Back
To News/PR Index
|
|
C.A.R.E.
- A Decade in Review
|
Harrisonburg,
VA – January 2017 / Newsmaker Alert / While most of the business world
has experienced similar ups and downs of a fickle economy over the last
ten (10) years; it is probably a safe assumption that things are on the
upswing and the future looks bright for most. This holds true for C.A.R.E.
(Cooperative Association of Resort
Exchangers). Established in 1985, C.A.R.E. has plenty of familiarity
in the arena of change with more than 30 years of existence. The organization
has seen its fair share of exponential growth and similar decline in their
membership base over the years. The flux of members, comes hand in hand
with ever-changing conference attendance that the association has had to
deal with. But as a not-for-profit trade association, in a relatively tough
industry – through hard-hitting economic times, C.A.R.E. claims excellent
resilience and proves staying the course pays its dividends.
At
its peak in 2009 C.A.R.E. touted nearly 190 members and has maintained
a respectable average of 175 in the last ten (10) years. Whereas most businesses
possibly saw their biggest economic downturn in 2010 and the immediate
years to follow, C.A.R.E. held strong during that lustrum period dropping
to its lowest member roster only recently in 2015 with 120 members on record.
Taking into consideration the old adage of “quality over quantity” the
association was able to maintain the viability of the organization through
its recession with the support of many long-time valuable members/sponsors,
and having its board of directors successfully uphold their fiduciary roles
by making the appropriate budgetary cuts to carve a path back to the reign
of growth success they have experienced in 2016. C.A.R.E. has proudly added
twenty (20) new members to its membership this year and have projected
and feel they are poised to maintain very similar growth in 2017. This
success could not be possible without the valued partnerships in place
with all the major trade associations (AMDETUR, ARDA, ARDA WIN Advantage,
CRDA, & TATOC) and our Preferred Media Sponsor Perspective Group
and media sponsor Resort Trades.
C.A.R.E.
has also experienced its portion of fluctuating conference attendance throughout
these ups and downs and twist and turns of last ten (10) years. There are
certainly varied reasons for the fluidity in attendance, which has averaged
90 attendees per conference. On a positive note to that regard, C.A.R.E.
garnered a 15-20% increase in attendance in 2016 and looking to 2017 with
conferences in Virginia Beach and Anaheim on the calendar, hopes are high
for another record year to trend upward. C.A.R.E. believes in addition
to the apparent economic factors that their attendance was additionally
effected by the emergence of up and coming new trade show platforms in
the industry, in addition to increased costs to host conferences specifically
in the western regions, but one of the biggest factors very well may dwell
solely in its own house. Though C.A.R.E. has, for the most part, successfully
hosted semi-annual conferences every year since its inception, having recorded
its 63rd conference this past October, the majority of members have been
very vocal over the last ten (10) years in that they would prefer C.A.R.E.
change to an annual platform for its conferences. Initiating a change such
as this would require a change to the organizational bylaws of C.A.R.E.
and despite the majority vocalization of the desire to enact change, the
votes never carried a majority required to change the bylaws. It wasn’t
a successful effort until this past spring conference in Asheville, NC
it was suggested by a C.A.R.E. member to not seek a change to the bylaws
specifically from two conferences a year down to one, but to simply seek
a change to the bylaws that would leave the decision fully in the hands
of their elected board of directors. This (more generalized) vote was placed
on a ballot this past fall in Lake Tahoe, NV and passed with a majority
vote. So now it is upon the board of directors, at its annual first quarter
winter board meeting, to fully review all the factors regarding a change
to the frequency of conferences. Factors being considered are when to hold
conferences, where to hold conferences, what the financial impact would
be on the organization and therefore on its members in membership and conference
registration fees. Prior to the board being given full control of this
decision the organization had already contracted for conferences through
the spring of 2018; therefore any change to the platform wouldn’t take
effect until 2018 at the earliest.
C.A.R.E.
is currently planning its 64th
semi-annual conference to be held May 6-9, 2017 at the Wyndham Virginia
Beach Oceanfront in Virginia Beach, VA. C.A.R.E. has engaged Randall
Dean, MBA (The Email Sanity Expert®), to present an educational
and informative workshop with relevant subject matter lending to practical
measures in “Finding an Extra Hour Every Day: Key Strategies for Time,
E-Mail, Clutter and Distraction Management”. Save the date now…C.A.R.E.’s
Spring Conference registration will open in February!
So
with 2016 in the rear view and 2017 on the bright horizon, remember…change
is good, so stay the course and ride the waves! C.A.R.E. would like to
extend thanks to all its members for their continued support and to all
their fellow industry colleagues a wish of warmth for the holiday season
and a much deserved new year (and hopefully another decade) of prosperity!
About
C.A.R.E.
C.A.R.E.
(www.care-online.org) the Cooperative
Association of Resort Exchangers, established more than 30 years ago in
1985, continues to gain respectable growth as one of the most valuable
trade associations in the industry. Its internationally diverse member
base includes Resort Developers, Management and Exchange Companies, HOA’s,
Travel Clubs and Wholesalers as well as many respected industry suppliers
bringing (value-added) revenue enhancement opportunities. Members that
possess rentable inventory or seek inventory for fulfillment of rental
requests set the foundation of C.A.R.E. with a multitude of scenarios for
securing client vacations, increased inventory utilization and heightened
yield management. C.A.R.E. members have the ability to share inventory
via week-to-week exchanges, weekly wholesale rentals, guaranteed and free-sale
blocks as well as year round and seasonal leases all over the world.
C.A.R.E.
members must comply with a strict Code of Standards and Ethics and will
undoubtedly gain professional and personal development when participating
in C.A.R.E.’s semi-annual conferences. With nominal annual membership fees
and some of the industry’s lowest conference registration rates, C.A.R.E.
can prove an undeniable value rather quickly.
C.A.R.E.
Contact:
President
Linda
Mayhugh
800-636-5646,
extension 700
Media
Contact:
Bonnie
Kosco
C.A.R.E.
Administrator
800-636-5646
/ 540-828-4280 |