History Of Timeshare Resorts & Vacation Ownership Industry

In history, the timeshare resort industry actually started in two different countries: Switzerland and France, and vacation ownership as we know it today actually originated on two slightly different dates.

September 23rd, 1963 By Alexander Nette & Guido Renggli

The history of timeshare resorts and deeded timeshares first started in Switzerland, in September 23rd, 1963 by Alexander Nette with the idea of creating 'rent free holidays' on a yearly basis.

Alexander Nette, and his partner, Guido Renggli established a company called Hapimag, or 'Hotel- und Appartementhaus Immobilien Anlage AG' and bought up vacation resorts in Italy, Spain and Switzerland and sold them as a right to use timeshare rather than as deeded ownership or property. Not only did Alexander Nette and his partner Guido Renggli start the very first timeshare resort in history, they were also the first in history to establish a vacation ownership points program.

Their company, Hapimag is still in operation today with about 60 vacation timeshare resorts in North Africa, Europe, Turkey and Florida.

They are considered one of the largest, if not the largest independent timeshare companies in the world and have never chosen to affiliate with the other major exchange companies.

1960's, French Developer Paul Doumier Ski Resort In The Alps

Different timeshare resorts the vacation industry give a different historical date, but somewhere in history between 1964 and 1968, French Developer Paul Doumier and his company "Société des Grands Travaux de Marseille" started their own vacation ownership program while developing ski resorts in the Swiss alps. Paul Doumier was historically said to coin the phrases, "It is cheaper to own the hotel than rent the room" and, "No need to rent the room; buy the hotel, it's cheaper!" which brought thousands of buyers.

The phrases caught on so well that they later became the slogan for his vastly successful timeshare company.

1969, The First Timeshare Resort In America Opened In Hawaii

The first timeshare resort in history in America was opened in Kauai Kailani, on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, USA in 1969 by Vacation International.

Vacation internationals founders, Bob burns and Bob Ringenburg sold their timeshare weeks in 40 year slots on a leasehold basis.

Vacation International then went on in history to develop the very first points program in the United States, in 1974 which brought vacationers a great deal of freedom and flexibility.