Margaritaville Vacation Club

[Jimag]

Please help me understand Margaritaville Vacation Club (MVC) by Wyndham. Am I correct in understanding that MVC an analogue of the Club Wyndham Access Vacation Ownership Plan with the following differences? First, it appears that MVC presently is comprised only of the Puerto Rico (Rio Mar) and St. Thomas properties with the possibility of additional properties being added in the future, whereas CWA is comprised of inventory at many different Wyndham properties. According to the Glossary in the Club Wyndham Plus Members' Directory (2014-15), both CWA and MVC are timeshare plans. Under CWA certain inventory at various resorts (not necessarily the entire property) is deeded to a trust for the benefit of a property owners' association comprised of CWA owners. On the other hand, MVC is a multi-site timeshare plan where resort properties (the entire properties?) are deeded to, and held in, a trust for the benefit of a property owners association comprised of MVC owners. (Multi-site may be an overstatement in describing MVC, given that only Rio Mar and St. Thomas are incorporated in MVC at present.) Wyndham and Margaritaville are connected only with regard to MVC. There is no connection between Wyndham or Wyndham MVC and other Margaritaville activities, such as Margaritaville Hotels, Resorts, Restaurants, Casinos, Residences, and Adventures. There appear to be exceptions that I don't understand, however, such as Margaritaville Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, which appear on the MYCLUBWYNDHAM Website as available to me. What about the Margaritaville properties in Anna Maria Sound, Daytona, Hollywood, Key West, Hilton Head, Kissimmee, Pensacola, Biloxi, Orlando, Grand Cayman, Nashville, and Bossier City. Are my understandings correct?

 

[ecwinch]

Almost all of the properties you list are NOT part of the MVC. They are hotel properties. I would say ALL, but it appears that Nashville is planning to place some units in MVC.

 

[Jimag]

Almost all of the properties you list are NOT part of the MVC. They are hotel properties. I would say ALL, but it appears that Nashville is planning to place some units in MVC.

Am I correct that only Rio Mar and St. Thomas are MVC properties at present? Pigeon Forge is a hotel property that shows availability on MYCLUBWYNDHAM. Is it likely the other Margaritaville hotel properties will add inventory to MVC? And, are MVC points equivalent to Wyndham Plus Points?

 

[Jimag]

Am I correct that only Rio Mar and St. Thomas are MVC properties at present? Pigeon Forge is a hotel property that shows availability on MYCLUBWYNDHAM. Is it likely the other Margaritaville hotel properties will add inventory to MVC? And, are MVC points equivalent to Wyndham Plus Points?

I forgot to say thanks.

 

[ecwinch]

Am I correct that only Rio Mar and St. Thomas are MVC properties at present? Pigeon Forge is a hotel property that shows availability on MYCLUBWYNDHAM. Is it likely the other Margaritaville hotel properties will add inventory to MVC? And, are MVC points equivalent to Wyndham Plus Points?

No, Pigeon Forge is like Nashville is planned to be - a mixed use resort (hotel/MVC). Yes, MVC is similar to CWA or Club Wyndham Plus points - they allow all Club Wyndham resorts to be booked with your MVC points 0-10 months out. With a 10-13 month booking window for MVC.

 

[Jimag]

No, Pigeon Forge is like Nashville is planned to be - a mixed use resort (hotel/MVC). Yes, MVC are similar to CWA or Club Wyndham Plus points - they allow all Club Wyndham resorts to be booked with your MVC points 0-10 months out.

Thanks, Eric. Do you know if MVC points are interchangeable with Plus Points?

 

[ecwinch]

Thanks, Eric. Do you know if MVC points are interchangeable with Plus Points?

If you mean in terms of booking during the Advanced Reservation Period (ARP) of 10-13 months out, the answer is no. 10-13 months out you cannot use Plus points to book a MVC property - only MVC points.

Inside the standard booking window (0-10 months), they are the same as Plus points.

 

[Jimag]

Somehow I missed the second part of your previous message where you said MVC, Plus, and CWA points are similar. That answers my question. I'm not going to be overly precise and ask whether they are the same. Thanks again, Jim.

 

[Jimag]

Somehow I missed the second part of your previous message where you said MVC, Plus, and CWA points are similar. That answers my question. I'm not going to be overly precise and ask whether they are the same. Thanks again, Jim.

Got it. No response necessary.

 

[Avislo]

For the Pigeon Forge, TN location, per the Resort, Wyndham only rents 6 rooms there, it is hotel.

https://www.margaritaville.com/stay?=vacation-club

The above site shows resorts that are what has been called Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. Click on the Vacation Club tab and it appears to be the Wyndham version. The Resorts tab appears to show a bunch of resorts that are not the Wyndham version.

 

[Avislo]

.

Am I correct that only Rio Mar and St. Thomas are MVC properties at present? Pigeon Forge is a hotel property that shows availability on MYCLUBWYNDHAM. Is it likely the other Margaritaville hotel properties will add inventory to MVC? And, are MVC points equivalent to Wyndham Plus Points?

The Wyndham related vacation club indicated that they are expecting to get some inventory at the Nashville location when it opens but not at the Gatlinburg Location.

 

[Jimag]

.

The Wyndham related vacation club indicated that they are expecting to get some inventory at the Nashville location when it opens but not at the Gatlinburg Location.

That's interesting, Avislo, thanks.

I entered the "Resorts" portal on the Margaritaville Website. It includes both resorts and hotels. I wonder if labeling a property a resort or a hotel means much. Perhaps, it doesn't mean much more than what amenities and activities are offered at the property and the amount of inventory available under a program. It would be interesting to know whether the plan is to grow MVC into something like CWA by adding inventory gradually from other Margaritaville properties as the Wyndham marketing arm sells points in MVC. I wonder if Margaritaville markets MVC points as well. The model would need to work for both Wyndham and Margaritaville. I can't see how MVC will continue to be viable with only Rio Mar, St. Thomas, and a scattering of rooms at a few random Margaritaville properties, particularly after Rio Mar and St. Thomas were both badly damaged by the hurricanes. I suppose it's possible that plans are a bit up in the air at the moment.

Having scanned Wyndham's annual report and learning that the bulk of their business is developing, marketing, and managing, not owning, time share properties and managing, but not owning hotels, I am curious to understand what their MVC strategy is with Margaritaville. As an aside, I think I recall that Wyndham actually owns a piece of the Rio Mar resort, which is somewhat anomalous for them, I think.

How long MVC has been in existence?

Jim

 

[Avislo]

Article dated September 09, 2016 . Looks like MVC came into being around 2015.

"The flagship of Margaritaville Vacation Club (MVC) in St Thomas was opened during the year ended in a partnership created with Wyndham Vacation Ownership, which is described as the largest timeshare operators in the world. Revenue from MVC was in excess of US$500,000 during the year."

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Profit-nearly-doubles-for-Margaritaville-Caribbean_73128

Per Wyndham, St. Thomas is scheduled to re-open in the middle of 2018 and the other one in the spring of 2018.

 

[Jimag]

Article dated September 09, 2016 . Looks like MVC came into being around 2015.

"The flagship of Margaritaville Vacation Club (MVC) in St Thomas was opened during the year ended in a partnership created with Wyndham Vacation Ownership, which is described as the largest timeshare operators in the world. Revenue from MVC was in excess of US$500,000 during the year."

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Profit-nearly-doubles-for-Margaritaville-Caribbean_73128

Per Wyndham, St. Thomas is scheduled to re-open in the middle of 2018 and the other one in the spring of 2018.

Thanks, Avislo. Very interesting article from the Jamaica Observer. It serves to whet my curiosity regarding MVC. It appears, maybe I should say I'm guessing, that Wyndham took over management of Margaritaville St. Thomas from a company named Margaritaville Caribbean Ltd. (MCL - Jamaica Stock Exchange), a company registered in the Bahamas and domiciled in Jamaica. I think Wyndham established the Margaritaville Vacation Club to operate the St. Thomas property and the Rio Mar property under a partnership with Margaritaville Enterprises, a privately held U.S. company founded by Jimmy Buffett with corporate offices in Orlando, Florida. I wonder if MVC was established with the idea that it could grow by absorbing inventory from other Margaritaville properties.

 

[tschwa2]

My understanding is that the Margaritaville hotel inventory is not owned by either the Margaritaville vacation club or by Wyndham. It is a contractual use agreement with the hotel with a specific end date for x amount of inventory and then at the end of the contract wyndham could potentially negotiate another contract for inventory. This is different than having an actual ownership permanent stake and control of the inventory. While the Margaritaville hotels may be willing to contract out some inventory, I don't see them giving Wyndham an ownership stake in any additional properties in the near future and as long as they have enough capital and are profitable enough I don't think that will change. I see no evidence that currently Margaritaville hotels and resorts wish to extend their relationship with Wyndham.

 

[Jimag]

My understanding is that the Margaritaville hotel inventory is not owned by either the Margaritaville vacation club or by Wyndham. It is a contractual use agreement with the hotel with a specific end date for x amount of inventory and then at the end of the contract wyndham could potentially negotiate another contract for inventory. This is different than having an actual ownership permanent stake and control of the inventory. While the Margaritaville hotels may be willing to contract out some inventory, I don't see them giving Wyndham an ownership stake in any additional properties in the near future and as long as they have enough capital and are profitable enough I don't think that will change. I see no evidence that currently Margaritaville hotels and resorts wish to extend their relationship with Wyndham.

That certainly adds to my understanding. What I was thinking was not that MVC was established in contemplation of Wyndham taking an ownership stake in Margaritaville properties, but that Margaritaville could be interested in turning some inventory into timeshares that could be marketed by Wyndham and placed in the MVC trust. Just allowing my imagination a free rein, I'm not suggesting I have anything to support that notion. I suppose it would also be possible that the contractual agreement for Pigeon Forge inventory to be offered on MyClubWyndham could be a prototype for additional inventory at other Margaritaville properties to be marketed that way.

 

[Baby Jane]

Wish they would include the Margaritaville Hotel in Biloxi in Club Wyndham Inventory

 

[Jimag]

That certainly adds to my understanding. What I was thinking was not that MVC was established in contemplation of Wyndham taking an ownership stake in Margaritaville properties, but that Margaritaville could be interested in turning some inventory into timeshares that could be marketed by Wyndham and placed in the MVC trust. Just allowing my imagination a free rein, I'm not suggesting I have anything to support that notion. I suppose it would also be possible that the contractual agreement for Pigeon Forge inventory to be offered on MyClubWyndham could be a prototype for additional inventory at other Margaritaville properties to be marketed that way.

Wish they would include the Margaritaville Hotel in Biloxi in Club Wyndham Inventory

I agree.

 

[Avislo]

https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=46994204

Company Overview of Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC
Key Executives for Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC
Mr. Jimmy Buffett
Founder

Mr. Dan Leonard
President of Margaritaville Management Group and COO - Margaritaville Management Group
Snapshot

People
Company Overview
Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC operates a chain of stores and cafes in the United States, Canada, Jamaica, and Grand Turk. Its stores provide merchandise comprising graphic tee shirts, shirts, fleece, pants and shorts, sunglasses, beachwear, accessories, jewelry, and shoes and flip flops for men and women; headwear, such as caps, straw hats, and visors; souvenirs that include home décor, kitchenware, CDs and media, and games; and signature items, furniture, gift certificates, custom items, and drink makers. The company’s cafes offer dining and breakfast menus that include soups and sides, starters, entrée salads, specialties, furniture, grilled products, sandwiches and burgers, and desserts...

Detailed Description
6800 Lakewood Plaza Drive

Orlando, FL 32819

United States

Founded in 2006

 

[WyndhamBarter]

May I mention the elephant in the room?

In May 2014 we spent a delightful 5 nights at Bluebeard's Beach Club in St. Thomas.
At the time it was a Worldmark resort - we accessed it through our WVO ownership.

Margaritaville St. Thomas was almost finished construction at the time - we actually drove
around to try to visit it, but of course we were turned away by the hard hat guys worried
about our safety on site.

We really had a great time at BBC. But we couldn't help but notice the hordes of biting
black flies that showed up every evening around sunset. BFFs of ours had abandoned
St Thomas as their honeymoon location decades earlier because of the flies, but we thought
we should check it out.

Very advanced insect repellent was for sale in every convenience store. And maybe the
infestation was seasonal - I dunno. But we decided Margaritaville St Thomas (yet to open)
was no linger high on our list.

HTH. Your mileage, of course, may vary.

Oh - and on a positive note - BBC had a pool with a swim-up bar. There were barstools
in the water. Really very pleasant if only it weren't for the flies.

 

[Jimag]

https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=46994204

Company Overview of Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC
Key Executives for Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC
Mr. Jimmy Buffett
Founder

Mr. Dan Leonard
President of Margaritaville Management Group and COO - Margaritaville Management Group
Snapshot

People
Company Overview
Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC operates a chain of stores and cafes in the United States, Canada, Jamaica, and Grand Turk. Its stores provide merchandise comprising graphic tee shirts, shirts, fleece, pants and shorts, sunglasses, beachwear, accessories, jewelry, and shoes and flip flops for men and women; headwear, such as caps, straw hats, and visors; souvenirs that include home décor, kitchenware, CDs and media, and games; and signature items, furniture, gift certificates, custom items, and drink makers. The company’s cafes offer dining and breakfast menus that include soups and sides, starters, entrée salads, specialties, furniture, grilled products, sandwiches and burgers, and desserts...

Detailed Description
6800 Lakewood Plaza Drive

Orlando, FL 32819

United States

Founded in 2006

Hey Avislo, I've been distracted and just read the Bloomberg piece you posted. I saw that too. It doesn't mention any Margaritaville hospitality involvement by Margaritaville Enterprises, but, as far as I know, all of Margaritaville business ventures are private ventures, which means that information on such ventures can remain confidential. I bet that Margaritaville properties like Pigeon Forge and Biloxi are separate ventures by local investors in which Margaritaville Enterprises or some other Buffitt enterprise may or may not be an investor. My assumption is that Margaritaville is, in part, a branding business much like other hospitality businesses including Wyndham, Marriott, and Trump. The difference is that you can lean about Wyndham and Marriott from their public filings. Margaritaville and Trump, being privately owned enterprises, not so much. I'm curious to know what Buffitt enterprise joined together with Wyndham to establish MVC. Regardless, it's not hard to understand why the Wyndham marketing apparatus would be useful to Margaritaville branded properties.

Here is a cut and paste from Wikipedia:

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville is the name of a United States-based hospitality company that manages and franchises a casual dining American restaurant chain, a chain of stores selling Jimmy Buffett-themed merchandise, and casinos with lodging facilities.​

It is owned by Buffett's Margaritaville Holdings LLC (a subsidiary of Cheeseburger Holding Company, LLC) and named after his hit song "Margaritaville". Some locations are franchise owned, such as the Caribbean, Australian, and Mexican locations. There are locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, six island locations throughout the Caribbean as well as a newly opened site in Sydney, Australia since September 2012. In 2014 a Brazilian company bought 12 Margaritaville Restaurants and the rights to expand the company in the U.S.
​

I for one hope that MVC successfully grows to offer access to many Margaritaville branded properties. In order for such growth to occur, I suppose it would be necessary for the various Margaritaville branded properties to see the benefit in being marketed through MVC and the Wyndham apparatus.

Jim

 

[Jimag]

May I mention the elephant in the room?

In May 2014 we spent a delightful 5 nights at Bluebeard's Beach Club in St. Thomas.
At the time it was a Worldmark resort - we accessed it through our WVO ownership.

Margaritaville St. Thomas was almost finished construction at the time - we actually drove
around to try to visit it, but of course we were turned away by the hard hat guys worried
about our safety on site.

We really had a great time at BBC. But we couldn't help but notice the hordes of biting
black flies that showed up every evening around sunset. BFFs of ours had abandoned
St Thomas as their honeymoon location decades earlier because of the flies, but we thought
we should check it out.

Very advanced insect repellent was for sale in every convenience store. And maybe the
infestation was seasonal - I dunno. But we decided Margaritaville St Thomas (yet to open)
was no linger high on our list.

HTH. Your mileage, of course, may vary.

Oh - and on a positive note - BBC had a pool with a swim-up bar. There were barstools
in the water. Really very pleasant if only it weren't for the flies.

Arghh!!! Black flies, I wonder if they're the same pests I know from the Adirondacks. Probably not because of the different climate and the fact that they are a fresh water species in the North East. According to a park ranger the Adirondacks black flies hatch in the spring when the water temperature is right. Their lifespan is short so when the water temperature rises future generations don't hatch and the flies die off by July 4. Before that they are vicious. I understand that hordes of them can kill moose and deer and livestock.

 

[Jan M.]

Before that they are vicious. I understand that hordes of them can kill moose and deer and livestock.

I can easily believe that! I was bit on the shinbone of my leg by what was either a black fly or a deer fly while hiking in the woods in northern Vermont at the end of July years ago. I had spent time in the woods and on farms but had never experienced a bite like that from one of the nasty types of flies before or since either. I still remember how much and how long it hurt. It bled for a good 15 minutes too. Your shinbone isn't a spot that would normally bleed that much so you know the bite was vicious. I didn't want to spoil the outing so kept on hiking but kept having to stop to wipe up the blood running down my leg. The friend I was visiting finally said we weren't going on even though I wasn't complaining. I was sure glad to go back and get in the nice cold lake.