yesterday.

RCI Management, Inc. (RCIM), through its subsidiary RCI Services Bermuda Ltd., has reached an agreement to provide full-service timeshare management, reservations, member services and financial services for The St. George's Club.

RCIM's Extra Holidays will also promote developer and owner intervals at the club through its international rental programme.

The news came yesterday from the club's developer Alistair Woolf, who led the team of investors who purchased the club in 1994.

"I am delighted with the agreement, which provides unmatched independent management services and additional benefits to the Club's 2,700 members and enables me to concentrate on my development and marketing programmes,'' he said.

RCIM's chief operating officer Chris Van Ruiten said: "We are excited about working with The St. George's Club. They have an exceptional operation and provide their members with first-class accommodations.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for RCIM to install our tradition of personalised service and enhance the vacation benefits for The St. George's Club members.'' The agreement has also received acceptance from the resort's Membership Advisory Council and the Department of Tourism.

MAC chairman Richard Lawrence said: "We are all optimistic about the future of The St. George's Club and the working relationships we have established.

"Our common objective is to represent the best interests of members.'' Tourism Minister David Dodwell added: "The Government of Bermuda has always maintained a keen interest in The St. George's Club whose membership is very important, not only to Bermuda as a whole, but to the people and economy of St. George's in particular.

"I would like to express my pleasure in this new development which ensures a greater degree of stability for the St. George's Club and its members.'' The 18-acre Gold Crown resort consists of 71 cottages and features amenities including three pools, tennis courts, a private beach club and a nearby 18-hole golf course.

The club also enjoys one of the Island's highest occupancy rates with an 82 percent occupancy maintained in 1998 compared to an Island-wide average of 57 percent.

RCIM provides management services to more than 40 resorts throughout the US and Caribbean.

It is an arm of Resort Condominiums International LLC (RCI), the world's leading exchange company and timeshare services provider, which is affiliated with more than 3,300 resorts in 90 countries.

TOURISM TOU