RDO

The Resort Development Organisation (RDO) was established to improve representation for reputable companies in the timeshare sector and promote fair trading, quality and growth within the timeshare industry.

Its members abide by a Code of Ethics to ensure buyers have secure occupancy rights, as well as leading the industry in their commitment to strong ethical standards, fair trading and delivering high satisfaction levels to timeshare owners.

RDO was created by the European Timeshare Federation in February 1998 to integrate all national timeshare trade associations into one pan-European direct membership organisation. Today it has more than 90 members from all sectors of the European industry, including resort developers, exchange companies, management and marketing companies, trustees, finance houses and resale companies. It works with governments at pan-European and national levels to create fair legislation that safeguards the interests of the consumer and encourages the positive development of the industry.

The organisation hosts regular events, conferences and seminars in which industry members can network. Events include the annual convention, the largest timeshare gathering in Europe.

There are 10 European National Chapters of RDO responsible for carrying out programmes and agreed activities in their respective markets.  They are located in Belgium, Benelux, France, Cyprus, Finland and Nordic Regions, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the UK.

RCI has supported RDO from its inception and is a major sponsor of its annual events and consumer websites: www.gotimeshare.org; www.gofractional.org. RCI values the governance and consistency RDO gives to the shared vacation ownership industry, and has worked closely with RDO executives in many projects, most importantly in the lobbying project in Brussels to contribute to the creation of a new EU Timeshare Directive that is fair to both consumers and the industry’s resort developers.

• Resort Development Organisation website