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Interval International
Debuts New Sales
Tools at ARDA World
In the exhibition hall, the Interval International booth
was the site for meetings — scheduled and ad hoc —
as well as an introduction to the exchange company’s
newest features in its award-winning Sales Tool Kit.
Attendees gathered around screens to watch as
Interval representatives demonstrated the powerful
new features using an iPad.
“The latest version of the Sales Tool Kit includes
two new modules: Favorites and Workspace,”
explained Ralph Fiol, Interval’s assistant vice presi-
dent of digital innovation. He demonstrated how the
modules work together to create customized sales
presentations by importing and organizing content
such as PowerPoint presentations, PDF documents,
photos, and videos. “The new modules make it easy to create interactive
digital iPad presentations.”
Fiol reports that feedback at the conference was very positive.
“Visitors loved the ability to import their own custom sales content into
the STK application. They especially appreciated the fact that custom
material can be combined with the Interval exchange content —
including videos and resort images — and that they have one-click
access to the Sales Tool Kit’s Vacation Calculator, Exchange Tracker,
and
Resort Directory
.”
He adds, “The fact that content can be imported easily from Google
Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, and other sources makes it easy to build digital
presentations without custom programming or IT involvement.”
What’s more, Fiol reports, the feedback has inspired even further
enhancements. “We collected many amazing ideas from the booth
visitors and from our partners currently using the application. We have
already started working on the next release, and will be incorporating
many of those ideas into our product roadmap.”
Perhaps the most valuable feature of the new Workspace is that
it is free and easy to access. Says Fiol, “Deployment requires minimal
capital investment since most sales centers already use iPads.”
The free Sales Tool Kit app is downloadable from the Apple
app store.
24
RESORTDEVELOPER.COM
vacation industry review
JULY – SEPTEMBER 2015
MEETINGS
INTERVAL SPONSORS, ATTENDS
ASIA PACIFIC INDUSTRY CONFERENCE
Interval International’s presence and sponsorship of the
Alternative Ownership Conference Asia Pacific (AOCAP) in
Singapore, in March, reinforced the importance of the region
to the company and the vacation ownership industry.
“This sponsorship is part of an ongoing commitment
that Interval is making to this market,” says David C. Gilbert,
president of Interval International. “We have made it a
priority to expand our network in the region, as evidenced
by our most recent affiliation — the prestigious Anantara
Vacation Club.”
According to Joe Hickman, vice president and execu-
tive director of Asia/Pacific for Interval International, the
company has been increasing its regional presence and
fielding consumer research. “For example, our latest
Interval International Asia Membership Profile
provided
insights that resort developers and prospective industry
entrants can use in designing products and developing
marketing strategies,” he notes.
Gilbert presented highlights of Interval’s Asian member
survey. Darren Ettridge, senior vice president of resort
sales and business development for Europe, the Middle
East, Africa, and Asia, and Kit Whalley, Interval’s business
development director for Asia, also attended.
ARDA LEAPS Kicks Off
2015 Class at ARDA World
The 2016 class of LEAPS students — dubbed Leapsters 3.0 — came
together for the first time at ARDA World with an enthusiastic welcome
from the graduating class of 2015.
In its third year, the ARDA LEAPS program was created to cultivate
and develop future leaders. To date, more than 35 professionals have
completed the program.
“In addition to gaining a better understanding of ARDA,” says
LEAPS graduate Neil Kolton, Interval International director resort sales
and service for the Caribbean and Florida, “I was able to build relation-
ships with a tremendous group of professionals from across all aspects
of the industry.”
Guided by Darla Zanini, executive vice president of the ARDA
international Foundation (AIF), Leapsters 3.0 participants planned the
2015–2016 program and mapped out dates and activities for the
year-long curriculum. “I look forward to the upcoming year and the
opportunity of working with this amazing group of future timeshare
industry leaders,” says Zanini.
Report by Yvette Battala, director of corporate communications
for Interval International, member of the Leapsters 3.0 class.