Education and Networking Opportunity

As registration for its 2017 Spring Conference to be held at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort, Virginia Beach, Va., from May 6-9, 2017 open this month, C.A.R.E. (the Cooperative Association of Resort Exchangers) has announced that two speakers are already scheduled. Randall Dean, known as the Email Sanity Expert, will deliver the keynote address, “Finding an Extra Hour Every Day: Key Strategies for Time, E-Mail, Clutter and Distraction Management.” In addition, Sharon Scott, publisher of the Resort Trades, will update attendees on current trends in the vacation ownership and what those trends may signify for their businesses.

Dean, author of the recent Amazon.com bestselling book, Taming the E-mail Beast, has 25 years of experience using and teaching an advanced time management/personal organization system, including systems for effective e-mail management, office clutter reduction, optimizing your Outlook and/or Gmail/Google usage, and getting the most from affiliated smart phone and tablet devices. His program uses humor and high energy as he discusses the most common areas of productivity loss (and possible gain!) afflicting many busy professionals today: managing multiple projects, maintaining “traction” when dealing with tasks and interruptions, managing your e-mails more efficiently, clearing the clutter in your mind for better focus and attention, keeping staff on task, tracking “who owes you what” and getting that information on time, and better managing your calendar and contacts for better time and relationship management. The goal is to help stressed-out performers learn several new and immediately useful strategies for finding a few minutes on tasks, activities, and actions you are already doing, leading to at least an extra hour of productivity every day, as well as a better way to start and manage your day so more time is devoted to your key projects, clients, and activities with less distraction.

“C.A.R.E. has a long-standing tradition of offering conference attendees the tools and information essential to remaining on the cutting edge of the vacation industry,” says Linda Mayhugh, president. “Numerous C.A.R.E. members, including Global Connections Inc., RTX-Resort Travel & Xchange, Resort Management Services and Weeks4Less LLC have already pledged their support as sponsors, so we anticipate that our 64th conference will continue the success of recent meetings.”

The group’s Fall Conference at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, in Incline Village/Lake Tahoe, Nev., offered numerous educational and networking opportunities. Jim Madrid, founder and CEO of Advance Sports Technology, was the keynote speaker, and his presentation, “Invent Your Future,” was an interactive workshop. Madrid led attendees through concepts to assist in creating and achieving a compelling vision for individuals and their companies. Other speakers included Paul Mattimoe, president and CEO of Perspective Group, who spoke on “How Customer Profiling Will Improve Your Business.” Mayhugh presented an “International Industry Update,” and invaluable information was shared at the C.A.R.E. panel discussion “Impact and Opportunities of Alternative Lodging OTA’s” moderated by Ryan Monson, national sales director at Access Development. Networking events included a speed networking session, an event with fire pits, s’mores and hot toddies, and the C.A.R.E. Triathlon Bowl.

“C.A.R.E. continues to grow throughout the industry in respect, recognition and participation and this conference validated that,” Mayhugh says. We had nearly a 15 percent overall increase in attendance compared to recent year fall conferences; with a comparable 20 percent of all attendees being new members or first time attendees. I’m excited about the future of C.A.R.E. and confident that these numbers will continue to grow, just as we will as an association.” Mayhugh says that C.A.R.E. added 20 new members in 2016 and predicts the group will maintain very similar growth in 2017.

C.A.R.E.’s members include resort developers, property managers, service providers, travel clubs, travel agencies and wholesalers, as well as industry suppliers who offer revenue enhancement opportunities. Members who 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. C.A.R.E. member companies offer 2500 vacation properties and service approximately 1 million vacation owners and members. C.A.R.E. is an international organization, with members throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia.

There will be an opportunity to become more involved with the group, as C.A.R.E. will be filling two vice president posts at the Spring Conference. Each available term shall run from the conclusion of the Spring 2017 conference through the end of the Spring conference in 2020. To be nominated, candidates must be the authorized member representative of a C.A.R.E. general member in good standing and must have successfully completed the Level 1 Accreditation Test. One candidate was nominated at the Fall 2016 conference and other interested candidates may still be considered as a write-in during the Spring 2017 conference or in advance via a properly submitted proxy. For more information, contact Mayhugh at (800) 636-5646 ext. 700 or lmayhugh@care-online.org.

For more information on C.A.R.E. and its 64th Semi-Annual Conference, visit www.care-online.org.