Our collaboration with GNEX to hold our first Canadian Conference in Toronto as the newly branded Canadian Timeshare Trade Association, CRTA, was a very successful event according to all our attendees Participation from Canadian Developers, Associates and Vendors, as well as USA and Mexico representation, showed that the interest of the Canadian traveller’s market is beyond our own Canadian borders.
One of the favorite events according to survey was the speed networking where all attendees have an opportunity to “pitch” their services to all attendees on a one-to-one basis. The networking event on top of the CN Tower was also a phenomenal evening. Trade associations, by their nature, bring together people who work for or own businesses that have common goals and interests. This provides association members with the opportunity to discuss topics such as industry challenges and business development ideas.
In 2020, when I was offered to take the lead in our Associations future, the first thing we did was rebrand it to what it is today, the Canadian Resort and Travel Association, aka CRTA The word Travel incorporated in the title was integral in the revised Mission of the Canadian Timeshare Trade Association. We moved to incorporate and promote all destinations where Canadians choose to travel.
Canada has some of the most beautiful resort destinations, some very close to Toronto, where our conference took place. Matter of fact, just a little over an hour north of here, one of our Member Resort, Living Waters Resort, is the prime destination for all the GTA. All over Canada, from BC to the Maritimes, Canada offers a very diverse topography, culture, and a wide variety of activities. We also have 4 real and distinct season which permits summer, fall, winter and spring experiences. One of our goals since our inception as CRDA is to keep promoting Canadian Resorts that offer Vacation Memberships, including Timeshare and Fractional product.
Many Canadians choose to compliment what their country offers by traveling south of our border to the US, the Caribbean and Mexico. These popular destinations, most often used in the summer months and during our winter months, are found mostly in southern states such as Florida, Nevada, California and throughout Mexico and the Caribbean. Many of these beautiful destinations have an interest in the Canadian Market. A recent study in Mexico for example has showed that with nearly 6 billion dollars in new business, Canadians were an approximate 15% share. That is 900 million dollars in a one year.
Being an CRTA member means that the Resorts can display that they are indeed a recognized Vacation property by the Canadian Trade Association, that they agree to abide by our code of ethics, the Industry’s Highest Standards. It also states that Memberships purchased at CRTA affiliated properties results in better experience and positive lasting memories. These certificates, or plaques, customized to each property, have our contact information and we encourage at point of sales, that if any potential Canadian member has an inquiry or concern about proceeding with a purchase, to contact us for reassurance of good business.
I am extremely pleased with our recent collaboration with our counterpart in the US and Mexico. ARDA, AMDETUR, ACOTUR, all promote and recognize the same values and have very similar missions. As we speak, we are in discussions with all these Associations to further complement each other, and work together on various initiatives. I thank the leaders of these associations for their willingness and interest to work together as it ultimately makes our target market a better offer.
Lastly, I thank everyone that attended the conference in Toronto. You are the ones that really made a difference. By attending our event you showed that you care about everything we promote; transparency, integrity, sharing between us from our experiences, participating in our growth, welcoming new ideas, changes. If it isn’t good for the consumer, it doesn’t belong in our Industry. And that’s up to us, the industry, to enforce this
I look forward to welcoming you to our next event, which will be held end of August 2023 at the most photographed hotel in the world, Chateau Frontenac, in Quebec City.
Kindest Regards
Gaetan Babin RRP
President & CEO
Canadian Resort and Travel Association
A Huge Thank You To Our Sponsors who helped make our latest event possible! As you will have seen all over social media, GNEX-CRTA 2022 was a huge success, filled with highly engaged attendees and new business won!
Canadian Resort & Travel Association - CRTA, Catalyst, Light, SafeGuard Loyalty Program, GuestView Guide, RCI, SPI Software, TruCash Group of Companies, Vacation Innovations, CustomerCount, Jim Madrid, TaraNova Vacation Club, Asociación de Complejos Vacacionales y Turísticos, A.C.- Acotur, Asociación Mexicana de Desarrolladores Turísticos - Amdetur, C.A.R.E. - Cooperative Association of Resort Exchangers, GBG & Associates, Inc., The Resort Trades, Send Me On Vacation
The CRTA Weekly Insider has been publishing weekly since 2013. As the association is changing and evolving, it is also time for a fresh start for our weekly newsletter
As Canada's only industry-based trade association dedicated to furthering Vacation Ownership in Canada and throughout the world, the CRTA concentrates primarily on international timeshare resorts, vacation clubs, and industry services with high levels of Canadian participation.
The CRTA Weekly Insider will still be the place with curated news focusing on the Vacation Ownership Industry, with a Canadian perspective in mind. It will also continue to feature news from CRTA members, and will highlight any upcoming events.
Unique to GNEX Conferences, THE BOARDROOM brings together C-Suite executives in a fly-on-the-wall open discussion format that delivers unmissable and invaluable industry leader insights, opinions and suggestions on hot topics affecting and influencing the vacation industry right now - and so we are excited to confirm the following participants (so far) for GNEX-CRTA 2022, 19-21 September 19-21 at the Hyatt Regency, Toronto, Canada.
For more information, and to book now go to https://gnexcanada.com/register
Our first collaboration with GNEX is just two months away. This exciting event will be held at Hyatt Regency in Toronto, Canada, 19-21 September.
The conference brings together senior executives from Canada, USA, Mexico and beyond to network and learn from each other - but hurry there's a price increase coming 31st July!!
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Register Today! https://gnexcanada.com/register/
Watch Gaetan Babin, the President and CEO of CRTA, invite you below!
Under the leadership of Jason Gamel, President of ARDA, the Industry’s top professionals recently gathered at the beautiful Diplomat Hotel and Resort in Hollywood, Florida. As expected, this ARDA conference did not disappoint. The newly changed format of the conference was more interactive and beneficial for everyone who attended.
I have attended the ARDA conferences for over a quarter century, and in the past, the annual ARDA spring conference was focused primarily on education. There were always multiple sessions and lectures on every aspect of the Timeshare Industry. It encouraged developers to bring more representatives from their resorts, so they could take advantage of all the lectures and panels. ARDA conferences were sometimes larger, but not necessarily as engaging, especially for the smaller developer and vendors.
That has certainly changed. This year, the focus was truly on networking and giving a chance for everyone to meet and discuss their businesses and services. Companies like RCI had large networking areas and the ARDA lounge also offered a great place to meet. I think it is fair to say that due to all the mergers we have seen in the last decade, that the independent operators had less of an opportunity to professionally network at past conferences. The consensus this year was that ARDA has listened to the independents, and has adjusted the format of their conference to accommodate everyone equally. Having Mike Brown as Chairman of ARDA and Jason Gamel as the President seems like the ultimate combination of providing leadership that will continue the growth of the Timeshare Industry, or now better known as the Vacation Ownership Industry.
ARDA and CRTA, as well as AMDETUR and ACOTUR, have many common objectives; one which is to unite and provide knowledge and networking opportunities to all the good players in the industry. marketplace. The next international event will be in Toronto, Canada, September 19th, 20th and 21st.. This event will be of special interest to anyone who markets to Canadians or offers services to Canadians who are Timeshare owners. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors of CRTA, and the executive team of GNEX, I look forward to welcoming you to our country this fall!
One of the main objectives of CRTA is to promote properties in Mexico that are willing to abide by the CRTA code of ethics, the industry’s highest standards. This initiative gives Canadian consumers confidence in Membership offerings by Resorts, that proudly display their affiliation with the Canadian Resort and Travel Association. In the past 12 months, shortly after our rebranding to CRTA, we have focused on this relationship which I am proud to say has flourished.
Paul Mattimoe, from GNEX, and I were invited to Cancun for the ACOTUR Social luncheon on April 28th, as representatives of our country and on behalf of GNEX. GNEX, recognized as a premier venue for leaders of the Timeshare Industry, is responsible for the annual conference for both ACOTUR and CRTA. The event was a wonderful lunch by the water, with an opportunity to socialize and tightened the already good relationship with our countries.
Thank you, Alberto Solis, President of ACOTUR, and Guillermo Muheck, Executive Director, for the invitation. We very much value our partnership and know this relationship will enhance travel and growth in our Industry in both Canada and Mexico.
As we are well into 2022, it remains uncertain times for many. Therefore, it is more imperative than ever that good leadership is present. Good leaders inspire their subordinate to greatness. Good leaders inspire by example, by words that are relatable. In the last couple years, the world has seen a Pandemic that keeps recreating itself and if that wasn’t enough, the invasion of Ukraine. These tragedies have caused much stress and losses, even life. We all need positive input, messages of hopes.
50 years ago, a man named John Lennon penned and wrote music to an anthem that has always been a favorite for all the right reasons. It has impacted leaders in their deliveries of their vision and mission to their teams. This one time Beatle was a messenger of peace, penning lyrics such as “Imagine all the people, sharing all the world”
As many recently celebrated Easter, a day of faith and of new beginnings, I humbly share with you a gift from my daughter. She didn’t know what to get her daddy for Christmas, so she gave me a gift of her singing my favourite song. It is more relevant today than ever so take a few minutes, close your eyes, let your mind go free of all thoughts and focus on the words that the world leaders need to embrace. Words that we all need to embrace and share to everyone that depends on your leadership.
Take a break, enjoy the 3 minutes and 14 seconds and I promise it will positively impact your day.
Nothing is as rewarding as seeing Industry colleagues unite and discuss the state of our industry. CARE recently gave us an opportunity to do exactly that. Delegates from around the country, Mexico and Canada, met in Philadelphia at CARE’s annual conference.
What is even more exciting is that the President of ARDA, Jason Gamel, President of ACOTUR, Guillermo Muhech, President of GNEX, Paul Mattimoe and yours truly all attended. Conversations went from new innovative technology, marketing post Pandemic and as usual, an exchange of our experiences and solutions for growth.
We realized that the mission of the leaders of Associations such as CARE, is to unite the good and knowledgeable professionals in our Industry; to help in the growth and better value factor of our offering to end users. As we discussed, there is very little difference between our Mission; just the way we conduct our day-to-day business. The unity between Canada, the USA and Mexico is the best I have ever witnessed in my nearly 30 years in the industry. Expect that unity and merging of new strategies to get even closer as the three countries are working as a united team in the ethical growth of the Timeshare Industry.
I did get excited as I ran up the famous steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art where Rocky ended his morning run. This ascent has become symbolic of the city of Philadelphia and its residents, representing that an underdog can become a champion through hard work, determination, and hustle. It was very inspiring for all CARE attendees
I am very proud to be associated with the likes of these incredible leaders
Kindest Regards
Gaetan Babin RRP
President & CEO
Canadian Resort and Travel Association
For over 4 decades, our Canadian Timeshare Trade Association, was initially known as CRDA, the Canadian Resort & Developers Association. The association has primarily been assisting in the promotion of timeshare to Canadians. The mission of our association has always been to promote ethical and transparent sales and marketing processes, so Canadian consumers, as well as foreigners, would be protected against unethical operators. During CRDA's well attended annual conferences, we continued to unite Developers and Travel Clubs with international Vendors, even as the product design has evolved and the value factor has increased over time.
CRDA always worked very closely with its American counterpart, ARDA, as both Associations have been committed to the same high operating standards. Now recently rebranded, our Canadian Trade Association is now known as CRTA, the Canadian Resort and Travel Association. We are promoting and uniting all operators within the Timeshare Industry that promise to promote ethical and transparent offers to the Canadian Traveler. Those who promote their affiliation to CRTA can display our logo & certification on their website, social media and sales centers. This can give consumers the confidence o business with them.
If you do, or plan to market to Canadians, either in a Membership offering or other services related to Timeshare, showing that you are a member of CRTA offers a level confidence to Canadian consumers, who would benefit from your services or memberships. Currently, over 450,000 Canadians have invested in a Timeshare outside of Canada.
As always, I would welcome you to contact me if you have more questions on Canada’s only Timeshare Trade Association since 1980. I hope to see you at our next Conference in Toronto Canada this coming September gnexcanada.com
Here are few testimonials of current CRTA Members who also have their website and promotional offering on our CRTA’s website
Gaetan Babin RRP
President & CEO
Canadian Resort and Travel Association
