WVO Takes Home Nine ARDA Awards as Leader in Vacation Ownership Industry
Orlando, Fla., 2013-04-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO) won the ACE Philanthropic of the Year Award, along with eight other prestigious industry awards at the annual American Resort Development Association (ARDA) Awards Gala in Hollywood, Fla. The ARDA Awards celebrate the best and brightest in the vacation ownership industry in more than 60 categories.
The ACE Philanthropic of the Year Award –– one of the top awards handed out –– recognizes WVO’s corporate humanitarian efforts and commitment to enriching the lives of disadvantaged children through their signature charity, SeriousFun Children’s Network. As part of the company’s philanthropic program, Wishes by Wyndham, WVO has generated increased awareness and involvement in the support of SeriousFun by developing programs that encourage active fundraising, volunteerism, personal contributions and in-kind donations among associates, who raised more than $320,000 in 2012 alone.
The WVO Owners Services Team was awarded the ACE Excellence in Customer Service award for their exceptional dedication to WVO owners –– subsequently driving improved owner engagement, business results and improved customer satisfaction.
“We are honored to receive these industry recognitions from ARDA — it’s a true testament to our commitment to excellence as demonstrated by our hardworking associates each and every day,” said Franz Hanning, WVO President and CEO. “I couldn’t be more proud of our associates and their commitment to always deliver on the Wyndham promise by fostering a culture of exceptional customer service, continuous innovation, engagement and a desire to give back.”
For the third consecutive year, WVO received the award for Green Sustainable Program within a Company for its Internal Green Certification Program, a program aimed at reducing the company’s environmental impact. With participation that spans across more than 80 percent of the entire resort portfolio, WVO has reduced greenhouse gases by seven percent and reduced water consumption by five percent over the last year.
The WVO Hospitality Learning and Development (L&D) Team was named Best Human Resources Team at the recent awards gala. In an effort to create a new approach to increase the internal candidate talent pool for assistant resort manager positions within the company, the team invented the Resort Operations Leadership Experience (ROLE) Academy – a 6-month intensive training program which immerses candidates within three core disciplines: guest services, housekeeping, and maintenance.
Kinja Dixon, sales representative in Williamsburg, Va., received the Salesperson – In-House award. The overall leader at his site for sales volume, Dixon established two new site sales records for monthly volume. His close rate for 2012 was 45 percent and he personally delivered 24 new owners to WVO.
In addition, Margaret Graham, manager of sales administration at Wyndham Steamboat Springs received the Sales – Operational Support Team Member / Project Manager award and David Lichtenberg was recognized as top Maintenance Manager for his work at Wyndham Sedona.
WVO also won in the Special Event category for the 2012 CLUB WYNDHAM Annual Owners Meeting, and received the Refurbishment: Common Area or Public Space award for the redesign of the existing lobby at Wyndham Palm-Aire in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
ARDA is the Washington D.C.-based professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries.
About Wyndham Vacation Ownership
Wyndham Vacation Ownership, a member of Wyndham Worldwide’s (NYSE: WYN) family of companies, is the world’s largest vacation ownership business, as measured by the number of vacation ownership resorts, individual vacation ownership units and owners of vacation ownership interests. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its four primary consumer brands, CLUB WYNDHAM®, WorldMark® by Wyndham, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific and Shell Vacations. As of December 31, 2012, Wyndham Vacation Ownership had developed or acquired more than 185 vacation ownership resorts throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and the South Pacific that represent more than 23,000 individual vacation ownership units and more than 900,000 owners of vacation ownership interests. Wyndham Vacation Ownership is headquartered in Orlando, Fla., and is supported by more than 15,000 employees globally.
Media Contact:
Jillian McRae
Wyndham Vacation Ownership
Manager, Corporate Communications
Jillian.McRae@wyn.com
(407) 626-5881
