STRONG occupancy numbers at Ramada Resort Port Douglas, coupled with increasing interest in its vacation club have seen Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific expand operations in Port Douglas and increase its staff count to 84 employees.

Ramada Resort Port Douglas, which is managed by Resort Management by Wyndham, is a mixed-use resort, offering accommodation to Ramada hotel guests as well as timeshare owners in the WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham.

Timeshare’s status as an unheralded engine room of Australia’s tourism industry was confirmed in the Australian industry’s last economic impact study, conducted by AEC that calculated timeshare’s economic output at more than $600 million per annum.

The report indicated that the timeshare accommodation at Ramada Resort Port Douglas contributes up to $9.7 million worth of value-added activity each year within the local economy (including transport to, from and during resort stays); as well as injecting more than as well as injecting more than $2.4m in wages and salaries into the local community.

Bob Speed, General Manager of Ramada Resort Port Douglas, says the data shows the value of the sector, its contribution to the region and the overall tourism industry.

“Timeshare properties provide great economic support to holiday destinations during low season as they maintain high annualised occupancies.  Port Douglas is a great example of a seasonal destination that benefits from having a timeshare resort in town,” said Mr Speed.

“The great thing about timeshare is that no matter what is happening with the economy, if you have pre-paid for something, there is more likelihood you are going to use it,” said Mr Speed.

Wyndham’s expansions include two marketing sites run by a team of five, split between two locations: a booth outside Coles at Port Village Shopping Centre and a booth inside the Wildlife Habitat near the Captain Cook Highway. The sales office, based at Ramada Resort Port Douglas, has also hired more staff.

“Our marketing team members are well-trained, enthusiastic and capably lead and they have already hit the ground running,” said Frederich Becker, Director of Field Marketing, Wyndham.