Are Marriott (VAC) and the other timeshares better positioned to weather the storm?

[DannyTS]

We are currently at Westin Lagunamar in Cancun and, judging just by what I see here, no signs that people are scared to travel. I am thinking that depending on the location, the timeshares may actually benefit from what is going on. Would I rather cruise or stay in a hotel? The answer is obvious to me. Would I stay in a hotel or in a timeshare unit? I would rather stay in a timeshare if I wanted to limit the contact with others because I can cook my own food, drink my own water and limit the normal exposure that you have in a restaurant.

Given that owners continue to pay their maintenance fees, exchange in Interval and probably buy timeshares (that are a long term "investments"), are the timeshares better positioned that the hotels to weather the current environment?

The pools look like this, business as usual

 

[ocdb8r]

I think history shows us that timeshare resorts themselves tend to weather a variety of shocks better than other pieces of the travel industry (hotels, cruises and even airlines). Timeshare owners have typically been some of the first to "return" to normal travel patterns after these shock events as 1) they have sunk costs in annual maintenance fees and 2) many see timeshares an extension of their "homes" and have more permanently integrated timeshare trips into their everyday life.

However, the timeshare business overall is still very dependent on "sales" and shocks like these can have a more lasting input on sales...especially a worldwide shock like this that is also likely to have longer term economic consequences (it will take time for the reduced economic activity and supply chain hiccups to ripple through the economy). All the big developers still derive 40-60% of net revenue from sales and so they are still vulnerable to those impacts. Bottom line, I think they will weather the storm better than other travel industries and will recover more quickly, but the full magnitude of COVID-19 is still unknown and timeshare companies will not be immune.

 

[Luvtoride]

Agreed, ocd. We're heading to Fort Lauderdale tonight for a stay at Beachplace Towers and I expect the crowds at the airport and at the resort when we get there won't be noticeably different than usual. The impact will be in sales to the developers as consumers see the impact of the stock market hit on their investments (the real kind Danny) and aren't as confident to spend money on TS. I work in NYC, so going ANYPLACE is certainly less congested and a reprieve from here. Be safe and healthy everyone!

 

[jmhpsu93]

We're headed to Orlando for Easter week (Royal Palms) and are planning to go to Universal. I'm interested to see what this does to those types of places. Heck, I'd welcome lower crowds there but am worried about full closures by then.

Agree on the impact to sales, at least in the short term. TS purchases are definitely at the "discretionary" part of the family budget and that's going to hit first.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Maybe they will increase bribes for owner "updates" when I get to Kauai then.

 

[David10225]

We're headed to Orlando for Easter week (Royal Palms) and are planning to go to Universal. I'm interested to see what this does to those types of

I am at Grand Vista now for a 2 day Universal visit. Crowds are (in my opinion) low to moderate. Lots of purell dispensers out at Universal. Ate a Disney Springs last night. It was SLAMMED!