A few more winter storms like those raging through the Midwest and people in some parts of the country will be getting tired—if they aren’t already—of ice and snow. So here’s some ICE news in the timeshare industry that won’t cause a shiver.

RCI Timeshare exchange (a part of Wyndham timeshare and the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies) is expanding their alliance with International Cruise & Excursions Inc.—commonly known as ICE for short. ICE is recognized worldwide for providing integrated cruise and leisure packages to the timeshare, vacation ownership, and travel industries.

As Geoff Ballotti, CEO of RCI says, “For more than eight years, ICE has been a fantastic partner offering quality cruises and services to our members in the United States and Canada.” ICE will soon provide cruise fulfillment for RCI global timeshare exchange programs, as well as technology platforms, related fulfillment for member loyalty, and other value added benefits to RCI affiliated timeshare developers.

The Potential of Timeshare Exchange

Many timeshare owners do not realize that they may be able to exchange their timeshare unit or timeshare intervals for cruises depending upon the terms of their timeshare ownership and on their affiliation with a timeshare exchange company, such as RCI. Timeshare exchange, for many timeshare owners, is one of the most attractive parts of owning timeshare. The flexibility of timeshare exchange means (depending upon your exchange company) that owners can choose other resorts from a worldwide network of top destinations; that you can exchange your timeshare unit or timeshare interval for more spacious accommodations, for timeshare during a different season, or, though affiliations like RCI timeshare and ICE, for cruises and other valued travel amenities.

In a changing marketplace, it is not surprising that people are also changing the way they buy timeshare or sell timeshare they no longer wish to own. Late last month, Marriott Vacation Club International announced staffing changes at their St. Kitts Beach Club Resort, where some twenty-nine employees will be let go, effective January 1, 2010.

The economy clearly plays a part in this decision, but so does a shifting paradigm in the timeshare industry. As Ed Kinney, Marriott Vice President of Corporate Affairs told a reporter for the online publication, SKNVibes “The reason for closing the gallery is in part due to the economic downturn, but it is also in part because we can sell our product through other effective channels. We found greater efficiencies in certain channels, such as selling to current owners and their referrals and using our telesales group that is also web-based, providing greater global exposure.”

Consumers have grown extremely comfortable with online resources for booking travel. Of course it follows that the same would be true of the way they buy timeshare or sell timeshare. Why sit through a timeshare sales presentation when you can go online and search at your leisure for the timeshare you want?

When you buy timeshare online, you have time to think through your decision-making process in an unpressured way. You can choose to buy timeshare from the developer, paying the full price or sometimes a negotiated discount price. For consumers who want to realize a substantial saving, timeshare resales offer an even better option, affording timeshare buyers discounts as great as fifty percent and sometimes more off the original price of the timeshare.

Remembering the Human Element When Discussing Timeshare Sales

Most importantly, discussing these types of changes in consumer patterns and buying models is not intended to make light of the fact that seven management people and 22 people in non management positions with Marriott Vacation Club International’s St. Kitts Beach Club Resort have lost their jobs. For them and their families, discussions of shifting paradigms offer no consolation. And Marriott timeshare is doing all that they can; as Ed Kinney explained to SKNVibes, these are “valued associates” and there are options for the terminated associates to, “…travel to another location or to apply for a position in the adjacent Marriott resort”.

“We have jobs posted throughout our system,” says Kinney, “and we certainly counsel the associates to make them aware of those different opportunities.”

When you are ready to sell your timeshare, you don’t want to become involved in a process that slows you down or leaves you in limbo. Whether you are trying to eliminate the cost of annual timeshare fees, have found that you no longer use and enjoy your timeshare, or you are ready to buy a new and different timeshare, you want to be able to sell timeshare in an efficient, safe, and uncomplicated way.

Many factors enter into timeshare sales and timeshare resales. The desirability of the timeshare interval you own, the appeal and amenities of the resort, and even the size of the timeshare unit all factor into how easy it will be to sell your timeshare. Above all other aspects, however, here are the two most important, top critical factors in selling your timeshare: price and visibility.

You must price your timeshare to sell. You must price it competitively so that people have a reason to buy your timeshare instead of buying a better priced timeshare at the same resort or a resort with similar amenities. No, it is not necessary to give your timeshare away. But if your timeshare resale is priced higher than others on the resale market, you could be left holding on to for a long time, and that is just common sense.

The second critical factor in selling timeshare is that you must advertise it in a global marketplace of interested timeshare buyers. Not a neighborhood market; not a bulletin board at the grocery store; not a webpage you put up yourself or even your average timeshare resale website—why? Because traffic is the key. Lots and lots of people who are interested in buying timeshare, renting timeshare, or becoming timeshare owners. Worldwide traffic, from consumers in all parts of the globe.

Now you’re talking. Pay attention to these two critical factors and the opportunity to sell your timeshare improves considerably.

Follow this link if you are interested in receiving a free Timeshare Valuation Report.

RCI timeshare exchange, part of Wyndham Worldwide and Wyndham timeshare, has announced that its web-based television network, RCI TV, is now available for non-members.

RCI timeshare does a good job of informing and entertaining through RCI TV, whether you are new to timeshare ownership and want to understand the concept better, or you just want to peruse destinations and resorts on their channels called exactly that, “Destination” and “Resort Showcase.”

Expanding the Ways to Buy Timeshare, Sell Timeshare of Enjoy Timeshare Exchange

Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI says, “The overwhelming response to RCI TV from our members and affiliates continues to push us to expand this unique network that is truly revolutionizing the vacation planning experience.”

RCI is focused on getting the message about the opportunities in timeshare ownership to the public as well as creating a better network of information to people who already own timeshare and are interested in timeshare exchange. RCI will also run over a thousand television commercials on DirectTV in upcoming months. The interactive ads will allow DirectTV viewers to use their remote control and navigate into an interactive screen for even more information.

Timeshare ownership, timeshare sales, and timeshare resales are all changing and growing with enhanced services to better fit the needs of today’s consumers and candidly, today’s economy. The market can expect more and more innovations in communication and interaction from the industry, along with the types of new customer-centric services and products we continue to add to our offerings at Sell My Timeshare NOW.

No, it’s not your Grandma’s timeshare vacation anymore; timeshare sales and timeshare resales are blazing new trails making it easier than ever to buy timeshare, rent timeshare, sell timeshare or enjoy timeshare exchange.