LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Las Vegas tourism has taken a beating since January, with a steep drop in guests coming to Strip resort resorts.
Via that stretch, there’s one other part of Las Vegas guests who’ve been extra dependable. At the very least, that is what statistics surrounding timeshares counsel. 8 Information Now spoke to Jason Gamel, president and CEO of American Resort Improvement Affiliation (ARDA), and he stated timeshare occupancy has been regular whereas resorts have struggled to draw their regular crowds.
There are 33 timeshare properties in Las Vegas with a complete of 10,820 rooms, in line with ARDA’s information.
“We look a lot to see what’s kind of going on currently with the hospitality world and trends in Las Vegas. I mean, obviously, there’s a lot going on or things you read in the news,” Gamel stated.
“We looked at our major members and found right now, as far as occupancy rates are concerned for last month, we were right in that mid-70s as far as occupancy rates are concerned, which is good. You have everywhere from owners themselves staying, from exchangers that are coming in from different resorts and also renters. And a lot of people don’t realize that you could rent timeshare.”
And that is numerous vacationers. Even at 75% occupancy, these timeshare rooms add as much as a sold-out Caesars Palace, Bellagio and two Cromwells.
“The occupancy has been very steady,” Gamel stated. By comparability, lodge occupancy has dipped considerably as customer ranges have dropped in Las Vegas. In July, Las Vegas resorts have been about three-quarters full — 76.1% — in comparison with 83.7% in July 2024.
Jason Gamel, president and CEO of American Resort Improvement Affiliation (ARDA).
“So yeah, it does, doesn’t get quite sometimes as much press as some of the other larger resort properties do, but it certainly plays a very important role in the entire hospitality ecosystem,” he stated.
“One of the benefits of timeshare is that once people are owners, they tend to use their product year after year,” he stated. Individuals have a tendency to consider their timeshare as a second residence, Gamel stated.
A finances choice?
The opposite rap on Las Vegas proper now could be affordability. Increasingly more resorts try to carve out a distinct segment that appeals to luxurious vacationers. Resorts are discovering that high-end clients aren’t altering their journey plans regardless of all of the headlines about financial uncertainty.
And timeshares aren’t actually a finances journey choice, both. Gamel stated timeshares attraction extra as “mid-range options as well as high, very high roller type options for Las Vegas.”
However it may take away among the variables on how a lot a lodge will price, permitting vacationers to understand how a lot they are going to have left over to do the issues they love to do. In Las Vegas, that could be playing or going to a live performance or a present. And with the NFL, NHL and WNBA right here there are extra sports activities alternatives than the previous days in Las Vegas, when boxing was the large draw.
The best way timeshares work are additionally altering. There are alternatives that work on a factors system. Possession ranges differ, and factors can be utilized at completely different locations as a substitute of being mounted to 1 property.
Timeshare contracts
We requested Gamel in regards to the extremely publicized issues with getting out of timeshare contracts, and he stated there are numerous scams involving claims they will rescue timeshare homeowners.
“There’s a lot of misinformation that’s out there about exiting timeshares. That’s why ARDA created the Timeshare Consumer Protection Center, or thetcpc.org. It’s a website that’s information out there for timeshare owners to be able to learn about their exit options, to be able to avoid scams. As you mentioned, there’s a lot of people and there’s cottage industry out there trying to convince people that they can help or guarantee that they can cancel contracts.”
He stated ARDA has discovered that 90% of timeshare homeowners are pleased with their resolution, however he additionally sees adjustments within the business.
“So this is somewhat of a recent phenomenon. Probably the last 10 years or so is when we see more of a demand and more of a life cycle for timeshare ownership. And we believe the timeshare industry is doing an improvingly good job of making sure it meets the needs of its owners by providing fantastic resources and service. And we as a trade association are out there to provide information to those owners as well,” he stated.
Las Vegas gems
For years, timeshares have been round with out getting a lot consideration. So the place are a few of these, and what are they like on the within?
“You’ve got the Polo Towers, which was really the original timeshare there, the first multi-story build timeshare in Las Vegas,” Gamel stated. “Elara, which is a crown jewel with that Hilton Club at the top. I mentioned the Marriott Grand Chateau. It’s a very beautiful property. It’s a little bit off the Strip, along with the Grand Desert. There’s Tahiti Village, which has been there for a number of years, undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation right now.”
“Many times, people over those years have seen the same people at the same resort, right? You get to know these families, and it really becomes a family atmosphere,” Gamel stated.
“It really does start feeling like a second home. There’s nothing wrong with renting or with hotels and vacationing in hotels, but I can tell you as far as the ownership experience is concerned, when you’ve got professional management, you have more space, multiple bedrooms, a kitchen, and you look at all the things that one could do when they’re on vacation and a timeshare, it just ultimately changes the way people vacation versus those that are staying in hotels,” he stated.
