History of RCI

For more than 45 years, RCI has led and shaped the vacation exchange industry. Here are some of the milestones in RCI’s four-decade history that helped lay the foundation for the industry’s success today — and into the future.

1970s

RCI pioneers the vacation exchange concept and revolutionizes timeshare.

 

1974

RCI, then Resort Condominiums International, Inc., is established with its first office, in Indianapolis; facilitates exchanges among 453 RCI members.

 

1975

The first resort directory is published, and first member newsletter released; 236 exchanges confirmed.

 

1976
RCI opens its first office outside the United States, in Mexico. undefined

 

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1977

The London office opens; Endless Vacation ® magazine debuts.

1980s

The popularity of vacation exchange spurs global expansion for RCI. The company opens offices in Argentina, Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Monaco, Portugal and South Africa.

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1983

RCI makes the “Inc. 500” list of fastest-growing privately owned U.S. businesses.

 

1985

RCI welcomes its 1,000th affiliated resort; RCI Perspective (now RCI Ventures® m agazine), a magazine for the timeshare industry, is launched.

 

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1986

RCI Europe launches a member magazine, Holiday.

 

 

1987

RCI confirms more than 300,000 exchanges.

 

1989

RCI surpasses 1,000,000 subscribing member families; RCI Mexico launches a member magazine, Vacaciones sin Límite.

1990s

RCI sets the standard for quality in vacation exchange.

 

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   1991

   The RCI® Resort Recognition Program is established.

 

 

1994

RCI celebrates its 20th anniversary and has 3,400 employees in 54 offices in 26 countries.


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1996

RCI.com is launched; HFS, eventually renamed Cendant, purchases RCI.

 

 

1998

Christel DeHaan, co-founder of RCI, establishes Christel House® , which becomes RCI’s charity of choice.

 

1999

RCI moves its world headquarters to Parsippany, New Jersey; confirms more than 2,700,000 exchanges and sends an estimated 7,500,000 people on vacation.

2000s

RCI revolutionizes vacation ownership again with first-to-market programs and innovations.

 

2000

The RCI Points® program , the first global points-based exchange program, is launched.

 

2002

RCI launches the world’s first luxury exchange program, undefined
now called The Registry Collection® exchange program.

 

2004

RCI celebrates 30 years of great vacations with 3,000,000 RCI® subscribing members.

 

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2008

RCI unveils its first “green” Directory of Affiliated Resorts and recognizes affiliated resorts that utilize sustainable practices; introduces enhanced online search capabilities and welcomes its 4,000th affiliated resort.

 

 

 

2009

RCI TV® is launched—the first online video network of its kind in the industry. undefined

2010s

 

2010

RCI is the first in the industry to unveil Trading Power transparency , transforming vacation exchange for RCI Weeks® members.

 

RCI delivers a new level of benefits through the RCI Platinum® membership tier.

 

The RCI mobile app makes its debut.

 

The RCI® V-Trends SM tool—the first of its kind in the industry—is launched, enabling subscribing members to track their vacations in near real time.

 

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RCI launches a full-blown social media presence to generate positive chatter about the vacation ownership industry.

 

 

2011

RCI is the first in the industry to introduce a vacation-recommendation feature on its website that enhances the vacation-search experience on RCI.com.

 

RCI launches the  Endless Vacation ® magazine app for  iPad®.

 

RCI brings RCI® Presenter SM , an exciting touchscreen tool, into resort salesrooms to help enhance and energise the conversation about exchange.

 

2012

The Registry Collection®  exchange program celebrates its 10th anniversary.

 

A mobile version of RCI.com is launched. undefined

 

RCI surpasses 1,000,000 views on YouTube.

 

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 The first online monitoring solution to be tailored specifically to the vacation exchange industry is launched:   RCI Timeshare Online Listening Center® (TOLC).

 

RCI launches the RCI® Affiliate mobile app.

 

RCI launches RCI® Online Tour Generation program to help drive qualified tours to RCI-affiliated resorts.

 

2013

RCI Ventures® magazine relaunches.

 

The RCI Facebook page surpasses a quarter-million “Likes”.

 

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2014

RCI celebrates its 40th anniversary and the future of the timeshare industry.

 

2015

The RCI LiveStream® platform launches, becoming the first visual remote selling system for the timeshare industry.

 

RCI adds an integrated digital version of the RCI® Directory of Affiliated Resorts for iPad® to the Endless Vacation® magazine app.

  

2016

RCI launches a new communications platform for its members, allowing faster transaction confirmations and more personalised messaging.

 

RCI expands the RCI Platinum® membership program to offer even more premium-tier benefits.

 

The RCI Resort Recognition Program celebrates undefined
its 25 th anniversary.

 

RCI becomes the first timeshare exchange company to offer travel options to Cuba .

 

undefined RCI celebrates its 10 th consecutive year as title sponsor of the annual  RCI ®  Christel House Open International Charity Golf Tournament .