Over 100 new resorts in 2009 were welcomed by RCI, the world’s largest vacation exchange company. Demonstrating that vacation exchange remains a bright spot in the travel industry, RCI, considered the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, announced that it added more than 100 new resorts in 2009 alone, including 10 properties under development.
The Sithonia Beach Club of Porto Carras in Greece joins the RCI network of affiliated resorts. The resort is a fabulous mixed-use resort offering guests a variety of activities, from golf, casino and spa to Blue Flag beaches and secluded coves. The Sithonia Beach Club at Porto Carras is located on the west coast of the popular Halkidiki area of mainland Greece and is part of the stunning mixed-use Porto Carras Grand Resort, which incorporates four luxury hotels, a private casino, modern Thalassotherapy and spa facilities, a conference center, plus an 18-hole international standard golf course. Guests can enjoy a variety of additional on-site activities, including live entertainment, fitness facilities, swimming pools, tennis courts and horseback riding.
Dominican Republic’s Presidential Suites By Lifestyle has joined RCI’s network of affiliated resorts. In alliance with Globalia of Spain, this resort group is one of the most prestigious chains in the Dominican Republic. The newest Presidential Suites by Lifestyle is located in Bahia de Cofresi, Puerto Plata and offers fully-equipped two-bedroom units and an exclusive specialized restaurant called Jazz which serves French fusion style cuisine, a blend of New Orleans and French haute cuisine. It also has a Bourbon Street bar, a private swimming pool and three tennis courts. The resort is part of the Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club complex, with access to three semi-private beaches, seven restaurants, four swimming pools, a spa, a kids club, a gym and more.
Hilton Grand Vacations recently announced that they have renewed their long-standing affiliation RCI. Headquartered in Orlando, Hilton has 50 RCI affiliated resorts in their portfolio of developed and managed properties and more than 150,000 Club Members. The vacation ownership division of Hilton Worldwide develops, markets and operates spectacular properties in some of the world’s most celebrated destinations. The company also manages and operates club membership programs tailored to provide vacation exchange, leisure travel and reservation services. The contract with RCI means that Hilton Grand Vacation will continue a relationship that has lasted for over 17 years.
Inn season Resorts has now joined RCI’s Global Network of resorts in a new multi-year affiliation relationship that will allow eligible InnSeason owners to become RCI members. Inn Season Resorts are located in Maine with two properties, New Hampshire with two properties, and in Massachusetts with five properties all located on Cape Cod.
The Sol Melia Vacation Club has received the RCI Pinnacle Award for its volume of business. ‘It is a pleasure and privilege for Sol Meliá Vacation Club to be recognized by RCI to receive this prestigious award. We consider this to be an important indicator of our overall success in providing unique and high quality vacation experiences in all our destinations,” said Denis Ebrill, Executive Vice President, Sol Meliá Vacation Club. Sol Meliá Vacation Club is an internationally-branded membership club focusing on leisure lifestyle experiences that include exotic destinations, designer-appointed luxury suites, exclusive services and unforgettable amenities. Each Sol Meliá Vacation Club vacation experience is different from the other, aligned with local culture and customized to fit members’ leisure lifestyle needs. Featured Sol Meliá Vacation Club locations include Cancun, Cozumel, and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico; Puerto Rico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in the Caribbean; Panama in Central America; and the Canary Islands, and Spain.
Vacation Club’s first resort in Sweden has joined the RCI network of affiliated resorts. SkiStar, one of the Nordic region’s hospitality brands has affiliated two of its resorts, SkiStar Vacation Club Fjällhotell and SkiStar Vacation Club Snötorget with RCI. Both resorts are located in the popular Swedish ski area of Salen, which offers some of the country’s best skiing and snowboarding and is best-known for hosting the start of Vasaloppet, the world’s oldest, longest and largest cross-country ski race, which regularly attracts more than 15,000 participants. Salen is also home to Experium, Sweden’s newest leisure complex, featuring a number of indoor and outdoor swimming pools including an adventure pool offering indoor surfing and wave effects. Also at Experium are spa and sauna facilities, restaurants, cafés and bars, food court, 3-D cinema, children’s play area, bowling, conference facilities and more. The SkiStar Fjallhotell is comprised of studio and one-bedroom units with partial kitchens and two-bedroom units with full kitchens, while SkiStar Snötorget is made up of two- and three-bedroom units with full kitchens. The SkiStar resort properties join 17 more resorts in Sweden which are part of the RCI holiday exchange network, and will add to the exchange company’s extensive portfolio of resorts in ski locations.
RCI has announced the extension of its strategic alliance with International Cruise and Excursions, Inc. (ICE), the worldwide industry leader for integrated cruise and leisure packages to the vacation ownership and travel industries.
As part of the agreement, ICE will provide cruise fulfillment including operations and technology for RCI global programs. ICE will also provide fulfillment for member loyalty, lead generation, and purchase incentives to provide value-added benefits to RCI’s affiliated developers. RCI will also become the exclusive exchange provider for ICE.
The Sol Melia Vacation Club at Gran Melia Palacio de Isora has won RCI’s Developer Innovation Award. The Developer Innovation Award recognizes a resort with new vacation ownership projects that are eco-friendly, have unique features, are family friendly, provide a high level of service, starting with the point of arrival.
The Gran Melia Palacio de Isora is a new property located in Tenerife of the Canary Islands that features 200 one and two-bedroom oceanfront suites with lavish amenities such as plasma televisions, fully equipped kitchens, and upscale wood and granite accents. The resort also includes five restaurants, six bars, room service, wine cellar, golf simulator, two tennis courts, a world class Yhi Spa, four adult swimming pools, two children’s pools, including one of the largest swimming pools in Europe.
The Solluna Resort in Uttarakhand, India is now a member of the RCI Network of affiliated resorts. RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies recently announced the affiliation with the Solluna Resort. It is located in India’s largest wildlife sanctuary, Jim Corbett National Park and the affiliation brings the total number of RCI affiliated resorts in destinations across India to more than 80.
The property is a five-hour drive from Delhi on the foothills of the Himalayas and is spread over 25 acres of lush green along the banks of the Ramganga River. Nestled within the National Park, the resort offers visitors tranquility along with opportunities for adventure including river rafting, fishing, open-top jeep rides, elephant safaris, horseback riding, wildlife tours and cultural activities such as folk dances and evening bonfires.
The resort replicates the essence of nature in its interiors, and the theme revolves around wildlife with 47 elegant cottages. It is equipped with 24 hour room service, a conference hall, restaurant, bar, swimming pool, library, mini theatre and travel desk.
