Abstract
The timeshare industry continues to develop on a worldwide basis, with many name brand lodging chains recognizing the importance of this industry as a logical extension of their product and service offerings. Within the United States, the timeshare industry, otherwise known as the vacation ownership industry, has grown at a double digit pace since the 1960s. This growth has stimulated a need for research in the functional areas of sales, marketing, finance, operations, owner services, legal, accounting, and human resources. To this end, this special edition represents a collection of articles that explore some of the aforementioned issues that are particular to the timeshare industry in the United States and abroad.