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Press Release: Interval International
November 8, 2002
ORLANDO, FL -- Hotel, casino, ski resort, spa, and golf course developers from 25 countries joined senior hospitality
executives and tourism officials at the fourth annual Timeshare and Resort Investment Conference, held November
6 - 8th at Disney's Contemporary Resort in Orlando, Florida. With more than $8 billion in annual worldwide sales,
timeshare is the fastest-growing segment of the hospitality industry worldwide and has proven its resilience in
times of economic downturn and international tension.
"The overwhelming energy and enthusiasm I saw expressed during this event is just further evidence to me that
vacation ownership is truly becoming a mainstream product with a glowing future," said Howard Nusbaum, president
and chief executive officer of the American Resort Development Association.
This year's conference attracted a record-breaking 500 delegates, and featured interactive roundtables, mobile
workshops, and panel discussions led by experts from the best-known companies in hospitality, timeshare, and resort
development. Industry experts, including Peter Yesawich, president and chief executive officer of Yesawich, Pepperdine
& Brown, presented some of the latest findings from consumer and industry research.
"The Timeshare Resort and Investment Conference is a unique event that offers critical information and resources
to those considering entrance into this expanding market," noted Craig M. Nash, chairman and chief executive
officer of Interval International, one of the patron sponsors of the conference.
"We are proud to be a part of such an important gathering. The number of people in attendance reaffirms the
high level of interest in the timesharing industry."
This year's event offered sessions focused on mixed-use resort development, financing, feasibility, and due diligence
as well as special sessions on Mexico and the Caribbean. A "Meet the Leaders" panel offered delegates
the opportunity to interact with senior executives from several of the most prominent timeshare resort development
companies, such as John Burlingame, executive vice president of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc.; David Siegel, president
and chief executive officer of C.F.I. and Westgate Resorts; and Stephen Weisz, president of Marriott Vacation Club
International.
Mobile workshops will conclude the three-day conference today with tours of Marriott's Grande Vista Resort and
the Amerisuites Vacation Club at Calypso Cay, both located in Orlando - "the timeshare capital of the world."
The timeshare industry has enjoyed double-digit annual growth over the past decade. Today, there are more than
5,300 resorts in 95 countries around the world, with 6.2 million owners globally. Consumer interest in vacation
ownership continues to rise as travelers learn more about the flexibility of timeshare, the variety of products
offered at different price ranges, and the innovative products and services introduced each year.
Patron sponsors of the conference were Baker & Hostetler, LLP; Capital Source; First American Title Company;
Fonatur; Hotel & Motel Management; HVS International; Interval International; Urban Land Institute; and Wimberly
Allison Tong & Goo. Corporate sponsors included Alta Hoteleria, the American Resort Development Association,
Hotels magazine, Hotel Business, Hotel Interactive, Lodging, Lodging Hospitality, Merilee Elliott Interiors, OBM
International Limited, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Real Estate Forum.
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CONTACT: Christine Boesch Timeshare & Resort Investment Conference (305) 925-7267 information@timeshare investment.com