Vacation Planning and Demystifying Timeshares from the Comfort of the Couch

Planning a vacation has never been easier – just ask the viewers that have already tuned in to RCI® TV more than 1 million times for advice on where to eat, stay and play in the most popular destinations around the globe. The web-based television network, once exclusive to RCI subscribing members, began granting public access in November 2009 to its entertaining and educational high-definition videos narrated by the enigmatic “RCI Guy” on www.RCI.com. This 1 million-view milestone demonstrates that travelers are interested in not only learning more about the timeshare industry, but also visiting the hundreds of RCI’s more than 4,000 resorts who are showcasing their vacation destinations in high-definition video on-line. To celebrate this landmark number, RCI is giving away a choice of either an all-inclusive vacation at an RCI affiliated resort for up to four people valued at up to $5,000 USD for one week at any one of the stunning all-inclusive properties featured on RCI TV, or a one week stay for up to four people at any of the beautiful non all-inclusive “Resort Showcase” properties featured on RCI TV.

Recognizing that timeshare is still unfamiliar territory for many, RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN), launched RCI TV in an effort to more heavily promote the benefits of owning or vacationing in a timeshare resort through a network of channels including: An Inside Look, What You Need to Know, Ask the RCI Guy, Resort Showcase, All Inclusive Resorts and Destination Reviews. Through tailored on-line and on-air programming, RCI provides travelers with answers to the age-old questions – How do timeshares work? What is the quality of the resorts, houses, condos and villas? Why are timeshare resorts the preferred vacation option for over 6 million owners and millions more non-owners who like the space, comfort, amenities and value that they offer?

“Since inventing the concept of timeshare exchange more than 35 years ago, RCI has been devoted to providing innovative technology and marketing solutions that add value for both our members and our affiliates,” said Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI. “The overwhelming usage and success of RCI TV is beyond anything we originally envisioned when we launched it nearly a year ago. Moms and dads who are planning vacations want to see more than just pretty pictures as they plan their vacations. They want to be able to show their kids and email their friends links to beautiful videos that show where they’re headed or where they’ve just returned from as a family. With RCI TV surpassing 1 million views in such a short period of time, we’re happy that we’re giving our members what they’re looking for in this regard. Our commitment to adding more high-def video programming is stronger than ever and film crews are spanning the globe to bring these vacation resorts and destinations to life on peoples’ home computers, laptops, tablets and iPhones®. And most importantly, once a vacationer has experienced what we offer on RCI TV, our commitment is to then link them back to our affiliates’ websites, so that they can tell them more about their resorts.”

RCI also has notably made its debut into the mobile marketing world with the launch of an RCI application for the iPhone®, iPod touch® and iPadTM available through the Apple Store® retail store services. The RCI TV feature grants users immediate access to a list of featured Destination Channel videos currently available on RCI.com that they can then share or save. Additionally, RCI has launched a YouTube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/rcitimeshare) that contains dozens of quality resort videos from RCI TV that showcase affiliated properties around the world. These new resources enhance the trip planning process for savvy travelers who tweet, text and blog and allows users to share vacation experiences with their social networks.

Consumers can visit http://rcisurvey.bgtpartners.com/rci-promotion.aspx to enter to win and can use their Resort & Residence TV promo code, ‘ThinkBig,’ for an extra 10 chances to win.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The RCI® TV Prize Draw is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (including D.C.) and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are at least twenty-one (21) years old at the time of entry.  See the link above for Official Rules, prize description and odds disclosure. Void where prohibited.

iPhone®, iPod touch® , and Apple Store® are registered trademarks of Apple Inc., and iPadTM  is a trademark of Apple, Inc. This press release is an independent announcement and has not been authorized, sponsored or otherwise approved by Apple Inc.

About RCI
RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with exclusive access for specified periods to more than 65,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Exchange & Rentals is comprised of vacation exchange, including RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and provider of travel services to businesses and consumers and The Registry Collection program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program; vacation rentals, including Endless Vacation Rentals, Landal GreenParks®, Novasol®, and other renowned vacation rental brands, through which vacationers can rent a variety of property types, from city apartments to villas; and NorthCourse® Leisure Real Estate Solutions, a research and consultancy firm providing advisory services to the global leisure real estate industry. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange. For additional information visit our media center.

Newly-flagged resort is first vacation club in Punta Cana for Lifestyle Holidays

Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club (LHVC), with corporate offices in Puerto Plata on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, announces its third property launch as part of a strategic alliance with Spain-based Globalia Corporation, opening sales at Grand Oasis Punta Cana. The new joint product will be called Dream Suites by Lifestyle at Grand Oasis Resort Punta Cana, and will feature 46 studios and standard rooms.

The Dream Suites by Lifestyle Punta Cana property is located next to Cabeza de Toro Beach and includes six restaurants, six bars, adult and children’s swimming pools, fitness center and spa, casino, daily activities, nightly shows and nearby golf at the 18-hole Catalonia Caribe Golf Club.

“We are thrilled about our growing partnership with Globalia, which brings us our first product offering in Punta Cana,” said Hans Larcher, Managing Director of Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club.  “Not only are we continuing to diversify in the types of accommodations we provide but now in different locations within the Dominican Republic, building from the success of our core location in Puerto Plata.”

Globalia Corporation is a leading travel and leisure conglomerate in Spain, owning and operating leading travel companies such as Air Europa, Oasis Hotels & Resorts, Travelplan, Iberrail, and call centers, technology and graphic art businesses.

At the end of 2009, LHVC launched its strategic alliance with Globalia Corporation for The Presidential Suites at Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Resort in Puerto Plata.  In February this year, the company also announced its partnership with Globalia for the new Dream Suites by Lifestyle at Grand Oasis Marien in Costa Dorada, Puerto Plata. Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club also encompasses: The Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Resort in Puerto Plata with four distinct developments; The Tropical, The Crown Suites, The Crown Villas, and The Residence Suites; as well as Executive Spa Suites by Lifestyle in Puerto Plata; and the upcoming Costa Esmeralda by Lifestyle, Center Court by Lifestyle and The Level by Lifestyle resorts in Puerto Plata.

From hotel accommodations to stand alone villas, LHVC provides all members with a unique V.I.P concept with access to “members only” facilities such as restaurants, bars, swimming pools, exclusive beach areas and entertainment, as well as golf carts, limousine transfers and helicopter tours.

Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club members, guests and families have a wide variety of activities available in the Dominican Republic.  In the North Coast, adjacent to its properties in Puerto Plata is the Ocean World Adventure Park with daily animal and aquatic shows and casino.  Other Puerto Plata activities include a cable car ride to the peak of Mount Isabel de Torres, white water rafting, horseback riding, deep sea fishing, boating, snorkeling, monster truck safaris and city tours of Puerto Plata, named one of the 53 best destinations in the world by The New York Times.  In Punta Cana, LHVC have access to some of the most beautiful beaches and golf courses in the country.  For more Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club info, go to www.lifestyleholidaysvc.com or call (809) 970-7777.

Following on from the industry-first success of Owners Perspective Magazine’s independent positioning of shared ownership products amongst general consumers through first class airport lounge distribution with more than a dozen of the world’s leading airlines, and in top hotels, resorts, golf clubs and spas, the specifically tailored Resort Developer Editions are helping on-site sales credibility, reducing new member cancellations and increasing the opportunities for upgrades, rentals and referrals.

Since its official launch last month, the publisher has announced confirmation for distribution and use at resorts in Mexico, Thailand, India, Bali, United Kingdom and soon plans to announce a number of confirmed contracts in Florida, Canada and Australia. These developer orientated special editions are backed by the credibility of the world’s largest independent publication for shared ownership products that is available to the general public and is exciting and motivating sales teams as it continues to be implemented in more and more resorts around the globe.

“We are so pleased with being able to provide another unique product to help increase sales and customer retention, and the rapid success of our Resort Developer Package is testament again to the quality of our work” says Paul Mattimoe, CEO of Perspective International Ltd.

With an incredibly versatile suite of options, developers can choose some or all of the features provided within the package to create the perfect fit for their operation(s) and orders can be placed with no long term commitment enabling resorts to quickly integrate at low cost.

For more information on Owners Perspective Magazine’s Resort Developer Options please request an information pack by emailing advertising@perspectiveinternational.com

Owners Perspective Magazine can be freely read online at http://www.ownersperspective.com

Since its inception in July 2008, Owners Perspective Magazine has established itself as the authority on buying timeshare, resort real estate and fractional ownership products, having been selected for distribution via the first class airport lounges of more than a dozen of the world’s leading airlines, luxury hotels, resorts, golf clubs and spas with a reach of over 50,000 highly targeted prospective buyers per edition.

Today, sees the launch of a new cutting edge website for the magazine, which offers access to all back issues in both digital page turn technology and downloadable PDF formats, web versions of all articles for easy search and reference, reader offers, competitions and the latest resort and luxury travel news updated daily.

The new site also has a social media element to it, combining the most popular features of Twitter and Facebook as well as offering Groups and Forums designed to glean positive feedback and consumer opinion on all aspects of shared ownership products.

To ensure the quality and integrity of its readership, all previous subscribers to the website are being asked to manually re-register, enabling Owners Perspective Magazine to have an accurate and active database of readers; with the new system also controlling any unsubscribing readers with ease.

Estimated figures predict that more than 10,000 will re-register over the next few weeks and the company expects rapid growth thereafter.

For more information visit www.ownersperspective.com

For information on advertising and editorial opportunities visit www.perspectiverates.com

Sol Meliá Vacation Club (SMVC), an international vacation membership club with locations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Europe, has been awarded the prestigious RCI Gold Grown Resort designation by RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange, for its Gran Meliá Puerto Rico resort in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, minutes from the El Yunque rainforest.

A select number of RCI affiliated resorts meet RCI’s requirements for recognition and have earned the RCI Gold Crown Resort award. These resorts have attained high levels in resort accommodations, hospitality and member experiences as measured by RCI.

“We are excited that our product and experience in Puerto Rico exceeds RCI guest expectations, demonstrating the dedication and commitment of our team there,” said Denis Ebrill, Sol Meliá Vacation Club’s Executive Vice President.

L - R: Luis Perez, SMVC Resort Manager, Gran Meliá Puerto Rico; Julio Villasenor, SMVC Regional Director for Puerto Rico; Denis Ebrill, Executive Vice President, Sol Meliá Vacation Club; Eugenio Macouzet, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Caribbean, RCI; and John Dishinger, Director of Business Development, Caribbean, RCI

Sol Meliá Vacation Club is an internationally-branded membership club focusing on leisure lifestyle experiences that include exotic destinations, designer-appointed luxury suites, exclusive services and unforgettable amenities.  Each Sol Meliá Vacation Club vacation experience is different from the other, aligned with local culture and customized to fit Members’ leisure lifestyle needs.

RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with exclusive access for specified periods to more than 65,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries.

Orlando, Florida based Sol Meliá Vacation Club is part of Spain-based Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, a 50-year-old international hospitality company with over 350 hotels in 30 countries on five continents.  Sol Meliá Vacation Club Members have more vacation lifestyle options through global luxury accommodations in a variety of unique resort and urban destinations around the world, as well as flexibility to choose length of stay, season and size of unit.  Featured Sol Meliá Vacation Club locations include Cancun, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico; Puerto Rico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in the Caribbean; Panama in Central America; and the Canary Islands, Spain, in Europe.  For more information, call 866-379-5950, or visit www.smvc.com.

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), today announced the addition of Cayena Golf Club in the Dominican Republic to its exchange network. Currently under construction, the vacation ownership resort will be located in Bavaro, Punta Cana, a popular tourism destination on the island’s east coast.

“With multiple golf courses within an hour’s drive, the Punta Cana area of the Dominican Republic is becoming a mecca for golfers in the Caribbean,” said Marcos Agostini, vice president, Latin America, resort sales and service, Interval International. “This makes Cayena Golf Club a perfect retreat for members who are both avid golfers and want to enjoy the island’s other great activities.”

The planned one-, two- and three-bedroom units will feature a full kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances, washer/dryer, a private balcony or terrace, and will be equipped with satellite TV, a DVD player, and high-speed Internet.

“We are excited to offer owners at our latest property the opportunity to enjoy Interval’s valuable leisure benefits and services, including the ability to stay at the high-quality resorts around the world that are part of the company’s exchange network,” said Juan Ramon Fernandez Abiega of Cayena Golf, Inc., the resort developer.

Amenities available on-site and nearby will include a restaurant and bar, large sundeck, pool and kids pool, fitness center with sauna, spa services, game room, and convenience store. Guests can take a complimentary shuttle to the spectacular beaches and the White Sands golf course in close proximity. Additionally, there are multiple restaurants, designer shops, and vibrant nightlife in the town of Bavaro. Cayena Golf Club is only 30 minutes from the Punta Cana International Airport.

Interval International operates membership programs for vacationers and provides value-added services to its developer clients worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for more than 34 years. Today, Interval has an exchange network of more than 2,500 resorts in over 75 nations. Through offices in 15 countries, Interval offers high-quality products and benefits to resort clients and approximately 2 million families who are enrolled in various membership programs. Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.

Expedia® travelers have ranked The Cove On Ormond Beach among the world’s best hotels on this year’s Expedia Insiders’ Select™ list. The list formally recognizes individual hotels worldwide that consistently deliver excellent service, a great overall experience and a notable value.  The full list represents only a small percentage of the world’s top hotels from the more than 110,000 hotel properties offered on Expedia.

“Delivering superior service to our guests is a top priority at The Cove On Ormond Beach,” said Sulyn Stumbras, Island One Resorts Hospitality Group president. “We are pleased that our efforts have been acknowledged by Expedia travelers and look forward to extending our high level of service to even more guests. General Manager Regina Barbour and her team truly exemplify our commitment to hospitality.”

The 2010 Expedia Insiders’ Select™ list is compiled based on the more than one million Traveler Opinions hotel reviews collected by Expedia, combined with a value rating and the local market expertise of more than 400 Expedia employees in local markets worldwide, resulting in an easy-to-browse list that provides travelers with a powerful way to find the perfect hotel using the trusted insight of other travelers like them. The list showcases the diverse selection of travel destinations and hotel properties.

The Cove On Ormond Beach, in Ormond Beach, Florida, is a 112-villa resort situated on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean. The resort’s villas are comprised of studios, one- and two-bedroom accommodations. All villas feature an ocean view, full kitchen and private balcony. The resort was originally comprised of a 54-villa tower. An adjacent 58-villa addition to the existing resort structure opened in 2006. Resort amenities include: oceanfront activity deck featuring a two-story tube slide; indoor heated swimming pool; owners lounge; oceanfront hot tub; game room; organized activities; barbecue and picnic area; fitness center; private beach access; 1,500 gallon salt water aquarium; private oceanview balconies; concierge services; and wi-fi access.

Island One Resorts has provided extraordinary timeshare vacation experiences through resort development and hospitality management since 1981. The company’s 750 team members are focused upon providing innovative and value-driven benefits to its over 65,000 owners. Its points-based vacation club, Club Navigo, offers 30 resort destinations throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe. Through Club Navigo, developers have access to award-winning sales, marketing and communications programs; operational support; state-of-the-art reservation and computer systems; and one of the most seasoned management teams ever assembled in the industry. To learn more about Island One Resorts, visit islandone.com or clubnavigo.com.

CONTACT: Sheila Morris: 407.215.4255  sheila.morris@islandone.com.

Interval International, working with its Caribbean member resorts, has made a record-breaking donation to the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF). David Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing for Interval International, presented a $45,000 check, the largest contribution in the foundation’s history, to CHTAEF representatives at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“Interval commends its resort affiliates for their commitment to this important initiative,” noted Gilbert. “We’re proud that the vacation ownership industry continues to support educational programs such as this one, which are critical to the long-term success of regional tourism.”

Over the past five years, Interval and its member resorts have donated US$120,000 to the foundation.

Participants in the 2009 scholarship fund include:

•    Antigua – Jolly Harbour Beach Resort, Tranquility Bay Antigua.

•    Aruba – La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club, Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club, Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club, Paradise Beach Villas, Playa Linda Beach Resort, Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Hotel, The Aruban Resort and Casino at Eagle Beach.

•    Bahamas – Island Seas Resort, Ocean Reef Resort, Woodbourne Resort.

•    Cayman Islands – Ramada Grand Caymanian Resort.

•    Curaçao – The Royal Sea Aquarium Resort.

•    Dominican Republic – Barceló Punta Cana, Cayena Beach Club, Coral Costa Caribe Resort, Sun Village Resort and Spa.

•    Mexican Caribbean – The Royal Cancun.

•    Puerto Rico – Aquarius Vacation Club® at Boquerón Beach and Aquarius Vacation Club® Dorado del Mar Beach and Golf Resort, ESJ Towers, Hyatt Hacienda del Mar.

•    St. Lucia – Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Bay Gardens Hotel, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort & Spa.

•    St. Maarten – Flamingo Beach Resort, Pelican Marina Residences.

•    U.S.V.I. – Westin St. John Resort and Villas.

“The foundation administers one of the largest scholarship programs in the Caribbean hospitality and tourism industry. Applications are received from young people all over the region and reflect a wide variety of interests and backgrounds,” said Tom Pas, the foundation’s chairman. “One of the primary goals of the CHTAEF is human resource development and these funds will definitely assist us in reaching that goal.”

The CHTAEF was established in 1987 as a non-profit organization to provide scholarships and special assistance to Caribbean hospitality industry personnel and students pursuing hospitality and tourism careers.

To date, the Education Foundation has awarded more than US$1 million dollars in scholarships and grants. The application requirements include being a Caribbean national, having a high school or equivalent secondary school degree, pursuing a tourism-related education degree, and demonstrated financial need.

As a strategic partner of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association and a board member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Education Foundation, Interval is committed to understanding the unique needs of the Caribbean region and providing products and programs tailored to this market.

Interval International operates membership programs for vacationers and provides value-added services to its developer clients worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for more than 34 years. Today, Interval has an exchange network of more than 2,500 resorts in over 75 nations. Through offices in 15 countries, Interval offers high-quality products and benefits to resort clients and approximately 2 million families who are enrolled in various membership programs. Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.

RCI affiliate recognized as top-performing partner

A select number of RCI affiliates meet RCI’s requirements for this annual honor and have earned the RCI® Pinnacle Award. As a top-performing RCI affiliate, Sol Meliá Vacation Club has received the award for its volume of business.

‘It is a pleasure and privilege for Sol Meliá Vacation Club to be recognized by RCI to receive this prestigious award.  We consider this to be an important indicator of our overall success in providing unique and high quality vacation experiences in all our destinations,” said Denis Ebrill, Executive Vice President, Sol Meliá Vacation Club.

“For over 35 years, RCI has been working with its affiliates to transform the vacation experience for owners and resort developers alike,” said Gordon Gurnik, president of RCI North America. “We pride ourselves on helping our affiliates grow their business while also making dream vacations a reality for their owners and our members. The RCI Pinnacle Award allows us to honor and recognize our top performing affiliated resorts who continue working to offer vacation experiences to our 3.8 million members worldwide.”

Sol Meliá Vacation Club is an internationally-branded membership club focusing on leisure lifestyle experiences that include exotic destinations, designer-appointed luxury suites, exclusive services and unforgettable amenities.  Each Sol Meliá Vacation Club vacation experience is different from the other, aligned with local culture and customized to fit members’ leisure lifestyle needs.

RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange and Rentals, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with exclusive access for specified periods to more than 65,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Exchange and Rentals is comprised of vacation exchange, including RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and provider of travel services to businesses and consumers and The Registry Collection program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program; vacation rentals, including Endless Vacation Rentals, Landal GreenParks®, Novasol®, and other renowned vacation rental brands, through which vacationers can rent a variety of property types, from city apartments to villas; and NorthCourse® Leisure Real Estate Solutions, a research and consultancy firm providing advisory services to the global leisure real estate industry. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange.

Orlando, Florida based Sol Meliá Vacation Club is part of Spain-based Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, a 50-year-old international hospitality company with over 350 hotels in 30 countries on five continents.  Sol Meliá Vacation Club members have more vacation lifestyle options through global luxury accommodations in a variety of unique resort and urban destinations around the world, as well as flexibility to choose length of stay, season and size of unit.  Featured Sol Meliá Vacation Club locations include Cancun, Cozumel, and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico; Puerto Rico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in the Caribbean; Panama in Central America; and the Canary Islands, Spain in Europe.  For more information call 866-379-5950 or visit www.smvc.com.

Divi Resorts (www.diviresorts.com) continues to be a good steward of the environment, implementing an impressive number of “green” programs at all of its properties across the Caribbean.  Divi’s property in Barbados, Divi Southwinds (www.diviresorts.com/DiviSouthwinds/index.htm), served as the catalyst and leader for the earth-friendly practices in 2008 after it was certified as a Green Hotel — the first property in Barbados to receive the designation.  Last year, the resort was a semifinalist for the prestigious Ministry of Tourism Green Hotel Award and received the “Honorary Award” from the Travel Foundation’s “Switch Off Save Big” challenge.

“Our guests are increasingly attuned to the health of the planet and basing their hotel selection on environmental standards,” commented E.J. Schanfarber, CEO of Divi Hotels Marketing, Inc.  “It is imperative for hotels to recognize their responsibility to the environment, and our efforts evidence Divi’s corporate belief in sustainable tourism.  Our success at Southwinds has been a key building block for the lessons and initiatives we are applying to the rest of the properties.”

Among the earth-friendly practices at Divi Southwinds are the following:

•    An on-staff  “Green Team” led by the hotel’s Environmental Officer to help guests understand the property’s “green” initiatives and engage their participation
•    Elimination of polystyrene foam
•    Adoption of 72-hour biodegradable materials
•    Increase in recycling of bottles, paper, ink cartridges and boxes
•    Improved system of separating recyclables
•    Installation of low flow toilets and showerheads
•    Garden waste used as compost rather than carted to a landfill
•    Reduced the level of harmful chemicals released into the ocean by switching to ionizers and cutting the use of chlorine in their pools by 50 percent
•    Replaced lights with energy saving bulbs

Electricity consumption at Divi Southwinds was reduced by 26,509 kilowatt hours (KWH) in 2009 as compared to 2008.  In the same year, water consumption decreased by 19,410 cubic meters.

Divi Resorts applied the successes at Divi Southwinds to the entire roster of Divi properties throughout the Caribbean.  Energy saving bulbs are used throughout the resorts as well as environmentally-friendly cleaning products.  Divi staff members also request guests reuse towels and sheets to decrease the energy used in machine washing as well as water waste.  In addition, there are recycling programs in place and Divi resorts no longer use disposable cups at open-air bars and restaurants, only reusable plastic cups.  At its resorts in Aruba, there are now easy-to-spot “Eco-Cup” return stands in strategic locations throughout the properties and the resort staff takes part in the Island’s clean-up efforts on the beach and well as at neighborhood recreational centers and other public community locations.

“All of the Divi properties across the Caribbean are dedicated to protecting valuable natural resources of the islands, and we are taking steps to become greener everyday,” said Schanfarber.  “Our goal is to continue to implement additional earth-friendly practices, preserve the beauty of the Caribbean and have more of our properties become Green Certified Hotels.”

About Divi Resorts:
Divi Resorts is the vacation expert of the Caribbean with a collection of nine premium resorts on six stunning Caribbean islands. With vacation stays as well as full and fractional ownership, the resorts provide myriad vacation pleasures from relaxing on white sand beaches and indulging in spa services to embarking on scuba diving adventures and perfecting one’s golf swing.  For more information on Divi Resorts call 1-800-367-3484, or visit www.diviresorts.com.  The Divi Resorts logo is the Service Mark of Divi Hotels, Inc.; its use represents the group of resort companies owned by the registrant or operating under the registrant’s Divi Resorts brand.