Two Maui Students Receive Timeshare Association Scholarships

American Resort Development Association (ARDA-Hawaii), the timeshare industry, awarded a $500 Scholarship to each Academy of Hospitality and Tourism student. (L-R) Carol Reimann, Executive Director of Maui Hotel and Lodging Association; Student Ciara Allen of Lahaina; Student Fabrienne Cariaga of Kahului; and Rob Welch, ARDA-Hawaii board member.

By Sonia Isotov

Two Maui students have recently received $500 college scholarships each from the Hawaii Chapter of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA-Hawaii), Maui’s timeshare trade association.

At the graduation luncheon for the scholarship recipients, Rob Welch, an ARDA-Hawaii board member, commented that both Fabrienne Cariaga, a graduate of Maui High School and Ciara Allen, a graduate of Lahainaluna High School, plan to pursue careers in the hospitality and tourism industry and return to work in the visitor industry on Maui when their college education is completed.

Both Cariaga and Allen were students in the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) program available at their respective high schools. The Academy has similar program in over 110 high schools across the United States.

“Fabrienne says her experience with the AOHT has helped her to blossom into a mature lady ready to take on the world!  Ciara’s exposure to the visitor industry had made her realize that working with people and making them happy gives her a sense of satisfaction,” added Welch.

“The timeshare industry is a growing segment of the visitor industry so we are pleased to offer scholarship support funds to students who are interested in pursuing a career in the hospitality industry,” said Daniel Dinell, ARDA-Hawaii Chair and Vice President of Hilton Grand Vacations Club.

The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) is a Washington D.C.-based trade association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries (timeshares). ARDA has almost 1,000 corporate members nationally ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded corporations with extensive experience in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate. The membership includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, industry vendors, suppliers, and consultants; as well as owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition.