Is It All About To Change?
How many times have we in this industry thought this I wonder? Are we about to experience one such moment next week? What on earth am I going on about (I do wonder myself). Over the last few months, we have watched claims companies here in the UK and also in Spain, as PPI business here in the UK winds down, look for other sources of business and have turned their attention to timeshare as a possible source of income. The Claims Working Group has pulled together remarkably well as Eugene Miskelly said at the conference, reacting rapidly to changing tactics...
RDO5 2014 Conference Round-Up
Following the summer holidays, the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) was ready to welcome everybody at RDO5 2014 Conference "Stronger Together". Here are some of the event highlights of this year’s conference:- Inspirational speakers outline the paths to a successful brand A brand is not a logo, it is a promise, and promises must be kept. That was the message from brand consultant BJ Cunningham, who kick-started RDO5 with a thought-provoking session about “the power of telling the truth”. A brand is about showing the authentic soul of an organisation, according to Cunningham. Delegates were told they should be very clear about what their...
The best in the Industry get together for a successful RDO5 Conference in London
The brightest minds in the timeshare and hospitality industry gathered at the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel in London for two days of thought-provoking panel sessions and presentations at RDO5, from 18 to 20 September. The positive vibe from the last edition continued at this year’s conference as delegates embraced the chosen theme, “Stronger Together” to look at ways in which the industry can continue to thrive as the economy recovers. The programme covered a wide variety of topics, including self-regulation in the industry, top tips for successful sales, redefining products to attract the next generation of buyers, and the opportunities and...
RDO5 – Did We Get It Right?
First thing on the second day of the RDO Conference – this is the question that always goes through your mind. RDO5, held this year in London again, after Gran Canaria in 2013, you are always worried if the programme and speakers have been right, the food OK etc. It is not really until the Gala Dinner that you can start to get the feedback on how it went from the delegates themselves – especially after a few drinks! But it did look at the close of day 1 as though delegates were happy with the content of the Conference and the...
RDO – Too Much Enforcement?
Without pre-empting the content of this week’s session at RDO5 “Self Regulation –too tight or too loose?” nor indeed the Breakout Session “Mitigating the Risk”- this topic has been under consideration these last few days as we look at the budget for 2015 – as always, a balancing act for any trade association between what we would like to achieve and what we believe members are prepared to contribute. No-one can pretend the media coverage this year in the UK, Germany and Scandinavia has been particularly good, indeed one could say it has been a bit of an unmitigated disaster, but...
RDO5 2014 Conference on-line registration closing 10th September
On-line registration will close at midnight Wednesday 10th September for RDO5 2014 Conference, 18-20th September 2014 at the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel & Spa. On-site registrations will still be permitted, and any enquires should be sent to the event organiser Nikkie Yeaman - nyeaman@rdo.org. This year, our headline theme is all about growing “Stronger Together” and we look forward to you joining us as we debate and come up with solutions to the “Big Questions” – such as: What’s the best way to work together to grow stronger and propel the industry forward? How do you redefine the timeshare product in its various forms...
RDO YouTube Promotional Video
RDO has added a new video to the official RDO YouTube channel as part of its ongoing social media drive to educate the public about the benefits of the timeshare lifestyle. In the video, RDO chief executive Paul Gardner-Bougaard highlights the role the Resort Development Organisation plays within the industry as the official trade association for all the major developers in the EU who offer timeshare, and explains why it is important that consumers only purchase from RDO member companies. Describing the timeshare product itself, Paul says: “In terms of the quality of accommodation and experience, we don’t think it can be bettered...
RDO5 Countdown – What Can Delegates Expect?
As the countdown starts for this year’s Conference RDO5 - 18-20 September at the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel in London, Head of RDO’s Conference Working Group, Robin Mills, explains more about what delegates can expect: Are you looking forward to RDO5? Of course I am! I’m confident it will be a great event, with lots of opportunities to ask questions, discuss solutions, share our expertise, and plenty of time for networking too. I also expect there will be a generally positive atmosphere, as the economy is improving and most European countries have started to turn the corner - some more than others...
Final Guest Speakers Confirmed For RDO5 2014 Conference
RDO is delighted to confirm that Jules Murray, Director - Spider on the Wall Ltd, and Peter Hales - Managing Director, Managed Hotels at Michels and Taylor have been confirmed as the final guest speakers for RDO5 2014 Conference. Jules admits to having an unassailable passion for Customer Service and has dedicated the last 12 years to the training and development of Managers and sales people for many large national and international organisations. Her successful methodology is based on the relationship she builds with her clients and the effective and interactive design of course content. ‘Spider on the Wall Ltd’ was launched in 2006 with the specific intention to analyse the Customer Service levels...
Mea Culpa …..Or OK It’s My Fault
I had an email late last week from our Social Media Czar (aka Nikkie Yeaman), pointing out that I had not written a blog for 2 plus months and I was falling behind in my intention this year to write at least 1 blog a month. I was surprised on 2 fronts – a) I never thought anyone read them (they probably don’t but Nikkie likes to make sure we have something new up there), b) I thought it was longer than that since I last wrote anything! Knowing you have to write a blog is a bit like knowing...