The U.S timeshare industry contributed an estimated $70 billion in consumer and business spending to the national economy in 2011, according to a study conducted by Ernst & Young for the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). That includes a total of 493,000 jobs with $23 billion in income. Overall, the travel industry has been creating jobs 26 percent faster than the rest of the economy since March 2011*, creating 271,000 new jobs in that time.

"With the easing of capital markets and pent up demand for travel and family vacations, sales are beginning to increase once again. The $6.5 billion timeshare industry is making a major impact on local economies throughout the country," says Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of ARDA. "It's encouraging to see these numbers – we aren't just bringing people a better way to vacation, we are making a serious bottom-line economic impact."

The impact of the timeshare industry on the U.S. economy extends beyond timeshare resorts, including the economic impacts of sales and marketing offices, corporate operations, the construction of new resorts, the renovation of existing resorts, and the significant impact of expenditures of vacationers during timeshare stays. This study estimates the comprehensive private and public sector benefits generated by the timeshare industry.

Combined direct, indirect, and fiscal impacts in 2011 by the U.S. timeshare industry included $70 billion in consumer and business spending, 493,000 full- and part-time jobs, $23 billion in salaries and wages, and $7.7 billion in tax revenue. There are over 194,200 units in 1,548 timeshare resorts in the United States, encompassing a significant portion of the U.S. hospitality industry.

Spending by timeshare owners and guests during timeshare stays was estimated at $9.3 billion in 2011. About $1.5 billion was spent on-site at resorts, while $7.8 billion was spent off-site in the communities where the timeshare resorts are located.

In addition to private sector benefits, the timeshare industry contributes significantly more federal, state, and local tax revenue per employee than the average industry, totaling $7.7 billion in 2011.

For a full copy of this study, please contact [email protected].

ARDA is the trade association for the timeshare industry. ARDA's membership comprises over 500 companies (both privately held firms and publicly traded corporations), which house 5,000-plus individual ARDA members. ARDA's active, engaged members have extensive experience in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate. ARDA's work — including proactive advocacy — touches every role within the timeshare industry. Developers, exchange companies, vacation clubs, timeshare resellers, timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, industry vendors, consultants, and legal and regulatory experts are all part of the ARDA network. For more information, visit ARDA.org.

ARDA-ROC is a 501(c)4 non-profit entity funded by over 1.5 million individual timeshare owner's voluntary contributions. ARDA-ROC is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and enhancing vacation ownership through smart policy and sensible regulation. ARDA-ROC advocates for local, state, and federal policies that enable the vacation ownership industry to thrive and provide consumers with an enriched vacation ownership experience. For more information, visit ARDAROC.org.