23 / 56
Strengthening economies, government incentives, and tax exemp-
tions for businesses have stirred tourism development. And an
expanding middle class means that South American markets want —
and can afford to — vacation more.
In addition to a market study in 2012, Interval has conducted mem-
bership studies in Colombia, Brazil, and Peru — which suggest that
members are eager to travel in the near future, are satisfied or extremely
satisfied with their timeshare, and are interested in buying more, making
them an appealing market.
“The vacation ownership industry is benefiting from the positive
growth trends in countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Chile,
among others,” observes Marcos Agostini, Interval International’s
senior vice president of resort sales and business development for
Latin America. “Our member research throughout Latin America indi-
cates that satisfaction with vacation ownership is high among mem-
bers — and interest in purchasing additional timeshare is certainly
worth the attention of the industry.”
Interval had a strong presence at several timeshare and hospitality
conferences in South America in 2014, including the Brazil Hospitality
Investment Conference in May. “We’re excited to see attendance grow-
ing at these events,” notes Agostini, “and look forward to more oppor-
tunities to meet with developers who have interests in the region.”
Recent conference activity includes the following:
Shared Ownership Investment Seminar, Lima, Peru
Interval hosted its first Shared Ownership Investment Seminar in Lima,
Peru, as part of its increased focus on the Latin America region.
Prospective entrants, developers, hoteliers, lenders, and service
providers from Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador had the opportunity to gain
unique insights into shared ownership and its various business models.
“With one of the fastest-growing economies in the region and a
rising middle class, Peru is poised for significant growth in the leisure
travel market,” says Agostini. “This presents exciting opportunities for
shared ownership. We look forward to partnering with resort develop-
ers to provide travelers throughout the region with unforgettable
vacation experiences.”
These findings are reinforced by a recent study of active
leisure travelers residing in Peru,
Shared Ownership 2014: A
Market Perspective – Peru Edition
, which was present-
ed at the conference. Noted were findings that: 92
percent are planning to take more or the same number of
overnight leisure trips in the next 12 months, and 97 per-
cent indicate condominium-style accommodations are an
appealing alternative to traditional resorts, hotels, or
motels. “The growth potential for shared ownership vacations is
undeniable,” adds Agostini.
The event in Peru featured networking opportunities, interactive
sessions, and panel discussions led by hospitality and shared owner-
ship experts. It followed a series of Interval seminars that have taken
place in Buenos Aires, Argentina; São Paulo, Brazil; and Bogotá,
Colombia; in 2013 and 2014.
ADIT SHARE 2014, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
Interval was a bronze sponsor of ADIT SHARE 2014 in August at the
Beach Park Resort in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The event was organized
by the Brazilian Association for Real Estate and Tourism Development
(ADIT Brazil).
ADIT SHARE brought together developers, hoteliers, real estate
investors, tourism professionals, and finance companies to facilitate
and encourage networking and business connections.
The program covered key industry issues, current business mod-
els, legal structures, and future market trends. Fernando Martinelli,
Interval’s executive director of resort sales and service for Brazil, partic-
ipated on a panel discussing lead generation and sales-center man-
agement in Brazilian projects.
21
MEETINGS
With the release of four studies and a
calendar of meetings and conferences
in the past three years, Interval International
has aimed a spotlight on South America —
and for good reason. With 18 affiliations in
2014 alone, the company is experiencing
exciting growth in the region.
(Left to right) In Lima, Peru, Marcos Agostini, Interval International’s senior vice president of
resort sales and business development for Latin America; José Antonio Iturrizaga, general
manager of Sauce Alto Resort & Country Club (Peru); Esmeralda Cardona, Interval’s Andean
Region manager of resort sales and service; Germán Ortega, general manager of Casablanca
Golf Beach resort (Ecuador); and Diego Quirós, general manager of Travel Center (Colombia).
South America
in the Spotlight