Timeshare exchange company Interval International has urged travel agents to take advantage of the growing number of UKpeople buying timeshares.
Group marketing director Europe and Middle East Kim Keble-White said 1.1m people from the UK went on a timeshare holiday last year, an increase of 10% on the previous year. He said many of them booked their flights and car rental through travel agents.
“Timeshare is growing. I cannot see a reason why agents would not want to get involved in the market,” said Keble-White.
He said the introduction of strong consumer brands such as Thomas Cook, which set up a timeshare division last year to sell the product through its shops, had helped to improve the perception of the product. “It gives the consumer reassurance when Thomas Cook is involved in the game.”
A Mori survey commissioned by Interval in the UK showed 66% of respondents were either extremely or very interested in purchasing a timeshare. Some 68% of the 500 surveyed also thought that a brand name was either extremely or very important when purchasing a timeshare.
Miami-based Interval is part-owned by Carlson, Marriott and Hyatt in the US. It has a portfolio of 1,800 resorts in 70 countries and one million members.
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