Another ARDA Spring Conference is in the books. Held at The Signia by Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando, ARDA Spring Conference 2025 was a huge success. But in case you missed it, Timeshares Only is here to recap this year’s big event. Read along as we reveal the key takeaways and memorable moments from the conference, including how AI is reshaping the timeshare industry, how 2024 measured up to previous years, the big winners from this year’s ARDA awards, and more!
What Is the ARDA Spring Conference?
The ARDA Spring Conference is an annual gathering of professionals and stakeholders from the timeshare industry to discuss the current state of the industry, its possible futures, and to recognize the brands, resorts, and individuals who embody ARDA’s Code of Ethics and standard of excellence. The conference features guest speakers, power sessions, networking events, and more. It is the largest gathering of timeshare professionals in the world.
Now you’re up to speed on what the ARDA Spring Conference is, but what is ARDA, exactly? ARDA is the American Resort Development Association. This regulatory trade association was formed primarily to protect the interests of timeshare owners. It also promotes the work of industry professionals who demonstrate ethical conduct, helping to improve the reputation of timeshare.
AI: All the Buzz at ARDA Spring Conference 2025
AI was a hot topic at ARDA Spring Conference 2025. In fact, it was the topic of not one but two talks: General Session: Skift Research Update: How AI and Digital Innovation are Redefining Travel, and Timeshare 2:0: A Deeper Dive: AI and Timeshare. Even talks that didn’t center on AI, like Power Session 8: Evolution of Timeshare F&B & Activities, couldn’t help but veer into the implications of this new technology, and it’s easy to see why. AI is growing exponentially, and new applications for the technology seem to be found every day. Soon, it will permeate almost every area of our lives.
AI’s Role in the Timeshare Industry
But how does AI figure into the timeshare industry? AI already has many applications in the timeshare industry, but the most important is personalization. “In Q3, 2024, thirty-seven percent of travelers said they’ve used AI tools like Chat GPT to plan trips,” said Darren Frei, Senior Branded Content Editor at Skift. “Of those, eighty-three percent said they were happy with the results. It’s a good indication that AI is getting very good at personalizing travel.”
How AI Helps to Personalize Travel
AI helps to personalize travel by collecting and analyzing data on customers’ travel preferences. Using this data, it can streamline vacation planning and ensure higher rates of customer satisfaction by offering accommodations and destinations that better align with customers’ needs. According to Frei, 78% of travelers prefer personalized accommodations. Of these, more than half are willing to share their data to get it.
Getting Better at Leveraging AI
Another talking point from ARDA Spring Conference 2025 was how to get better at using AI. “We’ve got this enormous amount of data,” said JP Hurtado, CIO of Holiday Inn Club Vacations, during the Skift talk. “How do we pivot out of reporting and traditional analytics to getting the skillsets across the entire organization to leverage AI to better dig at those insights?” Other areas where AI could be better applied going forward include driving owner engagement, brand loyalty, and reputation control.
Globalization: ARDA Spring Conference 2025
Reputation control came into play during another talk at ARDA Spring Conference 2025. In a world of constant mergers and acquisitions, maintaining brand reputation has become more challenging than ever. During the Leveraging On All Opportunities Towards Globalization talk, moderated by Ana Acevedo of RCI, speakers discussed how to maintain standards across acquisitions, as well as how to give brands unique stories as they merge with other brands.
F&B and Activities: ARDA Spring Conference 2025
Who doesn’t love their BFF (beverages, food, and fun)? One of the most lively discussions at ARDA Spring Conference 2025, Power Session 8: Evolution of Timeshare F&B & Activities, centered on this very question. Moderated by Alix Daley, and featuring speakers Jorge Reyes, Becky Frasier, and Jorg Heyer, this talk addressed how resorts can better utilize the resources at hand to deliver on the F&B and activities experience. Many resorts spend big money on amenities like entertainment venues, bars, and restaurants, without a great ROI to justify it. But, as it turns out, everyone really does love their BFF. And for the most part, they aren’t too picky about how they get it.
Thus, by embracing a “cruise ship mentality” (i.e. using the limited resources available to its fullest potential), resorts can save money while delivering F&B and activities their guests love. What does this look like? Examples given included making use of otherwise unused spaces, bringing amenities and activities to where people already are (e.g. pool decks), and setting up pop-up bars.
The State of the Industry: AIF Market Research Revealed
Every year, ARDA releases its State of the Industry Report, detailing industry stats like sales revenue, occupancy rates, maintenance fees, and other findings based on research by the ARDA International Foundation (AIF). And each year at the ARDA Spring Conference, ARDA offers a sneak peak at the numbers. Here’s a breakdown of what the timeshare industry looked like in 2024 compared to 2023.
| Key Metric | 2024 | 2023 |
| Average Maintenance Fees | $1,480 | $1,260 |
| Price Per Transaction | $22,686 | $24,170 |
| Sales Volume | $10.5 Billion | $10.6 Billion |
| Close Rates | 15.5% | 15.8% |
ARDA Awards: ARDA Spring Conference 2025
As it does every year, ARDA capped off its 2025 Spring Conference with its highly anticipated ARDA Awards ceremony. It was a night of both surprising upsets and well-deserved wins everyone saw coming as ARDA recognized the best nominees from categories like Marketing and Sales, Resort Design, and more. The organization also handed out its coveted ARDA Circle of Excellence (ACE) awards to nominees who have demonstrated the highest level of excellence in the industry. Here are some of the night’s big winners:
Timeshares Only: Work with an ARDA-Accredited Resale Company
Looking to buy, sell, rent, or rent out a timeshare on the resale market? Look no further than Timeshares Only. As a member of ARDA, we adhere to strict guidelines that protect your interests and give you peace of mind. And with over 25 years of experience, we can help you through every step of your transaction. Browse resales at the link below. Have questions? Call us at 1-800-610-2734 or email [email protected] to speak with a resale expert today!
