INTERVAL PLATINUM CELEBRATES BANNER FIRST YEAR
Fills Key Niche For Members and Developers
Miami, FL, April 2, 2012 – Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), reports that its most prestigious membership level, Interval PlatinumSM, is exceeding expectations on all fronts. Launched one year ago to cater to discerning vacation owners who desire upscale travel experiences, the program is receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from consumer members and resort developer clients.
Interval Platinum surpassed first-year estimates in its first few months and now has more than 55,000 members. In Latin America and several European markets, more members have upgraded than anticipated, reinforcing its global appeal.
"Starting out so strong has been a tremendous validation of Interval's ongoing ability to deliver industry-leading benefits and services that keep our members engaged," said Jeanette Marbert, Interval's chief operating officer. “We’re extremely pleased that this groundbreaking program continues to gain momentum.”
Recently introduced at point of sale, Interval Platinum is proving to be an effective enhancement. Developers are capitalizing on the opportunity to differentiate their products and reward customer loyalty.
“Our clients are selling multiple products and Interval Platinum complements their higher-end offerings and larger point packages," added David Gilbert, Interval’s executive vice president of resort sales and marketing. "This top-tier membership level is particularly appealing to the affluent consumers who are purchasing these products.”
With its unparalleled collection of travel-related rewards, expanded Getaway and exchange perks, and the ultimate in customer attention, it’s no wonder that Interval Platinum members report the highest level of value among the membership base. A recent U.S. member survey further revealed the following Platinum benefits to be the three most popular:
- $50 off Getaway vacation rentals
- Complimentary Exchange and Getaway Guest Certificates
- Priority Getaway viewing
Other benefits that scored highly included ShortStay Exchange® that allows members to trade resort weeks or points for multiple vacations of one to six nights each; Platinum Escapes, alerts about special Getaways; Companion Airline Travel Program that offers a companion ticket with the purchase of one adult round-trip, coach-class ticket to selected cities; Interval Options® , the chance to trade resort weeks or points toward the purchase of cruise, golf, or spa vacations; and Hertz #1 Club Gold®, a complimentary membership that provides expedited car rentals at more than 1,000 locations in 23 countries.
Members enrolled in Interval basic and Interval Gold® programs are able to upgrade to Interval Platinum at any time. Benefits may vary by region.
About Interval International
Interval International operates membership programs for vacationers and provides value-added services to its developer clients worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market since 1976. Today, Interval has an exchange network of more than 2,600 resorts in over 75 nations. Through offices in 15 countries, Interval offers high-quality products and benefits to resort clients and approximately 2 million families who are enrolled in various membership programs. Interval is an operating business of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.
