Westgate Resorts
| File:Westgate resorts logo.png | |
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | David A. Siegel |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people |
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| Website | www |
Westgate Resorts is a U.S.-based timeshare resort operator headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Established in 1982 by David A. Siegel, the company launched with a 16-unit property in Kissimmee, Florida, and has since grown to encompass over 60 resort locations nationwide, including those acquired through the purchase of VI Resorts.
History
Westgate Resorts was initiated by David A. Siegel in 1982 with the opening of Westgate Vacation Villas in Kissimmee. Over the following decades, particularly throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the firm expanded its presence into prominent areas such as Las Vegas, Park City, Myrtle Beach, and Branson. Notable developments during this period include Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa (1996) and Westgate Historic Williamsburg (2003).
Operating under the umbrella of Central Florida Investments, Inc. (CFI)—Central Florida’s largest privately owned company with a workforce exceeding 10,000—Westgate manages upwards of 13,500 villa units across 22 full-service resorts. Siegel, who has led CFI since its inception in 1970, earned recognition as Orlando Business Journal’s CEO of the Year in 2014.
In response to fire damage in 2016, Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort underwent swift reconstruction. The company bolstered its market position through entertainment collaborations such as Barry Manilow’s residency at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino beginning in 2018. That same year marked Westgate’s expansion into New York City by acquiring and rebranding the former Hilton New York Grand Central.
In March 2024, Jim Gissy was named CEO after a long tenure with the company. David Siegel transitioned to Executive Chairman and President roles to continue guiding corporate strategy.
A significant expansion occurred in February 2025 when Westgate acquired VI Resorts through its affiliate Vacation Ownership Sales (VOS), adding more than 40 properties primarily along the U.S. West Coast and substantially broadening its geographic scope.
David Siegel, the company’s founder and a noted entrepreneur recognized for his strategic vision, passed away in April 2025.
Legal issues and litigation
Westgate Resorts encountered legal challenges beginning in 2013 with a federal lawsuit in Las Vegas concerning construction disputes at the pH Towers project. Clark County District Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez ruled that Westgate owed $9 million to Tutor-Saliba Corporation for unpaid invoices but also awarded Westgate $2.6 million due to construction defects such as a cracked concrete pool.
In 2010, around 300 former sales personnel filed suit against Westgate for unpaid commissions. The court sided with the plaintiffs, ordering payment of $600,000. Although partial payments were made initially, subsequent payments ceased, resulting in extended litigation lasting three years. The matter was eventually resolved under Judge Michael Baxley’s supervision with Westgate agreeing to pay an additional $500,000. Subsequently, in 2014, Westgate initiated lawsuits against certain ex-employees to reclaim commissions—a move perceived by some legal experts as retaliatory.
On January 20, 2009, Westgate Resorts was found liable for breaching the Telemarketing Sales Rule and Do Not Call Registry regulations, culminating in a $900,000 settlement with federal authorities.
In 2012, David Siegel and Westgate filed defamation lawsuits against the Sundance Institute and filmmakers of The Queen of Versailles. The dispute proceeded to arbitration in 2013; the arbitrator ruled in favor of the filmmakers in 2014 and ordered Westgate to pay $750,000. The decision determined that no false statements or actual malice were established for defamation claims involving public figures.
Philanthropy
The Siegel family and Westgate Resorts have committed themselves to charitable initiatives centered on youth education and the prevention of drug abuse. In response to the tragic 2015 overdose loss of their daughter, Victoria Siegel, founders David and Jackie Siegel created the Victoria’s Voice Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to combating substance abuse through education and prevention. This foundation leads efforts to raise public awareness, advocates for policies aimed at decreasing drug use among young people, and offers support to families and communities affected by addiction. It partners with educational institutions, local governments, and law enforcement agencies to distribute naloxone (Narcan) and enhance programs designed to prevent overdoses.