| Timeshare companies sell various vacation properties | | | | was a few decades ago. There are big names among |
| to all kinds of people for a particular amount of time. | | | | timeshare companies like the Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt |
| These properties were originally sold as | | | | and Disney. |
| condominiums, but now timeshare companies also | | | | People can buy timeshare properties directly from |
| selling yachts, boats, motor homes, luxury cars, | | | | these companies. But these prices are substantially |
| recreational vehicles and campgrounds to people who | | | | higher than purchasing a resale unit. Timeshare |
| wish to buy them on a timeshare basis. | | | | companies have to charge more to keep in stride |
| The roots of timeshare companies can be traced to | | | | with their advertising campaigns that include seminars, |
| the 1960s in Europe. One of the oldest timeshare | | | | free dinners and free stays and tours to prospective |
| companies was the Société des | | | | buyers. |
| Grands Travaux de Marseille, a French company that | | | | There are about 6000 timeshare resorts around the |
| operated in Marseilles in France. Two condominium | | | | world an estimated 7 million families own timeshares. |
| resorts that this company developed - Devoluy and | | | | Most legitimate timeshare companies in the US are |
| Paul Doumier - became immensely famous and | | | | affiliated with the American Resort Developers |
| brought the whole business of timesharing to the | | | | Association and every timeshare company in Europe |
| forefront. Another Swiss company started around | | | | should be affiliated with the Organization for |
| this time, Hapimag, became extremely popular and is | | | | Timeshare. These organizations regulate the |
| still in business. | | | | timeshare industry. |
| Today, timesharing is not the obscure market that it | | | | |