Pamona
TUG Member
We thought it might be easier to post a new thread now that we finished our presentation.
We are back home after 4 wonderful days at Hilton's Tuscany Village Resort in Orlando. We enjoyed the place and area. Thank you Hilton.
We did attend the obligatory presentation in the Sales Center at Parc Soleil. Net end - we didn't purchase anything. Overall, the presentation experience was fairly low key and not high pressure. Maybe even more low key after they came to believe we are truly interested in joining HGVC as resale members.
The Sales Center is gorgeous and well appointed and their informational technology reminded us of Disney's technical prowess in film making. With 180 employees including 112 Sales Reps and stunning views and huge desk size computers one doesn't have to wonder why the cost of HGVC properties are so expensive.
They put on a Hollywood group presentation complete with photos of the world and happy vacationers. Who wouldn't be taken in by such dreams. Very professional approach. Then back to earth and we separated with our sales rep.
Our rep began the usual rehearsed buddy-buddy approach letting us know in several ways that we are valuable people and he would never do anything to hurt us. I thought that was a good time to tell him that we are pursuing possible timeshare resales as our first step. I advised we had done our due diligence and that we want to be HGVC Members but not at developer expense. Very simple.
That seemed to derail him a bit but he came back with the usual resales are chancy and sometimes you end up with huge past maintenance bills to pay off etc. Everyone lies. Imagine being told that in a sales presentation. lol. He told us of one unlucky soul that bought a time share then learned he now owed $18,000 in back maintenance. We would hear that story a few times again. Of course, buy a developed owned timeshare is clean and clear and no problems.
I wont bore you with usual discussions as you have heard them many many times.
But there were a few things that I had not anticipated so I will mention them here.
First, he said that Hilton might change the point values for reservations for resale members and not "real' members. Make it more costly point wise to reserve rooms for a resale member. I told him then that proves the Hilton contract is worthless since what value is it to me if later in life I can't sell it to someone where they can't enjoy all of the benefits that I paid for? Since now they would be a resale member. That's the same BS logic as if I buy a new car but sell it 3 years later and the dealership will no longer service it? Why buy their car then?
After looking at me perplexed he got up and left and then began the procession and musical chairs of managers and other managers trying to put us all back on track. One began discussing the great benefits of Bonus Points and how they can be used up to 4 years. I reminded him its just 2 years but he said Yes but 2 more years for RCI. I asked why you can't be upfront and tell us it's not 4 years for Hilton? His response was asking what we would do with 30,000 bonus points. I told him I probably might pay off one year's $1,500. MF since Hilton only gives me .10 cents per point. He left us.
A manager offered 7,000 pts platinum for just $59,999 with 20,000 bonus points. I told him I can buy 7,000 points more realistically at about $1 a point in resale market. He said I can't so I advised that I had a printout of just one broker with 25 Parc Soleil resale opportunities. I offered to show the printout and he left us.
I had mentioned the Apollo situation which seemed to throw them off base again. Except to say a take over wont happen. I reminded them that its up to senior management and the shareholders to decide that. Not HGVC employees. No response.
One odd thing was that the sales rep showed us on paper that True HGVC Members have a special perk to pay a reduced cash price per night in Hilton brand hotels. Apparently you can use that perk if you don't want to use your points. BUT that perk is not available to resale members. I never encountered that before so I don't know if that is true or more BS. Can Hilton really discriminate and treat resale members as lepers? Maybe other TUG members have encountered this and know is that is correct.
We were then told how chancy resales might be with the ROFR. True. Can't argue with that. But with 112 sales reps presenting to 150 families per session day that seems to suggest HGVC has plenty of inventory and may not want to get into buying back other inventory right now. That ended that discussion.
The next offer was at $48,000 for 7,000 points with 30,000 bonus points. Impressive. But I asked what is the true value of the property given the huge staff and expensive surroundings as well as the cost of the research, marketing, promotions, sales and other incidentals involved in finding and housing 150 families in Hilton properties in the hopes of getting them to buy? Now they downplayed the expenses when earlier they proudly stated how they spare no expense to bring us the best possible product. But at what cost to us?
I didn't get an answer of course. That was the end of our presentation. We were to wait there till someone checked us out and get us our vouchers so we can leave.
After sitting alone for a bit then suddenly one last attempt was 3,400 point at $11,500 with 5,000 bonus points. Told us that's the lowest they can go and we asked when we would be checked out and given our stuff.
As a finale we met a really nice professional who offered us a seemingly great idea. We purchase a small plan for $1,400 good for 18 months with 7,200 points that we can use up and no strings attached. We can walk away after using the points or after the time expires. Only Vegas, Hawaii, New York, Washington, Orlando, Myrtle Beach were available in this plan. Quite attractive locations but for us we have been there and done that so that was not for us. We have different plans for using HGVC in our future. But a nice plan maybe for a family wanting to get a taste of the HGVC. I believe she said that the money paid for that plan would be merged with a real plan in the future if anyone decided to go with HGVD Developer contracts. Don't quote me on that but I think that was the result. Best plan we hear all day. No thanks but then we left with our stuff.
Sorry to take up so much space with this report. We do have to say that the reps and staff and managers we encountered were overall pleasant and never aggressive with us. We thank HGVC for that level of professionalism.
Thank you TUG for preparing us. It can be overwhelming.
Pamona, 5 minutes ago Edit Report
We are back home after 4 wonderful days at Hilton's Tuscany Village Resort in Orlando. We enjoyed the place and area. Thank you Hilton.
We did attend the obligatory presentation in the Sales Center at Parc Soleil. Net end - we didn't purchase anything. Overall, the presentation experience was fairly low key and not high pressure. Maybe even more low key after they came to believe we are truly interested in joining HGVC as resale members.
The Sales Center is gorgeous and well appointed and their informational technology reminded us of Disney's technical prowess in film making. With 180 employees including 112 Sales Reps and stunning views and huge desk size computers one doesn't have to wonder why the cost of HGVC properties are so expensive.
They put on a Hollywood group presentation complete with photos of the world and happy vacationers. Who wouldn't be taken in by such dreams. Very professional approach. Then back to earth and we separated with our sales rep.
Our rep began the usual rehearsed buddy-buddy approach letting us know in several ways that we are valuable people and he would never do anything to hurt us. I thought that was a good time to tell him that we are pursuing possible timeshare resales as our first step. I advised we had done our due diligence and that we want to be HGVC Members but not at developer expense. Very simple.
That seemed to derail him a bit but he came back with the usual resales are chancy and sometimes you end up with huge past maintenance bills to pay off etc. Everyone lies. Imagine being told that in a sales presentation. lol. He told us of one unlucky soul that bought a time share then learned he now owed $18,000 in back maintenance. We would hear that story a few times again. Of course, buy a developed owned timeshare is clean and clear and no problems.
I wont bore you with usual discussions as you have heard them many many times.
But there were a few things that I had not anticipated so I will mention them here.
First, he said that Hilton might change the point values for reservations for resale members and not "real' members. Make it more costly point wise to reserve rooms for a resale member. I told him then that proves the Hilton contract is worthless since what value is it to me if later in life I can't sell it to someone where they can't enjoy all of the benefits that I paid for? Since now they would be a resale member. That's the same BS logic as if I buy a new car but sell it 3 years later and the dealership will no longer service it? Why buy their car then?
After looking at me perplexed he got up and left and then began the procession and musical chairs of managers and other managers trying to put us all back on track. One began discussing the great benefits of Bonus Points and how they can be used up to 4 years. I reminded him its just 2 years but he said Yes but 2 more years for RCI. I asked why you can't be upfront and tell us it's not 4 years for Hilton? His response was asking what we would do with 30,000 bonus points. I told him I probably might pay off one year's $1,500. MF since Hilton only gives me .10 cents per point. He left us.
A manager offered 7,000 pts platinum for just $59,999 with 20,000 bonus points. I told him I can buy 7,000 points more realistically at about $1 a point in resale market. He said I can't so I advised that I had a printout of just one broker with 25 Parc Soleil resale opportunities. I offered to show the printout and he left us.
I had mentioned the Apollo situation which seemed to throw them off base again. Except to say a take over wont happen. I reminded them that its up to senior management and the shareholders to decide that. Not HGVC employees. No response.
One odd thing was that the sales rep showed us on paper that True HGVC Members have a special perk to pay a reduced cash price per night in Hilton brand hotels. Apparently you can use that perk if you don't want to use your points. BUT that perk is not available to resale members. I never encountered that before so I don't know if that is true or more BS. Can Hilton really discriminate and treat resale members as lepers? Maybe other TUG members have encountered this and know is that is correct.
We were then told how chancy resales might be with the ROFR. True. Can't argue with that. But with 112 sales reps presenting to 150 families per session day that seems to suggest HGVC has plenty of inventory and may not want to get into buying back other inventory right now. That ended that discussion.
The next offer was at $48,000 for 7,000 points with 30,000 bonus points. Impressive. But I asked what is the true value of the property given the huge staff and expensive surroundings as well as the cost of the research, marketing, promotions, sales and other incidentals involved in finding and housing 150 families in Hilton properties in the hopes of getting them to buy? Now they downplayed the expenses when earlier they proudly stated how they spare no expense to bring us the best possible product. But at what cost to us?
I didn't get an answer of course. That was the end of our presentation. We were to wait there till someone checked us out and get us our vouchers so we can leave.
After sitting alone for a bit then suddenly one last attempt was 3,400 point at $11,500 with 5,000 bonus points. Told us that's the lowest they can go and we asked when we would be checked out and given our stuff.
As a finale we met a really nice professional who offered us a seemingly great idea. We purchase a small plan for $1,400 good for 18 months with 7,200 points that we can use up and no strings attached. We can walk away after using the points or after the time expires. Only Vegas, Hawaii, New York, Washington, Orlando, Myrtle Beach were available in this plan. Quite attractive locations but for us we have been there and done that so that was not for us. We have different plans for using HGVC in our future. But a nice plan maybe for a family wanting to get a taste of the HGVC. I believe she said that the money paid for that plan would be merged with a real plan in the future if anyone decided to go with HGVD Developer contracts. Don't quote me on that but I think that was the result. Best plan we hear all day. No thanks but then we left with our stuff.
Sorry to take up so much space with this report. We do have to say that the reps and staff and managers we encountered were overall pleasant and never aggressive with us. We thank HGVC for that level of professionalism.
Thank you TUG for preparing us. It can be overwhelming.
Pamona, 5 minutes ago Edit Report