Timeshare Presentation - What To Expect When Attending Seminar
What is a timeshare presentation and seminar? What kind of deals and freebies can you expect from attending a timeshare seminar?
A timeshare presentation is great if you are either interested in the various vacation ownership deals and packages that come along with attending a seminar, or just want to get a free gift for sitting through the seminar to the end.
What should you expect from a timeshare presentation? There are 5 stages, and at the end of the seminar you get to pick up a free gift and any deals if you decide not to purchase a timeshare, or leave early.
If you decide to leave the timeshare presentation or the seminar early, you are still allowed to pick up your free gift, and will be directed to where you can pick your gift up at
The first step to a timeshare presentation seminar is pre-qualification, or questions to see if you qualify for the seminar.
If you have ever been to a popular tourist destination you have probably been somewhat aggressively approached by someone wanting to know if you and your family would like "free tickets to a show" or a "free dinner" or other deals and offers similarly appealing.
Well of course you would! "So what's the catch for me to get these deals and offers?" you ask. "There's no catch at all! All you have to do is attend a short timeshare presentation seminar, and the (insert "free" item of interest here) is all yours!" they reply.
They will then proceed to ask you a couple of questions to see if you qualify for the timeshare presentation. These questions will typically be about personal topics... your income, which country you live in, and whether or not you are married, just to name a few.
The reason for these qualification questions is because you are about to attend a timeshare presentation. The company wants to make sure that in the event that you are indeed interested in purchasing a timeshare during the seminar, that you qualify to do so.
If you do end up qualifying to take the tour, you will then decide on a time a place to meet up for your seminar which you must attend before you can receive any free gifts, deals or special offers.
If you have your own vehicle or a rental car you can choose to drive yourself to the seminar, or you can get on a shuttle with other families who will also be attending the same timeshare presentation and attend the seminar with them.
The second step in a timeshare presentation seminar is the arrival, or the "Getting to know you" part.
Once you arrive at the location of the timeshare presentation you will be shown to a waiting room. Depending on which vacation ownership company’s waiting room you are in, there may or may not be food, snacks, or beverages. You may also possibly be asked to fill out some paperwork.
Shortly after arriving at the chosen location, a sales rep will come and introduce themselves to you. This is the person you will be spending the majority of your seminar with.
Typically, the sales rep at the timeshare presentation will then take you over to his or her desk and will proceed to tell you a little bit about themselves while also inquiring some details about you and your family.
It is the seminar representative’s job to get to know as much as they can about you and your travel wants and needs. This is so they can help you decide which vacation ownership package will be best suited for you and your family during the seminar.
For example, a family of 3 who drives from California to Vegas every other year to stay for a week would need a much smaller package than a family of 6 who likes to spend 2 weeks a year every year traveling to other countries.
The third step of a timeshare presentation seminar is "The Talk" which happens after you get to know each other a little bit. After you and the sales rep get to know each other, you will then go to the seminar and listen to a podium presenter.
This is a person who will give a short presentation outlining some background information on the company or resort who's property you are on tour for.
They will probably have a PowerPoint Presentation at the seminar with some pictures of some of the resort properties you may stay at if you choose to sign up and become a member.
The fourth step to a timeshare presentation seminar is "The Walk" or tour to see the timeshare resort property or properties.
Shortly after the seminar, you will then go on a property tour. This is when your sales rep will take you on a short walk so you can physically see what their property looks like, what amenities they have, and what the rooms look like.
This is a good time during the timeshare presentation for you to take notice of what is important for you and your family when you go on vacation, and a perfect time during to ask your sales rep questions about vacation ownership or the resorts.
Does the resort have a pool? A game room for the kids? A place to BBQ on property? Is there a washer and dryer? Is there a gym? Are there 2 or 3 bedroom units?
These are all questions that can be deal breakers so be sure to pay close attention on your property tour and to ask questions if you aren't seeing what is important to you.
Especially because the property you are touring may be just one of many that you might be able to stay at with your vacation ownership.
The fifth step to a timeshare presentation seminar is the "Final Qualification" to see what you and your unique situation qualify for. When you are finished with your property tour of the resort or resorts you will then go back with your sales rep to go over any remaining questions or concerns that you may have that weren't answered during the presentation seminar.
The sales rep will now have a better idea of what it is that you and your family are looking for. He or she will now have you fill out some paperwork if you haven't done so already, to see what specific timeshare packages you qualify for.
This is kind of similar when you go to buy a car. You might think you qualify to buy a $20,000 car, and then be pleasantly surprised to find out that you qualify to buy a $30,000 car.
Same thing with buying a timeshare... you might think you qualify to purchase one week, and then find out you actually qualify to purchase two weeks!
Before going through with a purchase however, there are a few things you should consider. Make sure to read our Timeshare FAQ page for more information on what to look out for before arriving at the presentation for your seminar.
Becoming An Owner Or Picking Up Your Gift
At the end of the timeshare presentation and seminar one of two things will happen; either you will become an owner, or you won't but you will still be able to pick up your free gift or other offers as long as you sat through the timeshare presentation seminar.
If for any reason you end up leaving the timeshare presentation without buying a timeshare, you will then be directed on where you can go to pick up your free gift or cash in on any offers.
If you do, however, end up purchasing a timeshare during the presentation, then congratulations! Welcome to the world of vacation ownership! You and your family now have many years ahead of amazing vacations to take, and amazing memories to make!