History of RCI

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

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

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®), a magazine for the timeshare industry, is launched

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

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

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

RCI Points®, the first global points-based exchange program, is launched 2002 RCI launches the world’s first luxury exchange program, now called The Registry Collection®, the first global points-based exchange program, is launched

2002

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

2004

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

2008

RCI unveils its first “green” Directory of Affiliated Resorts and recognizes affiliated resorts that have sustainability 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

Today

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

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 energize the conversation about exchange

2012

The Registry Collection® exchange program celebrates its 10th anniversary

A mobile version of RCI.com is launched

RCI surpasses 1,000,000 views on YouTube

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”

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 personalized messaging.

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

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

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

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