RCI Points exchange programme launches in Asia

RCI has officially launched its RCI Points programme in Asia, giving its affiliates the option to offer a points-based exchange programme to their owners, in addition to the RCI Weeks exchange programme.

RCI Points was first launched in 2000 in the U.S. and is the industry’s largest worldwide points-based exchange programme. It provides RCI members with a flexible way to exchange their vacation ownership for time at other resorts around the world.

Their vacation ownership is assigned a points value, depending on a range of factors such as supply and demand at their resort, location and quality of the resort, type of unit owned and comment card feedback from members who have stayed in the resort. They can then use those points to exchange for a resort stay of similar value.

Range of benefits

An RCI Points membership offers many benefits:

• Flexibility – Members decide where and when to travel and the size of their accommodation based on availability and the number of points they have.
• Save and borrow points – Members have the option to save their points to the next use year, and can even borrow points from future years to suit their vacation plans.
• Nightly availability – In addition to exchanging for full or split weeks, members can also book short breaks 10 months in advance of check-in, even if they only want to stay for one night.
• Cruise vacations – RCI Points members also have the flexibility to use their points towards the purchase of cruise vacations.

Jonathan Mills

For example, RCI Points members could use their annual Points allotment to book a big family holiday in a large three-bedroom villa. However the next year they may opt to take a few short holidays in smaller units using the same amount of points.

Jonathan Mills, managing director, RCI Asia Pacific, said: “RCI Points has been a tremendous success since its launch in the U.S. in 2000, and has proven to be the most flexible and rewarding vacation exchange programme in the market today.

“As RCI continues to expand its presence in Asia, we are confident that RCI Points will provide more benefits and options to our affiliates in the region and meet the changing needs of consumers today.”