Club Melia Member Magazine | Q2-2013

c

April-June Issue | 2013

-magazine

Paradisus Cancun:

by Club Meliรก

Paradise in the Riviera Maya

DRIVING OUT POVERTY

SPONSOR. PLAY. GIVE.

June 10, 2013 www.chopen.org

Join your industry peers to help end childhood poverty

Contact: Becky Arnett | barnett@christelhouse.org | 317-464-2009

c

April-June Issue | 2013

-magazine

April-June | 2013

by Club Meliá

Paradisus Cancun:

Paradise in the Riviera Maya

Onofre Servera Executive Vice President

Victor Charco VP of Operations and Strategic Projects

Sergio Faggiani Corporate Director of Administration and Finance

David Aparicio Yasmin Gomez Yaudie Barboza Angel Torres Contributors

Perspective Group Publisher

Executive Vice President’s Corner Dear Club Meliá Members, Let’s hear it for summer, a time of cold drinks, long, relaxing days, and hot vacations to tropical locales around the world.

Speaking of vacations, as you take yours this summer, we at Club Melia look forward to serving you and making your vacation experiences all that you have been dreaming of in the warm days ahead.

We have lots in store for you this summer here at Club Meliá.

You will be hearing a lot from us through your new C Magazine loaded with vacation updates, benefits, reminders, and special offers just for you and your family.

As you know, as part of your membership, you will continue to receive it each quarter, with new information and new features each time, just like the featured article in this issue on Paradisus Cancun, a piece of paradise located in the Riviera Maya region in Mexico. This gorgeous luxury resort located on a pristine, white sand beach and surrounded by lush green palms might be just what you ordered for your next vacation.

Be sure to send us your ideas and input for things you would like to read more about, in C Magazine or online at www.myclubmelia.com. Be sure to visit the website often for details on your membership. We will continue to streamline it and improve it as part of our goal to keep you informed and up-to-date on the benefits and experiences that await you through your Club Meliá membership.

To that end, keep an eye out for special offers for additional stays at preferential pricing, along with additional on-site member benefits. As always, you have our commitment to ensure you receive the best value from your membership.

Club Melia by Melia Hotels International 800 Brickell Avenue Miami, FL 33131

Wishing you a healthy and happy holiday travel season this summer from your Club Meliá family.

© 2013 C-magazine by Club Meliá, All Rights Reserved.

Onofre Servera Executive Vice President Club Meliá

6 Contents 6 Paradisus Cancun: Paradise in the Riviera Maya

Perfectly situated on the soft white sand beaches of Cancun, Paradisus Cancun certainly lives up to its name as a paradise vacation getaway, enabling guests to experience the stunning beauty that has made Cancun a worldrenowned vacation destination.

10 Member Spotlight: David Barrere

Like other members we have featured, Dr. David Barrere is also a true spokesman for the Club Meliá brand and the vacation lifestyle it has provided. As an advocate of Club Meliá, everywhere he goes, Dr. Barrere shares positive anecdotes about the benefits of Club Melia membership.

12 Latest Company, Resort and Industry News

Exclusive bars, new hotels and resorts, and new and exciting destinations for Club Melia members to visit are just some of the wonderful things we have in store.

15 New Resorts and Hotels Equal Endless Possibilities at Club Melia If you haven’t booked a vacation this year, then call a Club Meliá Network vacation guide now and make a reservation to book an exciting vacation at any of our home, resort or urban collection resorts. Read on to find out about the new offerings Club Melia has for Options members.

10

15 18 A Taste of Cancun

Cancun offers a variety of cuisines to match any taste or budget, with dishes that often combine American and European style tastes with traditional Mayan flavor for food that is not to be missed. But with more than 1,200 restaurants to pick from, menus can stretch far beyond Mexican and Mayan cooking, to steak, seafood, and everything in between.

20 Travel the World with Club Melia Options

Take a tour around the world with Club Melia Options, which allow owners to experience it all, without even having to use up the full value of their options (points). Points or options are another aspect of Club Melia ownership that allows club members to use their membership flexibly, serving as tickets to a fantasy trip. Read on to find out more about the exciting destinations Club Melia Options can take you to.

20

26

24

24 Club Melia Membership offers a Multitude of Travel Choices

Club Melia members can vacation at any home resorts, Meliá resorts, or other Melia destinations through the Club Meliá Network. All they have to do is choose a destination based on the amount of vacation options they have available, and then go, to visit luxury Club Melia properties located in such desired destinations as Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe.

26 Unlock the Full Potential of Vacation Ownership with RCI’s Vacation Exchange Program

Membership with a vacation exchange company like RCI adds value to your vacation ownership by giving you the flexibility to discover new places by exchanging your timeshare within RCI’s network of affiliated resorts. Read on to find out about the four keys that can unlock the full potential of your vacation ownership.

Paradisus Cancun:

Paradise in the Riviera Maya

P

erfectly situated on the soft white sand beaches of Cancun, Paradisus Cancun certainly lives up to its name as a paradise vacation getaway, enabling guests to experience the stunning beauty that has made Cancun a worldrenowned destination, all in the comfort of a luxury resort that meets the highest standards of excellence in service and accommodation. It’s no wonder that AAA has awarded Paradisus Cancun four diamonds since 2006.

Exceeding customer expectations is how Paradisus Cancun defines success, according to its website. The resort’s iconic pyramids, elegant decorations, exceptional facilities, warm and well-trained staff, and numerous activities offered onsite are a top reason why guests return year after year, to enjoy the natural beauty it has to offer.

Luxurious, spacious, and elegant: These are the words one would use to describe Paradisus Cancun, located a short 15 minute drive from the airport. Amenities at this resort include a pristine beach, four lagoon-inspired pools, nine on-site restaurants, tennis, a nine-hole par 3 golf 6 C-magazine April-June 2013

course, a Kids Club, the YHI Spa, Royal Service for adults only, and a Family Concierge option, all of which provide patrons with a perfect Cancun dream vacation at Paradisus.

Accommodations

Paradisus Cancun offers 668 guest suites, all of which boast a private terrace and picture perfect views of the Caribbean Sea or the Nichupte lagoon. Each is modern and chicly decorated, with marble floors and fashionable furnishings creating a sophisticated setting, while comfortable beds and warm tones provide a calming environment that encourages guests to relax and let their stresses melt away.

Other room amenities include individually controlled air-conditioning systems, 32-inch flat screen LCD TVs featuring cable and pay per view, laptop-sized safety deposit boxes, direct dial telephones, daily maid and turn-down service, a mini bar stocked daily, high speed Internet access, 24-hour room service, king size beds, connecting rooms available, and last but not least, outstanding service and exceptional facilities in a breathtaking tropical paradise.

Family Concierge

Family Concierge is a Paradisus Cancun exclusive service designed for families to spend time together in specially-appointed Family Concierge suites that come with luxury amenities for children and their parents alike to enjoy. These include breakfast, afternoon tea, and a pre-dinner international bar and chef’s selection of hors d’oeuvres, a private Family Concierge lounge with private check-in and checkout, Internet access and an all-day snack buffet with premium drinks available, a family book and video library, special children’s in-suite amenities that include robes, slippers and child-size pillows, a “Welcome” Paradisus Kids Beach Kit, a customized mini bar with drinks and snacks for children, cookies and milk turn-down service, and child size bathroom amenities in a kit that features mini soaps, a mini toothbrush, shower gel, mini mosquito repellant, and mini towels.

For parents, Family Concierge features daily newspaper delivery, bathrobes and slippers, pillow menus, luxury bathroom amenities, an in-room activities menu, and exclusive family activities and excursions,

such as swimming, classes, painting, and massage lessons. Furthermore, each room features a gaming console, either a PS2™, Xbox 360™ or Wii™ available upon request that the whole family can enjoy.

All families receive a complimentary walkie-talkie or cell phone for constant contact with Paradisus Cancun’s attentive concierge staff, preferential booking at à la carte restaurants, assistance with reservations for spa services and golf, information and reservations for local restaurants, and most importantly, babysitting on request.

Royal Service

Royal Service is an option for adults only travelers who crave a little more attention, pampering, and privacy. As such it offers all-encompassing, unparalleled service that is state-of-the-art, starting with an adults only breakfast, afternoon tea time, and a pre-dinner international bar and chef’s selection of hors d’oeuvres. With Royal Service, guests also receive access to a private pool for adults only, a private beach area, a pool and beach concierge, beverages, and a variety of sunscreens.

Exclusive services include personal butler assistance throughout a guest’s stay, and upgraded amenities that include personalized turn-down service, a choice of aromatic pillows, in-room bathtub preparation, daily newspaper delivery, individualized in-room coffee service and personalized mini bars stocked daily.

Each of the 220 Royal Service suites comes complete with an in-suite Jacuzzi, 32-inch flat screen televisions, iPod docking stations, espresso coffee machines and bathrooms stocked with Thierry Mugler bath amenities.

Other amenities include a library, complimentary Internet access, snacks, and coffee and premium beverages throughout the day, a personalized pillow menu, a special in-room aromatherapy menu, and a cell phone for all-day butler communication.

In addition, Paradisus Cancun now provides one certificated butler for every six Royal Service suites. At Paradisus Cancun, one’s butler can take care of everything needed, such as unpacking and packing of luggage, coordinating laundry, shining shoes and ironing clothes, arranging for wake-up calls, and making preferred reservations for spa appointments, excursions, activities and specialty restaurants, such as “La Palapa,” a restaurant exclusively for Royal Service.

Restaurants and Bars

Speaking of restaurants, Paradisus Cancun offers plenty, with unforgettable culinary experiences just waiting to be savored.

The resort has nine restaurants, in fact, and seven bars, each with the highest quality food, service, and décor.

Truly, there is something for everyone, from the foodie to the comfort food lover to the healthy eater, to everyone in between, with options available at every hour of the day.

We start with six-star Michelin-rated Chef Martin Berasategui and his restaurant, Tempo. This eatery is open to all, guests and non-guests alike, and provides an Old World glamour perfect for long, intimate dinners and conversations. Next, there is NAOS, where guests can start their day with a delicious international breakfast buffet.

But the culinary delights don’t stop there, as this eatery is open for lunch and dinner as well. For those who want to feel the heat, there is Fuego, which literally means hot in Spanish. It offers spicy ceviche, the freshest seafood and a sumptuous raw bar. With all of these tasty treats, it’s no wonder that Fuego is a top pick for many.

Next on the world tour of culinary delights is VENTO, which serves Mediterranean cuisine on a breezy, palm-lined terrace. Woodoven pizzas and freshly-made pastas top the list for patron favorites. The global tour continues with a trip further east to Bana, a contemporary Pan-Asian restaurant situated on a spectacular and soothing Zen terrace.

Bana offers an Asian fusion menu with both Eastern- and Western-style sushi.

For oceanfront dining, guests should feel free to try the Market Grill, which offers a

blended Italian-Argentine menu of prime cuts of beef and fresh, healthy salads, and other fresh grilled food, all to be enjoyed with balmy sea breezes wafting under a starlit sky. Also located on the shores of the Caribbean, the Royal Service exclusive La Palapa offers delicious a la carte entrees and impeccable service.

For poolside dining, patrons can try La Perla, a seafood specialty restaurant, which offers fresh ceviche and other seafood favorites prepared with flare. For a taste of Mexico, there is Mole, which offers authentic flavors and contemporary cuisine, starting with specialty made-to-order quesadillas. Then there is Blueagave, which offers tacos and a taste of Mexican tequilas and beers.

Speaking of beer, there are several places to enjoy one at Paradisus Cancun’s many bars, each with its own unique feel and flair, starting with Avenue Bar, a great option for delectable cocktails and a mouthwatering menu of small bites, all with stunning views of the sand and sea. At Red lounge, one can sip a tropical cocktail while swaying to music produced by a cutting-edge DJ. Then there is Coco’s Bar, located right on soft, white Caribbean sand being lapped by warm aqua waters, where one can sit back and relax with a refreshing cocktail.

At Toji Bar, one can enjoy the tastes of Asian liquors with cocktails flavored by chai, ginger, cardamom, tapioca, green tea and lychee, all to be enjoyed under a ceiling studded with paper lanterns. And for a true taste of the Orient, let’s not forget the sake, a bar specialty.

For a taste of Mexico, one can try Blue Agave Bar, which serves only the best authentic agave tequila Mexico has to C-magazine April-June 2013 7

offer, as well as a full range of national beers and traditional margaritas.

Last, but certainly not least is Paradisus Cancun’s swim-up bar. At this resort, having to haul oneself out of the pool for a drink is a thing of the past with this pub in the south pool.

YHI Spa Paradisus Cancun

Fun in the sun can take a toll on one’s skin, so Paradisus Cancun has created a place where one can rejuvenate with the power of YHI, a space for the purification of the body, the balance of the mind and the culture of the soul, according to the spa site. When entering YHI, one indulges in a sanctuary of scents and soft music to enjoy an exclusive collection of facial and body treatments.

Among them are the spa rituals of the Ix Chel Signature Collection, which include exfoliation, replenishing massages, detoxifying and healing wraps, and hydrotherapies incorporating organic herbs, fruits, and flowers. There is also a spa pool featuring jet streams directed towards specific areas of the body for full relief and relaxation, and a sauna and steam room where natural fragrances such as rosemary, eucalyptus and thyme are used to soothe and de-stress. Stone rituals are another aspect of healing at YHI, which also has a spa studio featuring yoga and Pilates classes, a beauty salon that specializes in

8 C-magazine April-June 2013

manicures, pedicures, and hair treatments, and a new eco-spa featuring treatments based on the four elements of nature. It has five Balinese massage cabins where guests can relax with a variety of body treatments.

For visitors who want to take home some of YHI’s treatments, the spa carries several prominent product lines, both Mexican and European.

Other Activities

For those who want to get fit while on vacation, Paradisus Cancun does offer some options, starting with a gym filled with Life Fitness equipment, and YHI Moves, a personalized one-on-one wellness program where experienced personal trainers assess guests’ needs, develop a custom exercise program, and train guests in individual or group sessions. There is also a nine hole par 3 golf course located 30 feet from the Caribbean shore, and fun activities like sushi workshops, wine tastings, and tequila tastings, to name a few.

Shopaholics at Paradisus Cancun can rejoice, as the resort offers premier shops on its first two floors, including a gift shop, a jewelry shop and clothing boutiques.

Cancun

For those who actually dare to leave paradise, Cancun has a plethora of

wonderful things to see and do. These include a wide range of watersports, such as some of the world’s best snorkeling, scuba diving and sport fishing, or touring an eco-park. For those looking to tie the knot, Cancun makes for a great natural backdrop to any tropical wedding. No decorations are needed here!

Cancun is a great place to visit for both couples and families, and offers land-based activities suitable for all, such as mountain biking, jeep tours and riding some of the longest zip lines in Latin America. After a day of zip lining, famished foodies will be happy to hear that Cancun restaurants offer a variety of cuisines to tickle any palate, from traditional Mexican to ultra-chic bistros, with something to fit all tastes and budgets. After that, it’s off to the clubs, the main attraction for many a Cancun visitor, most of which are located right in the resort area, and play everything from salsa to dance to hip hop and live music.

For something different to do, visitors can check out Cancun’s ancient Mayan culture, and learn a little something about history. Known as the gateway to the Riviera Maya and the Yucatán interior, Cancun is a place where one can explore the past by seeing the area’s many archaeological sites. These include Chichen Itza, Cobá and Tulum.

Chichen Itza was a massive pre-Columbian city built by the Maya civilization. It is significant due to its size as one of the Maya’s largest cities, and because it exhibits a multitude of architectural styles.

As such, it’s no wonder that Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico, with an estimated 1.2 million visitors every year.

Coba is a large ruin of a city from the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, located about 90 km east of Chichen Itza. It is for this reason that Coba is becoming an increasingly popular site with visitors in its own right. One of the major attractions at Coba is the city’s ancient pyramid, which is open to the public to climb its 120 steps to the top. In addition, Coba has several tour operators that offer excursions to and from the resort area.

Tulum is the site of a Mayan walled city that once served as Coba’s major port. It was also one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya, and, as such, is one of the best-preserved examples of Mayan metropolitan architecture. That, coupled with its short distance from Cancún and the Riviera Maya area has made it popular with tourists. While there, be sure to snap a photo of the breathtaking landscape

and picturesque view of the Caribbean and Cancun.

Another spectacular site worth seeing and experiencing in the Cancun area includes one of its many cenotes, which are deep natural pits, or sinkholes, characteristic of Mexico. A multitude of cenotes are located in the Tulum area, which include Maya Blue, Naharon, Temple of Doom, Tortuga, Vacaha, Grand Cenote, Abejas, Nohoch Kiin, Dos Ojos and Ik Kil, and the Carwash cenotes and cave systems. They draw in cave divers and snorkelers from around the world to see and map out these magnificent areas.

Truly, there are so many things to do in Cancun that a vacation here really does offer something for everyone.

About Paradisus Resorts

Paradisus Resorts is an all-inclusive luxury resort brand owned and operated by Meliá Hotels International, (formerly Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts) one of the world’s most successful hotel companies. Boasting unique room categories and luxurious upgrade options, the resorts are ideal for a wide spectrum of guests, including couples, families, business travelers and destination wedding guests.

About Meliá Hotels International

Meliá Hotels International was founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and is one the country’s leading hotel chains, in addition to being one of the world’s largest resort hotel chains. It currently provides more than 350 hotels and 87,000 rooms in 35 countries on four continents under its brands: Gran Meliá, Meliá, ME, Innside, Tryp by Wyndham, Sol and Paradisus. Its product and service portfolio is complemented by Meliá Club, the only vacation club operated by a Spanish company.

In 2011, the family company founded by Gabriel Escarrer Juliá took on the brand name that represents its present and its future: Meliá Hotels International.

Club Meliá

In 2004, Meliá Hotels International introduced the concept of building lifelong memories with a shared vacation membership club that offers all the conveniences and lavish amenities of a luxury, world-class resort, plus the value, flexibility and choice that vacation membership offers. It now has over 27,000 members, and growing.

To find out more, please visit www.clubmelia.com.

C-magazine April-June 2013 9

Member Spotlight:

David Barrere

I

n our ongoing series of interviews with special Club Meliá members who have been loyal beneficiaries of our vacation products, we now turn our attention to David Barrere, 45, doctor of obstetrics and gynecology from Cincinnati, Ohio, in the USA.

facilities, top-notch spa treatments, a challenging fitness program, and relaxed ambience, all surrounded by lush and beautiful tropical gardens, sparkling fountains and massive and picturesque white-sand beach lapped by crystal-clear turquoise waters.

Like other members we have featured, Dr. Barrere is also a true spokesman for the Club Meliá brand and the vacation lifestyle it has provided. As an advocate of Club Meliá, everywhere he goes, Dr. Barrere shares positive anecdotes about the benefits of Club Melia membership.

“We purchased with Club Melia because we liked the quality and value of the resort and the vacation for the family,” Dr. Barrere said. “It also forces us to plan and take a nice vacation on a regular basis, rather than just say ‘someday we’ll go.’”

Dr. Barrere has been a member of Club Melia since 2009, when he and his wife, Melissa, 37, purchased a presidential suite at Paradisus Palma Real, Punta Cana.

Located in the Dominican Republic, this resort combines superior luxury in a renowned Caribbean setting with premier

Since then, he and his family have made regular use of their vacation home away from home, visiting Club Meliá one to two times a year, staying a week each time.

They have also used their Options to visit other Club Meliá resorts as well, including Paradisus Punta Cana, Gran Melia Cancun, Melia Puerto Vallarta, and Paradisus Playa

David Barrere and his fam ily del Carmen, in the Dominican Republic and Riviera Maya, Mexico.

“My family and I really enjoyed Paradisus Palma Real and Playa del Carmen above the other resorts,” Dr. Barrere said. “We enjoyed the weather, the resort, and the area activities. We’ve been to Palma Real twice, but have been to Punta Cana on two other occasions and stayed elsewhere.

My wife and I agreed that we had made a mistake in not returning to Palma Real.

The beach at Paradisus Playa del Carmen

10 C-magazine April-June 2013

“We all enjoyed Riviera Maya and the local attractions around the Playa del Carmen and cannot wait to return.”

As stated above, the Barreres live in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Dr. Barrere practices in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. He and his wife often vacation with their two children, Graeme, age 10, and Ashleigh, age 6.

“We have also had my mother and father-in-law to Puerto Vallarta and Paradisus Punta Cana,” Dr. Barrere said.

While the Barreres can pass their Club Melia benefits on to immediate family members, they have yet to do so.

“We haven’t passed on a vacation yet,” Dr. Barrere said. “Why? Because we want to use it!”

As such, it’s no wonder that Dr. Barrere and his family members are undeniably true champions of the Club Meliá brand and the vacation lifestyle it provides.

“The Barrere’s loyalty and enthusiasm of our product is truly an incredible testament to the type of family we at Club Meliá like to foster with our resorts and product,” said Victor Hugo Charco, vice president of operations and special projects. “Many consumers today vacation, but when approached to look at the benefits of a vacation club, they shy away. They really never take the time to understand that we are in the business of helping families vacation.

Vacationing is so critical to healthy living, and we are happy to make it incredible for many families, year after year, each day. The fact that the Barrere family has traveled to their home resort and other resorts in various locations showcases the flexibility of our product to meet not only their needs but other families looking to travel in multiple regions. We have been so fortunate to have the Barrere family be an advocate of our product, but more so to be part of our family across our destinations.”

“We appreciate the value and the quality of the vacations and resorts,” Dr. Barrere said about Club Melia. “We like the friendliness of the staff and the dedication to my family having a relaxing and enjoyable vacation.”

C-magazine April-June 2013 11

FYI

Latest Company, Resort and Industry News

Keep up to date with the latest news and happenings from our parent company, Meliá Hotels International. Read below to find out more about the amazing changes and updates across the globe that are important to our members.

Gran Meliá Victoria Hotel • Gran Meliá and Javier de las Muelas open an exclusive cocktail bar and terrace on the Paseo Marítimo in Palma de Mallorca, their second collaborative project.

• It is situated at the best location in Palma, with views of the Mediterranean and the Cathedral.

• The new cocktail bar on the main terrace at the Gran Meliá Victoria Hotel is expected to become a new social landmark on the city seafront.

• The new and elegant cocktail bar is named “DRY by Javier de las Muelas.”

• Three years after opening “Dry By Javier de las Muelas at the Gran Meliá Fénix,” located in central Madrid – which has since become an important meeting point in the Spanish capital – Javier de las Muelas and Meliá Hotels International’s premium brand have enhanced their partnership with the opening of a new Dry experience at the Gran Meliá Victoria, providing a more exclusive setting for the Dry Martini brand in a unique venue renowned for the highest service standards.

• “DRY By Javier de las Muelas at the Gran Meliá Victoria” aims to follow in the footsteps of its namesake in Madrid and become a point of reference for nightlife and after work events in Palma de Mallorca for hotel guests, local residents and visitors to the island.

• “DRY By Javier de las Muelas at the Gran Meliá Victoria” has an elegant lobby lounge and terrace with stunning views of Palma Bay and the Cathedral, retaining all the style and savoir faire of

the DRY brand with a select choice of innovative signature cocktails, all to be enjoyed in a most relaxed atmosphere and pool lounge.

• T his season, new DRY customers can try the latest Javier de las Muelas signature drink collection designed exclusively for summer on the island.

• T he new DRY at the Paseo Marítimo will also have a calendar of events, quality live music and a select choice of meals and tapas.

Meliá Hotels International • Melia Hotels International has announced four new hotels in Brazil and Italy.

• Meliá Hotels International has also announced results for the first half of the year within a context of relative optimism, as company results for the first half of 2013 show positive growth in the hotel business, with an improvement of 5.5 percent in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR), significantly explained through price increases. This almost fully explains the 16 percent improvement in EBITDA to €122M. Net profit increased by 14.4 percent (3.8 percent attributable) to €12.1M. • In terms of sales, the company emphasizes two important developments: firstly, its inbound and outbound business strategy, which focuses on generating business in all regions, helping to reduce the dependence on the Spanish market to 26 percent of all company hotel stays in 2012; secondly, the evolution of 12 C-magazine April-June 2013

online travel agencies and especially melia.com, which has grown by more than 25 percent over the year, becoming the main distribution channel for the company.

• In terms of finance, Meliá has also renovated the 90 percent of its credit facilities maturing within a year, providing €519M of liquidity to finance maturities in 2014. Efforts for the future will continue to focus on reducing debt and the diversification of sources of funds via capital markets and dollar markets. The company reaffirms its commitment to sell assets amounting to between 100 and 120 million in 2013.

• During 2013, Meliá Hotels International has signed 16 new hotels to be added to its portfolio over the next three years.

This pipeline of hotels signed or in the process of integration currently includes 53 hotels with 15,065 rooms.

• In the context of the company’s pursuit of growing exposure in international markets, 95 percent will be added

outside Spain, with over 60 percent located in emerging markets, such as Brazil, Costa Rica, China, Cape Verde, Vietnam and Indonesia.

• Meliá International also continues to open new markets, as seen in the recent announcement of a partnership with the Chilean Armas Group to open at least five hotels in five years in Chile, or the signing of the first hotel in Saudi Arabia, the Gran Meliá Riyadh.

• Meliá Hotels International has been presented with the Solidarity Award by the ONCE group (National Organization of Spanish Blind People) and its foundation in recognition of its efforts to integrate people with disabilities in its work practices and workforce.

• Meliá Hotels International has hired more than 70 people with disabilities, and has made significant improvements in accessibility, both physical and electronic, including a new corporate website accessible to people with disabilities.

America leads the way

Meliá Hotels & Resorts • Meliá Hotels & Resorts has opened its first resort on the Andalusian province of Huelva in Spain.

• The Meliá Atlantico - Isla Canela is a large holiday resort located on the beachfront in Isla Canela, one of the most privileged tourist destinations and residential areas in Andalusia.

• Built in 2000 and renovated in 2013, the hotel is constructed in traditional Andalusian architectural style combined with elegant and welcoming interiors, all set in 10,000 m2 of gardens that make it an extraordinary resort to enjoy the unique experience of Meliá Hotels & Resorts.

• The hotel provides 358 spacious rooms with a private balcony or terrace, most with views of the sea or the mouth of River Carreras. They include superior rooms with a lounge, family rooms for people travelling with children, and five elegant and bright suites.

• The Meliá Atlantico - Isla Canela offers extensive facilities and entertainment options to complete the first class experience provided by the brand: two outdoor swimming pools and one indoor pool, a sun terrace, a spa and wellness centre, tennis and paddle tennis courts, a gym and a children’s playground.

The hotel also offers a daytime entertainment program for all ages, plus evening entertainment.

• The hotel also provides a buffet restaurant with show cooking and twice weekly themed dinners based on regional

cuisine from around the world, and it has three bars, including a snack bar for light meals and healthy eating.

• The hotel location provides a perfect setting for outdoor activities. Isla Canela beach is ideal for water sports such as windsurfing, sailing and kitesurfing, or for a boat trip for dolphin watching. For golf lovers, the hotel is just 6 km from the 18hole Isla Canela golf course.

• Guests can also enjoy a wide range of excursions, as the hotel is surrounded by protected nature reserves and picturesque Andalusian villages. Highlights include the marshes, bird watching or numerous hiking trails, with a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Spanish market status • In Spain, the company’s resort hotels increased RevPAR by approximately 7 percent, mainly due to better occupancy.

• Trends suggest that the summer season in the Balearics, Costa del Sol and Benidorm will generate sales figures slightly higher than the previous year, possibly exceeding the record highs of 2007 for resort hotels in the Mediterranean.

• The excellent performance of the Balearic Islands is attributable to international markets, mainly the United Kingdom, Central Europe and Russia, as noted by EXCELTUR.

• T he Americas region once again led growth with a RevPAR increase of 13.2 percent attributable to both price and occupancy improvements.

•O f note is the evolution of the two Paradisus Resorts in Playa del Carmen, which in their second year of operations have doubled results and allowed Mexico to generate an 18 percent increase in RevPAR. •M eanwhile, the resorts in the Dominican Republic grew RevPAR by 11.5 percent, while Meliá Lima and Gran Meliá Caracas also contributed to growth.

• I n 2015 in Pernambuco, Brazil, Meliá Hotels International will open the new 192-room Meliá Paiva, and in 2016 the Innside Barra with 280 rooms. Both hotels are strategically located in a high-growth urban area next to the sea, and have modern facilities for conventions, as well as restaurants, lobby bars and swimming pools.

Europe, Middle East and Africa • In Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), RevPAR increased by 9 percent due to improved prices.

• The potential of the ME London hotel, the company’s flagship project in one of the world’s major capital cities, has been recognized by the prestigious “European Hospitality Awards.” ME London has also been nominated for the “Best Architecture” and “Best Interior Design” awards.

• Meliá has witnessed a very positive performance of its Italian hotels along 2013 (+ 8.9 percent RevPAR).

• The company has announced the immediate opening of the Meliá Villa Capri, a luxury hotel with 19 rooms on the island paradise of Capri, and its first hotel in Sicily, the Meliá Siracusa Mare, a stunning luxury resort with a private beach and a 187-room hotel with a restaurant, a pool and event and wellness facilities, together with a golf course and 196 residences.

Meliá Siracusa will open in 2014 and will be the first golf resort on the coast of Catania.

C-magazine April-June 2013 13

Fall into savings

with Club Melia Options

Haven’t booked a vacation this year, or still have some options left over and don’t know what to do with them?

Don’t let those options go to waste! Call a Club Meliá Network vacation guide now and make a reservation to receive a 20 percent discount on the amount of options it would take to book your vacation at any of our home, resort or urban collection resorts. That’s right, 20 percent less options!

This means you can book that last minute vacation getaway this fall, or perhaps indulge a little on more space.

Hurry, this offer is only available if you book your vacation and your stay is completed prior to December 15, 2013 for use of your 2013 Options.

But that’s not all! Can’t stay before December 15th… if you make a reservation for 2014 by December 15, 2013, we will provide you with a 10 percent discount off the standard Options required for week vacations in 2014 (holiday* weeks are excluded from this offer). All vacations must be completed by December 15, 2014.

*Holiday weeks excluded refer to and are not limited to: Christmas Week, New Year’s Week, Holy Week, Easter Week, Memorial Day Week, July 4th Week, Labor Day Week and Thanksgiving Week. Always ask your vacation guide prior to making reservation.

Club Melia is currently working hard to add clubs to our collection, such as the following luxury resorts and hotels listed opposite. If any of these destinations are saying your name, don’t delay, call today.

14 C-magazine April-June 2013

New Resorts and Hotels

Equal Endless Possibilities

at Club Melia

I

nfinite possibilities await you at Club Melia, to sit, back, relax and enjoy at any one of our stunning resorts or hotels at a number of desirable vacation locals.

The following are just a few of the latest offerings courtesy of Club Melia.

Meliá Villaitana

Meliá Villaitana is a unique hotel located near the Costa Blanca (White Coast) region of Spain, offering spectacular vacation getaways for adults and families alike. Swim in a refreshing lagoon pool, then sunbathe on a fantastic artificial beach featuring palm trees and pretty gardens. After a day of surf and sun, cap the night off with fine dining options that include superb Mediterranean and international cuisine before heading back to your magnificent, fully-equipped guest room with terrace to get a good night sleep before a day of extensive programming options for everyone, day and evening, such as an extensive selection of facial and body treatments and massages, or a vibrant nightlife filled with parties, shows, performances and live music.

Other adult activities include Tai Chi classes and pool games, and ballroom

dancing. Children’s activities include craft workshops and classes and games in the pool, in the garden, and in a play area.

Other amenities include a wellness centre with 13 treatment rooms, thermal pools, a gym and a relaxation area, and a convention centre measuring 6,000 m2 with 17 meeting rooms and capacity for up to 1,200 people.

Furthermore, it is the region’s leading hotel for weddings, receptions, honeymoons and celebrations.

Located 20 minutes from Alicante, Spain, Meliá Villaitana was designed to simulate a Mediterranean village. It is situated between two golf courses designed by Nicklaus Design, and has fantastic views of the Gran Bahía on the Costa Blanca.

Its 25 individual buildings and unique architectural style reproduce the region’s picturesque squares and historical streets.

Meliá Villaitana is the perfect choice for business or leisure travelers thanks to its extensive and comfortable facilities and superb services.

The Meliá Villaitana resort actually consists of two hotels: The Level at Meliá Villaitana and Meliá Villaitana. Amongst

its many magnificent services and facilities, the Meliá Villaitana provides two 18-hole golf courses, 5,000 m2 of pools, spacious dining areas, two tennis courts and six paddle tennis courts, a children’s park, and a kids’ club. As far as accommodations go, it offers 365 rooms, including 24 premium rooms, 79 junior suites and 46 family suites, all of which are decorated in an elegant Mediterranean style, with shades of gold, white, beige, and red, and all offer breathtaking views of either the sea, golf course, garden or pools. Room amenities include a king size bed or two single beds, a 42-inch LCD TV, air conditioning/ heating, a functional work space with Wi-Fi Internet, a safe, a minibar, and a fully-equipped bathroom.

With its central Costa Blanca location, Meliá Villaitana is conveniently close to many of the area’s tourist destinations; it is 4 km from Benidorm, 14 km from Altea, 50 km from Alicante International Airport, and 134 km from Valencia International Airport. As such, it offers a plethora of activities outside the hotel as well. These include day trips to nearby villages: Altea, Dénia, Villajoyosa, Alicante, and Jávea, Moraira; horseback riding, paintball, and C-magazine April-June 2013 15

hiking, cycling through Sierra Helada and Finestrat, water sports like water skiing, kite surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, windsurfing, sea rafting, and fishing; boat rentals, canoeing, paragliding, and Segway tours through Benidorm. There are also four area theme parks: Terra Mítica, with more than 30 rides and 80 shows a day; Terra Natura, which features over 200 animal species from all over the world, 50 of which are endangered; Mundo Mar, which offers dolphin, sea lion and parrot shows; and Aqualandia, Europe’s largest water park.

TRYP Gijón Rey Pelayo Hotel

The Tryp Rey Pelayo hotel is located just a few meters from San Lorenzo Beach, the Molinón stadium, the Plaza de Toros El Bibio and the Isabel La Católica Park. It is also near the most important museums and attractions of Gijón, opposite the convention centre and the Trade Fair Centre, making it an ideal destination for any Club Melia member.

Inside the hotel, members will find 132 rooms, as well as suites with lounges, offering a plethora of amenities: rooms for the disabled, bathrooms with hairdryers, air-conditioning, satellite TV, a direct dial telephone, wireless Internet access, and a minibar. Each room is available with a double bed or with two single beds, with modern décor and a pleasant atmosphere guaranteed to provide a restful stay and an enjoyable vacation experience.

To add to guest comfort and enjoyment, TRYP Gijón Rey Pelayo Hotel offers the following guest services: 24-hour wakeup calls, room service, a customer service desk, an underground garage with direct room access, and Spanish newspapers delivered daily. Additionally, there are different style rooms to suit different guests’ individualized needs.

These start with the fitness room, an exclusive room designed to ensure that business travelers are able to make the most of their hotel stay. As such, it includes an exercise bike in the room and a free fitness kit comprised of a T-shirt, an exercise mat, mineral water, and extra towels. The premium room is another type of accommodation designed with business travelers in mind.

Then there is the junior suite, a room with two main areas: a bedroom with a kingsize bed and a modern lounge. In the bathroom, guests may enjoy a relaxing soak in a whirlpool bath. The senior suite is another accommodation with multiple areas, as it is a duplex room fit with a bedroom with a king-size bed and a 16 C-magazine April-June 2013

modern lounge located on each floor.

The bathroom in the senior suite also offers a whirlpool bath.

Last but not least is the family room, designed to create unforgettable hotel stays for families. It offers bunk beds for children with linens decorated in whimsical themes, and a special free gift for kids.

While relaxing in any one of these rooms may be an enjoyable respite, it’s not the only activity one can enjoy at TRYP Gijón Rey Pelayo Hotel. Guests can participate in water sports, such as fishing, diving, and sailing, hike on trails throughout the Asturias, and go on a culinary adventure at one of the hotel’s many eateries.

Marbella La Quinta Golf & Spa

This luxury resort is ideal for exploring the city of Marbella, Spain, and its surroundings. It offers guests a unique and luxurious experience, excellent service and the highest levels of quality and satisfaction. Amenities include an amazing lagoon-style pool set in a garden, fine-dining with Mediterranean cuisine, fully-equipped lodgings with terraces and spectacular panoramic views of the sea, the gardens, the pool or the golf course, free high speed Wi-Fi Internet, and a fully-equipped gym open 24 hours a day.

Meliá La Quinta Golf & Spa provides 172 spacious rooms decorated with Andalusian design elements, such as earthen floors and locally-made furniture.

Each suite comes equipped with two single beds, two queen size beds, or a

king size bed. Room amenities include a complete pillow menu, a 37-inch LCD TV, individually-controlled air conditioning/ heating, free high-speed Wi-Fi internet, a minibar, a bathroom with a bath tub and separate shower and a complete set of Meliá bathroom amenities.

Types of rooms include 116 Meliá rooms, 50 premium rooms, three junior suites, two executive suites featuring a lounge and hydro massage, and one presidential suite with a bedroom, a lounge, and a dining table for eight people.

Hotel amenities include an Andalusianstyled YHI Spa complete with beauty and wellness treatments, a spa circuit and a Mediterranean sauna, an aromatic steam bath, hamman, two shower cabins, and a refreshing lagoon and waterfall; free shuttle service connecting the hotel with the cities of Puerto Banús and Marbella that operates seven days a week; 24 hour reception, an Internet corner, medical services on request, private parking, airport shuttle service, car rental, a concierge for booking excursions and purchasing tickets, eight meeting/banquet rooms, two linked lagoon pools surrounded by lovely gardens, and 27 holes of golf divided into three 9-hole courses providing a wide variety of playing options for all player levels. These include Course A, San Pedro, an open course of wide fairways requiring long woods and irons; Course B, Ronda, offering narrower fairways and more technical greens, and Course C, Guadaiza, which is similar to Course A. Golfers will enjoy working on

their skills at the La Quinta Golf Academy, a prestigious golf school offering classes for all play levels, a two-tier practice area, a covered driving range, chipping and pitching areas, a putting green, a video room where golfers can analyze their play and monitor their swing, and a golf shop and a café-bar.

For those who wish to go on a culinary adventure, there are a plethora of eateries to pick from: Los Arcos Restaurant, which offers a varied breakfast buffet on an outdoor poolside terrace; Kaede Japanese Restaurant, featuring sushi, sashimi, and teppanyaki; the Aljama Bar, featuring drinks and live music; the Mirador Pool Bar, offering a wide variety of drinks, juices, ice slushies, and ice cream; a clubhouse restaurant and the Hole 19 Bar.

cheeses, show cooking with fish and meat dishes, vegetables, hot dishes and pastas, desserts and delicious cakes; and a bar cafeteria with a choice of hot and cold snacks, hamburgers, salads, sandwiches, salmon, and drinks.

In addition, Sol Pancti Petri offers much to see and do for the whole family.

Children’s activities include games, sports, parties, movies, and arts and crafts, while activities for adults feature evening shows, live music, magic, acrobatics, and flamenco dancing.

Sol Sancti Petri is also ideally located 70

km from Jerez Airport, and it is very close to the Novo Sancti Petri Golf Course.

As such, the area offers an endless choice of attractions and excursions for everyone: tours of white-washed villages, wine tasting, bullfighting demonstrations, the Sierra de Cadiz, the Doñana National Park, the ancient fishing city of Cadiz, the world-renowned bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera, the beaches of Tarifa and the cities of Seville and Tangiers, cycling, horseback riding, surfing and swimming classes, whale and dolphin watching, visits to the botanic zoo in Jerez de la Fontera, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

For children, there is the La Quinta Burbuja Kids Club featuring an outdoor play area, sports facilities, a paddling pool, swings, and an indoor space for workshops with a TV room that they can enjoy. There are also fun activities for the whole family, with day trips to nearby villages, visits to the old quarter in Marbella and the Picasso Museum in Malaga, shopping galore, beaches, water sports, boat trips, recreational activities and visits to area theme parks.

Sol Sancti Petri

The Sol Sancti Petri Apartments are located in the beautiful Novo Sancti Petri area, in Chiclana de la Frontera, a province of Cadiz. As such, they provide idyllic natural surroundings in the heart of Andalusia, including La Barrosa beach.

Consisting of 296 apartments in 10 two-story buildings, hotel amenities include white sandy beaches with crystal clear waters, gorgeous gardens and a fantastic lagoon-style pool, and golf courses. As far as the apartments go, they are spacious and fully equipped with a reception area, a double bedroom, a separate lounge with a sofa bed, kitchens and bathrooms, and a furnished terrace.

Hotel amenities include 24 hour reception, nighttime security, Wi-Fi in public areas, medical services on request, car rental, self-service laundry, a mini-market, a children’s pool, a children’s play area, an Internet corner, a game room, private parking, a stage for shows and seating for 200 people, and two restaurants: the Sol Sancti Petri Restaurant, which offers an extensive international buffet of salads, cold meats, C-magazine April-June 2013 17

A Taste of Cancun A

s an international destination for visitors from around the world, Cancun offers a variety of cuisines to match any taste or budget. As a matter of fact, Yucatan Peninsula cooking often combines American and European style dishes with traditional Mayan flavor for food that is not to be missed. Favorite area dishes include suckling pig baked in banana leaves, tortillas with fried black beans, and spiced chicken and pickled onions. Yet with more than 1,200 restaurants to pick from, menus can stretch far beyond Mexican and Mayan cooking, to steak, seafood, and everything in between: French, Italian, American, Argentinean, and Japanese, to name a few. The area one chooses to dine in determines the flavor too, as hotel and resort area restaurants tend to cater toward tourist tastes, while downtown restaurants are geared more for foodie adventurers seeking authentic local specialties. There are also outdoor cafes galore to pick from for great food and great people to match.

Many of the finer eateries can be found on Avenida Bonampak, while the restaurants in the Parque de las Palapas, just off Avenida Tulum, serve expertly prepared Mexican food. El Centro’s Avenida Yaxchilan is famous for its taco scene, and caters mainly to budget travelers. If fresh seafood is what one craves, one can head deeper

18 C-magazine April-June 2013

into the city center to find fresh fish and traditional fare. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll have plenty of time to eat there, as most restaurants in Cancun typically open for lunch around 2 p.m. and usually stay open until midnight.

Truly, one can find just about any type of eatery one wants in the Cancun area, from fast food to fine dining, with atmosphere and décor to match.

Furthermore, many of Cancun’s restaurants feature live music that, when combined with area ambiance, makes for a truly memorable dining experience.

As such, here are some options to help make your choice a bit easier.

Harry’s Prime Steakhouse and Raw Bar

Located next to the Nichupté Lagoon in the Cancun hotel zone, this eatery is easily one of the area’s top steakhouses.

Founded in 2007, Harry’s prides itself on its high quality offerings – for instance, its hot dogs and hamburgers are made from Kobe beef, which is world-renowned for its tenderness, well-marbled texture, and exquisite flavor. It provides an elegant ambiance with a chicly decorated dining room and waterfront terrace designed with local stone and wood, burnt orange marble, and lots of glass. As far as dining

options are concerned, one can pick from a delectable selection of various beef cuts, seafood, or choices from the raw bar. Steak options include New York strips, rib-eyes, and filets broiled in a 927°C (1,700°F) oven, while fish and seafood are grilled on a parilla, a style of grill used for cooking asado (barbecue), commonly found in Latin America. Other dishes blend Mexican and Asian flavors, for tastes such as lobster pozole, crab wontons with spicy plum sauce, and jasmine rice balls with tuna steak, which tickle the taste buds and wow the senses.

For those who enjoy a drink with dinner, the menu includes a selection of over 500 international and Mexican wines, as well as a handful of kosher wine selections from Israel and abroad.

La Destilería

If tequila is your drink of choice, then look no further than this distillery located on a relaxed lagoon side deck in Cancun. At La Destilería, one can taste over 150 brands of tequila, including some that never make it across the border. There is a tequila tour held daily between 1 and 5 p.m., but if you miss it you can still order tequila samples at your table, or have tequila in a tropical margarita that is to die for.

To soak up all that liquor, La Destilería

offers a unique menu of Mexican classics made with a twist, such as quesadillas with zucchini flower, cheese, and poblano pepper and arrachera beef fajitas served in a hot molcajete pot with chorizo, black beans, and avocado. This lively eatery features a mariachi band nightly, and is family friendly as well, with a children’s menu of fish, chicken and taco choices and a playroom to keep the little ones occupied well until after the music is done.

Celebrity

Open daily from 5 to 11 p.m., Celebrity offers fine dining with a menu filled with gourmet international offerings, particularly French cuisine. As such, its romantic ambiance makes it ideal for a romantic candle-lit dinner for two or an intimate gathering of special friends. All dishes can be enjoyed with a wine of choice, and are seasoned for a sophisticated palate.

Offerings include shellfish and lobster, and parking is available in the Casa Turquesa resort, where it is located.

Fred’s House Seafood Market & Grill

If one were to ask where to find fresh seafood in Cancun, Fred’s House Seafood Market & Grill would top the list. This standalone and casual seafood eatery is conveniently located in Cancun’s hotel zone, across from the J.W. Marriott Hotel.

Outside, it offers a spectacular view of the Nichupte Lagoon. Inside, the décor is an upscale nautical theme, and the portions are large. Best of all, it’s open late.

As far as the cuisine goes, one can see that it is fresh, as fresh seafood is prominently displayed at Fred’s on ice or in tanks. Fred’s always serves the freshest catch, cooked to order, and its menus are updated daily to reflect changes in season and seafood availability.

Favorites to order include shrimp soup, the Fred’s seafood platter, the Fred’s salad, and the Fred’s blackened fish tacos.

More adventurous types may want to try the octopus in coriander butter sauce, a chef’s specialty.

All entrees come with fresh baked rolls and uniquely flavored spreads, and of course, dessert is available. Apple pizzette, an apple dessert pizza at this restaurant is a must-try.

El Cejas

The seafood is fresh at this open-air eatery in Cancun, and the clientele is lively, as is the atmosphere, filled with song and dance provided by energetic musicians that often stroll the table. As far as the food

is concerned, it is not to be missed. The kitchen serves crab cooked any way you like it, and whole fried fish that is crispy on the outside and moist, tender and juicy on the inside. Other specialties include spicy shrimp, ceviche, and the renowned vuelva a la vida (return to life), a platter of conch, oysters, shrimp, octopus, calamari, and fish served with a hot tomato sauce. Best of all, this casual, no-frills eatery located in the Mercado 28 is easy on the wallet.

El Tacolote

This popular taqueria (taco stand) serves as a great place to stop for a quick lunch or a short bite after a night on the town. While tacos are an important part of the menu, it also sells everything Mexican: fajitas, grilled kebabs, stuffed chiles smothered with cheese, salsa, and beans, and burritos, all served with fresh, homemade salsa that is always spicy. Have an appetite? Then ask for the two-person parrillada platter, a hearty sampler of barbecued meat served with all the beer you can drink in one hour.

A mariachi band plays nightly at 8.

La Pasteleteria

Located on the Avenida Coba, near Wal-Mart, this cheerful bakery and café

provides patrons with comfortable equipales (rustic Mexican chairs) to sit, relax and enjoy as they dig into delicious soups, salads, pizzas, and the house specialty, crepes of all kinds, as well as sumptuous pastries baked fresh daily.

100% Natural

While vegetarian cuisine may not top the list when one thinks of Mexican food, vegetarians and vegans shouldn’t fret, as vegetarian eateries can be found in Cancun, 100% Natural among them. An open air eatery surrounded by plants and Mayan sculptures, 100% Natural offers a breakfast of signature omelets and a bebida inteligente (“intelligent drink”) that combines fruit juice with ginseng. The lunch menu offers vegetarian soups, salads, and pastas, and other vegetarian items such as sandwiches, soy burgers, and stuffed pitas all prepared with fresh-baked breads. Vegetarian Mexican and Italian specialties are also available. For those who have to have meat, 100% Natural does have a grilled chicken cooked fajita style. There’s also a neighboring shop that sells whole wheat bread and other natural and vegetarian items.

C-magazine April-June 2013 19

Travel the World

with Club Melia Options

T

ake a tour around the world with Club Melia Options, which allow owners to experience it all, without even having to use up the full value of their options (points).

Club Melia Options come with highly personalized service available from a Club Melia member services representative via phone or email. So don’t delay in taking your dream vacation of a lifetime with Club Melia, an international shared vacation membership club with properties located in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe. As stated previously, Club Meliá offers a points-based approach to ownership, with a wide range of options based on the membership point plan, or option plan purchased, and backed by the unit type purchased. Points or options are another aspect of Club Melia ownership that allows club members to use their membership flexibly, serving as tickets to a fantasy trip.

As a Club Melia member, how you use your options is up to you. Think of it as having Meliá currency in a savings account just for you, waiting for you to use it on the holiday of a lifetime. For this reason, Club Melia members can vacation at any Club home resorts, Resort and Urban collection resorts, or other Melia destinations through the Club Meliá Network. All they have to do is choose 20 C-magazine April-June 2013

a destination based on the amount of vacation options they have available, talk to a representative to set it up, and go.

Meliá Hotels International has 350 hotels in 35 countries on five different continents. As such, members can use their options to go anywhere they wish.

The following pages offer just a taste of all the exotic locales and sumptuous resorts one can visit with Club Melia Options.

Benidorm, Spain

Benidorm is a coastal town and Valencian community located by the western Mediterranean Sea. Once a small village, today Benidorm is world-famous for its luxurious hotels, gorgeous beaches, and sky-high skyscrapers. Due to this multitude of hotels and tall buildings, Benidorm has a unique skyline unlike any other on the Costa Blanca (White Coast) of Spain. As a matter of fact, Benidorm has the most high-rise buildings per capita in the world.

As such, it’s no wonder that Benidorm is popular with tourists from around the globe, particularly visitors hailing from the UK, Ireland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The area offers an exciting nightlife with a plethora of bars, clubs, and cabarets, all open well into the night. There

are also tapas eateries galore, spades of shopping destinations, and three major beaches to pick from: Playa de Poniente, Playa de Levante, and Platja del Mal Pas, all of which have been recognized by the European Union for maximum quality.

Annual events visitors can enjoy include an Indie music festival in July. Named the Benidorm Low Cost Festival, it is held every summer, and features national and international musicians.

For family fun, Benidorm boasts four theme parks: Terra Mítica and Terra Natura, located inland from the city, at the foot of a mountain, and Aqualandia and Mundomar, located on the outskirts of the city.

Where to stay:

Meliá Villaitana, situated on the Costa Blanca of Spain. Designed to mimic a Mediterranean village, Meliá Villaitana is located between two golf courses designed by Nicklaus Design, and offers spectacular views of the Gran Bahía on the Costa Blanca. Its 25 individual buildings and unique architectural style duplicate the region’s picturesque squares and historic streets. It is an ideal choice for both business and leisure travelers.

Marbella, Spain

Marbella is located in southern Spain, in Andalusia, which is part of the Costa del Sol region. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, between Málaga and the Gibraltar Strait, in the foothills of the Sierra Blanca.

It is the second most populous city in the province of Málaga and the eighth most populous in Andalusia, and serves as a popular international tourist attraction, due mainly to its temperate climate, important archaeological heritage, several museums and performance halls, and events throughout the year ranging from reggae concerts to opera performances.

Attractions include Old Town (Casco Antiguo), Ermita del Santo Cristo, Constitution Park, the Golden Mile of Nueva Andalucia, San Pedro de Alcántara, the district of Las Chapas, and beaches galore.

The old town of Marbella (Casco Antiguo) includes the ancient city walls and the two historical suburbs of the city, the Barrio Alto and the Barrio Nuevo. Architectural highlights inside the walls include the Plaza de los Naranjos, an example of Castilian Renaissance design; the town hall, built in Renaissance style in 1568 by the Catholic monarchs; the mayor’s house, which combines Gothic and Renaissance architecture with a Mudejar-style roof and interior fresco murals; and the Chapel of Santiago, the oldest religious building in Marbella, dating back from the 15th century. Other buildings of interest in Old Town are the Church of Santa María de la Encarnación, built in the Baroque style in 1618; the Casa del Roque, the remains of an Arabic castle and defensive walls; the Capilla de San Juan de Dios (Chapel of St. John of God), the Hospital Real de la Misericordia (Royal Hospital of Mercy), and the Hospital Bazán, which is now home to the Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engravings.

Next is the Ermita del Santo Cristo de la Vera Cruz (Hermitage of the Holy Christ of the True Cross), built in the 15th century and enlarged in the 18th century.

Constitution Park is a small botanical garden filled with fountains and a collection of 10 sculptures by surrealist Salvador Dalí located on the Avenida del Mar, which connects Old Town with the beach. It also houses an auditorium of the same name.

We then head to the Golden Mile of Nueva Andalucia, which is actually a stretch of four miles containing some of the most luxurious residences of the region, including the Palace of King Fahd, and some landmark area hotels.

Located in the heart of San Pedro de Alcántara are two industrial buildings dating from the 19th century: the Trapiche de Guadaiza and the sugar mill, which now contains the Ingenio Cultural Center. Of note are also two colonial-style buildings, the parish church and the Villa of San Luis, residence of the Marqués del Duero. Near San Pedro, at the mouth of the Guadalmina River, one will find some of the most significant archaeological sites in Marbella: the early Christian Basílica de Vega del Mar, the vaulted Roman baths of Las Bóvedas (the Domes), and the watch tower of Torre de Las Bóvedas. Nearby is the important archaeological site of Cerro Colorado, which contains an ancient town called Punic and an ancient Roman settlement.

Many important archaeological objects were found at this site.

In the district of Las Chapas one will find traces of the Phoenicians dating to the early 7th century BC. Bronze Age utensils of the Phoenician, Greek and indigenous Iberian people have been discovered here. A notable tourist attractions in this area is the Ciudad Residencial Tiempo Libre (Residential Leisure City).

For those who want to take a break from history, Marbella has 24 beaches to explore and enjoy. These include Artola beach, one of the few nudist beaches in Marbella; the popular beaches of Venus and La Fontanilla, and the award-winning Puerto Banús and San Pedro Alcántara beaches.

Where to stay:

The Hotel Gran Meliá Don Pepe, a luxury five-star hotel. Highlights include three restaurants serving Spanish cuisine, a private beach and elegant décor.

Bali, Indonesia

It’s no wonder Bali was once known as the famed Island of the Gods, with its spectacular landscape of rolling hills

and barren, volcanic mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, and lush rice terraces. Surfing and diving are prime activities here, as are a multitude of cultural, historical and archaeological attractions.

These include its multitude of Hindu temples, of which the nine directional temples are the largest and most prominent, being located at strategic areas in Bali to protect the island. They include Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Uluwatu Temple), located at the southern point of Bali; Tanah Lot, the “mother temple” of Besakih; Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, Pura Ulun Danu Batur, Pura Pasar Agung, Pura Lempuyang Luhur, Goa Lawah, Pura Masceti and Pura Luhur Batukaru.

As Bali is an island, beaches do abound, as do mangrove forests. Typically black sand is the norm at these beaches; however, there are some shorelines in the south that contain white sand, with the beaches in the north, particularly Jimbaran Bay, being the best for swimming. Away from the coast, rice paddies are the norm in Bali, with some taking the form of dramatically sculpted terraces that are beautiful to behold.

Other natural attractions in Bali include the island’s hot springs. Notable ones include Air Banjar and Toya Bungkah. Nature can also be observed while hiking in West Bali National Park, at the Butterfly Park (Taman Kupu Kupu), or at the Bali Botanical Gardens, where visitors can get a bird’s-eye view at the Bali Treetop Adventure Park.

Also beautiful to behold is the art of Bali, both traditional and modern. It can be found everywhere, particularly in Ubud, the island’s artistic capital. It offers several museums that mainly showcase the works of local artists, as well as some foreign ones. As far as sculptures are concerned, there are several commemorating the puputan (suicidal fight to the death) of the Balinese against the Dutch colonialists in the early 20th century.

C-magazine April-June 2013 21

Spa lovers will enjoy Bali for the plethora of spas and spa treatments available on the island. These include a Balinese lulur body scrub with herbs and spices, Balinese massage, a cream bath, which is a relaxing scalp and shoulder massage, and a fish spa, where small fish are used to nibble dead skin off of hands and feet. For further relaxation, Bali is home to many premier yoga and wellbeing centers, with classes and retreats to suit all levels.

For scuba diving and snorkeling, there are many interesting sites around Bali, such as the wreck of the USAT Liberty at Tulamben, the coral bommies in Padang Bai, the coral reefs around Menjangan Island, and drift diving off Nusa Penida. Surfing is a popular activity in Bali as well, with Kuta, Legian and Canggu, the Bukit Peninsula and Nusa Lembongan being the primary draws. One can go whitewater rafting in the Ubud area, particular during the wet season, and sport fishing is popular with visitors year-round, with charters available from many coastal areas.

For golfers, Bali offers five premier golf courses: Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club, the Bali Golf & Country Club, a nine-hole course at the Grand Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur, the Nirwana Bali Golf Club, and the New Kuta Golf Course.

If animals are your thing, there are plenty to see in Bali, at the Bali Zoo, at the Bali Bird Park, at the Taro Elephant Park, and at the Bali Marine and Safari Park.

Where to stay:

Melia Bali, located on the shores of Nusa Dua, Bali’s prestigious resort enclave. This beachfront resort occupies 24 acres of lush tropical gardens, with a massive lagoon swimming pool winding around the grounds.

It is located within walking distance of the Bali Collection, the island’s main shopping center, and to food and entertainment malls, a museum, the Bali International Convention Center and the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center. Best of all, it is conveniently located 11 km from the Ngurah Rai International Airport.

22 C-magazine April-June 2013

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island commonwealth of the United States of America. For Americans, this is ideal, as they can travel to Puerto Rico without a passport to see all the sites it has to offer.

These include Caja de Muertos, a protected, uninhabited island off the southern coast of Puerto Rico that is home to many sea turtles; the San Juan National Historic Site, which includes the San Cristóbal, San Felipe del Morro, and San Juan de la Cruz forts; Mona Island, a secluded isle that is home to many flora and fauna, and can be seen by appointment; and the Rio Camuy Caverns.

A must-see is the El Yunque National Forest, the largest remaining tract of tropical dry coastal forest in the world, designated an international Biosphere Reserve in 1981. It spreads out over a mountain, and offers numerous varieties of plant and animal life, including indigenous wildlife like the endangered Puerto Rican parrot and the local Coqui tree frog. The rainforest offers many hiking trails to the Yokahu tower, a great place to see the forest from above.

Additionally, there are also two trails that lead to the La Mina waterfalls, where one can swim in cold refreshing water. Then there are the bioluminescent bays near Fajardo and in Vieques, which are also not to be missed.

Microscopic organisms in the water make the bays glow like fire. Taking a kayak or boat tour during the new moon is the best way to see them, as they are difficult to see during a full moon, and impossible to see in full sunlight.

The biolumicescent bay in Lajas is one of the most popular, as it has many kiosks and restaurants there for visitors to enjoy, as well as boat tours.

As far as things to do, Puerto Rico offers plenty, from surfing to golfing to sunbathing, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving, horseback riding and windsurfing and parasailing, to name a few. In metropolitan San Juan, there are many luxury hotels with casinos like Las Vegas, and bars and nightclubs galore. For those who like to drink, visiting the Bacardi factory might be

a fun respite. Visitors can take a tour of the facility and learn about the history of the rum and how it is made, as well as how the company’s famous logo came to be. Finish off the day with a complimentary drink at the factory bar, and sample a unique flavor you may not find elsewhere.

The Bacardi factory is only a short drive from Old San Juan, the Spanish colonial district of San Juan. It contains many popular tourist sites, fountains, plazas, and pretty architecture that is both colorful and unique.

As far as cuisine is concerned, Puerto Rico has plenty, with the most diverse culinary offerings in the entire Caribbean, from American to Puerto Rican to everything in between.

Where to stay:

Gran Melia Puerto Rico, an award-winning resort located on Coco Beach, Rio Grande, a lush peninsula 19 miles from San Juan.

Situated against the backdrop of El Yunque rainforest, Gran Meliá Puerto Rico offers an oceanfront landscape of gardens, pathways and pools, championship golf on two adjacent courses, and tennis at a multi-court tennis center. Visitors can also indulge in the renowned YHI Spa. Whatever your desire, you can depend on Gran Melia’s top-notch RedGlove Service to make it happen.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Located along the coast of the Caribbean Sea, Playa del Carmen, with its powder white sand, lush palms, and beautiful turquoise waters, is a popular tourist destination in eastern Mexico. Playa del Carmen is located within the Riviera Maya, which runs from Cancun to Tulum and the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve. Playa, as it is fondly nicknamed, serves as a stop for several cruise ships. While in the area, tourists from those ships often visit the Xcaret Eco Park, a Mexicanthemed so-called “eco-archaeological park.”

Tourist activity is also heavy on Avenida Quinta, or Fifth Avenue, which is filled with hundreds of shops, bars and restaurants, as well as many small boutique hotels.

Originally founded as a small fishing town, Playa del Carmen grew to become a tourist mecca with the advent of passenger ferry service to Cozumel. As such, the area has undergone rapid development recently, with the construction of many luxury condominium buildings, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues, with plans underway to develop six luxury hotels and several internationally-recognized chain restaurants, in addition to a small upscale shopping plaza offering designer boutiques, a movie theater, luxury condominiums, and the first House of Blues entertainment venue outside the U.S. All of this development will be located in Avenida Quinta, a street slated to become a cultural and economic center for the Yucatan peninsula. Currently it is Playa’s hub for nightlife, with a plethora of bars and clubs to pick from, all of which serve tequila, Mexico’s national spirit.

While it’s no longer a small village, despite its growth Playa remains a tranquil beach town at its core. As such, it offers several beaches popular with families and hipsters alike, for relaxing in the sand and frolicking in the water. For those who enjoy a deeper glimpse of the underwater world, scuba diving and snorkeling in cenotes, or underwater caves, is incredibly popular, as is boating and fishing at the Puerto

Aventuras marina. Horseback riding on the beach through Rancho Punta Venado is another sought-after activity.

outdoor fitness gymnasium, a tennis court, a basketball court, a volleyball court and a children’s play zone.

Most of the city’s famed resorts and allinclusive hotels are located in Playacar, located just south of the main metropolitan area. There is also an aviary housing many indigenous and tropical birds there, and a golf course.

Where to stay:

Unlike the rest of Mexico, Playa del Carmen contains significant Canadian, European and Argentinian influence, with large numbers of expatriates from those countries calling the region home. For this reason, the cuisine is as international as the company, with eateries offering everything from Argentinean beef to Asian noodles. Playa also sees many visitors from these countries, along with thousands of backpackers from around the world, many of whom likely relish the fact that Playa del Carmen is very pedestrian friendly. Currently under construction, a 4 km foot and bicycle path will run the length of the town along 10th Avenue in Centro, in addition to two foot and bicycle paths that will connect two commercial corridors in the area. Playa city officials have also completed several urban spaces designed for outdoor activities.

These includes two junior skate parks, an

A stunning private bay is home to the lush, tropical Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda. This luxury resort in the Riviera Maya combines a spectacular Caribbean setting with topnotch facilities, including Family Concierge, YHI spa treatments, and modern meeting spaces designed to be flexible and filled with up-to-the-minute technology. Members get all of this, plus opportunities for spectacular day excursions that include diving and touring the iconic Mayan pyramids.

Best of all, Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda is only a short, 45-minute drive from Cancun International Airport and close to archeological treasures like Tulum, Chichén Itzá and Cobá. For those who enjoy culinary adventures, Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda offers amazing international cuisine from 14 restaurants and 11 bars.

Located alongside the water and surrounded by the protected mangroves, Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda is unlike anything you may have experienced before.

C-magazine April-June 2013 23

Club Melia Membership

offers a Multitude of Travel Choices

I

n today’s shared ownership marketplace there are several choices available, one of which is membership in a vacation club, a term that denotes a company or related group of resorts offering consumers vacation accommodations in multiple locations. Club Melia is one such club. To find out more about how a membership at Club Melia works, read below.

Vacation Club Explained

When a consumer purchases an interest or membership in a vacation club, this membership is either deeded or undeeded. In a deeded membership, the member has priority right of use at a “home” resort. However, even if the vacation club membership is not deeded, the member could still have a home resort, or could have a membership in the club that allows him or her to use any of the club’s resorts. Club Melia is one such club that allows highly flexible use of its multitude of resorts, through points, or in Club Melia’s case, Options.

Club Melia Options

Club Meliá is an international shared vacation membership club with properties located in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe. As stated above, 24 C-magazine April-June 2013

Club Meliá offers a points-based approach to ownership, with a wide range of options based on the membership point plan, or option plan purchased, and backed by the unit type purchased. Points or options are another aspect of Club Melia ownership that allows club members to use their membership flexibly. Options serve as a numeric representation of the use value of the shared ownership interest purchased.

Essentially, options are like tickets to a dream vacation.

of options based on accommodation plus destination points. The larger and more numerous the options, the more days and larger accommodations members can enjoy, with a new allotment of options given each year.

The value of these options depends on a number of factors, namely where the unit was purchased, the type of unit that was purchased, the time of year the member likes to travel, and whether the member purchased an annual or biennial membership product. If an annual membership product was purchased, the options associated with it can be used every year. If the member purchased a biennial product, the member can use the options associated with it every other year.

Plan a Trip

Using a Club Melia Options Membership

To start, members choose an option plan that is tailored to their vacation lifestyle. The unit type interest represents an allotment

As a Club Melia member, how you use your options is up to you. Think of it as having Meliá currency in a savings account just for you, waiting for you to use it on the vacation of a lifetime.

Club Melia members can vacation at any home resorts, Meliá resorts, or other Melia destinations through the Club Meliá Network. All they have to do is choose a destination based on the amount of vacation options they have available.

The number of vacations one can take in a year or where one can go is based on the number of options one has with the membership purchased. Larger accommodations and certain destinations require more options, and season does play a role. So the more a member travels, the more options that member will need.

For example, let’s say you purchased your membership in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, but

you want to go somewhere else for your next vacation. Perhaps you want to take your family to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, or to the beaches of Cancun or Playa del Carmen in Mexico. Or perhaps you want to celebrate your wedding anniversary or a birthday in Tenerife, or while touring Old San Juan in Puerto Rico. With Club Melia options, members can do all of the above.

Meliá Hotels International has 350 hotels in 35 countries on five different continents.

As such, members can use their options to go anywhere they choose, such as Rome, London, Paris or Buenos Aires, or Jakarta, Indonesia. Or members can choose to use their options to explore some of Meliá’s new hotel offerings in Dubai, Atlanta, or Orlando.

With Club Meliá options, members can visit any Meliá Hotels International brand property in any country, including Gran Meliá, Meliá, Paradisus all-inclusive, ME By Meliá, INNSIDE By Meliá, TRYP Hotels, or Sol Hoteles, to name a few.

Furthermore, when using Club Melia Options to travel around the world, members don’t have to use the full value of their options on one trip; rather, they can save some for later, for when their vacation needs change.

Flexibility and Choice

With membership in the Club Meliá network, members can plan ahead to increase their buying power for additional destinations and days. To that end, Club Meliá Members have the flexibility to save their vacation time from one year to the next, rolling over their options from year to year, allowing for an even bigger and better vacation next time. Conversely, Club Melia members can

borrow options from future vacation years, divide their vacation time into a shorter getaway or nightly stays, or exchange their options with network partners for airfare, car rental, and cruises. They can use their options at any Meliá Hotels International, or exchange their options via RCI to stay at an RCI-affiliated resort. Regardless of what is picked, vacation possibilities with Club Melia are truly endless.

Personalized Service

What’s better than using Club Melia options to travel around the globe is the highly personalized service that comes from a Club Meliá member services representative via phone call or email. To contact your personal Club Melia member services representative, reference Club Melia’s Quick Connections chart to contact a Club

Meliá member services office, depending on geographic location.

To find out what options you have to use, start by reviewing the option valuation charts for home resorts and for the resort and urban collection, which can be found at www.myclubmelia.com.

About Club Melia

Club Meliá was founded in 2004 when it opened its corporate offices in Orlando, Florida, with just three properties. By 2006, the company had 15 international member resort locations. Today, Club Meliá and the Leisure Real Estate division are part of Spain-based Meliá Hotels International, a 55-year-old international hospitality company with more than 350 hotels in over 35 countries on five continents.

Club Melia locations include Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico; Rio Grande in Puerto Rico; Punta Cana in Dominican Republic; the Panama Canal in Panama; and the Canary Islands in Spain.

Important features of these resorts include spacious multi-bedroom accommodations with separate living rooms, dining and kitchen areas, outdoor patios, hot tubs, Internet access, and plasma TV with satellite and DVD player; 13 home resorts in high-demand locations; in-room and on-property amenities and services, which include daily housekeeping, room service, on-site gourmet restaurants, golf, spa facilities, full-service casinos, and organized activities for children and adults.

For more information, please visit the Club Melia website at www.myclubmelia.com.

C-magazine April-June 2013 25

Unlock the Full Potential

of Vacation Ownership with RCI’s Vacation Exchange Program

M

embership with a vacation exchange company like RCI adds value to your vacation ownership.

It allows you the flexibility to discover new places by exchanging your timeshare at your home resort for a similar unit at another timeshare property elsewhere within RCI’s network of affiliated resorts.

To unlock the full potential of your vacation ownership, here are four keys to making the best use of a vacation exchange membership:

Key 1: Open up a World of Options

You can have the world at your fingertips if you choose a membership with RCI. With over 4,000 affiliated resorts in 100 countries to choose from, RCI is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange.

The timeshare exchange model is perfect for the owner who relishes in experiencing new and exotic destinations while knowing the resort experience and standard of quality will remain the same no matter the destination. RCI understands this and works diligently to cater to its members’ constant thirst for adventure. Since its inception, RCI has continuously added quality resorts to its portfolio of properties and looks for ways to improve the member experience. In fact, it added more than 100 new properties to 26 C-magazine April-June 2013

its portfolio of affiliated resorts in the past year alone.

Key 2: Know Your Worth

Knowledge is power and RCI has empowered members to better understand the value of their timeshare.

As a member of RCI, you are provided access to the Trading Power value of your timeshare. Trading Power is calculated using data such as the seasonality of your vacation ownership, the demand for that time period, and the size and type of the accommodation.

With this information, you have the flexibility to use your deposit credits as you wish: exchange for a property of equal value, exchange for a property of lesser value and receive a credit for future transactions, or deposit multiple vacation ownership weeks to exchange into a property of higher value. With these new options, a new world of vacation possibilities is opened up to you.

Key 3: Make Use of Membership Benefits Beyond Exchange

Along with the flexibility to exchange timeshare, RCI offers members additional flexibility to enjoy supplementary vacations throughout the year.

First, RCI offers members Extra Vacations

getaways. Since one week is not always enough, Extra Vacations getaways offer you the opportunity to book additional weeklong vacations at RCI-affiliated resorts.

The upside: You are getting spacious, resort-style benefits and amenities for a great price. And since there is no limit to the number of Extra Vacations getaways you can take, you can book regardless of whether or not you have a week available to exchange. You can even add a Guest Certificate and give an Extra Vacations getaway as a gift.

Last Call vacations are another option for members who are not looking to deposit an exchange week. Members can pay cash for clearance-priced vacations at the same great RCI-affiliated resorts offered to members through RCI Exchange or Extra Vacations getaways. These typically become available less than six weeks before check-in and offer you the same resort-style amenities for a great price.

Online prices for Last Call vacations range from $244-$294 per week.

Looking to expand your vacation horizons even further? As a member of RCI, you also have access to RCI cruise and resort vacations packages. These packages offer the best of both worlds, enabling you to book with popular cruise lines, while giving

Vacation Exchange 101

According to VacationBetter.org, an informational resource from The American Resort Development Association (ARDA), there are several ‘insider tips’ that can help you better understand your vacation exchange membership to get you on the vacation of your dreams. Here are the site’s suggestions for getting the most out of your vacation exchange: • Focus on the vacation experience—as well as the destination— when exchanging. you access to some of the best resorts in the world. You can either choose to exchange your vacation ownership toward the purchase of a cruise vacation or purchase Cruise Extra Vacations getaways at RCI member-only special rates.

destination. But with passionate RCI guides located at call centers around the world, it is easy to speak with an agent for advice on booking. RCI also provides members with services, including arranging flights, car rental, insurance and much more.

• Think “what” before “where.” With so many resorts in so many places and units and destinations not always available at all times, think about activities and experiences you would enjoy during your vacation.

These options not only come with a best rate guarantee to ensure that members are getting the best prices, but RCI membership also provides you with several additional travel discounts!

With all of these benefits, it’s easy to see how an RCI membership helps unlock the endless opportunities your timeshare can offer you! For more information, contact Club Meliá Network and ask your vacation guide or visit RCI.com.

• Allow vacation exchange representatives to assist you in finding the perfect destination.

Key 4: Entrust Your Vacation to Experienced Professionals

RCI membership not only offers flexibility and an abundance of choices, but also the experience of nearly 40 years of sending people on the vacations of their dreams. With a minimum of 35,000 weeks of holidays available worldwide at any given time, it’s sometimes hard for members to pick their next vacation

• Advance planning pays off. Place your request as far as possible in advance of the dates you want to travel to maximize your chances of securing the vacation of your dreams.

• Be as flexible as possible when requesting travel dates and resort locations. Listing several options enhances your chance for a timely confirmation.

• Consider a trip in the off-season or visit a lesser known destination that offers a similar vacation experience.

• Remember that resorts may have more small units than large ones. If you are willing to accept a unit that accommodates the number of people traveling, regardless of the size of the unit you are relinquishing, you enhance your exchange opportunities.

C-magazine April-June 2013 27