VenturesNew AffiliAtioNs iN chiNA RCI continues to expand its network throughout China.

the stAge is setVacation ownership is poised for rapid expansion with China in the spot light.

iNNovAtioN drives successWe examine the next generation of industry technology.

THE BUSINESS OF VACATION2013 ISSUE 2

A NEW FRONTIERChina, the world’s largest travel market

Technology has reshaped the world in which we live. We’re connected 24 hours a day, seven days a week; we work faster; everything is accessible via a device that fits in the palm of the hand. It’s critical to remember that our

owners also have access to the power of that technology, and to reach them we must communicate with them through the channels where they now spend more time. Our next phase of innovative solutions is all about our unwavering focus on technology to help you, our affiliated resort developers, manage your business better and increase your results. To ensure our future, we must tell our story better and more dynamically, using social media and an incredible online experience to accomplish that.

Technology is no longer one-size-fits-all, and this flexibility lets us customize solutions. We’re launching new data and analytical services for RCI affiliated resorts that are built on platforms already proven to work for us. We are very excited about these new services-especially since we know the impact they can have on your marketing programs and inventory management, both critical to your bottom line.

Technology is essential, but so are talented people. Here at RCI, we have a team of dedicated associates working on your behalf in RCI’s offices around the world. They provide the knowledge, experience and passion behind the technology that helps drive the next generation of owners to this industry. RCI has invested heavily in technology and the people who drive that technology for the past five years, and one of the biggest insights from our journey is this:

When it comes to technology, it’s easy to follow. But to be first to market with products and services that are relevant to growing our industry, it takes resources, expertise and passion combined with an unstoppable commitment to support and provide solutions for you. It is this that differentiates RCI from other exchange companies.

Gordon GurnikPresident, RCI

G O R D O N G U R N I KPresident, RCI

MessAge froM rci

RCI has invested heavily in technology and the people who drive that technology for the past five years.

dear rci affiliate,

No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from RCI. RCI Ventures® publishes opinions of many knowledgeable individuals. These opinions are not a substitute for legal, accounting or other professional advice. The views and conclusions expressed in RCI Ventures® are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of RCI nor of its parent or affiliates. The information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources the proprietors believe to be correct. However, no legal liability can be accepted for any errors. RCI Ventures is a registered trademark of RCI, LLC. ©2013 RCI, LLC.

• E V E N T S02 New Affiliation in china RCI welcomes Empark and Howard Johnson resorts

04 rci roadshows in china RCI takes to the road

06 the registry collection Three new luxurious Anantara Resorts

07 timeshare regulations Authorities discuss industry direction

08 Memorandum of understanding RCI commits to promoting China

10 shanghai world travel fair RCI stirs up a crowd

• N E W S11 visa reforms Visa process eases in major markets

12 New sales deck Anantara Vacation Club and Karma Royal Group open impressive new sales decks

14 rci go green Award 2013 winners announced

15 Bali’s delMango Modern eco-luxury living

16 New Affiliated resorts RCI welcomes new resorts to the family

• I N - D E P T H19 industry technology The next generation

22 china, 102 Billion in 2012 The largest world travel market

• T E C H N O L O G Y28 Your reviews Are in Online reviews - what travel companies need to know

• T R AV E L T R E N D S30 world tourism trends The top 10 destinations

• I N D U S T R Y S O L U T I O N S31 creating envy in the sales centre Vacation tracking tools

32 rciventures.com Log on to join in!

• F I N A L T H O U G H T33 Mobile friendly websites Ensure your website functions on all devices

Ventures

tABle of coNteNts

VenturesNew AffiliAtioNs iN chiNA RCI continues to expand its network throughout China.

the stAge is setVacation ownership is poised for rapid expansion with China in the spot light.

iNNovAtioN drives successWe examine the next generation of industry technology.

THE BUSINESS OF VACATION2013 ISSUE 2

A NEW FRONTIERChina, the world’s largest travel market

front coverHainan Island, China.

Paradise (this page)Phuket, Thailand, was an obvious choice for Anantara Vacation Club’s new luxury resort.

RCI Members now have a greater selection of resorts to exchange into China, with the affiliation of Empark Hotels and Resorts Group. The affiliation agreement includes seven resorts located in some of China’s key tourist destinations, offering highly desirable accomodations and facilities.

The signing ceremony was held at Empark Grand Hotel, Beijing, and was attended by more than 10 different media representatives, such as China Daily and China Travel. Six VIP guests graced the event, including the Deputy Secretary and Vice Chairman of the Leisure Vacation branch of China Tourism Association, the Vice Chairman of the China Tourist Hotel Association and the

Head of Sales for Tripadvisor, China. “In cooperation with RCI, Empark

Hotels & Resorts Group is excited to launch a shared ownership product for the growing Chinese consumer market,” said Mr Lan Yang, Vice President of Empark Hotels and Resorts Group. “Our established brand will further strengthen the shared ownership options for Chinese consumers and our future owners will be able to enjoy the benefits of shared ownership through RCI, both in China and abroad. We believe that through mutual understanding and cooperation, Empark Hotels & Resorts Group and RCI can play an even more important role in the development of the Chinese tourism market.”

2 2013 I S S U E 2

New AffiliAtioN iN AsiA

rci welcomes empark (Clockwise from top left)Beijing by night. Adrian Lee, Managing Director for Asia, RCI Asia Pacific, presenting the Affiliation Plaque to Lan Yang, Vice President, Empark Hotel & Resort Group. Empark Grand Hotel. Lisa Li, Director of Sales & Marketing, Empark Hotel & Resort Group; Vivien Lin, Managing Director, Club Gold Interactive Marketing Co Ltd; Adrian Lee; Lan Yang; Xu Ting, Vice Secretary-general, China Tourism Leisure Association; Gavin Cheong, Director of Business Development, RCI Asia Pacific; Shirley Meng, Account Manager, RCI Asia Pacific; Tania Sim, Manager, Affiliate Marketing, RCI Asia Pacific; Liu Jia, Vice President,  China Tourism Leisure Association

21 August 2013, Beijing, China ABout eMPArkEmpark Hotels & Resorts Group is a leading developer in China that currently owns and manages 16 premier hotels and resorts. Empark Hotels & Resorts Group comprises over 8,000 hotel rooms, with locations in Beijing, Xi’an, Hefei, Chongqing, Changsha, Fuzhou, Guian, Guiyang, Ningbo, Kunming, Tengchong and Xishuangbanna. The 16 properties cover a full spectrum of hotel styles, from luxury hotels in major capital cities to beautiful resorts in emerging leisure destinations. All the hotels and resorts are owned, developed and managed by Empark Hotels & Resorts Group to ensure consistent service, quality and customer experience. For additional information visit Empark’s website at www.empark.com.cn.

rci welcomes empark hotels and resorts group to growing china portfolio

R C I V E N T U R E S 3

EVENTS

The signing ceremony was held at Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen, with approximately 500 guests and 6 media representatives present at the event. Besides showcasing the luxurious resort that is scheduled to open its doors in 2015, guests were treated to a series of performances and 6 lucky winners walked away with prizes such as Gucci scarves and a trip for 2 to the Maldives.

“We are excited about our partnership with RCI, as it will add more value to our vacation ownership product and give our members a wide variety of

travelling options, both in China and abroad,” said Mr Zhou Xin, Managing Director of the holding company that owns and manages Howard Johnson Resorts and Spa in Huizhou. “We hope that through this affiliation, Huizhou peninsula will gain greater domestic and international exposure and therefore boost the popularity of this region as a travel destination. We are rapidly expanding in the tourism real estate industry, and we look forward to working together with RCI for our future developments.”

wAter droP hotelHoward Johnson Resorts and Spa is located along the Nianping Peninsula in Huizhou, a prime seafront area that is earmarked to be the next up and coming beachfront resort haven. Often referred to as the “Water Drop Hotel”, it has unique teardrop designs on each of the 5 hotel building façades to resemble water droplets from the vast sea. The luxurious resort consists of both hotel rooms and villa suites, a 60,000 square metre Bali themed garden with 28 hot spring ponds and 7 themed swimming pools, including a 100 metre infinity pool that faces the paranomic South China Sea.

sANYA of guANgdoNgKnown as the “Sanya of Guangdong province” for its beautiful shoreline on the South China Sea, Huizhou is one of China’s top tourist cities and is gaining popularity among locals looking for a relaxing getaway. There are more than 900 attractions to explore, out of which 6 are listed as national nature reserve protection spots. The picturesque Double Moon Bay is popular among tourists who appreciate a quiet day exploring the marine life and listening to anecdotes told by old fishermen. The Huizhou West Lake is one of the biggest attractions in the city; its beauty is comparable to the famous West Lake in Hangzhou. The majestic Loufu Mountain is the one of the ten Taoist Mountains in China and revered by Taoists as ‘The Seventh Cave Heaven’.

With dance performances, attractive lucky draw prizes and a sumptuous tea reception, RCI and Howard Johnson Resorts and Spa celebrated the new affiliation partnership with a blast.

13 October 2013, Shenzhen, China

New AffiliAtioN iN AsiA A new partnership(Clockwise from top)

An official plaque presented by Mr

Adrian Lee, Managing Director of Asia, RCI

Asia Pacific, to Mr Zhou Xin, Managing

Director of the holding company managing

Howard Johnson Re-sorts and Spa. Guests

mingle before the start of the event.

rci affiliates “water drop hotel” in huizhou, china

4 2013 I S S U E 2

EVENTS

RCI is always looking for new ways to help grow the vacation ownership industry and support affiliated resorts. Besides providing sales training and marketing support, RCI also actively participates in events organized by affiliated resorts. This provides an opportunity to interact with members, share the benefits of RCI Membership, and how members can leverage on both their home resort and RCI to explore the world.

rci takes to the road

rci roAdshows

2.

1.

3.

4.

5.

HUANMEI INTERNATIONAL VACATION CLUB (HIVC) MEMBER ROADSHOWChengdu, China - 23 APR 2013

ASTORIA PLAZAMEMBER ROADSHOWManila, Philippines - 3 MAR 2013

PALACE VACATION CLUB WELLNESS CARNIVALSelangor, Malaysia - 23 JUN 2013

ICONIC VACATION CLUB MEMBER ROADSHOWSepang Gold Coast, Malaysia - 22 JUN 2013

EMPARK VACTION CLUB MEMBER ROADSHOWKunming, China - 14 SEP 2013

2.

1.

4.

3.

5.

R C I V E N T U R E S 5

EVENTS

Anantara vacation club adds three new properties to the registry collectionAnantara vacation club Phuket Mai khao is located in beautiful Phuket, Thailand, between Mai Khao Beach and the lush forests of Siranath National Park. Guests at this resort will enjoy villas with private pools and just steps away from the beautiful beach. The resort, which was the winner of the 2013 Southeast Asia Property Award and 2013 Thailand Property Award, features luxurious amenities including an infinity pool with swim up bar, three restaurants and bars, the Anantara spa, a fitness center, a children’s club, a boutique gallery and more. Just minutes from the resort, adventurers can take in the destination’s sea caves, mangrove forests, coral reefs and beautiful islands.

Anantara vacation club Bophut koh samui offers an equally lavish vacation experience in Koh Samui, Thailand. Nestled in Bophut Bay, the resort boasts tropical gardens that meet the soft sand of the resort’s beach. Visitors looking to do more than relax by the sea can take Thai cooking or beach yoga classes, sail on the beautiful bay, windsurf or snorkel, or make use of the fitness center. Travelers can also venture out into Koh Samui to visit the local attractions including Big Buddha, Fisherman’s Village and Khunaram Temple.

Anantara vacation club Bali seminyak in South Bali redefines luxury with its one, two and three-bedroom villas. Each villa offers its own semi outdoor living room and dining area, private pool, sunken indoor whirlpool, sun deck, outdoor shower and much more. Outside the villas, guests will find the onsite spa, fitness center, beach club, restaurant and bar. Seminyak gives visitors access to stunning beaches, spiritual temples, local art, cultural attractions, chic bars and gourmet restaurants.

“We are pleased to affiliate our resorts with The Registry Collection and provide our Club Owners with the opportunity to experience additional luxury holidays through the exchange program,” said June Harrison, Senior Vice President Club Operations, Anantara Vacation Club. “The quality of the resorts and the worldwide destinations offered by The Registry Collection will certainly appeal to our owners.”

for more information, visit theregistrycollection.com

luxury redefined (top to bottom) Tropical paradise can be found at Anantara Vacation Club, Seminyak, Bali. Poolside at Anantara Vacation Club Bophut, Koh Samui 1 bedroom villa, Thailand. 2 bedroom villa at Anantara Vacation Club, Phuket Mai Khao, Thailand.

6 2013 I S S U E 2

EVENTS

THE WORLD’S LARGEST LuXuRY EXCHANGE PROGRAMrecently welcomed three new Anantara Vacation Club properties in Asia: • Anantara Vacation Club Phuket Mai Khao, • Anantara Vacation Club Bophut • Anantara Vacation Club Bali Seminyak.

“These beautiful properties all offer the best of exotic Southeast Asia, with the luxury amenities and high-end service that Anantara is known for,” said Gregg Anderson, Global Vice President, The Registry Collection program.

“Our members will be thrilled with these new resort opportunities for their travels to Thailand and Indonesia.”

R C I V E N T U R E S 7

EVENTS

RCI meets with China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), Beijing Administration Bureau for Industry (AIC) and Beijing Consumer Association (BCA)

tiMeshAre regulAtioNs

31 May 2013, Beijing, China

the first step to achieve this objective. Most of consumer complaints in the timeshare industry are due to the limited understanding of timeshare practices and the nature of the product.

Although currently there is no specific timeshare regulatory framework, other generic laws and regulations such as contract and consumer laws should be able to support the industry for now. Industry leaders such as RCI should be able to make a difference by promoting standard procedures to eliminate non-professional behavior.

delegates meet(Clockwise from left)Shirley Meng, Account Manager, Asia Pacific, RCI; Lang Danke, Director of Consumer Protection and Complaint Department of Beijing Consumer Association (BCA); Cao Zhongsheng, Division Chief of Consumer Protection Division at Beijing Administration of Industry and Commerce (AIC); Wong Teck Kow, Senior Counsel, Asia Pacific, RCI; Dong Qing, Vice President and Secretary General of BCA; Qu Jianhui, Vice Secretary General of BCA

Mr Wong Teck Kow, Senior Legal Counsel of RCI Asia Pacific, and Ms Shirley Meng, Account Manager of RCI Asia Pacific met with Mr Duan Guoqiang, Division Chief of the Quality Supervision Division at the Industry Supervision and Management Department of CNTA with the objective to build up their awareness of timeshare and RCI, as well as to discuss how RCI can move forward in the China market. Although the timeshare industry is not under the jurisdiction of Mr Duan’s division or the CNTA, as well as a lack of a regulatory framework to

guide the industry’s development, he believes some efforts can be made to elevate the industry’s practices to a more professional level, and provide better consumer protection. This formal introduction opened the door to further ongoing communication with CNTA for future opportunities.

The meeting with Beijing AIC and BCA was to follow up on the initiative to establish a long-term relationship with BCA to strengthen consumer protection in the timeshare industry. Both Beijing AIC and BCA are supportive of this initiative and agree that consumer education should be

Establish Hainan as one of the top international vacation ownership destinations based on vacation ownership models that have been successfully implemented in the global market.

Promote Hainan as a tourist destination through RCI’s global network of more than 4,000 affiliated resorts and approximately 3.7 million members worldwide to attract more international and domestic tourists.

Introduce vacation ownership practices to the local tourism industry to enrich the diversity of vacation ownership products and increase the average length of stay.

Build the good reputation and healthy development of the vacation ownership industry in Hainan.

Create a supportive and favourable regulatory environment for vacation ownership practices, making it attractive for potential domestic and international investors.

Establish an industry self-regulatory mechanism that complements the existing government supervision to promote ethical and professional business operations in Hainan’s vacation ownership industry.

RCI collaborates with the Chinese government to develop the Vacation Ownership Industry in China

Mr. Wang Yuzheng, Deputy Director General of the HTDC commented that the Commission welcomes international companies such as RCI to operate in Hainan, and is positive about working with leading industry player – HNA Hotel Group. He believes this will help promote Hainan in the global market and enrich the vacation products customized to the region to attract more tourists and provide a better holiday experience.

“RCI is honoured to be part of the Hainan Tourism Development Commission’s strategy to contribute to the establishment of Hainan International Tourism Island, and to work with HNA Hotel Group to support this goal,” said Adrian Lee, Managing Director for Asia, RCI Asia Pacific. “This MOU has a strategic importance for the future of the vacation ownership industry in Hainan and China, and I believe that this is the right time to strengthen the foundation for vacation ownership in China. RCI is committed to working with government organizations and industry players to contribute to the sustainable growth of the industry, particularly in setting up a robust regulatory environment, creating appropriate industry and business models, educating the public on the product and implementing suitable consumer safeguards in Hainan.”

Mr. Bai Haibo, Chairman of HNA Hotel Group also expressed his confidence in this tripartite cooperation. He pointed out that HNA Hotel Group, the leading industry player in Hainan, has been working with RCI since 2006 and will build HNA as a successful industry role model in Hainan tourism market to attract more industry players to the region.

rci, hainan tourism development commission and hNA hotel group sign Memorandum of understanding

MeMorANduM of uNderstANdiNg

1.

4.

5.

6.

2.

3.

from left: Shirley Meng, Account Manager, RCI Asia Pacific; Wong Teck Kow, Senior Counsel, RCI Asia Pacific; Gavin Cheong, Director of Business Development, RCI Asia Pacific; Adrian Lee, Managing Director for Asia, RCI Asia Pacific; Gordon Gurnik, President, RCI; He Xi Qing, Vice Governor, The People’s Government of Hainan Province; Lu Zhi Yuan, Assistant Governor of Hainan Provincial Government and Director General of Hainan Tourism Development Commission; Dai Zhen, Deputy Director General, Foreign & Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Hainan Province; Bai Hai Bo, CEO & Chairman, HNA Hospitality Group; William Zhao, General Manager of Brand & Project Development department, HNA Hotel & Resorts Group

from left: William Zhao; Wang Yuzheng, Deputy Director General,  Hainan Tourism Development Commission; Adrian Lee

8 2013 I S S U E 2

EVENTS

RCI, the Hainan Tourism Development Commission (HTDC) and HNA Hotel Group signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in October 2013,to formalise their mutual collaboration to introduce vacation ownership to Hainan’s tourism industry and promote Hainan as a top tourist destination through the establishment of the Hainan International Tourism Island.

The agreement builds on the existing relationship RCI has with the HTDC and HNA Hotel Group, in its continuous effort to promote the benefits of vacation ownership in Hainan. Each MOU signatory will endeavor to work together to achieve the following 6 objectives:

RCI has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Yangshuo County Government, with the same objective to promote Yangshuo as one of the top international tourist destinations.

The signing ceremony was held at the Yangshuo Riverside Resort Hotel on 18 October 2013 in the presence of representatives from RCI, the Yangshuo County Government and other industry partners. Mr Gordon Gurnik, President of RCI, Mr Adrian Lee, Managing Director for Asia, RCI Asia Pacific and Mr Ding Dongdi, Yangshuo County Governor were among the VIP guest who were present to grace the event.

Each MOU signatory will endeavor to promote Yangshuo as a tourist destination, and to help introduce vacation ownership practices to the local tourism industry to enrich the diversity of vacation products. The Yangshuo County Government will create a favourable regulatory environment for vacation ownership practices, making it attractive for potential domestic and international investors.

“The signing of the MOU is timely and of great significance,” said Gordon Gurnik, President of RCI. “It commits us to work together to establish Yangshuo as one of the top international vacation ownership destinations - based on vacation ownership models that have been successfully implemented in the global market over the past half-century. RCI will continue to work alongside Chinese government bodies to facilitate the industry’s healthy growth and sustainable development, and we are honoured to be an instrument in this transformation.”

Strong economic growth in China has made it the

number one tourism source market in the world, spending $102 billion on travel abroad in 2012. There is now an unprecedented demand for leisure travel and accommodation, and vacation ownership is poised to help meet that demand. Today, the vacation ownership industry has generated over $45 billion in direct economic output, with 785,000 intervals sold and total sales of $14 billion. In Asia, vacation ownership property revenue is almost a half million dollars and supports almost 20,000 jobs in the region. RCI’s inbound guests to resorts in China have increased more than sevenfold since 2004, and outbound RCI China members to other resorts in the world have increased more than eightfold.

RCI continues to be at the forefront, leading the industry to build cohesiveness, credibility and momentum with key stakeholders. RCI is preparing for exceptional growth and development opportunities in China, and we look forward to delivering vacation exchange to the growing number of affluent and savvy travelers who demand more.

rci and Yangshuo county government sign Memorandum of understanding

Above left Top row, third from left: Liu Zhan Bing, Party Branch Secretary, Guangxi Bagui Investment Group.Second row from left: Tang Ling Feng, Deputy Governor & Standing Member of Yangshuo Committee, Yangshuo County; Gordon Gurnik, President, RCI; Ding Dongdi; Adrian Lee;

Above right (left to right): Ding Dongdi, Yangshuo County Governor; Adrian Lee, Managing Director for Asia, RCI Asia Pacific

Yangshuo Boats using trained cormorants to fish against a stunning Yangshuo backdrop, China.

R C I V E N T U R E S 9

EVENTS

RCI partnered with four affiliated resorts in China to participate in the Shanghai World Travel Fair 2013, held on 9 – 12 May 2013. RCI worked with affiliated resorts Club Vac, Iconic Vacation Club, Shanghai Freedom Vacation Club and Shanghai Runner Vacation Club as part of its continuous efforts to promote the benefits of vacation ownership.

Shanghai World Travel Fair is one of the most influential tourism events in China. It is designed to be a platform for both domestic and international tourism players to showcase their travel services to the vast market in China. The recently-concluded fair featured more than 500 exhibitors from more than 50 countries and welcomed a total of 77,000 visitors.

This was the first time RCI partnered

with its affiliated resorts to participate in a consumer travel event, and the combined presence generated great interest in vacation ownership. Visitors to the booth received a goodie bag, travel vouchers and a chance to win one of several prizes for completing a simple survey. A total of 30 prizes worth RMB 64,000 were given away every hour at the booth, generating positive attention from both the media and the general public.

“The World Travel Fair is an effective avenue to generate publicity and positive interest for both RCI and our affiliates,” said Gavin Cheong, Director of Business Development for RCI Asia Pacific. “It is a win-win collaboration and we look forward to working together with our affiliates to participate in future events.”

rci stirs up a crowd at the shanghai world travel fair

shANghAi world trAvel fAir

9 – 12 May 2013, Shanghai, China

The World Travel Fair

is an effective avenue to

generate publicity and

positive interest for both

RCI and our affiliates

—gavin cheong, Director of Business

Development, RCI Asia Pacific

10 2013 I S S U E 2

EVENTS

rci applauds easing of visa process in major markets

visA reforMs

This is excellent news for everyone in

the British and Indian tourism sectors

—sean lowe, Managing Director RCI Europe,

Middle East, Africa and India

R C I V E N T U R E S 1 1

RCI has welcomed moves to make it easier for China’s residents to visit the UK, and for Britons to travel to India.

The UK Government recently confirmed a move to simplify the visa application process to make it easier for Chinese visitors to travel to the country, while British visitors should soon be able to obtain a visa on landing at several Indian airports after filling in an online form before arrival. The facility was introduced to residents of Germany, France, Spain, Russia and Poland earlier this year.

Changes to UK visa applications

announced by chancellor George Osborne will see the introduction of a 24-hour ‘super priority’ service that will make it easier for Chinese business leaders to visit the UK, as well as a separate pilot scheme designed to simplify the process for tourists. The latter will see selected Chinese travel agents able to apply for UK visas by submitting the application form used for the EU Schengen visa.

It’s hoped the move will boost the number of Chinese visitors to the UK, a market that is growing in importance, not least because they are typically high-spending tourists.

seAN loweSean Lowe, Managing Director RCI Europe, Middle East, Africa and India, welcomed the moves.

“This is excellent news for everyone in the British and Indian tourism sectors, from accommodation providers – including our many affiliated timeshare resorts – to visitor attractions, restaurants to shopping centres,” he said.

“China is one of the fastest growing and highest spending markets for international travel, but the UK’s complicated visa application process has prevented the Chinese from visiting in greater numbers. The UK is a much sought-after destination among the Chinese, but many travellers have been opting to visit other countries in Europe due to our complex visa system.

“The changes will also make the UK more attractive to invest and do business with, and will hopefully also benefit our affiliated timeshare resorts, many of which are unique properties in wonderful locations and are especially appealing to foreign visitors.

“While India’s wealth of wonderful places to see, including many historical and natural attractions, as well as its iconic culture, are always going to appeal to travelers. The new visa process should make them even more attractive and accessible to UK residents.”

NEW

S

Anantara Vacation Club, one of Asia’s leading shared ownership organizations, has opened its first offsite preview centre in Shanghai, China.

Located on the 21st floor of the brand new Kerry Centre Tower II, right in the heart of Jing’an District – the most dynamic and distinctive CBD and commercial area of Shanghai – the new Preview Centre offers a luxurious preview experience to discover the uniqueness of Anantara Vacation Club.

Harold Derrah, CEO of Anantara Vacation Club, commented, “We are very excited to open our first Preview Centre in Shanghai. China is one of the most important markets for us and we are confident of the potential for strong growth here. In addition to Shanghai, we also recently opened a Preview Centre in Singapore and our first purpose-built Club Resort in Phuket, adding to Anantara Vacation Club’s growing portfolio”.

The Anantara Vacation Club

Shanghai Preview Centre is a beautiful contemporary Shanghainese design reflective of the luxury spaces found within Anantara properties. It is a simple but highly stylish space featuring integrated high tech audio and video systems while maintaining a classic elegance.

Rick Owen, Regional Vice President for Anantara Vacation Club adds, “Our intention has been to extend the warmth and hospitality of Anantara in every design decision, while developing one of the finest preview centres anywhere. We are proud to have established a model of excellence within cosmopolitan Shanghai”.

The opening of Shanghai Preview Centre marks an important stage in Anantara Vacation Club’s evolution, enhancing the Anantara brand that is renowned for delivering experiences steeped in indigenous luxury and refined Asian hospitality. In just 2.5 years, the company’s short span

12 2013 I S S U E 2

By MATT McDANIEL

of operation to date, Anantara Vacation Club has rapidly expanded in the market with ownership sales continuing to exceed all expectations.

Anantara Vacation Club’s portfolio includes the brand new signature resort in Phuket, luxury private villas on the islands of Koh Samui, Thailand and Bali in Indonesia, along with a selection of suites in Bangkok, Thailand, Sanya on Hainan Island in China, and in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas launched Anantara Vacation Club in 2010. The club is a unique shared ownership concept which offers a points based multiple destination flexible shared holiday ownership option for discerning consumers wishing to holiday in Asia and beyond.

Anantara vacation club opens shanghai Preview centre

NEW

S

opening (Above clockwise): Harold Derrah, CEO of Anantara Vacation Club; Dong Hai Ming, Director, General Office of the People’s Government of Jing’an District, Shanghai; William E. Heinecke, CEO Minor International Public; Rick Owen, Regional Vice President, Sales and Marketing – North East Asia, Anantara Vacation Club

William E. Heinecke sending his well wishes to the Shanghai team

Harold Derrah “painting” the eye of the lion to start the lion dance ceremony.

Karma Royal Group (KRG) is proud to announce the opening of its latest and grandest sales deck in Jimbaran, Bali.

Having worked in Jimbaran for close to 12 years it was high time to upgrade the existing premises – but instead KRG went the whole hog and built a totally new deck with all the latest accoutrements to aid sales and provide a platform for future growth. “Bali is booming and we needed to move to a bigger place just to keep up with tour-flow”, said Mark Thomson, Area Sales Director. “We already have a second deck at the other end of town in Seminyak but the new Jimbaran office is really amazing. We have room for up to 35 tables and intend to keep them all humming 7 days a week. This really sends out a statement that Bali is bigger and better than ever!”

The Bali operation boasts state-of-the-art graphics, interactive media, LED monitors and personal tablets, plus a sales line of over 50 reps

covering English, Indonesian, Russian and Chinese languages. With a new international airport just opened and the Government is pouring money into new infrastructure in Bali, KRG has chosen the right time to develop this new sales facility.

KRG is the largest timeshare company in the Asian region and one of the largest independent timeshare operators in the world. Currently expanding into Europe and the Americas, its heartland is in Asia, with interests in India, Indonesia, Thailand, Fiji, Australia and the Middle East. KRG comprises three main hospitality brands – Karma, Chakra and Royal Resorts plus ancillary brands such as Crown Finance Services, Karma Spa and Karma Beach Clubs. It has developed 25 resorts and created over 60,000 timeshare members in the Asia Pacific region and is the longest operating company of its kind in the region by some distance.

Bali is booming

and we needed to

move to a bigger

place just to keep up

with tour-flow

karma royal group opens new Bali sales deck

—Mark thomson, Area Sales Director

R C I V E N T U R E S 1 3

NEW

S

14 2013 I S S U E 2

RCI announced the winners of its innovative “Go Green Awards” for its affiliated resorts in the Pacific region at the Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC) conference recently held at the Gold Coast.

Charisse Cox, Managing Director for Pacific, RCI Asia Pacific said they were pleased to once again partner with Griffith University to deliver a “best practice” self-assessment product and was very impressed with the caliber of applications.

“Four years ago RCI Pacific pioneered the first timeshare ‘Go Green’ program in the Pacific and for RCI worldwide. The award criteria are similar to the top green awards and certifications in circulation within the tourism industry.

“Now in its fourth year, this award echoes RCI’s continued dedication to encourage and acknowledge the delivery of best practices for our affiliated eco-friendly resorts,” Ms. Cox said.

Wyndham Treetops in Coffs Harbour took out first prize, demonstrating outcomes that are possible when receptive and committed senior management work effectively with motivated and innovative middle management to achieve desired environmental objectives.

go greeN AwArds

rci announces go green Award winners for 2013

Club Paihia, this year’s Go Green runner up, is a two-time first prize winner and a runner up in the first year and deserves special recognition for their consistency, proving how cost effective environmentally responsible practices can be implemented with an older property through refurbishments and ongoing site planning.

The Edgewater Club, this year’s third place runner up, displayed a commitment to implementing environmental initiatives, both interior and exterior, that add to the attractiveness of the units and the site while reducing costs and carbon footprint. This is taking place on a site where many facilities and services are shared with another resort.

The award consists of two distinct phases, with “best practice” self assessment judged on the specific criteria followed by a site inspection at the three finalist resorts.

Dr. David Weaver, Professor of Tourism Research at Griffith University, performed the adjudicator role again this year, evaluating resorts on Energy, Waste, Supply Chain and Water Management, Site, Nature and Cultural Environment, Facility Design Elements, Community and Guest Engagement. Judging is weighted according to available opportunity, for example,

NEW

S

an older and smaller resort with restrictions in prior construction has less opportunity than a newer and larger resort with advantages of size and access to green technology during construction and this and other factors were taken into consideration.

Dr. Weaver explained that the outcomes that Wyndham Treetops displayed included a visually stunning natural landscaping program.

“This program has been initiated just in the past two years, which uses minimal energy and hosts a variety of native wildlife.”

“Equally impressive are interior and infrastructure initiatives such as the progressive installation of LED lighting and state-of-the-art low energy pool pump facilities. All these initiatives not only exemplify best practice environmental management but enhance the quality of the resort experience,” explained Dr. Weaver.

Dr. Weaver accentuated special acknowledgment to Club Paihia adding, “These practices, which included comprehensive recycling, nature-scaping and green supply chain management, are being successfully progressed in the face of challenges associated with steep slopes, maturing native vegetation, and a wet maritime climate.”

To recognise their commitment to sustainable environmental practices, each of the finalists received cash donations to further expand their environmental programs.

go green Awards (Above left to right) Gary Collard, Manager of Wyndham Tree Tops Resort accepts the award from Andrew Heslehurst, Director Resort Services RCI Pacific. Wyndham Treetops in Coffs Harbour takes out first place honours.

R C I V E N T U R E S 1 5

NEW

S

Bali’s delMango – modern eco-luxury living The Registry Collection continues to strengthen their green friendly portfolio of luxury resorts.

Bali’s newest and most iconic urban-eco resort, deLMango Villa estate recently opened its doors in August 2013 and is already receiving rave reviews for its blend of luxury and sustainable eco-conscious design.

The luxury 5-star boutique resort is a contemporary fusion of avant-garde design and neo Balinese flair, designed by internationally acclaimed Balinese architect Yoka Sara. The interior design is the work of Nobuyuki Narabayashi, former lead designer of creative design group Super Potato in Japan which specializes in the use of recycled materials. The concept for deLMango not only had to marry eco-sustainability with luxury, it had to theme around the huge, century old mango tree at the entrance of the property.

The end result? 12 stunning spacious villas with eco-credentials that would make Mother Nature proud.

The impressive reception lounge is built with a striking circular bamboo cabana, iron wood and black natural stone flooring; no doubt the centrepiece of the estate. By night the space is lit to resemble a glowing sphere, with shafts of light permeating the bamboo stalks.

Recycled timber decks and boardwalks link the spacious villas that are hidden away in its own private gardens. The villas vary in size, but their interiors follow the same understated theme and feature traditional materials such as earthy slabs of volcanic stone, granite and pale terrazzo along with warm teakwood. The bath is constructed using natural stone and glass panels, giving the illusion of being outdoors.

Pool decks, flooring and furniture have been created from recycled wood while the soft furnishings are coloured naturally from local fruits and leaves. All black water undergoes a bio-system treatment while recycled water is used for the gardens. The estate uses an ultra-filtration system in all its water facilities to eliminate the use of chlorine, and water heaters run on gas.

Grand pillars are positioned non-intrusively to hold the curved roof with a slight gap between the roof and the walls, allowing for natural light and air circulation. The roof garden is designed for keeping the rooms cool, which also reduces the need for air conditioning. The green initiative is further incorporated throughout the

About delMango villa estate

deLMango is located in the heart of Seminyak, the most vibrant area in Bali. It boasts the highest concentration of international restaurants, bars and chic boutiques, attracting merry makers from all over the world to its playground of beautiful beachs and happening nightlife. deLMango is an oasis of beauty and harmony in the midst of all the excitement going on in the cosmopolitan neighbourhood; a stay in one of the gorgeous villas is a must for those who cherish their privacy, but want all the luxuries and services of a 5-star establishment.

New resort(Above left to right) Open-style living throughout the whole estate delivers a sense of peace and relaxation all within a stone throws of the center area. Accessible and out-of-the-ordinary villa design gives you the power to move around and offers the luxury of space.

(Left to right) Playful curves abound within the villa and include an alluring and open bathroom suite with soothing ambient lighting and the guarantee of a refreshing shower every time. Boasting a full range of services from the restaurant and spa and even 24-hour room service and security. Not to mention the concierge and butler with flair and passion for style and service.

resort by the use of energy saving light globes and LED TV screens.

As a final added touch, each generously spaced villa has a pocket garden that holds its own mango tree to stay true to the villa name ~ deLMango Villa Estate. These little eco-savvy design elements that are seamlessly integrated into its opulent design not only exemplify the best practice environmental management, but also creates a memorable holiday experience.

Every month, new properties are added to the family of RCI® affiliated resorts, just one more way we’re working to deliver more options, flexibility and more opportunities for travel. Here are a few more newcomers in Asia to our portfolio of more than 4,000 resorts in approximately 100 countries around the world.

casaville shinchon seoul (#c949)

CasaVille Shinchon Seoul is a serviced residence furnished with a modern and stylish interior with 24-hour security service. Conveniently located in the Seoul City Center and in close proximity to the subway station, this resort provides great access points to many of the major attractions. Shopping streets such as Myeongdong, Dongdaemun and Namdaemun market are located nearby. Other tourist attractions including the popular Deoksugung Palace and Gyeongbokgung Palace are easily accessible via the subway.

New AffiliAted resorts

welcome to the family

IN-D

EPTHN

EWS

16 2013 I S S U E 2

Best western sandakan hotel & residence (#c951)This luxurious hotel is located in Bandar Letat Jaya, midway between Sandakan airport and the city center – only 10 minutes away to link to the Northern Ring Road highway.

Sandakan is known as the “City of Nature’, providing an entry point into Malaysian Borneo’s most magnificent ecotourism and historical attractions. There are three restaurants in the hotel to choose from; enjoy a wide selection of grilled Asian and Continental dishes with Buli Buli’s “fresh from the sea” grilled seafood specialties; Cowie’s, the English Pub serves “pub grub” accompanied by a wide discerning choice of beverages in a traditional setting and The Olive Garden; a fusion of Mediterranean cuisines presented in a contemporary restaurant.

Situated in Seogwipo, off the south coast of South Korea, on the southern tip of Jeju Island, this resort is famous for its location. Take a few swings on its beautiful golf course, designed by one of the best course designers in the USA and sculpted by Japan’s top course artists. Relieve any stress with some forest therapy as you stroll through the beautiful white cedar Hinoki Tree Walking Trail that lines the resort, or indulge in some free spirited horseback riding. When hunger strikes, take a seat at the Club House in the café restaurant where you’ll enjoy traditional Jeju food and barbeque cooked on the resort’s custom-made, corn-fueled barbeque grill.

tides Boutique samui resort & spa (#c946)Located directly on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand in the idyllic village of Plai Leam Tides Boutique Samui Resort & Spa offers some of the best views on the island and provides the perfect combination of luxury and relaxation. Soak up some sun on the resort’s private beaches or cool off in the infinity pool, which offers uninterrupted views of the nearby sea and surrounding islands.

springdale golf & resort (#d469)

R C I V E N T U R E S 1 7

NEW

S

THE NEXT GENERATIONOF INDuSTRYTECHNOLOGY

18 2013 I S S U E 2

NEW

S

New AffiliAted resorts

recent rci®

Affiliated resorts*

rci® weeks program

Albar Building ClubPinamar, Argentina

Altara El Tucano Resort & Thermal SpaSan Carlos, Costa Rica

Badawia Resort Marsa AlamMarsa Alam, Egypt

CasaVille Residence ShinchonSeoul, South Korea

Club Mahindra KanatalKanatal, India

Empark Grand HotelVarious locations throughout China

Hacienda Hotel Spa & Beach ClubPuerto Vallarta, Mexico

Hotel Beach Resort OlimpiaOlimpia, Brazil

Hotel Andino RoyalBogotá, Colombia

Hotel Smart Suites RoyalBarranquilla, Colombia

Marinas del GolfoLas Grutas, Argentina

MPS Green Fort ResortJhargram, India

Nordic Village ResortJackson, New Hampshire, u.S.A.

Radisson Royal Cali HotelCali, Colombia

RoyalPark MetrotelBogotá, Colombia

Springdale Golf & ResortSeogwipo, Jeju, South Korea

WorldMark Chelan-Lake HouseChelan, Washington, u.S.A.

Mines Wellness Hotel Selangor, Malaysia

Howard Johnson Resorts and SpaHuizhou, Guangdong, China

Best Western Sandakan Hotel & ResidenceSandakan, Malaysia

rci® Points program

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & SpaLake Buena Vista, Florida, u.S.A.

Fairfield Harbour Fairway VillasNew Bern, North Carolina, u.S.A.

Fairfield Harbour Sand Castle VillageNew Bern, North Carolina, u.S.A.

Lake Vonda ResortMiddleton, Tennessee, u.S.A.

Le CelesteBeaupré, Quebec, Canada

Sandos Cancun LuxuryExperience ResortCancún, Mexico

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific Denarau Island Nadi, Fiji Islands

* Due to space limitations and other considerations, this list might not include all resorts that have recently affliated with RCI.

the registry collection® program

Anantara Vacation Club Bali SeminyakSeminyak, Bali, Indonesia

Anantara Vacation Club Bophut Koh Samui Surat Thani, Thailand

Anantara Vacation Club Phuket Mai KhaoPhuket, Thailand

Orascom HotelsVarious locations in Egypt

(clockwise from top)Anantara Vacation

Club Bali Seminyak;Empark Grand Hotel, Kunming; Springdale

Golf and Resort, South Korea;

GyeongbokgungPalace in Seoul,

South Korea

THE NEXT GENERATIONOF INDuSTRYTECHNOLOGY

One company’s five year journey-dedicated to bettersupporting developers-comes to fruition now

B AS E D O N A N A R T I C L E By C AT H A R I N E F L E U Ry

& MATT MCDANIEL (US VENTURES MAGAzINE)

INNOVATION drives success. So it makessmart business sense to leverage the most innovativetechnology solutions available. To that end, in support ofits affiliated resort developers, RCI has invested heavilyin technology-and the people who drive technologicalinnovations-over the past five years. RCI’s investmenthas produced first-to-market revolutionary tools that havealready helped reshape the industry. But RCI’s technologicalrevolution has only just begun. Now RCI is preparing tounleash the next generation of technology solutions, exclusively for RCI affiliated resort developers, that will enable them to extract actionable insights from their customer and inventory data-driving the results they want for the bottom line.

It all starts with data. The results you can generate areonly as good as the data in your database. It’s not enoughto maintain a clean database. To get ahead today, you haveto go after data that nobody else has, and the insights itprovides. You have to develop advanced analytics topredict outcomes-what kinds of products your leadswill buy and when, and which inventory will move andwhich will not.

Capturing fragmented data from prospects is essentialto this strategy. Prospects can be “unknown” web visitorswho have not opted in or given you any personallyidentifiable information (PII). Customers, by comparison,are “known” users who have filled out a form onyour website or otherwise given you PII. Prospect dataarrives in fragmented form: When an anonymous uservisits your site, you glean bits and pieces of informationabout that individual without learning his or her nameor associating that person with an existing customerrecord. And as the best marketers are discovering, thosebits and pieces of information, when managed properly,

have the potential to mean a lot for your bottom line.Say a prospect doing a web search ends up on your

website. If you have the right web strategy in place, acookie can be deposited on that user’s computer or device.“What we’re seeing best-in-class folks do now is store thatcookie,” Chris Crayner, a senior vice president in chargeof the travel, media and entertainment practice at the customer relationship marketing (CRM) agency Merkle, saysabout dealing with data on an unknown user. “In the past,most direct marketers-from a targeting standpoint-would store data only when that consumer becameknown to them.” Now, he says, market leaders store bothanonymous and known data within a technology environmentthat allows them to use that data in any form it mayarrive in. So if that same prospect comes back to your sitetwo months later and reveals his identity by making apurchase, you’ll be able to restore a complete record of hisbrowsing history and behavior.

In addition to using fragmented data to a company’sadvantage, today’s best marketers and merchandisersemploy powerful analytics to predict consumer andinventory outcomes. Bruce Swann, a senior solutionarchitect for the business-analytics software and services

did YoukNow?

Personalized

direct-marketing

techniques can

increase customer

response rate 100

to 300 percent.*

* Direct Marketing Association (DMA) 2010 Response Rate Report

IN-D

EPTH

R C I V E N T U R E S 1 9

company SAS, cites the analytical marketing metriccustomer lifetime value, in which you anticipate various outcomes and specific events for a particular customer overtime. “Often that will drive how much you should invest ina customer or a lead,” he says. “The higher the predictivevalue, the more you should market to that person.”RCI is committed to providing its affiliated developerswith analytical tools that are crucial in cross-selling andup-selling a variety of products and ultimately can helpmaximize profitability, increase customer satisfactionand optimize inventory utilization. Tony Greco, Vice President of Global Marketing Services for RCI, offersthis example: “If a developer is using a rental program tooptimise both inventory utilization and sales opportunities,optimisation models can be used to predict the bestpossible outcome of both-allowing the developer to useits marketing plan to drive toward that outcome.”Fragmented-data capture and predictive modelingare only two of the ways in which marketing and revenuemanagement is rapidly evolving and reshaping themarketplace. RCI has already invested heavily in andspent years developing and refining a superior technologyplatform in an effort to help make its affiliated resortsmore profitable by reducing marketing costs. And nowaffiliated resort developers will have the opportunity tobenefit from the technologies and services of RCI. Aninnovative solution called Affiliate Access will provideMarketing Data Services (MDS) and Inventory Analytics,among other services.

MArketiNg dAtA servicesMarketing tools that keep you one step ahead andcan help improve your bottom line

In today’s over-marketed world, personalization,relevance and timing mean everything. RCI has alreadyinvested more than $3 million over three years to bringtogether the technologies and processes that developersneed to achieve all three. The new Marketing DataServices program empowers marketers to send the rightoffer with the right message to the right customer at theright time. Subscribers can:

• Enjoyacompetitiveadvantagebyusingafirst-of-its- kind marketing platform specifically designed for the industry, thus enabling better targeting and improved message relevance throughout the timeshare sales cycle• Beattheforefrontofmarketingservicesandplatforms, helping drive marketing efficiencies and improved response rates• Utilizeindustry-leadingexpertsinmarketinganalytics and direct-marketing tactics to gain insight without the associated human-capital investment• EnjoyacustomizedversionofRCI’sAffiliateAccess services, designed to scale and engineered to be responsive to the needs of individual developers• Retain,ownandcontrolconsumerandinventorydata, marketing messages and strategy• Keepitsimpleandefficient,becausetheRCIsolution is a one-stop shop, integrating numerous technologies and functional areas, thus eliminating the need for more than one contract and preventing problems with vendor management• GainaccesstoexclusiveRCIsolutionsfortheindustry’s many data challenges, like multiple ownerships, biannual and triannual owners and shared use of vacation ownership benefits across multiple consumers

iNveNtorY ANAlYticsAnalytic and predictive tools that manage inventory,because occupancy means revenueInventory is at the heart of the vacation ownership business-and no exchange company embraces inventory analytics like RCI, with more than 4,000 affiliated resorts in 100 countries across six continents, 3.7 million memberswho performed more than 1.75 million transactionsin 2012 across a broad range of programs (RCI® Weeks,RCI Points®, The Registry Collection® and Extra VacationsSM

getaways). RCI’s analytics team is award winning.A program designed by the team was awarded the 2011INFORMS Revenue Management & Pricing PracticePrize for the development and deployment of revenuemanagement algorithms, beating out Google. Theprogram then went on to become a semifinalist in the2012 Edelman award competition.

the solutions and the providerWhen it comes to technology and services, there is anendless list of providers to choose from, and their offerings can become costly and resource-intensive to run. RCI, therefore, has made it a strategic focus to invest in technology that is specifically designed for the challenges of the vacation ownership industry and the right people to deliver it. “Over the last five years, we have increased our focus on technology and invested millions of dollars so that our affiliates can leverage a state-of-the-art technology infrastructure to become more efficient marketers,” says Phil Brojan, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for RCI.

12 Q 2 2013

IN

DE

PT

H

company SAS, cites the analytical marketing metric

customer lifetime value, in which you anticipate various out-

comes and specific events for a particular customer over

time. “Often that will drive how much you should invest in

a customer or a lead,” he says. “The higher the predictive

value, the more you should market to that person.”

RCI is committed to providing its affiliated developers

with analytical tools that are crucial in cross-selling and

up-selling a variety of products and ultimately can help

maximize profitability, increase customer satisfaction

and optimize inventory utilization. Tony Greco, vice

president of global marketing services for RCI, offers

this example: “If a developer is using a rental program to

optimize both inventory utilization and sales opportuni-

ties, optimization models can be used to predict the best

possible outcome of both—allowing the developer to use

its marketing plan to drive toward that outcome.”

Fragmented-data capture and predictive modeling

are only two of the ways in which marketing and rev-

enue management is rapidly evolving and reshaping the

marketplace. RCI has already invested heavily in and

spent years developing and refining a superior technol-

ogy platform in an effort to help make its affiliated resorts

more profitable by reducing marketing costs. And now

affiliated resort developers will have the opportunity to

benefit from the technologies and services of RCI. An

innovative solution called Affiliate Access will provide

Marketing Data Services (MDS) and Inventory Analytics,

among other services—all debuting at ARDA World 2013

in early April.

The solutions and the provider

When it comes to technology and services, there is an

endless list of providers to choose from, and their offer-

ings can become costly and resource-intensive to run.

RCI, therefore, has made it a strategic focus to invest in

technology that is specifically designed for the challenges

of the vacation ownership industry and the right people

to deliver it. “Over the last five years, we have increased

our focus on technology and invested millions of dollars

so that our affiliates can leverage a state-of-the-art

technology infrastructure to become more efficient

marketers,” says Phil Brojan, senior vice president of

global marketing for RCI.

MARKETING DATA SERVICES

Marketing tools that keep you one step ahead and

can help improve your bottom line

RCI invested $3M

over 3 years to

develop MDS;

the platform

generated millions

in incremental

revenue and

reduced hard

marketing costs by

$500,000 in that

same period.

MARKETING DATA

SERVICES

1.

Data enrichment

2.

Reporting and

analytics

3.

Campaign

management

4.

Email, social and

mobile marketing

5.

Lead generation

INVENTORY ANALYTICS

1.

Reporting

2.

Forecasting

3.

Optimization

4.

Pricing and yield

management

In today’s over-marketed world, personalization,

relevance and timing mean everything. RCI has already

invested more than $3 million over three years to bring

together the technologies and processes that develop-

ers need to achieve all three. The new Marketing Data

Services program empowers marketers to send the right

offer with the right message to the right customer at the

right time. Subscribers can:

• Enjoy a competitive advantage by using a first-of-its-

kind marketing platform specifically designed for the

industry, thus enabling better targeting and improved

message relevance throughout the timeshare sales cycle• Be at the forefront of marketing services and plat-

forms, helping drive marketing efficiencies and

improved response rates• Utilize industry-leading experts in marketing analytics

and direct-marketing tactics to gain insight without

the associated human-capital investment• Enjoy a customized version of RCI’s Affiliate

Access services, designed to scale and engineered to

be responsive to the needs of individual developers • Retain, own and control consumer and inventory data,

marketing messages and strategy• Keep it simple and efficient, because the RCI solution

is a one-stop shop, integrating numerous technologies

and functional areas, thus eliminating the need for

more than one contract and preventing problems with

vendor management• Gain access to exclusive RCI solutions for the industry’s

many data challenges, like multiple ownerships,

biannual and triannual owners and shared use of

vacation ownership benefits across multiple consumers

INVENTORY ANALYTICS

Analytic and predictive tools that manage inventory,

because occupancy means revenue

Inventory is at the heart of the vacation ownership busi-

ness—and no exchange company embraces inventory

analytics like RCI, with more than 4,000 affiliated resorts

in 100 countries across six continents, 3.7 million mem-

bers who performed more than 1.75 million transactions

in 2012 across a broad range of programs (RCI® Weeks,

RCI Points®, The Registry Collection® and Extra VacationsSM

getaways). RCI’s analytics team is award winning.

A program designed by the team was awarded the 2011

INFORMS Revenue Management & Pricing Practice

Prize for the development and deployment of revenue

management algorithms, beating out Google. The

program then went on to become a semifinalist in the

2012 Edelman award competition.

The new RCI Inventory Analytics product will help

resorts match the right product to the right customer

RCI invested $3M

over 3 years to

develop MDS;

the platform

generated millions

in incremental

revenue and

reduced hard

marketing costs by

$500,000 in that

same period..

MArketiNgdAtA

services

1.Data enrichment

2.Reporting and

analytics

3.Campaign

management

4.Email, social andmobile marketing

5.Lead generation

TECH

NO

LOG

YIN

-DEPTH

20 2013 I S S U E 2

—toNY greco, Vice President of Global Mar-keting Services for RCI

what matters is the resultsThe world of data and technology has never been morecomplex. But managing that complexity can yield big rewards.Owners, potential owners and guests are more techsavvy than ever-and they expect the companies with whichthey do business to use technology to be more relevantand attentive to their individual needs. “There is increasedcompetition for travel dollars, especially online,” Greco says.“RCI® affiliated resorts have an opportunity to leverage thesubstantial investment RCI has already made in integratingbest-in-class technologies, enabling them to almostimmediately turn data into actionable business insight.”“RCI affiliated resort developers already know that RCIprides itself on delivering technology to them years beforeother providers,” Brojan adds. “By affiliating with us, theyalways know that they will stay one step ahead when itcomes to leveraging technology to grow their business.”

The new RCI Inventory Analytics product will helpresorts match the right product to the right customerat the right time-and for the right price. RCI affiliateswill enjoy access to techniques that can help increaseoccupancy, revenue and allocation strategies, via:

• Improvedreportingprocesses,techniquesandviews

• Identifyingofinventory-relatedprocessinefficienciesandgaps

• Improvedtrackingandforecasting

• Optionsfortrainingofinventory-managementstaffin revenue-management best practices

• Increasinginventory’svaluetotheownersbyhelping improve rental revenue

RCI® affliated resorts havean opportunity to leverage thesubstantial investment RCI hasalready made in integrating best-inclass technologies, enabling them toalmost immediately turn data intoactionable business insight.

industry expertise,leadership andtrailblazing innovation

rci solutions are distinguished by a unique combination of leading-edge technology, a legacy of deep industry knowledge and savvy marketing intelligence. these six rci associates are a small sample of the smart, dedicated and driven teams at rci that are committed to supporting rci affliated developers and resorts.

PhiliP s. BroJANSenior Vice President, Global Marketing

Brojan is responsible for RCI’s marketing strategy, including member activation, retention,ecommerce and social media.

BrAd dettMerExecutive Vice President & Chief Information Officer

Dettmer oversees the leadership and direction of information technology for RCI and has been with the company since 1988.

fioNA dowNiNgSenior Vice President, Product Development and Operations

Downing, a 23-year veteran at RCI, leads resort operations functions and new product development, implementation and revenue management.

toNY grecoVice President, Global Marketing Services

The primary steward of RCI’s marketing infrastructure and technology, Greco helps drive global marketing decisions based on data, information and analysis. He is a certified Six Sigma black belt.

sriNidhi MelkoteDirector, Analytics

Melkote oversees the development and implementation of advanced analytical technologies with a focuson revenue management and inventory pricing.

BArBArA sPeNglerSenior Vice President, Information Technology

Spengler is responsible for application development and support along with architecture for global systems.

ILL

US

TR

AT

ION

: A

SH

OA

T;

PH

OT

OS

: IA

N S

PA

NIE

R(6

)IN

-DEPTH

R C I V E N T U R E S 2 1

IN-D

EPTH

22 2013 I S S U E 2

$102IN 2012

China is now the world’s number one source market for international tourism and the largest

domestic travel market. Vacation ownership is poised for its share of the ¥

BASED ON AN ARTICLE By

CATHARINE FLEURy (US Ventures Magazine)

uSDBILLION

IN-D

EPTH

R C I V E N T U R E S 2 3

24 2013 I S S U E 2

IN-D

EPTH

In March the government publisheda landmark pro-tourism strategy,the Outline for National Tourism andLeisure (2013–2020), that encouragesworkers to take vacation days andgives them more flexibility regardingwhere and when to travel. Weekslater, in his keynote speech at BoaoForum for Asia’s annual conference,China’s new president, Xi Jinping,gave a shout-out to outboundtourism-“the first time that thehighest-ranking person in Chinaconnoted outbound tourism as apositive development,” according tothe magazine China Outbound MarketIntelligence. And then the United Nations World Tourism Organizationreported the number heard ’roundthe world: $102 billion, the expenditure in U.S. dollars by outbound Chinese travelers in 2012. With its announcement China officially became the world’s number one source market for international tourism.

But for all the press about China’soutbound travelers, there’s anequally exciting story on the homefront: China is the world’s largestdomestic-tourism market. Last yearthe Chinese took 83 million international trips and 1.6 billion domestic trips. By 2017 domestic-tourism volume will reach 3.1 billion trips and expenditure will rise to US $1.2 trillion, according to the Researchand Markets report Travel and Tourism in China to 2017. The report cites increased wealth and leisure timeand improved transportation as keydrivers of the growth ahead.

Among the surge of domestictravelers is a budding populationof timeshare owners. Club Vac(formerly HNA Golden Vacation

Club), an RCI affiliate and Chinesetimeshare pioneer, reports that allits members are Chinese and thattheir numbers continue to grow.“Our owners generally have highincomes and more time for leisure,and are able and willing to purchaseshared ownership products,” saysWilliam Zhao, General Manager ofbrand and product development forHNA Hotels and Resorts Group. Oneof RCI’s newest Chinese affiliates,Empark Vacation Club, also servesa largely Chinese membership. “Wedon’t have owner data yet, as we justlaunched, but we expect that themajority of our members will be Chinese- more than 90 percent,” saysLan Yang, Vice President of EmparkHotels and Resorts Group.International timeshare companiesare attracting Chinese ownerstoo. “Our concept is proving to be

attractive to consumers in China, andwe are adapting our service philosophyto cater even more to culturalexpectations,” says Harold Derrah,CEO of Anantara Vacation Club,which recently acquired luxury suiteson China’s island province of Hainan.“In the last quarter the number ofChinese club owners has taken thelead as the highest percentage of newclub owners over other countries.Chinese club owners represent20 percent of the total, and we expectthe number to grow significantly.”Anantara will expand into Chinawith two additional resort locationswithin the next 18 months, and AVCis actively searching for other suitabledestinations, Derrah says.

New travelers emergeFor many in China, vacation is a newexperience. Whereas baby boomers

IT HAS BEEN AMILESTONE YEARFOR CHINESETOURISM.

Big ANd diverse(clockwise from top)The resort enclaveSanya, on Hainan; amacaw on Hainan;the historic city ofLijiang, one of thetop travel destinationsin Yunnan Province.

R C I V E N T U R E S 2 5

drive much of the tourism in theWest, most Chinese travelers areyoung-under 44 years old, accordingto China Outbound Market Intelligence- and only just now starting to travel.

Fewer than 200 million urbanChinese consumers have gone onan overnight leisure trip, accordingto the Boston Consultancy Group’s2011 report Taking Off: Travel andTourism in China and Beyond-maybe15 percent of the total population-and every year, an average 25 millionpeople take their first-ever overnightleisure trip. These first-timeovernighters tend to start with a tripclose to home, the report says, andlater venture to more distant regionsof the country and, eventually,elsewhere in Asia and beyond. Andthey “generally prefer packaged toursthat offer a full schedule of sightseeingactivities.” This segment viewsa prearranged itinerary as the bestvalue for their money.

“Unlike Western vacationers,Chinese travelers are more activityfocused, and they tend to spend lesstime in the hotel or resort,” Empark’sYang says. “They try to maximizetheir time engaging in activities suchas sightseeing, tasting local foodand shopping.” To that end, resortfacilities and services often trumpin-room facilities. “That is why ournew properties will focus more onrecreation, food and beverages, andentertainment facilities,” Yang says.HNA’s William Zhao adds, “There area considerable number of Chinesetourists who enjoy group activitiesand would invite their family andrelatives to go on a vacation together.The majority of Chinese tourists feelthat traveling alone as a single familyis lonely.”

In addition to China’s boomingmarket of first-time, activity-seekingvacationers, the country is startingto witness the rise of a small butgrowing segment of experienced

Y u NNANRich in natural scenery and ethnic diversity, Yunnan Province is one ofthe top travel destinations in the country—and a hotbed of timeshare.“Yunnan has huge potential,” says Lan Yang, vice president of EmparkHotels and Resorts Group.

guANgXiFormerly a province, this autonomous region is famous for its dramaticscenery. Highlights include the terraced rice fields of Longsheng and thekarst formations around Guilin and Yangshuo. There is one RCI affiliatedresort in Guangxi, and Gavin Cheong, Director of Business Developmentfor RCI Asia Pacific, projects continued growth.

hAiNANChina’s smallest province is known for luxury beach resorts, spas andgolf courses. The resort enclave Sanya “has tropical beaches hardlyseen in other parts of China,” says William Zhao, General Manager ofbrand and product development for HNA Hotels and Resorts Group.

fuJ iANThis province may see fewer visitors than others—but that’s changing.“We have a five-star hotel in Fuzhou and a hot-spring resort inGuiyang, and we’re developing another three resorts scheduledto open next year,” Yang says.

iN t h e sPot l igh t

In addition to catching on in major east coast cities,like Beijing and Shanghai, timeshare is taking off inregions across the south. Here are four to watch:

did YoukNow?

44 percent of

upper/middle

class Chinese

non owners

would consider

buying shared

vacation

ownership,

according to the

ARDA World Wide

Shared Vacation

Ownership

Report: 2012.

yUNNANGUANGXI

HAINAN

FUJIAN

CH I NA

Shenzhen

Shanghai

Beijing

IN-D

EPTH

travelers who prefer to arrange theirown transportation and accommodations and tend to seek out relaxation and entertainment over jam-packed sightseeing itineraries. “Indeed, we’ve found that the more experience a Chinese traveler has, the less that organized activities matter,” the Boston Consultancy Group reportsays. “For all market segments today,sightseeing wins out over relaxationfor domestic travelers, but by 2020we expect relaxation to become thedominant travel goal.”

This second segment, of more veteran Chinese travelers, gets specialmention in Jones Lang LaSalleHotels’ 2012 report What Are theOpportunities for Timeshare in China?(produced with Baker & McKenzieand RCI). “As domestic Chinese arebecoming more seasoned travelers,”

it says, “they are increasingly willingto spend more on hotel accommoda-tions and vacation products.… The shift in consumer behavior can facilitate the use of timeshare products, which typically require from the users a high degree of individual involvement.”

room to growTimeshare came to China in 1996,when Beijing’s Jiuhua Resort andConvention Centre affiliated withRCI and became the first propertyto join an international timeshare exchange network. Domestic timeshare- exchange companies followed: The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the emergence of networks like the Tianjin TEDA Resort Alliance Development Company (TRAC). In 2001, RCI opened an office in Beijing, and China seemed destined for growth.

But the Chinese timeshare sector has developed relatively slowly,according to the Jones Lang LaSalleHotels report. Whereas other countries have achieved maturity in two decades - witness Australia, whose vacation-own-ership industry also launched in the 1990s-the Chinese market is still in its infancy. There are numerous reasons for this, from excessive travel-visa restric-tions to limited financing options to a fragmented (and in many regionsnonexistent) legal framework forvacation ownership.

Collaboration with governmentauthorities is critical. “We deeplyfeel that in order to ensure healthydevelopment, the vacation ownershipindustry requires governmentsupport in creating a completelegal framework,” says Adrian Lee,Managing Director of Asia for RCIAsia Pacific. “RCI has been workingwith relevant Chinese governmentauthorities for years to push thelegislative process forward-andwill continue to support and activelyparticipate in this process.”

old Meets New(from top) TheGreat Wall of China;traditional Chinesedancers on Hainan;Hainan’s YalongBay. Opposite: TheShanghai skyline.

so MANYsuPerlAtives

China has the largest

population in the

world: more than

1.3 billion people

In 2012, Chinese

outbound-travel

expenditure reached

$102 billion—higher

than any other

country’s

For the past decade,

China has been

the fastest-growing

tourism source

market in the world

IN-D

EPTH

26 2013 I S S U E 2

Perhaps the most significant barrierto timeshare has been the natureof the vacation-ownership productson offer. Until now, they havenot been a perfect match for mostChinese consumers, who, remember,tend to prefer those packaged,activity-packed tours over DIY tripsand R & R.“As with any product, you have tounderstand the Chinese culture andChinese consumers’ behavior to besuccessful in this market,” Yang says.“You need to design more activity basedproducts and programs, and you also need to pay attention to flexibility, as Chinese guests tend to stay less than a week in a resort.” Zhao agrees. “Chi-nese consumers prefer holidays with a planned itinerary, and they are more likely to seek a professional guide for their holiday,” he says. “In order to better meet the demands of the Chinese market, product offerings have to integrate these kinds of profes-sional services.”

Today the most popular destinationsfor timeshare in China include the scenic mountainous regions of Yunnan and Guangxi, in the southwest, and the island province of Hainan, aka China’s Hawaii.

Areas like these are especially conducive to vacation ownership, says Lee, because they are “attractive local tourist destinations with significant seasonality in demand.” There are 41 RCI affiliated resorts in China, and Lee is confident that more will come. On the whole, he believes the number of timeshare properties in all of China will grow at least 50 percent in the next decade.

Industry stakeholders are at theready. According to Gavin Cheong,Director of Business Development forRCI Asia Pacific, investors are highlyreceptive to timeshare from an ROIperspective, while developers see it asan alternative solution to current realestate challenges. The Chinese government, he says, is “mixed.” No government departments have claimedresponsibility for vacation ownership,but as the Jones Lang LaSalleHotel report points out, timeshare“is consistent with the government’sdirection to bring innovation anddiversity to the tourism industry.”

The potential for timeshare inChina is huge, Lee believes. “To growthe China timeshare industry andmarket share,” he says, “we’ll need toconduct business differently, paying

attention to cultural differences andthe way business is conducted here.”AVC’s Harold Derrah agrees. “Likeall new markets in Asia, starting upoperations in China takes a lot ofdue diligence, strategic planningand patience. Legal, tax, languageand cultural practices all need careful consideration before making a move,” he says. “One thing I feel isextremely important in any of oursales, marketing and resort operationsis to employ local talent, whichbrings the knowledge, language andcultural sensitivities required and, of course, job opportunities to the local community. Establishing the right strategic partnerships and creating the ‘local’ team is essential to success.”

Ultimately, the success of vacationownership in China depends on theindustry’s ability to understand, andserve, the country’s rising number oftravel consumers. “We see a strongdemand on both the consumer andthe developer side,” Zhao says. “Webelieve that as long as there is awillingness to pay attention to whatconsumers desire and meet theirneeds, the timeshare industry will bea great success in China.”

old Meets New(from top) TheGreat Wall of China;traditional Chinesedancers on Hainan;Hainan’s YalongBay. Opposite: TheShanghai skyline.

AL

L P

HO

TO

S:

CO

UR

TE

Sy

OF

SH

UT

TE

RS

TO

CK

A NeweMergiNg

MeMBerProfile

“Our members are

aged between 30

and 50, and most

are entrepreneurs

of SMEs or they

work for the

government or

big corporations.

They tend to be

married with

one child.”

- Lan Yang,

Vice Prresident of

Empark Hotels

and Resorts

Group

IN-D

EPTH

R C I V E N T U R E S 2 7

28 2013 I S S U E 2

1. Most travelers now use online reviewsto plan trips.Travelers are actively using review sites and sharing theirfeedback online. Seventy-six percent of respondents toa December 2012 TripAdvisor survey of more than 2,000U.S. travelers indicated that they had used travel-reviewwebsites to plan their latest trip.

2. Many like to write their own reviews, too. . .The same survey found that 63 percent of respondentshad written at least one accommodation review. Also,we’re finding that the proliferation of mobile deviceshas made it much more common for travelers to sharefeedback while they are on the go. This is a trend weexpect to continue.

3. . . . especially when they have something positive to say.Sharing positive experiences with others is overwhelminglythe primary motivation for writing a review, accordingto a recent PhoCusWright survey commissioned byTripAdvisor. Seventy-four percent of respondents saidthey write reviews because they want to share a goodexperience with other travelers; 78 percent said theydo so because they feel good about sharing useful information with other travelers.

4. travelers are no longer starstruck.they dig deeper.Our research shows that today’s travelers are a savvyand discerning bunch. They take reviewers’ track recordsinto account when picking a hotel and generally ignoreextreme comments. The PhoCusWright survey found that 71 percent of our users like to see basic information about a contributor (for example, the number of reviews he or she has written) as they browse among reviews, and67 percent look at traveler-submitted photos where theyare available to help them choose lodging. Interestingly,the survey also found that 59 percent of respondentsignore extreme comments and only 5 percent focus moreon negative reviews in checking for hotels and avoidingpotential pitfalls.

5. No reviews can mean no bookings.Online traveler reviews have become essential forbookings. More than half (53 percent) the respondentsto the PhoCusWright survey said they would not bookat a property that did not have any reviews, and 87 percent of users agreed that TripAdvisor reviews “help me feel more confident in my decisions.” The indications we have from our research, as well as from travelers and businesses alike, are that the influence of user generated content is growing.

techNologY

Your reviews are inTravelers increasingly rely on othertravelers’ reviews to plan their vacations

Online reviews matter. And they matter more allthe time. You know it, we know it, and mostimportant, our owners and prospects know it.But just how much can reviews really help-or harm-your business? We posed that question to BrianPayea, head of industry relations at TripAdvisor. Hereare Payea’s six things every travel company shouldknow about online reviews and its brand’s reputation.

B R I A N P Ay E AHead of Industry Relations,TripAdvisor

TECH

NO

LOG

Y

R C I V E N T U R E S 2 9

6. if you show you care, they will come.Responding to reviews is a signal to travelers that theproperty cares about its guests. Fifty-seven percent of thePhoCusWright respondents agreed that seeing responsesfrom management to reviews generally “makes me morelikely to book it (versus a comparable hotel that didn’t respond to travelers),” and 84 percent agreed that an appropriate response from management to a bad review “improves my impression of the hotel.” It’s important to note that you’re not responding to just one traveler. Thousands of others may read your response and evaluate your property based on what you say. So be sure to put your best foot forward.

resPoNdiNgto A review

78% of respondents said that they write reviews because they

feel good about sharing useful information with other travelers

57% of TripAdvisor respondents agree that seeing responses

from management to reviews generally “makes me more

likely to book it”

ABout triPAdvisorTripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site, enabling travelersto plan and have the perfect trip. It offers trusted advice fromreal travelers and a wide variety of travel options and planningfeatures. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travelcommunity in the world, receiving more than 60 million uniquemonthly visitors and providing more than 75 million reviewsand opinions. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business,a dedicated division that gives the tourism industry access toTripAdvisor’s millions of monthly visitors.

“It is vital to engage with travelers,”Payea says. “Whether or not a business has taken time to respond to a review and what the owner says can have a big impact on other travelers’ perceptions of the review.” Here are his tips for writing an effective response:

• Respondquickly.

• Maintainaprofessionaltone.

• Acknowledgethatyoutake their comments seriously and that you will make changes if necessary.

• Statethefactsandclarify any misunderstandings.

• Showgratitude.

TECH

NO

LOG

Y

30 2013 I S S U E 2

world destinations (clockwise from top)

It’s easy to see why France took out the

hounors for a second year in a row. China’s

Imperial Palace and the Golden Gate Bridge.

*Figures on this page refer to inbound tourism to the various countries. Article on China (Page 18) refers to outbound tourism from China.

PH

OT

OS

: S

HU

TT

ER

ST

OC

K

trAvel treNds

the world’s top tourist destination is...

the complete top 10 are:

1. frANce – 83 million international tourist arrivals

2. uNited stAtes – 67 million international tourist arrivals

3. chiNA – 57.7 million international tourist arrivals

4. sPAiN – 57.7 million international tourist arrivals

5. itAlY – 46.4 million international tourist arrivals

6. turkeY – 35.7 million international tourist arrivals

7. gerMANY – 30.4 million international tourist arrivals

8. uNited kiNgdoM – 29.3 million international tourist arrivals

9. russiAN federAtioN – 25.7 million international tourist arrivals

10. MAlAYsiA – 25 million international tourist arrivals

when it comes to international tourism receipts, the united states takes the top spot:

1. uNited stAtes – uS$126.2 billion

2. sPAiN – uS$55.9 billion

3. frANce – uS$ 53.7 billion

4. chiNA – uS$50 billion

5. MAcAo – uS$43.7 billion

6. itAlY – uS$41.2 billion

7. gerMANY – uS$38.1 billion

8. uNited kiNgdoM – uS$36.4 billion

9. hoNg koNg – uS$32.1 billion

10. AustrAliA – uS$31.5 billion

According to the united Nations World Tourism Organization (uNWTO), the world’s number one tourist destination is (again) France, with 83 million international tourist arrivals in 2012 –up almost 2% over the previous year.

According to the UNWTO report, International tourist arrivals in Europe rose by 3% in 2012 on top of a strong 2011 (+6%), a remarkable result in view of the lingering economic difficulties. Accounting for 52% of all international arrivals worldwide, Europe reached 534 million tourist arrivals in 2012, 18 million more than in 2011. International tourism receipts increased by 2% in real terms totaling US$ 458 billion (euro 356 billion), representing 43% of the world total.

The report also indicated that the Americas welcomed 163 million international tourists in 2012, up 7 million (+5%) on the previous year. International tourism receipts in the region reached US$ 213 billion, an increase of 6% in real terms. The region maintained its share of worldwide arrivals at 16%, while its share of receipts was up by one percentage point to 20%.

TRAVEL TREND

S

R C I V E N T U R E S 3 1

As RCI was developing its app for Facebook in 2010, thetechnology team wanted a way to demonstrate all thevacation possibilities available through RCI and capturethe excitement that comes with being an owner at an RCIaffiliated resort. They realized that the most effective wayto do that was to track on an interactive map-in nearreal time-the vacations that are being booked by RCImembers (members not individually identified). And sothe RCI Vacation Tracker tool was born.

When it was launched nearly three years ago, the RCIVacation Tracker tool was the first of its kind in the industry. RCI affiliated resorts soon began to utilize an online developer version of the tool, showcasing it to prospects in their sales rooms.

“Developers love being able to show prospects whereother owners are traveling thanks to their exchange benefits, so we made the RCI Vacation Tracker tool easy to display on a flat-panel monitor right in the sales center,” says Phil Brojan, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for RCI. “The RCI Vacation Tracker tool is fun, it’s inspirational, and most important, it really shows the added value that vacation exchange can deliver to the already great benefits of vacation ownership.”

“We display the RCI Vacation Tracker tool in ourlobby,” says Deborah Moore, CEO of Silver Lake Resort,“so owners and prospects can see a clear visual representation of all the vacation opportunities provided to them through timeshare ownership and an RCI subscribing membership.”“It’s like a reality show for vacation exchange- a smart, compelling way to explain part of our industry’s story to potential owners,” Brojan says. “It feels like you’re watching vacation dreams come true.”

To learn more about the RCI Vacation Trackertool, contact your respective RCI Account Manager.

* RCI Ventures® magazine is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. iPad is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.

Miami, Florida.

iNdustrY solutioNs

create vacation envy in the sales centerShow the excitement of vacationownership in your sales center withthe RCI Vacation TrackerSM tool

PH

OTO

: SH

UT

TE

RST

OC

K

trAckiNgtrAvelers(above)

The RCI VacationTracker tooldisplays vacationsbeing booked byRCI subscribingmembers-innear real time.

did You kNow?

The RCI VacationTracker tool,now in itsthird year, hastracked millionsof vacations.

R C I V E N T U R E S 3 1

IND

USTRY SO

LUTIO

NS

iNdustrY solutioNs

log on to join in!

32 2013 I S S U E 2

IND

USTRY SO

LUTIO

NS

Stay up to date with all that’s happening in the global shared-vacation ownership industry at www.rciventures.com.

RCI’s flagship business website for the timeshare and fractional ownership community works alongside the printed magazine to provide the best source of news about the industry, as well as what’s going on in the wider tourism and travel sectors that impact and influence it.

The site was relaunched earlier this year to make it even easier to use and more informative than ever, with a range of new content and extended coverage of the global industry.

The redesigned site has a sharper look, as well as improved navigation, giving users more ways to access content from two navigation bars to get to what they want faster than before. Visitors can search for stories by region or use business journey tabs to go straight to the area of resort operation that is of interest.

The site contains news from all over the world, but you can also use the regional navigation bar to access stories specific to the Asia Pacific region. Recent news stories we’ve covered include:

• ChaninDonavanikof Dusit International being named Travel Entrepreneur of the Year

• VietnamAirlinesresumingflights to Hue Airport

• RCIapplaudingeasingofvisa process in major markets, including China

• AirlineQantasandtheAustralian state of Victoria unveiling a $12m tourism marketing deal

• KarmaRoyalGrouplaunching its own spa franchise.

As well as providing wide-ranging news coverage of issues affecting the industry, RCIVentures.com is a showcase for best practice in shared-vacation ownership, and also contains sections offering in-depth discussion of topics relevant to developers, marketers and potential new entrants.

These include ‘Experts’, in which hospitality and shared-vacation ownership experts share their insight and market intelligence on a variety of topics, providing invaluable inside information for existing resort developers as well as those new to the business.

A popular recent Experts piece saw Charlie Smith, founder of property portal primenewdevelopments.com, offering a variety of insight into the luxury holiday property market. visit the website at www.rciventures.com

Helen Foster, Managing Editor of RCIVentures.com, said: “RCI provides the RCIVentures.com website to help create an industry community in which ideas can be shared, and Charlie Smith’s fascinating piece was a great example of this. The site has become a platform for the best thinking in the industry and showcases all the great things that are happening in this fast-moving business arena.

“We view this site as belonging to the global shared-vacation ownership community and are striving to ensure it offers real value to businesses in the industry. And don’t forget to share your news and views with us by emailing me on helen.foster@rci.com”

The site has become a platform for the best thinking in the industry and showcases all the great things that are happening in this fast-moving business arena

—helen foster, Managing Editor of RCIVentures.com

rciventures.com (above) The website has become a valuable resource for industry professionals.

A fiNAl thought

is your website mobile friendly?Travelers are increasingly turning to

mobile devices to plan vacations.

The market research company

eMarketer estimates that 40 percent

of travel planners in the united

States will research trips with tablets

and smartphones in 2013—and more

than 25 percent will book via mobile

devices. It’s essential that you

optimize your website for mobile.

Here are some of travelers’ top

frustrations when it comes to using

mobile to get online, according

to PhoCusWright’s 2012 Traveler

Technology Survey*:

Screen is too small to see pictures/ videos well

Connectionis too slow/site takes toolong to load

It’s diffcult tofind what I’mlooking for

Mobile websites/apps are not as useful as the ones I access on a computer

43%**

36%

20%

24%

R C I V E N T U R E S 3 3

* Base: u.S. online travelers who conduct any travel-related activities via mobile phone

** Percentages refer to the percentage of respondents who selected each frustration,

based on the question: “What, if anything, frustrates you when using websites/apps

on your mobile phone for travel-related activities? Please select all that apply.”

FINAL TH

OU

GH

T

visit the website at www.rciventures.com

10% Location sensitive information is not always accurate

With 40 years of experience, more than 4,000 affiliated resorts in over 100 countries worldwide, approximately 3.7 million members making nearly 1.9 million exchanges annually, the possibilities are endless.

As the largest vacation exchange

network in the world, RCI adds extensive

value to your timeshare product.

Because your vacation means the world to us®

Where do you want to venture

Next?