Bloomberg Talks Travel + Leisure CEO Mike Brown Talks Travel Market
Nov 11, 2025
Mike Brown, President and CEO of Travel + Leisure Co., discusses the intricacies of the domestic travel market and timeshare industry. He reveals how customer demographics shape brand strategies and the importance of lifestyle brands like Margaritaville. Brown highlights the high retention rates of existing timeshare owners and the challenges of operational complexities in the business. He also addresses the potential impact of a government shutdown on travel demand and emerging opportunities in the luxury market.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Profile Of The Typical Customer
- Travel + Leisure serves leisure travelers with average income ~$110k and FICO ~730, mostly in their late 40s to early 50s.
- These customers prioritize bigger accommodations, trusted brands, and value, which drove growth amid inflation.
High Repeat Purchase And Retention
- About 65% of incremental purchases come from existing owners who want more space or time.
- Owners show very high loyalty with a 98% retention rate, validating the product's appeal.
Branded Shift Rewrote Timeshare Reputation
- The timeshare industry evolved from independent developers to branded operators like Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham, and Disney.
- That shift to trusted brands has changed the product's reputation and value proposition over the last decade.