WBP
TUG Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2005
- Messages
- 662
- Reaction score
- 341
- Points
- 423
The stories of how ARDA, a trade association that represents the interests of timeshare developers, and alleges to represent the interests of timeshare owners, increase in number and magnitude every year. It is clear, ARDA'S most influential constituency are timeshare developers, who are one of the vehicles that ARDA uses to solicit contributions from timeshare owners, on the basis that ARDA is looking after the best interests of timeshare owners. If that is not ripe with conflict, suspect, and toxic odors, I don't know what is.
Social Media attention on Diamond's business practices, described by many using terms such as deception, fraud, theft, etc., seem to be on the increase, as is attention on ARDA's alleged blatant disregard of Diamonds' business integrity and ethics, and alleged violations by Diamond of ARDA's Code of Ethics. It is reported that ARDA has looked the other way, and intentionally avoided eye to eye contact with Diamond, and their business practices, for years. This phenomena is well described in a variety of medium, including direct customer accounts of the alleged behaviors.
As Marriott Owners know, there is a line item on our maintenance fee bill, for a voluntary contribution to ARDA. Based, perhaps, on the (seemingly false) premise that ARDA is good for timeshare owners (remember, ARDA represents the many devils in timesharing). In so far, I think the time is long overdue, that we Marriott Owners take a strong stand, and vigorously discourage voluntary contributions by timeshare owners to ARDA.
Over the past few years, there have been numerous examples of large scale, bad practices by timeshare developers, not the least of which was the case of the Wyndham timeshare salesperson, which resulted in a very large financial award to that salesperson (and, it is argued, the departure of Wyndham timeshare division's President, who presided over that mess (and held a leadership position at ARDA)), the perennial, vial descriptions of Diamond's business practices, and the widespread deceptions by the developers of The Manhattan Club, to name but just a few.
On ARDA's Board of Directors, are some of the timeshare industry's most notorious leaders, including an attorney who has stated that he and his firm represent Diamond Resorts.
The 2018 maintenance fee bills are only a few months away. It would be nice to get the ball rolling now, and to send ARDA a message about their antics, and the antics of some of the developers, and the industry that they represent.
Social Media attention on Diamond's business practices, described by many using terms such as deception, fraud, theft, etc., seem to be on the increase, as is attention on ARDA's alleged blatant disregard of Diamonds' business integrity and ethics, and alleged violations by Diamond of ARDA's Code of Ethics. It is reported that ARDA has looked the other way, and intentionally avoided eye to eye contact with Diamond, and their business practices, for years. This phenomena is well described in a variety of medium, including direct customer accounts of the alleged behaviors.
As Marriott Owners know, there is a line item on our maintenance fee bill, for a voluntary contribution to ARDA. Based, perhaps, on the (seemingly false) premise that ARDA is good for timeshare owners (remember, ARDA represents the many devils in timesharing). In so far, I think the time is long overdue, that we Marriott Owners take a strong stand, and vigorously discourage voluntary contributions by timeshare owners to ARDA.
Over the past few years, there have been numerous examples of large scale, bad practices by timeshare developers, not the least of which was the case of the Wyndham timeshare salesperson, which resulted in a very large financial award to that salesperson (and, it is argued, the departure of Wyndham timeshare division's President, who presided over that mess (and held a leadership position at ARDA)), the perennial, vial descriptions of Diamond's business practices, and the widespread deceptions by the developers of The Manhattan Club, to name but just a few.
On ARDA's Board of Directors, are some of the timeshare industry's most notorious leaders, including an attorney who has stated that he and his firm represent Diamond Resorts.
The 2018 maintenance fee bills are only a few months away. It would be nice to get the ball rolling now, and to send ARDA a message about their antics, and the antics of some of the developers, and the industry that they represent.
Last edited: