LETTER FROM CHAIRMAN

This month, I want to talk about the process we follow when we invite and accredit a member into our fold. I have reproduced the text of the certificate we issue to a new member which the resort can proudly display at the Resort.

This is to certify that (this resort) is

Accepted for official Membership of the All India Resort Development Association
In Accordance with our guidelines for accreditation of professional members who commit to be part of our
Regulatory framework and code of ethics which are
Deemed to be a benchmark for the Time Share and Vacation Ownership Industry
And the standards we represent in term of operational standards and service excellence.

B. S. Rathor
Chairman, AIRDA

Though we have an open door policy on membership we go through a fairly elaborate evaluation process. We look at facilities, amenities, F&B, comfort levels, the value-adds, how well the staff is trained.

We also have long sessions with the management of the resort on the compliance issues that we want them to understand and adhere to. Compliance here has a lot to do with systems, processes, customer sign-in guidelines, operating procedures and transparency from the customer’s point of view.

While that sounds long drawn, in effect it is a smooth and seamless process; because the kind of resorts that we talk to, are already close to the kind of standards we expect from AIRDA members. It’s all about running a common thread across systems and processes, so that AIRDA members reflect the same amenities and standards anywhere in the country.

Having said that, here’s some important advice to prospective customers. While AIRDA guidelines are common across members, their pricing is exclusive and related to property values and investments. Properties at high realty value locations will necessarily have a higher tag, than those at not so expensive locations. Each resort is also free to define its packages in terms of time frames, facilities, deliverables and features – largely done to give customers multiple price points.

The resort also benefits from the guidelines AIRDA offers from an industry perspective and the lobbying it undertakes on behalf of the industry in government circles. This is primarily done to obtain specific sanctions for the timeshare industry, in terms of relief measures and benefits.

At the end of the day we see clear benefits from both points of view. The resort gets the quality assurance tag of being an AIRDA member and the customer gets the same support and service across the country.

I’d like to finish this piece with our sixty-second elevator pitch on AIRDA:

The All India Resort Development Association (AIRDA) is a self-regulated, independent advisory dedicated to the timeshare and vacation ownership industry. AIRDA’s primary members are resort owners, who benefit from AIRDA’s constructive sharing of ideas and strategies on the running and promotion of timeshare. AIRDA works closely with members to cut a clean image in the industry and offer fair value to end customers. AIRDA also represents the industry and lobbies with the government on policy issues that could have a bearing on timeshare and vacation ownership in the country.

AIRDA has a balanced end-customer focus and provides updated information on the official website. This covers the timeshare marketplace, advice on making informed choices on vacation ownership and assistance on complaint redressal, if any.

AIRDA is an affiliated member of the American Resort Developers Association.

B. S. Rathor
Chairman, AIRDA