Timeshares originated in France in the 1960's.  Today it is a multi-billion dollar industry with  over 5,000 resorts offering timeshares in 100 countries.  Clearly this industry did not explode overnight—but what was the process?  How did the timeshare industry get to be so big?

In the 60's travel and tourism expanded significantly with the introduction of the commercial jet.  A French company saw their opportunity and sprang on it—they began selling hotel rooms instead of renting them.  Their slogan was “ No need to rent the room, buy the hotel—it's cheaper!” The timeshare concept moved quickly from there to a ski resort in the French Alps.  A Baar Switzerland company took  timeshares and ran with them—purchasing resorts in Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.

Kauai was the first place in the United States to offer timeshares, started by the same two men who started Vacation Internationale. Kauai leased timeshares in weekly increments. Florida was the first state in the continental U.S. to copy the timeshare model.  Existing condo's converted quickly and began the first deeded timeshares. Resort Condominiums International, one of the largest timeshare exchange companies today, started giving owners the option of exchanging their weeks, which was a new concept. Today United States citizens make up 45% of timeshare owners.

In the 70's and 80's the timeshare industry covered most of Europe and the Western Hemisphere. More and more resorts converted to timeshare model. Spain and Portugal experienced huge success. Timeshares appealed to all classes of society.  The higher class now had more exotic and new locations to vacation and the working class could suddenly afford to vacation. By the 1990's timeshares has expanded to global proportions, even Eastern Europe and Asia.  Hotels got back in the game and began selling timeshare properties, giving the industry record highs. The timeshare industry continues to grow and shows no sign of stopping.