Learn the compelling story of how an unbranded timeshare company, in the face of continuous adversity, used data to innovate and execute in order to compete with the big brands. Mike Flaskey was chosen to become the CEO of Diamond Resorts after it was acquired in late 2016 by global private equity giant Apollo Global Management.

Be the first to hear the story of how Diamond Resorts was transformed from a non-branded timeshare company to a global hospitality organization that lead through experiences.

Under Flaskey’s leadership, Diamond went outside the timeshare industry box and hired experienced data scientists, who dove into various divisions of the company utilizing research as well as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to both quantify behavioral traits and help set the future direction of the company. Through these experts, Diamond had the inside intelligence to begin to innovate and create new products, including becoming the industry’s first mover in a best-in-class experiential event franchise, later branded Events of a Lifetime. This franchise catapulted Diamond Resorts from $200 million in annual sales to over $1 billion, and every Key Performance Indicator of the lifetime value calculations increased measurably. Their guest satisfaction rates and hotel rental business revenue grew to record highs, both new member sales and volume per guest doubled, their $1 billion dollar financial services portfolio improved across the board and Flaskey began receiving consumer satisfaction letters from existing owners and new members like never before.

The successful transformation of Diamond Resorts was full of out-of-the-box thinking and creativity, all while using data to support the crucial decisions. The introduction of experiences led to massive positive press and millions of dollars in advertising equivalency from earned media for the company, ultimately leading to its successful sale to the iconic branded company of Hilton Grand Vacations.

Mike Flaskey is the Founder and CEO of Mike Flaskey Entertainment, Inc., a full-service lifestyle and entertainment company that brings experiential brand activations to life through network-televised golf tournaments, live concerts, sports, and other live events. Mike’s company identifies and executes turnkey solutions and activations for organizations and companies looking to amplify their brand awareness, acquire new customers and improve their existing customers’ lifetime value through unique events and experiences.

Prior to the creation of Mike Flaskey Entertainment, Mike garnered more than twenty-five years of senior executive leadership experience in both public and privately held organizations, most recently as the former Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Resorts, a global vacation ownership company. Under his leadership, Diamond Resorts achieved unprecedented growth both organically and through strategic acquisitions, culminating with the successful sale of the company to Hilton Grand Vacations in 2021.

While at Diamond, Mike innovated and created strategic partnerships and relationships with numerous prominent sporting and entertainment professionals that have resulted in the creation and growth of Diamond’s Events of a Lifetime® experiential franchise, the Diamond Concert SeriesTM and the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, a network- televised, best-in-class LPGA Tournament of Champions/ Celebrity golf tournament. Mike has founded and now serves as the Executive Director of The ClubCorp Classic, a PGA Tour Champions/Celebrity televised golf tournament in Dallas, Texas.

Mike is currently a Member of the Board of Directors of ClubCorp, the largest owner and operator of more than 200 golf and country clubs, city clubs and stadium clubs across the U.S. He is also an independent Board Member of Toronto-based Kognitiv, a global technology-forward, loyalty solutions-driven company. In addition, he is a Member of the Board of Directors for the American Resort Developers Association (ARDA), as well as a part of ARDA’s Executive Committee. While at Diamond, he also served as a Member of the Board for Diamond Resorts. Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Limestone University.

THE BOARDROOM

BRINGING THE NETWORKING LOUNGE EXHIBITORS TO THE MAIN STAGE

If you are ready to win in business, in family, and in life, it all starts with the end in mind. On the path to winning, you’ll encounter challenges with people and circumstances, but as Shawn always says, “Winners focus on what they are going to, not on what they’re going through!”

This session will inspire you to “PLAY TO WIN” by harnessing the vision, mindset, strategies, and teamwork needed to rise to your highest potential using some of the methods from Shawn Harper’s book, “The Winning Edge” which outlines his personal story of overcoming many obstacles to realize his purpose and manifest his dreams.

Shawn Harper is a former NFL offensive lineman who played a total of seven seasons with the Rams, the Oilers, the Colts, and NFL Europe. Since 2004 he has owned and operated American Services and Protection, a growing multi-million-dollar security services firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. He uses many of the powerful lessons he learned in the NFL and strategically applies them in running his company. He is also the author of The Winning Edge: 8 Laws and Principles That Will Bring Out the Winner in You”.

This session will explore the latest financial solutions available through Block Chain technology and Cryptocurrencies and how timeshare and vacation clubs can use them to transform the way they transact.

The International Monetary Fund has made clear that “A digital revolution has taken place in the past decade, especially concerning the provision of financial services supported by advances in technology and computing power.”

Guillermo Muhech will explain what Cryptocurrencies, Tokens and Blockchain Technology are. Explain how other industries have already benefited from these tools and explore the potential growth of our industry by taking advantage of them.

VACATION RENTAL AND TIMESHARE INDUSTRY SYNERGY – EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW BOTH SECTORS BY WORKING TOGETHER