DC4MS

Richard Ragatz, Ph.D. is well known in the fractional real estate market and has published opinions on the Destination Club industry.

Ragatz Associates - Consulting and Market Research for the Resort Industry

RAGATZ ASSOCIATES is an international consulting and market research firm in the resort real estate industry. It was founded in 1974 by Dr. Richard Ragatz. The company was acquired by RCI in 1995, and operated as a subsidiary of that company until 2006. At that time, Ragatz Associates returned to its present status as an independent, privately owned company.

The objectives of Ragatz Associates are simple, but important. We provide every client, regardless of contract size, a professional and cost-effective product. We pride ourselves on being objective, thorough, and creative. Our success is measured by the successes and business improvements our clients realize as a result of our consulting efforts.

We study changes constantly occurring in our society and in the marketplace, and advise our clients about the implications for their projects. Recommendations are based on existing data, new research findings, and on our extensive consulting experience.

As experienced advisors, we know how to work with clients effectively. We lead the client, but we do not dominate the decision-making process.

And, we enjoy our work. We appreciate friendships with each other and with our clients. We relish the challenge of being professional and the sense of self-esteem derived from contributing to successful ventures. We maintain our goals of objectivity and creativity while continually striving for excellence as we provide valuable and cost-effective services for our clients.

Clients represent both the private sector (from small, individually owned companies to international corporations) and the public sector (from small municipalities to national governments). The firm specializes in the shared-ownership industry, including fractional interests, private residence clubs, destination clubs, and resort timeshare. Our services include:

Market analysis
Consumer surveys
Feasibility analysis
Consumer focus groups
Project evaluation
Economic impact analysis

Richard Ragatz has personally worked on over 2,000 assignments in the resort real estate industry. The majority have been feasibility analyses for resorts located in 48 states and over 70 countries. In addition, he has been involved in several landmark studies in the resort industry. Samples include:

National and regional studies of the vacation ownership industries in the United States (1995, 1997, 2000 and 2003), Europe (2002), Mexico (1993, 1999 and 2003), Canada (1993 and 2002), Hawaii (1992 and 2000), the Canary Islands (1995), Asia (1999), the Caribbean (1994, 1999 and 2003), and Latin America (2001), including supply and demand characteristics and economic impacts.

The only comprehensive national surveys to determine the total number of U.S. recreational property owners and characteristics of their properties. Included national poll to determine interest in recreational property among non-owners (1990); updated in 1993, 1995 and 1998.

First national survey of resort timeshare buyers in the United States (1978); updated in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2006.

First world-wide study of the resort timeshare industry (1990); updated in 1992, 1995 and 2003.

First national survey of fractional interest (aka private residence club) purchasers (1989; updated in 2001, 2003 and 2005), and resorts (2001; updated in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007).

First national survey of the campresort industry - four volume study for Coast to Coast Resorts (1985); updated in 1987 and 1991.

First national survey of hotel condominium buyers (1984).

National and regional surveys of resort timeshare owners in Europe (2002), France (1996), Germany (1996), Italy (1996), Spain (1996), Argentina (1996), Brazil (1998), the United Kingdom (1981, 1987 and 2002), Canada (1981, 1993 and 2002), Australia (1983 and 2002), the Caribbean (1983, 1999 and 2003), Mexico (1986, 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2003), Singapore (1992), and Malaysia (1992).

Three-volume study for the National Timeshare Council documenting the socio-economic impacts of resort timesharing (1980); updated in 1987 and 1998 (for the American Resort Development Association).

Largest study ever funded by the federal government (Housing and Urban Development and President's Council on Environmental Quality) on privately owned recreational properties (1974); updated for U.S. Forest Service (1977 and 1979).