I’ve recently returned from the ARDA World Convention, which was held in Las Vegas April 1–5. It’s still very heavily timesharing, and let me say that I found it energizing to attend. I went just for the day on April 4, and was able to make a lunch held for former ARDA chairs, which is a really nice event sponsored by ARDA.
How grand to see Bert Blicher, Deb Linden, Bob Miller, Jon Fredricks, Don Harrill (ARDA current chair), Franz Hanning (chair-elect) and Bill Ingersoll,whom I first met in 1972! What a time warp. And, of course, the irrepressible Howard Nusbaum. I’m pleased to report that everyone is doing quite well: Bert has bought a resale company, and will be the first resale operation led by a developer and to ‘do it right’. Deb’s son is going to college, gosh her wedding was just yesterday! Jon at Welk continues to grow and add projects, Don at Holiday Inn is on a roll, Franz at Wyndham is the big gun in terms of sales and member families, and Bob has spun Marriott Vacations Worldwide into a separate public company. Bill is the only one with the sense to be retired, but that’s not specifically true as he’s got to manage Stu Bloch. Speaking of the “Bloch-busta,” he and Bob Wengel won the golf tourney this year!
ARDA also gave me the chance to catch up with other colleagues: Art Spaulding, Michael and Christine Butler, and The Ragatz himself along with daughter and fractional pro Tracy. Of course, I can’t leave out the dynamic duo of Gregg Anderson and Michele Combs from the Registry Collection, and David McDonald, who was a wave in the hallway between meetings. The A team was there!
Also in attendance were those whom I have followed in their businesses from inception: June and Mel Grantfrom SFX Exchange, Brian Rock from VacationGuard and Marc Saxe of Resort Opportunities. These folks, who have made successful businesses from their original ideas, were thrilling to catch up with.
I was able to enjoy an excellent breakfast with former business partner John Kazanjian, who I had not seen in, what, 5 years?! Old friends should not let that happen. I also caught a few good moments with PR proGeorgie Bohrod and architect extraordinaire Rick Hulbert. Perhaps the most inspirational part of the trip, however, was seeing all the young kids who are committed to an industry that I helped to found.
So, back to business after all this name dropping: I am more fully convinced that the real market won’t be back until after the elections; one way or another, our customers will make their move. We are closing in on a Texas venture and have a couple more serious candidates for work and/or ventures. Each deal has some hair on it, but what would one expect after three and a half years of recession?
