Hilton Hawaiian Village Termite Infestation

alwysonvac · Sep 11, 2014

Place: Hilton Grand Vacation Club (HGVC) at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in the Lagoon Tower
Room: Three bedroom penthouse (Room # 2472/2473)
Dates: Saturday, September 6 thru Saturday, September 13
Type of Reservation: RCI Exchange (RCI CODE: 5996)

Full Disclosure: non-Elite HGVC Owner since 2003 (Lagoon Tower, Flamingo and SeaWorld)

I'm totally disgusted with this place. We've been battling termite issues all week - EVERY FREAKIN DAY!! They have no other place for us to go. :annoyed:
Today is my 50th birthday. I guess this is my sign to sell and move on. I'm sick and tired of the ongoing maintenance issues at the Lagoon Tower. This is just the icing on the cake.

NOTE:I had a different penthouse unit the week before (9/2 thru 9/6 room 2461). The first day we found termites in the lower level bathroom only. We reported the issue and they sprayed later that day. We didn't notice any additional termites in that room after they sprayed.

Pictures coming !

GregT · Sep 11, 2014

Phyllis,

Wow -- I am so sorry to hear that -- please do post pics and please let us know if the management has a longer term strategy.

Thanks (and happy bday!)

Best,

Greg

csxjohn · Sep 11, 2014

alwysonvac said:
Place: Hilton Grand Vacation Club (HGVC) at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in the Lagoon Tower
Room: Three bedroom penthouse (Room # 2472/2473)
Dates: Saturday, September 6 thru Saturday, September 13
Type of Reservation: RCI Exchange (RCI CODE: 5996)

Full Disclosure: non-Elite HGVC Owner since 2003 (Lagoon Tower, Flamingo and SeaWorld)

.... I guess this is my sign to sell and move on. I'm sick and tired of the ongoing maintenance issues at the Lagoon Tower. This just the icing on the cake.

NOTE:I had a different penthouse unit the week before (9/2 thru 9/6 room 2461). The first day we found termites in the lower level bathroom only. ...Pictures coming !

If there are termites present there is rotten wood present and if I were you I'd sell and move on before a huge SA is slapped on the owners.

1Kflyerguy · Sep 11, 2014

wow, that's not what i wanted to read after finally booking my first trip there...

But i believe i have heard that is very hard to control termites in tropical regions.. While California is not tropical, almost every house gets tented when you sell...

alwysonvac · Sep 11, 2014

I've started an album on Flickr.

The 1st batch of photos are available - https://www.flickr.com/photos/40089311@N05/sets/72157647479082611/

I'll post more photos later. Here are some highlights

jestme · Sep 11, 2014

Try management there one more time and if you aren't satisfied, call Orlando and tell them you expect them to do something, NOW! Tell them to get you a suite at the Ali'i tower on the HHV hotel side if they have to until the problem is solved. Now you have another problem of how to not bring them home with you as well. (Another good reason to call Orlando.)

joestein · Sep 11, 2014

It must be swarmer season.

sjuhawk_jd · Sep 11, 2014

csxjohn said:
If there are termites present there is rotten wood present and if I were you I'd sell and move on before a huge SA is slapped on the owners.

This appears to be a random, gloom and doom advice.

Never heard of any huge special assessments at any core hilton property. These are regular ongoing maintenance issues and hilton knows how to deal with them with reserves. That is my opinion.

desalvsj · Sep 11, 2014

These look like subterranean type. They like moist ground and travel thru mud tunnels. They try to get outside so they tend to head towards windows where there is light. They will lose their wings and die in 24 hours unless they can find a new colony. Typical treatment is injecting the chemicals into the ground. I am on a slab and they had to drill thru it to inject the pesticides. Best treatment was bait type which they take back to the nest to try and kill the queen. Its for sure a experience when they swarm.

Steve

SmithOp · Sep 11, 2014

sjuhawk_jd said:
This appears to be a random, gloom and doom advice.

Never heard of any huge special assessments at any core hilton property. These are regular ongoing maintenance issues and hilton knows how to deal with them with reserves. That is my opinion.

Considering the building is concrete, there's not much for them to chew on but wood veneers or cabinets.

Those little bugs are nothing, let me tell you about the great flying cockroach that came in 15th floor lanaii...

alwysonvac · Sep 12, 2014

Update...

I posted the termite issue on the HGVC Facebook page and we contacted the Resort Manager again.

We're moving this evening from a three bedroom to a two bedroom unit. I'm giving the bedrooms to my father, stepmother, older sister and brother-in-law. My husband and I will have to sleep on the sofa bed. We never used the sofa bed on any of our previous trips to the Hilton Hawaiian Village. We'll just have to make the best of it. I can't wait until we leave HHV (never thought I would say that :annoyed

.

Thankfully the 1st week of our two week trip was very enjoyable. Our first three nights were spent in a very lovely three bedroom grand villa at Disney's Aulani Resort

followed by four nights in a smaller penthouse room (#3902) in the Grand Waikikian tower at the Hilton Hawaiian Village (HHV).

Jason245 · Sep 12, 2014

alwysonvac said:
I posted the termite issue on the HGVC Facebook page and we contacted the Resort Manager again.

We're moving this evening from a three bedroom to a two bedroom unit. I'm giving the bedrooms to my father, stepmother, older sister and brother-in-law. My husband and I will have to sleep on the sofa bed. We never used the sofa bed on any of our previous trips to the Hilton Hawaiian Village. We'll just have to make the best of it. I can't wait until we leave HHV (never thought I would say that :annoyed.

Thankfully the 1st week of our two week trip was very enjoyable. Our first three nights were spent in a very lovely three bedroom grand villa at Disney's Aulani Resort followed by four nights in a smaller penthouse room (#3902) in the Grand Waikikian tower at the Hilton Hawaiian Village (HHV).

Are they doing anthing to compensate you for this issue? Did you purchase trip insurance that might be able to cover this issue?

If this were me, I would be PISSED and follow my three pronged strategy for success:

1. Make a "reasonable" demand for compensation (maybe full refund of my points for the stay). verbally.

2. Same as step 1, but in writting and a listing of who I will be complaining to should the issue not be resolved.

3. Execute fully on threat of contacting appropriate government and non government agencies (housing authority, city inspectors, review sites, BBB, tourist office, ETC. ETC. ETC..).

Generally this works.

I am kinda wondering what they are going to do with the family that is supposed to be in that unit next week.....

danb · Sep 12, 2014

Termites

We live in Ewa Beach and from what I have heard termites are a problem on the islands. Our homes here are built from steel. The framing is steel except around the doors and windows. We spray anyway and the ground was treated before the slab was poured. Hope we don't see them.
Sorry to hear of your issues in the LT.

PearlCity · Sep 12, 2014

Ugh sorry to hear! I'm not familiar with how high up the 3rd floor units but sometimes termites, are in the surrounding trees. We cut the mango tree down in our yard to extend our house 7 years ago and the tree trimmers said it was good we did as the main trunk was half eaten by termites. I was happy to get that infestation away from my house.

It feels awful to find pests on vacation. We had bed bugs during our stay at worldmark Solvang this summer and it creeped us out for the rest of our trip, even after we moved on to worldmark marina after that.

Funny though, my mom who had the bed bugs in her bed complained about how dirty the carpets were.. and I said yeah kinda like lagoon tower... it truly is a housekeeping/maintenance issue. I hope they refund your points the way worldmark refunded ours.

avelox · Sep 12, 2014

Don't Forget To Also Notify ....

Jason245 said:
Are they doing anthing to compensate you for this issue? Did you purchase trip insurance that might be able to cover this issue?

If this were me, I would be PISSED and follow my three pronged strategy for success:

1. Make a "reasonable" demand for compensation (maybe full refund of my points for the stay). verbally.

2. Same as step 1, but in writting and a listing of who I will be complaining to should the issue not be resolved.

3. Execute fully on threat of contacting appropriate government and non government agencies (housing authority, city inspectors, review sites, BBB, tourist office, ETC. ETC. ETC..).

Generally this works.

I am kinda wondering what they are going to do with the family that is supposed to be in that unit next week.....

and also consider notifying ...

the FBI, they could be terrorist termites
the CIA, they could be spy termites
the DOH, they could be sick termites
Hawaii 5-0, they could be illegal alien termites, entering the USA w/o registering
NATO, they could be pro-Russian termites
JAG, the termites might need a lawyer
the NFL, the termites might be female (so do not hurt them!)

Have a great weekend!

:whoopie:

sjuhawk_jd · Sep 12, 2014

Jason245 said:
Are they doing anthing to compensate you for this issue? Did you purchase trip insurance that might be able to cover this issue?

If this were me, I would be PISSED and follow my three pronged strategy for success:

1. Make a "reasonable" demand for compensation (maybe full refund of my points for the stay). verbally.

2. Same as step 1, but in writting and a listing of who I will be complaining to should the issue not be resolved.

3. Execute fully on threat of contacting appropriate government and non government agencies (housing authority, city inspectors, review sites, BBB, tourist office, ETC. ETC. ETC..).

Generally this works.

I am kinda wondering what they are going to do with the family that is supposed to be in that unit next week.....

The OP is still in Hawaii I believe. As per your suggestion, should there be a pause of few days after step 1 (to see if the resort comes through on number 1), before mentioning and doing steps 2 and 3. Just trying to be clear. You seems to have lot of experience with getting all sorts of "reasonable" (bordering unreasonable) demands. Look forward to your book on this topic :banana:

Jason245 · Sep 12, 2014

First off, I believe in reasonable and realistic demands(in this instance vacation experience was partially ruined with a downgrade in accommodation as a result).

Reasonable and realistic deadline and ttime frame sshould be used between all steps. When negotiating, it is always best to demand the highest reasonable compensation because you might get it and it sets the stage for future negotiation.

sjuhawk_jd · Sep 13, 2014

Jason245 said:
First off, I believe in reasonable and realistic demands(in this instance vacation experience was partially ruined with a downgrade in accommodation as a result).

Reasonable and realistic deadline and ttime frame sshould be used between all steps. When negotiating, it is always best to demand the highest reasonable compensation because you might get it and it sets the stage for future negotiation.

If one is getting the "highest reasonable compensation", than what is left for "future negotiation"? :hysterical:

Jason245 · Sep 13, 2014

Nothing, you got what you wanted... Sometimes however, you are offered much less, or nothing instead. Some people just accept the receipt of nothing to compensate for things that were fully in controll of the other party. For example, if you paid $4000 for a business class seat on a flight, and we're then downgraded to economy class and offered a few free drink coupons and air miles, would you accept that?

If so, God bless you.. I get very limited vacation time and when I pay for a premium experience I expect it.

alwysonvac · Sep 13, 2014

Our Compensation for spoiling the 2nd week of our two week vacation.
- 7,000 HGVC Points credited to my HGVC account (in the next several weeks)
- $150 resort credit
- Birthday gifts (Bottle wine, Honolulu Cookies, Gourmet Salts and Chocolates).

Honestly, none of this makes me happy. Nothing can make up for the time that we lost. We lost time talking with the HGVC day/evening managers multiple times during our stay and also packing/moving to two other rooms (for the first night and last two nights).

Hawaii is an expensive and long trip from the East Coast. My father is 80 years old. He's not getting around as easily as he used to. This trip was also my 80th birthday gift to him and my stepmother. We were suppose to be spending our time relaxing with my father not spending our time worried about termites and packing/moving.

Sadly, I will always remember this disappointing birthday week for both me and my father

sjuhawk_jd · Sep 16, 2014

alwysonvac said:
Our Compensation for spoiling the 2nd week of our two week vacation.
- 7,000 HGVC Points credited to my HGVC account (in the next several weeks)
- $150 resort credit
- Birthday gifts (Bottle wine, Honolulu Cookies, Gourmet Salts and Chocolates).

Honestly, none of this makes me happy. Nothing can make up for the time that we lost. We lost time talking with the HGVC day/evening managers multiple times during our stay and also packing/moving to two other rooms (for the first night and last two nights).

Hawaii is an expensive and long trip from the East Coast. My father is 80 years old. He's not getting around as easily as he used to. This trip was also my 80th birthday gift to him and my stepmother. We were suppose to be spending our time relaxing with my father not spending our time worried about termites and packing/moving.

Sadly, I will always remember this disappointing birthday week for both me and my father

Thanks for the update and sorry to hear about the disappointment. You are very reasonable person and seems like you did not get into the faces of the resort managers who try very hard to make everyone's experience a pleasant one (although that does not happen all the time). Last month, I was at the Lagoon tower in a top floor penthouse. The noise from the elevator coming to my bedroom drove me crazy. It was only for 3 nights, before I had a open season reservation to another unit. I complained about the noise, became good friends with the resort managers and they made sure my next 4 night stay was away from the elevator.

HatTrick · Sep 16, 2014

A search of TUG's HGVC forum revealed no other reports of termites at Lagoon Tower, but a tripadvisor search did.

2009 stay: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...on_Hawaiian_Village-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii.html

2011 stay: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...on_Hawaiian_Village-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii.html

2013 stay: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...on_Hawaiian_Village-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii.html

1Kflyerguy · Sep 17, 2014

Seems like they tried to compensate you for the poor experience, though as mentioned you can't ever get the time back...

Still excited about our first trip to HHV next year, but reading your story, and Trip Advisor comment by guests and Management's response does give me pause about my trip to HHV next year..

bastroum · Sep 17, 2014

1Kflyerguy said:
Seems like they tried to compensate you for the poor experience, though as mentioned you can't ever get the time back...

Still excited about our first trip to HHV next year, but reading your story, and Trip Advisor comment by guests and Management's response does give me pause about my trip to HHV next year..

I've been to the Lagoon Tower over 30 times since 2000. It is an older building with some issues, but still one of the best timeshares in Hawaii. You must like the "urban Hononlulu" or you will be disappointed.

alwysonvac · Sep 21, 2014

HatTrick said:
A search of TUG's HGVC forum revealed no other reports of termites at Lagoon Tower, but a tripadvisor search did.

2009 stay: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...on_Hawaiian_Village-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii.html

2011 stay: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...on_Hawaiian_Village-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii.html

2013 stay: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...on_Hawaiian_Village-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii.html

We had a termite issue during our Feb 2010 stay (three bedroom penthouse room 2467).
I found a brief summary that I wrote after we returned. I also have one picture of the insect we saved in a ziploc bag for our discussion with housekeeping and the onsite resort manager (see photo below). At the time, I thought it was an isolated incident

"During our stay, we came back to room after dark and turned on the kitchen light and found over twenty of these bugs (wing and w/o wings) moving around on the kitchen floor. My husband killed them as they hovered on the floor and we called housekeeping. Housekeeping came and said they were termites. They check around the kitchen and cleaned the kitchen floor. They said someone would come by to spray the next day but we have no evidence that anyone stopped by and sprayed during the rest of our stay. After that we had a few bugs here and there show up in the kitchen during the rest of our stay but not in large numbers like the first night when they arrived. Housekeeping suggested that we keep the balcony doors closed during our stay to prevent further problems. We've had several stays over the years in the HHV Lagoon Tower but this is the first time we've had a bug issue"

Hilton Hawaiian Village Termite Infestation

alwysonvac

GregT

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