TripAdvisor Announces Top Beach Destinations

Key timeshare destinations dominate the TripAdvisor top the list.

In February, TripAdvisor released the Top 25 Travelers’ Choice Beaches in the U.S., its annual list of the beaches rated highest by its members. Seven of the beaches were in Florida, two in Hawaii, and one in Ocean City, Maryland—all destinations with thriving timeshare industries. That’s no surprise: ARDA International Foundation’s 2016 Vacation Ownership Owner’s Report notes that beach resorts continue to be the most highly sought after by owners.

“Florida has always been a demanded destination among timeshare owners,” says Todd Menendez, vice president of business development at RCI. “We’ve noticed greater demand for our beach properties” which stems from larger inland development and fewer beach premises, he adds. Menendez credits this success to the variety of Florida’s coastlines, from panhandle to Atlantic.

Menendez believes there could be a big pay-off for developers in Florida, as competition and current interest are high. “The customer is willing to pay a premium for a superior location, and in most cases there’s very little seasonality, which gives you a strong sales proposition for almost all of the year,” he says.

Beaches on Maui and in Honolulu also made the cut. These destinations are particularly popular with multigenerational families, a key demographic for vacation ownership. AARP’s report Travel Research: 2016 Travel Trends found that 68 percent of multigenerational travelers ranked the Hawaiian islands at the top of the list of places they want to go in the next two years.

In contrast with Florida and Hawaii, Ocean City primarily attracts summer visitors. Dale Goodman, president of Goodmanagement, which works with Lucayan Resort in Ocean City, recognizes the efforts of Ocean City for helping drive tourism outside peak season. “The town has a set annual schedule for weekends devoted to community festivals, business groups, or dedicated enthusiasts,” Goodman says. “These weekends seem to get bigger every year.”

Making TripAdvisor’s list of the top beaches highlights these destinations’ successes and helps support tourism in these areas. “The best beach honor certainly serves to increase Ocean City’s popularity, which gives our timeshare a much better opportunity to keep owners committed to our program,” Goodman says.

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