HOLLYWOOD,
Fla., May 2,
2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RCI, the global leader in
vacation exchange, has opened doors to a new frontier for timeshare
owners. The company is offering travel options to Cuba through a
new alliance with Cuba Travel Services, an established travel tour
company. This relationship is a first in the timeshare exchange
industry.
RCI Platinum® members in the U.S. will now have
access to unique "people-to-people" educational tour packages
designed and operated by Cuba Travel Services. With an initial
pilot of the tours providing two customized itineraries, RCI
Platinum members and their guests can book five-night and
seven-night rental packages with departure dates starting this
summer. The packages include charter flights from Miami to Havana, accommodations in Havana and Varadero, educational
people-to-people activities, select meals and assistance with
travel documents and license requirements.
The itineraries bring travelers to important historical
and cultural sites, providing great opportunities to interact with
the Cuban people, including visits to Revolution Square, the studio
of famous artist José Rodríguez Fuster, Ernest Hemingway's museum at Finca Vigia, local
farms and sugar cane fields, the marina at Cayo Blanco and more.
Travelers will enjoy further insight into Cuban culture through a
taste of Cuban cuisine and interactions with dance instructors,
musicians and local guides.
"We are so excited to be entering a new destination with
our foray into Cuba," said Gordon
Gurnik, president of RCI. "With recent changes to travel
regulations, there is an amazing opportunity for Americans to visit
Cuba and experience a new culture.
"We know people are looking for ways to visit, with new
data from MMGY Global reporting that 19 percent of all U.S. adults
said they would consider taking a vacation to Cuba within the next
two years," Gurnik continued. "With that type of enthusiasm, we
wanted to give RCI Platinum members a way to experience this new
destination with this initial tour program."
Cuba Travel Services is a travel service provider
headquartered in Cypress,
California, and is one of the leading providers of
"people-to-people" educational tours to Cuba. "People-to-people"
travel is one of the educational activities that are approved forms
of travel for Americans visiting Cuba. Cuba Travel Services has
significant experience in managing and operating tours, as they
have been sending travelers on memorable trips for more than 16
years.
"We were so happy to join RCI in offering specially
designed Cuba itineraries to RCI Platinum members," said
Michael Zuccato, general manager of
Cuba Travel Services. "For years, our team has been creating
amazing travel experiences in Cuba, and we are so excited to begin offering
these options to vacation exchange members. The Cuban culture and
the beauty of the country make for truly memorable trips, and we
are confident RCI's members will love traveling there as much as we
do."
With the pilot program offering dates for travel beginning
this summer, RCI Platinum members in the U.S. will be contacted
about travel opportunities. As the program gains popularity and
demonstrates successful travel experiences for RCI Platinum
members, additional travel dates may be added to expand the
opportunity to a larger RCI member base.
About RCI
RCI is the worldwide
leader in vacation exchange with approximately 4,300 affiliated
resorts in more than 100 countries. RCI pioneered the concept of
vacation exchange in 1974, offering members increased flexibility
and versatility with their vacation ownership experience. Today,
through the RCI Weeks® program, the week-for-week
exchange system, and the RCI Points® program, the
industry's first global points-based exchange system, RCI provides
flexible vacation options to its 3.8 million RCI subscribing
members each year. RCI's luxury exchange program, The Registry
Collection® program, is the world's largest program
of its kind with approximately 200 affiliated properties either
accessible for exchange or under development on six continents. RCI
is part of Wyndham Destination Network and the Wyndham Worldwide
family of brands (NYSE: WYN). For additional information, visit our
media center. RCI can also be found on Facebook, YouTube and
Twitter.
About Cuba Travel Services
Cuba
Travel Services (CTS) is the leading authorized air charter and
travel company providing a diverse set of services to, from and
within the Republic of Cuba. As the premier indirect air carrier,
CTS arranges flights from Miami,
Los Angeles, New York (JFK) and Tampa to Havana, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camaguey, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba using next
generation Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320 aircraft. The largest US
based tour operator and destination management company serving the
country, Cuba Travel Services offers hotels bookings,
transportation services and specialized tour programming all
consistent with US Government travel restrictions. CTS has been
arranging flights and travel services to Cuba for more than 16
years and is widely regarded as the most trusted and respected
travel company in the industry. For more information follow us
on Facebook,
Google +,
Twitter,
Instagram, YouTube
or visit
www.cubatravelservices.com.
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SOURCE RCI