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RCI ® eSCHOOL: FREE ONLINE TRAINING P.6 ENTERPRISING IDEAS FOR THE VACATION INDUSTRY I AUGUST 2012 TAKE THE LEAD THE HUMAN RESOURCES ISSUE INVEST IN YOUR STAFF AND

RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

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A common practice of destinations that rate among the Best Places to Work is keeping associates motivated through education and training opportunities, which you can read more about on page 2. At RCI, our people are a huge part of our success. We do all that we can to ensure that our team consists of experienced, knowledgeable people with a passion fortimeshare. We are proud to also say that our team is recognized externally. RCI was just recently named to the list of 2012 Best Places to Work in Australia and has also made the list in Mexico, Florida, New Jersey and Indianapolis for several consecutive years. It’s an honor to be part of a company that has such engaged and motivated employees.

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Page 1: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

RCI® eSCHOOL: FREE ONLINE TRAINING P.6

ENTERPRISING IDEAS FOR THE VACATION INDUSTRY I AUGUST 2012

TAKE THE LEADTHE HUMAN RESOURCES ISSUE

INVEST IN YOUR STAFF AND

Page 2: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

TABLE OF CONTENTS

P. 1 MESSAGE FROM RCI

P. 2 INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE Keeping staff motivated is a key ingredient for success—especially when times are tough

P. 6 RCI® eSCHOOL Cultivate employee success with online learning

P. 8 RCI® AFFILIATED RESORT PROFILE Massanutten Resort in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

P. 10 ELITE REWARDS Exciting new features from Barclays

P. 12 RCI® AFFILIATED RESORT NEWS

P. 14 EVENTS CALENDAR

P. 14 NEW AFFILIATES

This Issue:

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.

©2012 RCI, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 9998 North Michigan Road, Carmel, IN 46032

Publisher Brian Bruno

Senior Vice President Phil Brojan

Associate Publisher Emily Sadlock

Contributing Editors Steve Alessandrini Ranjana Biswas Helen Foster

Advisory BoardJeff ParkerMelinda EmmanoelidesKris JamtaasRobert StoltDanielle GaliotoAmy LipkaJeff NoonanDebbie WunderLucie GagneEsther GrishamKate Fresso

Editor in ChiefChuck Wentzel

Managing EditorGaetano Pollice

Copy EditorAmy Lynn Tonsits

Assistant EditorPaige Beaumont

Editorial InternJamie Shen

Director, Marketing ServicesEric Martucci

Creative DirectorRoe Intrieri

Art DirectorAsh Oat

Associate Photo EditorPamela Pasco

Project Manager Andrew Gersten

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LEFT: Massanutten Resort, page 8 BELOW: Industry Roundtable, page 2

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Page 3: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

MESSAGE FROM RCI

AUGUST 2012 I RCI VENTURES 1 nRCIAFFILIATES.COM

Dear RCI® Affiliate:At RCI, our people are a huge part of our success. We do all that we can to ensure that our team consists of experienced, knowledgeable people with a passion for timeshare. We are proud to also say that our team is recognized externally. RCI was just recently named to the list of 2012 Best Places to Work in Australia and has also made the list in Mexico, Florida, New Jersey and Indianapolis for several consecutive years. It’s an honor to be part of a company that has such engaged and motivated employees.

A common practice of destinations that rate among the Best Places to Work is keeping associates motivated through education and training opportunities, which you can read more about on page 2. RCI’s associate engagement and satisfaction levels are on the rise year after year. Part of that achievement comes from the investment we make in the professional development of our associates. And we extend that same investment to the performance of our affiliates and their teams. RCI eSchool provides you with free customized education paths, not just for RCI products and services but also for industry-leading sales training and workplace learning. Read about RCI eSchool on page 6, and learn how you can use this great tool to keep your team motivated.

A happy and engaged workforce translates into a positive experience for you and your owners. RCI associates are proud of the company they represent. They take great pride in the powerful, innovative solutions we offer, and they trust in the support we provide you to help you grow your business. As a true business partner, we know that the key to our success is yours. 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

RCI eSchool provides you with free customized education paths, not just for RCI products but also for industry- leading sales training.”

Page 4: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE

How satisfied are American workers in general with their jobs? A Gallup poll in the last quarter of 2011 found that many of them just aren’t very happy these days:

And a Mercer study from 2011 supports

those findings:

28%

53% 19%

32%

of workers are engaged in their jobs

of workers are not engaged in their jobs

of workers are actively disengaged

of American workers are seriously considering leaving

their present employers

Professionals in the vacation ownership industry, who are

successfully combating these trends, share their

best advice.

Human resourcesKeeping staff motivated is a key ingredient for success— especially when times are tough

n 2 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2012

Page 5: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

SPOTLIGHT ON SILVERPOINT

FT We always recognize the need to support our team professionally,

developmentally and motivationally. RCI continues to enhance its development offerings to provide comprehensive and customized opportunities that support each individual’s growth, regardless of level.

V How have you successfully addressed some of these

challenges?

MC Attracting new staff has always been a challenge. To find the

right kind of people with the passion and motivation for a career in direct sales, we have invested in several initiatives. We have created a corporate-recruitment site [silverpoint.com/careers] that has been the focal point of many successful recruitment campaigns, including specialist online and radio advertising, as well as participation in trade fairs.

Because we want to bring our sales team up through the ranks and avoid recruiting “old school” salespeople, who are perhaps too set in their ways to embrace the Silverpoint philosophy, we spend a lot of time and money finding the right types of people. We offer a complete relocation package and an induction course that sets standards throughout the industry. Moreover, potential recruits view the ongoing training and mentoring in a very positive light and feel comfortable committing to a new life in the ultimate meritocracy.

DC Over the past several years, we used a variety of methods to ask

our team why they stay with us and what we can do to make our company an even better place to work. Every year, as people see that we take action on their suggestions for improvement, they provide even more great ideas for

AUGUST 2012 I RCI VENTURES 3 nRCIAFFILIATES.COM

V What staffing challenges are you facing?

MC As they do at many sales companies, staff often get the

feeling that the grass may be greener elsewhere. Silverpoint combats this mind-set by providing ongoing training and mentoring, which fosters a team spirit that is rare in comparison with other organizations. Our marketing strategies also produce high-quality clients, which, combined with the constant assistance of experienced managers, enables staff to attain their targets.

DC Our rate of retention has improved in the past year. We’ve made this

a priority for our management teams and included it in their annual review. However, the process is not just a matter of reducing turnover; it’s also retaining the key talent that we need to drive our organization to success. And identifying talent for key positions is somewhat more difficult since, regardless of the economic conditions, these star performers are still in high demand.

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RCI ® Ventures asked three industry professionals— Mark Cushway, chief executive officer for Silverpoint Leisure (Canary Islands, Spain); Dan Carricato, senior vice president of human resources for Orange Lake Resorts (Florida); and Faye Tylee, executive vice president of global human resources for RCI (New Jersey)— to share their best practices and success stories about retaining, engaging and motivating employees. Here are selected highlights from their responses.

We have found that the nurturing process that stems from our ongoing mentoring and life-coaching program goes a long way toward helping build a strongly bonded team. This creates a team spirit that naturally promotes an atmosphere of support and encouragement. As CEO, I work hard to stay close to the team. I present regular motivational morning meetings and strive to find time to engage with individuals who may need some extra motivation to overcome difficulties both professional and personal.” – MARK CUSHWAY

Page 6: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE

SPOTLIGHT ON ORANGE LAKE

n 4 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2012

year after year. Since 2007, our overall engagement score has increased 15 percent, indicating that our team is increasingly motivated and passionate about contributing to RCI’s success, even during times of uncertainty.

V Do you use recognition programs to motivate and

reward employees?

MC As well as the monthly awards for best sales performers,

Silverpoint constantly runs team competitions to motivate and reward our employees with a range of great prizes for the winning team, including trips abroad and luxury meals.

DC This is an area that we are currently revamping. We’ve

always recognized tenure milestones and had a program whereby

enhancing the workplace: from replacing chairs and workstations to improving break rooms to adding new health and fitness activities. We feel that the “listening” is just as important as the improvements we make.

One of the key questions on our annual Employee Engagement Survey is “I am motivated to give 100 percent effort when I’m at work.” For the second year in a row, more than 85 percent of our responding employees indicated that this statement was accurate for them. We feel that this is because of constantly improving our product and listening to the employees on the front lines, who provide service to owners and guests. As a result, our team recognizes that we believe in the service-profit chain.

FT Our employee-engagement scores continue to increase

management can reward team members with instant Greenbucks redeemable for gift cards, movie tickets and merchandise. Because of our growth across the country, we are now repackaging all our programs so they are consolidated into a single branded recognition process tied to our service-profit philosophy.

FT We believe that our people make all the difference, and

recognition lets our team know that their contributions are important and appreciated while motivating our workforce and encouraging individual and team excellence. RCI’s recognition program honors exceptional individual and team performance that contributes to our overall strategies, upholds our core values and supports our Count On Me! service culture.

Perhaps we are one of the only companies experiencing this, but we find that our team members are realists. They recognize that many people are out of a job, and they appreciate that they work for an organization that has annually provided merit increases, bonuses, 401(k) matches and discretionary contributions. They also appreciate the holiday gala, recognition awards, family picnics, celebration of diversity and other events we provide throughout the year. The fact that we were the recipient of the Orlando Sentinel ’s Community Service Award also indicates that it recognizes that all of us have to contribute to society and that this is truly a benefit.” – DAN CARRICATO

Page 7: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

SPOTLIGHT ON RCI

ABOUT THE PANEL

FAYE TYLEE, executive vice president, global human resources for Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, began her career with Wyndham Exchange & Rentals in June 2001.

She has held various human resources roles within different areas of the business, including RCI Asia Pacific and RCI Europe.

DAN CARRICATO, senior vice president of human resources for Orange Lake Resorts, was vice president of human resources for Hilton Grand Vacations Company from its inception in 1992 until

2004, when he assumed his current position. From 1980 to 1992, he was employed by the Marriott Corporation in a variety of human resources roles. He teaches at Rollins College in Florida, is chair-person of the Human Resources Council for ARDA and has presented at the Society for Human Resources international conference.

MARK CUSHWAY, chief executive officer for Silverpoint Leisure, is responsible for the sales and marketing of the group’s global portfolio of assets and vacation products. His experience in the

industry spans more than 20 years. Before coming to Silverpoint, Cushway ran his own sales operation and has to date managed transactions totaling more than £600 million. Today he is seen as one of the leading figures in the European vacation ownership industry.

V How important is it to your employees that you offer

training and other professional development opportunities as part of their benefits?

MC Our training and professional development are vitally

important to our employees and underpin their careers with Silverpoint. New recruits undergo a thorough product-training and life-coaching induction course before entering the team under the mentorship of an experienced team member who reflects the company’s philosophy and ethical approach to the business. This process ensures that new employees have the tools and knowledge they need to sell the products as well as the life skills and confidence they need to excel in this competitive and dynamic environment.

DC One of the main drivers of job satisfaction, engagement and

passion for most people is the knowledge that they have the ability to manage their careers. Training and development are therefore critical for team members, as is career pathing. The company benefits from such programs as well, since pools of qualified candidates are prepared for advancement.

FT RCI wholeheartedly supports our team members professionally,

developmentally and motivationally. The Learning and Development team has developed blended-learning solutions that are current and effective. To support ongoing career development, RCI has a number of programs including mentor circles, role shadowing, strengths realization, personality profiling and tuition reimbursement for those pursuing further education. V

RCI’s commitment to continuously investing in its employees is key. As one of our strategic priorities, we’re dedicated to inspiring world-class associate engagement and Count on Me! Service. This focused-service strategy, combined with our full spectrum of personal and professional advantages, including comprehensive benefits, competitive pay and professional development, ensures the delivery of better products and services and results in happier customers and optimal business growth.” – FAYE TYLEE

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Page 8: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

n 6 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2012

reated in collaboration with Levitin Group and ePercipio, RCI eSchool offers a convenient and efficient alternative to in-person training and is offered by RCI to its affiliates free of

charge. The constantly updated courses help staff remain current not just on RCI products and services but also on industry-leading sales training and professional development for management and operations personnel. “RCI eSchool is the only free training of its kind in the vacation ownership industry,” says Shari Levitin, CEO of Levitin Group and ePercipio. “It is allowing professionals worldwide to gain consistency, shorten training times and duplicate their efforts at no cost.”

Cultivate employee success with online learning

RCI® eSCHOOL

Those cost benefits are significant. Companies that use online learning have 26 percent higher revenue generation per employee and 40 percent lower turnover rates than those that don’t, according to a recent report by Bersin and Associates. “RCI eSchool is an effective tool that reflects RCI’s ongoing commitment to supporting professional development at affiliated resorts with an online curriculum that offers something for every-one,” says Fiona Downing, senior vice president of development and operations at RCI. “Most of the RCI eSchool courses take less than 30 minutes, which is a small investment of time to gain such a tangible competitive advantage.”

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HALLWho it’s for: All staff What it is: Skill-building seminars designed to help every employee develop in the workplace, including courses on overcoming procrastination and anxiety, five steps to effective delegation and how to deliver constructive feedback.Try this: Did you know that the biggest reason customers don’t return to a business is the staff’s indifferent attitude? “Customer Service Skills” stresses the importance of a customer-focused mentality throughout a guest’s entire stay.

SALES & MARKETING HALLWho it’s for: Timeshare sales and marketing professionalsWhat it is: Powered by Levitin Group, there are videos and podcasts; a series of tool kits focusing on relevant topics such as motivation, sales skills and closing techniques; and a sampling of online Levitin Academy courses.Try this: The “Steps and Psychology of the Sales Presentation” discusses the three goals of any would-be successful sales presentation, identifies steps essential to the selling process and explores the psychology behind the buying process.

RCI eSchool is organized into three halls of learning and has more than 20 courses. Here’s just a small sample of courses that are available and examples of how the content can have a positive impact on your staff.

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FREE! INTERACTIVE!

FUN!

Page 9: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

RCIAFFILIATES.COM AUGUST 2012 I RCI VENTURES 7 n

WHY IT WORKSShari Levitin is the CEO of Levitin Group, the largest training and consulting group in the timeshare industry, as well as CEO of ePercipio, a proprietary software platform that delivers online training. A 27-year industry veteran, Levitin is also a trustee member of the American Resort

Development Association (ARDA) and a member of the original ARDA Consumer-Centric Task Force.

What are the most compelling features of RCI eSchool? SL: RCI eSchool is specific to the vacation ownership industry and updated frequently to keep viewers current with industry trends, enhance their skills and augment job satisfaction and improve their performance.

Why should managers use RCI eSchool? SL: Online learning is here to stay. It is the most effective way to create consistency across many locations and in a changing envi-ronment. And users enjoy it. I would recommend that managers try using RCI eSchool with a test group. Notice the engagement, calculate the decrease in time needed and dollars spent for training, and watch for increased VPGs—then make the decision. Because it’s funded by RCI, there is no cost to the affiliate!

Can you share any RCI eSchool success stories?SL: An RCI affiliated resort in the Caribbean was having problems with turnover in its sales staff. There was no formal new-hire training process. New recruits were forced to rely on veteran salespeople where the experience was inconsistent and often not in sync with the company-sanctioned steps of the sale. I recommended that each new hire watch four videos from the Sales & Marketing Hall of Learning and take the RCI Weeks Enhancement course as a part of training. The results: an increase in retention and a decrease in rescission.

Also, at one of RCI’s largest affiliates in North America, new hires take the Weeks Enhancement course before ever taking a tour. This developer told me that eSchool has saved them hundreds of thousands of dollars in recruitment costs. He believes that if the salesperson doesn’t bother to go online, because he or she does not have the discipline, then their organization doesn’t want that person anyway. The training process weeds out the unmotivated at the beginning.

RCI PRODUCTS & SERVICES HALLWho it’s for: Operations and administrative staff; sales staffWhat it is: Immersive overviews about RCI® Weeks, RCI Points® and RCI Platinum® membership; training for tools including RCI Online Reporting and ResortLink™; sales tips for RCI Platinum membership and RCI Weeks enhancements. Try this: “Introduction to Trading Power” puts a 30-minute time limit on a user’s immersion into all things Trading Power thanks to a Mission: Impossible–inspired spin. As an introduction for new hires or a refresher course for all staff, the course explains the importance of Trading Power in a fun and interactive way.

RCI eSchool...an online curriculum that offers something for everyone.”Fiona Downing, senior vice president of development and operations, RCI

Register at RCIeSchool.com today: getting started is easy and free! For additional help, please contact your account executive.

Page 10: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

RCI® AFFILIATED RESORT PROFILE

n 8 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2012

Massanutten Resort was featured in the October 2008 issue of RCI ® Ventures. Four years later, we’ve returned to the

Shenandoah Valley in Virginia to learn about what’s new—at the resort, in the industry and with guests. RCI Ventures recently spoke with Mak Koebig, vice president of Great Eastern Resort Corporation and chief operating officer at Massanutten Resort.

Plenty of Massanutten!A great vacation destination all year long

From top: The Massanutten Golf Driving Range; the outdoor waterpark; the resort’s “snow sports” include skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing.

VIRGINIA

WEST VIRGINIA

SHENANDOAH VALLEY

Page 11: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

V What’s new at Massanutten?

MK We continue to build timeshare, especially the new upscale gated

community called Regal Vista. It’s a single-story, duplex-style unit with a garage, high ceilings, large and airy rooms and a gorgeous kitchen. It also features a private workout center, a leisure-pool and a picnic area. We have built 62 of these units, and our goal is to build 139.

We’ve added a new zip-line and canopy-tour experience for both adults and children. People just can’t seem to get enough of that adventure amenity; and we will add to our kids’ zip-line experience in the fall.

We’ve upgraded all our ski lifts and recently added two more outdoor leisure pools, one at Woodstone and one at Regal Vista. And we recently completed our first winter offering—ice-skating at The Rink.

V What’s your strategy for being a year-round destination?

MK We truly are a four-season destination. Shoulder seasons

are slower than summer because kids are in school; however, we see baby boomers and empty-nesters coming to the resort in the spring and fall to enjoy sightseeing, wine tours, chairlift rides, dining, the spa and golf. We used to have around 40 percent occupancy during those seasons; now we’re closer to 70 to 80 percent.

V What other trends have you seen?

MK People want to travel closer to home for a long weekend yet do

this several times a year. Because we are close to Washington, D.C.; Richmond; Pittsburgh; Philadelphia; Charlotte; and New York City—a large part of the U.S. population—we see guests coming from

these locations for shorter stays but coming more often.

People are also spending money on the vacation itself but saving money on items such as eating out all the time. Our guests love knowing they’ll be staying in a condo, where they can cook for their families.

V What other changes in guest expectations have you seen?

MK They’ve changed drastically in the last five years or so. With

national hotel chains really stepping up the amenities and services they offer, many people expect to find these services every place they travel. So we have responded and upgraded our televisions, sleep systems, furniture, wall colors and decor and our guest-service training initiatives.

V Why is the relationship with RCI important?

MK We rely on RCI to bring us guests who might otherwise not have

come to Massanutten. And we recently had a full-time RCI associate relocate to the resort for a week to answer questions about RCI. This helped elevate our customer service.

V What’s next for Massanutten?

MK In our minds, the vacation ownership industry is an attractive

option for many people, and we believe that it is here to stay. We are going to continue on our path to building approximately 3,000 units total at the resort. Our sales are good, so we have not made any alterations to this plan.

And for amenities, we are always looking at the next great thing to bring to the resort. We have a few plans up our sleeve, and those will be revealed in due time! V

AUGUST 2012 I RCI VENTURES 9 nRCIAFFILIATES.COM

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For this special human resources issue of RCI Ventures, we asked Mak Koebig specifically about the importance of staff training at Massanutten.

“With guest expectations increasing every year, we commit-ted ourselves to regular employee and management training about four years ago.

We work with the Virginia Tourism Corporation to present multi-day workshops for our employees. They cover leadership and guest service; since we implanted these programs, we have enjoyed seeing in our employees an overall greater sense of pride, as well as positive guest feedback on our comment cards.

“We also adopted a new employee-training program, complete with a grand tour of the property so that our new employees can start their jobs having some background on the resort’s operations. We do have a very large resort that covers miles of land, and we knew that guests were asking employees from all departments questions about the resort. Everyone needs that ground-work so they can accurately answer and direct guests, no matter which department they work in.

“And we will also continue our employee-training sessions, as we know that a happy and well-trained employee is the heart and soul of our resort.”

Training for success

Page 12: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

RCI NEWS

RCI® ELITE REWARDS® CREDIT CARD

n 10 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2012

RCI®

Elite Rewards® MasterCard® credit card—already the

credit card of choice for many timeshare owners—has undergone some exciting changes. An agreement with Barclays means prospective purchasers of timeshare in Mexico and the Caribbean will be eligible to apply for the card and cardholders in North America will continue to enjoy features that can make the card—and its Rewards—even more valuable for them while on vacation and all year long.

“We’ve worked closely with Barclays to develop this program to be an effective way to help support the sales efforts at RCI affiliated resorts,” says Jeff Parker, senior vice president of product management and resort

operations for RCI. “The Elite Rewards program extends the impact of the card beyond the sales table to support the RCI subscribing member lifestyle. We expect cardholders to earn and redeem Rewards for as long as they are RCI members.”

The RCI Elite Rewards credit card point-of-sale program was re-established in the Mexico and Caribbean markets to support sales efforts at RCI affiliated resorts in these regions.

Upon approval for the card, Barclays is offering a 0% introductory interest rate for the first six billing cycles on the timeshare down payment. For developers at affiliated resorts, this helps counter the objection heard most

commonly at the sales table: Potential owners don’t have the down payment. The popular Rewards program will remain basically unchanged. Using the card for qualified everyday purchases helps cardholders accumulate Rewards, which they can choose to use to offset some of their RCI subscribing membership and RCI transaction fees.

The RCI Elite Rewards credit card can help make vacation ownership possible for many prospective purchasers. And while the RCI Elite Rewards credit card offers cardholders great benefits, it also enhances the value of their RCI membership. V

Mastercard is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated. P

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The bed that’s helped millions of guests sleep comfortably since 1925.

The Simmons® Beautyrest® mattress features Do Not Disturb™

Pocketed Coil® spring technology, providing the unique comfort

and superior conformability that tired travelers love. A Beautyrest® will

provide your guests with a good night’s sleep.

Simmons® — the company that revolutionized hospitality bedding.

Valid for deliveries through December 31, 2012. Price in U.S. dollars and is not valid for Hawaii, Canada, or Puerto Rico. For further information on Simmons mattress set product and pricing visit www.rcimarketplace.com.

All products and services are manufactured and/or provided by each respective supplier and not RCI, its parent and/or affiliates.

Simmons® Beautyrest®. Preferred by 16 of the

world’s top 20 hotel companies*.

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[email protected] www.simmonshospitality.com

Page 14: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

Morritt Properties Cayman Ltd. broke ground for the Londoner, a brand-new 35-unit luxury oceanfront resort in East End, Grand Cayman, on April 4.

The Londoner is the latest addition to Morritt Properties Cayman Ltd., which encompasses more than 12 acres of pristine beachfront property and includes Morritt’s Tortuga Club & Resort and Morritt’s Grand Resort. The building’s name has significant meaning for David Morritt, founding owner and developer of Morritt’s. “The building is dedicated to the 2012 Summer Olympics, which takes place in my hometown of London, England,” he explained.

Hon. W. McKeeva Bush, Premier of the Cayman Islands, was at the controls of the backhoe loader, scooping the first shovel full of sand. Bush’s attendance reinforced the Government’s support for the continuing development of the territory’s tourism industry. “The Cayman Islands, I think, owes David Morritt a debt of gratitude,” Bush said. “I know that the people of East End are proud of this resort.”

Morritt’s plans to more than double its ownership, projecting an international membership in excess of 30,000 in the next decade. His track record speaks for itself: the resort’s high occupancy year-round—often more than 80 percent—is responsible for 18 percent of Grand Cayman’s stay-over tourism, an incredible contribution for a single property.

Earlier this year, Tropic Sun Towers at Ormond Beach, Florida, completed an extensive renovation of its 84-unit property, an entire year ahead of schedule.

The renovation began in 2008, in small stages because of the complex nature of the work; but with the support of its board of directors and management company, SPM Resorts was able to accelerate the timetable. As a result, owners are purchasing additional weeks, and the property has been recognized by RCI with an RCI Silver Crown Resort® award and has earned three stars from Expedia.

The one- and two-bedroom suites’ furnishings, carpet, draperies, kitchen cabinets, microwaves and bathroom vanities with granite tops are new. Bedrooms and living rooms have flat-screen televisions. Additional suite amenities now include:

Legacy Vacation Club recently completed a $1 million renovation of the company’s Hilltop resort in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The transformation began with exterior updates that included vibrant new colors to complement the natural beauty of the area. Enhancements for each suite were designed to improve the guest experience and included wood crown molding and baseboards, luxury flooring, flat-screen televisions, new sofas, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.

n 12 RCI VENTURES I AUGUST 2012

One-bedroom suites• queen-size bed in the

master bedroom• queen-size pullout sofa

in the living area• full-size refrigerator,

stovetop oven, microwave, dishwasher and table for four in the kitchen

• shared bathroom with shower/tub combo

Two-bedroom suites• queen-size bed and private

bathroom with tub/shower combo in the master bedroom

• queen-size bed and shared bathroom in the guest bedroom

• full-size refrigerator, stovetop oven, microwave, dishwasher and table for six in the kitchen

LOOKING LIKE A MILLION BUCKS

FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS

BEAUTY ON THE BEACH

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Morritt Properties Cayman Ltd.

Tropic Sun Towers

Legacy Vacation Club Steamboat Springs Hilltop Resort

RCI® AFFILIATED RESORT NEWS

Page 15: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

Endless Vacation® magazine: Explore like never before

RCI® Ventures now at your fingertips

Get the most from RCI® subscribing membership benefits

Endless Vacation magazine and RCI Ventures magazine are independent publications and have not been authorized, sponsored or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. iPad and iTunes are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.

Enjoy additional interactive content including photo galleries, videos and panorama views

Enhances the RCI member experience with tools like the Resort Directory, RCI TV, RCI SnapBook and Account Alerts

Industry trends and events, profiles of successful vacation ownership properties and information on RCI products and services

To learn more about advertising in Endless Vacation magazine or RCI Ventures and about app development for your organization,

contact Brian Bruno, publisher, at [email protected].

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NEW!

Page 16: RCI Ventures Magazine, July/August 2012 - US Edition

INDUSTRY NEWS

EVENTS CALENDAR through August 2012 DATES EVENT WEBSITE

August 3–5 The Luxury Travel Show Sandton, South Africa luxurytravelshow.co.za

August 13–19 2012 Wyndham Championship Greensboro, North Carolina, USA wyndhamchampionship.com

September 9–11ATHOC (Australian Timeshare & Holiday Ownership Council) Annual Conference Cairns, North Queensland, Australia

athoc.com.au

September 10–11 SAHIC (South American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference) Lima, Peru sahic.com

September 19 Luxury Markets Symposium Mexico City, Mexico luxurymarketsymposium.com

September 23–25 RDO3 2012 London, England rdoconference.org

September 25–26 Africa Hotel Investment Forum Nairobi, Kenya africa-conference.com

September 30– October 2

Jamaica Product Exchange Conference Ocho Rios, Jamaica japex.org

RECENT RCI AFFILIATED RESORTS*

Aranyawas Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

Blossoms Village Resort Dharamshala, Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

Blue Diamond Riviera Maya by Bluebay Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Beaver Run Resort Breckenridge, Colorado, USA

Footprints Eco Resort & Spa Culloden Bay, Tobago

Hotel Kokobay Isla de Margarita, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela

International Residence Club Niisia Floresta, Brazil

Jolly Resort Ponte di Legno Ponte di Legno, Bresica, Italy

Langano Vacation Club Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ocean Hill Village Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam

Regalia Resort & Spa Various locations in China

The Studio Homes at Ellis Square Savannah, Georgia, USA

VILLA HUAPI Luxury Resort San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina

Meadow Lake Golf and Ski Resort Columbia Falls, Montana, USA

Grand Luxxe Residence Club Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico

Grand Luxxe Spa Tower Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico

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

RCI® Weeks program RCI Points® program

The Registry Collection® program

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

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