Our Culture
has grown dramatically since its founding more than 35 years ago, becoming a global leader in the vacation exchange industry. And while many things have changed, the values we consider the heart and soul of the company have remained intact since our first office opened in Virginia, USA in 1974.
These guiding principles remain the key to our success:
- Act with integrity
- Respect everyone, everywhere
- Provide individual opportunity and accountability
- Improve our customers’ lives
- Support our communities
Our guiding principles as a good corporate citizen include initiatives that preserve the environment, support local communities through fundraising and volunteerism and contribute to regional causes throughout the world.
GOING GREEN 
In 2008, RCI launched a green initiative to address the impact of its business practices on sustaining, improving, and preserving the environment today and for future generations. Among RCI’s recent green efforts:
. The company’s 2008 and 2009 RCI Directory of Affiliated Resorts, and all Endless
Vacation Magazine issues were printed on environmentally friendly Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper.
. To conserve paper use whenever possible, RCI now uses e-mail instead of print
versions of notifications and confirmations to its members.
. In our offices, we’re moving toward using only recycled paper; we’ve replaced foam plates, cups, and trays from company cafeterias and coffee rooms with like items made from recycled materials; we’ve removed printers from the majority of employee offices, encouraging less printing and more use of documents stored on computers; and we’ve made energy-saving improvements to our buildings, such as installing new higher efficiency lighting, appliances, heating and cooling systems, and faucets.
CHRISTEL HOUSE 
RCI strongly believes in the mission of Christel House, which is the organization’s charity of choice. Established in 1998 by RCI co-founder Christel DeHaan, Christel House International is a public charity with a mission to help impoverished children around the world break the cycle of poverty. Christel House works with 2,700 underprivileged children, providing health care, opportunities for education, counseling, positive role models, job placement assistance, and community outreach programs.
RCI associates help Christel House pursue its mission through fundraisers, employee donations, and by volunteerism. New events to benefit the charity are added to the corporate calendar on a regular basis. In 2009, more than $300,000 was raised and donated to Christel House on behalf of RCI and its associates, and countless hours were devoted by staff to the cause.
To learn more about Christel House International, please visit www.ChristelHouse.org.
Other charities benefiting from RCI…
Other charities supported by RCI include The American Cancer Society; The Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA); Red Cross South Africa; The Orlando Homeless Shelter for Women; The Salvation Army; Beyond the Moon in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands; Heart Research U.K.; Wooden Spoon in the U.K. and Ireland; and many more.
RECOGNITION
As RCI’s continues to meet or exceed the needs of affiliates and members, our efforts were noticed. Our leadership in the industry resulted in many accolades in 2009. Here is some of the most notable recognition:
RCI honored as American Resort and Development Association’s (ARDA) 2009 Employer of the Year. The ARDA awards honor those who have attained the highest level of excellence in their fields, or have demonstrated a commitment to the betterment of the industry as a whole. The Employer of the Year award recognized RCI’s efforts to help its associates develop and grow their personal and professional experiences in rewarding careers with the business. The award highlighted RCI’s “CATALYST” program which focuses on identifying, developing and retaining the best possible leadership talent available by combining innovative techniques to keep the energy high and the leadership learning impactful.
RCI placed in the top of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Best Places to Work in Indiana. The awards are presented to those Hoosier companies that have built strong workplace environments and atmospheres that value and reward employees. The honorees are determined though employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys. The program is managed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and presented in partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The Best Companies Group handles the selection process.
RCI placed in the top of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Best Places to Work in Mexico. The main objectives of the rankings from the Great Place to Work® Institute of Mexico are to facilitate knowledge management and sharing of experiences among all organizations. Participation in the rankings is to help measure and improve the workplace. Determining a great place to work is based on assessing employees trust in the people they work for, the pride they have in what they do, and whether they enjoy the people they work with. Assessment is made through the use of employee surveys.
Gordon Gurnik, President, RCI North America, recognized by Lodging Magazine as an “Innovator” for “easing the vacation exchange process.” Said Lodging Magazine, “Gordon Gurnik has been at the helm of several projects in the last 10 years that have helped change the paradigm of the (vacation-exchange) industry. Innovations such as RCI’s points-based exchange program and inventory valuation system have helped make the vacation exchange market flexible and able to grow.”
RCI Pacific recognized as the 2009 Innovative Employer of the Year by One Step Further, an Australia-based hospitality and tourism institute. The honor was given in recognition of the company’s commitment to providing a supportive and engaging workplace and for providing employee development opportunities. In addition to receiving the company award, a number of RCI staff members received personal recognition. Of the 180 graduates from the timeshare industry, 20 were RCI staff members who assembled to receive their recently completed qualifications in Certificate III or Diploma in Tourism.
RCI’s parent company named to Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list. There is probably no greater praise a company can receive than having the respect of colleagues and competitors. Wyndham Worldwide, parent of RCI, received high marks in several categories that led the company to be listed by Fortune as one of the most admired. These include: Innovation, People Management, Use of corporate assets, Social responsibility, Quality of management, Financial soundness, Long-term investment, and Quality of products and services.
The Registry Collection program wins prestigious Overseas Property Professional (OPP) industry award in the Best Fractional Service category. The feedback from the judges on The Registry Collection was: “The size, scale and expertise of this international company protects the buyer and its growing specialist knowledge creates value for a wide variety of developers.”
OUR TEAM
No business can claim preeminence in an industry without the backing of its people, and RCI prides itself on employing the most talented, engaged and service-oriented associates in the business.
With approximately 3,700 employees working out of 37 offices in 24 countries, RCI hires people with both integrity and passion. Ultimately, associates develop into experts not only on our own business, but on our clients’ businesses and needs. He or she then utilizes those inherent skills to find unique and innovative ways to add value to projects and operations. RCI succeeds only when its clients do. Associates know that, and so they are compelled to work to deliver the products and services that help our clients to grow their business and keep our members satisfied.
Our leaders are specialists in their fields, offering a combined two centuries of experience within the leisure real estate industry. RCI’s commitment to quality and service is clearly shown through our dedicated executive leadership team, who strive to lead the industry forward each and every day.