Looking to the

Futurep.4

The state of the U.S. timeshare industry

ENTERPRISING IDEAS FOR THE VACATION INDUSTRY I AUGUST 2011

INSIDE: RCI® GREEN AWARD P.16

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Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Australia

RCIAFFILIATES.COM AUGUST 2011 I RCI VENTURES 1 n

P. 2 WELCOME

P. 4 INDUSTRY REPORT State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry : Where we are & where we’re going

P. 8 RCI® AFFILIATED RESORT PROFILE The Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort, Carlsbad, CA

P. 10 MANAGEMENT PROFILE Jim Watkins, Industry pioneer and innovator

AFFILIATE NEWS P. 14 RCI® eSchool P. 16 RCI® Green Award P. 17 New RCI® affiliated resorts

INDUSTRY NEWS P. 18 Events calendar

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

Assistant EditorKaren Nagy

Project ManagerPatrick Gannon

Director, Marketing ServicesEric Martucci

Creative DirectorRoe Intrieri

Art DirectorAsh Oat

Assistant Photo EditorPamela Pasco

Digital Imaging and Prepress Specialist Hiroki Tada

P. 11 INDUSTRY NEWS THE RCI® CHRISTEL HOUSE OPEN® INTERNATIONAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT

WELCOME

n 2 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2011

Dear RCI Affiliate:We’ve all heard the old adage “It’s better to give than receive.” Many of you have taken those words to heart through your ongoing support of Christel House and the annual RCI® Christel House Open® golf tournament (page 11).

Since its beginnings more than 10 years ago, we, too, have taken great pride in supporting Christel House and the incredible work the organization does to transform the lives of impoverished children around the world. More than just a school, Christel House is proof that if you give a child a chance, amazing things can happen. And amazing things are happening each and every day in the communities that Christel House serves around the globe.Here are just a few examples of Christel House’s impact:

When Rakshitha went to Christel House, her home did not have electricity. Christel House arranged for electricity to be connected so she could study at night. The investment paid off: When Rakshitha was in 10th grade, she went to Naples, Italy, where the student video she helped produce won a film festival prize.

Nontando attended Christel House South Africa. Her home was so small that only two of the four family members could sleep inside at night. Through a scholarship she received from Christel House, Nontando was able to attend Culver Summer Leadership Camp in Culver, Indiana.

When Frank first went to Christel House Venezuela, he had limited education and no way to realize his dreams. Now he is studying electrical engineering at the prestigious Símon Bolívar University, where he was admitted in the top 1 percent of incoming freshman.

The RCI Christel House Open serves as a way for us all to stand united to raise funds and provide these and so many other children like them with the opportunity to achieve their dreams. Your support—whether as a host, participant, volunteer or donor—goes a long way toward ensuring that each can live a better life in the future.

On behalf of all of us at RCI, thank you for your support this year and always. We hope you take great pride in knowing that together, for one day on a golf course, we truly made a difference.

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

C ommissioned by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) International Foundation (AIF) and conducted by Ernst & Young, the State of the Vacation

Timeshare Industry: United States Study 2011 Edition—published in June—offers valuable insights at a critical time for the industry.

The report provides an important summary of information on the U.S. timeshare industry for 2010, and captures stats and trends that provide some insights into the future of the industry.

Of 1,548 timeshare resorts identified, 678 responded—a 44% response rate. The research reveals findings that provide a better understanding of timeshare for industry professionals as well as owners and the general public. Among the findings:

• Smaller resorts have higher average prices than large resorts.

• Larger resorts have higher maintenance fees.

• Approximately 95% of the resorts had annual sales of less than $25 million.

• Approximately 55% of the resorts reported no sales.

• Sales prices and maintenance fees tend to be higher for resorts with greater levels of sales volume.

• Resorts with higher average sales prices tend to have higher occupancy rates.

INDUSTRY REPORT: STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

AIF’s industry report assesses the state of the timeshare industry and looks to the future

Where we are

2010 Industry Overview

5%

studio units 22%

one-bedroom units 65% two-bedroom units

8%

three-bedroom (or more) units

1,548 timeshare resorts

in the United States

197,700 (approximate) units

128 units = average resort size

2010 Sales Volume = $6.4 billion 1.6% increase from 2009

n 4 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2011

& where we’re going

Howard Nusbaum, president and chief executive officer of ARDA, is focused on the future, seeing important indicators in the results of the report, especially in light of the recent economic conditions.

“In the past, when there was a war, an energy crisis, natural disaster or recession, it didn’t matter to the timeshare industry,” Nusbaum says. “The hotel industry, our sister industry, would have peaks or valleys. But we continued to grow until September 2008. We know now that timeshare was humbled for the first time in our history by outside happenings.”

The timeshare industry was slightly ahead of its 2007 numbers through the third quarter of 2008. But in the fourth quarter, “once the credit markets got spooked, we were forced to get back to the

fundamentals—resort development and sales,” Nusbaum says.Nusbaum is quick to point out that the profile of the average

timeshare buyer—52 years old, married, making an average of $78,400USD a year—enabled the industry to outperform credit card debt, auto loans and student loans during the crisis. Nine out of 10 remained current with maintenance fees and mortgages. “We have a very stable borrower who doesn’t walk away from a credit rating.”

With the declining sales, the industry became focused on making margins more profitable. Sales in the fourth quarter of 2010 finally began to rebound. “Timeshare developers are realizing that traditional and expensive sales and marketing programs aren’t very

30% beach 16%

country/lakes

15%

other(not illustrated)

11% golf 10%

ski

7%

island

6%

urban

5%

theme park

% of all resorts by type in 2010

2010 Occupancy78.5%

average occupancy rate (compared to 58% at U.S. hotels)

10% of occupancy from rentals

2010 Sales329,200

intervals sold

55% of sales to new owners

45% of sales to existing owners

AUGUST 2011 I RCI VENTURES 5 nRCIAFFILIATES.COM

efficient in the new economy,” Nusbaum says. “Maybe part of the new strategy is in the way we market this product against hotel rooms—the ability to travel in larger groups, not having to eat pizza on a bed because there’s a kitchen—highlighting the whole resort experience.” The challenge remains, touching as many people who don’t own this product, without huge sales and marketing costs.

Nusbaum sees lots of opportunities for the industry, starting with the consumer. “The average person has a better response to our product than we understand, and younger people don’t know anything about our product,” Nusbaum says. He sees the stronger focus on family life and a commitment to health and wellness as very good for timeshare. “Societal changes, demographic changes, baby boomers who want to keep their families together and younger people who see vacations as something you don’t want to wait for—position the industry better than ever.”

For developers, Nusbaum foresees changes, too. “When you look at a master development, they’ll have resort, condos, timeshare or fractional and some actual vacation homes. Everyone shares in the economies of scale for the management. Mixed use allows a property to remain relevant throughout the lifecycle of a customer.

“This is a chance for us to look at our product offerings in different ways,” Nusbaum says. “We’ve become an industry with better discipline, and fifteen years from now we’ll look back and realize this was the moment the industry got smart.” V

Florida

23%

INDUSTRY REPORT: STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

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$ sales prices per interval

% occupancy

$ maintenance fee

78.5731

19,308

Get your copy of the reportState of the Vacation Timeshare Industry: United States Study, 2011 EditionPublished and sponsored by the ARDA International Foundation Conducted by Ernst & Young

Full report: Member $200; Non-member $300Executive Summary: Member $25; Non-member $50

Go to arda.org/researchlibrary

California

8% South Central

9%

South Atlantic

8%

Midwest

8%Mountain

18%

Pacific

9%

Northeast

11%

South Carolina

7%

% of all resorts by region in 2010

On average in 2010

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AFFILIATED RESORT PROFILE

Picture perfect

n 8 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2011

Few resorts can lay claim to a history as storied as Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort and Hotel in

Carlsbad, California. The property— with its spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean—was originally the site of a private vacation home built in 1928, which later became apartments and then a boarding house. In the 1930s, Hollywood stars would stop in Carlsbad on the way to Mexico. That’s when Bing Crosby purchased the site and built 12 small cottages, a swimming pool and a wed-ding chapel, and converted the house into a restaurant. But in 1985, when Jim Watkins (see a special profile on page 10) acquired the property, it was in a state of disrepair. The existing structures were torn down, and the Carlsbad Inn, the first mixed-use resort in the industry, was built.

The resort, which features a 61-room hotel, 132 timeshare units, two restaurants and retail shops, became both the 1,000th resort to affiliate with RCI and the flagship of the Winners Circle network of resorts in Southern California. Winners Circle is managed by Grand Pacific Resort Management, and recently, RCI® Ventures spoke with David S. Brown, co-president of Grand Pacific.

How does the Carlsbad Inn compare to other properties managed by Grand Pacific Resorts?

We manage 14 resorts, several of which are exception-ally beautiful, but there’s just something special about

Carlsbad Inn—the architecture, the site plan, the oceanview green, the cool ocean breezes. It’s truly an honor to manage this property on behalf of the homeowners and Jim Watkins, the owner and original developer.

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David S. Brown

After 25 years, the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort renovates everything but the ocean view

Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort, Carlsbad, California

AUGUST 2011 I RCI VENTURES 9 n

$2 million each from the HOA budget and the hotel. One of the biggest chal-lenges was how to update the look of the entire property and finish the project with a consistent look. So we selected one firm (PD&A, from San Clemente, CA) to do the whole project—the time-share condos, the hotel, the common areas, the exterior and the interiors.

Another challenge was to ensure that we were getting the most “bang for our buck.” Some things that needed to be updated, like bathrooms and furniture, are expensive. So we had to make careful choices without compromising the vision.

That vision had a very singular focus.

Our number one attraction is the ocean, followed closely by the

beautiful grounds and Carlsbad Village location. The renovation project was driven by the goal to maximize those features. We’ve removed all obstacles that blocked views of the ocean—interior items like drapes and windows with small panes and exterior things like bushes and fencing—that blocked views of the ocean. We opened up the green to encourage guest interaction and emphasize the natural beauty of the resort’s surround-ings. By doing so, we’re showcasing the essence of what makes Carlsbad Inn so unique and appealing.

V How do you sustain such a high level of guest satisfaction?

RCIAFFILIATES.COM

Tell us about the renovation of the entire property, which coincided with the resort’s 25th anniversary.

With a 30-year plan, every aspect of the property has a life expectancy.

We already had a renovation scheduled for 2010 for the timeshare condos to replace furniture, carpet and drapes. The model is a bit different for the hotel, but it made sense to tie the renovation plans together.

While debating whether to do a major or moderate level renovation, we asked Bruce Baltin (of hospitality specialists PKF Consulting) about our plan, specifically if we were at risk of “over-improving” Carlsbad Inn. Bruce had said there was little risk of that because the ocean isn’t going away and Carlsbad is only getting better and bet-ter. So, with the endorsement of the Home Owners Association and Jim Watkins, we moved ahead with a comprehensive plan.

Furniture, fixtures, carpets and lighting all needed to be replaced. Technology also needed to be updated, with flatscreen TVs. And we wanted to switch to green appli-ances and fittings. Renovation of the hotel rooms, common areas, exterior, grounds and one of the timeshare buildings is complete. The second round of renovations will be completed in December 2011.

What were some of the challenges you encountered?

DB Staying within budget and on schedule are always challenges.

We started working on the plan two years out, with a budget of $4 million;

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I’m always thrilled by the guest comments we receive on RCI.com

and other ratings websites. It’s a tribute to our service culture and our staff’s genuine passion to create memorable vacations for our guests. Plus, Jim Watkins picked just about the best location on the planet to build the resort!

What do you see for the hospital-ity industry in Southern California?

It’s difficult to build timeshare units on the Southern California coast—

if the high cost of land doesn’t make the project economically unfeasible, the land-use restrictions will usually make it impos-sible. We’re fortunate to have many of the premier coastal North San Diego sites under our control. There may be some urban rehab opportunities, but we plan to stick with our coastal orientation. V

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Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort, Carlsbad, California

MANAGEMENT PROFILE

n 10 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2011

J im Watkins is the owner and original developer of the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort.

With his resorts in Southern California, he helped establish and shape the vacation ownership industry. RCI® Ventures asked Jim to share some of his recollections and insights.

What attracted you to the property, and why did you

choose to include timeshare units?

I was attracted to the location because of its direct beach access

and ocean view. The challenge was obtain-ing city and California Coastal Commis-sion approval for timeshares in the overall mixed use. In 1985, “timeshare” was a bad word in California. Now, 25 years later, the Carlsbad Inn is one of the city’s most desirable and viable community assets.

It began when Jon and Christel DeHaan [co-founders of RCI] virtually begged me to get involved in timeshare. I was reluctant because of its reputation. I was once told by Jon to get involved and help clean it up. That was the challenge. In 1979, I developed the 100-unit Winners Circle Resort & Tennis Club in Del Mar. In 1980 or 1981, it was the sales leader in timeshare in sales in the United States.

Needless to say, I was hooked. Winners Circle Resorts has developed nine timeshare resorts, which would not have happened without the DeHaans and RCI. RCI was—and is—a very major factor in our success.

Tell us about some of the other innovative ideas you’ve brought

to the industry.

A lot of promises are made in a sales presentation. My belief has

always been, “now we better darn well de-liver.” A survey of owners in 1983 revealed that at least 25 percent of them were not using their units. So I introduced monthly classes of “Timeshare 101” to teach own-ers how to best use their units. We intro-duced split week to provide owners more flexibility, and we integrated resales into our management to better serve our owners. I believe dedication to our owners—and their loyalty to us—was the key to our success.

How do you assess the current state of the industry?

In the ’80s, we were all a close-knit group of crazy, risk-taking entrepre-

neurs having fun. I know that technology and social networking are the future, but it seems very impersonal to me.

What do you see for the future of the hospitality industry in

Southern California?

Because of the weather, the beaches and entertainment

venues, California will always be a mecca for the hospitality industry and well-planned timeshares should always do well.

What are your thoughts as you’ve reflected on the 25th anniversary

of the Carlsbad Inn?

I would like to express my gratitude to David Brown and

Tim Stripe, co-presidents of Grand Pacific Resorts for their superb manage-ment of Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort— an RCI Gold Crown Resort®—and the other Winners Circle Resorts. And thanks to RCI and the timeshare industry for all of the wonderful memories. V

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Jim Watkins, founder and president of Winners Circle Resorts International, Inc., is a veteran resort developer. He has developed more than 1,000 homes and 50 apartment complexes, as well as numerous hotels, vacation ownership resorts and other commercial properties.

Winners Circle Resorts specializes in the development, sales, marketing and management of quality vacation ownership resorts, with more than 30,000 satisfied owners and sales exceeding $250 million. Its resorts include Carlsbad Inn, Del Mar Inn, Winners Circle Beach and Tennis, South-ern California Beach Club, Gaslamp Plaza Suites, San Clemente Cove Resort, Coronado Beach Resort, L’Auberge Del Mar and Dolphin’s Cove.

Jim WatkinsTimeshare pioneer and innovator

I believe dedication to our owners—and their loyalty to us—was the key to our success.

“”

AUGUST 2011 I RCI VENTURES 11 n

INDUSTRY NEWS

RCIAFFILIATES.COM

By uniting the timeshare industry’s developers, resorts and vendors across the world, the 2011 RCI®

Christel House Open® international charity golf tournament has raised nearly $500,000 to support the organization, whose pro-grams help improve the lives of children around the world.

This year’s open was hosted at 17 sites in six countries, including the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, South Africa and the United Kingdom. While most tournaments teed off on June 13, some—including the event in India—will be held later this year due to weather and other local consider-ations. When all the tournaments have been completed, event planners estimate nearly 1,800 golfers will have participated.

For the fifth consecutive year, RCI assumed the leadership by serving as the tournament’s title sponsor.

Geoff Ballotti, CEO of RCI, joined Christel DeHaan, founder of Christel House and co-founder of RCI in 1974, on the links at the tournament in Indianapolis. “RCI is proud to continue to support the outstand-ing work of Christel House,” Ballotti says. “It is an important cause, and for those of us who get to enjoy a round of golf with co-workers, colleagues and industry associ-ates, raising money on behalf of Christel House, it is the ideal way to spend a day.”

The fundraiser, now in its ninth year, supports Christel House International, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1998. The charity’s mission is to help children around the world break the cycle of poverty, realize their hopes and dreams and become self-sufficient, contributing members of society. All proceeds raised by the open will be used to fund services and programs that benefit more than 3,300 children. V

Drive for the greenGolf tourney raises big bucks for charity

In addition to RCI, Christel House would like to thank its additional sponsors:

• ARDA • Bluegreen Corporation • Convergys • FedEx • Harding Poorman Group • Northern Trust • Perspective Magazine • Wyndham Vacation Ownership

Thanks also to the companies that hosted the tournaments: Bluegreen Corporation Daytona Beach, FL; Gatlinburg, TN; Myrtle Beach, SC; Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Shenandoah, VA

The Christie Lodge Breckenridge, CO

The Family of Orange Lake Resorts Kissimmee, FL

Festiva Hospitality Group Myrtle Beach, SC

GOODMANagement Williamsburg, VA

Grand Lodge on Peak 7 Breckenridge, CO

Grand Pacific Resorts Vista, CA

Lodging Kit Company Boonville, NY

The Noble Company Myrtle Beach, SC

RCI Europe London, England

RCI Mexico Cancún, Mexico

The Rotary Club of Oyster Point Williamsburg, VA

Scottsdale Camelback Resort Scottsdale, AZ

Sun Hospitality Resort Services Myrtle Beach, SC

Virginia Resort Development Association Williamsburg, VA

Special thanks

Indianapolis, Indiana

ADVERTORIAL

Small Preventive Maintenance Fixes Improve Your Property’s ROI

Maintaining your property’s exterior is vital to attracting new guests and keeping repeat customers. It’s important to remember that to your potential customer, the exterior is a reflection of the interior. Unsightly parking lots littered with debris, potholes, cracked pavement, overgrown landscaping, and fading signs and paint are a few of the key items that keep cars from pulling into your parking lot. In order to maintain your property’s curb appeal, you should conduct a weekly drive-by of your property. Take the blinders off. Use a discerning eye, and try to imagine how a potential guest might feel upon arriving at your resort. If something catches your attention, it will catch the eye of a potential guest, too.

Parking lots are sometimes taken for granted and overlooked during an inspection because most of the focus is on the guest room. However, you have to remember, a safe and well-maintained parking lot tells everyone that you pay attention to details and are serious about customer satisfaction and safety. Every property should invest in a pressure washer and pavement filler. These tools will allow you to clean unwanted stains and repair any cracks in the concrete that result from extreme temperature changes. Before you begin repairing any holes or cracks in the concrete, you will want to clear the surface of leaves, grass clippings, and other loose debris and use a pressure washer to remove bird droppings, spills, chewing gum, and other messy substances. Once the pavement is clean, you can use a road repair substance to fill in any potholes or large cracks. Next, apply a sealant across the

pavement to renew the condition and appearance of the lot surface. Finally, a paint striper will cost you less than $100 but will help freshen up the look of the parking spaces. Restriping the parking lot and painting the curbs annually will give your lot that fresh appearance you are looking for.

By Stratton MichalsNational Account Manager, HD Supply Facilities Maintenance

July/august 2011 I rci Ventures 13 n

ADVERTORIAL

*As seen in Resort Motel Magazine.

Check your property seasonally for any broken or faded patio and pool furniture. Dispose of anything that can not be repaired or restored. Make sure the landscaping around your property is properly trimmed and watered so it appears well manicured and inviting. Every exit should have an ash urn/cigarette receptacle, as well as waste receptacles for your guests. This will help you avoid discarded cigarette butts and other trash on your walkways and parking lots. For your guests’ safety and property’s appearance, you should replace any faded signs around your property, particularly in the pool area, whenever necessary.

I always recommend surveying your property at night. If you do not have the budget to redesign your property’s exterior lighting, adding a few lighting accent pieces will often go a long way toward improving your curb appeal. Old and burned-out exterior bulbs should be replaced immediately. Energy-saving CFLs or LEDs make great replacements depending on the application. They will not only improve your property’s image, but also help you save on your electricity bill. There may even be rebates available from your local utility company.

Now that summer is in full swing, your resort is probably buzzing with guests checking in and out and your guest rooms are getting their fair share of use and abuse. While your front desk staff is busy making sure your guests’ expectations are being met, your maintenance and housekeeping staff should be conducting a thorough inspection of each guest room after every stay. It is important to have them run through a basic checklist of items that your guest will be using. Have them check all the small

appliances throughout the rooms. Check the hair dryers, TV remotes, coffeemakers, irons, and ironing boards/pads to be sure that all these items are clean, in good working order, and in their correct place. Having your staff take the extra time to run through a more detailed checklist will not only improve your resort’s operating efficiencies and guest satisfaction scores, but reduce the number of guest complaints. May your days be busy and your guest rooms full!

Call HD Supply to get started on your project today! (866) 455-4801.

AUGUST 2011 I RCI VENTURES 13 n

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Responding to changes in the industry, RCI has developed—in cooperation with the Levitin Group and ePercipio—the RCI® eSchool platform, a free

online learning network, exclusive to RCI affiliated resorts. “The economic downturn forced many resorts to cut

operational spending,” says Fiona Downing, senior vice president of development and operations at RCI. “Many of our affiliates told us they had cut their training resources as a result and were looking for cost-effective training solutions during these challenging times, when staff training is more important than ever.”

Training can transform good performers into great performers and keep great performers at their very best, driving both cost and revenue efficiencies. E-learning offers a more cost-effective, convenient and efficient alternative to in-person training. Content is always available and can be updated to remain current with the needs of the business environment.

“Levitin Group and ePercipio recognized the benefits of robust e-learning in our industry and created a platform to support it. We are excited to partner with them to launch the RCI eSchool, a suite of fun, interactive online courses on need-to-know topics,” says Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. “Training can be expensive, but we know it’s important to our affiliates’ success, so we are investing on their behalf.”

RCI eSchool features three halls of learning, all offered for free to RCI affiliated resorts:

• RCI Products and Services: training on RCI® Weeks, RCI Points®, RCI Platinum® Membership and STAR Training for operations

• Workplace Learning and Development: access to professional soft skills, including courses on Customer Service, Relationship Management, Trust and Rapport Building and many more

• Sales & Marketing: developed by the Levitin Group, renowned for its training and results, includes sales tools and techniques for overcoming objections, effective discovery methods and closers workshops

Affiliates looking for more content can link into the new Levitin “Timeshare University” site, an even more robust online university dedicated to improving sales and marketing efforts. Additional courses are offered at highly competitive rates.

RCI eSchool was presented at the recent AMDETUR Conference in Mexico. Feedback from delegates who attended free training sessions was overwhelmingly positive: “We recognize the many benefits of online learning—consistency in communications, 24/7 access, accountability—and think that every company needs to embrace the concept,” says Juan Barillas, vice president of sales and marketing at Sol Meliá Vacation Club. “We are thrilled that RCI is working with Levitin Group and ePercipio to bring this powerful training tool to affiliates.” V

RCI® eSchool supports the business objectives of affiliated resorts

n 14 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2011

AFFILIATE NEWS

RCIAFFILIATES.COM

Learning to succeed

T he RCI® Green Award will recognize RCI affiliated resorts in North America that actively

engage in sustainable practices and demonstrate a commitment to incorpo-rating green measures into all facets of daily resort operations.

Modeled after the successful RCI Going Green Award program launched in the Pacific region last year, RCI affiliated resorts in North America will have the opportunity to submit a voluntary self-assessment questionnaire answering questions about the resort’s sustainability operations. Areas focus on energy, waste, supply chain and water management, site-nature and cultural environment, facility design elements and community and guest engagement.

“The hospitality industry is actively evolving to meet the expectations of environment-conscious guests and corporate customers who, in increasing numbers, prefer to stay at accommoda-tions that reflect their same values,”

says Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. “This award program is designed to recognize those affiliated resorts that embrace green initiatives that continue to impact the industry and make the world a better place to live.”

In September, after all the submis-sions have been collected, the self-assessment forms will be reviewed and scored by Rohit Verma, Cornell Univer-sity’s professor of service operations management at the School of Hotel Administration, to determine the award finalists. That group of selected finalists will then undergo an on-site property inspection conducted by Verma.

The results of the self-assessment questionnaire and on-site inspection will determine which affiliated resorts will receive the inaugural RCI Green Awards. The select group of winners will be formally presented the award at ARDA World 2012, the ARDA Annual Conven-tion and Exposition in Las Vegas, NV, in April of next year. V

Get the recognition you deserve for your resort’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices

n 16 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2011

AFFILIATE NEWS

RCIAFFILIATES.COM

RCI® GREEN AWARD:

Last call for submissions!

Gone green? Tell us how! Complete the property self-assessment survey for your RCI affiliated resort!

https://wyndham.ondemand.ca.com/Views Flash/servlet/viewsflash?cmd=showform& pollid=RCI_Green_Award_NA!Survey

RCI® Green Award TimelineMAY–AUGUST Affiliated resorts submit self- assessment surveys to RCI.

SEPTEMBER Independent expert reviews all self-assessment submissions and selects the finalist resorts.

OCTOBER–DECEMBER Independent expert visits finalist resorts to review property operations.

APRIL 2012Winners presented with awards at 2012 ARDA Convention and Exposition in Las Vegas, NV.

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

Aspen, Colorado Mountains near Snowmass Village, Colorado

RCI® Weeks

Aldeia Das Águas Resort Barra do Piraí, Brazil

Daytona Resort & Club Daytona Beach, FL, USA

GR Caribe Deluxe All Inclusive Resort Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Hotel Sierra Linda Club de Montaña Mérida, Venezuela

RCI Points®

Beachcomber Resort Ocean Shores, WA, USA

The Inn at St. Ives Stanwood, MI, USA

Paradise Lakes Resort Lutz, FL, USA

Kamelya World Vacation Club Antalya, Turkey

Peaceful Bay Resort & Club Lakeside, MT, USA

Presidential Suites by Lifestyle Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The Residence Club Donovaly, Slovakia

The Registry Collection®

Casas Primavera San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Freedom Bay Malgretoute, St. Lucia

Hacienda San Antonio Residences Morelos, Mexico

Manzano Golf Resort Cortona, Italy

The Palmyra Resort & Spa Montego Bay, Jamaica

The Residences at Snowmass Club Snowmass Village, Colorado, USA

Sirenis Premium Grand Presidential Suites Riviera Maya, Mexico

New RCI® affiliated resorts*

RCIAFFILIATES.COM AUGUST 2011 I RCI VENTURES 17 n

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AFFILIATE NEWS

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RCIAFFILIATES.COM

Events calendar: through September 2011

n 18 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2011

DATES EVENT WEBSITE

Aug 15–212011 Wyndham Championship Greensboro, NC, USA

wyndhamchampionship.com

Aug 30–31Fractional Summit USA Miami, FL, USA

fractionalsummitusa.com

Sept 11–13Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC) Annual Conference Gold Coast, Australia

athoc.com.au

Sept 20–23The Lodging Conference Phoenix, AZ, USA

lodgingconference.com

Sept 21–22South American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (SAHIC) Santiago, Chile

sahic.com

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Miami, Florida