[ 2021 ] Preferred Check In Experience? What is this? [MERGED]

[Pamplemousse]

I have. I am at Grande Vista now. Last week I got an email from one of the concierges inviting me to do preferred check-in. We decided to skip this "benefit to ownership" because it ends up taking too long to check in and the real purpose is to get us to sign up for a presentation. The email said I needed to contact them in order to sign up for it so I ignored the email. Then I started getting phone calls, which I again ignored.

When we went to check in, someone inside the door with a clipboard asked for my name. I gave it and walked right up to an associate at the regular check in desk. He called to me and said I was to get preferred check in (even though I didn't opt for it). I said "That's ok. This is faster". I started to check in with the associate at the main desk, giving her my ID and credit card, when the concierge that sent me the original email (and made the phone calls) came out and got me and MADE me go into the preferred check in desk. I did take a glass of wine for my trouble and of course she started to pitch signing me up for an Owners Update. We both told her we weren't interested... though she tried a little harder before accepting my "I'll think about it" just so we could get our room keys and leave.

I had basically this same experience in 2020.

For sales pitches our new tactic with all MVC check ins is only one of us goes in to check in and so the answer is ”I’ll have to check with my spouse“ and then we unplug the room phone.

 

[Serina]

Pamplemousse: When only one of you went into the “preferred“ check in area, were you able to get your key and parking pass without the sales pitch sign up etc?

 

[Pamplemousse]

Pamplemousse: When only one of you went into the “preferred“ check in area, were you able to get your key and parking pass without the sales pitch sign up etc?

Haven’t done it for preferred- haven’t been back to GV.
But I don’t think they could deny you check in- all room occupants are not required to check in.
When the kids were young it was always just one of us.

 

[NboroGirl]

Next time when the guy with the clipboard asks for my name I'm going to give my maiden name so it won't be on their list.

 

[daviator]

I have. I am at Grande Vista now. Last week I got an email from one of the concierges inviting me to do preferred check-in. We decided to skip this "benefit to ownership" because it ends up taking too long to check in and the real purpose is to get us to sign up for a presentation. The email said I needed to contact them in order to sign up for it so I ignored the email. Then I started getting phone calls, which I again ignored.

When we went to check in, someone inside the door with a clipboard asked for my name. I gave it and walked right up to an associate at the regular check in desk. He called to me and said I was to get preferred check in (even though I didn't opt for it). I said "That's ok. This is faster". I started to check in with the associate at the main desk, giving her my ID and credit card, when the concierge that sent me the original email (and made the phone calls) came out and got me and MADE me go into the preferred check in desk. I did take a glass of wine for my trouble and of course she started to pitch signing me up for an Owners Update. We both told her we weren't interested... though she tried a little harder before accepting my "I'll think about it" just so we could get our room keys and leave.

It’s “preferred”, as in “MVC prefers that you check in with someone who can coerce you into a sales presentation.”

 

[aklausing]

We just checked in at Cypress Harbour using the Preferred Check-in. We were not asked once to attend a sales presentation. Apparently Cypress Harbour started this a few weeks ago and it's only owners that are "offered" it.

 

[dioxide45]

We just checked in at Cypress Harbour using the Preferred Check-in. We were not asked once to attend a sales presentation. Apparently Cypress Harbour started this a few weeks ago and it's only owners that are "offered" it.

Where do you go for preferred check-in at Cypress Harbour? Do they have a separate area for it?

 

[aklausing]

Where do you go for preferred check-in at Cypress Harbour? Do they have a separate area for it?

Yes, the building that was originally used for sales and lately for training. It's between buildings 61 & 62. We went to the front desk and they said we were supposed to be checking in through preferred, but they still checked us in at the front desk. We then went to the preferred and had some wine and snacks and the rep that was assigned to us gave us the typical discount coupons, recommendations, etc. Supposedly they sent us an email telling us to use the preferred, but we never got the email.

 

[dioxide45]

Yes, the building that was originally used for sales and lately for training. It's between buildings 61 & 62. We went to the front desk and they said we were supposed to be checking in through preferred, but they still checked us in at the front desk. We then went to the preferred and had some wine and snacks and the rep that was assigned to us gave us the typical discount coupons, recommendations, etc. Supposedly they sent us an email telling us to use the preferred, but we never got the email.

Interesting. Seems odd to have it in a completely separate building, but I guess there ins't much room in the main lobby. I know Sheraton Vistana Resort at times has a VIP checkin in a building way back in Lakes. I wonder if the person at the gate wasn't supposed to direct you in the right direction for "VIP" checkin.

 

[aklausing]

Interesting. Seems odd to have it in a completely separate building, but I guess there ins't much room in the main lobby. I know Sheraton Vistana Resort at times has a VIP checkin in a building way back in Lakes. I wonder if the person at the gate wasn't supposed to direct you in the right direction for "VIP" checkin.

Yes, they said the person at the gate should have sent us there a well.

 

[Ixchel]

We were called a week ahead and told to go to the " New Owner Preferred Check-in ". Arrived at 4 pm, found no other guests, one staff member. We had sent in our room request ahead of time and were assigned a villa direct opposite to what we had requested-- so we insisted on reassignment. That took about 45 minutes, because the Preferred staff can't do that...they had to email the usual Reception and ask. We eventually got another room.

We had already said we didn't plan to do a presentation, as we can barely afford the points we have now. Still, got the hard sell to attend a Virtual Presentation for $150 gift card. Still no.
For future visits, will insist we be able to check in at the " Non-Preferred" location.

 

[dioxide45]

Somehow I was roped into preferred checking this time around at Grande Vista. I've never done it before. We are on an II getaway booking. Checkin wasn't all that busy overall as it was late avter the mad crush was over. That said, they asked if we wanted to do a tour for 40,000 Bonvoy but later discovered that we did a presentation last month and weren't eligible anyway. I did get a pack of shortbread cookies out of it. Overall it took longer than if I could have just gone to the main check in desk.

 

[iowaguy09]

Somehow I was roped into preferred checking this time around at Grande Vista. I've never done it before. We are on an II getaway booking. Checkin wasn't all that busy overall as it was late avter the mad crush was over. That said, they asked if we wanted to do a tour for 40,000 Bonvoy but later discovered that we did a presentation last month and weren't eligible anyway. I did get a pack of shortbread cookies out of it. Overall it took longer than if I could have just gone to the main check in desk.

The annoying part is when they don't already know you "...weren't eligible anyway." That just wastes everybody's time.