rci ventures (north america) - november/december 2011

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ENTERPRISING IDEAS FOR THE VACATION INDUSTRY I DECEMBER 2011 BRAND NAMES IN BRAND NEW PLACES RCI ® RESORT RECOGNITION PROGRAM p.10 RCI ® PRESIDENT’S CLUB AWARD p.11 HILTON GRAND VACATIONS CLUB p.5 Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Anderson Ocean Club Myrtle Beach, South Carolina HOLIDAY INN CLUB VACATIONS ® p.6 Sunset Cove Resort Marco Island, Florida Las Vegas Desert Club Las Vegas, Nevada p.3 INSIDE: RCI ® WEEKS: 2011 IN REVIEW P.14

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Brand names in brand new places - Hilton Grand Vacations Club has hung its “Welcome” sign on the Anderson Ocean Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Holiday Inn Club Vacations has added Sunset Cove, in Marco Island, Florida, and the Las Vegas Desert Club to its roster of resorts.

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Page 1: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

ENTERPRISING IDEAS FOR THE VACATION INDUSTRY I DECEMBER 2011

BRAND NAMES IN

BRAND NEW PLACES

RCI® RESORT RECOGNITION PROGRAM p.10

RCI® PRESIDENT’S CLUB AWARD p.11

HILTON GRAND VACATIONS CLUB p.5

Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Anderson Ocean Club Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

HOLIDAY INN CLUB VACATIONS® p.6

Sunset Cove Resort Marco Island, Florida

Las Vegas Desert Club Las Vegas, Nevada

p.3

INSIDE: RCI® WEEKS: 2011 IN REVIEW P.14

Page 2: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

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Page 3: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTSCO

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RCIAFFILIATES.COM DECEMBER 2011 I RCI VENTURES 1 n

This Issue:

No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from RCI. RCI Ventures publishes opinions of many leaders. 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.

©2011 RCI, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 9998 North Michigan Road, Carmel, IN 46032

PublisherBrian Bruno

Associate PublisherEmily Sadlock

Contributing EditorsSteve AlessandriniRanjana BiswasHelen Foster

Advisory BoardJeff ParkerMelinda EmmanoelidesKris JamtaasRobert StoltDanielle GaliotoAmy LipkaJeff NoonanDebbie WunderLucie GagneEsther Grisham

Editor in ChiefChuck Wentzel

Managing EditorGaetano Pollice

Associate EditorAndrea Fjeld

Copy EditorAmy Lynn Tonsits

Project ManagerAndy Gersten

Director, Marketing ServicesEric Martucci

Creative DirectorRoe Intrieri

Art DirectorAsh Oat

Associate Photo EditorPamela Pasco

Digital Imaging and Prepress Specialist Hiroki Tada

Sunset Cove Resort Marco Island, Florida

P. 2 WELCOME INDUSTRY REPORT P. 3 Brand names in brand new places P. 5 Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Anderson Ocean Club P. 6 Holiday Inn Club Vacations®: Sunset Cove Resort and Las Vegas Desert Club AFFILIATE NEWS P. 8 Resort Showcase update P. 10 RCI® Resort Recognition Program P. 11 RCI® President’s Club Award P. 12 INDUSTRY NEWS Events calendar New RCI® affiliated resorts P. 14 RCI NEWS RCI® Weeks: 2011 in review

P. 8

Page 4: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

n 2 RCI VENTURES I DECEMBER 2011

WELCOME

Dear RCI® Affiliate:As we approach another year’s end, it’s a great time to reflect on the many achievements and mutual successes we enjoyed in 2011. This past year we continued to enhance the member experience through the products and services we provide your owners while also finding new ways to help you grow your business.

In late 2010, we launched our groundbreaking RCI® Weeks enhancements. Throughout 2011, we saw the program really take shape as your owners embraced the changes with open arms. Added features like Deposit Credits and Trading Power transparency have invigorated sales staff at our affiliated resorts and had a greatly positive impact on the member experience. Most important, subscribing members’ account activity is increasing as a result of the enhancements (page 14).

And we recently made some improvements to further transform the vacation search and booking process for both RCI Weeks and RCI Points® members. We’ve updated and expanded the information and tools available on RCI.com, including RCI TV’s Resort Showcases, to better promote and position your resorts. Owners are more technologically savvy than ever before, and research has shown that great videos increase the likelihood that they will book at your resort, as is evident from the many affiliates utilizing the Resort Showcase who are enjoying increased web share (page 8).

We’ve also made some changes to our recognition programs. RCI’s Resort Recognition Program received a bold new look (page 10), and for the first time ever we’ve expanded our prestigious Pinnacle Award to an international level. We’ve extended eligibility to our affiliates all over the world and renamed the honor the RCI President’s Club Award (page 11).

This year has certainly been an exciting one for us, and I’m looking forward to more great things to come in 2012. On behalf of all of us at RCI, best wishes for a happy holiday season and a prosperous new year!

Sincerely,

Gordon GurnikPresident, RCI

Geoff Ballotti Chief Executive Officer

Gordon Gurnik President

Ricardo Montaudon President, Mexico and Latin America

Charisse Cox Managing Director, Pacific

Adrian Lee Managing Director, Asia

Faye Tylee Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources

Sean Lowe Managing Director, Europe, Middle East, India and Africa

Gail Mandel Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Brad Dettmer Chief Information Officer

Radhika Shastry Managing Director, India

Paul Cash Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Added features like Deposit Credits and Trading Power transparency have invigorated sales staff at our affiliated resorts and had a greatly positive impact on the member experience.”

Page 5: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

INDUSTRY REPORT

DECEMBER 2011 I RCI VENTURES 3 nRCIAFFILIATES.COM

Two big hospitality names have expanded their vacation ownership brand presence into three popular destinations. Hilton Grand Vacations Club has hung its

“Welcome” sign on the Anderson Ocean Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Holiday Inn Club Vacations has added Sunset Cove, in Marco Island, Florida, and the Las Vegas Desert Club to its roster of resorts.

Built on Hilton’s 93-year reputation for hospitality and service, Hilton Grand Vacations Club has been a leading name in the vacation ownership industry for the past 19 years. Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Anderson Ocean Club joins a portfolio of nearly 50 Club affiliated resorts—in domestic destinations that include Hawaii, Southern California, Las Vegas, Colorado, Florida and New York City and international destinations in Canada, Mexico, Portugal and Scotland—serving more than 175,000 owners.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the parent company of the Holiday Inn brand, entered the vacation-ownership

marketplace in December 2008, announcing an alliance with Orange Lake Resorts to launch Holiday Inn Club Vacations®. Resorts include Orange Lake’s flagship property in Orlando as well as Ascutney Mountain Resort in Brownsville, Vermont; Lake Geneva Resort in Wisconsin; Bay Point Resort in Panama City, Florida; South Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Smoky Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Hotel brand names that consumers recognize, and trust, have had a significant impact on the vacation ownership industry, says Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of American Resort Development Association (ARDA). “I think that big hospitality brands in our business have helped bring even more credibility to the timeshare industry,” he says. “It certainly helps dispel the idea that we’re some kind of niche product.”

Consumer demand, combined with a strategic opportunity for growth, drove both organizations’ decision to expand into already popular markets. “Las Vegas has been top-of-the-list

Brand names in brand new places

Page 6: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

Michael Brown has served as executive vice president of sales and marketing, mainland U.S. and Europe, for Hilton Grand Vacations since July 2008. He is responsible for overseeing all sales and marketing business for the mainland United States, including managing revenue growth and efficiency, synergy and consistency of nationwide sales and marketing efforts in the HGV key markets of Las Vegas; Orlando, Florida; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Southern California; and New York. Brown’s extensive experi-ence also includes a 16-year ten-ure with Marriott International.

Don Harrill is president and chief executive officer of Orange Lake. He is responsible for the overall direction, develop-ment and management of their organization and the day-to-day operations of marketing, sales and resort operating functions. Harrill came to Orange Lake with more than 30 years of experi-ence in the hospitality industry, eight of them heading industry-leading timeshare companies. He is the chairman of ARDA, as well as a member of the Urban Land Institute and the American Hotel & Motel Association.

n 4 RCI VENTURES I DECEMBER 2011

for new destinations for our members, and expansion out west has been a goal of our marketing alliance with InterContinental Hotels Group,” says Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts. “Our members also indicated a desire for more drive-to destinations, and ‘waterfront’ is a key feature for locations: Sunset Cove fulfills both requirements.”

Michael Brown, executive vice presi-dent of sales and marketing, mainland U.S. and Europe, for Hilton Grand Vacations Club, says the decision to expand was based on consumer demand. “Although Myrtle Beach had been considered a re-gional drive-to destination, it has emerged as a top vacation spot for the residents of the East Coast and Midwest,” he says. “And it was a superb opportunity with Strand Capital Group, the premier real es-tate development firm along the Carolina coast.” Hilton Grand Vacations will manage the sales and marketing of deeded real estate intervals on behalf of Strand Capital Group and oversee management of and loan services for the timeshare homeown-ers’ association. Oceana Resorts, a Strand Capital Group company, will provide on-site property-management services.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations will acquire the third property in its Signature Collection product line with the addition of Sunset Cove, giving those owners access to The Registry Collection® program. So Holiday Inn Club Vacations Club is enhancing the existing facilities and services. “Managing the expecta-tions of those seeking luxury products dictates not only upgraded unit finishes but also more attention to detail and service,” Harrill says.

At the Anderson Ocean Club, Hilton Grand Vacations is addressing different challenges, arising from the variety of guests the property serves. “In collabo-ration with Strand Capital Group, we are able to revitalize the vision for this prop-erty to accommodate whole ownership as well as occupancy through shared ownership and rental guests,” Brown says. “Our relationship with Strand Capital Group has become a model for the consideration of new development opportunities.”

ARDA’s Nusbaum believes that innovative business models like these have a positive impact on the future of the industry. “We’re seeing hotel companies at the forefront of mixed use in a master development plan,” he says. “They’ll have resort space, condos, timeshare or fractional units, and actual vacation homes, so everyone shares in the economies of scale for the management and the costs. That’s healthy because it anticipates the changing needs in the customers’ life cycles.”

One thing that Holiday Inn Club Vacations and Hilton Grand Vacations Club have in common is a belief in the ongoing and expanding success of the timeshare industry. “It’s incumbent upon all brands to build a high-quality, loyal customer base for their ongoing success and, in turn, the success of the industry,” Brown says. Harrill sees it this way: “We need to continue to develop and offer more flexibility in the timeshare product, giving the owner more options for customization. And more alliance rela-tionships with preferred partners will add dimension to the vacation experience.”

Although Myrtle Beach had been considered a regional drive-to destination, it has emerged as a top vacation spot for the residents of the East Coast and Midwest.”Michael Brown, executive vice president of sales and marketing, mainland U.S. and Europe, for Hilton Grand Vacations Club

Page 7: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

Hilton Grand Vacations ClubHilton Grand Vacations Club

DECEMBER 2011 I RCI VENTURES 5 nRCIAFFILIATES.COM

Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Anderson Ocean Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is scheduled to open in early 2012 within the existing Anderson Ocean Club and

Spa Resort. The oceanfront property will feature 152 luxurious vacation-ownership units, including studios and one, two- and three-bedroom condominium-style accommodations.

“The prominent oceanfront location in the heart of the Grand Strand played a significant role in the appeal of bringing the Hilton Grand Vacations Club brand to Anderson Ocean Club,” says Michael Brown, executive vice president of sales and marketing, mainland U.S. and Europe, for Hilton Grand Vacations. “The resort’s Mediterranean architecture, spacious accommoda-tions, tremendous views, on-site spa and immediate proximity to the best of Myrtle Beach are valued advantages that ideally complement the Hilton standards of quality and service.”

Real estate development firm Strand Capital Group opened the original 304-unit property in 2007. In the future the expanded venture will rely on the industry-leading sales and marketing expertise of Hilton Grand Vacations as well as the established development and property management strength of Strand Capital Group.

All the Hilton Grand Vacations Club accommodations will be renovated in accordance with Hilton standards. Interior design renovations began this fall and include the installation of upgraded furnishings, fixtures and décor. The first phase of these refurbished accommodations will be available for owner occupancy beginning January 1, 2012, and additional inventory will be available as the cycle of renovations continues during the next 18 months.

Myrtle Beach was already a favorite drive-to destination for many Hilton Grand Vacations Club Members, so the decision to expand into the market with the addition of Anderson Ocean Club was driven in part by Member demand. It was also driven by Hilton Grand Vacations’ overall business strategy. “It is only through the expansion of our brand, and the addition of projects such as Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Anderson Ocean Club, that we will continue to enhance our distinctive vacation options and grow our Club membership,” Brown says. “Our highly disciplined, agile and experienced team is well prepared to make the most of innovative partnerships such as this one. With the sustained support of Hilton Worldwide, exciting new ventures from Hilton Grand Vacations will continue to be announced.”

Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Anderson Ocean Club Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

A grand presence on one of the nation’s most popular beaches

Hilton Grand Vacations Club

Page 8: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

n 6 RCI VENTURES I DECEMBER 2011

Sunset Cove Resort in Marco Island, Florida, became part of Holiday Inn Club Vacations® this past October, and the Las Vegas Desert Club in Las Vegas comes on board in

early 2012. For Holiday Inn Club Vacations, the addition of two resorts to its existing list of six properties represents a 33 percent increase. While eight resorts may not seem like a significant stake in the timeshare industry, for an organization like Holiday Inn Club Vacations, which launched just three years ago, as a partnership between InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)—the parent company of the Holiday Inn brand—and the Family of Orange Lake Resorts, it indicates a commitment to steady growth and an increased presence in the industry. In light of the recent economic challenges in the United States and abroad, it’s an accomplishment that should not be underestimated.

“As a company, we have really been at the right place at the right time and with the right relationships at our side,” says Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts.

“Our strategic alliance with IHG has allowed us to continue the growth of our resort network.” Harrill also credits Holiday Inn Club Vacations’ continued success to “a strong connection to the trusted Holiday Inn brand, which our Orange Lake founder, Kemmons Wilson, created in 1952.”

The addition of Sunset Cove and the Las Vegas Desert Club satisfies owners looking for more destinations within Holiday Inn Club Vacations and achieves one of the company’s business objectives: westward expansion. Harrill sees even more benefits accruing from the addition of more Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts. “We’ve found that more rental guests are discovering that timeshare is a viable option for their lifestyle,” he says. “The alliance and the new marketing channels now available to us, as a result, have allowed greater opportunities to share our vacation brand with more consumers who share the customer profile of our owners.”

Holiday Inn Club Vacations®

Sunset Cove Resort Marco Island, Florida

Las Vegas Desert Club Las Vegas, Nevada

Resorts in two new destinations help fulfill owners’ desires and business objectives

Page 9: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

DECEMBER 2011 I RCI VENTURES 7 n

When members told Holiday Inn Club Vacations that they wanted more drive-to destinations to enjoy and expressed a distinct preference for

waterfront locations, Holiday Inn Club responded by adding Sunset Cove Resort in Marco Island, Florida, to its growing list of resort properties.

Location is a key feature for Sunset Cove Resort. “Sunset Cove Resort is centered on the property’s beautiful water-front,” says Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts. “All 36 rooms offer views of either the Gulf of Mexico or Smokehouse Bay. Guests can enjoy boat docking during their stay, or if they’re not boaters, they can enjoy great views of the water from the pool and sundeck area.”

All the villas, which feature three bedrooms so owners and guests can comfortably accommodate family and friends, are undergoing substantial upgrades to meet the standards of the upscale Signature Collection product line. Renovations include interior enhancements, such as granite countertops in the kitchen and bath, ceramic tile and furniture appointed with rich fabrics. Some villas will feature unique conveniences like espresso machines, in-kitchen televisions and wine chillers. The pool-deck area will also be upgraded, with new poolside furnish-ings. These renovations are scheduled for completion in 2012.

“We’re very excited to offer our Signature Collection owners access to RCI’s The Registry Collection®program,” Harrill says, “because it gives them even more luxury- vacation options to explore with their families.”

Las Vegas has always been at the top of the list for our members,” Harrill says. “Our expansion out west has been a goal of our marketing alliance with IHG.

We’re excited to deliver on this for our members by expand-ing to this exciting entertainment destination, which helps round out our vacation-resort portfolio and our Club Member options.”

The Las Vegas Desert Club, located one block off The Strip, has 648 units featuring one- and two-bedroom suites. According to Harrill, the resort “is all about enjoying some quiet time away from the action of the entertainment dis-trict.” Amenities include five outdoor swimming pools with spas and a new state-of-the-art clubhouse, convenience store, fitness center, restaurant, bar and putting green.

Though the resort doesn’t officially join Holiday Inn Club Vacations until next year, improvements are already under way. “We opened the Gold Mine Bar & Grill—with interior and poolside service—which offers casual American fare, plus pizza delivery to guest rooms,” Harrill says. “We also opened Marketplace, which sells grocery and conve-nience items, sundries and a small selection of merchandise.” In addition, Holiday Inn Club Vacations’ newest sales center is scheduled to open on the property in early 2012.

“With Sunset Cove Resort joining our brand in October 2011 and Desert Club joining in 2012, we’re looking forward to hearing what our owners think,” Harrill says. “We sure have heard a lot of encouragement via social networks already.” V

Sunset Cove Resort Marco Island, Florida

A little bit of paradise along Florida’s west coast

Las Vegas Desert Club Las Vegas, Nevada

Close enough to the action to enjoy it; far enough away to relax

We’ve found that more rental guests are discovering that timeshare is a viable option for their lifestyle.”Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts

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Page 10: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

videos, because these videos are now also available via:

• The RCI application for the iPhone®/iPod touch®,** which provides mobile access to RCI TV so on-the-go travelers can preview and share resorts and vacation locales. (The app is available free at the iTunes® Store.**)

• RCI’s YouTube channel, YouTube.com/RCITimeshare—a platform with a broad audience.

RCI TV has been a strategic part of RCI’s ongoing efforts to support the success of its affiliated resorts. “In the online world, we know it’s more powerful to educate through entertain-ment,” says Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. “The Resort Showcase videos on RCI TV have proven to be valuable elements of an overall sales strategy. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a million!” V

If seeing is believing, then showcasing is selling!

The Resort Showcase channel on RCI TV proves that the best advertisement for a resort is the resort itself. Visitors to RCI TV—both RCI®subscribing members and the gen-eral public—have the opportunity to tour affiliated resort properties via dynamic video presentations. These tours, when viewed as part of the planning process, often lead to bookings. “Our members re-ally like previewing the resorts on RCI TV while planning their vacations,” says Fiona Downing, senior vice president of develop-ment and operations at RCI. “Research shows that members are 11 percent more likely to book a resort featured on RCI TV over another resort in the same location.”

Member and affiliate responses have been positive since RCI TV’s launch to RCIsubscribing members in early 2009 and to the general public later that year. In October 2011, RCI further enhanced the user experience by adding a feature that allows members and visitors to search by geography. It’s easier than ever to find a vacation—and resort—to enjoy.

Social media and mobile devices have increased the reach of all Resort Showcase and Destination Review

Resort Showcase videos on RCI® TV attract viewers and generate results

n 8 RCI VENTURES I DECEMBER 2011

AFFILIATE NEWS

RCIAFFILIATES.COM

Show &Tell Sell

**RCIVentures is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. iPhone, iPod Touch and iTunes are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.

1,800,000+ visits to RCI TV*

1,600,000+ video views*

57%

more videos available in 2011

80% of resorts with Resort Showcase

videos experienced an

11% boost over resorts without a

Resort Showcase video in the same destination category

Showcasing the Showcase

To share in the success of RCI TV, contact your RCI account executive to learn how you can promote your resort with a Resort Showcase video.

*Both RCI subscribing members and guests, as of September 2011

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For over 30 years, Sysco Guest Supply has been providing personal care amenities, bath & bed linens,

small appliances, eco smart chemicals, paper products and complete resort furnishings through our

ten distribution centers in the continental United States, and wholly owned subsidiaries in Canada,

Hong Kong, The Peoples Republic of China, and the United Kingdom. Visit us at guestsupply.com.

Manufacturers and Distributors of Hospitality Products Worldwide800.772.7676

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AFFILIATE NEWS

A sign of excellence

n 10 RCI VENTURES I DECEMBER 2011

Crowning achievement

When the RCI Resort Recognition Program was created to honor resorts

that consistently provide exceptional vacation experiences for owners and guests, the World Wide Web was not yet launched, social media meant talking on the phone, and your friends had to look at your vacation pictures as printed photographs. Now, for the digital age, the RCI Gold Crown Re-sort® award, RCI Silver Crown Resort® award and RCI Hospitality award icons have been updated to make them current, fresh and easier to read in electronic media.

The award recipients are deter-mined annually, and resorts must re-earn their award status each year. Approximately 40 percent of RCI® affiliated resorts around the world are recognized each year with one of the three awards.

RCI conducted research among its subscribing membership and learned that members did not fully understand what the icons meant. They also had difficulty distinguishing between the Gold Crown and Silver Crown icons. “Excellence never goes out of style, but the same could not be said of our previous Resort Recognition Program icons,” says Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. “The new designs are very distinct, the colors correspond more accurately to the award names, and the Hospitality award icon now truly conveys the ‘at your service’ attitude the awards represent. We want members to know what the

The RCI® Resort Recognition Program refreshes its icons for the next generation of excellence

Award-winning affiliated resorts that wish to use the new icons in their materials should contact their RCI account team to receive the new icons and guidelines for use.

icons mean and, more important, appreciate how hard resorts must work to achieve and maintain this status.”

In addition, RCI has refined the RCI® subscribing member comment process that is used to help deter-mine the award recipients. When a low score is given in response to any question, the subscribing member will be prompted to supply additional information. These additional com-ments will be accessible to resorts on rcicommentcardreports.com, the comment card reporting site. The goal is to generate specific feed-back to identify particular areas for improvement and help resorts de-velop an appropriate plan of action to make any necessary adjustments in guest services.

The new icons will be featured in the directory of affiliated resorts on RCI.com and in the RCI® Directory of Affiliated Resorts for 2011/2012. Recognition plaques presented to all award-winning affiliated resorts will also feature the new icons, and any resort recognized in 2011 will receive a replacement plate that can be affixed over the outdated 2011 plate. V

The RCI Gold Crown Resort® award designates resorts that have met or exceeded specific standards in the areas of unit housekeeping, resort maintenance, unit maintenance, resort hospitality and check-in/check-out procedures and an evaluation of resort facilities.

The RCI Silver Crown Resort® award designates resorts that have met or exceeded specific standards in the areas of unit housekeeping, resort maintenance, unit maintenance, resort hospitality and check-in/check-out procedures.

The RCI Hospitality award is presented for consistently high ratings in check-in/check-out procedures and hospitality. (RCI affiliated resorts receiving the RCI Gold Crown Resort® designation or the RCI Silver Crown Resort® designation are not eligible for this award.)

Page 13: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

DECEMBER 2011 I RCI VENTURES 11 n

AFFILIATE NEWS

RCIAFFILIATES.COM

The RCI® President’s Club Award

The senior leadership team at RCI, an industry leader in vacation timeshare exchange for more than 35 years, understands that the company’s success—and the

success of the timeshare industry overall—is due in part to the contributions of affiliated resorts and their developers, who share a commitment to transforming the vacation experience for owners and guests. Now, in an effort to formally recognize the most outstanding contributions of its affiliated resorts, RCI has created the RCI President’s Club Award.

The award will be given annually to a select few—chosen from thousands of RCI affiliated resorts worldwide—based on exceptional performance that establishes them as top-performing organizations within the industry.

“Ongoing success in the timeshare industry requires focus, flexibility and the ability to both adapt and innovate,” says Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. “RCI prides itself on

supporting our affiliated resorts as they, the industry and their owners evolve. As an organization, we wanted an official and appropriate way to recognize the resorts and developers whose distinguished achievements set new standards for excellence, and to establish a benchmark of excellence to be strived for by new and seasoned affiliates alike.”

Each 2012 RCI President’s Club Award honoree will receive a personalized crystal award and wall plaque representing their valued achievements in 2011.

“RCI is honored to work with outstanding organizations,” Gurnik says. “As we look forward to continuing our work together and growing our businesses, we are pleased to introduce the RCI President’s Club Award to recognize current achievements and help motivate further advance-ments in the industry.” V

RCI®affiliated resorts to be recognized for exceptional performance

For more information about the RCI President’s Club Award, please contact your RCI account team.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

RCIAFFILIATES.COMn 12 RCI VENTURES I DECEMBER 2011

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Cancún, Mexico

Events calendar: through February 2012 DATES EVENT WEBSITE

Jan 11–13Hotel Investment Forum India (HIFI) Mumbai, India

hifi-india.com

Jan 23–25The Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) Los Angeles, CA, USA

alisconference.com

Jan 31–Feb 2Global Networking Expo (GNEX) Cancún, Mexico

perspectivemagazine.com

RCI® Weeks

BPPC at G Bahía Principe Cayo Levantado Samaná, Dominican Republic

Cathedral Ledge Resort Intervale, NH, USA

Club Onat Garden Dalaman, Turkey

diRoma Fiori Caldas Novas, Goiás, Brazil

Hotel Vila Boa Vida 1 Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio Quente Grand Vacation Hotel & Resort Rio Quente, Goiás, Brazil

RCI Points®

Club de Soleil Las Vegas, NV, USA

Gardens at West Maui Vacation Club Maui, HI, USA

Holiday Club Saimaa Lappeenranta, Finland

Hono Koa Vacation Club Maui, HI, USA

Kahana Beach Vacation Club Maui, HI, USA

Kahana Village Vacation Club Maui, HI, USA

The Registry Collection®

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Emerald Grande at Destin Presidential Reserve Destin, FL, USA

New RCI® affiliated resorts*

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

Kona Islander Vacation Club Kailua-Kona, HI, USA

Maui Banyon Vacation Club Maui, HI, USA

Maui Beach Vacation Club Maui, HI, USA

Sands of Kahana Vacation Club Maui, HI, USA

Somerpointe Resorts Various resorts in Las Vegas, NV, Orlando, FL and Hawaii, USA

Tahiti Vacation Club Las Vegas, NV, USA

Tahiti Village Las Vegas, NV, USA

Sharing Club Anapoima Condominio Anapoima, Cundinamarca, Colombia

Signum Vacation Club Kissimmee, FL, USA

Sönmez Falezyum Residence Antalya, Turkey

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Emerald Grande at Destin Destin, FL, USA

Page 15: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

YOU’RE NOT INTHE BUSINESS OFKEEPING GUESTSWAITING.

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Page 16: RCI Ventures (North America) - November/December 2011

In response to the changing needs of vacation owners—and RCI® affiliated resorts—RCI launched some revolution-ary enhancements to its RCI® Weeks program in 2010 and

2011. The reviews are in, and RCI subscribing members as well as affiliated resorts are raving.

The enhancements to the RCI Weeks program introduced this year include the disclosure of Trading Power, the introduction of Deposit Credits and the ability to combine Deposits. All these help increase flexibility for vacation opportunities for owners and help make resort vacation ownership even more attractive at the sales table to new as well as repeat owners.

A great year for RCI® Weeks subscribing members

n 14 RCI VENTURES I DECEMBER 2011

RCI® NEWS

RCIAFFILIATES.COM

By the numbers

Since these enhancements were introduced:

93%

of RCI members have exchanged for a vacation that resulted in a Deposit Credit that can be used for a future exchange or combined with another Deposit for increased Trading Power.

More than

43,000

exchanges have been completed using a Deposit Credit.

The RCI Weeks enhancements have had a positive impact on our sales process. The transparency through the Deposit Credit system not only allows new owners more flexibility, but also helps existing owners with Trading Power. The ability to combine credits to maximize trading power and allow more families to take more vacations has helped our sales process a great deal.

—BOB MONTONDO, Ron Jon® Cape Caribe Resort, Cocoa Beach, FL

The new program really is a plus. I’ve been a member of RCI since 1985, and it is a nice perk for members. Over the years we have exchanged and the resorts/units were a big disappointment compared to our home resort, with all its amenities and furnishings for comfort, etc., and we really felt short-changed on our exchange. Now the new Trading Power system gives us the advantage of a second-week vacation on the same exchange, a big plus.

—THERESA F., Greenwich, CT

The overall experience of searching and booking has finally become a positive note! I didn’t realize we can combine any remaining credits for another vacation as well. Seeing the Trading Power of our unit compared to others also has opened up a whole new world to us. Thank you.

—JOHN C., Victoria, British Columbia

The resale staff has been energized by the enhancements to the RCI Weeks program. The Trading Power Calculator and the Exchange Planner have given us the ability to show the value of the exchange and ownership better than ever before.

—PAUL GOODRICH, Palmetto Marketing