Press Release: Orange Lake Resort & Country Club
April 18, 2002
ORLANDO, FL -- Orlando's Orange Lake Resort & Country Club was singled out last night as the industry's most
outstanding timeshare resort by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) at its international convention
in Las Vegas.
Orange Lake is the first resort in the world to receive the ARDA Circle of Excellence (ACE) Project of Excellence
Award from the 1,000-member industry standards-setting organization. The award is based on a resort's overall excellence
in areas including owner/guest satisfaction, resort accommodations and amenities, and community involvement.
``We're very proud of ARDA's recognition,'' says Charles K. Swan III, Orange Lake's president and chief executive
officer. ``While pleasing our owners and guests gives us all the most satisfaction, it's still tremendously gratifying
to be recognized in this way by our peers.''
Orange Lake, the 20-year-old timeshare resort that sprawls across 1,100 acres on U.S. Highway 192 just west of
Walt Disney World®, is the world's largest single-site timeshare development and a major local employer, with
nearly 1,400 employees and associates.
``Since we're family-owned rather than a public company -- we might just be one of the best kept secrets in Orlando,''
Swan says. ``But to our owners and guests from around the world -- and to our peers in the industry -- we're a
leader in excellence.''
The family-oriented resort features three championship golf courses, two expansive pool complexes, nine tennis
courts, a theater, two arcades and a full-time activities staff which organizes daily activities aimed at all age
groups. Six restaurants and six retail outlets on the property complete the resort's offerings. Its nearly 2,000
vacation units are clustered into three distinct ``villages,'' creating intimate settings despite the resort's
size.
Orange Lake was the brainchild of one of America's business standard-setters, Kemmons Wilson, who revolutionized
the lodging industry in the 50's with the immediate popularity and rapid growth of his family-oriented, Holiday
Inns® chain.
He then built Orange Lake, bringing his financial stability, solid reputation and proven track record for success
to the timeshare industry, which in the early 80's had a deservedly shaky reputation among consumers.
``Our solid foundation and immediate success really was a turning point for timeshare,'' Swan says. ``More and
more people began looking at timeshare as an attractive option, and gradually, other major lodging chains entered
the field, too. I know that Kemmons and the entire Wilson family are very proud of this ARDA recognition, because
it shows that we're still setting new standards for the industry 20 years later.''
Since its beginnings, Orange Lake has been notable for its continuous growth and success. Still owned by the Memphis-based
Wilson family, it currently has a major development plan underway which will expand the resort further -- doubling
its size in this decade to more than 4,500 vacation units.
For more information regarding Orange Lake, please call 407/239-0000, ext. 5200 or email publicrelations@orangelake.com
or visit http://www.OrangeLake.com.
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Contact:
Orange Lake, Kissimmee, Fla.
Paul Denning, 407/239-0000 X4682