Press Release
April 24, 2001
SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- Access Development, a leading provider of private-label travel and leisure benefits, has
formed a strategic alliance with Leisuretainment.com, a consulting firm specializing in the vacation industry,
to offer an exciting new marketing program designed to maximize sales efficiency.
The Friends Program was developed in an effort to help companies selling vacation products fully capitalize on
their marketing expenditures. It is a relationship-marketing program that provides vacation ownership companies
with the ability to maximize sales revenue.
“Experienced industry professionals know that on average, only about 10 out of every 100 people who attend a vacation
sales presentation will actually buy the product that day,” notes Leisuretainment Partner Clay Gring, who spent
eight years as COO for Fairfield Communities, Inc. “Studies show that of these non-buyers, 14 percent consider
themselves “very interested”, and still another 24 percent consider themselves “interested”. They are just not
ready to make a same-day buy decision. The Friends Program provides an opportunity to build an ongoing relationship
with these people and close a sale in the future.”
Under the Friends Program, vacation ownership providers who have been unable to sell prospects on either a perennial
plan or trial program would offer the prospect a free Friends Program membership that features thousands of discounts
on lodging, golf, cruises, condo vacations and car rentals. All that a prospect is required to do is complete
a survey form that captures their personal information and referrals.
Leisuretainment would then store this database information and conduct relationship-marketing efforts on behalf
of the vacation company.
Leisuretainment will be responsible for the “Friends” relationship marketing efforts. Access Development will
provide the travel & leisure benefits package complete with custom-designed directories and membership cards
for the participating vacation ownership companies. In addition, Access Development will build, develop and host
an online version of the private-label program. Other than a nominal materials fee associated with the travel and
leisure discounts offered through the Friends Program, participating companies will not be required to pay for
the ongoing marketing efforts unless a vacation ownership sale is made.
“What the Friends Program offers is a way for vacation companies to recoup some of the money that has been spent
on marketing by increasing the sales-close ratio,” notes Casey Kleinman, vice president of sales and marketing
for Access Development. “The bottom line is that it gives vacation ownership companies a bigger bang for their
buck and ensures that the investment made in introducing a potential client to the vacation product doesn’t result
in a sale for a competitor.”
Leisuretainment.com LLC, is a Boca Raton, FL-based consulting firm providing product innovation and sales &
marketing programs for the vacation industry. For more information on the Friends Program or other services Leisuretainment.com
offers, call (561) 417-7559 or visit the company website at www.leisuretainment.com
Access Development Corporation, founded in 1984 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, is an industry leader
that specializes in the delivery of private-label travel and leisure benefits programs. For more information on
the Friends Program or other products and services Access Development offers, call (888) 205-8055 or visit the
company website at www.accessdevelopment.com.
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CONTACT:
Ingrid Ricks (425) 831-4807 Casey Kleinman (801) 974-3033 ext. 1300