Beginnings. Vacation ownership is a concept that originated in the French Alps in the 1960s. Now, 40 years later, it is one of the most popular vacation options enjoyed by today's leisure travelers. Consumer enjoyment of vacation ownership is making it one of the fastest-growing sectors of the hospitality industry.

Growth and Development. Since the mid-1990's, vacation ownership has become the fastest growing segment of the travel and hospitality industry. Today, 6.7 million households worldwide own vacation intervals at nearly 5,400 resorts in over 200 countries. Vacationers around the world are choosing vacation ownership resorts as their preferred travel destination due to benefits such as flexibility, options in unit types and travel times, quality of accommodations, excellent service, exchange opportunities, and the appeal of the resorts. Timeshare resorts are found across the globe in popular vacation areas and in major cities.