Welcome to RDO

The Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE) has changed its name to Resort Development Organisation (RDO) to reflect the evolution of the vacation ownership industry since its beginnings in the 1960s.

From buying the right to spend a fixed week at one resort to part owning a holiday property or buying a legal interest to have personal use of a luxury hotel room, much has changed in the timeshare industry and now consumers have much more flexibility and multiple options.



New online training technology for the timeshare industry

Sales and marketing training company, Levitin Group, has launched ‘ePercipio’, new breakthrough online training technology for the timeshare, fractional and resort real estate industry.  The new software was presented at the 2009 ARDA Convention in Orlando.

The new technology offers a solution to companies that are having to cut down their training budgets in the current economic downturn.  With ePercipio, developers can access much of Levitin Group’s training content, combined with testing and gap analysis, for a fraction of the cost of live training.



Preferred Residences adds new properties in Canada and Virgin Islands

Preferred Residences has recently added Flagberry Hill Club and Resort in the US Virgin Islands and Spirit Ridge Residence Club in Canada’s British Columbia to its portfolio of luxury shared ownership resorts.

Flagberry Hill Club and Resort will be the first environmentally sustainable development in St Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands.  The mixed-use resort, which includes a 40-unit boutique hotel, 10 whole ownership condominium units, and 80 three-bedroom fractional villas, is designed and built using green materials, and powered by renewable energy where possible.



Registry Collection reaches milestone of 160 luxury properties

The Registry Collection, the luxury exchange programme offered by Group RCI, has achieved an important milestone with 160 exclusive properties now available for exchange or under development in its portfolio, just seven years after the programme was introduced.

Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO of Group RCI, said: “This segment of our business has shown tremendous momentum and we view this milestone as an illustration of just how much value we continue to deliver to our development partners in providing the highest quality of luxury vacation experiences.”



New Chairman for American Resort Development Association

Jim Lewis, president of Disney Vacation Club, has been elected Chairman of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the trade association representing the vacation ownership industry in North America.

ARDA’s president and CEO, Howard C. Nusbaum, commented on his appointment: “Jim’s passion for the product and in-depth knowledge of the industry puts ARDA in very capable hands at a time when the industry needs to work together.”



Ragatz optimistic despite low attendance at Fractionals Conference

Attendance at the Ragatz Associates’ ninth Fractional Interest Conference, held in San Francisco last month, was down to 400 delegates (compared to 740 last year) because of the economic crisis, but organisers remained upbeat about the event and the future of the fractional ownership industry.

 “It is a slow time for everyone, but we feel quite positive overall regarding the economy,” said Richard Ragatz, President of Ragatz Associates.



Moness Hotel plays host to country music stars and BBC film crew

The Moness Hotel and Country Club in the Scottish Highlands, part of the Worldwide Leisure Group, recently hosted the stars and film crew of “Transatlantic Sessions”, a series of music programmes to be shown on BBC (UK) and RTE (Ireland) later this year.

Now in its fourth series, “Transatlantic Sessions” brings together the best of American, Irish and Scottish music, putting singers and instrumentalists in a relaxed environment with scenic surroundings where they can concentrate on the sheer joy of making music.



Lessons from top Spanish golfer at Anfi resort

Staff at the luxury Anfi Emerald Club in Gran Canaria, part of Anfi Tauro Golf and Luxury Resorts, had the opportunity to improve their swing with top tips from renowned Spanish professional golfer, Jesus Mari Arruti, during his recent stay at the resort.

The 2007 PGA Spanish champion played a VIP game with hoteliers from the south of the island and offered an exclusive “golf clinic” providing tuition and advice for the course employees.



Master Minded wins again at Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase

Reigning champion and hot favourite, Master Minded, defended its crown in style, cruising to victory at this year’s Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

In an interview with Racing UK prior to the race, Barry Hurley, Chairman of Seasons Holidays, was confident that Ruby Walsh and Master Minded would repeat last year’s “stellar performance”.  He said: “It’s difficult to see how Master Minded could get beaten”.



TATOC HelpLine saves owners more than £1 million

TATOC, the Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees) claims that their new HelpLine handled more than 6,000 calls in 2008, helping timeshare owners save more than £1 million.

The Helpline was set up last year with funding provided by the Timeshare Partnership Trust, a body set up and funded by RDO, to support worthwhile causes in the industry.



RDO defends the timeshare industry on Radio Canarias

The head of RDO’s Enforcement team in Spain, Alberto Garcia, was one of the guests at a special programme about the timeshare industry which was broadcast on local Canary Islands radio station, Radio Canarias, on 24 March.

The ‘Bungalow 103 with Ignacio Moll’ programme offered a debate about timesharing which helped dispel misconceptions about the industry and explain the different products available today.



RDO to cooperate with Dutch Consumer Authority in awareness campaign

RDO is meeting the Consumentenautoriteit, the Netherlands’ equivalent to the Office of Fair Trading, later this month to help them develop an awareness and enforcement campaign against Discount Travel Membership Clubs (DTMCs) and other fraudulent practices affecting the timeshare industry.

The Dutch Consumer Authority approached RDO for advice and a better understanding of the timeshare industry and products like DTMCs, and how consumers in the Netherlands might be targeted by fraudsters.



Successful 2008 for Hapimag

Hapimag, the leading company in the European market for holiday rights of residence, has reported a five per cent growth and positive results for 2008, despite the difficult economic climate.

The company closed the 2008 financial year with an operating income of 165.4 million Euros, a 5.1 per cent increase on the previous year.  This was the first time the company presented its results in euros instead of Swiss francs.