Timeshare, Hospitality and Real Estate Luminaries gather in Singapore for Annual Conference

Owners and senior management from Asia's top resorts, hotels and real estate businesses will convene in Singapore from September 17-18, at The Regent hotel for a power-packed two-day conference to discuss the latest developments and trends in the vacation ownership business.

The RCI Charity & Power Workshop is organised by Resort Condominiums International (RCI), which has over 3,700 affiliate resorts in over 100 countries and over 3 million members. The Charity & Power Workshop is hailed as a pre-eminent event by resort and hotel owners who are part of the rapidly growing timeshare sector in Asia.

The first RCI Charity and Power Workshop kicked off in 2002 in Kunming, China. Since then, it has become an annual event which provides an invaluable platform for key players in the Timeshare, Hospitality and Real Estate sectors to interact and learn about trends and developments in the Timeshare industry. It also offers exciting business networking opportunities as there are delegates from all over Asia, China and other parts of the world coming together under one roof.

The sessions are to be interactive with industry stalwarts getting together to discuss their views and learnings. Leading authorities with years of industry experience will provide valuable insights about how to tap new and emerging markets, profit from the growth, and discuss skills and tools that are required to deal with the changes that will occur in the challenging and exciting times ahead.

Among the distinguished speakers and participants are representatives from the Berjaya Group, Royal Resorts, Regent Vacation Club and International Leisure Consultants. Leading this year's conference is RCI President and CEO, Kenneth May, who has been instrumental in revolutionising the timeshare business globally.

Raju Shahani, President and General Manager, RCI Asia said, "Growth in timeshare vacations has taken place against a backdrop of setbacks on the travel sector in recent years. Our timeshare exchange traffic has grown by 10% for the region covering Asia and India in the last two years. The potential is huge as travellers across Asia start to recognise the benefits of vacation ownership and the exchange service we provide."

As in the past, RCI has pledged proceeds from this event towards charity. The recipient for the second year in a row is Project L.I.F.E Thailand, a charity registered with the Ministry of Public Welfare of the Royal Thai Government since 1987. Project L.I.F.E. Foundation has been involved in helping the poor and vulnerable of Thailand, particularly children and women. It is committed to giving the poor and disadvantaged in Thai society a chance for a better life, both for themselves and their families. Its programs focus on restoration, rehabilitation and development, with an emphasis on assisting children and women and the development of the family. Their finances come solely from donations from "Project Partners" who are people or businesses who want to help the poor and needy and RCI is pleased to support the Child Sponsorship Program of Project L.I.F.E. Foundation by pledging proceeds from the 2004 RCI Charity & Power Workshop to the Foundation.