Is it just me, or is no real information coming out of the fractional world? Am I the only one willing to speak up and say that these conferences seem like the same people saying the same thing year after year? It’s nice to catch up with everyone and keep my finger on the pulse of the industry, but presently, the heartbeat is faint and the content of these conferences seems repetitive.

I would personally like to see hard facts. Not feasibility studies or theoretical discussions around use plans and marketing tactics. Who’s selling and why? Who’s not? Why are certain products being sold over others? The answer has always been the same at these conferences – “it’s a blend of location, use plan, exchange network, brand, price and other (uncontrollable) market conditions.”

If you’re on the fence about attending one of these conferences, I can save you the $5k in airfare, hotels and entertaining. You are going to walk away from the next one with this same message.

But, I digress…

I have set out to answer the above questions before attending this year’s Ragatz Conference in San Francisco Mar 29-31.  In preparation for the event, and research for this article, I asked a very diverse, but engaged, group of fractional real estate professionals the following question:

“Have you seen any recent, reliable market reports on the fractional interest industry? Namely, 2009 Sales, Bankruptcies, Trends and/or Challenges?”

Here are their responses:

“Got nada, sorry bud”

“Check with folks over at fractional life. They just finished their European conference, and may have some relevant numbers or studies.  It won't be U.S. data, but might be something you can use.”

“No one is selling shit anyway...other than timbers...”

“I have really no idea at all how the fractional industry is doing -- i read that Ten for 2010  article on Fractional life and i found it entertaining! However, I still have no idea how the industry as a whole is doing -- if i ask the sales people, they say it is terrible, if i ask marketing people, they say they are optimistic...”

Hopefully the truth will come out at one of these conferences. See you there?!

ARDA, Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Las Vegas - MAR 14-18

10th Annual Ragatz Associates Fractional Interest Conference, Fairmont San Francisco, Mar 29- 31

Fractional Summit USA, InterContinental Hotel, Miami, August 31st - September 1st 2010

Written by :

Ed

 

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