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Press Release: INVgolf
December 16, 2004
ATHENS, Greece -- Carlos Vogeler, Vice President of Business Development for RCI Europe & Middle East (Cendant
Group) and Professor at the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid, will deliver a keynote speech titled "Worldwide
tourism demand drivers: The importance of golf" at the INVgolf Investment Forum 2005, an important international
industry and investment forum scheduled to take place in Belek / Antalya, Turkey, April 22 and 23, 2005.
The WTO World Tourism Barometer (Vol. 2, No. 2, June, 2004) forecasts world growth in GDP of 4.4 percent in 2005.
The growth of wealth and discretionary (disposable) income throughout the decade will be a major influence and
driving force in the expansion of world travel in the period 2006 - 2010. The aging of the population in industrialised
countries means a growing market of people with more discretionary income and more available time to travel.
This market is motivated by a desire to learn, experience new things, practice sports, etc., which adds meaning
to people's lives rather than travel purely for rest and relaxation.
World-wide, golf is a USD 60 billion industry with 30,730 courses globally and 57 million golfers.
In Europe, the number of courses has more than doubled in the past sixteen years and the number of registered golfers
has grown by an average of 6% per annum. 65% of European golfers are interested in "golf tourism" and
70% of them are looking for new destinations -- preferably a short-haul destination (i.e. a maximum three-hour
flight).
Successful travel providers will be those who recognise the changing nature of travel in industrialised countries
and build up the right products to respond to these trends of demand.
In his presentation at the INVgolf Investment Forum 2005, Carlos will cover key figures related to this activity
and new world-wide developments focused on affinity groups related to golf to cater precisely for the demand of
this important segment of the travel & tourism market.
About RCI
RCI operates the largest holiday exchange network in the world with more than 3,700 affiliated resorts in 90 countries.
Golf is a key motivator to an important percentage of its more than 3 million member families and golf destinations
are packaged in a way that offer members the possibility of enjoying their favourite sport in the context of a
high-quality resort environment.
RCI (Resort Condominiums International), as part of the New York City-based Cendant group (NYSE: CD), counts with
one of the largest travel distribution services in the world, through companies such as Galileo, the recent acquisition
of Orbitz, Inc., loding.com hotelclub.com, etc.
Founded in 1974, RCI pioneered the concept of vacation exchange and is today, the global leader in exchange vacations
with more than three million members and over three million transactions annually.
About Carlos Vogeler
Carlos Volgeler is Vice President of Business Development for RCI Europe & Middle East (Cendant Group) and
Professor at the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid.
Before joining RCI in 1991, he was with Pullmantur (one of the main tour operators in Spain) for 20 years, in a
number of roles, such as Programming and Contracting Director, Commercial Director and Deputy Managing Director.
Carlos has a degree in Business Management from the IESE of the University of Navarra - Spain, and a degree in
Tourist Enterprises and Activities from the Official College of Tourism in Madrid (now the University Rey Juan
Carlos). He is a member of the Spanish Association of Experts in Tourism (AECIT) and a member of the International
Association of Experts in Tourism (AIEST) with its head office in St. Gallen, Switzerland; he is also Vice-Chairman
of the WTO (World Tourism Organisation) Business Council.
In addition, Carlos Vogeler is author of "El Mercado Turistico: Estructura, Operaciones y Procesos de Produccion"
(Tourism Market: Structure, Operations and Production Processes) textbook for the Tourism Degree in Spain.
About INVgolf
INVgolf has a vision to create the world's most influential golf development and investment forum. The next opportunity
to experience it is the INVgolf Investment Forum 2005 in Belek, Antalya, Turkey, April 23-24, 2005.
INVgolf seeks to marry the concepts of tourism, urban regeneration and golf development with sustainable development
to produce multi-faceted complexes that combine resorts and leisure facilities with residential and holiday housing.
Golf has evolved tremendously from the rudimentary game that was first played in Europe more than five centuries
ago. Today it provides the focus for developments that embrace, as well as hotel complexes, spas, fitness and thalassotherapy
centres, casinos, marinas, vineyards, conference destinations, theme/amusement parks and real estate projects such
as residential communities, vacation rentals and timeshare properties.
Through the organisation of high-level investment fora throughout the world, INVgolf seeks to bring together leaders
from the sectors of hospitality, leisure, golf and real estate with politicians, investors, financiers, developers,
business professionals, owners and entrepreneurs.
The INVgolf Investment Forum 2005 will attract a wide range of key stakeholders of the highest calibre, including
political and business leaders, investors and financiers, resort and club owners, developers, top consultants,
leading entrepreneurs and decision-makers. The Forum provides a venue for discussion of current and future opportunities
in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and Eurasia regions and the Mediterranean, Black Sea basins. It offers
the opportunity for exchange of ideas, contacts, project presentations and one-on-one matchmaking meetings.
A parallel exhibition -- "The Future is Green" -- will showcase the latest products, services and equipment.
Last year, INVgolf successfully organised the 2003 European GOLF Investment and Real Estate Conference & Exhibition,
a landmark international development and investment forum in Athens.
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For further information, please contact: Mr. Peter Michel Heilmann Founder & Director, INVgolf Tel.: +30 699 272 4102 E-mail: info@invgr.com URL: http://www.invgolf.com/