With Hotel Rates Climbing, More Consumers Are Turning to Timeshare

Dover, NH (December 11, 2007) -- Timeshare industry expert, Jason Tremblay, attributes the steady increase in timeshare ownership, in part, to the rising cost of travel and the increase in hotel room rates. Founder of SellMyTimeshareNow, a leading timeshare resale and timeshare rental advertising and marketing company, Jason Tremblay says, "The price of everything from gas to groceries is going up, which means that at the same time people have less money to spend on travel, the actual cost of dining out, gasoline and airfares is increasing. People are recognizing buying timeshare renting timeshares is a way to lower travel expenditures."

While increases in fuel, food and durable goods are adding to the cost of travel, increased demand for business travel is also pushing up costs for both business and recreational travelers. This year's annual Global Business Travel Forecast released by American Express Business Travel projects that increases in domestic airfares will be as much as 5 percent for North American economy class travelers and 5 to 10 percent for business class airfares. Room rates at mid-range hotels are projected to increase by 4 to 7 percent in 2008, while upper-range hotels in the US will increase by 5 to 8 percent. Increases in Europe will be even more dramatic, with economy class airfares rising as much as 5 percent, business class increasing as much as 10 percent and both mid-range and upper range hotel rooms increasing between 12 and 14 percent.

Timeshare ownership has grown from 4.1 million US households in 2005 to 4.4 million US households in 2006, according to research released earlier this year by the American Resort Development Association. As Jason Tremblay points out, "When you buy a timeshare, especially when you buy timeshare resales, you can lock in today's price for a lifetime of future vacations. It is one of the only ways consumers can control rising vacation and travel costs." The timeshare industry has often credited increased consumer understanding of the benefits of timeshare ownership, along with more locations, greater flexibility and enticing vacation benefits, with the steady growth in timeshare ownership, but buying or renting timeshare as a way to lower travel costs is a relatively new perspective. Competitive timeshare resort pricing contributes to this, as does the excellent inventory of timeshare resales available to buy or rent.

SellMyTimeshareNow's Director of Communications, Steve Luba, explains, "As the economy tightens, people start paying attention to the fact that timeshare resales and timeshare rentals offer luxurious accommodations in desirable locations, typically for far less than a comparable hotel room. Besides being a smart way to travel any time of the year, timeshare rentals offer excellent, affordable opportunities for holiday travel or your overflow of holiday guests."

About SellMyTimeshareNow

SellMyTimeshareNow is an industry leader in providing advertising and marketing for timeshare owners who want to sell timeshare or rent timeshare. For 2007, SellMyTimeshareNOW is on track to present to its customers $278,000,000 in offers to buy or rent timeshares.