Feb 3 2005
Are you unhappy with the RCI Points program. Do you feel
you are a victim of a bait and switch sales tactic. Looking for people
to join in a class action lawsuit.
Starpoint Plaza and Resort in Palm Springs used un-truthful gimmics
to sell their Timeshare RCI Points. Please send me an email if you
feel you are a victim also. Thank you - Susan
Jan 16 2005
The RCI “Points for Weeks” chart contains an intentional error designed
to check that everyone is really paying attention.
Hint – how many points are required for week 27, 2 bedroom, Gold
Crown resort in “England – Midland & South” ? - NN15
Jan 11 2005
Rex is missing the point about the RCI availability chart which is
part of the new ‘RCI Member Charter’ designed to help members - in
this case to help them save money on phone calls.
The chart separates availability into four sections which, roughly
translated, mean:-
1. (21%) Call us if you want to exchange because we might have something
to match your needs.
2. (12%) Call us if you want to exchange but don’t be surprised if
we can’t find anything to match your needs.
3. (40%) Think hard before calling us as we are very unlikely
to have anything to match your needs.
4. (27%) Don’t bother calling us as we have nothing to match your needs.
The reduction in calls resulting from the publication of the availability
chart will enable RCI to trim their call centre staff and pass on
the savings to members through lower exchange fees - Cyn
Jan 10 2005
At least RCI are honest (unlike Sunterra) and tell you when you have
little hope of getting an exchange.
In their latest edition of “Holiday” is a chart headed “When
is the best time to go away?” showing exchange availability, month
by month, in 26 different regions of Europe.
18% of the months are “Best availability” whilst 68% are “Limited
availability” or “Reasonably Limited Availability ”. – Rex
Jan 4 2005
RCI must think their European customers are suckers. At least
they treat them as such.
RCI Points have just released (so far to the trade only) their 2005
“grid” showing the number of points required to book into resorts in the
RCI Weeks system.
Everywhere in the world an exact number of points is given for exchange
so, for example, if you are a points owner wanting to exchange into an
RCI weeks resort in Florida, 2 bed, Gold Crown in a red week it will cost
EXACTLY 57,500 points.
In Europe the rules are different.
If you want to exchange into an RCI resort in Spain, 2 bed, Gold Crown,
in a red week it will cost you FROM 64,000 points. What it will ACTUALLY
cost you is secret until you ask., when you will find that the word
“from” has a nasty sting in its tail.
And, to rub salt into the wound, the number of points required
to access many European resorts have increased by 25% whilst most of
the rest of the world remains unchanged. So much for ‘inflation proof holidays’
– Cyn
Jan 4 2005
‘Soon to be an ex-RCI member’ should not heap too much blame on the
shoulders of RCI. It is already known that many resorts have upped
their fees for 2005 substantially greater than inflation (currently under
4%) in the comfortable knowledge that their owners have only two choices,
pay up or walk away losing a big chunk of capital value. No doubt RCI have
added their own pound of flesh, but the major element of the increase is
as RCI claim. – ITK
Jan 2 2005
RCI points give their members a lovely New Year present
- an increase of more than 12% in annual charges for 2005.
On top of a 10% increase the previous year. Their excuse is
that all their resorts are increasing their fees so RCI are simply
passing them on. Yes, and I believe in Santa too! – Soon to be an ex-RCI
member.
Nov 5 2004
Declining membership in Europe has driven RCI find alternative ways
of making money.
Their new plan (really an old failed plan in
disguise) is to extract more money out of existing members by offering
additional services, a plan which will bring them into headlong conflict
with the general travel industry who are currently undercutting each other
simply to stay alive.
RCI call this “brand repositioning” – human beings call it “screwing”
(The RCI guff has all the makings of sci-fi script)
RCI expect to rely on what they naively call “customer loyalty” to
attract members to buy services from them at prices well above the high
street levels.
But, in launching their three million pound plan, RCI omitted
to check if they actually have any customer loyalty left. It
clearly has not occurred to them that contained within ‘declining
membership’ is a loud, negative message, from their customers.
So all of you who are still members of RCI (weeks and points) can expect
a barrage of mailings offering dozens of things you never wanted at prices
which, even if you did want them, are way and above what the high street
is asking.
You have been warned - Rex
Nov 4 2004
A couple of years ago all the talk was all about RCI buying
up a big chunk of the European industry. Sol Melia and Occidental
were mentioned as the “vehicles” for these purchases to keep the Monopolies
Commission happy.
But little seems to have happened.
Sol Melia have joined OTE but have, as yet, not announced any timeshare
ownership in Europe and a number of businessmen hopeful of cashing in their
chips by selling to RCI are still wandering around with glum faces still
owning the business.
Is anything happening? - just wondering
Sept 26 2004
A US view of RCI - Cyn - One would assume that Seasons 'forgot' to
tell their members of their decision to pull out of the Alpinus. For the
complex to be in the 2005 Cosmos summer brochure already available I realise
they must have known for quite some time this would be happening. I know
someone who signed up with them while on holiday at the Alpinus in February
this year - perhaps the company 'forgot' to mention that the Alpinus would
not be available after the end of this year...........!"
- JB
Sept 26 2004
The announcement by OTE (delayed by nearly a year because of certain
“sensitive” issues) that Sol Melia had become a member raised the universal
question “Who?”.
So an explanation is in order.
Sol Melia is a very large Spanish based hotel group specialising in
holiday hotel accommodation. It has no timeshare interests in Europe
whatsoever – yet.
Part of the Cendant plan is to dominate the lodgings business in key
parts of the world, so RCI have secretively taken control over a number
of timeshare resorts in Europe. Most were acquired quite cheaply as the
depression began to bite.
RCI is already a monopoly and was advised that, if it took direct control
over a large number of resorts, it could be considered to be abusing
its monopoly position so a deal was struck with Sol Melia – RCI call
it a “strategic alliance” – for Sol Melia to manage the resorts, a job
it would no doubt be very good at doing, especially as many of the resorts
are progressively transferring from timeshare (as owners walk or are driven
away) into rental occupancy.
Whilst some may see the involvement of Sol Melia as yet further evidence
of the decline of timeshare in Europe it should be remembered that the
face of timeshare has changed radically over the years – fixed weeks
to floating weeks to points clubs to holiday clubs all in the space
of ten years. Sol Melia is just a confirmation of this ongoing change
- Rex
July 5 2004
Dear Editor - I know you will probably NOT add this to your site as
the truth hurts but just in case you want an objective view if anyone has
questions on any issue post it and I will do my best to answer providing
you keep my email private;
1st the RCI Experience (3yr trial pack) is a VERY good product, and
new trial members certainly get the 3yrs of holidays (should they NOT upgrade
to full ownership). Naturally full members get the most choice and trial
members get what ?Bonus Weeks? are left over, generally in Spain, Canaries,
Malta, Florida, Mexico etc unless they book last minute this is just
so they can EXPERIENCE as the pack name suggests the standard of accommodation
available.
Regarding RCI Sales People - One important note is that RCI does NOT
employ Sales people, the affiliated resorts employ the sales people to
sell THEIR product + an RCI membership (RCI don?t own or have interests
in the resorts, they just collect the membership fee/and operate the exchanges/deposited
inventory), so when some of your correspondents claim that RCI don?t know
what their sales people are doing that is because RCI have NO sales people
the important thing here is if it isn?t in the contract or the RCI/II
directory DON?T BELIEVE IT.
Finally, I have worked with both RCI and Interval International (II)
both company?s are owned by Billion dollar American corporations, RCI by
Cendant who own Ramada, AVIS/Alamo, Travelodge to name but a few, and II
by Expedia.com group holding co with companies such as Ticketmaster, Home
Shopping Network, Hotels.com plus many others ? the lesson here is DO NOT
BELIEVE as gospel what some salesperson tells you about a company they
do NOT work for. Both RCI and II have MILLIONs of VERY SATISFIED members
worldwide, naturally they have a few unhappy ones also who seem to
all subscribe to your website. Regards - one of the 'Wicked' Salespeople
May 7 2004
As an officer of a timeshare homeowners association, I am very concerned
about the increasing number of rentals to non-members we are seeing from
RCI. These are almost all in high season or shoulder season, not
in off season. At the same time some of our members are
starting to complain that they are not getting the exchanges they
used to from RCI. Some are already starting to move to Dial
and Exchange and other exchange companies. The information on this
board from people who have actually worked at RCI is very eyeopening.
I wish they would also post on other timeshare BBS's like
and so more people would know from the inside what
RCI is up to. -anon
Apr 29 2004
Im not sure whether this should be in the RCI or South Africa
section – perhaps both.
But sitting here in England it appears that you South Africans have
got the wrong end of a thick stick in the shape of Colin Collins.
Colin, as most recall, was an also-ran at RCI Kettering who produced
a daughter Emily, who takes after her father in respect of honesty (none),
integrity (none) and charm (well, perhaps a little more than the
slob himself).
Emily (on behalf of dad who still has a few friends in Kettering) runs
a number of smooth scams.
Dad has recently moved to SA (warning: the SA’s like third rate
Brits even less than they like sharks) leaving daughter to run the family
businesses – Timeshare Solutions and Global Timeshare Stock Exchange (a
resale scam and nothing to do with “exchange”).
Why Emily doesn’t change her surname to Sykes or Palmer to get
away from the stigma of the Collins name is beyond me. – NN15
Apr 24 2004
Working for RCI in Cork?
Disenchanted with harsh working conditions?
Then give me a call – we operate a nice friendly call centre just down
the road and would love to hear from you.
Craig Douglas, Timelinx SA , Email:
Apr 23 2004
Having worked in the RCI call centre for 3 mths in their telemarketing
dept I left as I was disgusted at some of their practices. Granted the
call centre is state-of-the-art but the conditions are worse than in slave
times.
You are not allowed to leave your desk without permission, even to
go to the loo! Team leaders have rights to search the pools for the best
weeks - none of the agents do. I had to get members to bank weeks and re-new
membership. It was a tough job, working on a dialler that kept dialling
the same people over and over again, completing over 140outbound calls
a day! The turnover of staff is unbelievable, and that is across all departments.
My team leader was ex LBC and bragged about the drink and drugs lifestyle
that him and his colleagues were able to lead, at the expense of his "punters".
However, when one of the "punters" wanted to speak to someone in charge
at RCI, he ran a mile; as did most of the team leaders. My friend even
ended up leaving Cork to return to her native Sweden as she was disciplined
for giving good service and hence spending too long on her calls.
My other experience of timeshare is ahappy one - an owner at Anfi Beach
Club, bought thru the resort directly. No pressure, no cons, and no 6 hour
presentation. Had 3 years hols there and looking forward to another this
yr, fingers crossed! - S
Apr 2 2004
La compañía de marketing hotelero Hotel Dynamic relanza
su marca en Europa
Nuevos programas para captar mayores ingresos en la industria hotelera
Hotel Dynamics, la mayor compañía de marketing hotelero,
ha relanzado su producto, presentando los nuevos programas que serán
puestos en funcionamiento durante el año 2004. Con esta nueva oferta,
la compañía se convierte en un proveedor integral de soluciones
de marketing para la industria hotelera, situándose muy por encima
de cualquier otro competidor en este mercado.
Hotel Dynamics proporciona programas especialmente adaptados a cada
tipo de cliente desde hoteles independientes hasta grandes gropos hoteleros.
Como parte del Grupo Cendant, Hotel Dynamics cuenta con exclusivos canales
de distribución y herramientas de marketing para aumentar los niveles
de ocupación e ingresos de un hotel.
El producto principal de Hotel Dynamics, Revenue Enhancers, ha sido
mejorado de forma que proporcione mayores ingresos a través de fórmulas
en las que cada programa genera sus propios ingresos, de forma que no implique
un desembolso para el hotel. Existen dos clubes o programas dirigidos al
cliente de negocios y vacacional, cada uno está diseñado
para conseguir mayores ingresos a través del consumo de alimentos
y bebidas además de generar mayor ocupación de las habitaciones
mientras el hotel obtiene una valiosa base de datos de sus clientes.
Hotel Membership Club con el objetivo de incrementar los ingresos por
reservas hoteleras y alimentos y bebidas, atrayendo al público local
para que utilicen los servicios de alojamiento y restaurante del hotel.
Hotel Network Membership Club es un programa diseñado
para ser adaptado a cadenas hoteleras con el objetivo de provocar modelos
de repetición de visitas del cliente, fundamentalmente de
negocios. Se trata de una excelente herramienta para reactivar antiguos
clientes y captar nuevos.
En la actualidad Hotel Dynamics está desarrollando nuevos programas
como Occupancy Drivers. El programa exclusivo Occupancy Partner,
permite a los hoteles aumentar los niveles de ocupación durante
todo el año identificando nuevos segmentos de mercado al tiempo
que se mantiene siempre la coherencia de precios. A través de otras
empresas de Cendant, Hotel Dynamics tiene acceso a 100.000 clientes de
viajes semanales en todo el mundo.
Carlos Vogeler, Director de Hotel Dynamics Suroeste de Europa, comentó:
³Hotel Dynamics es una marca conocida en Europa, pero ha evolucionado
significativamente desde su adquisición por parte de Cendant en
el año 2002. Nuestra oferta para los hoteleros es ahora más
atractiva, permitiéndoles aplicar programas más eficaces
que les diferencien de su competencia. - anon
Apr 1 2004
SORRY YOU HAD TO HEAR IT THIS WAY BUT I HOPE YOU REALISE THE ONLY REASON
US EX EMPLOYEES ARE MAKING THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE IS TO MAKE UP FOR
THE BAD SERVICE YOU HAVE RECIEVED IN THE PAST.
WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP EVEN THOUGH YOU WILL PROBABLY
BE PROMISED THE WORLD TO DO SO .
BUT BELIEVE ME AS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THINGS WILL ONLY GET WORSE ALREADY
ALL NEXT YEARS INVENTORY IS GONE TO RENTAL BUT IF YOU CALL YOU'LL BE TOLD
THIS INVENTORY HASNN'T BEEN DEPOSITED YET .
ALL I HOPE IS THAT YOU PASS THIS WEB SITE ON TO OTHER MEMBERS YOU KNOW
OR LEAVE THEM KNOW WHAT RCI ARE DOING .
BELIEVE ME I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO LEAVE MEMBERS KNOW I
HAVE ALSO GONE TO THE HIGHEST MANAGEMENT POSSIBLE WHILE I WAS STILL WORKING
FOR RCI BUT I FACE A BRICK WALL NO MATTER WHAT I DO .
JUST LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE IS AFRAID TO TAKE RCI ON
SORRY SORRY I TRIED BUT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE ITS UP TO THE MEMBERS TO
TAKE ACTION IF I CAN HELP IN ANY WAY I WILL I STILL HAVE PROOF OF MEMBERS
ACCOUNTS WERE THERE GOOD WEEKS WERE RENTED - ex rci employee
Mar 31 2004
the messages re. RCI make very sad reading.I too am a member(
due for renewal in November this year). I have never had anything I have
asked for, I now understand why the poor Staff are so rude,and I suggest
others like me, do not renew with these fraudsters.You can sell your own
weeks on the internet yourselves, even advertising in the local paper,
i was able to rent a week that i do not have registered with RCI.The money
i received then paid for a holiday in the place I wanted to go - not a
Timeshare resort - so no hard sell to get you to change to points!
Try it and see!!
WE DONT NEED YOU ANYMORE RCI - WE WILL NOT BE TAKEN FOR A RIDE ANYMORE!!!!!
- Fed Up
Mar 30 2004
yes ex emplyee and already left a message
i STRONGLY AGREE WITH THE OTHER MAILS, VIP GET EVERYTHING,WHO AS WEEKS
IN
BLU PERIOD NEVER GET ANYTHIG, THEY ARE RENTING AS BONUS WEEK, WEEKS
BANKED
BY MBR.
AS FOR THE POOR AGENTS THAT WORK THERE, NO COMMENT, I WORKED IN THE
ITALIAN
DEPARTMENT AND AS I CAN SAY NOW THEY HAVE NO MORE STAFF THEY ARE IN
18 OR
SOMETHING FROM 30 SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, AND OUT OF 18 ONLY
ABOUT
5 ARE TEXPERIENCED THE REST IS NOT THERE 6 MONTHS, AND OF COURSE THEY
ARE
FORCED TO SELL AND TO ACHIEVE THERE TARGET, THE NEW MANAGER I WAS TALKING
ABOUT, WELL NEW LAW, THEY HAVE TO MAKE AT LEAST ONE CONFERMATION AN
OUR IF
NOT THEY WILL DO CAUNCELLING TO THE AGENTS, THEY MAKE ALL AGENTS 9WHEN
THERE
IS NO CALL) TO RING EVERYBODY AT HOME, TO TRY AND SELL OR RENEW OR
BANK.
THERE IS NO EXCHANGE ANYMORE, INFACT EVEN TENERIFE IT'S GONE FOR THE
SUMMER,
WHY??BECAUSE THEY ARE RENTING THEM, AND ALSO IF THEY DON'T OFFER THE
BONUS
WEEK THEY GET COUCELLING THEN WARNING ECT....
ALL I CAN SAY I REALLY FEEL SORRY FOR THE AGENTS INFACT MANY OF MY
FRIEND GO
HOME CRYING AFTER A DAYS WORK. CAN YOU BELIEVE SOME OTHER GO TO THE
BATHROOM, BECAUSE ITS VERY HARD, I CAN SAY YOU CAN ANSWER UP TO 70/80
CALLS
A DAY AND 80% OF CALLS ARE ANGRY MBR THAT SHOUT AND THEY CAN
BE QUITE RUDE
AND GET VERY PERSONAL WITH THE AGENTS.
THEY A RIGHT BUT IT'S HARD IN SOME PEOPLE.
REGARDING THE MBR I'M VERY SORRY FOR THEM THAT THEY FELL IN TO THIS
TRAP.
Mar 29 2004
I found this site just by chance, I worked for RCI a couple of
years ago for quite some time and I can see nothing's changed, I confirm
all of the below practices were on years ago already. I wander how do they
still get people to work for them? working for them still is the closest
experience to slavery i ever had! - anon
Mar 25 2004
:YES BONUS WEEKS ARE AVAILABLE BUT WORTH NOTHING ONLY GOOD FOR PLACES
YOU DON'T WANT TO GO OR FOR CANCELLATIONS.
:BLUE WEEK OWNERS ARE LAUGHED AT THERE WEEKS ARE WORTH NOTHING SORRY
PROBABLY NOT FAIR ON THEM BUT THIS DOES HAPPEN.
(but can i say that the people who sell these people the blue weeks
promise them the world so the people who sell these weeks are also at fault
)
:MEMBERS WEEKS ARE BANKED WITHOUT AUTHORISATION ,NOT FAIR ON MEMBERS
BUT THIS IS DUE TO STAFF BEING UNDER SO MUCH PRESSURE FROM MANAGEMENT TO
REACH TARGETS
:PEOPLE ON THE PHONES CAN BE RUDE I HAVE PROBABLY BEEN GUILTY OF THIS
MYSELF SORRY SORRY TO ALL MEMBERS BUT WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR WORKING FOR A
COMPANY THAT ARE TREATING IT'S MEMBERS LIKE SHIT AND TREATING THE STAFF
THE SAME IT'S HARD TO STAY JOLLY ON THE PHONE ALL DAY MAY I ADD WITHOUT
A BREAK SORRY AGAIN TO ANY MEMBERS WHO GET POOR SERVICE .
:RCI ARE NOT ONLY GIVING MEMBERS DETAILS TO OTHER COMPANYS BUT ALSO
GIVING MEMBERS WEEK'S TO OTHER COMPANYS FOR THEM TO USE FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT
- ANON
Mar 24 2004
Finding out more about RCI.
An In-House manager is telling me, what owners are telling him about
RCI.
Bonus weeks are not available.
He has had Blue week owners laughed at when trying to book an exchange.
Owners have had their weeks banked without any authorisation from them.
The people on the phones are rude.
Another 'point' is, he thinks/knows that, RCI is giving members details
to a company called Points World, based in the UK doing Road Shows, this
company is working hand in hand with RCI, selling points cheap to resorts
data base!!
Anyone know any more? -
Mar 22 2004
DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT CLUB GREECE OR OTE BUT IF YOUR SELLING 3 YEAR
MEMBERSHIP TO RCI PLEASE DO NOT AS MOST MEMBERS ARE CANCELLING AT THE MOMENT
AND A LOT MORE MEMBERS WILL BE CANCELLING WHEN THEY FIND OUT WHAT RCI ARE
DOING
I HAVE MADE INFO AVAILABLE TO OTHER SITES ON WHAT RCI ARE DOING
WITH MEMBERS WEEKS IF ANY MEMBER HERE WANTS TO KNOW I WOULD GLADLY HELP
THEM BUT BE PREPARED TO BE SHOCKED
I HAVE BEEN SHOCKED MYSELF AS HAVE A LOT OF MY FELLOW EMPLOYEES
AS HAVE A FEW MEMBERS WE HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED .
FOR YOUR OWN SAKE JUST QUIT NOW AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RCI
BY THE WAY MEMBERS YOU MIGHT GET A CALL AT HOME FROM A LAWYER WHO IS
LOOKING INTO THE DODGY DEALINGS OF RCI(CENDANT) HOPE YOU DONT MIND BUT
THIS IS FOR YOUR GOOD NOT MINE - ANON
Mar 22 2004
A message to RCI and other people selling their pack.
We have been selling the RCI pack for a while now, sales reps pitching
some of what is in the RCI magazine etc.
When clients call the new RCI state of the art call center. They tell
the clients they have been lied to, you can't do this and you can't do
that.
It seems they don't know what their own company can or can't do.
Is anyone else getting the same problem??? -- anon
Mar 20 2004
I’m not that sure, Mr Club Greece (aka Simon Cargin),
that RCI will be over amused at your public announcement of a matter
which has been common knowledge in the industry since 1997 – when
RCI set up a scheme for their “friends” to loophole around the, then,
new law. At enormous profit to RCI (and no little profit
to their friends)
Nor am I sure that OTE (or do I mean RCI?)
will be too enthusiastic about your announcement of membership
of that august body – OTE are working very hard to keep their affairs
totally secret.
I would hate to discourage whistleblowers so please don’t take my gentle
criticism too seriously. We cynics need material
to work on. - Cyn
Mar 18 2004
This morning I was phoned by CLUB CLASS LEISURE. The woman
was obviously calling from a busy room as lots of background chatter.She
told me thatI had won something. 65% off travel etc etc.
I asked her why she was phoning and she said that someone on this number
had completed a survey in the last 6 months and they were ringing as a
result of this survey. It appeared that my wife had answered a few questions
some days before such as 'age range' and occupations.I have since told
her never to answer any of these so called 'social surveys'. Anyway,I then
asked the caller where they are based and the answer is Gillingham,Kent.
So then I asked for the actual address and/or website and the young lady
said she would need to speak to her manager. (Surely any reputable business
would not withold addresses?) She came back on the phone and repeated she
was in Gillingham but no other details. I then said "Is this
a scam?" (having remembered the name in the list of other operators on
this great website) Rather obvious but the caller answered
NO and then we were cut off. So I am wondering whether CLUB CLASS
LEISURE is really a bona fide outfit?
What were they trying to get from me ? Money? - HappyBunny
Mar 15 2004
Good afternoon.
My name in Simon Cargin, I am, at this time the Vice President
of Club Greece.
We are a timeshare company, we sell the 3 year RCI membership,
all our new 3 year members come back the following year to stay at our
resort, meet with rci and our owners on site, spending 1 or 2 weeks, 60%
upgrade and become full members, they have a cooling off period etc.
We are a member of OTE, but I agree with you, it does not mean a great
deal, as half the people there are still buy selling or were the biggest
buy sellers and scammers in years gone buy.
We do sell on the day and we do high pressure selling, that is the
business no matter how you dress it up.
I would be interested to know why we are on your list for cheating
and defrauding clients.
I am very strong with all my Managers on heat/ bad selling practice.
In years gone by, before my arrival 1998, it was sold far from correctly
here.
We have grown from strength to strength, based on clean business and
strong management.
Other than a hand full of owners that will always blame us for something,
I strongly feel our name on your black list is based upon very old news.
Surely you must also wish to recognize a company that can and has changed,
your having us on your Black list does not effect our business, I just
feel it is wrong to have it on there.
Would very much like a reply from you and if you have solid information
on us from owners, I can at least see if I can address and correct the
problem.
Yours Sincerely
Simon Cargin.
Mar 6 2004
RCI refuerza su equipo comercial
RCI ha reforzado su equipo comercial en Madrid y Canarias. Ivar Yuste
es el nuevo Director Comercial de RCI y Hotel Dynamics en España.
Se responsabilizará de las operaciones B2B en las tres oficinas
de Madrid, Costa del Sol y Canarias. Con base en la oficina de Madrid,
Yuste reportará directamente a Carlos Vogeler. Director General
para Europa Occidental. Ivar Yuste cuenta con un sólido bagaje comercial
en turismo y tecnología y ha desempeñado puestos directivos
en compañías como Continental Airlines y Spanair. Durante
los últimos seis años, Yuste ha trabajado en Londres para
Sabre y para SITA Advanced Travel Solutions, donde era Director Comercial
para Europa Sur, Oriente Medio y Africa. Yuste ha cursado un Executive
MBA por la Graduate School of Business de la Universidad de Chicago. Por
su parte, Regis Perruchot es el nuevo Director de la oficina de RCI y Hotel
Dynamics en Canarias. Con base en Tenerife, Perruchot reportará
directamente a Ivar Yuste, Director Comercial. Regis proviene del sector
financiero y de consultoría habiendo trabajado en empresas como
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Salustro Robson, Michael Page International y
Personae Research & Consulting. Regis es profesor en la Universidad
de VIC en Tenerife. Es licenciado en Administración de Empresas
por la EAP/ESCP de Oxford, Madrid y París. Por último, Julie
Houghton ha sido nombrada Gerente de Ventas de la oficina de RCI en Islas
Canarias desde agosto. Con base en Tenerife, Julie reporta a Regis Perruchot.
Julie cuenta con una amplia experiencia en la industria de Tiempo Compartido
en la que ha trabajado durante 15 años en empresas como Tenbel Hotel
Park y WimPen Leisure en Tenerife y Anfi Resorts S.L. en Gran Canaria.
- anon
Mar 2 2004
MONOPOLIO
Málaga. Hoteles de Sol Meliá ofrecerán estancias
en tiempo compartido tras la alianza entre la cadena y Cendant .
Esta experiencia se desarrollará a partir de 2004 en hoteles
de Canarias, Baleares, la Costa del Sol y el litoral mediterráneo
MARBELLA (MALAGA), 14 (EUROPA PRESS)
Europa Press 14/10/2003 12:21
Varios hoteles de Sol Meliá en España ofrecerán
estancias en tiempo compartido tras la alianza estratégica a la
que han llegado la cadena hotelera y el grupo turístico estadounidense
Cendant con el objetivo de colaborar en el área del tiempo compartido
y en materia de marketing y distribución, según informó
a Europa Press el director general para Europa Occidental de RCI --empresa
perteneciente a Cendant--, Carlos Vogeler.
Vogeler, quien asistió hoy al Foro Anual de la Organización
Europea de Tiempo Compartido que se celebró en Marbella (Málaga),
explicó que la idea que barajan ambas compañías es
ofertar la posibilidad de adquirir tiempo compartido en hoteles de Sol
Meliá ubicados en las "zonas de demanda naturales" de esta actividad
en España, es decir, Canarias, la Costa del Sol, la costa mediterránea
en su conjunto y Baleares.
El responsable de RCI indicó que este proyecto podría
iniciarse en 2004, aunque su comienzo el próximo año "depende
de la evolución de los detalles" que tienen que poner en común
ambos grupos. En cuaquier caso, apuntó que en el plazo de "dos o
tres semanas" representantes de Sol Meliá y de Cendant que trabajan
en América y en Europa mantendrán los primeros contactos
"más técnicos, más específicos para poner en
marcha la operación" y en los que participará el propio Vogeler.
De hecho, RCI será la compañía que prestará
asesoramiento, intercambios y otros servicios de acceso a clientes a Meliá
Vacation Club, además de otros programas y servicios que potencien
la ocupación hotelera y aseguren que Sol Meliá siga creciendo
en Europa y Latinoamérica.
El vicepresidente y consejero delegado de Sol Meliá, Sebastián
Escarrer, y el vicepresidente de Cendant Corporation, Stephen P.Holmes,
firmaron este acuerdo en Nueva York el pasado jueves, día 9 de octubre.
La alianza, que facilitará la incursión de Sol Meliá
en el mercado americano, incluye una serie de acuerdos individuales entre
ambas compañías.
En este sentido, la División de Travel Distribution Services
de Cendant y Sol Meliá desarrollarán programas de distribución
y marketing para ofrecer a los consumidores acceso a los hoteles de Sol
Meliá a través de una amplia gama de canales 'online' y 'offline',
entre los que se encuentran CheapTickets.com, Lodging.com, Thor y Galileo.
Asimismo, un programa de ventas cruzadas permitirá promocionar
los hoteles y productos de viaje de Cendant entre los clientes de Sol Meliá,
así como los establecimientos de la cadena española entre
los clientes de Cendant. Finalmente, a través de un acuerdo de marketing,
el Timeshare Resort Group de la compañía estadounidense dará
apoyo en marketing a Meliá Vacation Club para fomentar su crecimiento.
NUEVAS OPORTUNIDADES DE NEGOCIO
Escarrer destacó que este acuerdo dará acceso a Sol Meliá
a "nuevas oportunidades de negocio y a nuevos mercados, incluyendo a uno
de los más importantes, el americano" y explicó que una mayor
relación con RCI y Fairfield Resorts ayudarán a la cadena
hotelera a desarrollar e internacionalizar su negocio de tiempo compartido,
"además de crear nuevas oportunidades de crecimiento y maximizar
su rentabilidad".
El consejero delegado de Sol Meliá apuntó que la cooperación
con Cendant en la distribución de los hoteles, ventas cruzadas y
programas de fidelidad aumentará la "visibilidad" de sus establecimientos,
e incrementará las ventas, especialmente en Estados Unidos.
Por su parte, el vicepresidente de Cendant Corporation, Stephen P.Holmes,
que considera este acuerdo una sólida base para una colaboración
que aún puede crecer más, espera que su compañía
pueda ofrecer productos "más atractivos y de mayor calidad" en un
gran número de destinos vacaciones, principalmente en España,
Europa, Latinoamérica y el Caribe.
Cendant Corporation, con sede en Nueva York, cuenta con una plantilla
de 90.000 personas y opera en más de 100 países. Tiene como
filiales las marcas de hoteles Ramada®, Days Inn®, Howard Johnson®,
Travelodge®, Super 8®, Wingate Inn®, AmeriHost Inn®, Knights
Inn® y Villager®.
Mar 1 2004
YES RCI USES THE SPACE THAT IS BANKED FOR EVERYTHING BUT THE OWNERS.
VIP EXCHANGES GET THE BEST..VIP EXCHANGES IS FOR THE STAFF OF THE RESORTS,
NO RESTRICTIONS, NO RULES. ALSO SPACE IS USED TO COVER EXCHANGES OF PACK
OWNERS WHO "THINK" THEY ARE A MEMBER BUT THEY ARE NOT..THEY JUST OWN A
PACK FROM A COMPANY THAT HAS MADE A DEAL WITH RCI AND PAYS TO GET THEM
AN EXCHANGE.THE PACK OF COURSE IS FOR LESS THAN 34 MONTHS SO NOTHING TO
DO WITH TIMESHARE LAW... IF THE RESORT IS CLEVER THEY GET THE EXCHANGE
OF THE PACK OWNER THROUGH A VIP EXCHANGE, JUST PRETENDING MR SOANDSO WORKS
IN THE RESORT, WHO ON EARTH IS GOING TO CHECK THIS? OF COURSE THE EXCHANGE
HAS A REDUCED FEE, NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT A REAL OWNER PAYS TO GET SOMEWHERE
( READ COSTA DEL SOL OR TENERIFE) AND BANKING HIS OWN WEEK. BUT AM I REALLY
TELLING SOMETHING NEW HERE OR IS THIS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE...COME ON, BE REAL...AND
I COULD TELL SO MUCH MORE.... - ANON
Feb 27 2004
AT LEAST 1 OTHER EX EMPLOYEE OF RCI SEEMS TO BE BACKING ME UP WITH
MY FINDINGS HOPEFULLY ALL YOU MEMBERS WILL TAKE NOTICE AND WITH A BIT OF
LUCK I THINK I HAVE FOUND A NEW JOB AND IF SO I WILL MAKE WHAT PROOF I
HAVE PUBLIC AND BELIEVE ME THE PROOF I HAVE IS GROWING EVERY DAY I HAVE
NOW THOUSANDS OF ACCOUNTS FOR POPULAR TIMES OF TRAVEL THAT ARE ONLY FOR
RENT
SO I ASK YE MEMBERS WHY GIVE UP YOUR WEEKS FOR EXCHANGE YOUR NOT GOING
TO GET ANYTHING BACK FOR IT AND RCI ARE GOING TO RENT YOUR WEEK OUT SO
THEY CAN MAKE MONEY
IF YOU RENTED IT OUT YOURSELF YOU COULD PROBABLY MAKE ENOUGH TO GO
ON A PACKAGE HOLIDAY WHERE EVER YOU WANT - ANON
Feb 25 2004
I worked for RCI for a while i just finished there 2 months ago,
and everything i read in the site is correct it's a froud. rci not
only lies to members but also to the people that work there. the poor mbr,
i don't know how many time my team leader got angry because i was
to long on the phone with a mbr, we are not allowes to give good customer
service , because we waist time and don't sell enough. Yes there
are pools , different pools, the one for vip, the one for rent ect... i
don't know how many, every small office around the world have there pool,
witch they give the weeks to who hey want.we are told to lie, all the time,
and also when we are not he phone if we have big problems, no body helps
us,the team leaders never wants to talk to the mbr. sometimes, we exchange
a wk witha mbr and they pay by postal cheque, after 3 days
the team leader tells us t call the mbr and tell him that the week is
gone because they forgot to extend the date and the week is sold to another
mbr.it's very true that they are using week that have been banked for
rent.We were checked for everything, in each call we have to sell a
week,deposit a week, try to get renew and have to always ask if they want
to buy a rented week, if we didn't do that we get a low score and
the counling and then warning.You know now there is a new manager
from america started in cork, and he said that if in everycall we
don't ask for renw he will give warnings (with a warning we can't
go to a resort or get a yearly voucher).It's really bad to work there,
you are treated as a robot with a number nobody cares about the mbr
only money. As for the team leaders they don't have a clue, they just push
you so they can make money,they have incentives on the agents. the
service is poor because majority of the staff is new all less than
6 months in the past 2 months 30 people left the italian and french
department and that is only 2 departments. all i can say to whom
works there and also who is a member to get out it's not worded.
it's so bad in everything, sometimes they wouldn't pay overtime, example
if i did 2 hr overtime in the week but was sick on friday my overtime
would not be payd....... i's working in another call centre now and
i must say it's heaven in comp arising.
- anon
Feb 10 2004
A little bird tells me that Palmer and his girlfriend (partner in crime
) are selling up their resorts on Tenerife. We hear Cendant/RCI are
interested and Robin Mills is 'helping out'!!! - evileye
Feb 9 2004
Thank you whistleblower from RCI for confirming what we have all suspected
for a long time – that RCI rent out weeks that they should be offering
to exchangers. RCI ceased to be an exchange company soon
after Crystal de Hann sold it to Cendant, when it became a money factory.
There is a lot more money to be made renting out good weeks than giving
them to some nuisance of an exchanger, as most of us have found out.
I suggest, whistleblower, that you quickly make copies of any
evidence you can obtain before they throw you out. RCI turn
very nasty if their devious practices are exposed! - Rex
Feb 8 2004
I have just read the last entry re. RCI, and it answers a lot of my
questions.
I joined RCI nearly 2 years ago, and was given a 'Bonus holiday' for
joining, the way the flyer was written it sounded like it was free, it
was'nt it cost nearly £170.I was given very little choice,and everything
i asked for was not available.We were sent to a resort in lanzarote which
was only affiliated to RCI, and used by other holiday companies. I was
told that all bonus holidays were of the same standard as the resort you
have spacebanked, obviously this is not true.The resort was vey shabby
and speaking to other people who were staying there after doing the 'package
holiday' they had paid a lot less than we did, as we had the flights insurance
etc. to pay for.
When i queried this on our return with RCI, i got the feeling that
they could'nt care less, and the problem was nothing to do with them as
they ' are just here to answer the 'phones'.
When i tried to exchange what i had spacebanked, again very limited
choice,and not as good a place as we owned.
We were sent to tenerife,and suffered at the hands of Resort properties,
until i mentioned thie Website - and how well they seemed to be doing in
ripping people off! We were left alone then!!!.
Needless to say i will not be renewing my membership with RCI, i suggest
your users try out 'Dial an Exchange' in Skipton, its free to join and
to transfer is only £69 AND they have late deals! Thanks once
again for this great site. - anon
Feb 7 2004
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THE MESSAGE I SENT LAST NIGHT I POSTED THIS BECAUSE
THIS NOT BECAUSE I'M NOT HAPPY WORKING FOR RCI OR AT LEAST I USED TO BE
HAPPY AS I THOUGHT THAT WHAT I WAS SELLING WAS GENUINE BUT EVEN AFTER LAST
NIGHT I CHECKED AGAIN TODAY AND HAVE PROOF TO BACK UP WHAT I AM TALKING
ABOUT
I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS UNITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS SUMMER IN HIGHLY REQUESTED
AREAS ONLY FOR RENT WHICH IS OK IF THESE UNITS THAT I FOUND WERE NOT UNITS
THAT MEMBERS GAVE UP FOR EXCHANGE
PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH MY EMAIL ADDRESS AS I NEED THE MONEY FROM WORK
UNTILL I FIND ANOTHER JOB AS I DON'T THINK I COULD KEEP WORKING FOR A COMPANY
THAT IS CONNING THERE MEMBERS
FEEL FREE TO PUBLISH WHAT I SAY BUT AS ANON
I HAVE APROACHED MY SUPERVISOR WITH WHAT I HAVE FOUND AND HE WAS ALSO
SHOCKED HE WOULD NOT BELIEVE ME AT FIRST UNTILL I SHOWED HIM THE PROOF
OF OVER 500 ACOUNTS SO FAR
I ASKED HIM TO LOOK INTO IT WHICH HE TOLD ME HE WOULD BUT I DON'T BELIEVE
THIS I INTEND TO GO AS FAR AS I CAN TO GET THIS RESOLVED ANY HELP APPRECIATED
Feb 7 2004
It seems RCI are giving away more owners weeks!
Anybody who has last months Avon catalogue on the inside back page
will have seen a promotion by RCI ... Or should I say RCI Holiday Network.
They are offering anyone a free weeks accommodation with no Booking Fee's,
No Obligation to Attend Presentation, and No Arrangement Fee's -- The only
obligation is that clients must book flights through RCI Travel -- Flights
are not loaded up but they do make the full 10-15% commission. So clients
are getting free owners weeks and RCI are getting around £20 Per
head. - RCI-SPY
Feb 6 2004
WORKING FOR RCI AT PRESENT
FOR THOSE MEMBERS NOT HAPPY I DONT BLAME YE I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME
RESEARCH AS TO WHY MEMBERS CAN NEVER FIND EXCHANGES ITS BECAUSE RCI
SEEM TO BE RENTING OUT A LOT OF UNITS THAT ARE DEPOSITED FOR EXCHANGE SO
THEREFORE WHEN MEMBERS LOOK FOR SOMETHING FOR EXCHANGE ITS NOT THERE BUT
I GUARANTEE IT WILL BE THERE FOR RENT IF YOU ASK
THIS IS NOT FAIR AND BELIEVE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW HOW RCI ARE MAKING
THEIR MONEY AND ITS NOT BY FAIR TRADE
ITS BY CONNING THERE MEMBERS AND UNDERPAYING STAFF - ANON
Jan 24 2004
I am surprised that the announcement that I alluded to in my message
of 16 November 2003 has not yet appeared.
All the contracts have been signed, so I can only assume that the
RCI-OTE-Sol-Occ axis are unable to agree on the wording of the press release.
Can anyone say what the delay is caused by ?
Rex.