"Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going."
- Paul Theroux

WORLD OF TRAVEL

Views and Interviews

July 2024

Consumer Awareness Feature

Discovering Timeshare in India


In this interview, we feature insights from AIRDA’s internal communications team. And we focus on one question that comes up in interactions with end-customers – the difference between an independent hotel and a timeshare resort when it comes to annual vacations.



For the benefit of timeshare customers, we present highlight key differences between standalone hotels and timeshare resorts—a comparison that was difficult to make, even five years ago. Timeshare resorts now deliver everything you would expect in a hotel and more and deliver a vacation experience that is hard to match. In many cases, timeshare resort chains are run by senior professionals who grew their careers in the hotel industry.

Please read on to see how timeshare resorts stand out when it comes to making long-term vacation ownership choices. These are five key areas that we discussed at our interview.


What you really should know about timeshare vacations

First and foremost, timeshare resorts provide more space for you and your family. Most timeshare resorts offer multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, along with a full kitchen and living space. This is more than enough room for a large family to spread out and relax.



Another advantage of timeshare resorts is that they offer more amenities than hotels. Most timeshare resorts come with a range of additional services (a lot more than the standard facilities such as a swimming pool, fitness center, spa, and on-site restaurants.) This is because a timeshare resort is seen more as a “destination” – which means you don’t have to leave the resort to find something to do.



In addition to offering great food, timeshare resorts also provide more convenience than hotels. You have a choice of restaurant dining, room service, or cooking something quick and easy at the kitchenette provided in your rooms.



Since timeshare resorts are typically located in popular vacation destinations, they are often within walking distance to local attractions, making it easy to explore the area and enjoy the local cuisine.

Here’s another benefit. Timeshare resorts are affiliated with vacation exchange networks that allow timeshare owners to bank their timeshare weeks and pick a resort location (practically) anywhere in the world. This allows timeshare owners to explore different destinations based on their primary membership with their home resort.



Finally, timeshare resorts offer a sense of community and convenience that regular hotel stays cannot provide. Many timeshare resorts go beyond amenities such as swimming pools, fitness centers, and concierge services, to give you 360-degree benefits – what we call the complete vacation experience.



What you probably didn’t know about rooms at a timeshare resort

Timeshare resorts offer a variety of accommodations that are just as good as hotel rooms. In some cases, timeshare resorts even offer multiple bedrooms, kitchens, and living rooms, allowing families and large groups to enjoy the same amenities and activities, but with the added comfort and convenience of extra space.

These accommodations are far more vacation-friendly and designed with comfort and convenience in mind. They often feature compact kitchenettes, living rooms, and separate bedrooms, as well as private balconies or patios, and access to a variety of amenities.



Finally, timeshare resorts are often located in areas with plenty of attractions and activities, such as beaches, hill stations, safari parks, religious centers, historic sites, and other locations of tourist interest. This makes timeshare locations even more attractive and satisfying.


What no one told you about F&B at a timeshare resort

For travelers looking for the best in dining experiences, timeshare resorts are quickly becoming an attractive option. Unlike traditional hotels, timeshare resorts offer an array of dining options, with many of them even featuring gourmet and specialty restaurants.



The quality of the food at timeshare resorts is typically on par with that of a hotel, but there are a few differences. For one, the menus at timeshare resorts tend to be more varied and creative than those of hotels, allowing guests to enjoy a wider selection of dishes. Additionally, many timeshare resorts also feature specialty restaurants that offer a more upscale dining experience. These specialty restaurants often feature special ingredients and unique dishes that may not be available at other restaurants.

Another great thing about the food at timeshare resorts is that it is typically fresher and more flavorful than what you would find at a hotel. Many timeshare resorts source their ingredients locally, so the flavors are more authentic and the produce is often organic and sustainably grown. This ensures that guests are enjoying the freshest and most flavorful food possible.


What you will discover in terms of savings, in the long run

Timeshare resorts have been around for decades, but only recently have they become more widely known as a viable long-term investment. They have become a popular form of vacation ownership allowing buyers to purchase a specified duration of time at a resort for an initial membership fee.

Timeshare resorts offer a variety of benefits that make them an attractive long-term investment option. From the initial cost savings and convenience of being able to exchange their timeshare to the peace of mind of professional management and the potential to generate a return on investment, timeshare resorts are a great option for those looking to invest in a vacation home.

Many timeshare resorts offer a rental program that allows timeshare owners to rent out their timeshare to other vacationers. This can generate a steady stream of income for timeshare owners, making the timeshare a great long-term investment.


What you might see in the years to come


  • Convergence Points The world of hospitality is fast-changing, and the experience gap between independent hotels and timeshare resorts may not be so differential in the years to come.
  • Mixed-Use-Inventory Mixed-Use is changing the way some resort owners manage room allocation to optimize occupancy rates during the year. It is an emerging global trend where a pre-defined number of rooms are marked out for walk-in customers from online holiday booking portals.
  • Customer Satisfaction While there is a reallocation of inventory, resorts are making sure their primary (timeshare) members are in no way inconvenienced in terms of room availability, standard of service, and the benefits they signed up for when they picked a timeshare vacation plan.

Useful Links


Image credits: Images licensed from Freepik. Images used in this article are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of any specific products or services from our members or affiliates.


Content Disclaimer: The views expressed in our interviews and stories do not necessarily reflect the official policies, practices and guidelines of the All India Resort Development Association, or its members. These views are based on personal experiences, private opinion, or open source information. Images used here are either paid-for stock photos, images shared by the people we interview, or images under one of the open source licenses such as Creative Commons and others. For some of our features we acknowledge the use of AI referencing and writing inputs from Bard (Google) and Bing/Edge (Microsoft). We also acknowledge the use of publicly available AI assistants to generate relevant images for our feature stories.

Here’s a link to some recent interviews done by us on the AIRDA website

Virtual Tours

Welcome to AIRDA's virtual tours gallery - an initiative to provide an enhanced visual experience of our member properties.



If you would like to see how 360-degree panorama can work for you and give your customers an enhanced visual experience, please get in touch. Write to us at info@airda.org for more information.


Membership

Benefits for Resort Owners

What does an AIRDA membership mean to resort owners and developers? AIRDA comes in as your industry partner, conscience keeper and business catalyst - with a wide portfolio of support services.

Benefits for Consumers

What does AIRDA mean to holiday seekers and prospective customers? AIRDA comes in to provide information and offer guidelines on making the right timeshare decisions.

Get in Touch

Email: info@airda.org
Phone: 080 41255007 / 08

Address

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6th Cross, 11th Main,
HAL 2nd Stage,
Near Indiranagar Club
Bangalore – 560 008