30/07/10, 05:42:23 EDT

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Group RCI Announces Strategic Alliance With LeisureLink

money.cnn.com

Deal Will Expand Online Presence and Visibility of Vacation Rental Properties

Group RCI, one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies, and a global leader in leisure real estate, today announced a strategic alliance with LeisureLink, a premier provider of online distribution for vacation rental properties. The agreement with LeisureLink will increase the online presence of Group RCI's global rental inventory to new channels including online travel agents such as Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz, which are all part of the LeisureLink distribution network. In a separate press release, dated September 25, 2007, it was announced that Group RCI has made a financial investment in LeisureLink.

"Our alliance with LeisureLink underscores our belief in the non-hotel vacation accommodation experience and our commitment to grow this segment. We now have a distribution arrangement that is focused on properly marketing the advantages of this type of vacation accommodation. With their technology, we'll be able to provide a turn-key program for our affiliates and inventory providers to bring a vast array of rental properties to the online travel market faster and easier than before," says Kenneth May, chairman and CEO of Group RCI. "We hope that our association with LeisureLink demonstrates to leisure real estate developers, property management companies, vacation home owners, and resort affiliates a clear commitment to continue to lead this industry with technologies and services that enhance awareness of the industry overall."

"We are delighted that Group RCI has selected LeisureLink," says Erik Hovanec, president and CEO of LeisureLink. "Through this new alliance with Group RCI, LeisureLink will be able to bring a vast array of new inventory to our distribution partners. Group RCI's decision clearly demonstrates that a dedicated distribution platform is required to highlight the consumer value and emotional appeal of this travel product."

LeisureLink provides electronic distribution for all types of vacation lodging properties including timeshare resorts, vacation rentals and condo- hotels. The company's expert staff focuses on properly positioning and pricing each property to maximize bookings in the electronic channels. LeisureLink works with most of the major online travel sites, as well as all three U.S. GDS systems.

 Printable Version  | published Oct 15, 2007