UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31 , 2022
or
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the transition period from to
Commission File No. 001-35219
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code (407 ) 206-6000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ||||||||||||
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of shares of common stock held by non-affiliates at June 30, 2022, was $4,614,664,893 . There were 37,235,447 shares of common stock outstanding as of February 22, 2023.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Proxy Statement prepared for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Annual Report”), we refer to Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, as “Marriott Vacations Worldwide,” “MVW,” “we,” “us,” or “the Company.”
In order to make this Annual Report easier to read, we refer throughout to (i) our Consolidated Financial Statements as our “Financial Statements,” (ii) our Consolidated Statements of Income as our “Income Statements,” (iii) our Consolidated Balance Sheets as our “Balance Sheets” and (iv) our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as our “Cash Flows.” References throughout to numbered “Footnotes” refer to the numbered Notes to our Financial Statements that we include in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report. When discussing our properties or markets, we refer to the United States (the “U.S.”), Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean as “North America.”
Additionally, throughout this Annual Report, we refer to brands that we own, as well as those brands that we license, as our brands. All brand names, trademarks, service marks and trade names cited in this Annual Report are the property of their respective owners, including those of other companies and organizations. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this Annual Report may appear without the ® or TM symbols, however such references are not intended to indicate in any way that MVW or the owner, as applicable, will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, all rights to such trademarks, trade names and service marks.
Brand names, trademarks, service marks and trade names that we own or license from Marriott International, Inc. or its affiliates (“Marriott International”) include Marriott Vacation Club®, Marriott Vacation Club DestinationsTM, Marriott Vacation Club PulseSM, Marriott Grand Residence Club®, Grand Residences by Marriott®, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club®, Westin®, Sheraton®, and (to a limited extent) St. Regis® and The Luxury Collection®. Marriott International’s affiliates include Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (“Starwood”) and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. (“The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company”). We also refer to Marriott International’s Marriott Bonvoy® customer loyalty program as “Marriott Bonvoy.” “Hyatt Vacation Ownership” business refers to our group of businesses using the Hyatt® brand in the vacation ownership business pursuant to an exclusive, global master license agreement with a subsidiary of Hyatt Hotels Corporation (“Hyatt”). We also refer to Hyatt’s World of Hyatt® customer loyalty program as “World of Hyatt.”
In early 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic (“COVID-19,” “the COVID-19 pandemic,” “the pandemic,” or “the virus”). The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions in international and U.S. economies and markets, and also had an unprecedented impact on the travel and hospitality industries, as well as our business and results of operations. Although COVID-19’s negative impact on our business significantly decreased during 2022, the ongoing impact is uncertain and our financial results may not be indicative of long-term future performance.
On April 1, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Welk Hospitality Group, Inc. (“Welk”) through a series of transactions (the “Welk Acquisition”), after which Welk became our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary. The Financial Statements in this Annual Report for fiscal year 2021 include Welk’s results of operations for the last three quarters of 2021, and reflect the financial position of our combined company at December 31, 2021. We refer to the business and brand that we acquired from Welk as “Legacy-Welk.” In addition, as part of the Welk Acquisition, we acquired a short-term license to use the Welk brand in connection with the continued operations of the Welk business through March 31, 2022. We plan to rebrand all Legacy-Welk resorts as Hyatt-branded resorts in 2023.
In 2018, we completed the acquisition of ILG, LLC, formerly known as ILG, Inc. (“ILG”), through a series of transactions (the “ILG Acquisition”), after which ILG became our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary. We refer to our business associated with brands that existed prior to the ILG Acquisition as “Legacy-MVW” and to ILG’s business and brands that we acquired as “Legacy-ILG.” The businesses acquired from ILG that we currently operate as part of our Vacation Ownership business include Vistana Signature Experiences (“Vistana”), which includes vacation ownership products branded as Sheraton or Westin, and Hyatt Vacation Ownership. The businesses acquired from ILG that we currently operate as part of our Exchange & Third-Party Management business include Interval International and Aqua-Aston Hospitality (“Aqua-Aston”). As part of the ILG Acquisition, we also acquired the Vacation Resorts International (“VRI”) and Trading Places International (“TPI”) businesses (together, the “VRI Americas” business). We disposed of VRI Americas during the second quarter of 2022, after determining that this business was not a core component of our future growth strategy and operating model. The results of VRI Americas are included in our Exchange and Third-Party Management segment through the date of the sale.
By referring to our corporate website, www.marriottvacationsworldwide.com, or any other website, we do not incorporate any such website or its contents in this Annual Report.
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SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
We make forward-looking statements throughout this Annual Report, including in, among others, the sections entitled “Business,” “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, the information concerning: our possible or assumed future results of operations, financial condition and leverage; dividend payments; business strategies, such as our plans to continue to increase our focus on sales of vacation ownership products to first-time buyers and our expectations that we will continue to offer financing incentives; our plans to increase our use of new marketing channels, including digital and social media marketing; financing plans; competitive position; potential growth opportunities; potential operating performance improvements, including the expectations that contract sales, resort management, and resort occupancies will continue to remain strong in 2023 and that interest income will increase in 2023; our expectations regarding availability of inventory for Getaways and exchange transactions; indemnification, taxes including relating to treatment of hedges, dilution related to convertible notes, customer satisfaction and our ability to leverage it, our ability to securitize consumer loans, inventory spending; the effects of competition; and the ongoing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and actions we or others may take in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “could” or the negative of these terms or similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous and evolving risks and uncertainties that we may not be able to predict or assess, such as: the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or future health crises, including quarantines or other government-imposed travel or health-related restrictions; the length and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic or future health crises, including short and longer-term impact on consumer confidence and demand for travel, and the pace of recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic or future health crises, or as effective treatments or vaccines against variants of the COVID-19 pandemic or future health crises become widely available; variations in demand for vacation ownership and exchange products and services; worker absenteeism; price inflation; global supply chain disruptions; volatility in the international and national economy and credit markets, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or future health crises, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and related sanctions and other measures; our ability to attract and retain our global workforce; competitive conditions; the availability of capital to finance growth; the impact of rising interest rates; the effects of steps we have taken and may continue to take to reduce operating costs and/or enhance health and cleanliness protocols at our resorts due to the COVID-19 pandemic or future health crises; political or social strife; and other matters referred to under the heading “Risk Factors” contained herein. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements in this Annual Report. We do not have any intention or obligation to update forward-looking statements after the date of this Annual Report, except as required by law.
The risk factors discussed in “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements in this Annual Report. There may be other risks and uncertainties that we cannot predict at this time or that we currently do not expect will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Any such risks could cause our results to differ materially from those we express in forward-looking statements.
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PART I
Item 1. Business
Overview
We are a leading global vacation company that offers vacation ownership, exchange, rental and resort and property management, along with related businesses, products and services. As the first hospitality-branded vacation ownership company, Marriott Vacations Worldwide helped establish the industry and was the first major pure-play independent, public company in the field. Today we are more than a vacation ownership company; we are about vacation experiences. We have been an independent public company since our November 2011 spin-off from Marriott International.
We are a global leader in vacation ownership with some of the most iconic brands in the industry. We are the exclusive worldwide developer, marketer, seller and manager of vacation ownership and related products under the Marriott Vacation Club, Grand Residences by Marriott, Sheraton Vacation Club, Westin Vacation Club, and Hyatt Residence Club brands, as well as under Marriott Vacation Club Pulse, an extension of the Marriott Vacation Club brand. We are also the exclusive worldwide developer, marketer and seller of vacation ownership and related products under The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club brand, and have the non-exclusive right to develop, market and sell whole ownership residential products under The Ritz-Carlton Residences brand. We have a license to use the St. Regis brand for specified fractional ownership products. In addition, as part of our acquisition of Welk, we plan to rebrand all Legacy-Welk resorts as Hyatt-branded in 2023. Interval International is our high-quality membership brand that serves as the gateway to unparalleled vacation experiences around the world, including access to its affiliated resorts. Our Aqua-Aston business provides management services for resorts, hotels, and other third-party vacation property owners.
Our business operates in two reportable segments: Vacation Ownership and Exchange & Third-Party Management.
| 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | Segment Revenue | % of Segment Revenue | ||||||||||||
| Vacation Ownership | $ | 4,342 | 94% | |||||||||||
| Exchange & Third-Party Management | 291 | 6% | ||||||||||||
| Total Segment Revenue | $ | 4,633 | 100% | |||||||||||
The Vacation Ownership Industry
The vacation ownership industry (also known as the timeshare industry) enables customers to share ownership and use of fully-furnished vacation accommodations. Typically, a purchaser acquires an interest (known as a “vacation ownership interest” or a “VOI”) that is either a real estate ownership interest (known as a “timeshare estate”) or a contractual right-to-use interest (known as a “timeshare license”) in a single resort or a collection of resort properties. In the United States, most vacation ownership products are sold as timeshare estates, which can be structured in a variety of ways, including a deeded real estate interest in a specified accommodation unit, an undivided interest in a building or an entire resort, or a beneficial interest in a trust that owns one or more resort properties. By purchasing a VOI, owners make a commitment to vacation. For many purchasers, vacation ownership provides an attractive alternative to traditional lodging accommodations (such as hotels, resorts and condominium rentals). In addition to avoiding the volatility in room rates to which traditional lodging customers are subject, vacation ownership purchasers enjoy accommodations that are, on average, more than twice the size of traditional hotel rooms and typically have more features, such as kitchens and separate living areas. Purchasers who might otherwise buy a second home find vacation ownership a preferable alternative because it is more affordable and reduces maintenance and upkeep concerns, and because they are interested in buying a lifetime of vacations.
Typically, developers sell VOIs for a fixed purchase price that is paid in full at closing or financed with a loan. Many vacation ownership companies provide financing or facilitate access to third-party bank financing for customers. Vacation ownership resorts are often operated by a not-for-profit owners’ association of which owners of the VOIs are members. Most owners’ associations are governed by a board of directors that includes owners and which may include representatives of the developer. Some vacation ownership resorts are held through a trust structure in which a trustee holds title and manages the property. The board of the owners’ association, or trustee, as applicable, typically delegates much of the responsibility for managing the resort to a management company, which is often affiliated with the developer.
After the initial purchase, most vacation ownership programs require the owner of the VOI to pay an annual maintenance fee. This fee represents the owner’s allocable share of the costs and expenses of operating and maintaining the vacation ownership property and providing program services. This fee typically covers expenses such as housekeeping, landscaping, taxes, insurance, and resort labor, a property management fee payable to the management company for providing management
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services, and an assessment to fund a capital asset reserve account used to renovate, refurbish and replace furnishings, common areas and other assets (such as parking lots or roofs) as needed over time. Owners typically reserve their usage of vacation accommodations in advance through a reservation system (often provided by the management company or an affiliated entity), unless a VOI specifies fixed usage dates and a particular unit every year.
The vacation ownership industry has grown through expansion of established vacation ownership developers as well as entrance into the market of well-known lodging and entertainment brands, including Marriott, Sheraton, Hilton, Hyatt, Westin and Disney. The industry’s growth can also be attributed to increased market acceptance of vacation ownership products, stronger consumer protection laws and the evolution of VOIs from a fixed- or floating-week product, which provides the right to use the same property every year, to membership in multi-resort vacation networks, which offer a more flexible vacation experience. These vacation networks often issue their members an annual allotment of points that can be redeemed for stays at affiliated vacation ownership resorts or for alternative vacation experiences available through the program.
To enhance the flexibility and appeal of their products, many vacation ownership developers affiliate their projects with vacation ownership exchange service providers so that owners may exchange their rights to use the developer’s resorts in which they have purchased an interest for accommodations at other resorts in the exchange service provider’s broader network of properties. The two leading exchange service providers are our subsidiary Interval International, and RCI, LLC, a subsidiary of Travel + Leisure Co. (“RCI”). Interval International’s network includes more than 3,200 affiliated resorts, and RCI’s network includes over 4,200 affiliated resorts, as identified on RCI’s website.
According to the American Resort Development Association (“ARDA”), a trade association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries, as of December 31, 2021, the U.S. vacation ownership community was comprised of over 1,500 resorts, representing more than 200,000 units. According to ARDA, sales in the U.S. market were approximately $8.1 billion in 2021. We believe there is considerable potential for further growth in the industry both in the U.S. and globally.
License Agreements and Intellectual Property
Our long-term license agreements include a License, Services, and Development Agreement (the “Marriott License Agreement”) with Marriott International and a License, Services, and Development Agreement (the “Ritz-Carlton License Agreement”) with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, a subsidiary of Marriott International. Under these long-term license agreements, we are granted the exclusive right, for the terms of the license agreements, to use certain Marriott and Ritz-Carlton marks and intellectual property in our vacation ownership business, the exclusive right to use the Grand Residences by Marriott marks and intellectual property in our residential real estate business, and the non-exclusive right to use certain Ritz-Carlton marks and intellectual property in our residential real estate business.
We are also the exclusive licensee for the Sheraton and Westin brands in vacation ownership. Our license agreements for these brands grant us the exclusive right, for the term of the license agreement, to use certain Sheraton and Westin marks and intellectual property in our vacation ownership business, and the right to use the St. Regis brand for specified fractional ownership products. In addition, we are party to a license agreement with Hyatt that grants us the exclusive global use of the Hyatt brand in connection with the Hyatt Vacation Ownership business.
As part of the Welk Acquisition, we acquired a short-term license to use the Welk brand in connection with the continued operations of the Welk business through March 31, 2022. We plan to rebrand all Legacy-Welk resorts as Hyatt-branded resorts in 2023.
We operate in a highly competitive industry and our brand names, trademarks, service marks, trade names and logos are very important to the marketing and sales of our products and services. We believe that our licensed brand names and other intellectual property represent high standards of quality, caring, service and value to our customers and the traveling public. We register and protect our intellectual property where we deem appropriate and otherwise seek to protect against its unauthorized use.
Licensor Customer Loyalty Programs
Under our affiliation agreements with Marriott International and its affiliates, our owners who are Marriott Bonvoy members generally have the ability to redeem their vacation ownership usage rights to access participating Marriott-, Sheraton-, and Westin-branded properties or other products and services offered through the program.
Through our relationship with Hyatt, our owners who are members of the World of Hyatt customer loyalty program generally have the ability to redeem their vacation ownership usage rights to access participating Hyatt-branded properties or other products and services offered through the program.
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Business Strategy
Our strategic goal is to strengthen our leadership position in the vacation industry by further enhancing the vacation experience to help our members and owners live their lives to the fullest. Our core strategies are as follows:
Drive profitable revenue growth
We intend to leverage our powerful mix of trusted hospitality brands and membership programs to continue to generate owner and member growth, and to drive growth in vacation ownership sales, by targeting high-quality inventory that allows us to add desirable new destinations to our systems with new on-site sales locations. We expect to continue to generate growth through our integrated platform that provides exclusive access to the world-class loyalty programs of Marriott International and Hyatt. We will also continue to focus on our approximately 700,000 owner families around the world. We are concentrating on growing our tour flow cost effectively as we seek to grow first-time buyer tours through our strategy that emphasizes new sales locations and new marketing channels, including digital and social media marketing. We also see the use of virtual sales presentations continuing to be a large part of our sales process.
We also plan to grow our recurring revenues which tend to be less capital intensive than sales of VOIs. Our recurring revenues include management of resorts and owners’ associations, financing revenues, and membership, club and other revenues in both our Vacation Ownership and Exchange & Third-Party Management segments. These revenues generally grow as we add new resorts and are more predictable due to the relatively fixed nature of resort operating expenses and, in the case of management and exchange revenues, contractual agreements that typically span many years and are often automatically renewable. Financing revenues are relatively stable as the majority of these revenues generated in any given year come from prior year note originations.
We seek to continuously evolve and expand our core product offerings, as demonstrated by the launch of the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations (“MVCD”) points product in 2010 and Abound by Marriott Vacations program in 2022, and through the integration of the Legacy-Welk and Hyatt businesses. Additionally, we intend to drive revenue growth in part by targeting a wider array of vacationers through new membership programs and products in adjacent market spaces.
Maximize cash flow by selectively pursuing capital efficient vacation ownership deal structures and business models
Through the use of our points-based products, we are able to more closely match inventory investment with sales pace, thereby generating strong cash flows over time. Limiting the amount of completed inventory on hand and pursuing capital efficient vacation ownership inventory arrangements enable us to reduce the maintenance fees that we pay on unsold inventory and improve returns on invested capital and liquidity. In addition, we reacquire previously sold VOIs at lower costs than would be required to develop new inventory, which increases margins on our sales of VOIs. Our business model is designed to deliver steady, consistent cash flow, which is driven in part by our “asset-light” capital efficient framework as we expect to maintain an attractive leverage profile. We believe our access to capital markets and credit facilities will enable us to maintain an attractive leverage profile and level of liquidity that provides financial flexibility, giving us the ability to pursue strategic growth opportunities, withstand potential future economic downturns, optimize our cost of capital, and pursue strategies for returning excess capital to shareholders.
Enhance digital capabilities and data analytics
A key area of focus for us is the expansion of digital tools to drive more efficient digital marketing and enhance user experience for our owners and members of our exchange and other membership programs. We believe there is much more innovation and growth to come, and we intend to build efficiencies in our cost of service delivery and to facilitate access to our portfolio of brands with new digital tools. We are actively building and enhancing customer facing digital platforms to support existing and future products by enabling customers to transact online across all of our brands with respect to all of our products. In addition, we are focused on using data to facilitate the use of advanced analytics to improve efficiency, enhance customer experiences, improve targeted marketing, and increase profitability.
Focus on the satisfaction of our owners, members, and guests as well as the engagement of our associates
We provide high-quality vacation experiences to our owners, members, and guests around the world and we believe that maintaining a high level of engagement across all of our customer groups is key to our success. We intend to maintain and improve their satisfaction with our products and services, which drives incremental sales as customers choose to spend more time at our resorts. Because our owners, members, and guests are our most cost-effective vacation ownership sales channels, we intend to continue to leverage our strong customer satisfaction to drive higher margin sales volumes. We seek to continue delivering operational excellence while remaining focused on core customer expectations, which we believe will drive growth and efficiency. As part of the integration of the ILG and Legacy-Welk businesses, the improved customer experience
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from self-service tools and the streamlining of our business processes through technology, we are able to provide enhanced owner and member experiences.
From our earliest days, we have sought to create an inclusive culture that emphasizes warm and welcoming customer service and authentic care for our associates. We believe these characteristics give meaning to our vision of helping our customers and associates live their lives to the fullest. Our core belief is that developing and retaining top talent will foster an innovative culture and strengthen our leadership pipeline, while enabling business growth. We believe our caring culture unites our associates across a wide range of backgrounds, geographies and experiences. It is this very diversity that make us “Better Together” and that has allowed us to grow and prosper over the years.
Selectively pursue compelling new business opportunities
We are positioned to explore new business opportunities, such as the continued enhancement of our exchange programs, new management affiliations, acquisitions of existing vacation ownership and related businesses, and the creation of new innovative travel-related products that are complementary to our core vacation ownership and exchange company offerings. We intend to selectively pursue these types of opportunities, focusing on those opportunities that drive recurring revenue and profit streams. Prior to entering into any new business opportunity, we will evaluate its strategic fit and assess whether it is complementary to our current business, has strong expected financial returns and complements our existing culture and competencies.
Competitive Strengths
A leading global vacation ownership and exchange company
We are one of the world’s largest vacation ownership companies, based on number of owners, members, number of resorts and revenues. Since becoming a standalone public company in 2011, our vacation ownership business has nearly doubled in size, from 64 vacation ownership resorts and approximately 420,000 owners to over 120 vacation ownership resorts and approximately 700,000 owner families as of the end of 2022. Our exchange networks and membership programs are comprised of more than 3,200 affiliated resorts and over 1.6 million members, and we also provide management services to over 25 other resorts and lodging properties, as of the end of 2022. We believe our scale and global reach, coupled with our renowned brands and development, marketing, sales, exchange and management expertise, help us achieve operational efficiencies and support future growth opportunities. Our size allows us to provide owners, members, and guests with the flexibility of a wide variety of experiences within our high-quality resort portfolio, coupled with the ease and certainty of working with a single trusted provider. We also believe our size helps us obtain better financing terms from lenders, achieve operational cost savings from our increased scale, and attract talented management and associates. In the exchange arena, Interval International is the high-quality membership brand that serves as the gateway to premium vacation experiences. Our Interval International network includes members and resorts from our Marriott, Westin, Sheraton and Hyatt products, as well as other high quality branded and independent resorts, that can attract developers and owners’ associations to affiliate with the network and provide exchange opportunities for their owners.
The breadth and depth of our operations enable us to offer a variety of products and to continue to evolve our products to address the changing needs and preferences of our existing and future customers. For example, the tapestry of vacation experiences we offer includes not only traditional resort experiences but also urban experiences at our Marriott Vacation Club Pulse locations, which are unique properties that embrace the spirit and culture of their urban locations.
Premier global brands with access to expansive customer bases
We believe that each of our owned or licensed brands - from Marriott Vacation Club to Hyatt Residence Club, from Interval International to Aqua-Aston, from Sheraton Vacation Club to Westin Vacation Club - is a highly respected and widely trusted leader in the travel and hospitality industry. We are creating distinct lanes for our brands to grow within. This careful segmentation is designed to allow each of our brands to reach its full potential, while also giving us diverse paths to growth. Each brand has a unique history and heritage that has enriched our Company immeasurably and that we are building upon to better serve our owners, members, guests, and associates. Through the brands we license from Marriott International for use in vacation ownership, we benefit from exclusive long-term access to members in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, which includes over 177 million members as of December 31, 2022. Similarly, through our relationship with Hyatt, we benefit from access to members of Hyatt’s award-winning guest loyalty program, the World of Hyatt, which includes approximately 36 million members as of December 31, 2022. We believe our access to guests with an affinity for our brands aids our marketing efforts and significantly enhances our ability to drive future sales, as we predominantly generate VOI sales through brand loyalty-affiliated sales channels. We expect to continue to leverage our exclusive call transfer
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arrangements, on-site marketing at Marriott and Hyatt branded hotels, and use of certain exclusive marketing rights to increase sales across all of our Marriott-affiliated and Hyatt-affiliated vacation ownership properties, respectively.
Loyal, highly satisfied customers
We have a large, highly satisfied customer base. Owner and member satisfaction is evidenced both by positive historical survey responses, high levels of engagement that we see in the many customer and associate care stories shared on social media sites, and higher than industry average historical resort occupancy for our Vacation Ownership segment. We believe that strong customer satisfaction and brand loyalty result in more frequent use of our products, increase in member retention, and encourage owners to purchase additional products and to recommend our products to friends and family, which in turn helps generate higher revenues.
Capital efficient business model providing strong free cash flow and financial flexibility
We believe that our scale, recurring revenue fee streams and enhanced margin profile will enable us to maintain flexibility for continued organic growth, strategic acquisitions, debt repayment, and return of capital to shareholders. Our total revenue excluding cost reimbursements derived from sources other than the sale of VOIs has increased and is expected to continue to increase. Our Exchange & Third-Party Management businesses also create ample opportunities to realize recurring higher-margin, fee-based revenue streams with modest required capital expenditures, which we believe will enhance our margins and free cash flow generation over time.
We were also among the first of the major hospitality brands to move from a fixed-week, fixed-unit operating model to a points-based system. This critical transition responded directly to consumer demand for greater flexibility and allowed us to tap into the broader membership opportunity afforded by the industry’s exchange businesses. Our points-based vacation ownership products allow us to utilize capital efficient structures and maintain long-term sales locations without the need to construct additional units at each location. We are able to better manage our inventory needs, while achieving top line growth without a need to significantly increase inventory investments. Our disciplined inventory approach and use of capital efficient vacation ownership transaction structures, including working with third parties that develop new inventory or convert previously built units that are sold to us close to when such inventory is needed to support sales, is expected to support strong and stable free cash flow generation.
Long-standing track record, experienced management and engaged associates
We have been a pioneer in the vacation ownership industry since 1984, when Marriott International became the first company to introduce a lodging-branded vacation ownership product. The story of Marriott Vacations Worldwide is one of growth driven by innovation and exceptional vitality. Since our early days, we have sought to create a culture that emphasizes authentic care for associates. Stephen P. Weisz, who served as our President from 1996 until 2021 and as our Chief Executive Officer since our spin-off from Marriott International in 2011, retired on December 31, 2022 after a combined 50 years with Marriott International and Marriott Vacations Worldwide. As of January 1, 2023, our seasoned management team is led by John E. Geller, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Geller has served as our President since 2021, and served as our Chief Financial Officer from our spin-off from Marriott International in 2011 until 2021. William J. Shaw, the Chairman of our Board of Directors, is the former Vice Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer of Marriott International and spent nearly 37 years with Marriott International. Our ten executive officers as of January 1, 2023 have an average of approximately 26 years of total combined experience at Marriott Vacations Worldwide, our subsidiary companies, and Marriott International. We believe our management team’s extensive public company and vacation ownership and hospitality industry experience has enabled us to achieve solid operating results and will enable us to continue to respond quickly and effectively to changing market conditions and consumer trends. Our management team’s experience in the highly regulated vacation ownership industry also provides us with a competitive advantage in expanding existing product forms and developing new ones.
Engaged associates delivering high levels of customer service driving repeat customers
We believe that our associates provide superior customer service and this dedication to serving the customer enhances our competitive position. A significant portion of our vacation ownership contract sales are historically to existing owners, which enables them to enjoy longer stays and have greater flexibility in their vacation choices. Sales to existing owners typically have significantly lower sales and marketing costs than sales to new owners. We leverage high levels of associate engagement and a strong corporate culture to deliver positive customer experiences in sales, marketing, exchange, management, and resort operations.
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We use an external third-party service provider to regularly survey our associates for feedback. We use the results of our annual engagement surveys to improve the associate experience and to further develop a caring culture that contributes to the long tenure of associates at both leadership and operational levels.
In 2022, we were recognized as a Kincentric Best Employer globally as part of Kincentric’s robust assessment that measures associate engagement and identifies organizations that have implemented people practices that drive better business results. As part of the Kincentric Best Employers 2022 assessment, we conducted an associate survey that achieved a 91% response rate, which demonstrated a strong level of overall associate engagement. The survey identified several areas of strength, including inclusion and diversity, department/team leadership, and sustainability (modeling socially and environmentally responsible efforts). We believe that our distinction as a Kincentric Best Employer and our identified strengths demonstrate the incredible care we have for each other and for the associate experience, leading to recognition by current and potential future associates as an employer of choice.
VACATION OWNERSHIP SEGMENT
Our Vacation Ownership segment develops, markets, sells, finances, rents, and manages vacation ownership and related products under our licensed brands. Our vacation ownership resorts typically combine many of the comforts of home, such as spacious accommodations with one, two and three bedroom options, living and dining areas, in-unit kitchens and laundry facilities, with resort amenities such as large feature swimming pools, restaurants and bars, convenience stores, fitness facilities and spas, as well as sports and recreation facilities appropriate for each resort’s unique location.
As of December 31, 2022, our Vacation Ownership segment had over 120 resorts and approximately 700,000 owner families. The Vacation Ownership segment represented 93% of our consolidated revenue for 2022.
| ($ in millions) | 2022 Vacation Ownership Segment Revenues | ||||
| Sale of vacation ownership products | $ | 1,618 | |||
| Resort management and other services | 534 | ||||
| Rental | 509 | ||||
| Financing | 293 | ||||
| Cost reimbursements | 1,388 | ||||
| TOTAL REVENUES | $ | 4,342 | |||
Brands
Built upon a single hospitality brand at the time of our founding, Marriott Vacations Worldwide has grown into a multi-branded organization with a broad, diverse portfolio of immersive vacation and leisure destinations. Our portfolio includes a rich tapestry of some of the world’s most iconic, widely recognized and respected hospitality and travel brands. We design, build, manage and maintain properties at upper upscale and luxury levels primarily under the following brands:
Marriott Vacation Club is a collection of upper upscale vacation ownership resorts featuring timeshare villas and other accommodations throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It’s about vacations with a sense of place and belonging, providing owners and their families with the flexibility to enjoy a wide variety of vacation experiences that are characterized by the consistent high quality and warm hospitality for which the Marriott name is known. Marriott Vacation Club Pulse, a brand extension of Marriott Vacation Club, offers properties in the heart of vibrant cities, including San Francisco and New York City, among others. Because of their urban locations, Marriott Vacation Club Pulse properties typically offer limited on-site amenities and may include smaller guest rooms without separate living areas and kitchens.
Sheraton Vacation Club provides enriching and unexpected vacation experiences in fun family destinations like Florida, South Carolina and Colorado, with activities that emphasize building and strengthening relationships. This collection of vacation ownership resorts builds on an iconic legacy of trusted hospitality, and brings to life a warm, energetic haven for families to gather and nurture their most precious relationships by allowing owners and guests to relax, play and experience what the world has to offer. Sheraton Vacation Club upper upscale vacation ownership resorts are part of the Vistana Signature Network (“VSN”).
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Westin Vacation Club is a collection of vacation ownership resorts located in some of the most sought-after destinations and designed with living well in mind. From the world-renowned Heavenly Bed to an energizing WestinWORKOUT and revitalizing experiences, every element of a vacation stay is created to leave owners and guests feeling better than when they arrived. Westin Vacation Club upper upscale vacation ownership resorts are part of VSN.
Grand Residences by Marriott provides vacation ownership through fractional real estate and whole ownership offerings. Grand Residences by Marriott is dedicated to providing carefree property ownership. The accommodations for this brand are similar to those we offer under the Marriott Vacation Club brand, but the duration of the VOI is longer, ranging between three and thirteen weeks.
The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club is a collection of vacation ownership resorts that provide luxurious vacation experiences for members and their families commensurate with the legacy of The Ritz-Carlton brand. The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club resorts include luxury villas and resort amenities that offer inspirational vacation lifestyles tailored to every member’s needs and expectations. The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club resorts typically feature two, three and four bedroom units that usually include marble foyers, walk-in closets, custom kitchen cabinetry and luxury resort amenities such as large feature swimming pools and access to full service restaurants and bars. On-site management and services, which usually include daily housekeeping service, valet, in-residence dining, and access to fitness facilities as well as spa and sports facilities as appropriate for each destination, are provided by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences is a luxury tier whole ownership residence brand. The Ritz-Carlton Residences includes whole ownership luxury residential condominiums co-located with The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club resorts. Owners can typically purchase condominiums that vary in size from one bedroom apartments to spacious penthouses. Owners of The Ritz-Carlton Residences can avail themselves of the services and facilities that are associated with the co-located The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club resort on an a la carte basis. On-site management and services are provided by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
St. Regis Residence Club and The Luxury Collection offer fractional interests in luxury real estate and distinctive privileges to members who embrace the art of living in unforgettable destinations. For connoisseurs who desire the finest in luxury living, magnificent residences exude the timeless grandeur and glamour synonymous with the illustrious past of the St. Regis brand.
Hyatt Residence Club is a collection of vacation ownership resorts with a diverse portfolio of boutique upper upscale residential-style retreats. Set in unique destinations from Maui, Carmel and Aspen to Sedona, San Antonio and Key West, Hyatt Residence Club resorts deliver genuine Hyatt care. In addition, as part of the Welk Acquisition, we plan to rebrand all Legacy-Welk resorts as Hyatt-branded resorts in 2023. The Legacy-Welk resorts are located in highly desirable vacation destinations, including California, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and feature unique sets of amenities and special touches that are designed to make the vacation experience even more meaningful.
Products and Services
Points-Based Vacation Ownership Products
We sell the majority of our products through points-based ownership programs, including Marriott Vacation Club Destinations, Sheraton Flex, Westin Flex, Westin Aventuras, the Hyatt Residence Club Portfolio Program, and the Hyatt Vacation Club Platinum Program. Our points-based systems and exchange networks enable owners and members to access a large variety of different vacation experiences. While the structural characteristics of each of our points-based programs differ, in each program, owners receive an annual allotment of points representing owners’ usage rights, and owners can use these points to access vacation ownership units across multiple destinations within their program’s portfolio of resort locations. Each program permits shorter or longer stays than a traditional weeks-based vacation ownership product and provides for flexibility with respect to check-in days and size of accommodations. In addition to traditional resort stays, the programs enable our owners to exchange their points for a wide variety of innovative vacation experiences, which may include cruises, airline travel, guided tours, safaris and other unique vacation alternatives. Owners who are members of our points-based programs typically pay annual fees in exchange for the ability to participate in the program. In addition to points-based ownership programs that allow owners to access multiple destinations within a single program, we offer points programs at certain resorts, such as in St. John and Hawaii, that allow owners to access that particular single site using points in a similar use fashion to the other points-based products.
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Our points programs allow owners to bank and borrow their annual point allotments, access other locations through the applicable internal exchange programs that we operate, and access Interval International’s network of more than 3,200 affiliated resorts. Owners can trade their vacation ownership usage rights for Marriott Bonvoy points or World of Hyatt points, as applicable, which can be used to access participating hotels or redeemed for airline miles or other merchandise offered through such customer loyalty program. Through our points systems and exchange networks, owners can also use points toward vacation experiences such as a bicycle tour, a culinary journey, an adventure cruise or a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a major sporting event. Our points-based products offer usage in perpetuity or for a term of years and may consist of real estate interests or a contractual right-to-use.
Weeks-Based Vacation Ownership Products
We continue to sell Marriott-, Westin-, Sheraton- and Hyatt-branded weeks-based vacation ownership products in select markets, including in countries where legal and tax constraints currently limit our ability to include those locations in one of our existing points-based programs. Our products include multi-week VOIs in specific Grand Residences by Marriott, St. Regis Residence Club, The Luxury Collection Residence Club, and The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club resorts. Our weeks-based vacation ownership products in the United States and select Caribbean locations are typically sold as fee simple deeded real estate interests at a specific resort representing an ownership interest in perpetuity, except where restricted by leasehold or other structural limitations. We sell VOIs as a contractual right-to-use product subject to a finite term in Asia Pacific and Europe.
Global Exchange Opportunities
Most of our vacation ownership products, including our Marriott-, Sheraton-, Westin-, and Hyatt-branded products, are affiliated with the Interval International network, the high-quality membership brand that serves as the gateway to premium vacation experiences.
We offer our existing Marriott Vacation Club owners who hold weeks-based products the opportunity to participate, on a voluntary basis, in MVCD, an exchange program through which many of MVCD’s vacation experiences are offered. All existing owners, whether or not they elect to participate in the MVCD exchange program, retain their existing rights and privileges of vacation ownership. Owners who elect to participate in the exchange program receive the ability to trade their weeks-based interval usage for vacation club points usage each year, typically subject to payment of an initial enrollment fee and annual club dues. As of December 31, 2022, approximately 176,000 weeks-based owners have enrolled approximately 275,000 weeks in MVCD’s exchange program, with approximately 247,000 total owners able to use points.
VSN provides Westin Vacation Club and Sheraton Vacation Club owners access to its affiliated resorts as well as the opportunity to exchange their points through the Marriott Bonvoy program to Marriott resorts, through the Interval International network, or for a cruise. Based on the point value of the home resort interest owned, customers can choose other VSN affiliated resorts, the type of villa, the date of travel and the length of stay. VSN members have a priority period in which they have exclusive reservation rights for the related resort or points program without competition from other network members. During this home resort period, they can reserve occupancy based on the season and unit type purchased. As of December 31, 2022, VSN included more than 185,000 members.
In August 2022, we launched Abound by Marriott Vacations, a new owner benefit and exchange program which affiliates the Marriott, Sheraton and Westin vacation ownership brands to offer similar benefits to owners of our products under these brands. Under this program, owners of Marriott-, Sheraton- and Westin-branded VOIs can access over 90 resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Sheraton Vacation Club and Westin Vacation Club brands using a common currency. The program also harmonizes fee structures and owner benefit levels and allows us to transition most of our Legacy-ILG sales galleries to sell our Marriott Vacation Club Destinations product, which includes certain Sheraton- and Westin-branded VOIs.
Hyatt Residence Club provides its owners internal exchange rights among Hyatt Residence Club resorts as well as the opportunity to trade their club points for World of Hyatt points which may be redeemed at participating Hyatt branded properties and the ability to exchange their points through the Interval International network. Owners will receive Hyatt Residence Club points if they have not reserved at their home resort or through its points program during their allotted preference period or if they elect to convert to points earlier. As of December 31, 2022, this points-based membership exchange system served more than 28,000 owners.
Hyatt Vacation Club provides its owners exchange rights through Interval International. Eligible members may also redeem their club points for World of Hyatt points, which may be redeemed at participating Hyatt-branded properties.
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Sources of Revenue
We generate most of our revenues from four primary sources: (1) selling vacation ownership products; (2) managing vacation ownership resorts, clubs, and owners’ associations; (3) financing consumer purchases of vacation ownership products; and (4) renting vacation ownership inventory.
Sale of Vacation Ownership Products
Our principal source of revenue is the sale of VOIs.
Resort Management and Other Services
We generate revenue from fees we earn for managing each of our resorts. In addition, we earn revenue for providing ancillary offerings, including food and beverage, retail, and golf and spa offerings at our resorts. We also receive annual fees, club dues, and certain transaction-based fees from owners and other third parties, including external exchange service providers with which we are associated.
Financing
We earn interest income on loans that we provide to purchasers of our VOIs, as well as loan servicing and other fees. We offer financing to qualified customers for the purchase of most types of our vacation ownership products.
Rental
We generate revenue from rentals of inventory that we hold for sale as interests in our vacation ownership programs or as residences, or inventory that we control because our owners have elected alternative usage options permitted under our vacation ownership programs. By using Marriott.com and other direct booking channels to rent available inventory, we are able to reach potential new members who may already have an affinity for and loyalty to the Marriott, Sheraton, Westin and Ritz-Carlton brands and introduce them to our products. Similarly, by using Hyatt.com and other direct booking channels to rent available inventory, we are able to reach potential new members who may already have an affinity for and loyalty to the Hyatt brand and introduce them to our products.
Marketing and Sales Activities
We sell our upper upscale tier vacation ownership products under our brands primarily through our worldwide network of resort-based sales centers and certain off-site sales locations. Our VOIs are currently marketed for sale throughout the United States and in over 30 countries and territories around the world, targeting customers who vacation regularly with a focus on family, relaxation and recreational activities. In 2022, over 90% of our vacation ownership contract sales originated at sales centers that are co-located with one of our resorts. We maintain a range of different off-site sales centers, including our central telesales organization based in Orlando and our network of third-party brokers in Latin America and Europe. We have more than 90 global sales locations focused on the sale of VOIs. We utilize a number of marketing channels to attract qualified customers to our sales locations, including digital and social media marketing.
We solicit our existing owners primarily while they are staying in our resorts, but also offer our owners the opportunity to make additional purchases through direct phone sales, owner events and inquiries from our central customer service centers located in Salt Lake City, Utah, Orlando, Florida, and Palm Springs, California. In 2022, approximately 70% of our vacation ownership contract sales were to our existing owners. In addition, we are concentrating on growing our tour flow cost effectively as we seek to generate more first-time buyer tours through our strategy that emphasizes adding new sales locations and new marketing channels, including digital and social media marketing.
We also market to existing Marriott and Hyatt customer loyalty program members and travelers who are staying in locations where we have resorts that are affiliated with those brands. We market extensively to guests in Marriott International or Hyatt hotels that are located near one of our sales locations. We also market through call transfer arrangements with Marriott International pursuant to which callers to certain of its reservation centers are asked if they would like to be transferred to one of our representatives who can tell them about our products. In addition, we operate other local marketing venues in various high-traffic areas. A significant part of our direct marketing activities is focused on prospects in the Marriott and Hyatt customer loyalty program databases and our in-house databases of qualified prospects. We offer guests who do not buy a VOI during their initial tour the opportunity to purchase a return package for a future stay at our resorts. These return guests are nearly twice as likely to purchase as a first-time visitor.
One of our key areas of focus is expanding our use of social media and digital marketing channels. We are focused on building stronger brand reputation associations via social media audience growth and data driven content marketing.
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Our sales tours are designed to provide our guests with an overview of our company and our products, as well as a customized presentation to explain how our products and services can meet their vacationing needs. From a single week at a fixed location to today’s abundance of getaway options, the range of vacation experiences we offer has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis. The vacation experience we provide today isn’t just about a visit to a resort. It can be a bicycle tour, a culinary journey, an adventure cruise, or a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a major sporting event. That’s why our sales force is highly trained in a consultative sales approach designed to enable us to meet customers’ needs on an individual basis. We hire our sales executives based on stringent selection criteria. After they are hired, they spend a minimum of four weeks in product and sales training before interacting with any customers. We manage our sales executives’ consistency of presentation and professionalism using a variety of sales tools and technology and through a post-presentation survey of our guests that measures many aspects of each guest’s interaction with us.
We believe consumers place a great deal of trust in the Marriott, Westin, Sheraton, Ritz-Carlton and Hyatt brands and the strength of these brands is important to our ability to attract qualified prospects in the marketplace. We maintain a prominent presence on the www.marriott.com, www.ritzcarlton.com and www.hyatt.com websites. Our proprietary sites include www.marriottvacationsworldwide.com, www.marriottvacationclub.com, www.ritzcarltonclub.com, www.vistana.com, www.theresidenceclub.com, www.hyattvacationclub.com, and www.hyattresidenceclub.com.
Inventory and Development Activities
We secure inventory by developing or acquiring inventory at resorts in strategic markets, reacquiring previously sold inventory in the secondary market, reacquiring inventory as a result of owner loan or maintenance fee defaults, or building additional phases at our existing resorts. We proactively buy back previously sold VOIs under our repurchase programs at lower costs than would be required to develop new inventory. Efficient use of our capital is also achieved through our points-based business model, which allows us to supply many sales locations with new inventory sourced from a small number of resort locations.
We intend to continue to selectively pursue growth opportunities primarily in North America by targeting high-quality inventory that allows us to add desirable new destinations to our system with new on-site sales locations in ways that optimize the timing of our capital investments. These capital efficient vacation ownership transaction structures may include working with third parties to develop new inventory or to convert previously built units to be sold to us close to when we need such inventory.
Approximately 20% of our Vacation Ownership segment resorts are co-located with same-branded or affiliated hotel properties. Co-location of our resorts with same-branded or affiliated hotels can provide several advantages from development, operations, customer experience and marketing perspectives, including sharing amenities, infrastructure and staff, integration of services, and other cost efficiencies. The larger campus of an integrated vacation ownership and hotel resort often can afford our owners more varied and elaborate amenities than those that would generally be available at a stand-alone resort. Shared infrastructure can also reduce our overall development costs for our resorts on a per unit basis. Integration of services and sharing staff and other expenses can lower overhead and operating costs for our resorts. Our on-site access to hotel customers, including customer loyalty program members, who are visiting co-located hotels also provides us with a cost-effective marketing channel for our vacation ownership products.
Co-located resorts require cooperation and coordination among all parties and are subject to cost sharing and integration agreements among us, the applicable owners’ association and managers and owners of the co-located hotel. Our license agreements with Marriott International and Hyatt allow for the development of co-located properties in the future, and we intend to opportunistically pursue co-located projects with them.
Owners generally can offer their VOIs for resale on the secondary market, which can create pricing pressure on the sale of developer inventory. However, owners who purchase VOIs on the secondary market typically do not receive all of the benefits that owners who purchase products directly from us receive. When an owner purchases a VOI directly from us or a resale on the secondary market, the owner receives certain entitlements that are tied to the underlying VOI, such as the right to reserve a resort unit that underlies their VOI in order to occupy that unit or exchange its use for use of a unit at another resort through an external exchange service provider, as well as benefits that are incidental to the purchase of the VOI. However, the purchaser on the secondary market may not be entitled to receive certain ancillary benefits such as full access to our internal exchange programs or the right to trade their usage rights for customer loyalty program points. Additionally, many of our VOIs provide us with a right of first refusal on secondary market sales. We monitor sales that occur in the secondary market and exercise our right of first refusal when it is advantageous for us to do so, whether due to pricing, desire for the particular inventory, or other factors. All owners, whether they purchase directly from us or on the secondary market, are responsible for the annual maintenance fees, property taxes and any assessments that are levied by the relevant owners’ association, as well as any exchange service membership dues or service fees.
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Management Activities
We enter into a management agreement with the owners’ association or other governing body at our resorts and, when a trust holds interests in resorts, with the trust’s governing body. In exchange for a management fee, we typically provide owner account management (reservations and usage selection), housekeeping, check-in, maintenance and billing and collections services. The management fee is typically based on either a percentage of the budgeted costs to operate such resorts or a fixed fee arrangement. We earn these fees regardless of usage or occupancy. We also receive revenues that represent reimbursement for certain costs we incur under our management agreements, which are principally payroll-related costs at the locations where we employ the associates providing on-site services, and costs associated with property refurbishments. Cost reimbursements consist of actual expenses with no added margin.
The terms of our management agreements generally range from three to ten years and are generally subject to periodic renewal for one to five year terms. Many of these agreements renew automatically unless either party provides advance notice of termination before the expiration of the term. When our management agreement for a branded resort is not renewed or is terminated, the resort loses the ability to use the brand and trademarks. The owners at such resorts also lose their ability to trade their vacation ownership usage rights for customer loyalty program points and to access other resorts through one of our internal exchange programs.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company manages the on-site operations for The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and The Ritz-Carlton Residences properties in our portfolio under separate management agreements with us. We provide owners’ association governance and vacation ownership program management services for The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and co-located The Ritz-Carlton Residences properties, including preparing association budgets, facilitating association meetings, billing and collecting maintenance fees, and supporting reservations, vacation experience planning and other off-site member services. We and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company typically split the management fees equally for these resorts. If a management agreement for a resort expires or is terminated, the resort loses the ability to use the Ritz-Carlton brand and trademarks. The owners at such resorts also lose their ability to access other usage benefits, such as the ability to exchange occupancy for customer loyalty program points, access to accommodations at other The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club resorts, preferential access to Ritz-Carlton hotels worldwide and access to our internal exchange and vacation travel options.
Each management agreement requires the owners’ association, trust association or other governing body to provide sufficient funds to pay for the vacation ownership program and operating costs. To satisfy this requirement, owners of VOIs pay an annual maintenance fee. This fee represents the owner’s allocable share of the costs of operating and maintaining the resorts or interests in the timeshare plan in which they hold a VOI, including management fees and expenses, taxes (in some locations), insurance, and other related costs, and the costs of providing program services (such as reservation services). This fee includes a management fee payable to us for providing management services as well as an assessment for funds to be deposited into a capital asset reserve fund and used to renovate, refurbish and replace furnishings, common areas and other resort assets (such as parking lots or roofs) as needed over time. As the owner of completed but unsold vacation ownership inventory, we also pay maintenance fees in accordance with the legal requirements of the jurisdictions applicable to such resorts and programs. We may enter into subsidy agreements with the owners’ associations under which we agree to pay costs that otherwise would be covered by annual maintenance fees associated with VOIs or units that have not yet been built or committed to a timeshare plan.
If an owner defaults in payment of maintenance fees or other assessments, the owners’ association typically has the right to foreclose on or revoke the defaulting owner’s VOI. We have arrangements with several owners’ associations to assist in reselling foreclosed or revoked VOIs in exchange for a fee, or to reacquire such foreclosed or revoked VOIs from the owners’ associations.
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Consumer Financing
We offer purchase money financing for purchasers of our vacation ownership products who meet our underwriting guidelines. By offering or eliminating financing incentives and modifying underwriting standards, we have been able to increase or decrease the volume of our financing activities depending on market conditions. We are not providing financing to buyers of our residential products. We generally do not face competition in our consumer financing business to finance sales of vacation ownership products.
In 2022, our financing propensity was 54% and the average loan originated by us for vacation ownership products totaled approximately $28,400, which represented 77% of the average purchase price. For financing on the majority of our VOIs, we require a minimum down payment of 10% of the purchase price, although down payments and interest rates are typically higher for applicants with credit scores below certain levels and for purchasers who do not have credit scores, such as non-U.S. purchasers. The average interest rate for originated loans in 2022 was 13.4% and the average term was 12 years. Interest rates are fixed and a loan fully amortizes over the life of the loan. The average monthly mortgage payment for an owner who received a loan in 2022 was $511. We do not impose any prepayment penalties.
In our vacation ownership business, in many of our markets, we perform a credit investigation or other review or inquiry to determine the purchaser’s credit history before originating a loan. The interest rates on the loans we provide are based primarily upon the purchaser’s credit score, the size of the purchase, and the term of the loan. We base our financing terms largely on a purchaser’s FICO score, which is a branded version of a consumer credit score widely used in the United States by banks and lending institutions. FICO scores range from 300 to 850 and are calculated based on information obtained from one or more of the three major U.S. credit reporting agencies that compile and report on a consumer’s credit history. In 2022, the average FICO score of our customers who were U.S. citizens or residents who financed a vacation ownership purchase was 734; 71% had a credit score of over 700, 89% had a credit score of over 650 and 97% had a credit score of over 600.
We use other information to determine minimum down payments and interest rates applicable to loans made to purchasers who do not have a credit score or who do not reside within the United States, such as regional historical default rates and currency fluctuation risk.
In the event of a default, we generally have the right to foreclose on or revoke the defaulting owner’s VOI. We typically resell interests that we reacquire through foreclosure or revocation or place such interests into one of our points-based programs.
We securitize the majority of the consumer loans we originate in support of our vacation ownership business. Historically, we have sold these loans to institutional investors in the asset-backed securities (“ABS”) market on a non-recourse basis. These vacation ownership notes receivable securitizations provide funding for us at interest rates similar to those available to companies with investment grade credit ratings, and transfer the economic risks and a significant portion of the benefits of the consumer loans we originate to third parties. In a vacation ownership notes receivable securitization, various classes of debt securities issued by a special purpose entity are generally collateralized by a single tranche of transferred assets, which consist of vacation ownership notes receivable. During 2022, we completed two securitization transactions, which are discussed in detail in Footnote 15 “Securitized Debt” to our Financial Statements. On an ongoing basis, we have the ability to use our Warehouse Credit Facility to securitize eligible consumer loans derived from certain branded vacation ownership sales. Those loans may later be transferred to term securitization transactions in the ABS market, which we intend to continue to complete at least once per year. Since 2000, we have issued approximately $8.1 billion of debt securities in securitization transactions in the ABS market, excluding amounts securitized through warehouse credit facilities or private bank transactions. We retain the servicing and collection responsibilities for the loans we securitize, for which we receive a servicing fee.
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Our Resorts
As of December 31, 2022, our vacation ownership portfolio consisted of over 120 properties with over 22,000 vacation ownership villas, also referred to as units, and over 31,000 keys in the following locations. A “key” is the lowest increment for reporting occupancy statistics based upon the mix of non-lock-off and lock-off villas. Lock-off villas represent two keys and non-lock-off villas represent one key.
Vacation Ownership
Mainland U.S. and Hawaii
| # of Resorts | # of Keys | # of Resorts | # of Keys | # of Resorts | # of Keys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona | 5 | 1,189 | Missouri | 2 | 479 | Texas | 1 | 195 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| California | 20 | 6,268 | Nevada | 2 | 1,172 | Utah | 2 | 634 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado | 14 | 1,036 | New Jersey | 1 | 180 | Virginia | 1 | 276 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 23 | 7,989 | New Mexico | 1 | 16 | Washington, D.C. | 1 | 71 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hawaii | 12 | 4,768 | New York | 2 | 228 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Massachusetts | 1 | 84 | South Carolina | 10 | 1,864 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Caribbean and Mexico
| # of Resorts | # of Keys | # of Resorts | # of Keys | # of Resorts | # of Keys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aruba | 2 | 1,211 | Puerto Rico | 1 | 164 | Mexico | 4 | 1,281 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bahamas | 1 | 392 | U.S. Virgin Islands | 3 | 512 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Costa Rica | 1 | 48 | West Indies | 1 | 88 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe and Asia Pacific
| # of Resorts | # of Keys | # of Resorts | # of Keys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| France | 1 | 202 | Indonesia | 2 | 161 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spain | 3 | 715 | Thailand | 3 | 332 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United Kingdom | 1 | 49 | Australia | 1 | 88 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brands
| # of Resorts | # of Keys | |||||||||||||
| Marriott Vacation Club | 63 | 18,913 | ||||||||||||
| Sheraton Vacation Club | 9 | 4,375 | ||||||||||||
| Westin Vacation Club | 12 | 4,308 | ||||||||||||
| Grand Residences by Marriott | 2 | 381 | ||||||||||||
| The Ritz-Carlton Club | 5 | 259 | ||||||||||||
| St. Regis Residence Club and The Luxury Collection | 3 | 82 | ||||||||||||
| Hyatt Residence Club and Legacy-Welk | 24 | 2,836 | ||||||||||||
| Other | 4 | 538 | ||||||||||||
| 122 | 31,692 | |||||||||||||
Hotels
| Location | ||||||||
| Sheraton Kauai Resort | Kauai, HI | |||||||
| The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun | Cancun, Mexico | |||||||
| Hyatt Highlands Inn | Carmel, CA | |||||||
| The Branson Hillside Hotel | Branson, MO | |||||||
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EXCHANGE & THIRD-PARTY MANAGEMENT SEGMENT
Our Exchange & Third-Party Management segment includes exchange networks and membership programs comprised of more than 3,200 affiliated resorts in over 90 countries and territories and over 1.6 million members, as well as provision of management services to over 25 other resorts and lodging properties. We provide these services through our Interval International and Aqua-Aston businesses. The segment revenue generally is fee-based and derived from membership, exchange and rental transactions, owners’ association management, and other related products and services. VRI Americas was part of the Exchange & Third-Party Management segment through the date of sale in April 2022. The Exchange & Third-Party Management segment represented 6% of our consolidated revenue for 2022.
| ($ in millions) | 2022 Exchange & Third-Party Management Segment Revenues | ||||
| Management and exchange | $ | 226 | |||
| Rental | 42 | ||||
| Cost reimbursements | 23 | ||||
| TOTAL REVENUES | $ | 291 | |||
Exchange Networks and Membership Programs
Interval International
Interval International is a membership-based exchange program which also provides a comprehensive package of value-added products and services to members and developers. Generally, individuals are enrolled by resort developers in connection with their purchase of VOIs from such resort developers, with initial membership fees being paid on behalf of members by the resort developers. Members may also enroll directly, for instance, when they purchase a VOI through resale or an owners’ association at a resort that participates in the Interval International network. Interval International has established multi-year relationships with resort developers, including leading independent developers and our branded vacation ownership programs, under exclusive affiliation agreements, which typically provide for continued resort participation following the agreement’s term.
Our traditional Interval International network members have the option, after their initial membership period ends, to renew their memberships for terms ranging from one to five years and by paying membership fees directly to us. Alternatively, some resort developers incorporate the Interval International network membership fee into certain annual fees they charge to owners of VOIs at their resorts or vacation ownership clubs. As a result, membership in the Interval International network and, where applicable, the Interval Gold, Club Interval, or Interval Platinum program (as described below), for these corporate members is automatically renewed through the period of their resort’s or club’s participation in the Interval International network. As of December 31, 2022, approximately 45% of total Interval International network members were traditional members and approximately 55% were corporate members.
Interval International recognizes certain of its eligible Interval International network resorts as either a “Select Resort,” a “Select Boutique Resort,” a “Premier Resort,” a “Premier Boutique Resort,” an “Elite Resort” or an “Elite Boutique Resort” based upon the satisfaction of qualifying criteria, inspection, member feedback, and other resort-specific factors. Over 40% of Interval International network resorts were recognized as a Select, Select Boutique, Premier, Premier Boutique, Elite or Elite Boutique Resort as of December 31, 2022.
Products and Services
Exchange
Members are offered the ability to exchange usage rights in their VOI for accommodations which are generally of comparable trading value to those relinquished, based on factors including location, quality, seasonality, unit attributes and time of relinquishment prior to occupancy.
Getaways
We also offer additional vacation rental opportunities to members of the Interval International network and certain other membership or affinity programs at attractive rates through Getaways. Getaways allow members to rent resort accommodations for a fee, plus applicable taxes. Resort accommodations available as Getaways consist of seasonal oversupply of vacation ownership accommodations within the applicable exchange network, as well as resort accommodations we source specifically for use in Getaways.
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Interval Gold and Interval Platinum
Interval International network members may take advantage of one of our two enhanced membership tiers, Interval Gold or Interval Platinum, each of which provides value-added benefits and services for an additional fee. These benefits and services vary by country of residence, but generally consist of discounts on Getaways, a concierge service, a hotel discount program and Interval Options, a service that allows members to relinquish annual occupancy rights in their VOIs towards the purchase of various travel products, including hotel, cruise, golf and spa vacations. Members are enrolled in these programs either by resort developers in connection with the initial purchase of their VOIs or by upgrading their membership directly.
Club Interval
This product gives owners of fixed or floating week VOIs the opportunity to use their resort week as points within the Interval International network. Club Interval members also receive all of the benefits of Interval Gold and can upgrade to Interval Platinum.
Non-Exchange Products
Interval International’s subsidiary, Worldwide Vacation & Travel, offers two programs, Leisure Time Passport and Dream Vacation Week. Leisure Time Passport is a travel membership program which provides members with a variety of travel and leisure benefits, including savings on resort accommodations, hotel stays, cruise vacations and more. The Leisure Time Passport membership program is used by resort developers as a trial membership program for potential purchasers of vacation ownership products as well as by non-developer clients, as an addition to their own products, which provides ongoing value and customer engagement. Dream Vacation Week is a certificate program which provides the recipient with access to book discounted resort accommodations and is used as a marketing premium, sales incentive, or enhancement to an existing program.
Sales and Marketing Support for Interval International Network Resorts
Resort developers promote membership in our exchange programs and related value-added services as an important benefit of owning a VOI. We offer developers a selection of sales and marketing materials. These materials, many of which are available in multiple languages, include brochures, publications, sales-office displays, resort directories and Interval HD, an online video channel featuring resort and destination overviews.
Operational Support for Interval International Network Resorts
Interval International also makes available a comprehensive array of back-office servicing solutions to resort developers and resorts. For example, for an additional fee, we provide reservation services and billing and collection of maintenance fees and other amounts due to developers or owners’ associations. In addition, through consulting arrangements, we assist resort developers in the design of tailored vacation programs for owners of VOIs.
Business Development
Our exchange businesses maintain corporate and consumer business development departments that are responsible for affiliating new resorts, resort developers, and other businesses with Interval International and implementing marketing strategies. We also develop materials to promote membership participation, exchange opportunities and other value-added services to existing members, as well as for the Interval International business to secure new relationships with resort developers, owners’ associations and resorts, to obtain and retain members, and with other affinity partners, to provide value added travel benefits to their customers.
Our consumer marketing efforts revolve around the deepening of new and existing customer relationships and increasing engagement and loyalty of members through a number of channels, including digital distribution utilizing social media channels, to inspire vacations, share stories and promote the vacation ownership lifestyle, as well as direct mail and telemarketing.
Interval International also markets products and services to resort developers and other parties in the vacation ownership industry through a series of business development initiatives. Our sales and services personnel proactively seek to establish strong relationships with developers and owners’ associations, providing input on consumer preferences and industry trends based upon years of experience. We believe that we have established a strong reputation within the vacation ownership industry as being highly responsive to the needs of resort developers, owners’ associations, management companies and owners of VOIs. In addition, we sponsor, participate in and attend numerous industry conferences around the world to provide potential and existing industry participants opportunities to network and learn more about vacation ownership.
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Third-Party Management
We provide management services for resorts, hotels, and other third-party vacation property owners through our Aqua-Aston business. Our services may include day-to-day operations of the resorts, maintenance of the resorts, preparation of reports, budgets, owners’ association administration, quality assurance and employee training. As of December 31, 2022, we provided third-party management services to over 25 resorts and lodging properties.
Our Aqua-Aston business provides management and rental services for condominium owners, hotel owners, and owners’ associations. The condominium rental properties are generally investment properties, and, to a lesser extent, second homes, owned by individuals who contract with Aqua‑Aston directly to manage, market and rent their properties, generally pursuant to short‑term agreements. We also offer such owners a comprehensive package of marketing, management and rental services designed to enhance rental income and profitability. Generally, owners’ association management services, including administrative, fiscal and quality assurance services, are provided pursuant to exclusive agreements with terms typically ranging from one to ten years or more, many of which are automatically renewable. Revenue is derived principally from fees for management of the hotel, condominium resort, or owners’ association as well as related rental services. Management fees consist of a base management fee and, in some instances for hotels or condominium resorts, an incentive management fee which is generally a percentage of operating profits or improvement in operating profits. Service fee revenue is based on the services provided internally or through third-party providers to owners, including reservation, sales and marketing, property accounting and information technology services.
The success and continued growth of the Aqua-Aston business, which is concentrated in Hawaii, depends largely on our ability to source vacationers interested in booking vacation properties made available through our rental services. Our in-market sales and marketing team utilizes a variety of sales, marketing, revenue management and digital marketing initiatives to attract consumers and additional properties to Aqua‑Aston. We utilize many channels of distribution, including traditional wholesale through tour operators and travel partners, online travel agencies and global distribution systems. In addition, Aqua‑Aston focuses on driving direct business through brand websites and our central reservations office. The sales team covers several market segments from corporate and government/military to travel agents and groups. We offer a variety of leisure accommodations to visitors from around the world through various consumer websites, including www.aquaaston.com, www.aquaresorts.com, www.mauicondo.com, and others.
Disposition of VRI Americas
On April 29, 2022, we disposed of the VRI Americas business after determining that this business was not a core component of our future growth strategy and operating model. VRI Americas was a component of our Exchange and Third-Party Management segment through the date of the sale. See Footnote 3 “Acquisitions and Dispositions” to our Financial Statements for further information regarding this disposition.
CORPORATE AND OTHER
Corporate and Other consists of results that are not allocable to our segments, including company-wide general and administrative costs, corporate interest expense, transaction and integration costs, and income taxes. In addition, Corporate and Other includes the revenues and expenses relating to owners’ associations consolidated under the relevant accounting guidance (“Consolidated Property Owners’ Associations”), which are not included in operating segment resource allocation decision-making.
Seasonality
Our revenue is influenced by the seasonal nature of travel. Within our Vacation Ownership segment, our sale of vacation ownership business experiences a modest impact from seasonality, with higher sales volumes during the traditional vacation periods. COVID-19 has impacted, and may continue to impact, our typical seasonal patterns. In addition, business at properties in some locations may experience a greater impact from seasonality than those in other locations.
Within our Exchange & Third-Party Management segment, we recognize exchange and Getaways revenue based on confirmation of the vacation; revenue is generally higher in the first quarter and lower in the fourth quarter. Remaining rental revenue is recognized based on occupancy.
Refer to Liquidity within Part I, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for information regarding the seasonality of our cash flow.
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Competition
Competition in the vacation ownership industry is driven primarily by the quality, number and location of vacation ownership resorts, the quality and capability of the related property management program, trust in the brand, pricing of product offerings, cost of ownership (e.g., ongoing maintenance and other fees) and the availability of program benefits, such as exchange programs and access to affiliated hotel networks. We believe that our focus on offering distinctive vacation experiences, combined with our financial strength, well-established and diverse market presence, strong brands, expertise and well-managed and maintained properties, will enable us to remain competitive. Vacation ownership is a vacation option that is positioned and sold as an attractive alternative to vacation rentals (such as hotels, resorts and condominium rentals) and second home ownership. The various segments within the vacation ownership industry can be differentiated by the quality level of the accommodations, range of services and ancillary offerings, and price. Our brands operate in the upper upscale and luxury tiers of the vacation ownership segment of the industry and the upper upscale and luxury tiers of the whole ownership segment (also referred to as the residential segment) of the industry.
Our competitors in the vacation ownership industry range from small vacation ownership companies to large branded hospitality companies that operate or license vacation ownership businesses. In North America, we typically compete with companies that sell upper upscale tier vacation ownership products under a lodging or entertainment brand umbrella, such as Hilton Grand Vacations Club and Disney Vacation Club, as well as numerous regional vacation ownership operators. Our luxury vacation ownership products compete with vacation ownership products offered by Four Seasons, Exclusive Resorts, Timbers Resorts and several other smaller independent companies. In addition, the vacation ownership industry competes generally with other vacation rental options (such as hotels, resorts and condominium rentals) offered by the lodging industry as well as alternative lodging marketplaces such as Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway, which offer rentals of homes and condominiums. Innovations that impact the industry may also lead to new products and services that could disrupt our business model and create new and stronger competitors.
Outside North America, we operate vacation ownership resorts in two primary regions, Asia Pacific and Europe. In both regions, we are one of the largest lodging-branded vacation ownership companies operating in the upper upscale tier, with regional operators dominating the competitive landscape. Where possible, our vacation ownership properties in these regions are co-located with Marriott International branded hotels. In Asia Pacific, our owner base is derived primarily from the Asia Pacific region and secondarily from the Europe and North America regions. In Europe, our owner base is derived primarily from the North America, Europe and Middle East regions.
Recent and potential future consolidation in the highly fragmented vacation ownership industry may increase competition. Consolidation may create competitors that enjoy significant advantages resulting from, among other things, a lower cost of, and greater access to, capital and enhanced operating efficiencies.
Our Interval International exchange business principally competes for developer and consumer market share with Travel + Leisure Co.’s subsidiary, RCI. This business also faces increasing competition from points‑based vacation clubs and large resort developers, which operate their own internal exchange systems to facilitate exchanges for owners of VOIs at their resorts as they increase in size and scope. Increased consolidation in the industry enhances this competition. In addition, vacation clubs and resort developers may have direct exchange relationships with other developers.
We believe that developers and owners’ associations generally choose to affiliate with an exchange network based on the quality of resorts participating in the network; the level of service provided to members; the range and level of support services; the flexibility of the exchange program; the demographics of the membership base; the costs for annual membership and exchanges; and the continuity of management and its strategic relationships within the industry.
Regulation
Our business is heavily regulated and compliance with regulations has a significant impact on our results of operations. We are subject to a wide variety of complex international, national, federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies in jurisdictions around the world. We have proactively worked with industry trade associations, including ARDA, to encourage the enactment of responsible consumer-protection legislation and state regulation that enhances the reputation and respectability of the overall vacation ownership industry. We believe that, over time, our vacation ownership products and services helped improve the public perception of the vacation ownership industry.
Some laws, regulations and policies may impact multiple areas of our business, such as securities, anti-discrimination, anti-fraud, Americans with Disabilities Act, data protection and security, anti-corruption and bribery laws and regulations or government economic sanctions, including applicable regulations of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”), the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”). The FCPA and similar anti-corruption and bribery laws in other jurisdictions generally prohibit companies and
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their intermediaries from making improper payments to government officials for the purpose of obtaining or generating business. The collection, use and protection of personal data of our customers, as well as the sharing of our customer data with affiliates and third parties, are governed by privacy laws and regulations enacted in the United States and other jurisdictions around the world. Other laws, regulations and policies primarily affect one of five areas of our business: real estate development activities; marketing and sales activities; lending activities; resort management activities; and exchange and travel activities.
Real Estate Development Regulation
Our real estate development activities are regulated under a number of different timeshare, condominium and land sales disclosure statutes in many jurisdictions. We are generally subject to laws and regulations typically applicable to real estate development, subdivision, and construction activities, such as laws relating to zoning, land use restrictions, environmental regulation, accessibility, title transfers, title insurance, and taxation. In the United States, these include, with respect to some of our products, the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, we are subject to laws in some jurisdictions that impose liability on property developers for construction defects discovered or repairs made by future owners of property developed by the developer.
Marketing and Sales Regulation
Our marketing and sales activities are closely regulated pursuant to laws and regulations enacted specifically for the vacation ownership and land sales industries, as well as a wide variety of laws and regulations that govern our marketing and sales activities in the jurisdictions in which we carry out such activities. These laws and regulations include the USA PATRIOT Act, Foreign Investment In Real Property Tax Act, the Federal Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act and fair housing statutes, U.S. Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) and state “Little FTC Acts” and other laws and regulations governing unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices, including unfair or deceptive trade practices and unfair competition, state attorney general regulations, anti-fraud laws, prize, gift and sweepstakes laws, real estate, title agency or insurance, travel insurance and other licensing or registration laws and regulations, anti-money laundering, consumer information privacy and security, breach notification, information sharing and telemarketing laws, home solicitation sales laws, tour operator laws, lodging certificate and seller of travel laws, securities laws, and other consumer protection laws.
Many jurisdictions, including in the United States, Asia Pacific and Europe, require that we file detailed registration or offering statements with regulatory authorities disclosing certain information regarding the VOIs and other real estate interests we market and sell, such as information concerning the interests being offered, any projects, resorts or programs to which the interests relate, applicable condominium or vacation ownership plans, evidence of title, details regarding our business, the purchaser’s rights and obligations with respect to such interests, and a description of the manner in which we intend to offer and advertise such interests. Regulation outside the United States includes jurisdictions in which our clubs and resorts operate, such as the European Union, Singapore and Mexico, among others. Among other things, the European and Singaporean regulations: (1) require delivery of specified disclosure (some of which must be provided in a specific format or language) to purchasers; (2) require a specified “cooling off” rescission period after a purchase contract is signed; and (3) prohibit any advance payments during the “cooling off” rescission period.
We must obtain the approval of numerous governmental authorities for our marketing and sales activities. Changes in circumstances or applicable law may necessitate the application for or modification of existing approvals. Currently, we are permitted to market and sell vacation ownership products in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the United States and numerous countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Our Marriott Vacation Club Destinations, Australia points-based program is subject to regulation as a “managed investment scheme” by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. In some countries, our vacation ownership products are marketed by third-party brokers.
Laws in many jurisdictions in which we sell VOIs grant the purchaser of a VOI the right to cancel a purchase contract during a specified rescission period following the later of the date the contract was signed or the date the purchaser received the last of the documents required to be provided by us.
Regulators in many jurisdictions have increased regulations and enforcement actions related to telemarketing operations, including requiring adherence to the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act and similar “do not call” legislation. These measures have significantly increased the costs and reduced the efficiencies associated with telemarketing. While we continue to be subject to telemarketing risks and potential liability, we believe that our exposure to adverse effects from telemarketing legislation and enforcement is mitigated in some instances by the use of permission-based marketing, under which we obtain the permission of prospective purchasers to contact them in the future. We participate in various programs and follow certain procedures that we believe help reduce the possibility that we contact individuals who have requested to be
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placed on federal or state “do not call” lists, including subscribing to the federal and certain state “do not call” lists, and maintaining an internal “do not call” list.
Lending Regulation
Our lending activities are subject to a number of laws and regulations, including those of applicable supervisory, regulatory and enforcement agencies such as, in the United States, the CFPB, the FTC, and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. These laws and regulations, some of which contain exceptions applicable to the timeshare industry or may not apply to some of our products, may include, among others, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and Regulation X, the Truth In Lending Act and Regulation Z, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Housing Act and implementing regulations, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act and Regulation E, unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices regulations and the Consumer Protection Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, the Right to Financial Privacy Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and the Bank Secrecy Act. Our lending activities are also subject to the laws and regulations of other jurisdictions, including, among others, laws and regulations related to consumer loans, retail installment contracts, mortgage lending, usury, fair debt collection practices, consumer debt collection practices, mortgage disclosure, lender or mortgage loan originator licensing and registration and anti-money laundering.
Resort Management Regulation
Our resort management activities are subject to laws and regulations regarding community association management, timeshare and condominium management (including real estate broker licensing), public lodging, food and beverage services (including liquor licensing), labor, employment, health care, health and safety, accessibility, discrimination, immigration, gaming, certain communication devices, transient rentals, structural audits of improvements and reserve accounts associated with such improvements, and the environment (including climate change). In addition, many jurisdictions in which we manage our resorts have statutory provisions that limit the duration of the initial and renewal terms of our management agreements for owners’ associations or permit the owners’ association for a resort to terminate our management agreement under certain circumstances (for example, upon a super-majority vote of the owners), even if we are not in default under the agreement.
Exchange and Travel Regulations
Many jurisdictions regulate businesses engaged in timeshare exchange activity, typically requiring annual filing of prescribed disclosures with regulatory agencies. Such disclosure must be provided to persons enrolling in a timeshare exchange program prior to completion of enrollment. The disclosure generally provides information on the terms and conditions of membership as well as audited key operating statistics of the exchange program.
In connection with our exchange businesses, we also offer other travel-related products and services that are subject to regulation in certain jurisdictions, including requirements that we register as a “seller of travel” and comply with applicable bonding and disclosure requirements. Additionally, operation of our travel membership programs can trigger requirements that we register as a discount buying organization. Other products and services we offer (e.g., travel insurance) are subject to regulations imposed on our suppliers, and as a result we are subject to travel reseller requirements and licensing in certain jurisdictions.
Environmental Compliance and Awareness
The properties we manage or develop are subject to national, state and local laws and regulations that govern the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relate to protecting the environment. These laws and regulations include requirements that address health and safety; the use, management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes; and emission or discharge of wastes or other materials. We believe that our management and development of properties comply, in all material respects, with environmental laws and regulations. Our compliance with such provisions has not had a material impact on our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position, nor do we anticipate that such compliance will have a material impact in the future.
We do not exercise complete control over all resorts and properties that we manage; rather, our control over these properties is generally limited by the terms of the applicable management agreements. As a result, our ability to achieve some or all of our environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) initiatives or goals may be limited without additional support or action by the owners of those resorts and properties we manage.
We take our commitment to protecting the environment seriously. We have collaborated with Audubon International to further the “greening” of our Marriott Vacation Club resorts in the U.S. through the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program for Hotels. The Audubon partnership is just one of several programs incorporated into our green initiatives. We have
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more than 20 years of energy conservation experience that we have put to use in implementing our environmental strategy across each of our segments. This strategy includes further reducing energy and water consumption, expanding our portfolio of green resorts, including LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification, educating and inspiring associates and guests to support the environment, and embracing innovation.
Human Capital
We recognize that to remain a leader in our industry, we must recruit, motivate, and retain the talented associates who make up our global workforce. With that focus in mind, we implement programs and initiatives rooted in our Core Values: Caring Culture, Integrity First, Excellence Always, Customer Obsessed, and Better Together. Our approach is thoughtfully designed to attract, develop, retain, and engage our associates by:
•offering competitive, fair, and transparent compensation and benefits;
•supporting the overall well-being of our associates physically, mentally, and socially;
•creating opportunities for associate growth, development, recognition, training, and education; and
•promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace, where all individuals are respected regardless of their age, race, national origin, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or other lived experiences.
As of December 31, 2022, we had a global workforce consisting of approximately 21,400 associates, of which approximately 17,400 (81%) were based in the United States and approximately 4,000 (19%) were based in international locations.
Inclusion and Diversity
As a leisure-focused company, we are in the business of bringing people together. Like our customers, our associates come from diverse backgrounds, offering invaluably distinct experiences and perspectives. Women comprise 54% of our worldwide workforce, and men comprise 46%. Within the United States, people of color comprise 50% of our management level positions and women comprise 49% of our management level positions. We continue to leverage recruiting efforts focused on placing women and people of color into management roles.
In 2022, our inclusion and diversity efforts focused on reinforcing our core values by championing an inclusive work environment for our associates and executing key initiatives, including through associate engagement events, feedback mechanisms, and associate training programs. We also continued our work toward increasing diverse representation within our leadership pipelines for executive and senior leadership roles.
Our highest rated dimension on our 2022 annual associate engagement survey was associates’ perceptions of inclusion and diversity at 87% based on their assessment of leaders’ support for inclusion and diversity, service to customers with diverse backgrounds, respect and well-being of all people comes first at MVW, a work environment that is accepting of diverse backgrounds and ways of thinking and all backgrounds are encouraged to pursue their career aspirations at MVW.
In 2022, the Company adopted its inclusion and diversity commitment statement, which states:
MVW is committed to advancing and cultivating inclusion and diversity in all aspects of our business. We provide treasured vacation experiences to our customers around the world, and foster an inclusive, diverse, and caring work environment for our associates. We support a life fulfilled for all individuals and embrace that we are better together.
Associate Development
We seek to cultivate a learning-rich environment where associates are prepared to succeed, are encouraged to grow their careers, and are motivated to serve our owners, members, and guests. Our Global Talent Management team develops and deploys programs and resources for all our associates. Our learning programs are one of the many features that make our Company a desirable place to start and cultivate a fulfilling career, with increased opportunities for growth.
Our Global Talent Management team is also committed to providing our leaders with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and equip leaders with the skills they need to create a positive work environment for all associates. We offer a leadership development program that provides associates with tools, resources, and practices that we believe are important to becoming successful leaders and strengthening our diverse talent pipeline. We also offer tuition reimbursement to our associates. We believe that these efforts help us continue to support leaders in building leadership skills for the future.
Collective Bargaining Agreements
We are party to collective bargaining agreements in the United States, Spain, and Mexico, primarily with regard to employees working in food service, laundry, and hospitality and tourism.
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Human Rights
We maintain a Human Rights Policy that aligns with government, business, and public concerns about issues such as human trafficking and the exploitation of children. We do not recruit child labor, and we support programs and partnerships that help at-risk youth and their families prepare for and find meaningful employment. Our Human Rights Policy is available on our website at (www.marriottvacationsworldwide.com) under the “Investor Relations” tab.
We also have a human trafficking awareness training course that promotes our Human Rights Policy and core values. We recognize the risks associated with human trafficking in our properties and have implemented training for our property-based associates to be able to recognize and report suspected cases of human trafficking. Our training in the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico was developed based upon best practices established by federal law enforcement agencies.
Available Information
Our investor relations website address is www.ir.mvwc.com. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, and any and all amendments thereto are available free of charge through our investor relations website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These materials are also accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Information About Our Executive Officers
Set forth below is certain information with respect to our executive officers. The information set forth below is as of February 27, 2023, except where indicated.
| Name and Title | Age | Business Experience | ||||||||||||
| John E. Geller, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer | 55 | John E. Geller, Jr. succeeded Mr. Weisz as our President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2023. Mr. Geller has served as our President since October 2021. From January 2021 to October 2021, he served as our President and Chief Financial Officer. From January 2018 to January 2021, he served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. From 2009 to December 2017, he served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Geller joined Marriott International in 2005 as Senior Vice President and Chief Audit Executive and Information Security Officer. | ||||||||||||
| Anthony E. Terry Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 55 | Anthony E. Terry has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since October 2021. From July 2005 to September 2021, he served as our Senior Vice President, Global Operational Finance. From October 2001 to June 2005, he served as our Vice President of Product Supply Management. Mr. Terry began his career with the Company in 1996. | ||||||||||||
| Stephanie S. Butera Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Hyatt Vacation Ownership | 51 | Stephanie Sobeck Butera has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Hyatt Vacation Ownership since January 2023. She served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Hyatt Vacation Ownership from April 2021 to December 2022. Prior to leading Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Ms. Sobeck Butera held a number of leadership positions with the Company, serving as Vice President, Asset Management for The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club from August 2014 to October 2018, before moving into the position of Senior Vice President, Vacation Ownership for the Americas, Florida, Mexico, and Caribbean from October 2018 to April 2021. Ms. Sobeck Butera joined the Company in 1999. | ||||||||||||
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| Name and Title | Age | Business Experience | ||||||||||||
| Lori M. Gustafson Executive Vice President and Chief Brand and Digital Officer | 39 | Lori Gustafson joined the company in November 2020 and serves as our Executive Vice President and Chief Brand and Digital Officer. From May 2019 to November 2020, she served as Senior Vice President, Global Brands & Digital for Wyndham Destinations, where she was responsible for brand management and digital marketing. From January 2018 to May 2019, she served as Vice President, Brand Marketing, where she was responsible for brand management, campaign development and advertising. From July 2017 to January 2018, she served as Corporate Vice President of Digital, eCommerce, and Media at SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, where she led the U.S. team that oversaw the development of eCommerce, digital marketing, social media, business intelligence and digital content. From 2015 until July 2017, she served as Senior Director, Digital Marketing at SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, where she was the executive leader for digital transformation initiatives, including websites, mobile and digital commerce improvements and the implementation of a data and analytics program related to customer experience. | ||||||||||||
| James H Hunter, IV Executive Vice President and General Counsel | 60 | James H Hunter, IV has served as our Executive Vice President and General Counsel since November 2011. Prior to that time, he had served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel since 2006. Mr. Hunter joined Marriott International in 1994. | ||||||||||||
| Jeanette E. Marbert President, Exchange and Third-Party Management | 66 | Jeanette Marbert has served as our President, Exchange and Third-Party Management since October 2018. She served as President and Chief Executive Officer for the Exchange and Rental segment of ILG, Inc. from November 2017 until September 2018, and as Executive Vice President from June 2009 until November 2017. She was Chief Operating Officer of ILG, Inc. from August 2008 to November 2017, and served as a Director of ILG, Inc. from February 2015 to May 2016. Ms. Marbert joined Interval in 1984. | ||||||||||||
| Brian E. Miller President, Vacation Ownership | 59 | Brian E. Miller has served as our President, Vacation Ownership since October 2020. From October 2018 to September 2020, he served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing, Sales and Service Officer. From November 2011 to September 2018, he served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. Prior to that time, he had served as our Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing and Service Operations since 2007. Mr. Miller joined the Company in 1991. | ||||||||||||
| Dwight D. Smith Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer | 62 | Dwight D. Smith has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer since December 2011. Prior to that time, he served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer since 2006. Mr. Smith joined Marriott International in 1988. Mr. Smith has announced his decision to retire as our Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer later in 2023. | ||||||||||||
| Michael E. Yonker Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer | 64 | Michael E. Yonker has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since December 2011. Prior to that time, he served as our Chief Human Resources Officer since 2010. Mr. Yonker joined Marriott International in 1983. | ||||||||||||
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
This section describes circumstances or events that could have a negative effect on our financial results or operations or that could change, for the worse, existing trends in our businesses. The occurrence of one or more of the circumstances or events described below could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and/or on the trading prices of our common stock. The risks and uncertainties described in this Annual Report are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties that currently are not known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial also may adversely affect our businesses and operations.
Risks related to COVID-19 global or regional health concerns, outbreaks, and pandemics.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and may continue to have, serious adverse effects on our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations for an unknown period of time and we may face similar health crises in the future.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused and may continue to cause significant disruptions in international and U.S. economies and markets and has had an unprecedented impact on participants in the travel and hospitality industries, including our Company. In the future, COVID-19 or other outbreaks/pandemics could materially and adversely impact global travel, resulting in declines in our cash flows and results of operations. As the spread of COVID-19 variants continues, both in the U.S. and globally, there has been and continues to be significant volatility in global economies and financial markets. The severity, magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, hard to predict, and can change rapidly. Uncertainties related to health concerns, outbreaks and pandemics include, but are not limited to, an increase in the disruptive effect of the health crisis on the global, regional and local economies, supply chains, business partners, our workforce, traveler sentiment, resort occupancy and periodic mandates from governmental authorities to stay home, avoid non-essential contact and gatherings, self-quarantine or restricting travel to or from particular locations.
In 2020, we saw marked declines in occupancy, rentals, and contract sales because of the temporary closure of nearly all of our sales centers, the temporary closure of many of our resorts, the temporary closure of our branded North America vacation ownership resorts for rental stays, and the reduction in operations and amenities at all of our resorts based on government mandates and advisories. Protocols adopted to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, such as canceling, or implementing alternatives or modifications to, in-person sales tours and customized presentations, and reductions in amenities at our resorts, have resulted, and similar measures implemented in the future as a result of regional or global health concerns, outbreaks, or pandemics could result, in less effective customer-associate interaction and diminished customer satisfaction, which could adversely impact our financial condition. Extended or further closures in the future may be required nationally, regionally, or in specific locations in the event of a resurgence of coronavirus, new strains, or another widespread or regional health crisis.
The success of our business and our financial results depend, in substantial part, upon the health of the travel industry, which has been materially adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As new variants of the coronavirus or other health crises make headlines from time to time, consumer fear about contracting COVID-19 or other illnesses and recommendations or mandates from governmental authorities to avoid large gatherings of people or self-quarantine, may increase. These recommendations and mandates have affected, and may affect in the future, resort occupancies. A substantial amount of our sales activity occurs at our resorts, and the number of prospective and current owners who visit our resorts impacts sales volume. Our rental revenue is also substantially impacted by the desire and ability of vacationers to travel. Fear of exposure to the COVID-19 virus or other illnesses, government restrictions on travel, including quarantine requirements, low vaccination rates in some parts of the world and variants of COVID-19 that may be resistant to available vaccines have caused travelers to cancel or delay plans to travel to our resorts. These changes in vacation and travel patterns have adversely affected our cash flows, revenues, and results of operations, and may continue to do so, particularly for our international operations, such as those in the Asia-Pacific region. Moreover, when travel advisories and restrictions have been lifted, there has been a resurgence of the virus, and as a result, travel demand is unpredictable and could remain so for a significant period. Adverse changes in the perceived or actual economic climate, including higher unemployment rates, declines in income levels, inflation, recession and loss of personal wealth resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively affect travel demand for a prolonged period. Any future health crises may also adversely affect our business in a similar or more severe manner.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in payment delinquencies and defaults for our vacation ownership notes receivable. The number of delinquencies may increase again as the pandemic continues or its effect on economic conditions and the ability and desire to travel continues and could lead to defaults on financing that we provide to purchasers of our products in excess of our estimates. Future health crises may also have such adverse effects. Purchaser defaults may cause us to foreclose on vacation ownership notes receivable and reclaim ownership of the financed interests and could impact our ability to secure ABS or warehouse credit facility financing on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. In addition, the transactions in which we have securitized vacation ownership notes receivable contain certain portfolio
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performance requirements related to default and delinquency rates, which, if not met, would result in loss or disruption of cash flow until portfolio performance sufficiently improves to satisfy the requirements.
The duration and extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or a future health crisis on our business and financial results will largely depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of the pandemic or other health crisis, the extent and severity of any resurgences of the pandemic or other health crisis in the future, the response by all levels of government in their efforts to contain the pandemic or other health crisis to mitigate the economic disruptions, the related impact on consumer confidence and spending, and how quickly economies and demand for our products and services recover after the pandemic or other health crisis subsides, all of which are highly uncertain, can rapidly change and cannot be predicted. Such impacts could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows, and capital resources for a significant period. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic or a future health crisis may also adversely affect our cash flows and operating and financial results in a manner that is not presently known to us or that we currently do not consider to present significant risks to our operations.
Risks related to our business and industry.
Our business may be adversely affected by factors that disrupt or deter travel.
Our success and results of operations depend, in substantial part, upon the health of the worldwide vacation ownership and leisure travel industries, and may be adversely affected by a number of factors that can disrupt or deter travel. A substantial amount of our sales activity occurs at our resorts, and sales volume is affected by the number of visitors at our resorts. Fear of exposure to contagious illnesses, such as COVID-19 or other diseases, or natural or man-made disasters, and the physical effects of climate change, such as more frequent or severe storms, droughts, hurricanes, erosion and flooding, have caused and may continue to cause travelers to delay or cancel travel plans, including sales tours at our resorts, with greater frequency. Other factors such as weakened consumer confidence, limited availability or increased costs of consumer credit and damage to infrastructure caused by natural or man-made disasters or other causes that impede travel have caused, and may in the future cause, travelers to delay or cancel plans to tour or visit our resorts. For example, hurricanes have caused a number of Interval International exchange network resorts and our managed vacation ownership resorts to close for prolonged periods. At times, beach access at our resorts and our managed resorts has been impeded by weather conditions or due to the effects of erosion. Actual or threatened war, civil unrest and terrorist activity, as well as heightened travel security measures instituted in response to the same, could also interrupt or deter travel plans. In addition, demand for our products and services may decrease if the cost of travel, including the cost of transportation and fuel, increases, airlift to vacation destinations decreases, airline or airport disruptions, flight cancellations or unreliability of various modes of transportation increases, or if general economic conditions decline.
Our ability to process exchanges for members and to find purchasers and renters for accommodations we market or manage, as well as the need for the vacation rental and property management services we provide, largely depends on the continued desirability of the key vacation destinations in which our branded, managed or exchange properties are concentrated. Changes in the desirability of the destinations where these resorts are located and changes in vacation and travel patterns may adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.
Our results of operations can be adversely affected by labor shortages, turnover and labor cost increases.
A number of factors may adversely affect the labor force available or increase labor costs from time to time, such as high employment levels, federal unemployment subsidies, including unemployment benefits offered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or other health crises, and other government actions. In 2021, we observed an overall tightening and increasingly competitive labor market. As a result, we had to temporarily close outlets (e.g., food and beverage) or reduce services (e.g., housekeeping performed fewer cleans throughout the week), and we may have to take these or similar steps in the future. Any such changes may harm our revenues, cash flows, profitability or customer satisfaction. We have also incurred, and may incur in the future, additional costs for overtime wages, increased wages, enhanced referral bonuses, increased use of sign on bonuses, and increased marketing for open positions. A sustained labor shortage or increased turnover rates within our employee base, whether due to the impact of COVID-19 global health concerns or as a result of general macroeconomic factors, could lead to increased costs, such as increased overtime to meet demand and increased wage rates to attract and retain employees, and could negatively affect our ability to efficiently operate our business. If we are unable to hire and retain employees capable of performing at a high level, our business, including our cash flows, results of operations, owner, guest and associate satisfaction and reputation, could be adversely affected.
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Significant inflation, higher interest rates or deflation could adversely affect our business and financial results.
Inflation can adversely affect us by increasing the costs of carrying unsold inventory, development and other corporate capital expenditures, materials and labor, service contracts, insurance, technology and related hardware or equipment, and interest rates. All of these factors can have a negative impact on the affordability of our products and services. In a high inflationary environment, we may be unable to raise the price of our products and services in a proportional manner, which could reduce our operating margins, including in our financing business, and negatively impact our results or operations. In addition, an increase in the cost of capital, labor and materials could have an adverse impact on our business or financial results. Inflation could also have an indirect adverse impact on our business by making travel more expensive for consumers and reducing consumer discretionary income.
Alternatively, deflation could cause an overall decrease in spending and borrowing capacity, which could lead to a deterioration of economic conditions and employment levels. Deflation could also cause the value of our products and services to decline. These, or other factors that increase the risk of significant deflation, could have a negative impact on our business or financial results.
We finance more than half of our VOI sales. While we adjust interest rates on our financing programs from time to time, such changes are typically not made in lockstep with the timing and magnitude of changes in broader market rates. As a result, our financing profit margin has declined. Increasing our financing rates could negatively impact VOI sales and financing propensity. However, if we are unable to increase our financing rates at the same rate as our costs of funds, our financing profits will be negatively impacted.
Our business is extensively regulated, and any failure to comply with applicable laws could materially adversely affect our business.
We are subject to a wide variety of highly complex international, national, federal, state, and local laws, regulations and policies. The vacation ownership industry is subject to extensive regulation around the world. Each jurisdiction where we operate generally requires resort developers to follow a set of specific procedures to develop, market and sell VOIs. Our real estate development activities, marketing and sales activities, lending activities and resort management activities are also heavily regulated. In addition, a myriad of laws, regulations and policies impact multiple areas of our business, such as those regulating the sale and offer of securities, anti-discrimination, anti-fraud, data protection, anti-corruption and bribery or implementing government economic sanctions.
Complying with the intricate and multifaceted regulatory structures applicable to our businesses across the globe is complicated, constantly evolving, time-consuming and costly. We may not be able to successfully comply with all laws, regulations and policies to which we are subject. Laws, regulations, policies, and case law precedent may change or be subject to different interpretation in the future, including in ways that could decrease demand for our products and services, increase costs, and subject us to additional liabilities. Failure to comply could have a material adverse effect on our business. For example, failure to comply with applicable law could result in the loss of licenses or registrations we must have in order to operate our business, render sales contracts for our products void or voidable, subject us to fines or other sanctions, and increase our exposure to litigation. Adverse action by governmental authorities or others alleging our failure to comply with applicable laws could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and reputation.
Changes in privacy laws could adversely affect our ability to market our products effectively.
We rely on a variety of direct marketing techniques, including telemarketing, digital marketing and postal mailings. Adoption of new laws, or changes in existing laws, in any of the jurisdictions in which we operate regulating marketing and solicitation or data protection could adversely affect the effectiveness of our marketing strategies. For example, in the U.S., California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”). The CCPA provides California consumers with certain access, deletion and opt-out rights related to their personal information, imposes civil penalties for violations and affords, in certain cases, a private right of action for data breaches. Similar legislation has been proposed or adopted in other states. In addition, foreign data protection, privacy, consumer protection, content regulation and other laws and regulations may be more restrictive or burdensome than those in the United States. For example, the European Union (“E.U.”) General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) imposes significant obligations on businesses that sell products or services to E.U. customers or otherwise control or process personal data of E.U. residents. Complying with the GDPR, other international laws and regulation, and state and federal laws and regulation could subject us to increased costs; and our failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in significant fines, litigation, losses, third-party damages and other liabilities, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our brands, marketing, reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations. The cost of compliance with privacy laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate has increased and may continue to increase as laws change and we expand into new jurisdictions and become subject to the privacy laws of such jurisdictions. If we are not able to develop adequate alternative marketing strategies, our sales may be adversely
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affected. We also obtain access to potential customers from travel service providers and other companies with whom we have relationships. If our access to these third-party customer lists is prohibited or restricted, our ability to develop new customers and introduce our products to them could be impaired.
Failure to maintain the integrity of internal or customer data or to protect our systems from cyber-attacks could disrupt our business, damage our reputation, and subject us to costs, fines or lawsuits.
We collect large volumes of data, including social security numbers and other personally identifiable information of our customers and employees, and retain it in our information systems and those of our service providers. It is critical that we maintain the integrity of and protect this data, which we rely on to make business decisions and which our customers and employees expect that we will protect. The regulatory environment in the jurisdictions where we operate and the requirements imposed on us by the payment card industry regarding information, security and privacy is increasingly demanding. Many of the laws applicable to us in different jurisdictions vary from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts. Our efforts to comply with these requirements may require significant additional resources and time and may not be successful.
We may be required to expend significant capital and other resources to enhance the security of our data. Our information systems and records, including those we maintain with our service providers or licensors, may be subject to security breaches, cyber-attack or cyber-intrusion, system failures, viruses, operator error or inadvertent releases of data. Data breaches have increased in recent years as the number, intensity and sophistication of attacks have increased. The techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and may be difficult to detect for long periods of time. Neither we nor our service providers may be able to prevent, detect and contain unauthorized activity and misuse or human errors compromising the efficacy of security measures. A breach in the security of our information systems or those of our service providers or licensors could lead to an interruption in the operation of our systems, resulting in operational inefficiencies and a negative impact to our results of operations. A significant cyber-attack or theft, loss, or fraudulent use of our customer, employee or company data could adversely impact our reputation and result in remedial and other expenses, fines or litigation.
We and the companies we work with have experienced cyber security threats to our data and systems, including ransomware and other forms of malware and computer virus attacks, unauthorized access, systems failures and temporary disruptions. We have experienced cyber incidents in the past, and have previously disclosed those with material operational or financial implications to the Company or our stakeholders. Routinely, we partner with and use third-party service providers and products that host, manage, or control sensitive data. The failure of any such service providers or products to comply with our privacy policies or privacy laws and regulations, or any unauthorized release of personally identifiable information or other user data, could damage our reputation, discourage potential users from trying our products and services, breach certain agreements under which we have obligations with respect to network security, and result in fines and proceedings against us by governmental agencies, service providers and consumers. Any of the foregoing could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our international operations expose us to risks that could negatively impact our financial results or disrupt our business.
Our international operations expose us to a number of additional risks, any of which could negatively impact our results of operations or disrupt our business, such as: compliance with laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions, including foreign ownership restrictions, import and export controls, data privacy and usage, and trade restrictions, and U.S. laws affecting our activities outside of the U.S.; anti-American sentiment; war, political or civil unrest and terrorism; difficulties of managing operations in many different countries; local economic risks; foreign currency exchange risks; and uncertainty as to the enforceability of contract and intellectual property rights under local laws, which can change or be interpreted in ways that could negatively impact our business.
Inadequate or failed technologies could lead to interruptions in our operations and materially adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Our operations and competitive position depend on our ability to maintain existing systems and implement new technologies. Our information technology systems and our databases are potentially susceptible to manmade and natural disasters, as well as power losses, computer and telecommunications failures, technological breakdowns, cyber-attacks, acts of war or terrorism and other events. System interruption, delays, obsolescence, loss of critical data and lack of integration and redundancy in our information technology systems and infrastructure may adversely affect our ability to provide services, operate websites, process and fulfill transactions, respond to customer inquiries and generally maintain cost-efficient operations. Our backup systems only relate to certain aspects of our operations; these systems are not fully redundant and disaster recovery planning is not sufficient for all eventualities. Projects to upgrade or replace our technologies may be extremely complex and require significant resources and time and may adversely affect our ability to provide services, operate websites, process and fulfill
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transactions, and respond to customer inquiries during the upgrade or replacement process. In addition, we may not have adequate insurance coverage to compensate for losses from a major interruption. If our information technology systems fail to adequately support our strategic, operational or compliance needs, our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows, as well as our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, may be adversely affected.
Spanish court rulings voiding certain timeshare contracts have increased our exposure to litigation that may materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.
A series of Spanish court rulings that, since 2015, have voided certain timeshare contracts has increased our exposure to litigation that may materially adversely affect our business and financial condition. These rulings voided certain timeshare contracts entered into after January 1999 related to certain resorts in Spain if a resort’s timeshare structure did not meet requirements prescribed by Spanish timeshare laws enacted in 1998, even if the structure was lawful prior to 1998 and adapted pursuant to mechanisms specified in the 1998 laws. These rulings have led to an increase in lawsuits by owners seeking to void timeshare contracts in Spain, including certain contracts at certain of our resorts in Spain. However, the Supreme Court of Spain has not yet substantively opined on the issue as it pertains to the Company’s timeshare contracts. If the Supreme Court of Spain rules adversely to us and determines that our timeshare contracts are voidable, that may materially adversely affect the results of operations of our Vacation Ownership segment, as well as our business and financial condition. Defending these lawsuits has required, and may continue to require, the Company to incur legal fees and reserve for judgments. If additional owners at our resorts in Spain file similar lawsuits, this may: void certain of those owners’ timeshare contracts; cause us to incur material litigation and other costs, including judgment or settlement payments; and materially adversely affect the results of operations of our Vacation Ownership segment, as well as our business and financial condition. The increased ability for owners of Spanish timeshares to void their contracts has negatively impacted other developers with resorts in Spain and led to a significant decrease in the number of resorts located in Spain in the Interval International network with active sales and the loss of members who own VOIs at those resorts.
The industries in which our businesses operate are competitive, which may impact our ability to compete successfully.
Our businesses will be adversely impacted if they cannot compete effectively in their respective industries, each of which is highly competitive. A number of highly competitive companies participate in the vacation ownership industry. Our brands compete with the vacation ownership brands of major hotel chains in national and international venues, as well as with the vacation rental options (such as hotels, resorts and condominium rentals) offered by the lodging industry. Our competitors may have greater access to capital resources and broader marketing, sales and distribution capabilities than we do. Competitive pressures may cause us to reduce our fee structure or potentially modify our business models, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our principal exchange network administered by Interval International included more than 3,200 resorts located in over 90 countries and territories as of December 31, 2022. Interval International’s primary competitor, RCI, has a greater number of affiliated resorts than we have. Through the resources of its corporate affiliates, particularly, Travel + Leisure Co., which is engaged in vacation ownership sales, RCI may have greater access to a significant segment of new vacation ownership purchasers and a broader platform for participating in industry consolidation. In addition, Interval International competes with developers that create, operate and expand internal exchange and vacation club systems, which decreases their reliance on external vacation ownership exchange programs, including those we offer, and adversely impacts the supply of resort accommodations available through our external exchange networks. The effects of such competition on our exchange business are more pronounced as the proportion of vacation club corporate members in the Interval International network increases.
Our businesses also compete for leisure travelers with other leisure lodging operators, including both independent and branded properties, as well as with alternative lodging marketplaces, which operate websites that market furnished, privately-owned residential properties throughout the world which can be rented on a nightly, weekly or monthly basis.
Negative public perception regarding our industry could have an adverse effect on our operations.
Negative public perception regarding our industry resulting from, among other things, consumer complaints regarding sales and marketing practices, consumer financing arrangements, and restrictions on exit related to our products, as well as negative comments on social media, could result in increased regulatory scrutiny, which could result in reputational damage, more onerous laws, regulations, guidelines and enforcement interpretations in jurisdictions in which we operate. These actions may lead to operational delays or restrictions, as well as increased operating costs, regulatory burdens and risk of litigation.
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Changes in tax regulations or their interpretation could negatively impact our cash flows and results of operations.
Changes in tax and other revenue raising laws, regulations and policies in the jurisdictions where we do business could impose new restrictions, costs or prohibitions on our practices and negatively impact our results of operations. In addition, interpretation of tax regulations requires us to exercise our judgment and taxing authorities or our independent registered public accounting firm may reach conclusions about the application of such regulations that differ from our conclusions. Our effective tax rate reflects the fact that income earned and reinvested outside the U.S. is generally taxed at local rates that can be higher or lower than U.S. tax rates or based on a different tax base than U.S. jurisdictions, as well as our ability to carry forward losses in certain jurisdictions from prior years to offset future profits. Changes to U.S. or international tax laws, regulations or interpretations could impact the tax treatment of our earnings and adversely affect our cash flows and financial results. For example, if such changes significantly increase the tax rates on non-U.S. income, our effective tax rate could increase, our financial results and cash flows could be negatively impacted, and if such increases were a result of our status as a U.S. corporation, we could be placed at a disadvantage to our non-U.S. competitors that are subject to lower local tax rates.
We are subject to audit in various jurisdictions, and these jurisdictions may assess additional taxes against us. Developments in an audit, litigation, or laws, regulations, administrative practices, principles, and interpretations could have a material effect on our operating results or cash flows. The final outcome of tax audits, investigations, and any related litigation could be materially different from our historical tax provisions and accruals.
Concentration of some of our resorts, sales centers and exchange destinations in particular geographic areas exposes our business to the effects of severe weather and other regional events in these areas.
Our business is susceptible to the effects of natural or man-made disasters, including earthquakes, windstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods, drought, fires, oil spills, erosion and nuclear incidents, in the areas where some of our resorts, sales centers and exchange destinations are concentrated, such as Florida, California, South Carolina and Hawaii. For example, properties in these markets have had to close in the past, including for extended periods, in order to repair damage caused by disasters. Depending on the severity of future disasters, the resulting damage could require closure of all or substantially all of our properties in one or more of these markets while we complete renovations. Our insurance may not cover all damages caused by any such event, including the loss of sales of VOIs at sales centers that are not fully operational. In addition, insurance costs may increase and coverage levels may decrease for properties in these areas as a result of the number and magnitude of recent natural disasters in these areas.
Our business is also susceptible to the effects of adverse economic developments in these areas, such as regional economic downturns, significant increases in the number of our competitors’ products in these markets and potentially higher labor, real estate, tax or other costs in these geographic markets. Because of this geographic concentration of properties, we face a greater risk of a negative effect on our results of operations if these areas are affected by severe weather, man-made disasters or adverse economic and competitive conditions.
If we are not able to successfully identify, finance, integrate and manage costs related to acquisitions, our business operations and financial position could be adversely affected.
We have expanded in part through acquisitions of other businesses and may continue to do so in the future. Our acquisition strategy depends on our ability to identify, and the availability of, suitable acquisition candidates. We may incur costs in connection with proposed acquisitions, but may ultimately be unable or unwilling to consummate any particular proposed transaction for various reasons. In addition, acquisitions involve numerous risks, including risks that we will not be able to: successfully integrate acquired businesses in an efficient and cost-effective manner; properly measure or identify all risks associated with the acquisition; achieve anticipated benefits of an acquisition, including expected synergies; control potential increases in operating costs; manage geographically remote operations; successfully expand our system of internal controls or our technological infrastructure to include an acquired business; avoid potential disruptions in ongoing operations during an acquisition process or integration efforts; successfully enter markets in which we have limited or no direct experience, including foreign markets whose practices or laws may pose increased risk; and retain key employees, clients, vendors and business partners of the acquired businesses. Failure to achieve the anticipated benefits of any acquisition may adversely affect our financial condition, operating results and prospects. Acquisitions may also significantly increase our debt or result in dilutive issuances of our equity securities, write-offs of goodwill or substantial amortization expenses associated with other intangible assets.
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Our use of different estimates and assumptions in the application of our accounting policies could result in material changes to our reported financial condition and results of operations, and changes in accounting standards or their interpretation could significantly impact our reported results of operations.
Our accounting policies are critical to the manner in which we present our results of operations and financial condition. Many of these policies, including policies relating to the recognition of revenue and determination of cost of sales, are highly complex and involve many assumptions, estimates and judgments. We are required to review these assumptions, estimates and judgments regularly and revise them when necessary. Our actual results of operations vary from period to period based on revisions to these estimates. For example, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we increased our reserve for vacation ownership notes receivable due to higher default expectations and revised our estimates of the fair value of our reporting units, resulting in the impairment of goodwill. In addition, the regulatory bodies that establish accounting and reporting standards, including the SEC and the Financial Accounting Standards Board, periodically revise or issue new financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Changes to these standards or their interpretation could significantly impact our reported results in future periods. See Footnote 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our Financial Statements for more information regarding changes in accounting standards that we recently adopted or expect to adopt in the future.
The growth of our business and execution of our business strategies depend on the services of our senior management and our associates.
Our business is based on successfully attracting and retaining talented associates. The market for highly skilled associates and leaders in our industry is extremely competitive. If we are less successful in our recruiting efforts, or if we are unable to retain management and other key associates, our ability to develop and deliver successful products and services may be adversely affected. Effective succession planning is also important to our long-term success. The departure of a key executive or associate or the failure to ensure an effective transfer of knowledge and a smooth transition upon such departure may be disruptive to the business and could hinder our strategic planning and execution.
Increasing scrutiny and evolving expectations from customers, regulators, investors, and other stakeholders with respect to our environmental, social and governance practices may impose additional costs on us or expose us to new or additional risks.
Companies are facing increasing and frequently evolving scrutiny globally from customers, regulators, investors, employees and other stakeholders related to their ESG practices and disclosure. Investor advocacy groups, investment funds and influential investors are also increasingly focused on these practices, especially as they relate to the environment, health and safety, board and workforce diversity, labor conditions, human rights, and cybersecurity and data privacy. Third parties have also developed proprietary ratings or analyses of companies based on certain ESG metrics. Increased ESG-related compliance costs could result in increases to our overall operational costs. Failure to adapt to or comply with regulatory requirements or investor or other stakeholder expectations and standards could negatively impact our reputation, ability to do business with certain partners, and stock price. New government regulations could also result in new or more stringent forms of ESG oversight and expanding mandatory and voluntary reporting, diligence, and disclosure. Our ESG initiatives and goals may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve and assumptions that are subject to change in the future. As we report on our ESG initiatives or goals, we may be subject to heightened reputational and operational risk and compliance costs related to these matters. Also, we do not exercise complete control over all resorts and properties that we manage; rather, our control over these properties is generally limited by the terms of the applicable management agreements. As a result, our ability to achieve some or all of our ESG initiatives or goals may be limited without additional support or action by the owners’ associations of the vacation ownership resorts and properties we manage. Complying with increased regulations could increase our costs and adversely impact our results of operations. Our inability or failure to meet, or the perceived failure to meet, such stakeholders’ expectations, as well as adverse incidents, could negatively impact our stock price, results of operations, or reputation and increase our cost of capital.
Risks related to our vacation ownership business.
The termination of our license agreements with Marriott International or Hyatt, or our rights to use their trademarks at our existing or future properties, could materially harm our business.
Our success depends, in part, on our relationships with Marriott International and Hyatt. These relationships are governed by various agreements, including long-term license agreements that expire between 2090 and 2095, subject to renewal. However, if we breach our obligations under a license agreement, the applicable licensor may be entitled to terminate the license agreement and our rights to use its brands in connection with our businesses. In addition, if any of our properties does not meet applicable brand standards, the applicable licensor can terminate our right to use its trademarks at the subject properties.
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The termination of our license agreements with Marriott International, Hyatt or their affiliates would materially harm our business and results of operations and materially impair our ability to market and sell our products and maintain our competitive position, and could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Our inability to rely on the strength of the Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, or Hyatt brands to attract qualified prospects in the marketplace would likely cause our results of operations to decline and our marketing and sales expenses to increase. Our inability to market to guests in hotels affiliated with our licensors that are located near one of our sales locations or maintain our marketing partnerships with Marriott International or Hyatt reservation centers would cause our sales to decline, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we would not be able to use the brand websites as channels through which to rent available inventory, which would cause our rental revenue to decline materially.
Our license agreements also allow us to offer points to members of the customer loyalty programs associated with the Marriott, Sheraton, Westin and Hyatt brands, which provides us with the opportunity to market directly to these members. The termination of the license agreements with Marriott International or Hyatt would eliminate this valuable marketing channel.
We must also obtain the applicable licensor’s consent to use its trademarks in connection with properties we acquire or develop in the future. If our licensors do not consent to such use, our ability to expand our business and remain competitive may be materially adversely affected.
Deterioration in the quality or reputation of the brands associated with our portfolio could adversely affect our market share, reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
We offer vacation ownership products and services under the Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hyatt brands. Our success depends in part on the continued success of Marriott International and Hyatt and their respective brands. If market recognition or the positive perception of Marriott International or Hyatt is reduced or compromised, the goodwill associated with these brands may be adversely affected, which may adversely affect our market share, reputation, business, financial condition or results of operations. The positioning and offerings of any of these brands or their related customer loyalty programs could change in a manner that adversely affects our business.
Marriott International or Hyatt could compete with our vacation ownership business in the future.
Under the license agreements with Marriott International, if other international hotel operators offer new products and services as part of their respective hotel businesses that may directly compete with our vacation ownership products and services, then Marriott International may also offer such new products and services, and use its trademarks in connection with such offers. Under the Hyatt license agreement, Hyatt may compete with us under certain circumstances, e.g., if we fail to meet certain performance standards or if Hyatt acquires a new hotel brand that Hyatt determines to license for timeshare and we are unsuccessful negotiating license rights pursuant to our right of first offer. If Marriott International or Hyatt offers new vacation ownership products and services under their trademarks, they may compete directly with our vacation ownership products and services, and we may not be able to distinguish our vacation ownership products and services from those offered by Marriott International or Hyatt. Our ability to remain competitive and to attract and retain owners depends on our success in distinguishing the quality and value of our products and services from those offered by others. If we cannot compete successfully in these areas, this could limit our operating margins, diminish our market share and reduce our earnings.
If a branded hotel property co-located with one of our resorts ceases to be affiliated with the same brand as our resort or a related brand, our business could be harmed.
Approximately 20% of our Vacation Ownership segment resorts are co-located with same-branded or affiliated hotel properties. If a branded hotel property with which one of our resorts is co-located ceases to be operated by or affiliated with the same brand as our resort, which has happened in the past, we could lose benefits such as sharing amenities, infrastructure and staff, integration of services, and other cost efficiencies. Our owners could lose access to the more varied and elaborate amenities that are generally available at the larger campus of an integrated vacation ownership and hotel resort. We expect our overhead and operating costs for such resorts would increase. We could also lose our on-site access to hotel customers, including brand customer loyalty program members, at such resorts, which is a cost-effective marketing channel for our vacation ownership products, and our sales may decline.
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We may not have inventory available for sale when needed or we may have excess inventory.
We may enter into capital-efficient transactions to source inventory in which third parties agree to deliver completed units to us at pre-agreed prices in the future. These transactions expose us to additional risk as we will not control development activities or timing of development completion. If our counterparties default on their obligations, or exercise their right to sell inventory to a different buyer, we may not acquire the inventory we expect on time or at all, or it may not be within agreed upon specifications. If we cannot obtain inventory from alternative sources on a timely basis, we may not be able to achieve sales forecasts. Conversely, if we procure or commit to procure inventory based on an expected sales plan and fail to achieve that plan, we could have excess inventory, potentially negatively impacting our margins and results of operations.
The sale of VOIs in the secondary market by existing owners could cause our sales revenues, margins, and results of operations to decline.
Sales of VOIs by existing owners, which are typically at lower prices than the prices at which we would sell interests, can create pricing pressure on our sale of vacation ownership products and cause our sales revenues, margins and results of operations to decline. In addition, unlawful or deceptive third-party VOI resale schemes involving interests in our resorts could damage our reputation and brand value and adversely impact our sales revenues and results of operations. Development of a more robust secondary market may also cause the volume of lower-cost VOI inventory that we are able to repurchase to supplement our inventory needs to decline, which could adversely impact our development margin.
Borrower defaults on the vacation ownership notes receivable our business generates could reduce our results of operations and cash flows.
In connection with our vacation ownership business, we provide loans to purchasers to finance their purchase of VOIs. Accordingly, we are subject to the risk that those borrowers may default on the financing that we provide. The risk of borrower defaults may increase due to man-made or natural disasters or a recession or other economic downturn, which cause financial hardship for borrowers. The risk of borrower defaults may also increase if we do not evaluate accurately the creditworthiness of the customers to whom we extend financing or due to the influence of timeshare relief firms. Borrower defaults have caused, and may continue to cause, us to foreclose on vacation ownership notes receivable and reclaim ownership of the financed interests, both for loans that we have not securitized and in our role as servicer for the vacation ownership notes receivable we have securitized through the ABS market or the Warehouse Credit Facility. If default rates for our borrowers increase, we have been required, and may in the future be required, to increase our reserve on vacation ownership notes receivable, which may reduce our earnings.
If default rates increase beyond current projections and result in higher than expected foreclosure activity, our results of operations could be adversely affected. Borrower defaults could impact our ability to secure ABS or warehouse credit facility financing on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. In addition, the transactions in which we have securitized vacation ownership notes receivable contain certain portfolio performance requirements related to default and delinquency rates, which, if not met, would result in loss or disruption of cash flow until portfolio performance sufficiently improves to satisfy the requirements. Also, if a purchaser of a VOI defaults on the related loan during the early part of the amortization period, we may not have recovered the marketing, selling and general and administrative costs associated with the sale of that VOI. If we are unable to recover any of the principal amount of the loan from a defaulting borrower, or if the allowances for losses from such defaults are inadequate, the revenues and profits that we derive from the vacation ownership business could be reduced materially.
Our points-based product forms expose us to an increased risk of temporary inventory depletion.
Selling VOIs in a system of resorts under a points-based business model increases the risk of temporary inventory depletion. Currently, our VOI sales are made primarily through a limited number of trust entities that issue VOIs. These structures can lead to a temporary depletion of inventory available for sale caused by: (1) delayed delivery of inventory under construction by us or third parties; (2) delayed receipt of required governmental registrations of inventory for sale; or (3) significant unanticipated increases in sales pace. If the inventory available for sale for a particular trust were to be depleted before new inventory is added and available for sale, we would be required to temporarily suspend sales until inventory is replenished or shift to selling an alternative product which may increase marketing and sales costs and lower VPG. Our efforts to avoid the risk of temporary inventory depletion by maintaining a surplus supply of completed inventory based on our forecasted sales pace, and by employing other mitigation strategies such as accelerating completion of resorts under construction, acquiring VOIs on the secondary market, or reducing sales pace by adjusting prices or sales incentives, may not be successful. A depletion of VOI inventory could decrease our financing revenues generated from purchasers of VOIs and fee revenues generated by providing club, management, exchange, sales, and marketing services. In addition, any temporary suspension of sales due to lack of inventory could reduce our cash flow and have a negative impact on our results of operations.
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Our development activities expose us to project cost and completion risks.
Our project development activities entail risks that may cause project delays or increased project costs and therefore may adversely impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, including:
•construction delays or cost overruns;
•shortages of skilled labor;
•claims for construction defects, including claims by purchasers and owners’ associations;
•the discovery of hazardous or toxic substances, or other environmental, culturally-sensitive, or related issues;
•an inability to timely obtain required governmental permits and authorizations;
•compliance with zoning, building codes and other local regulations;
•performance by third parties involved in the financing and development of our projects;
•the cost or availability of raw materials; and
•interference of weather-related, geological or other events, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, fires, and volcanic eruptions.
Our resort management business may be adversely affected by the loss of management contracts, failure of resorts to comply with brand standards, increased maintenance fees and disagreements with owners.
Owners of our VOIs are required to pay maintenance fees to maintain and refurbish the vacation ownership properties and keep them in compliance with brand standards. If a resort fails to comply with applicable brand standards, the applicable licensor could terminate our rights to use its trademarks at the resort, which would result in the loss of management fees, decreased customer satisfaction, and impairment of our ability to market and sell our products at the non-compliant locations. Increases in maintenance fees to keep pace with maintenance and other costs may make our products less desirable, which could negatively impact sales and cause an increase in defaults on our vacation ownership notes receivable portfolio. If the owners’ associations that we manage are unable to collect sufficient maintenance fees to cover operating and maintenance costs, the related resorts may have to close or file for bankruptcy, which may result in termination of our management agreements. We may also lose resort management contracts if they are not renewed when they expire, or the contract terms may be renegotiated in a manner adverse to us. The loss or renegotiation of a significant number of our management contracts may adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.
From time to time, disagreements arise between us and the owners of VOIs and owners’ associations. For example, owners of our VOIs have disagreed, and may in the future disagree, with changes we make to our products or programs. Sometimes, disagreements with VOI owners and owners’ associations result in litigation and the loss of management contracts. If any such litigation results in a significant adverse judgment or settlement, we could suffer significant losses, our margins and results of operations could be reduced, our reputation could be harmed and our future ability to operate our business could be constrained.
Damage to, or other potential losses involving, properties that we own or manage may not be covered by insurance.
We procure insurance for general liability, property, business interruption, directors and officers liability, and other insurable risks with respect to our business operations and as customarily carried by companies in the hospitality industry. Market forces beyond our control may limit the scope, terms, and conditions of the insurance coverage we are able to obtain or our ability to obtain coverage at reasonable rates, which may affect our ability to maintain customary insurance coverages and deductibles at acceptable costs. Certain types of losses, generally of a catastrophic nature, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and floods, or terrorist acts, may be uninsurable or the price of coverage for such losses may be too expensive to justify obtaining insurance. The effects of climate change, such as increased storm intensity and rising temperatures or sea levels over time, may also increase the cost of property insurance and decrease our coverage levels. In addition, in the event of a substantial loss, the insurance coverage we carry may not be sufficient to pay the full market value or replacement cost of our lost property or property of owners of VOIs or third party liability. In some cases, insurance may not provide a recovery for any part of a loss due to deductibles/retentions, policy limits, coverage limitations, uninsured parts of a loss or other factors. As a result, we could lose some or all of the capital we have invested in a property, as well as the anticipated future revenue from the property, and we could remain obligated under guarantees or other financial obligations related to the property. In addition, we could lose the management contract for the property and, to the extent such property operates under a licensed brand, the property may lose operating rights under the associated brand. We may also incur liabilities or losses in the operation of our business that are only partially covered by insurance, or not covered at all. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Risks related to our exchange and third-party management business.
Our Exchange & Third-Party Management business depends on relationships with developers, members and others, and any adverse changes in these relationships could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our Interval International business depends on vacation ownership developers for new members and on members and participants to renew their existing memberships and otherwise engage in transactions. Developers and members also supply resort accommodations for use in exchanges and Getaways. Our third-party management business depends on relationships with vacation property and hotel owners.
If we are unable to negotiate new affiliation agreements with resort developers or secure renewals with existing members or developers in our Interval International network, as has occurred in the past, the number of new and existing members, the supply of resort accommodations available through our exchange networks and related revenue could decrease. The failure to secure the renewal of affiliation agreements with developers with corporate member relationships, where the developer renews Interval International membership fees for all of its active owners, has a greater adverse effect. The loss or renegotiation on less favorable terms of several of our largest affiliation agreements could materially adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. Our ability to maintain affiliation agreements with resort developers is also impacted by consolidation in the vacation ownership industry.
In addition, we depend on third parties to make certain benefits available to members of the Interval International exchange network. The loss of such benefits could result in a decrease in the number of Interval International members, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Similarly, the failure of our third-party management business to maintain existing or negotiate new management agreements with vacation property and hotel owners, as a result of the sale of property to third parties, contract disputes or otherwise, or the failure of vacationers to book vacation rentals through our businesses would result in a decrease in related revenue, which would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Insufficient availability of exchange inventory may adversely affect our results of operations.
Our exchange network’s transaction levels depend on the supply of inventory in the system and demand for the available inventory. Exchange inventory is deposited in the system by members, or by developers on behalf of members, to support current or anticipated exchanges. Inventory supply and demand for specific regions and on a broader scope are influenced by a variety of factors, such as: economic conditions; health and safety concerns, including concerns and travel restrictions relating to health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic; the occurrence or threat of natural disasters and severe weather; and owner decisions to travel to their home resort/vacation club system or otherwise not deposit exchange inventory. The factors that affect demand for specific destinations could significantly reduce the number of accommodations available in such areas for exchanges. The level of inventory in our system also depends on the number of developers whose resorts are in our exchange network, and the numbers of members of such resorts. The number of developers affiliated with our exchange network may decrease for a variety of reasons, such as consolidation and contraction in the industry and competition. If inventory supply and demand do not keep pace, transactions may decrease or we may purchase additional inventory to fulfill the demand, both of which could negatively affect our results of operations.
Risks related to our indebtedness.
Our indebtedness may restrict our operations.
As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately $3.1 billion of total corporate indebtedness outstanding and could borrow an additional $749 million under the Revolving Corporate Credit Facility. The credit agreement that governs the Corporate Credit Facility and the indentures that govern our various senior notes impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us, which among other things limit our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to incur debt, pay dividends and make other restricted payments, make loans and investments, incur liens, sell assets, enter into affiliate transactions, enter into agreements restricting certain subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends and consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of their assets. All of these covenants and restrictions limit how we conduct our business. The Corporate Credit Facility also requires us to maintain a specified leverage ratio. These restrictions could restrict our flexibility to react to changes in our businesses, industries and economic conditions and increase borrowing costs.
We must dedicate a portion of our cash flow from operations to debt servicing and repayment of debt, which reduces funds available for strategic initiatives and opportunities, dividends, share repurchases, working capital, and other general corporate needs. It also increases our vulnerability to the impact of adverse economic and industry conditions.
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If we are unable to comply with our debt agreements, or to raise additional capital when needed, our business, cash flow, liquidity, and results of operations could be harmed.
Our ability to make scheduled cash payments on and to refinance our indebtedness depends on our ability to generate significant operating cash flow in the future, which, to a significant extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. We may not be able to maintain a sufficient level of cash flow from operating activities to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness.
In addition, our credit ratings will impact the cost and availability of future borrowings and, accordingly, our cost of capital. Downgrades in our ratings could adversely affect our businesses, cash flows, financial condition, operating results and share and debt prices, as well as our obligations with respect to our capital efficient inventory acquisitions.
Failure to make scheduled cash payments on our existing debt, or to comply with the restrictive covenants and other requirements in our debt agreements, could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could result in acceleration of our debt repayment obligations. We may not have sufficient cash to repay any accelerated debt obligations, which would immediately and materially harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We may be required to raise additional capital to refinance our existing debt, or to expand or support our operations. Our access to and cost of financing will depend on, among other things, global economic conditions, conditions in the global financing markets, the availability of sufficient amounts of financing, our prospects and our credit ratings, and the outlook for our industry as a whole. The terms of future debt agreements could include more restrictive covenants or require incremental collateral, which may further restrict our business operations or adversely affect our ability to obtain additional financing. There is no guarantee that debt or equity financings will be available in the future on terms favorable to us or at all. If we are unable to access additional funds on acceptable terms, we may have to adjust our business operations, and our ability to acquire additional vacation ownership inventory, repurchase VOIs, or make other investments in our business could be impaired, any of which may adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.
We may incur substantially more debt, which could exacerbate further the risks associated with our leverage.
We and our subsidiaries may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, including secured indebtedness, as well as obligations that do not constitute indebtedness as defined in our debt agreements. To the extent that we and our subsidiaries incur additional indebtedness or such other obligations, the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness described above will increase.
If the default rates or other credit metrics underlying our vacation ownership notes receivable deteriorate, our vacation ownership notes receivable securitization program and VOI financing program could be adversely affected.
Our vacation ownership notes receivable portfolio performance and securitization program could be adversely affected if any vacation ownership notes receivable pool fails to meet certain ratios, which could occur if the default rates or other credit metrics of the underlying vacation ownership notes receivable deteriorate. Default rates may deteriorate due to many different reasons, including those beyond our control, such as financial hardship of purchasers. In addition, if we offer loans to our customers with terms longer than those generally offered in the industry, our ability to securitize those loans may be adversely impacted. Instability in the credit markets may impact the timing and volume of the vacation ownership notes receivable that we are able to securitize, as well as the financial terms of such securitizations. If ABS issued in our securitization programs are downgraded by credit agencies in the future, our ability to complete securitization transactions on acceptable terms or at all could be jeopardized, and we could be forced to rely on other potentially more expensive and less attractive funding sources, to the extent available.
We are subject to risks relating to our convertible notes.
Holders of our convertible notes may convert the convertible notes after the occurrence of certain dates or events. See Footnote 16 “Debt” to our Financial Statements for additional information. If any holders elect to convert their convertible notes, we may elect to settle all or a portion of our conversion obligation through the payment of cash, which could adversely affect our liquidity.
The way we account for our convertible notes may impact our reported or future financial results and the market price of our common stock. For example, in 2022, we adopted a new accounting standard that requires the use of the “if-converted” method for calculating diluted earnings per share, which resulted in the reduction of our reported diluted earnings per share. See Footnote 16 “Debt” and Footnote 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our Financial Statements for additional information regarding the accounting for our convertible notes.
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We are subject to risks relating to our convertible note hedges and warrants.
In connection with the convertible notes, we entered into privately negotiated convertible note hedges to reduce potential dilution to our common stock and offset cash payments we must make in excess of the principal amount, in each case, upon any conversion of convertible notes. We also issued warrants to the hedge counterparties. The warrants could have a dilutive effect on our shares of common stock to the extent that the market price per share exceeds the applicable strike price of the warrants on one or more of the applicable expiration dates. Alternatively, if settled in cash, the warrants could have a negative impact on cash flow and liquidity.
In connection with establishing their initial hedges of the convertible note hedges and the warrants, the hedge counterparties and their respective affiliates advised us that they expected to purchase shares of our common stock in secondary market transactions and enter into various derivative transactions with respect to our common stock. These parties may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to our common stock and buying or selling our common stock in the secondary market. Any of these activities could cause or prevent an increase or a decline in the market price of our common stock.
We are subject to the risk that one or more of the hedge counterparties may default under the convertible note hedges. If any of the hedge counterparties become subject to insolvency proceedings, we will become an unsecured creditor with a claim equal to our exposure at that time under our transactions with such counterparties. Our exposure will depend on many factors but, generally, the increase in our exposure will be correlated to the increase in the market price and in the volatility of our common stock. In addition, upon a default by a hedge counterparty, we may suffer adverse tax consequences and more dilution than we currently anticipate with respect to our common stock.
Risks related to ownership of our common stock.
Our share repurchase program may not enhance long-term shareholder value and could increase the volatility of the market price of our common stock and diminish our cash.
Our share repurchase program does not obligate us to repurchase any shares of our common stock. The timing and amount of any repurchases depend upon several factors, including market conditions, business conditions, statutory and contractual restrictions, the trading price of our common stock and the nature of other investment opportunities available to us. In addition, repurchases of our common stock could affect our stock price and increase its volatility. The existence of a share repurchase program could cause our stock price to be higher than it would be absent the program and could reduce market liquidity for our stock. Use of our funds to repurchase shares could diminish our cash reserves, which may impact our ability to finance growth, pursue strategic opportunities, and discharge liabilities. Our share repurchases may not enhance shareholder value because the market price of our common stock may decline below the prices at which we repurchased shares and short-term stock price fluctuations could reduce the program’s effectiveness.
Our ability to pay dividends on our stock is limited.
We may not declare or pay dividends in the future at any particular rate or at all. Our Board of Directors makes all decisions regarding our payment of dividends, subject to an evaluation of our financial condition, results of operations and capital requirements, as well as applicable law, regulatory and contractual constraints, industry practice and other business considerations that our Board of Directors considers relevant. Certain of the agreements governing our indebtedness restrict our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends, and the terms of agreements governing debt that we may incur in the future may also limit or prohibit dividend payments. The payment of certain cash dividends may also result in an adjustment to the conversion rate of the Convertible Notes and related warrants in a manner adverse to us. We may not have sufficient surplus under Delaware law to be able to pay any dividends, which may result from extraordinary cash expenses, actual expenses exceeding contemplated costs, funding of capital expenditures or increases in reserves.
Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents, Delaware law and in certain of our agreements could delay or prevent a change in control.
Provisions of our Charter and Bylaws, as well as provisions in the agreements with our licensors, may delay or prevent a merger or acquisition that a shareholder may consider favorable. For example, our Charter and Bylaws provide for a classified board, require advance notice for shareholder proposals and nominations, place limits on convening shareholder meetings and authorize our Board of Directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock. Delaware law also restricts some business combinations between any holder of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock and us. The fact that these provisions and statutory restrictions may discourage acquisition proposals or delay or prevent a change in control could harm our stock price. Delaware law also restricts some business combinations between any holder of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock and us.
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Further, a change in control could result in an acceleration of our obligations under the Corporate Credit Facility or the indentures that govern our senior notes. The threat of our debt being accelerated in connection with a change in control could make it more difficult for us to attract potential buyers or to consummate a change in control transaction that would otherwise be beneficial to our stockholders.
Risks related to the Vistana Spin-Off.
The ILG Acquisition could result in material liability if it causes the Vistana Spin-Off to be taxable.
In connection with Vistana’s spin-off from Starwood and acquisition by ILG (the “Vistana Spin-Off”), ILG and Vistana entered into a Tax Matters Agreement that restricts them from actions or omissions that would cause the Vistana Spin-Off to become taxable. Failure to adhere to these restrictions, including in certain circumstances that may be outside of our control, could result in tax being imposed on Starwood or its shareholders for which we may be obligated to indemnify Starwood. Even if we are not responsible for such tax liabilities under the Tax Matters Agreement, we may be liable under applicable tax law for such liabilities if Starwood fails to pay such taxes. For two years after the Vistana Spin-Off, the Tax Matters Agreement prohibited Vistana and ILG from taking certain actions involving their stock or Vistana’s assets because the Vistana Spin-Off would be taxable to Starwood (but not to Starwood shareholders) pursuant to Section 355(e) of the Internal Revenue Code if there was a direct or indirect 50% or greater change in Vistana’s ownership as part of a plan or series of related transactions including the Vistana Spin-Off. The Vistana acquisition was not expected to violate this rule because Starwood shareholders held over 50% by vote and value of ILG stock (and, thus, indirectly, of Vistana) immediately after the Vistana acquisition. However, the ILG Acquisition diluted the indirect ownership of Vistana by its former shareholders below 50%. We received an opinion from KPMG LLP that entering into the ILG Acquisition would not affect the tax-free status of the Vistana Spin-Off; however, this opinion does not bind the Internal Revenue Service ( the “IRS”) or any court. If the IRS asserts that the ILG Acquisition is part of a plan or series of related transactions including the Vistana Spin-Off and the Vistana acquisition, and this assertion is sustained, the Vistana Spin-Off would be subject to the application of Section 355(e) of the Code, and we would be liable to indemnify Starwood (or Marriott International) for any resulting tax liability pursuant to the Tax Matters Agreement.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
As of December 31, 2022, our vacation ownership portfolio consisted of over 120 properties in the United States and thirteen other countries and territories. These properties are described in Part I, Item 1, “Business” of this Annual Report. Except as indicated in Part I, Item 1, “Business,” we own unsold inventory at these properties. We also own, manage or lease golf courses, fitness, spa and sports facilities, undeveloped and partially developed land and other common area assets at some of our resorts in our Vacation Ownership segment, including resort lobbies and food and beverage outlets.
In addition, we own or lease our regional offices and sales centers, both in the United States and internationally. The leases for our current corporate headquarters in Orlando, Florida are set to expire in 2027. In 2020, we entered into a lease agreement, that was amended during 2021, for our new global headquarters office building in Orlando, Florida, which is expected to be substantially complete in the first half of 2023. See Footnote 14 “Leases” for additional information.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Currently, and from time to time, we are subject to claims in legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business, including, among others, the legal actions discussed under “Loss Contingencies” in Footnote 13 “Contingencies and Commitments” to our Financial Statements. While management presently believes that the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not materially harm our financial position, cash flows, or overall trends in results of operations, legal proceedings are inherently uncertain, and unfavorable rulings could, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or operating results.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Market Information and Dividends
Our common stock currently is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or the “NYSE,” under the symbol “VAC.” We currently expect to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future, but any future dividend payments will be subject to Board approval, which will depend on our financial condition, results of operations and capital requirements, as well as applicable law, regulatory constraints, industry practice and other business considerations that our Board of Directors considers relevant. In addition, our Corporate Credit Facility and the indentures governing our senior notes contain restrictions on our ability to pay dividends, and the terms of agreements governing any debt that we may incur in the future may also limit or prohibit the payment of dividends. The payment of certain cash dividends may also result in an adjustment to the conversion rate of our convertible notes in a manner adverse to us. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will pay dividends in the future at any particular rate or at all.
Holders of Record
On February 21, 2023, there were 23,506 holders of record of our common stock.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(1) | Maximum Dollar Amount of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| October 1, 2022 – October 31, 2022 | 387,544 | $ | 135.84 | 387,544 | $ | 391,193,305 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 1, 2022 – November 30, 2022 | 312,283 | $ | 142.93 | 312,283 | $ | 346,558,043 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022 | 539,270 | $ | 141.06 | 539,270 | $ | 270,489,176 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 1,239,097 | $ | 139.90 | 1,239,097 | $ | 270,489,176 | |||||||||||||||||
_________________________
(1)On September 13, 2021, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program under which we were authorized to purchase shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price not to exceed $250 million, prior to December 31, 2022. On February 22, 2022, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $300 million of our common stock, and extended the term of our existing share repurchase program to March 31, 2023. On August 1, 2022, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $500 million of our common stock and extended the term of our existing share repurchase program to June 30, 2023.
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Performance Graph
The above graph compares the relative performance of our common stock, the S&P MidCap 400 Index (which has included our common stock since the acquisition of ILG), and the S&P Composite 1500 Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines Index. The graph assumes that $100 was invested in our common stock and each index on December 31, 2017. The stock price performance reflected above is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance. The foregoing performance graph is being furnished as part of this Annual Report solely in accordance with the requirement under Rule 14a-3(b)(9) to furnish our shareholders with such information, and therefore, shall not be deemed to be filed or incorporated by reference into any filings by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
Item 6. Reserved
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Statements
You should read the following discussion of our results of operations and financial condition together with our audited historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in Part II, “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” and Part I, “Item 1. Business,” of this Annual Report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections about our industry, business and future financial results. Our actual results could differ materially from the results contemplated by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those we discuss in the sections of this Annual Report entitled “Risk Factors” and “Special Note About Forward-Looking Statements.”
Our consolidated financial statements, which we discuss below, reflect our historical financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The financial information discussed below and included in this Annual Report may not, however, necessarily reflect what our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows may be in the future.
Our discussion and analysis of fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2021 is included herein. Our discussion and analysis of fiscal year 2021 to fiscal year 2020 has been omitted from this Form 10-K and can be found in Part II, “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2022.
Business Overview
We are a leading global vacation company that offers vacation ownership, exchange, rental, and resort and property management, along with related businesses, products and services. Our business operates in two reportable segments: Vacation Ownership and Exchange & Third-Party Management.
Our Vacation Ownership segment includes a diverse portfolio of resorts that includes some of the world’s most iconic brands licensed under exclusive long-term relationships. We are the exclusive worldwide developer, marketer, seller and manager of vacation ownership and related products under the Marriott Vacation Club, Grand Residences by Marriott, Sheraton Vacation Club, Westin Vacation Club, and Hyatt Residence Club brands, as well as under Marriott Vacation Club Pulse, an extension to the Marriott Vacation Club brand. We are also the exclusive worldwide developer, marketer and seller of vacation ownership and related products under The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club brand, we have the non-exclusive right to develop, market and sell whole ownership residential products under The Ritz-Carlton Residences brand and we have a license to use the St. Regis brand for specified fractional ownership resorts.
Our Vacation Ownership segment generates most of its revenues from four primary sources: selling vacation ownership products; managing vacation ownership resorts, clubs and owners’ associations; financing consumer purchases of vacation ownership products; and renting vacation ownership inventory.
Our Exchange & Third-Party Management segment includes exchange networks and membership programs, as well as the provision of management services to other resorts and lodging properties. As of May 2022, we provided these services through our Interval International and Aqua-Aston businesses. Exchange & Third-Party Management revenue generally is fee-based and derived from membership, exchange and rental transactions, property and association management, and other related products and services. In April 2022, we disposed of VRI Americas after determining that the business was not a core component of our future growth strategy and operating model. This business was a component of our Exchange and Third-Party Management segment through the date of the sale. See Footnote 3 “Acquisitions and Dispositions” to our Financial Statements for further information regarding this disposition.
Corporate and other represents that portion of our results that are not allocable to our segments, including those relating to Consolidated Property Owners’ Associations.
Integration of Marriott-, Sheraton- and Westin- Branded Vacation Ownership Products
Part of the rationale for our acquisition of ILG in 2018 was to achieve operating efficiencies and business growth by leveraging the brands licensed by Marriott International and its subsidiaries to us and to ILG. In 2016, Marriott International purchased Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc., which at the time exclusively licensed the Sheraton and Westin vacation ownership brands to Legacy-ILG. In August 2022, we launched Abound by Marriott Vacations, a new owner benefit and exchange program which affiliates the Marriott, Sheraton and Westin vacation ownership brands to offer similar benefits to owners of our products under these brands. Under this program, owners of Marriott-, Sheraton- and Westin-branded VOIs can access over 90 resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Sheraton Vacation Club and Westin Vacation Club brands using
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a common currency. The program also harmonizes fee structures and owner benefit levels and allows us to transition most of our Legacy-ILG sales galleries to sell our Marriott Vacation Club Destinations product. Further, in late 2022, we added certain Sheraton- and Westin- branded VOIs to the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations product.
Acquisition of Welk
On April 1, 2021, we completed the Welk Acquisition, after which Welk became our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary. In April 2022, we introduced the Hyatt Vacation Club and rebranded Legacy-Welk’s vacation ownership program as the Hyatt Vacation Club Platinum Program, enabling Legacy-Welk sales centers to sell a Hyatt-branded vacation ownership product. Most Legacy-Welk resorts are now available for rental stays through Hyatt.com.
Significant Accounting Policies Used in Describing Results of Operations
Sale of Vacation Ownership Products
We recognize revenues from the sale of vacation ownership products (also referred to as “VOIs”) when control of the vacation ownership product is transferred to the customer and the transaction price is deemed collectible. Based upon the different terms of our contracts with the customer and business practices, control of the vacation ownership product has historically transferred to the customer at different points in time for each brand of VOIs. In the third quarter of 2022, we aligned our business practices and contract terms, resulting in the prospective change in the timing of the transfer of control to the customer for Marriott-branded VOIs. Prior to these changes, control transfer occurred at closing for Marriott-branded vacation ownership products. Subsequent to this alignment, transfer of control of Marriott-branded vacation ownership products occurs at expiration of the statutory rescission period, consistent with the historical timing of Sheraton-, Westin- and Hyatt- branded transactions. Marriott-branded VOI sales contracts executed prior to these modifications have been accounted for with transfer of control of the VOI occurring at closing. Control transfer for Legacy-Welk VOIs continues to occur at closing.
Sales of vacation ownership products may be made for cash or we may provide financing. In addition, we recognize settlement fees associated with the transfer of vacation ownership products and commission revenues from sales of vacation ownership products on behalf of third parties, which we refer to as “resales revenue.”
We also provide sales incentives to certain purchasers. These sales incentives typically include Marriott Bonvoy points, World of Hyatt points or an alternative sales incentive that we refer to as “plus points.” Plus points are redeemable for stays at our resorts or for use in other third-party offerings, generally up to two years from the date of issuance. Typically, sales incentives are only awarded if the sale is closed.
Finally, as more fully described in “Financing” below, we record the difference between the contract receivable or vacation ownership note receivable and the consideration to which we expect to be entitled (also known as a vacation ownership notes receivable reserve or a sales reserve) as a reduction of revenues from the sale of vacation ownership products at the time we recognize revenues from a sale.
We report, on a supplemental basis, contract sales for our Vacation Ownership segment. Contract sales consist of the total amount of vacation ownership product sales under contract signed during the period where we have generally received a down payment of at least ten percent of the contract price, reduced by actual rescissions during the period, inclusive of contracts associated with sales of vacation ownership products on behalf of third-parties, which we refer to as “resales contract sales.” In circumstances where a customer applies any or all of their existing ownership interests as part of the purchase price for additional interests, we include only the incremental value purchased as contract sales. Contract sales differ from revenues from the sale of vacation ownership products that we report on our income statements due to the requirements for revenue recognition described above. We consider contract sales to be an important operating measure because it reflects the pace of sales in our business.
Cost of vacation ownership products includes costs to acquire, develop and construct our projects (also known as real estate inventory costs), other non-capitalizable costs associated with the overall project development process and settlement expenses associated with the closing process. For each project, we expense real estate inventory costs in the same proportion as the revenue recognized. Consistent with the applicable accounting guidance, to the extent there is a change in the estimated sales revenues or inventory costs for the project in a period, a non-cash adjustment is recorded on our income statements to true-up costs in that period to those that would have been recorded historically if the revised estimates had been used. These true-ups, which we refer to as product cost true-up activity, can have a positive or negative impact on our income statements.
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We refer to revenues from the sale of vacation ownership products less the cost of vacation ownership products and marketing and sales costs as Development profit. Development profit margin is calculated by dividing Development profit by revenues from the Sale of vacation ownership products. We previously used the term Development margin to refer to revenues from the Sale of vacation ownership products less the Cost of vacation ownership products and marketing and sales costs.
Management and Exchange
Our management and exchange revenues include revenues generated from fees we earn for managing each of our vacation ownership resorts, providing property management, owners’ association management and related services and fees we earn for providing rental services and related hotel, condominium resort, and owners’ association management services to vacation property owners.
In addition, we earn revenue from ancillary offerings, including food and beverage outlets, golf courses and other retail and service outlets located at our Vacation Ownership resorts. We also receive annual membership fees, club dues and certain transaction-based fees from members, owners and other third parties.
Management and exchange expenses include costs to operate the food and beverage outlets and other ancillary operations and to provide overall customer support services, including reservations, and certain transaction-based expenses relating to external exchange service providers.
In our Vacation Ownership segment and Consolidated Property Owners’ Associations, we refer to these activities as “Resort Management and Other Services.”
Financing
We offer financing to qualified customers for the purchase of most types of our vacation ownership products. The average FICO score of customers who were U.S. citizens or residents who financed a vacation ownership purchase was as follows:
| Fiscal Years | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Average FICO score | 734 | 732 | 730 | |||||||||||||||||
The typical financing agreement provides for monthly payments of principal and interest with the principal balance of the loan fully amortizing over the term of the related vacation ownership note receivable, which is generally ten to fifteen years. While we adjust interest rates on our financing programs from time to time, such changes are typically not made in lockstep with the timing and magnitude of changes in broader market rates. We may use incentives to encourage our customers to choose our financing. Included within our vacation ownership notes receivable are originated vacation ownership notes receivable and vacation ownership notes receivable acquired in connection with the ILG Acquisition and the Welk Acquisition.
The interest income earned from our vacation ownership financing arrangements is earned on an accrual basis on the principal balance outstanding over the contractual life of the arrangement and is recorded as Financing revenues on our Income Statements. Financing revenues also include fees earned from servicing the existing vacation ownership notes receivable portfolio. The amount of interest income earned in a period depends on the amount of outstanding vacation ownership notes receivable, which is impacted positively by the origination of new vacation ownership notes receivable and negatively by principal collections. We calculate financing propensity as contract sales volume of financed contracts originated in the period divided by contract sales volume of all contracts originated in the period. We do not include resales contract sales in the financing propensity calculation. Financing propensity was 54% in 2022 and 53% in 2021. We expect to continue offering financing incentive programs in 2023. Growing sales to first-time buyers, who are more likely to finance their purchases, remains an integral part of our overall marketing and sales strategy.
Acquired vacation ownership notes receivable are accounted for using the purchased credit deteriorated assets provision of the current expected credit loss model. The estimates of the reserve for credit losses on the acquired vacation ownership notes receivable are based on default rates that are an output of our static pool analyses and the estimated value of collateral securing the acquired vacation ownership notes receivable. See Footnote 6 “Vacation Ownership Notes Receivable” to our Financial Statements for further information regarding the accounting for acquired vacation ownership notes receivable.
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In the event of a default, we generally have the right to foreclose on or revoke the underlying VOI. We return VOIs that we reacquire through foreclosure or revocation back to inventory. As discussed above, for originated vacation ownership notes receivable, we record a reserve at the time of sale and classify the reserve as a reduction to revenues from the sale of vacation ownership products on our Income Statements. Revisions to estimates of variable consideration from the sale of vacation ownership products impact the reserve on originated vacation ownership notes receivable and can increase or decrease revenues. In contrast, for acquired vacation ownership notes receivable, we record changes to the reserve as an adjustment to Financing expenses on our Income Statements.
Historical default rates, which represent defaults as a percentage of each year’s beginning gross vacation ownership notes receivable balance, were as follows:
| Fiscal Years | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Historical default rates | 4.5% | 4.3% | 6.3% | |||||||||||||||||
The increased default rates in 2020 were predominantly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of our vacation ownership notes receivable portfolio. In 2021 and 2022, default rates decreased compared to 2020 and the performance of our notes receivable portfolio returned to pre-pandemic levels. As a result of the unification of our Marriott-, Sheraton- and Westin- branded vacation ownership products under the Abound by Marriott Vacations program and stabilization of the default rates, in the third quarter of 2022, we combined and aligned our reserve methodology for vacation ownership notes receivable for our Marriott, Sheraton and Westin brands. See Footnote 6 “Vacation Ownership Notes Receivable” to our Financial Statements for further information.
Financing expenses include consumer financing interest expense, which represents interest expense associated with the securitization of our vacation ownership notes receivable, costs to support the financing, servicing and securitization processes and changes in expected credit losses related to acquired vacation ownership notes receivable. We distinguish consumer financing interest expense from all other interest expense because the debt associated with the consumer financing interest expense is secured by vacation ownership notes receivable that have been sold to bankruptcy remote special purpose entities and is generally non-recourse to us.
Rental
In our Vacation Ownership segment, we operate a rental business to provide owner flexibility and to help mitigate carrying costs associated with our inventory. We generate revenue from rentals of inventory that we hold for sale as interests in our vacation ownership programs, inventory that we control because our owners have elected alternative usage options permitted under our vacation ownership programs and rentals of unregistered inventory and owned-hotel properties. We also recognize rental revenue from the utilization of plus points under our points-based products when the points are redeemed for rental stays at one of our resorts or other third-party offerings, or upon expiration of the points. We obtain rental inventory from unsold inventory and inventory we control because owners have elected alternative usage options offered through our vacation ownership programs. For rental revenues associated with vacation ownership products which we own and which are registered and held for sale, to the extent that the revenues from rental are less than costs, revenues are reported net in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 978, “Real Estate - Time-Sharing Activities” (“ASC 978”). The rental activity associated with discounted vacation packages requiring a tour (“preview stays”) is not included in transient rental metrics, and because the majority of these preview stays are sourced directly or indirectly from unsold inventory, the associated revenues and expenses are reported net in Marketing and sales expense.
In our Exchange & Third-Party Management segment, we offer vacation rental opportunities at managed properties through our Aqua-Aston business, and for the period prior to its disposition in the second quarter of 2022, VRI Americas. We also offer vacation rental offers known as Getaways to members of the Interval International network and certain other membership programs. Getaways allows us to monetize excess availability of resort accommodations within the applicable exchange network, as well as provide additional vacation opportunities to members. Resort accommodations typically become available as Getaways as a result of seasonal oversupply or underutilized space in the applicable exchange program. We also source resort accommodations specifically for the Getaways program. Rental revenues associated with Getaways are reported net of related expenses.
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Rental expenses include:
•Maintenance and other fees on unsold inventory;
•Costs to provide alternative usage options, including Marriott Bonvoy points, World of Hyatt points, and offerings available as part of third-party offerings, for owners who elect to exchange their inventory; and
•Marketing costs and direct operating and related expenses in connection with the rental business (such as housekeeping, labor costs, credit card expenses, and reservation services).
Rental metrics, including the average daily transient rate or the number of transient keys rented, may not be comparable between periods given fluctuation in available occupancy by location, unit size (such as two bedroom, one bedroom or studio unit), owner use and exchange behavior, unsold inventory on hand and keys allocated for preview stays. In addition, rental metrics may not correlate with rental revenues due to the requirement to report certain rental revenues net of rental expenses in accordance with ASC 978 (as discussed above). Further, as our ability to rent certain luxury and other inventory is often limited on a site-by-site basis, rental operations may not generate adequate rental revenues to cover associated costs. Our Vacation Ownership segment units are either “full villas” or “lock-off” villas. Lock-off villas are units that can be separated into a primary unit and a guest room. Full villas are “non-lock-off” villas because they cannot be separated. A “key” is the lowest increment for reporting occupancy statistics based upon the mix of non-lock-off and lock-off villas. Lock-off villas represent two keys and non-lock-off villas represent one key. The “transient keys” metric represents the blended mix of inventory available for rent and includes all of the combined inventory configurations available in our resort system.
Cost Reimbursements
Cost reimbursements include direct and indirect costs that are reimbursed to us by owners’ associations and customers under management contracts. All costs reimbursed to us by owners’ associations and customers, with the exception of taxes assessed by a governmental authority, are reported on a gross basis. We recognize cost reimbursements when we incur the related reimbursable costs. Cost reimbursements consist of actual expenses with no added margin.
Interest Expense
Interest expense consists of all interest expense other than consumer financing interest expense, which is included within Financing expense.
Transaction and Integration Costs
Transaction and integration costs primarily include fees paid to change-management consultants, technology-related costs associated with the integration of ILG and Welk and charges for employee retention, severance and other termination-related benefits. Transaction and integration costs also include costs related to the ILG and Welk Acquisitions, primarily for financial advisory, legal, and other professional service fees, as well as certain tax-related accruals.
Other Items
We measure operating performance using the key metrics described below:
•Contract sales from the sale of vacation ownership products:
•Total contract sales include contract sales from the sale of vacation ownership products including joint ventures. and
•Consolidated contract sales exclude contracts sales from the sale of vacation ownership products for non-consolidated joint ventures.
We consider contract sales to be an important operating measure because it reflects the pace of sales in our business.
•Development profit margin;
•Volume per guest (“VPG”), is calculated by dividing consolidated vacation ownership contract sales, excluding fractional sales, telesales, resales, and other sales that are not attributed to a tour at a sales location, by the number of tours at sales locations in a given period. We believe that this operating metric is valuable in evaluating the effectiveness of the sales process as it combines the impact of average contract price with the number of touring guests who make a purchase.
•Total active members is the number of Interval International network active members at the end of the applicable period. We consider active members to be an important metric because it represents the population of owners eligible to book transactions using the Interval International network.
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•Average revenue per member is calculated by dividing membership fee revenue, transaction revenue, rental revenue, and other member revenue for the Interval International network by the monthly weighted average number of Interval International network active members during the applicable period. We believe this metric is valuable in measuring the overall engagement of our Interval International network active members.
•Segment financial results attributable to common shareholders represents revenues less expenses directly attributable to each applicable reportable business segment (Vacation Ownership and Exchange & Third-Party Management). We consider this measure to be important in evaluating the performance of our reportable business segments. See Footnote 20 “Business Segments” to our Financial Statements for further information on our reportable business segments.
NM = Not meaningful.
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
| Fiscal Years | |||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| REVENUES | |||||||||||||||||
| Sale of vacation ownership products | $ | 1,618 | $ | 1,153 | $ | 546 | |||||||||||
| Management and exchange | 827 | 855 | 755 | ||||||||||||||
| Rental | 551 | 486 | 276 | ||||||||||||||
| Financing | 293 | 268 | 267 | ||||||||||||||
| Cost reimbursements | 1,367 | 1,128 | 1,042 | ||||||||||||||
| TOTAL REVENUES | 4,656 | 3,890 | 2,886 | ||||||||||||||
| EXPENSES | |||||||||||||||||
| Cost of vacation ownership products | 289 | 250 | 150 | ||||||||||||||
| Marketing and sales | 807 | 617 | 386 | ||||||||||||||
| Management and exchange | 444 | 521 | 475 | ||||||||||||||
| Rental | 382 | 344 | 321 | ||||||||||||||
| Financing | 75 | 88 | 107 | ||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 249 | 227 | 154 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 132 | 146 | 123 | ||||||||||||||
| Litigation charges | 11 | 10 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Restructuring | — | — | 25 | ||||||||||||||
| Royalty fee | 114 | 106 | 95 | ||||||||||||||
| Impairment | 2 | 3 | 100 | ||||||||||||||
| Cost reimbursements | 1,367 | 1,128 | 1,042 | ||||||||||||||
| TOTAL EXPENSES | 3,872 | 3,440 | 2,984 | ||||||||||||||
| Gains (losses) and other income (expense), net | 40 | (51) | (26) | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (118) | (164) | (150) | ||||||||||||||
| Transaction and integration costs | (125) | (110) | (66) | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 1 | 2 | — | ||||||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS | 582 | 127 | (340) | ||||||||||||||
| (Provision for) benefit from income taxes | (191) | (74) | 84 | ||||||||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | 391 | 53 | (256) | ||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | (4) | (19) | ||||||||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS | $ | 391 | $ | 49 | $ | (275) | |||||||||||
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Operating Statistics
| Fiscal Years | 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Contract sales $ in millions) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vacation Ownership | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total contract sales | $ | 1,874 | $ | 1,411 | $ | 669 | $ | 463 | 33% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated contract sales | $ | 1,837 | $ | 1,374 | $ | 654 | $ | 463 | 34% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Joint venture contract sales | $ | 37 | $ | 37 | $ | 15 | $ | — | (1%) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| VPG | $ | 4,421 | $ | 4,356 | $ | 3,767 | $ | 65 | 1% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Exchange & Third-Party Management | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total active members at end of period (000's) | 1,566 | 1,296 | 1,518 | 270 | 21% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average revenue per member | $ | 157.97 | $ | 179.48 | $ | 144.97 | $ | (21.51) | (12%) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues
| Fiscal Years | 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vacation Ownership | $ | 4,342 | $ | 3,539 | $ | 2,530 | $ | 803 | 23% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Exchange & Third-Party Management | 291 | 320 | 309 | (29) | (9%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Segment Revenues | 4,633 | 3,859 | 2,839 | 774 | 20% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Property Owners' Associations | 23 | 31 | 47 | (8) | (24%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Revenues | $ | 4,656 | $ | 3,890 | $ | 2,886 | $ | 766 | 20% | ||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings Before Interest Expense, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA, a financial measure that is not prescribed by GAAP, is defined as earnings, or net income or loss attributable to common shareholders, before interest expense (excluding consumer financing interest expense associated with term securitization transactions), income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA reflects additional adjus