ARDAdventure Peak Pursuit Hit All the Right (High) Notes
Have you been hearing about the recent ARDAdventure Peak Pursuit meeting at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and wondering what you missed? The answer is simple: a lot!
This refreshed event on the ARDA Calendar gave VIP members the opportunity to socialize, recreate and exchange ideas about the future of our industry and our association, all in some of the most spectacular scenery in America. Here attendees share their experiences and why they can’t wait for the 2024 event (read on for details!)
“The ARDAdventure retreat at the Broadmoor was a great opportunity for more than 100 top executives from around our industry to network and brainstorm for several days in an informal setting,” said Jared Saft, chief business officer, Westgate Resorts. “As an industry that is committed to providing experiential vacations, opportunities like this are a great reminder of the importance of travel toward making lasting connections.”
“It was a wonderful experience!” said Shaun O’Neill, president & chief revenue officer, Concord Servicing. “ARDA always provides great content but experiencing it at a first-class property along with activities that allow for building new relationships was a big plus.”
Following a festive welcome reception Wednesday night, attendees assembled early Thursday for a roundtable discussion entitled The Future of the Industry. Informed by a recent survey of ARDA members on the topics under consideration, the format created a platform for participants to actively voice their ideas and perspectives on the industry’s present situation, its trajectory, and the possible evolution required for ARDA to meet future demands. Attendees looked at both the ARDA brand and whether industry terms such as timeshare or vacation ownership are the best way to identify ourselves. “I really enjoyed the session and found our table captain, Steve Goldsmith, to be exceptionally good at blending and coalescing various thoughts expressed at the table in a cohesive and thoughtful manner,” said Matthias Smith, executive vice president, The Resorts Companies Inc.
It really was a choose-your-own-adventure event for the afternoon. “I thought it was fantastic that ARDA gave us the opportunity to choose an activity that suited each of our personalities,” said Lori Gustafson, executive VP and chief brand & digital officer, Marriott Vacations Worldwide. “I chose to enjoy e-bike riding through the Garden of the Gods and had an unforgettable experience cruising through the breathtaking mountain scenery. That activity provided me the opportunity to not only exercise, but the ability to bond with fellow industry leaders in a fun and informal setting. We were able to get to know one another on a more personal level.”
For Olivier Chavy, president, Panorama & Travel + Leisure Clubs, a Jeep tour through the mountains was “a great way to discover the area” as it was his first visit to that part of Colorado.”
A big part of the bonding was dodging an unfortunately timed hailstorm. “The hail and tornado warning made the fly-fishing trip a true adventure,” said Michelle DuChamp, head of partner services, Vacatia. “It was a bummer we didn’t get to fish, but we made the best out of it, and it was great to see how many people were excited to try something they had never done before and learn who the secret fly-fishing experts were!”
For dinner that evening, attendees shuttled to the rustic yet elegant Cheyenne Lodge, which had breathtaking views of both the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Springs . “How fun it was to be surprised!” Smith said. “The setting, the view, and the food all exceeded expectations, but the small touches really stood out. Who knew that I was going to be able to see a wolf, several eagles and learn how to axe throw all in one evening?”
DuChamp agrees. “I loved all of the interactive things that were going on during the dinner. The band, the wolf, ax throwing, and the birds all created an environment where you wanted to move around and network with people throughout the evening.”
“The dinner event was a great opportunity for industry leaders to network and have uninterrupted time together,” Gustafson added. “Events like those give our industry time to reconnect with each other outside of the busy day-to-day, which is so important to building meaningful relationships with each other.”
The final session gave attendees a fascinating visit with the CEO of Taco Bell, Mark King, who knows a lot about reinvention and change as he has also had exceptional careers at adidas North America and TaylorMade Golf. He became CEO at Taco Bell just before the COVID pandemic began and led the company’s successful pivot to app-based ordering and delivery services. “He gave us a lot to think about regarding how we construct and establish the big ideas to create the framework for innovation and ultimately, lasting achievement with our companies,” Smith said. “He really was a dynamic and thought-provoking speaker.”
All this fabulousness was courtesy of Champion Sponsor, First American Title Insurance, and Supporting Sponsors, Flywire, Liberty Bank – CT and Tango.
Perhaps the biggest at the conclusion of the 2023 event was the excitement over the just-announced 2024 event, Cliffside Crest, from July 30 – August 1, 2024, at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in beautiful La Jolla, California, where the allure of world class golf, awe-inspiring Pacific vistas, and luxurious accommodations seamlessly converge.
“ARDA set the bar high with the incredible event this past July,” Saft summed it up. “I can’t wait to see what the amazing ARDA meetings team and Catherine Lacey come up with next year.” To obtain your VIP membership, please connect with ARDA at membership@arda.org.