Compiled from reports directly from the convention
April 3, 2000
--ARDA has started a new committee for fractional ownership but preliminary reports indicate that it is being kept
at this time to just a private little group. It is not even listed in the program. The committee is being headed
by Larry Gildersleeve. You may remember that Gildersleeve joined MeriStar Hotels & Resorts on March 15 as executive
vice president of its new resort timeshare division.
Gildersleeve has more than 20 years of domestic and international timeshare industry experience in a variety of operations, marketing and sales positions. Previously, he was president of his own consulting firm, where he specialized in strategic planning and business development. He has held senior vice president positions in marketing and sales at Miami-based Interval International and Resort Condominiums International (RCI) in Indianapolis, and was vice president of club operations at Hilton Grand Vacations Company in Orlando.
Recent reports indicate that Meristar intends to build its timeshare division from scratch, rather than purchase a company that already has a presence in the industry. Gildersleeve's position on this new fractional ownership committee could be an indication that Meristar will be concentrating on fractionals rather than traditonal weeks.
--Tony Genth has been elected Treasurer to replace Steve Miller. That makes him heir apparent to a two-year term as the next Chairman.
--The AH&MA (American Hotel and Motel Association) has definitely gone ahead and changed its name to the
American Lodging Association, with specific divisions for timeshare and second homes. There have been many reports
over the last several months that AH&MA is controlled by a few major brands, and that it has been been suffering
a serious decline in many ways: dropping attendance at conventions, terrible shrinkage in trade shows, etc. Many
ARDA members are concerned that a close association with AH&MA will suck the life out of ARDA, leaving it a
hollow shell. They are also concerned that independent developers and many of the non-developer members will be
left out in the cold, without a voice and without power.
-- The Technology Committee has set up an e-network for its committee meetings, but under the administration of
I.I. (through the committee chair) not ARDA. Also, apparently ARDA has spent around $270,000 so far with USC to
develop a new site that incorporates IRC. Insiders question whether this commitment will continue under new leadership.
--Silverleaf is just waiting for water rights in Pennsylvania now in order to begin on their new resort there. The company will hold its grand opening on their new tropical Seaside Resort in Galveston, TX on April 10.
--The Becton Group from Melbourne, AU is said to be the development company behind the 6 Accor timeshare resorts
in Australia.
--Marriott is going to open an offsite office in Las Vegas. In addition, they are expected to begin presales on
their new property in Phuket, Thailand sometime in November of this year.
Stay tuned for more tidbits as they come in.