Resorts today offer “extras” – unique amenities that not only satiate the desires of increasingly demanding consumers, but also generate additional revenue

When timeshare first started, it was enough to simply have a pool, be near the beach or mountain, and offer an apartment style condominium. Today, however, much more is necessary to create and successfully sell out a property. Developers come at it from all angles, but today’s shared-ownership resorts have to have amenities that are either luxurious, innovative, hi-tech, extremely comfort-catering or otherwise unique.

Such amenities definitely run the gamut, but the common thread among them is that they are marketing-friendly and have a positive effect at the sales table. And the best ones operate as a profit center as well, helping in the short term (by being a sales enhancement and closing tool) and long term (by producing steady income and helping to keep maintenance fees in check).

“Today’s consumers value their quality of life above all else, and our product mix is evolving far beyond mere bricks and mortar in order to reflect that philosophy,” says Ross Perlmutter, president and CEO of the Canadian Resort Development Association (CRDA). “It simply isn’t enough to just supply ‘accommodations’ anymore; people are now seeking to generate unforgettable memories and embrace the experiences that actually define their vacations.”

In the Swim
One of the most obvious examples of a “big ticket” amenity is a water feature that goes well beyond being merely a pool. RCI, the world’s largest vacation exchange company, has thousands of affiliated resorts that have pools – and a few that really stand out because their water recreation goes way beyond mere swimming pools. “Amenities continue to be very important to our affiliated properties,” says Gordon Gurnik, president of RCI North America. “Now most resorts are purpose built, and on-site amenities have become a key piece of the timeshare resort design. Larger properties are investing in water park designs over simple pools, for example,” he says.

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Tags: amentities, condominium, CRDA, developers, Gordon Gurnik, Massanutten Resort, mountain, North America, Orange Lake Resort, pool, RCI, Ross Perlmutter, Split Rock Resort & Golf Club, Timeshare, Walt Disney World Resort