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From special events, such as the lively Lion’s Den product pitch
and thoughts from top CEOs, to educational sessions, committee
meetings, and, of course, the exhibition hall, the conference gave voice
to a spectrum of ideas, information, and insights.
Listening In
Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of ARDA, welcomed attendees
with updates about the organization’s various initiatives and an
overview of the word on Wall Street about the industry. His summa-
tion? “The buzz around timesharing is loud and happy.”
At the opening session, Nusbaum introduced Stephen P. Weisz,
ARDA chairman and CEO and president of Marriott Vacations
Worldwide Corporation. Following his address was keynote speaker
Jonathan Perelman, former senior executive with BuzzFeed and
Google, who talked about the state and future of digital marketing.
Showcasing Innovation
Interval staff took advantage of the opportunity to meet with clients and
share the latest in products and innovations designed to enhance their
success.
“ARDA World is always a wonderful opportunity to meet with our
valued clients, establish new business relationships, and network with
industry colleagues,” says David Gilbert, president of Interval
International. “This conference was no different. We especially enjoyed
introducing our latest sales and marketing tools, including a sneak pre-
view of the STK Publisher, which will offer more flexibility than ever in
producing impactful sales presentations.”
Making a splash was Padzilla. The largest touch-screen iPad dis-
play available allows sales centers to engage prospects by stream-
ing elements of the Interval Sales Tool Kit app on a screen as large
as 80 inches.
Topical Issues
A roster of noted industry experts populated the panels that addressed
topical issues in the educational sessions. Interval International was
well-represented: Madeline Berges, vice president of e-commerce and
digital marketing; Michelle DuChamp, vice president of business devel-
opment; Neil Kolton, director of resort sales and service for the
Caribbean region; and David Matos, director of loyalty marketing, all
participated in their respective areas of expertise. Jan Sampson, senior
vice president of resort operations for VRI, also presented.
“ARDA strives to deliver compelling sessions with fresh, new ele-
ments as part of the ARDA World conference agenda,” notes
Nusbaum. “I feel that this year, we truly achieved that goal. We look for-
ward to building upon this year’s success as we embark on planning for
March 2017, when ARDA World heads to New Orleans.”
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Greetings, meetings, and impromptu networking activity created
a hum in the corridors of the convention halls at the Diplomat
Resort & Spa. But those weren’t the only conversations at ARDA
World 2016. The May 1 to 5 convention in Hollywood, Florida,
provided opportunities to listen and learn, as well as speak out
and be heard. The result? An event from which presenters,
companies, attendees, and the trade association itself walked
away all the richer.