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Interval International has officially announced its partnership with The Gourmet Society. Through this partnership, Gold and Platinum II owners in the UK will be able to receive discounts at almost 7,000 restaurants.

Managing director of the Gourmet Society, Simon Leonard says, “We are delighted to announce this partnership with Interval International. Having worked together in the past, we know how much its members will value the quality and quantity of the restaurants that we offer. We look forward to enabling them to enjoy great savings whenever they dine out with us.”

Eligible Interval International members can contact the exchange company and request a Gourmet Society membership card, free of charge. This card can be used at participating restaurants (and even movie theaters) to receive exclusive discounts. What discount to offer is left to the restaurant’s discretion, but the more common discounts include:

• Buy one, get one free (no set menus)
• 25% off the entire check

How it Works-

1. Use Gourmet Society’s website or mobile app to browse thousands of restaurants
2. View the available deal for that restaurant
3. Make a reservation
4. Use your Gourmet Society card, and enjoy your meal!

About the Gourmet Society
The Gourmet Society was created to allow consumers to benefit from dining at their favorite restaurants – but with a great discount. Currently The Gourmet Society has over 6,900 participating restaurants with more joining every week. The Gourmet Society’s website provides the extensive list of restaurants and the exclusive offers at each one. Before their partnership with Interval International, the Gourmet Society consisted of about 500,000 members.

RCI, the largest vacation exchange company in the world, announced that its RCI Green Awards program is now accepting applications for 2013.

RCI has collaborated with Green Key Global, a forerunner in eco-certification to present awards to three RCI affiliated resorts with outstanding commitment to eco- friendly initiatives. This will be the third year that RCI will present the annual awards.

Gordon Gurnik, President of RCI says, “Going green is not a trend; it is a commitment to doing the right thing for the earth, and preserving it for future generations of travelers. So many of our affiliated resorts are doing wonderful things on the property level and these efforts are also valued by RCI members. We want to make sure their hard work is recognized with the RCI Green Awards.”

In recent years, many resorts affiliated with RCI have created eco-friendly programs to reduce waste and increase environmental awareness. Ratings are specifically based upon practices such as energy preservation, land use, indoor air quality, and operational regions. It is anticipated that many timeshare resorts will apply, but only three resorts will receive the honor of the RCI Green Award. The three RCI resorts will be awarded a Platinum, Gold, or Silver Award.

Past winners of the award have set the bar high with last year’s winners including:

• Platinum – Grand Pacific Palisades Resort
• Gold – Carlsbad Seapointe Resort
• Silver – Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa

To apply for the RCI Green Award, applicants must also apply for a Green Key Eco-Rating making them also eligible for Green Key certification. This certification can benefit the resort through potential financial savings and recognition as a Green Key resort by popular online travel resources.

The application deadline is January 15, 2014.

This fall, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will open its PreCheck security program to all travelers. Created in 2011, the TSA PreCheck program was previously available only to members of select frequent flier programs. The program has more than 15 million members to date.

What is TSA PreCheck?

The PreCheck program allows pre-screened travelers to pass through security with less hassle. PreCheck clearance will allow you to bypass some of the more bothersome security procedures put in place after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

With PreCheck you will not be required to remove the following items from your bags or person:

• Shoes
• Belts
• Jackets
• Laptops
• 3-1-1 Bags

Signing Up for the PreCheck Program

Currently, PreCheck is only available in 40 airports, but TSA hopes to increase this number to 100 airports by the end of 2013. To see a full list of participating airports, click here.

To register for PreCheck you will need to submit your information on TSA’s website. The Transportation Security Administration will then contact you to set up an interview, during which they will obtain fingerprints from you. There is an $85 fee to register for PreCheck, but you will be eligible for benefits for 5 years. The application process may take 2-3 weeks to finalize, after which participants will be issued notification in writing as well an assigned number to use during booking.

TSA is also including an option to sign up for PreCheck with the issuance of new passports. You will find a sales brochure inside your new passport as well as an option to join the Global Entry program. Similar to PreCheck, TSA’s Global Entry has the same benefits with additional options for international travel. TSA claims that Global Entry (with a $100 registration fee) will speed up the tiresome process of border checks and customs.

To learn more about the PreCheck program, please visit TSA’s website.

On Tuesday, Dial An Exchange announced the re-launch of its global brand as DAE.

Francis Taylor, CEO and co-founder of DAE,  commented, “We now service a base of more than one million members, with exchange products available in over a thousand vacation destinations around the world, and we want timeshare members and businesses to associate our legendary customer service, simplified exchange systems and free worldwide membership with one brand – DAE.”

As a leading timeshare exchange provider, DAE has experienced exceptional growth over the past 17 years, expanding from a single office in Australia to 11 offices around the globe including locations in the US, China, and Egypt. By unifying its services under a single brand, DAE will provide a simpler experience for consumers.

What does this mean for current DAE members?

The services offered by DAE have not changed, and the core values of the company remain the same. Exceptional customer service has always been an essential part of the organization; for the last three years Perspective Magazine has awarded DAE the distinction of Best Service Provider.

DAE members can now enjoy more destinations and benefits, as well as a simpler exchange experience thanks to the brand’s new and improved website. DAE hopes that this effort will improve its overall image, especially to those who had viewed them as “too small” in the past.

Taylor explains, “If you compare DAE now to five years ago, our capabilities as a company have reached an entirely new level. We want people that may have looked at us 5 or 10 years ago and thought we were too small, to take another look and see us now, leading the industry in growth, innovation and customer service.”