Justin Vermuth on Protecting the Vacation Ownership Industry

How ARDA’s year-round government affairs efforts help protect owners, resorts, and the future of vacation ownership.

Advocacy Happens Year-Round

Most resort professionals understand that legislation and regulation can have a profound impact on the vacation ownership industry. What many do not see is the constant work taking place behind the scenes to monitor proposed laws, educate policymakers, and advocate for responsible legislation before problems ever reach a resort.

That was the focus of a recent episode of the Resort TradesTalk Podcast, where Justin Vermuth, Senior Vice President of State Government Affairs and ARDA-ROC for ARDA, offered an inside look at the association’s advocacy efforts and why they matter to developers, management companies, HOAs, exchange companies, suppliers, and the millions of families who own vacation ownership interests.

Vermuth explained that advocacy is not simply reacting to controversial legislation. ARDA’s government affairs team works year-round, monitoring thousands of bills and regulations while maintaining relationships with legislators, regulators, and consumer protection officials.

“Advocacy isn’t just about responding to legislation—it’s about building relationships and educating policymakers before issues become problems.”

Balancing Consumer Protection with Business Success

Rather than opposing regulation, ARDA supports practical policies that protect consumers while allowing responsible businesses to thrive. Because every state has its own vacation ownership laws, the association continually educates policymakers on how the industry operates and the economic benefits resorts provide to their communities.

Giving Owners a Voice

A significant portion of the discussion focused on ARDA-ROC, the industry’s grassroots advocacy organization. Through voluntary owner contributions, ARDA-ROC helps vacation owners speak directly to elected officials. Legislators often respond most strongly when they hear from constituents whose families have personally benefited from vacation ownership.

Relationships Built Before They Are Needed

Vermuth emphasized that successful advocacy depends on relationships built long before a legislative issue emerges. Government affairs professionals spend much of their time meeting with lawmakers, attending hearings, answering regulatory questions, and serving as trusted resources. Often their greatest successes are the legislative proposals that never become problems because misconceptions were addressed early.
“Success in advocacy often means solving problems before most people ever know they existed.”

A Unified Industry Voice

Developers, resort managers, exchange companies, vendors, and owners all contribute to effective advocacy. By presenting consistent, factual information, the industry strengthens its credibility and helps lawmakers make informed decisions. For resort professionals, the conversation serves as a reminder that advocacy protects jobs, tourism, businesses, and the vacation experiences enjoyed by millions of families.

Key Takeaways

• ARDA monitors legislation throughout the year.
• Education and relationships are central to effective advocacy.
• ARDA-ROC gives vacation owners a collective voice.
• Balanced regulation benefits consumers and responsible businesses.
• Advocacy helps protect the long-term health of the vacation ownership industry.