RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE:WYN), is slated to host the Shared Ownership Conference on Jan. 10, 2012 at JW Marriott, Mumbai. The conference aims to help audiences discover the key to turning assets into opportunities as it delves into the shared ownership industry in detail.

The day-long conference will be an essential forum for hoteliers, resort owners, real estate developers, investors and hospitality consultants to understand and explore the benefits of shared ownership and the ways in which it can be successfully integrated into leisure real-estate developments to maximize the revenue potential of available assets.

“RCI was early to advance the case for timeshare development in India,” said Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI. “And the tremendous success that RCI’s affiliates have experienced across the country over the past 20 years confirms the opportunity for all developers of real estate to explore the many benefits that shared ownership has to offer. Our operations, marketing and business development teams in our offices across India remain more committed than ever to helping our developers capitalize on the significant demand for their vacation offerings and services that is growing in India today.”

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Valhalla Associates Limited and Luxury Leisure Properties International LLC today announced that they have formed a partnership to jointly service owners and developers of mixed-use hotel and resort complexes where leisure real estate is integrated with luxury hotel operations.

The two companies offer advisory and turn-key project management services ranging from product concept, market research and financial feasibility analysis to implementation and management of the developer’s marketing & sales operation for leisure real estate products such as Fractional Ownership and Private Residence Clubs.

While Valhalla Associates focuses on the Europe, Middle East and Africa region based out of London, LLPI is servicing developers in the Americas region from their offices in Chicago.

“Our partnership with LLPI will ensure developers a consistent service and access to luxury leisure real estate resources and distribution know-how across the regions” said Preben Vestdam, President of Valhalla Associates. He continued: “In the current economic environment, developers of mixed used hotels and resorts are looking for creative solution where their leisure real estate products better adapt to today’s economic reality. Fractional Ownership and Private Residence Clubs with global distribution reach can in some cases be the answer”.

Luca Franco, President of Luxury Leisure Properties International added; “Our current joint client portfolio counts developers of hotel and resort properties operated by hospitality brands such as Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton. Our partnership with Valhalla Associates will really extend our global reach in the luxury end of leisure real estate.”

Former President & Chief Executive Officer of Group RCI in Europe & Middle East, Preben Vestdam, has launched a new venture, Valhalla Associates Limited (www.valhallaassociates.com), to offer consulting and management services to hospitality and leisure real estate developers and investors in Europe, Middle East & Northern Africa.
 
The company is joining the forces of a number of independent consultants with regional expertise in the hospitality and leisurereal estate industry in a network under Valhalla Associates corporate umbrella.
 
In addition to the consulting business, which includes product concept & strategy, market & competitive research, financial feasibility and detailed product design, Valhalla will also offer implementation and management services for the developer’s sales & marketing operation and their property management operation including asset management of mixed‐use hospitality operators.
 
Said Mr. Vestdam, “It might be challenging times to start a new company in the hospitality and real estate industry but I believe that there over he coming years will be a number of hotels and resorts – either in operation or under construction – who will need to review of their business models to adapt to the new economic environment. And this is where Valhalla Associates can support with expertise in how to add various real estate products such as fractional and investment ownership to the traditional hotel business model.”
 
During his career with Group RCI, Mr. Vestdam also founded and established NorthCourse, a leisure real estate advisory and asset management company and Qatar Real Estate Partners, a joint venture between NorthCourse and Qatari Diar focusing on sales & marketing of Qatari Diar’s large luxury leisure real estate portfolio under the Sotheby’s International Realty brokerage syste. Prior to Group RCI, Mr. Vestdam has held senior positions in JPMorgan, American Express and Club Med.

Group RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, today announced new affiliations with multiple properties.

The new affiliates include the Whitewater Village resort in Ontario, Canada, The Mimosa hotel in Miami Beach, Florida; Betsie River Club and Lodge in Traverse City, Michigan; Gull Lake Residence Club in Nisswa, Minnesota and Salmon Falls Resort in Ketichikan, Alaska.

“Each of these resorts is a great addition to the RCI exchange program,” commented Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO, Group RCI.  “These new additions are all great examples of the wide range of vacation experiences our more than 3.7 million subscribing members can enjoy in over 4,000 locations across the globe, from mountains to seashore and everything in between.”

The Whitewater Village Resort in Ontario, Canada is environmentally-friendly, one of the first resorts in Eastern Ontario designed and built using a fully-sustainable development model. The buildings are 40 – 50 percent more energy-efficient than typical cottages, and are built using FSC wood. The resort provides geothermal heating, solar water heaters, Energy Star appliances, solar-powered golf carts, and electric vehicles for transportation in the car-free village. There are currently three cottages completed; 34 cottages will be available by the spring of 2010. Both pet-free and pet-friendly cottages are available to RCI members. Members can enjoy outdoor dining and scenic views from their private screened-in porch, as well as energizing water activities at the resort’s beach house, including canoeing and kayaking.

The Mimosa in Miami Beach, one of Florida’s most popular vacation spots, boasts ten units that offer accommodations ranging from studios to spacious two-room apartments. All rooms have whirlpool baths or Jacuzzis, and give access to a health club and spa. There is also a beach bar and pool, a game and well-equipped fitness center and a café bistro on site. With easy access to the nightlife of Miami’s South Beach and great shopping in nearby Bal Harbour, The Mimosa is a great place for RCI subscribing members to experience all that Miami has to offer.

The Betsie River Lodge and Club in Traverse City, Michigan is currently under construction and will eventually include 135 units. All cabins will enjoy luxury furnishings and sleep up to ten guests. They will have two full baths, custom kitchens, and two beautiful porches. The luxury resort features an all-season pool, basketball court, frisbee golf course, and off-road snowmobile trails. The high-end accommodations give the Betsie River Lodge and Club RCI Gold Crown Resort® status.

Gull Lake Residence Club in Nisswa, Minnesota, currently under construction with five units completed, features a beautiful blend of Mother Nature and resort living. The club features three-bedroom, four-bathroom luxury townhomes that are fully furnished with four fireplaces, five flat-screen high-definition televisions, jetted tubs, wireless Internet and an outdoor grill. The high-end resort is nestled on the beautiful Gull Lake in the Brainerd Lakes area, a popular Midwest vacation destination. Gull Lake has 38 miles of wooded shoreline with a variety of hiking trails, and each townhouse has its own boat slip in the full-service marina. This spectacular resort has RCI Gold Crown Resort status.

Salmon Falls Resort in Ketichikan, Alaska, a breathtaking resort featuring 20 units, offers an array of exciting tours and fishing excursions to help ensure visitors get the adventure vacation they’re looking for. For the fishermen, the resort gives guided Halibut, Salmon and freshwater fishing trips. Other adventure tours include bear watching along the waterways of the Tongass National Forest, glacier viewing near the Canadian border, and sightseeing at the Misty Fjord National Monument. The main hotel building is constructed of rustic Montana Pine and offers guests the feeling of the wilderness with all of the creature comforts. The large and comfortable rooms found in all units have wireless internet services and private baths. Salmon Falls Resort offers RCI subscribing members unique vacations where they can create memories that will last a lifetime.

For additional information on the value-added services offered to leisure real estate developers by Group RCI visit www.grouprci.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 67,000 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, the world’s largest luxury exchange program; vacation rentals, including Endless Vacation RentalsSM , Landal GreenParks®, Novasol®, and more than 30 other 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. For additional information visit www.grouprci.com or the media center of www.wyndhamworldwide.com.