Five Decades Strong: RCI’s Unmatched Impact on Exchange
How One Global Player Is Redefining Fulfillment and Quality
Vacation exchange is a cornerstone of the timeshare experience—but for many owners, the promise of flexibility can feel elusive. In an industry where complexity often overshadows convenience, one metric matters most: the ability to actually use the exchange. Owners want confidence that their vacation options are real, accessible, and backed by service they can trust. Developers, meanwhile, need a partner whose scale and reliability strengthen portfolios and drive growth.
One exchange network makes it not just possible – but a driver of lasting value. RCI has established itself as the dominant global leader, leveraging unparalleled scale and strategic affiliations. With the advantage of sheer critical mass, its vast network, spanning North America and global destinations, directly correlates to an ability to fulfill exchanges.
The documented performance gap tells the story: historically, 140% more exchanges fulfilled than the closest competitor, according to legally required disclosure guides. For resort operators, those numbers translate into sales tools prospects respond to and retention rates that protect revenue. For owners, this scale means actual availability when and where they want to travel. For developers and operators, high-volume fulfillment isn’t just a selling point but a business necessity that impacts both sales conversions and renewal rates.
Quality Maintained Through Strategic Growth & Personal Service
Smart growth continues through partnerships customers actually want like the innovative Sports Illustrated Resorts Club affiliation and long-term Hilton Grand Vacations partnership. RCI is dedicated to evolving and expanding its high-quality offerings tailored to the diverse needs of its membership base.
Crucially, this focus on quality extends to customer service, where RCI adopts a distinctly hands-on approach. This commitment to maintaining an in-house service team—trained to be expert in every facet of the network and operations—is positioned as a foundational pillar of its industry-leading customer experience.
Nathan Harman, VP of Operations at RCI, emphasizes this commitment, stating:
“Our members deserve an experience that is seamless, efficient, and rooted in deep expertise. That’s why we invest heavily in our in-house teams; we believe the human connection, backed by our knowledge of the entire network, is essential to delivering The Quality Leader experience.”
Value Driven by Transparency & Understanding
RCI built trust by being the only major exchange platform to publish full disclosure on Trading Power. Owners see exactly what their inventory is worth before exchanging, making informed decisions confidently. That transparency keeps them engaged and actively using benefits.
Tools like flash sales and booking promotions maximize usage. RCI Points, celebrating its 25th anniversary as the world’s largest points-based club, transformed how owners use their weeks – split trips, extended stays and spontaneous getaways replace rigid annual visits.
For resorts, this flexibility turns hesitant prospects into confident buyers and reduces owner exits.
Endless Commitment to Partnership
In 1974, RCI Co-Founder Christel DeHaan understood travel exchanging succeeds through the emotional side of the business – genuine human connections rather than just transactions or technology.
Since the start, RCI field representatives built relationship-driven connections. That engagement created a ripple effect – resort teams felt supported and valued, translating into how they treated owners. Those field representatives continue as RCI’s Business Development team, backed by resources supporting sales and retention goals.
“We don’t view our resorts as mere entries in a database; they are our partners,” said Amy Lipka, SVP of Business Development at RCI. “Our goal is to provide custom solutions that directly impact their owner satisfaction and their business growth.”
RCI’s dedication to affiliated resorts is powered by a passionate Business Development team committed to understanding each resort’s unique needs. Whether a single-site HOA or multi-site global developer, the partnership is rooted in collaborative problem-solving. The commitment goes beyond providing an exchange platform – offering insights and tools that help resorts manage inventory, drive successful sales and upgrades, and deliver maximum value to owners.
Looking Ahead: Innovation Anchored in Trust
The future of vacation exchange will continue to demand even greater agility and insight. RCI is already leading that charge, investing in partnerships that enhances fulfillment while preserving the human touch that has defined its brand for decades. For resorts, this means a partner that anticipates challenges and delivers solutions. For owners, it means confidence that every exchange opportunity is backed by the industry’s most trusted name.
In an era where choice matters more than ever, RCI stands as the benchmark for fulfillment, quality, and partnership—today and for the years ahead.
