R C I ’ S WO R L DW I D E P O I N T O F V I E W
Asia
Projected population growth
$6.6 billion
Asia versus Americas and Europe
Potential timeshare sales volume in China, per a study RCI conducted with Ragatz Associates in 2010
5.5 billion ASIA
Europe
$1.57 billion
AMERICAS
IN DEPTH
total sales of shared vacation ownership in Europe
EUROPE
134,500
2000
2050
people employed in the shared vacation ownership industry
Asia: One big investment There are infinite reasons to invest in Asia, but for RCI and its
markets, China is among those
opposite for all the countries
affiliated resorts it boils down
expanding fastest. In the past
served by and languages offered
to one inescapable fact: the
few years, RCI has increased its
on RCI.com), hired local vacation
population is skyrocketing. By
destination footprint in China
guides and built a team of
2050, 5.5 billion people will live
significantly, boosting the total
employees of diverse cultural
on the world’s largest continent.
number of affiliates to 27, and
backgrounds and nationalities.
But it’s fair to wonder whether
the RCI member base has grown
It’s a philosophy that has worked
this population will grow to suit
an average of 15 per cent year
extremely well in the past, and
the industry’s products. The
on year. And RCI will continue
we expect to do even better in
short answer, we believe, is yes.
to invest in shaping the future
the future.
A large middle class equals a
of timeshare in this market,
large market for vacation owners,
in terms of resources, PR and
Europe revisited
and Asia promises to provide
government-relations efforts.
The Old Continent has been and
just that: in 2009, 23 per cent of
The ‘emerging’ markets are
always will be a tremendously
the global middle class’s spend
equally exciting. Take Vietnam.
popular travel destination. Of
was by the Asian market; by
RCI’s first resort affiliation there
the world’s 10 most visited
2030 that number will jump to a
was established three years ago;
countries, six are in Europe,
remarkable 59 per cent. And RCI
today there are three affiliated
can help affiliated resorts tap it.
resort groups with properties
RCI has been in the Asian
in five destinations across the
market for more than three decades and views it as having
country. From its first days in Asia,
Asia... By 2050, 5.5 billion people will live on the world’s largest continent.
according to a July 2012 report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). And when the 2012 Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice Awards named
three categories: established,
RCI has stood by the same
growing and emerging. Some
philosophy: stay true to the
of the newer resorts in the
RCI brand’s core values while
‘established’ market are located
adapting to local demands and
in Thailand, Malaysia and
needs. RCI is embracing different
Europe will continue to be a
Indonesia. Of the ‘growing’
languages (see the chart
critical market for developers
12 Q 1 /Q 2 2 01 3
the top 10 best destinations in the world, seven were located in – that’s right – Europe. It’s no surprise, then, that