RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange, and The Registry Collection program, the world’s largest luxury holiday exchange program, will organize and co-sponsor three Shared Holiday Ownership Workshops in 2012. The workshops provide essential information for those involved in the shared holiday ownership industry or anyone interested in entering the field. The first workshop takes place in Istanbul, Turkey, on February 6, followed by workshops in Edinburgh, Scotland (April 25) and Vienna, Austria (May 22).

“We are proud to be organizing and co-sponsoring the Shared Holiday Ownership Workshops in 2012,” said Sean Lowe, managing director, EMEAI, RCI. “At RCI, we value education and lively discussion surrounding industry topics, and the interactive programs for these three workshops will provide new information and perspectives to all attendees.”

Topics covered at these workshops will include:

• Why shared holiday ownership?
• The range of shared holiday ownership options including timeshare, fractional and mixed-use models
• How shared holiday products work
• Legal structures
• Efficient and effective sales and marketing
• Customer care

The workshops boast an impressive lineup of speakers who will make appearances in at least one of the workshops, including: Dimitris Manikis, RCI; Paul Mattimoe, Perspective International; Philip Bacon, HVS; Christopher Allen, Hutchinson & Co Trust Company; Eric Gummers, Howard Kennedy; Piers Brown, Fractional Life; Lisa Migani, FNTC; Philip Broomhead, FNTC; and Ioannis Verdelis, Best International.*

The co-sponsors of the workshops are HVS, FNTC, Howard Kennedy, Best International and Citadel.

Visit www.SHOWorkshops.com for more information and booking forms.

*  Speakers may be subject to change

About RCI
RCI is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange with over 4,000 affiliated resorts in approximately 100 countries. RCI pioneered the concept of vacation exchange in 1974, offering members increased flexibility and versatility with their vacation ownership experience. Today, through RCI^® Weeks, the traditional week-for-week exchange system, and RCI Points^®, the industry’s first global points-based exchange system, RCI provides flexible vacation options to its 3.7 million RCI subscribing members each year. RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals and the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN). For additional information visit our media center, rciaffiliates.com or The RCI Blog. RCI also can be found on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

About The Registry Collection program

The Registry Collection program is the world’s largest luxury exchange program comprising over 33,000 members and more than 160 affiliates on six continents. More than 180 properties are available through The Registry Collection program and are either accessible for exchange or under development. From condo hotels and high-end fractional resorts to private residence clubs and fractional yachts, The Registry Collection program provides members with access to an elite network of the finest vacation properties at some of the world’s premier destinations, as well as personal concierge services that are available 24 hours a day. The Registry Collection program is offered by RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN). For additional information visit our media center or theregistrycollection.com.

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), and Welk Resorts, a well-established leader in the vacation ownership industry, today announced the renewal of their master affiliation agreement. The multi-year contract extends the relationship established in 2004 and comprises six existing properties in four sought-after markets, as well as future development.

Welk Mountain Springs

“Our commitment to excellence is seen in everything we do at our resorts, beginning with the design and amenities to delivering the best service to our owners,” said Jon Fredricks, president of Welk Resort Group. “Renewing our partnership with Interval ensures that we will also be able to continue providing industry-leading programs and benefits to members, including the opportunity to exchange their vacations through Interval’s renowned resort network to some of the most highly demanded destinations around the world.”

“We’ve greatly enjoyed working with Jon and the Welk team, who are among the most respected professionals in the shared ownership industry,” added Craig M. Nash, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Interval Leisure Group. “We’re very proud to enhance our relationship and offer our members many more years of exceptional experiences at the outstanding Welk locations.”

The rest of this article is for registered users only.
Login now or Register Free Here for full access to all articles, groups and forums.

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) family of brands, recently announced an agreement with Divi Resorts that gives members at all five of its RCI^®-affiliated resorts in Aruba and St. Maarten the opportunity to opt for RCI Points Platinum memberships.

“RCI Platinum is a premium-tier membership option that opens up a world of vacation opportunities for our members,” said Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. “Since its debut last year, the RCI Platinum membership has been met with positive responses from members who notice that their vacation experiences have been taken to a whole new level, which adds value to the products that affiliates like Divi Resorts offer vacationers.”

RCI members who join the RCI Points Platinum membership tier receive benefits including:

The rest of this article is for registered users only.
Login now or Register Free Here for full access to all articles, groups and forums.

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group, has revealed that its UK members travel extensively, find holiday ownership satisfying, own an average of 1.9 weeks of shared ownership time or its equivalent, and report average household incomes of approximately GBP 70,050 per year. And, more than one-quarter report ownership of a second home — apart from their holiday ownership.

These findings are from Interval International’s 2011 UK Membership Profile, which was developed from a sample of UK-resident vacation owners maintaining an active membership with Interval. The online study was undertaken to provide insights for use in the development of services and benefits to be offered to Interval members and may also be useful to resort developers and prospective industry entrants in designing their products and developing their marketing strategies.

Interval’s UK members spend approximately 28 nights away from home travelling solely for leisure purposes. Additionally, these study respondents indicate a penchant to travel across the European continent during the course of the next two years, boding well for future holiday ownership purchases. Further afield, they have a strong desire to visit the USA and Canada, the Caribbean, and Australia and New Zealand.

The rest of this article is for registered users only.
Login now or Register Free Here for full access to all articles, groups and forums.

Interval International and the City of South Miami recently co-sponsored the 18th Annual Holiday Toy Fest benefiting more than 350 deserving children in the community. Each child had the chance to visit with Santa Claus and select a holiday gift. Other highlights included face painting, arts and crafts activities, as well as some tasty treats.

Interval employees Kathy Olivares and Monica Fonseca with “Santa” Rafael Monteiro and children during the 18th Annual Interval International/City of South Miami Holiday Toy Fest

Interval employees supported the event by donating gifts and volunteering their time during Toy Fest, one of the many community service initiatives that the company hosts throughout the year. Rafael and Virginia Monteiro played Santa and his elf to help make this holiday a special one for the children.

The rest of this article is for registered users only.
Login now or Register Free Here for full access to all articles, groups and forums.

Summer Bay Resorts and RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) family of brands, recently announced a multi-year renewal of their affiliation agreement. With the renewal of this agreement, Summer Bay Resorts’ high-quality group of properties continues to be a part of the RCI^® network of affiliated resorts.

“We have enjoyed a long-standing and successful relationship with Summer Bay Resorts, and are pleased to be continuing that relationship,” said Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. “We are also glad to continue offering these quality properties to our 3.7 million subscribing members, many of whom have enjoyed memorable vacations in Florida, Tennessee and Missouri at these world-class resorts.”

The affiliated resorts that are a part of this agreement are: Summer Bay Resort, Villas at Summer Bay Resort and Houses at Summer Bay Resort of Orlando, Fla.; Gatlinburg Town Square and Gatlinburg Town Village of Gatlinburg, Tenn.; Mountain Meadows Resort of Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Crown Pointe Links of Farmington, Mo.; and Vacation Villas at the Summit of Clarksville, Mo.

The rest of this article is for registered users only.
Login now or Register Free Here for full access to all articles, groups and forums.

New resort information and vacation recommendations make the vacation planning experience almost as much fun as the vacation itself

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) family of brands, recently made new enhancements to the online searching and booking process to improve the member experience and make planning a vacation faster and easier.

“We know that our subscribing members are savvy consumers who like to do their research before choosing a vacation option,” said Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. “To make this process easier, more immersive and fun, we have updated and expanded the information and tools available on our website in order to better showcase the high-quality resorts in RCI’s unparalleled network.”

The rest of this article is for registered users only.
Login now or Register Free Here for full access to all articles, groups and forums.

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), has added to its exchange network Jungle Bay Resort & Spa on Dominica in the West Indies. The mixed-use property has been featured in publications, including National Geographic Traveler, the New York Times, and Travel + Leisure as a model of ecotourism, while winning numerous awards for its sustainable development.

“Jungle Bay is recognized as one of the top ecotourism resorts in the Caribbean owing to its commitment to operate in an environmentally responsible manner,” said David Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing for Interval International. “Our members will appreciate the care that was taken to develop this special retreat and enjoy the natural beauty of their surroundings.”

The resort’s 35 treehouse-style cabins are tucked away on a hillside on 55 acres near Morne Trois Pitons National Park, one of the 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Caribbean. It was built in accordance with the international sustainable tourism guidelines set by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES).

The rest of this article is for registered users only.
Login now or Register Free Here for full access to all articles, groups and forums.

Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN), today announced the appointment of Bob Milne to the position of president, Wyndham Vacation Rentals North America. In this newly-created role, Milne will be responsible for leading and growing the company’s North American rental businesses which include such well-known brands as ResortQuest, Steamboat Resorts and The Resort Company. He will be based in Parsippany, N.J. and report directly to Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, Wyndham Exchange & Rentals.

“We are extremely excited to have someone with Bob’s experience lead our North American operations for Wyndham Vacation Rentals,” said Ballotti. “Bob’s reputation, integrity and passion for this business will allow us to continue to grow within the fully-serviced vacation rentals market across the U.S.”

The rest of this article is for registered users only.
Login now or Register Free Here for full access to all articles, groups and forums.

FractionalExchange.com has announced that Namaste Oasis Private Residence Club has selected FractionalExchange.com for the vacation exchange requirements of its residences in Playa Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica.

Located in the Pacific northwest area of Costa Rica, Nosara is widely known for its surfing and its yoga retreats. It is well-protected in the environmental sense, and currently remains one of the most pristine and authentic parts of Costa Rica. According to developer Jeff Grosshandler, Nosara is an area that remains closest to “small-town Costa Rica.”

“We’re excited about our affiliation with FractionalExchange.com,” says Jeff. “From day one, our goal has been to offer our fractional members the best experience. FractionalExchange.com fits nicely with our plan, as they offer boutique, high quality properties for exchange, and strive to keep things simple. It’s very apparent their standards are in line with ours. We are anxious for other FractionalExchange.com members to see our properties, and know they will want to arrange an exchange as soon as possible.”

The rest of this article is for registered users only.
Login now or Register Free Here for full access to all articles, groups and forums.