Yes there was money up front, 199.00 per reservation, which is the exchange fee we pay RCI. Yes scam was the first thing that came to mind with me too but thought I would do the research on it first. If you Google it, then it is all about renting or buying another condo, god forbid that. The wife use to have to deal with setting up convention and trade show she leaning toward being true.... but I am not sure at all and till I am no way is she touching this. The last guy I talked to here(being home) wanted me to pay him 4 years of maintenance fees and he would relieve me of my condo, laughed so hard I could not tell him to get out. I just kept pointing at the door till he left. They don't have conventions at time share but people have to stay somewhere. They were talking cruise, where they rent the whole ship.