What timeshare brands exchange through RCI and Interval International?

As I have explained in multiple posts, there are various timeshare strategies that you an implement in order to maximize timeshare ownership. 

One strategy that I implement most often is using my timeshare to exchange through the exchange companies.  The two largest and most well known timeshare exchange companies are RCI and Interval International.  

RCI and Interval International are competitors as they provide similar services.  Most, if not all timeshares, are generally affiliated with either one of these companies as they provide the mechanism for timeshare owners to exchange into other timeshares around the world. 

Before you purchase a timeshare, you NEED to know what exchange company that particular timeshare is affiliated with.  The importance of this is that you will want to know what other timeshare brands you can exchange into and what timeshare brands you will not be able to exchange into. 

For this post, I wanted to show readers the major timeshare brands and their associated affiliation.  

Here are the major timeshare brands and their associated affiliation:

RCI

Hilton Grand Vacation Club
Wyndham Vacation Ownership
Welk Resorts
Disney Vacation Club
Bluegreen Resort Vacations
Holiday Inn Club Vacations

Interval International

Marriott Vacation Club
Vistana Signature Experiences (Starwood Brands)
Four Seasons Residence Club
Shell Vacations Club
Welk Resorts
Diamond Resorts International
Hyatt Residence Club

Welk Resorts:  As you can see, I have listed Welk Resorts as being affiliated with both RCI and Interval International.  Welk Resorts just changed affiliation and is now affiliated with RCI.  However, it appears that Interval International still has some inventory so you can still reserve Welk Resorts with Interval International and RCI at the present time.  In the future, these resorts will likely only be available through RCI. 

Four Seasons:  Four Seasons only has two of of its properties available through Interval International.  The Four Seasons Aviara in North San Diego and the Four Seasons Scottsdale in Arizona.  The other locations are not available through either Interval International or RCI as it is likely that existing owners of Four Seasons generally use their weeks or exchange internally for their exchanges. 

Conclusion

Before you decide to purchase a timeshare, it is critical that you know the exchange company affiliation of the  timeshare or brand of timeshare.  

My personal strategy involves exchanging my timeshare through the exchange companies in order to maximize their value.  However, it is rare for people to own more than one timeshare or multiple timeshares with affiliations with both RCI and Internval International.  

The importance of this is that you need to know the affiliation for the particular exchange company to assess the quality of the potential resorts which you can trade.  Even if you plan on going to the same resort year after year, there will be times when you want to exchange your week or points.  

As shown above, if my timeshare was affiliated with RCI, I could NEVER trade into a Marriott Vacation Club property.  Conversely, if I owned a Interval International affiliated timeshare, I could NEVER trade into a Hilton Grand Vacation property. 

While there are smaller exchange companies out there (SFX Resorts) that allows individual owners to deposit their week with them and gives them the opportunity to exchange into other weeks that have been deposit, irregardless of affiliation, inventory and availability will be much scarcer than the main exchange companies of Interval International and RCI. 

​How important is exchange company affiliation to you?  Did you purchase or do you own a timeshare because of the exchange company affiliation?