RCI is proud to once again be the Global Title Sponsor of the Christel House Charity Golf Open and welcomes Nexus Leisure as Signature Sponsor of the European Events.

The RCI Christel House Charity Golf Open, now in its ninth year, has become a highlight of the timeshare industry’s fundraising calendar. A charity golf tournament on a global scale, the Christel House Open hosts tournaments across five continents.

For 2011 there will be two European golf events. The first to be held is on Saturday 11 June at the Pestana Vila Sol golf course, Vilamoura, Portugal and the second will be held on Monday 13 June at Ealing Golf Club, London, England.

Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI, said: “In the more than ten years since the charity’s founding, RCI has taken great pride in supporting Christel House (www.christelhouse.org), and the incredible work the organisation does to transform the lives of impoverished children around the world. We are delighted that Nexus Leisure is continuing its support of this worthy cause in 2011, which raises funds to help these children achieve their dreams. Together, we can truly make a difference.”

Nexus Leisure has worked actively for the charity for more than ten years, incorporating various fundraising activities into the heart of its operation, including a late check-out scheme in which fees for late check-outs are donated to the charity.

In commenting on the company’s continued sponsorship of the Christel House Open, Jerry Graber from Nexus Leisure said: “As a company we are so proud to be associated with Christel House and its good work. We look forward to being part of yet another series of world golf events where we will all have the opportunity to join together in sporting comradeship and raise further funds for the cause.”

He added “Nexus will be fielding two teams at the Europe events this year, ever hopeful of winning. Though the competition, as always, will be tough, the important thing to remember is that Christel House emerges as the real winner.”

Ballotti added: “To make a difference in the lives of the children of Christel House this has to be a real team effort. In 2010 the golf tournaments alone helped raise $490,000 for the charity. And so we’d like to ask our affiliates, developers, suppliers and partners to join us at one of these planned tournaments across the globe to help raise even more money for Christel House in 2011. It’s sure to be a great day, and we can all take pride in knowing that we have helped make a difference in the lives of children and their families who need it most.”

Other sponsors include Perspective International who will be supporting the events as Global Media Sponsor and RCI Europe as the Half Way House Sponsor for both European events.

The Million Dollar Hole in One team will be back again this time at the Portugal Event.  If you get your tee shot to remain on the green you win a prize and if you make a hole in one you win an invitation to the Million Dollar Hole in One annual tournament in Las Vegas and shoot for One Million Dollars (US).

Christel House was founded in 1998 by RCI founder, Christel DeHaan, with the mission of helping children worldwide break the cycle of poverty. Today it serves over 3,000 students, assisting them in optimising their potential to be productive and self sufficient through education. What’s more, the charity has implemented a fantastic support structure which ensures that students are provided with ongoing support, medical care, guidance and transport costs.

For further details on participating in the European golf events, sponsorship opportunities or to donate a prize for the auction, please contact amanda.white@rci.com

Pestana Vila Sol Algarve

Internationally known, the Vila Sol golf course managed by the Pestana Group, is now part of the Algarve’s most sought after golf courses.

Having been inaugurated in 1991 with the signature of the architect Donald Steel, “Vila Sol, is living proof that dreams can be realised.

Located in the Central Algarve the Vila Sol Hotel and Golf resort is set in 75 acres of natural beauty and accommodates two magnificent golf courses, Pestana Vila Sol Championship and Pestana Vila Sol Academy Golf Course

Ealing Golf Club

Ealing golf club is an urban golfing haven, with a convenient location just off the A40, opposite the famous “art-deco” hoover building. Founded in 1898 and laid out by the distinguished golf course architect Harry S. Colt, this parkland course offers 18 holes of delightful but challenging golf to its members and visitors alike. The general condition of the course receives constant compliments and the greens are acclaimed by many top players as amongst the best they have ever played.

Fast response to changing trends is at the core of Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels’ ability to snatch success even from the jaws of the worst global recession to affect the holiday industry.

Recently, the company moved to close down four of its five off-site sales operations in the UK, due to the country’s continuing economic battering, to refocus on new programmes aimed at increased Fly-Buy/SIV activity.

CLC’s prestigious sales and exhibition centre in London’s best postcode, the West End, continues to operate, but a decision was taken to shut its other UK off-sites as their effectiveness in the current financial climate was under question.

“Right now, the best thing we can do is offer great price family holidays where customers can come and sample the quality and value of the Club La Costa experience, and we are doing this through a number of channels,” said chairman Roy Peires.

Club La Costa’s Essex-based marketing operation is at the centre of a flurry of Fly Buy activity handling data from a mix of sources, such as shopping centre booths, emailings and websites, while independent marketers have promotions at airports both in the UK and Spain.

UK off sites have been integral to the company’s success across its 25-year history, resuming in 1991 after a break in the 1980s. However, the continuing poor shape of the UK economy, have led to a major sales rethink.

About Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels
• Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels is widely regarded as a leading provider of holiday products in Europe.
• Founded in 1984, the company has more than 50,000 members and 23 wholly owned resorts in England, Scotland, mainland Spain, Tenerife and Austria.
• CLC Estates is the company’s successful real estate business.
• Club La Costa also has its own in-house travel agency and resort management arm.
• Developing a mixed use model of whole ownership homes – offered with a leaseback programme – and timeshare resorts, Club La Costa has expanded into Turkey during 2009, opening a new resort with a second planned for 2010.
• In 2007, Club La Costa launched its unique Yacht Club with sailings in the Red Sea, Turkey, around Mallorca and, planned for next year, Greece.
• Across its operations, Club La Costa employs more than 2,000 employees.
• The company is a founding member of the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe, now the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) of which it continues to be a key supporter.
• The Smile Foundation, a charitable organisation which Club La Costa helped found and helps raise funds for, and the private Roy Peires Foundation, help many needy causes. 
• Club La Costa prides itself on impeccable levels of service, innovative products, a pioneering spirit and the outstanding quality of its resorts, which occupy top locations and offer a wide range of excellent facilities.

For further information please visit www.clublacosta.com

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN), today announced a new affiliation with ABC Boat Management, offering RCI members canal boat holidays on the beautiful waterways of England.

As part of this relationship, Anderton Marina near Northwich, Cheshire, and Hilperton Marina near Trowbridge, Wiltshire, join the RCI exchange programme.

“We are very pleased to welcome the Anderton and Hilperton Marinas into the RCI network,” said Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, Group RCI. “These new affiliates will soon offer our more than 3.8 million members the chance to enjoy canal boat holidays on the scenic and picturesque waterways of the United Kingdom all year round. They are tremendous additions to RCI’s collection of top quality vacation options.”

Anderton Marina, situated in the heart of northwest England, offers cruising opportunities on the River Weaver, Trent and Mersey Canal, Bridgewater Canal, and the Leeds and Liverpool Canals. Anderton Marina also offers easy access and available moorings close to the historic city of Chester, with its walled city centre offering shops, galleries and the majestic cathedral.

Hilperton Marina on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Wiltshire is located near the World Heritage City of Bath, which has a history stretching back to the Roman Baths after which it is named and can still be visited today. Moorings are available near the city centre. The medieval town of Bradford on Avon, where weavers’ cottages cling to the side of the Avon valley, is also a common stop for travellers, while the city of Bristol is another popular place to visit.

Both affiliates offer subscribing members the opportunity to take charge of their own canal boat to experience and enjoy the beauty, heritage and wildlife of some of Britain’s most established waterways. The laidback nature of canals and narrow boating are an ideal way to relax and escape from the hectic pace of modern life, as well as an opportunity to enjoy the countryside from a new vantage point. Members can moor up at a canal-side pub for lunch or dinner, while all boats, which sleep up to six, come complete with full kitchens including a microwave, as well as central heating, television and other facilities.

For additional information on the services offered to developers by Group RCI and how the company can add potential value to leisure real estate projects, visit www.grouprci.com.

About ABC Boat Management
Canalboat Club vessels are managed by ABC Boat Management, which is a subsidiary of ABC Leisure Group, the largest privately-owned specialist operator of narrowboats on the UK’s canals and rivers. The company has 35 years experience of operating boats and provides a vast array of associated services. For more information visit www.abcboatmanagement.com, www.abclg.com and www.canalboatclub.com.

About Group RCI
Group RCI, part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies, (NYSE: WYN) is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with exclusive access for specified periods to more than 73,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. The company 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 RentalsSM , 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, an international leader in providing a full spectrum of advisory, research, and asset management services. 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.