Orlando's time-share power center brings perks

Tim Barker
of The Sentinel Staff

Published in The Orlando Sentinel on July 26, 1999.

Having the world's top time-share companies based in Orlando offers benefits both to the industry and to the community.

So many chief executives gathered within shouting distance of one another makes for a powerful industry association -- a useful tool when it's time to lobby for or against legislation that would affect the industry.

For Cynthia Huheey, president of the industry's American Resort Development Association, Orlando is a frequent destination.

"We just have so many members -- and so many key members in the Orlando area," Huheey said.

Orlando's importance also made for an easy decision when industry leaders wanted to work with a university to develop a series of courses and a textbook on the time-share profession.

Next month, the University of Central Florida will begin teaching the first of three classes aimed at students interested in the growing field of lodging.

There are other universities teaching time-share courses, but UCF has a chance to be a leader -- some industry types would eventually like to see the university offer a major in the field.

"We are the fair-haired -- if you want to call it that -- chosen one," said Randall Upchurch, the UCF professor who will develop the course.