Consumer protection is a group of laws and organizations designed to ensure the rights of consumers as well as fair trade, competition and accurate information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors. They may also provide additional protection for those most vulnerable in society. Consumer protection laws are a form of government regulation, which aim to protect the rights of consumers. For example, a government may require businesses to disclose detailed information about products—particularly in areas where safety or public health is an issue, such as food. Consumer protection is linked to the idea of consumer rights, and to the formation of consumer organizations, which help consumers make better choices in the marketplace and get help with consumer complaints. Other organizations that promote consumer protection include government organizations and self-regulating business organizations such as consumer protection agencies and organizations, the Federal Trade Commission, ombudsmen, Better Business Bureaus, etc. A consumer is defined as someone who acquires goods or services for direct use or ownership rather than for resale or use in production and manufacturing. Consumer interests can also be protected by promoting competition in the markets which directly and indirectly serve consumers, consistent with economic efficiency, but this topic is treated in competition law. Consumer protection can also be asserted via non-government organizations and individuals as consumer activism.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act. Its principal mission is the promotion of consumer protection and the elimination and prevention of anticompetitive business practices, such as coercive monopoly. The Federal Trade Commission Act was one of President Woodrow Wilson's major acts against trusts. Trusts and trust-busting were significant political concerns during the Progressive Era. Since its inception, the FTC has enforced the provisions of the Clayton Act, a key antitrust statute, as well as the provisions of the FTC Act, et seq. Over time, the FTC has been delegated with the enforcement of additional business regulation statutes and has promulgated a number of regulations (codified in Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations).

Reading Time: < 1 minuteA government or state agency, often an appointed commission, is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types. Although usage differs, a government agency is normally distinct both from a department or ministry, and other types of public body established by government. The functions of an agency are normally executive in character, since different types of organizations (such as commissions) are most often constituted in an advisory role—this distinction is often blurred in practice however. A government agency may be established by either a national government or a state government within a federal system. The term is not normally used for an organization created by the powers of a local government body. Agencies can be established by legislation or by executive powers. The autonomy, independence and accountability of government agencies also vary widely.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a United States government agency that is charged with protecting consumers and promoting competition in the marketplace. The FTC is an independent agency, which means it is not part of any other government agency or department. It was established in 1914 and is composed of five commissioners who are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The FTC is responsible for enforcing a variety of federal laws that relate to consumer protection, antitrust, and other areas of the economy. Some of the specific duties of the FTC include investigating and pursuing legal action against companies that engage in deceptive or fraudulent business practices, monitoring mergers and acquisitions to ensure that they do not harm competition, and providing consumers with information and tools to help them make informed decisions about the products and services they purchase.

Reading Time: < 1 minuteA residential area is a land use in which housing predominates, as opposed to industrial and commercial areas. Housing may vary significantly between, and through, residential areas. These include single-family housing, multi-family residential, or mobile homes. Zoning for residential use may permit some services or work opportunities or may totally exclude business and industry. It may permit high density land use or only permit low density uses. Residential zoning usually includes a smaller FAR (floor area ratio) than business, commercial or industrial/manufacturing zoning. The area may be large or small. In certain residential areas, largely rural, large tracts of land may have no services whatever, thus residents seeking services must use a motor vehicle or other transport, so the need for transport has resulted in land development following existing or planned transport infrastructure such as rail and road. Development patterns may be regulated by restrictive covenants contained in the deeds to the properties in the development, and may also result from or be reinforced by zoning. Restrictive covenants are not easily changed when the agreement of all property owners (many of whom may not live in the area) is required. The area so restricted may be large or small. Residential areas may be subcategorized in the Concentric zone model and other schemes of urban geography.

The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) is a professional membership and accreditation body for companies and individuals who work in the holiday resort and residential development industry. The RDO aims to promote high standards of professionalism, ethics, and service within the industry, and offers a range of services and benefits to its members, including training and development opportunities, networking events, and access to industry information and resources. The RDO also provides a number of accreditation schemes for companies and individuals who meet certain criteria, including the RDO Code of Conduct, which sets out the standards of ethical and professional behavior that members must adhere to.

Reading Time: < 1 minuteA trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry. An industry trade association participates in public relations activities such as advertising, education, political donations, lobbying and publishing, but its main focus is collaboration between companies, or standardization. Associations may offer other services, such as producing conferences, networking or charitable events or offering classes or educational materials. Many associations are non-profit organizations governed by bylaws and directed by officers who are also members. In countries with a social market economy, the role of trade associations is often taken by employers' organizations, which also have a role in the social dialogue.

ARDA stands for the American Resort Development Association, which is a trade organization that represents the interests of timeshare companies in the United States. Timeshares are a type of vacation ownership in which multiple individuals share the right to use a particular property, typically a vacation home or resort, for a specific period of time each year. Timeshare owners are typically entitled to use the property for a certain number of weeks or points each year, and they may also be able to exchange their usage rights for stays at other properties within a network. Timeshares can be a cost-effective way for people to enjoy regular vacations, but it's important for potential buyers to carefully research the terms of the timeshare and the reputation of the company before making a purchase.

Shared deeded ownership refers to a type of property ownership in which multiple individuals have an ownership interest in a piece of real estate. This ownership interest is typically established through the creation of a legal document known as a deed, which outlines the specific rights and responsibilities of each owner. In a shared deeded ownership arrangement, the owners typically have the right to occupy and use the property, as well as the obligation to pay any associated expenses, such as property taxes and maintenance costs.

Airbnb is a website for people to rent out lodging. It has over 800,000 listings in 33,000 cities and 192 countries. Founded in August 2008 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company is privately owned and operated by Airbnb, Inc. Users of the site must register and create a personal online profile before using the site. Every property is associated with a host whose profile includes recommendations by other users, reviews by previous guests, as well as a response rating and private messaging system. As of July 2011, the company had raised $119.8 million in venture funding from Y Combinator, Greylock Partners, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, DST Global Solutions, General Catalyst Partners and undisclosed amounts from Youniversity Ventures' partners, Jawed Karim, Keith Rabois, and Kevin Hartz, and from A Grade Investments’ partners, Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary. In April 2014, the company closed on an investment of $450 million by TPG Capital at a valuation of approximately $10 billion.