WASHINGTON, June 9, 2015 – The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) officially elected its new Chairman Steve Weisz, CEO and president of Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, at this year’s ARDA World Convention and Exposition in Orlando.
“We are honored to have Steve’s leadership for the next two years and as an advocate for vacation ownership,” said Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of ARDA. “Steve’s 43-year career with Marriott brings a deep understanding of the business and for the role that innovation and customer satisfaction play in the vacation market. We welcome his counsel as our industry continues to grow and reach new vacationers.”
“It’s an exciting time to be a part of this industry as innovation has resulted in a new way of communicating with our owners, introducing the products to a whole new generation and enhancing the timeshare experience for all vacationers. I am excited to work with ARDA’s outstanding leadership team and industry peers, supporting their role as the voice of the industry and stepping into the future with them,” said Steve Weisz, RRP, president and CEO of Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation.
Weisz also points to the importance of ARDA’s advocacy work to ensure strong consumer protections are in place for timeshare owners. “It is thanks in large part to the efforts of ARDA’s Resort Owners Coalition (ROC) that our industry has a strong and healthy legislative voice within all levels of government,” continued Weisz.
Steve began his career with Marriott International, and has held a wide range of key executive positions, including senior vice president of sales and marketing for Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites, regional vice president for the Mid-Atlantic Region, vice president of Revenue Management, and senior vice president of Rooms Operations and Related Services. And for the past 19 years, Steve has led the timeshare side of the business under the Marriott brand.
Weisz also supports the work of grooming the industry’s rising leaders, and it has been one of his personal goals and passions at Marriott to identify and recruit talent to nurture into leadership roles. “It’s all about the people. I tell my team that what we will leave behind is so much more than the bricks and mortar of our great resorts. What our legacy will be dwells in those individuals who will follow behind us to carry the torch,” says Weisz. “And I feel the same about ARDA and grooming the next generation of leaders for the overall industry.”
Marriott entered the vacation ownership market in 1984 with Marriott Ownership Resorts Inc, which became Marriott Vacation Club International in 1995, and spun off from Marriott International in 2011 as Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation. Today, Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation runs more than 60 resorts with over 400,000 owners and members. Its brands include Marriott Vacation Club, Grand Residences by Marriott, and The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club.
