The public saw the first timeshare companies during the 1960s. Hapimag, a timeshare company based in Switzerland, was established on September 23, 1963. After much success, the company expanded in Italy and Spain. After years of existence, Hapimag, has remained successful and remains at the forefront of the timeshare industry. Another company in France started offering timeshare during 1964-1968. A French development company called the Socit des Grands Travaux de Marseille offered timeshare properties called Devoluy. A resort under the same group of companies called Paul Doumier popularized the slogan, No need to rent a room; but the hotel, its cheaper! This innovative marketing gave birth to the timeshare industry.

Timeshare made its way to the shores of the United States of America when Vacation Internationale offered Kauai Kailani as their first timeshare resort in 1969. They were the first company to offer the point system. This system gives owners flexibility in ownership. This system allows you to earn points and upon garnering enough points, you can avail of the other properties within the organization, using the points as your mode of currency. In the 1970s, Florida was the first American state to accept the timeshare method.

The first timeshare company to offer the flexibility allowing you to exchange your properties was Resort Condominium International, found in 1974. This scheme allows you to exchange your timeshare with other owners, giving you \ options to choose from within your own resort, and sometimes, other resorts worldwide.

Timeshare continued to rise in popularity throughout the 1980s, making its way to Asia. By the 1990s, major hotels like Sheraton, Ramada, Hilton, Disney, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Radisson and Westin began to offer timeshares. With the expansion of the industry, legal regulating bodies like the American Resort Development Association in the US and the Organization for Timeshare in Europe were organized.