others. Kogelman was awarded his certificate of recognition at the Hampton Inn in Nashua.

The Paul Harris Society has made contributions to support Foundation Grant Activities around the world. From disease prevention and treatment, to water sanitation and literacy, each Paul Harris Fellow is a part of the ongoing improvement of heath, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty.

Wesley Kogelman, founder and president of BuyATimeshare.com, has made contributions to several fundraisers and has helped to organize events throughout the years.

Recently, the Souhegan Valley Happy Hour Club has spearheaded events like the Annual Monday Night Football Fundraiser, as well as supporting the Annual Golf Tournament held at the Amherst Country Club.

In 2009 Kogelman and a group of 33 Rotarian traveled to Honduras to assist in building schools, hospitals, and water purifying stations.

In recognition of his contributions to the Rotary Foundation, Wesley Kogelman’s name will be added the ranks of such notable figures as U.S. President Jimmy Carter, astronaut James Lovell and Mother Teresa.

BuyATimeshare.com Collects More Than 1,700 Pounds of Food for Families in Need November 19, 2011

Posted by Bryan Connelly in : ARDA, Charity, Customer Comments, Donate a Timeshare, General, New Features, News & Events, Timeshare Resale, Timeshare Resource, Travel, Uncategorized , add a comment

BuyATimeshare.com has wrapped up its Third Annual Food Drive with some heartwarming results. Working with local businesses, the drive was able to generate 1,200 pounds of food for the New Hampshire Food Bank and the Nashua Soup Kitchen. Together with donations from our office in Tampa, Florida, BuyATimeshare.com was able to contribute 1,778 pounds of food to local charities.

In addition, BuyATimeshare.com hosted a fundraiser at Peddlers Daughter in Nashua. The event included a raffle to raise as much money as possible. Headlining the raffle was a free vacation and airfare for two provided by BuyATimeshare.com. The winner of this year’s raffle was announced, and the successful event raised $800 for a total monetary donation of $1,315.

On Monday, November 21, the managers of BuyATimeshare.com donated their time at the Nashua Soup Kitchen. This came as a welcomed surprise to the Food Pantry, which expects to distribute over 1,000 Holiday Boxes to needy families in the area. President of BuyATimeshare.com Wesley Kogelman said, “We look forward to another great holiday food drive and I look forward to helping these families again.” A special thanks to Frederick’s Pastry’s for participating as a drop off location. And thanks to our own Randy Medeiros for a great job organizing the event and being the man on the microphone.

With so many reasons to step up and give back to the community, everyone at BuyATimeshare.com is ready to work with local businesses and residents for next year’s big Food Drive. The staff is always looking for ways to get involved. Whether working with the United Way of Nashua, Toys for Tots in Tampa Bay, BuyATimeshare.com employees are excited to contribute. Whether sponsoring an event for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Nashua & Greater Salem, or donating backpacks to Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa, there is always a way give back to the local community.

Wesley Kogelman Attends the 13th Annual Shared Ownership Investment Conference August 29, 2011

Posted by Bryan Connelly in : ARDA, General, New Features, News & Events, Timeshare Rental, Timeshare Resource, Travel , add a comment

Along with several industry experts, developers and hoteliers, Wesley Kogelman will be attending the 13th Annual Shared Ownership Investment Conference from October 17 – 19. Kogelman, president and CEO of BuyATimeshare.com, hopes to contribute guidance as an industry leader in the secondary market, as well as listening carefully to further understand the complete picture presented by industry experts at the conference. By attending this event, Kogelman will better the resale industry with valuable knowledge learned from a variety of resources.

Wesley Kogelman will be working directly with developers, homeowner associations, and management companies to learn more about the many different shared ownership business models. In order to better the user experience for all of BuyATimeshare.com clientele, as well as future customers, Kogelman hopes to share ideas with industry leaders to further increase the value of the secondary timeshare market. There are many facets to the fractional and shared ownership concept. And the many segments and guests speakers will build on the future of how we all vacation.

Featured speakers like Jeffrey Ma and noted marketing strategist Peter C. Yesawich, Ph.D, will be sharing their expertise on changing trends in business, technology and consumer activity. Representatives of Smith Travel Research and the American Resort Developers Association (ARDA) will be discussing the current status of the industry. And throughout the day presenters will discuss the future of mixed-used resort, government regulations, and consumer demographics.

Wesley Kogelman has been providing timeshare solutions for over a decade. During this year’s conference he is hoping to make BuyATimeshare.com a more effective resource for timeshare buyers and seller. The 13th Annual Shared Ownership Investment Conference has been aptly themed “A New Perspective,” and will focus on networking and the sharing of ideas. Subjects like the future of shared ownerships like traditional timesharing, fractionals, and private residence clubs will be covered by those who have had success in those segments.

State of Nevada Endorses Timeshare Advertising On The Internet June 20, 2011

Posted by John Stephens in : ARDA, News & Events, Timeshare Resale , add a comment

For all the industry detractors (yes, I’m talking to you – old school resort developer) who discourage advertising timeshares on the internet, a bill just signed into law by Nevada Governor Sandoval  provides a clear endorsement of the practice.

According to the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), Nevada Senate Bill 200 was signed by the Governor last Friday, allowing advertising on the internet of timeshare foreclosures for sale.

We’ve been in the online advertising business for over 10 years and this is the first time I can remember that our form of advertising has received  such an explicit endorsement from a state legislature.

But it’s not just the Nevada legislature that gave the thumbs up to the process. According to the ARDA website, “ARDA and ARDA-ROC (Resort Owners Coalition) representatives testified in favor of SB 200 in both the Senate and Assembly, spending time explaining the benefits of internet publication of timeshare foreclosure sales, when owners–or prospective buyers–may be located anywhere in the U.S. or the world. Publication in local newspapers only (where a short-form publication is still required by the bill) was both expensive and not readily accessible for owners and potential buyers.  In addition to ARDA-ROC and ARDA, the Nevada Real Estate Division also supported the bill”.

This is an amazing turn-around for an industry that just a few years ago viewed the online advertising of timeshares as primarily a gimmick for rogue companies looking to fleece consumers. Now, the industry is advocating the use of the internet and recognizing the limitations of newspaper advertising, which we’ve been saying for years.

I realize that foreclosures are a sensitive subject and this law was passed primarily for the benefit of HOAs looking for ways to sell inventory and lower the potential costs of foreclosures on the resorts. Provisions were also placed in the bill to protect the privacy of timeshare owners and their personal information, which we wholehearted agree is an important aspect of the bill. But there is no denying that such recognition of the internet’s ability to help move timeshare inventory, especially in light of the current economic difficulties faced by some timeshare owners, is a clear validation of the business model that we have advocated for years.

Remember, great deals on Las Vegas timeshare inventory from Nevada, timeshare weeks in the rest of the country and even international timeshare such as Mexico timeshare can be viewed on the BuyaTimeshare.com website by clicking here.

New Sales of Timeshares Were Flat for 2010 June 14, 2011

Posted by John Stephens in : ARDA, News & Events , add a comment

This is where you find out if you’re a “glass half empty” or “glass half full” type of person when it comes to the state of the timeshare industry.

First, the facts. According to a report in the Orlando Sentinel, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) has released industry sales figures for 2010 which indicate that sales of new timeshare products edged up ever so slightly – to $6.4 billion in 2010 from $6.3 billion in 2009. Now, in some circles, $100 million would be a significant amount of money. But when you’re talking about the kind of cash that the timeshare industry had been raking in pre-recession, it’s more of a statistical bump than a growth spurt.

The figures, detailed in ARDA’s 2011 State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry report, are based on a survey of timeshare resorts, developers and management companies compiled by Ernst & Young on behalf of ARDA.

“The good news is we saw growth. It was modest, but we saw it mostly in the end of the year,” said Howard Nusbaum, president of ARDA, who told the Sentinel that the increase in sales is a positive indicator for 2011.

Now, the glass half full person will say that an increase, even if it’s only about 1.5%, is still an increase and good news as the industry continues to claw its way out of the economic downturn. The glass half empty person says these essentially flat statistics show that we’re still in the muck and struggling to make it, with little job creation or growth in sight. And both views would be correct.

When compared to the industry high water mark of $10.6 billion in sales in 2007, these numbers don’t measure up and show just how far the industry has fallen. However, these figures do show that the bleeding has stopped, revealing the first industry growth in three years.

Probably the most interesting fact reported is that the average sale price for a new timeshare week fell 5.7% to $19,308, the first time that the price has actually fallen since 2002. Occupancy rates also dipped, from 79% in 2009 to 78% last year.

The ARDA spin is that the industry is focusing on improved fundamentals and getting qualified buyers to tour resorts, according to the Sentinel. However, they also admit that the industry continues to cannibalize itself by worrying more about how to upgrade existing owners rather than bringing new owners into the market.

For example, in 2010, 45% of all timeshare sales involved people who already owned a timeshare with the same developer, up from 38% in 2009. At some stage, this strategy will backfire on developers as they cannot continue to go to the same well of owners and remain a viable sales product.

Many of you will say that, even at $19,308, the sale price for a new timeshare is still way too high. And you’d be right, which is why you’re looking into the timeshare resale market by coming to this website. New sale prices include an approximate 55% markup to cover the sales and marketing costs of the developers, which is why timeshare resales are so much lower in price. Like the pre-owned car market, these added costs don’t exist on the secondary market, which is why the prices are so good.

And that brings me to the main point of this topic – sales. Perhaps the real reason that industry sales are not as high is because of the effect of the internet over the last few years. Maybe it’s not just about the recession, but the fact that consumers are much wiser about the industry than they were in 2007 and the added transparency brought by the internet has removed the mask from the industry to reveal the real market value of the product, which is much closer to the resale price.

But you already knew this, or you wouldn’t be here reading this. So have fun browsing the resorts advertised on the BuyaTimeshare.com website for your next awesome timeshare vacation by clicking here.

Hawaii Timeshare Tax Is Saved By The Bell – For Now May 21, 2011

Posted by John Stephens in : ARDA, Hawaii timeshare, News & Events , add a comment

Hawaii timeshare owners have dodged a legislative bullet during this year’s state legislative session as controversial language that would have increased taxes on timeshare owners by 300% was removed from bills recently passed by the Hawaii Senate and House of Representatives.

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie had stated earlier this year his desire to increase the amount of taxes levied on Hawaii timeshare owners in an attempt to help close a budget shortfall faced by the state. However, an outcry of protest from timeshare owners, developers, resort managers and other members of the hospitality industry led to legislators removing the language from bills which passed just prior to the close of the 2011 session.

While this is good news for the timeshare industry from a state-wide perspective, industry observers are concerned that the state has kicked the can down to the local level through language included in those bills that could motivate action on a county level to raise taxes.

According to the American Resort Development Association, the legislation “did include one particular tax related item that might have an indirect effect on timeshare owners on a county level.  The legislature placed a cap on the overall amount of transient accommodation tax revenues that are normally shared with the counties.  This means that local governments could have an additional incentive to raise revenues, particularly property tax revenues.”

Talk has surfaced in the Maui County Council about raising the tax rate for owners in their jurisdiction, as I blogged about last month. During a May 6 hearing, representatives of the timeshare industry voiced their concerns to the Council about their proposal, according to a report in the Maui News.

“We believe time shares pay their fair share of taxes,” said Jason Gamel of the American Resort Development Association, who added that there appeared to be “no rationale” as to why timeshares were separated from hotels in the property tax system in 2005. Gamel said the county appeared to set a higher rate for philosophical reasons, according to the report.

During the hearing, Council Member Don Couch disagreed with the statements, noting that county officials in 2005 said they wanted to increase property tax rates for timeshares because they pay less in hotel-room taxes than traditional hotels. He noted that finance officials at the time said the rate should be set at $21 in order to balance out the loss of revenue to the county but that they wanted to go with a lower rate because they judged it would be more fair. The current rate is $14 and the proposed increase would raise the rate to $15.45 per $1,000 of assessed value.

This issue is certain to be contested by the industry should it pass, as I’m sure that local officials in other counties and municipalities in Hawaii are watching this closely to see if they can also get away with increasing rates.

The statement by Couch shows once again the misconception that elected officials often have about timeshare, mistakenly using an apples-to-oranges comparison to hotels that does not fully consider the ownership aspect of timeshare.

Or, perhaps those officials are conveniently overlooking (and taking for granted) the fact that timeshare owners pay property taxes in their maintenance fees and, unlike hotel occupants who pay accommodation taxes only when they visit, timeshare owners can’t say no to this payment by not visiting the island.  

I’m just sayin’….

This issue is scheduled to come to a head at a special County Council meeting on Monday, May 23 when the Council gathers to vote on setting property tax rates for the 2012 fiscal year.

The good news for people looking to buy timeshare or rent timeshare is that using sites such as BuyaTimeshare.com on the secondary market can give you the best possible opportunity to get a great deal on your next Hawaii vacation.

Hawaii timeshare from branded resorts such as Diamond Resorts, Hilton Grand Vacations, Marriott timeshare, Bluegreen timeshare and Wyndham timeshare can be seen on the BuyaTimeshare.com website by clicking here.