RCI-India To Expand Into Sri Lanka

Reema Sisodia - Mumbai

RCI, the global provider of leisure travel services and time-share exchange, has identified growth opportunities for its India operations division, RCI (India). The company has announced its plans to strengthen its base in Sri Lanka. The company plans to work in co-relation with the Sri Lankan Tourism Board in order to spur its expansions in the island country. At present RCI has one resort property based in the southern region of Sri Lanka called Hambantota.

Apart from its international interests, tapping newer destinations within India and thereby extending its presence in the already established Indian regions, is also part of the company's plans. RCI India recently added a new hotel to its portfolio in Nainital called Sherwani Hilltop which is a heritage property. It plans to add another one to its compendium, this time in Cannanore, Kerala. It is also looking at tie-ups with wildlife resorts in Madhya Pradesh. Vizag is yet another area of interest, in which the company looking forward to establish its presence.

Radhika Shastry, general manager, India Operations, RCI, said, "We are moving from enabling exchanges to enhancing experiences. We have also registered a 20 per cent growth in our memberships for the present year. The regions that we would be keen to look into are considered, based on our client demands and requirements. In India, we have just added two new destinations under our toll free network, namely Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu."

RCI (India) also aims to attract more service apartment developers and owners to get into the business of time share. Initially, Mumbai and Bangalore are the two regions that have been identified by the company. Adds Shastry, "It is possible to marry this business to time share. We are in talks with real estate developers in Bangalore."

RCI has also started offering rental deals across international cites where time share and accommodation is scarce. Rental deals for their members in places such as Sydney, Cairns, Singapore, Rome, London, Paris have already been activated. "We intend to add a lot more value to the RCI membership card,” says Shastry.