Don Harrill – CEO Holiday Inn Club Vacations confirmed as Guest Speaker for RDO5
RDO is delighted that Don Harrill, CEO Holiday Inn Club Vacations has agreed to be a guest speaker at this year's conference RDO5 "Stronger Together". With more than three decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Don began his lifelong career in hospitality with Hilton Worldwide. He led Hilton into the timeshare space in the 90s and since joined Holiday Inn Club Vacations in 2005. Under his leadership, this family-owned company, founded in 1982 by Kemmons Wilson, has expanded to 12 resorts with the creation of the brand through a strategic alliance with IHG in 2008 --- resulting in an impressive...
Keynote Speaker Dean Van Leeuwen Confirmed for RDO5
RDO is pleased to announce that Dean van Leeuwen, an expert on the future of work, researcher and business strategist has been confirmed as a keynote for this years conference RDO5 "Stronger Together". Dean is a founder of TomorrowToday UK and an International Partner of TomorrowToday. He has over 20 years experience working in marketing, operations, innovation and strategic planning. He speaks on disruptive trends changing the world and the strategies business leaders can employ to improve organisational performance. He contributes to executive education programs and lectures at prestigious academic institutions around the world including – London Business School, Henley Management College and the Indian School...
RDO5 Moderator Jeff Grout To Give Keynote
RDO is delighted to announce that this year's moderator, Jeff Grout has agreed to give a keynote at this year's conference RDO5 "Stronger Together" 18-20 September 2014. The former Managing Director of recruiting firm, Robert Half International, Jeff is now an independent business consultant, speaker and coach specialising in leadership, people management, team building, peak performance, recruitment and retention issues. He has been listed as one of the “100 best business speakers in Britain”. Jeff Grout’s work focuses closely on the link between people and performance. He believes strongly that the success of almost any organisation is down to just three things: The...
Keynote Speaker Gerd Leonhard Confirmed for RDO5
RDO is pleased to welcome renowned futurist and author Gerd Leonhard, CEO of The Futures Agency, as a keynote speaker at this year’s RDO5 Conference, which will take place from 18 to 20 September 2014 at the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel in London. Gerd has built a career as a strategic advisor to businesses and is considered a leading voice on a wide range of topics including next-generation digital business models, sustainable business and cultural ecology, social media and communications, innovation, leadership and consumer trends. Described as “one of the leading Media Futurists in the World” by The Wall Street Journal,...
Registration Open for RDO5 2014 Conference
Registration is now open for the “not to be missed” shared ownership conference of the year - RDO5. 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 and shelf lives to appeal to a brand new generation? What will travel look like in 2020, what sort of holiday experiences will people of different generations...
RDO Statement on Timeshare Exits
There has recently been increasing media speculation and comment over timeshare owners’ ability to exit their timeshare as they grow older and can no longer enjoy their holidays. The timeshare trade body, RDO (Resort Development Organisation) and the timeshare owners association, TATOC (The Association of Timeshare Owners Committees) have been working closely over the last two years to find solutions for owners who have an urgent need to dispose of their timeshare. At the outset, both organisations were mindful of the fact that the recession has taken its toll and that there was in part an ageing demographic amongst some owner...
BJ Cunningham Confirmed as RDO5 Opening Keynote Speaker
Branding and communications expert, BJ Cunningham, has been confirmed as the opening keynote speaker for the 2014 Conference "RDO5: Stronger Together". A graduate from Exeter University with an MA in Three Dimensional Design, he made his name as the creator of DEATHTM Cigarettes when his campaign for tax harmonisation threatened to overturn the mighty tobacco industry, taking the issue to the European Court of Justice. BJ's presentations focus on his belief that companies are like people. Each one of us is made up of three separate perspectives: how we perceive ourselves, how others perceive us and how we want to be perceived. To...
RDO announces first details of RDO5 Conference
“Stronger Together” is the theme chosen for this year’s RDO5 Conference, which will take place at the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel in London from 18 - 20 September 2014. RDO5 will aim to build on the positive atmosphere and feeling of “community” of last year's event, which focused on how businesses should stand together to ensure a better future for the industry. The RDO conference will have a new moderator this year, with motivational business speaker, Jeff Grout, replacing Roy Sheppard. The former Managing Director of recruiting firm, Robert Half International, Jeff is now an independent business consultant, speaker and coach...
Remembering our friend Ron Haylock: The Music Room at Christel House
Ron Haylock was not just a legend in the shared ownership industry, he was a special friend to many of us who worked with him at RDO, RCI, ARDA and TATOC. His enthusiasm for life was undeniably contagious – a few of his favourite things included food, wine, nature, music and, last but never least, giving back. Now it is our turn to give back to a man of many passions, whose work with the Christel House charity in South Africa and encouragement to the students at the Cape Town School were so important. Ron’s love of music lives on...
The Long March
In October 1934, it is claimed that Chairman Mao as he was to become, was one of two eventual leaders, who lead what was then the Red Army from the south of China, North and West over some of the most difficult terrain in China to re-group and escape almost certain defeat and destruction at the hands of the nationalists, under General Chiang-khai shek. The journey covered some 9000 kilometres and took 367 days or thereabouts. It became known in Chinese history as “The Long March” and was reputed to be the turning point in the fortunes of the Chinese...