Both major timeshare exchange firms, RCI and Interval International, recently announced the signing of a slew of new and renewed affiliation agreements with vacation ownership companies and properties:

• Two prominent timeshare companies — Hyatt Vacation Ownership and Welk Resorts — renewed their affiliation agreements with Interval International. The Hyatt affiliation covers 13 existing resorts and any the company may develop over the course of the agreement. Welk Resorts has five existing resorts, with three more under construction.

  Diamond Resorts International signed a master affiliation agreement with Interval. The agreement covers 110 existing resorts and others that Diamond may develop. Other recent affiliations include the SunStream Vacation Club at DiamondHead Beach Resort in Fort Myers Beach, FL; The Aruban Resort & Casino at Eagle Beach in Aruba; and Villa del Palmar Loreto in Baja California, Mexico.

• Additions to the RCI Points Exchange Program include three New England resorts — The Trade Winds on the Bay in Rockland, ME; Colonial Acres in West Yarmouth, MA; Sheepscot Harbour Vacation Club in Edgecomb, ME — and two properties in British Columbia — Aviawest at Pinnacle Lodge & Spa in Sun Peaks and Pacific Shores Fractional Residences in Nanoose Bay.

  Group RCI also signed an affiliation pact with Al Ghaith Holdings for its soon-to-open, 450-unit Bavaria Executive Suites vacation ownership property in Dubai.

  The Registry Collection, Group RCI's luxury exchange program, recently added The Cashmere Villas in New Zealand to its network of 100-plus high-end properties. The Pacific Registry, the club managing the Cashmere Villas property, is The Registry Collection's first affiliate in the Pacific region.