TravTalk India Online Magazine
With a fresh look and feel, RCI is powering a new kind of global travel network curated by forward-thinking travel experts. The new RCI experience goes beyond once-a-year timeshare exchange with enhanced product offerings for its nearly four million members around the world.
Manas Dwivedi
Aimed to creating a new and enhanced 360-degree travel experience, vacation exchange company RCI has reinvented itself, allowing subscribing members to book all of their door-to-door travel needs in one place and benefit from exclusive pricing on hotels, car rentals, cruises, destination activities and more. Paul Mulcahy, Managing Director – APAC, India and EMEA, RCI, says that this brand re-launch has a fresh look and feel, to get members excited about travel. “RCI is now more than just an exchange company — it is a global travel network that connects owners to once-in-a-lifetime getaways from one spot: RCI.com. We are taking the best of our knowledge as industry leaders and supercharging it with forward-thinking additions to our portfolio. While this year there has been a constant change in the air, our commitment to travel, exchange and timeshare remains — in fact, it is stronger than ever,” he shares.
Explaining the reason behind the re-branding, Mulcahy says, “We believe now is the time to accelerate innovation. The re-branding work supports the reinvention of every part of our portfolio and sets us up for growth for the next 10 years and beyond. Our affiliates, RCI members and guests still want to travel, and we remain committed to be their travel source for planning and booking. When they will be ready to travel, a new RCI will be there to help them.” Additionally, RCI Platinum membership will provide greater discounts, upgrades and Priority Access to select exchange vacations and, of course, members continue to have access to their 4200+ affiliated properties. He adds, “Our aim with this relaunch is to allow our global member base of close to four million to travel and explore 110 countries, including India. In addition, they will also have access to use their deposit trading power (TP) and buy down the cost of already discounted hotels and other accommodations at more than 600,000 properties around the world.”
Talking about the impact of rebranding on India, he says that RCI has planned a focused approach in the Indian market. “We will be paying special attention to our affiliated resort partners as they are very important to us. We will be offering competitive technology provided by ARN and will be delivering a new suite of services which enable custom travel and club solutions driven by leading digital technology. This will give RCI the ability to offer travellers a wide array of travel and lifestyle services through the delivery of an optimised booking engine, inventory at over 600,000 hotels and resorts, and competitive pricing.
Through this approach our aim is to expand the traditional idea of timeshare in India and reshape it into a global travel network curated by travel experts,” shares Mulcahy.
