Does Transferring Ownership in Trusts Transfer Elite Benefits?

[Tamaradarann]

While it does seem intuitive that Elite Benefits would transfer, all of my purchases were resales. I was wondering if the Elite Benefits would transfer. Enough of my purchases were through an HGVC resale agent to give me Elite Plus Benefits. However, when I have gone to HGVC owners update meetings to discuss upgrading to Elite Premier, the sales people and managers couldn't figure out how I got Elite and were saying that I had to convert enough of my purchases to developer sold to get any Elite Benefits at all.

 

[Helios]

I thought resale owners were not invited to owners updates.

 

[GT75]

I was wondering if the Elite Benefits would transfer

Yes, they do transfer.

I thought resale owners were not invited to owners updates.

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They like to get anyone into an owners update/sales presentation.

 

[colatown]

I wish we weren't hounded to go to updates.

 

[Helios]

Yes, they do transfer.

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They like to get anyone into an owners update/sales presentation.

Really, I could have sworn multiple people have said that they were invited but the invitation was withdrawn when HGVC realized they were resale owners. Marriott and Westin don't care.

 

[Tamaradarann]

I thought resale owners were not invited to owners updates

Really, I could have sworn multiple people have said that they were invited but the invitation was withdrawn when HGVC realized they were resale owners. Marriott and Westin don't care.

We haven't been invited the last 3 or 4 years. Before that we attended about 7 HGVC owner updates in Hawaii and Las Vegas. We have never been uninvited. One time we told the person that was doing the inviting that we weren't eligible but they thought that they knew better so they called to find out that we were right.

 

[Panina]

I thought resale owners were not invited to owners updates.

I own resale and have never been invited to updates.

 

[Talent312]

I'm thankful they've stopped inviting us. It saves me the trouble of saying no.

IIRC, they closed the back-door to elite thru affiliate on-site resales years ago.
Now, no resale points count toward elite status. So I don't see how it could xfer.
Even if you used an affiliate's HGVC agent, your buyer is not grandfathered in.

It's likely the sales-weasels never heard of the "alternate" path to elite-land.

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[Helios]

I go to presentations in rare occasions, usually only if there are some news I am interested in getting. Even if I know they may distort the truth.

 

[Wgk101]

I attended a presentation at Charter Club, an affiliate and they said that affiliate purchases do count toward elite but only at a 1/3 rate

 

[ljmiii]

It is interesting to see the different approaches HGVC and MVCI have taken on this topic (and so many others for that matter). MVCI views ANY owner as a prospective customer for their retail sales and routinely offer 'owner updates'. They aggressively court owners to 'legitimize' (aka enroll) their resale weeks. Somewhere between relatively inexpensively and 'free' for older resale buyers and newer buyers are courted with the equivalent of 'buy one retail and we'll Elite-ify your resale week'.

 

[Helios]

It is interesting to see the different approaches HGVC and MVCI have taken on this topic (and so many others for that matter). MVCI views ANY owner as a prospective customer for their retail sales and routinely offer 'owner updates'. They aggressively court owners to 'legitimize' (aka enroll) their resale weeks. Somewhere between relatively inexpensively and 'free' for older resale buyers and newer buyers are courted with the equivalent of 'buy one retail and we'll Elite-ify your resale week'.

I am used to MVCI and Starwood's (Vistana) approach. I find it interesting HGVC does not use the same tactics.

 

[Tamaradarann]

I attended a presentation at Charter Club, an affiliate and they said that affiliate purchases do count toward elite but only at a 1/3 rate

Wow I never heard the 1/3 rate before. At the South Beach Resort I did hear that buying Resale from their on property HGVC resale person did count toward Elite. However, the prices were not attractive resale prices maybe 1/2-2/3 the cost of buying from the developer.

At the 1/3 rate you would need to buy 9 one BR Platinums to Elite and about one half of whole ownership to get Elite Premier!

 

[1Kflyerguy]

It is interesting to see the different approaches HGVC and MVCI have taken on this topic (and so many others for that matter). MVCI views ANY owner as a prospective customer for their retail sales and routinely offer 'owner updates'. They aggressively court owners to 'legitimize' (aka enroll) their resale weeks. Somewhere between relatively inexpensively and 'free' for older resale buyers and newer buyers are courted with the equivalent of 'buy one retail and we'll Elite-ify your resale week'.

For better or worse, our HGVC week was purchased retail, so we always get invited....

I have heard of numerous people both hear on TUG and the various Facebook groups that stated they were offered packages to take their resale weeks as trade-in on a new retail purchase. That seems to be HGVC's approach to bring resale buys back into the fold... I would be surprised if they stopped that practice as its a low cost way to move inventory.

That said, i can understand why a commission based sales person is not interested in dealing with resale owners, as that is obviously a hard pitch.

Wonder if ban on resale customers is specific to certain resorts, or just during peak times when they can get plenty of unsuspecting prospects..

 

[brp]

Really, I could have sworn multiple people have said that they were invited but the invitation was withdrawn when HGVC realized they were resale owners. Marriott and Westin don't care.

HGVC don't seem to care either. We are resale owners and are invited just about every time we have a reservation with HGVC. We don't go much anymore, but they routinely call to invite.

Cheers.

 

[GT75]

I think it must be different at the different HGVC resorts. It seems that where there is a large sales staff such as Myrtle Beach or Sunrise Lodge in Park City (even though that one is dwindling), they push hard to get you into an owners update. I know that at Valdoro, I won't be ask because there is no onsite sales staff. Ocean Oaks, did have a sales staff, but it was only one simple NO to the concierge to forgo that waste of time.

I have never stayed in Orlando nor LV nor HI nor NY nor DC, so I have no idea how that is.

 

[Wongman1]

When we bought at Marbrisa last Aug, I had buyers remorse the next day, especially after I found this site. Talking with our HGVC counselor, I asked why I dont buy resale instead of the developer. The main ones I remember were: no bonus points, resale purchases dont count towards elite status, dont get into Grand Pacific system, a bunch of other perks, easily get ripped off, etc, etc. Then again, he also said the Maui property was supposed to be done in March. At a recent owners update invite, we were also told that only way to get to elite is thru purchasing via HGVC.

As for the owners updates, its just a sales pitch to get you upgraded eventually or buy something else. Everyone and their mama gets invited to those, not just owners. As most know, they spend about 10 minutes on changes and the next 60 on sales. If you say no, they do a checkout process that sends you downstairs for another sales pitch of whatever. I was a sucka maybe, but bought 10k points vacation package for $1600 with some perks and restrictions. But I think it was worth it.

Almost a year later, I still have a little buyers remorse. But at the same time, Im happy we have invested in mandatory family vacations for now and also for our retirement years. Im thinking about going elite status someday with HGVC. But next purchase will most likely be resale of a Marriott property - after much more homework from this site.

 

[Talent312]

When we bought at Marbrisa last Aug, I had buyers remorse the next day, especially after I found this site. Talking with our HGVC counselor, I asked why I don't buy resale instead of the developer...

So, not being content to being lied to 1x, you asked for more? Sorry to rain on your parade...
Bonus points disappear quickly, and you're left w/a TS for which you still paid way too much.
And paying full freight for elite status ain't worth nearly what it'd cost you.

OTOH, we need to have retail buyers, so there'll be a resale market. So, thank you for that.

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[Wongman1]

So, not being content to being lied to 1x, you asked for more? Sorry to rain on your parade...
Bonus points disappear quickly, and you're left w/a TS for which you still paid way too much.
And paying full freight for elite status ain't worth nearly what it'd cost you.

OTOH, we need to have retail buyers, so there'll be a resale market. So, thank you for that.

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So, not being content to being lied to 1x, you asked for more? Sorry to rain on your parade...
Bonus points disappear quickly, and you're left w/a TS for which you still paid way too much.
And paying full freight for elite status ain't worth nearly what it'd cost you.

OTOH, we need to have retail buyers, so there'll be a resale market. So, thank you for that.

.

Ouch... Geez thx for pouring some salt on that open wound (especially for my first post here). Just trying to provide insight to the OP on a recent experience on the subject but now that we are off topic..... agreed, paid too much. lesson learned. But it made me find this site, which i hope gets more friendly and more helpful. It also got me to invest in securing annual vacations for my retirement years. It'll pay off eventually, so no real loss there (if paying normal rates, which I have been all my life). Still trying to figure out a cheaper way to get to elite, doubtful. Working on having enough moolah not to care about buying it.

I dont think I was lied to. The counselor got the same run around on Maui as everyone else did there and on this site. He made best efforts with calling his team and various other sources. He made no promises or lead me on. Customer service, loyalty was one of the reasons we bought- hard to put a price on that. But I hear you about their sales tactics. As for buying more.... well $1600 for a week or 2 in $300+ a night room, pretty descent still, even on the resale side think.

I dont plan on ever selling our TS, so it wont help your resale market. But I do plan on buying resale, once I figure out this timeshare thing. Unfortunately, most of the resale market feeds upon the poor, unsuspecting, uneducated buyer - the misfortune of others. Thats bad ju-ju beans (karma) taking advantage of that. Hopefully when I buy resale, I can actually be at point in my life where I can financially help someone get out of their troubles and let them recoup most of their loss instead of pennies on the dollar.

 

[Nomad420]

Ouch... Geez thx for pouring some salt on that open wound (especially for my first post here). Just trying to provide insight to the OP on a recent experience on the subject but now that we are off topic..... agreed, paid too much. lesson learned. But it made me find this site, which i hope gets more friendly and more helpful. It also got me to invest in securing annual vacations for my retirement years. It'll pay off eventually, so no real loss there (if paying normal rates, which I have been all my life). Still trying to figure out a cheaper way to get to elite, doubtful. Working on having enough moolah not to care about buying it.

I dont think I was lied to. The counselor got the same run around on Maui as everyone else did there and on this site. He made best efforts with calling his team and various other sources. He made no promises or lead me on. Customer service, loyalty was one of the reasons we bought- hard to put a price on that. But I hear you about their sales tactics. As for buying more.... well $1600 for a week or 2 in $300+ a night room, pretty descent still, even on the resale side think.

I dont plan on ever selling our TS, so it wont help your resale market. But I do plan on buying resale, once I figure out this timeshare thing. Unfortunately, most of the resale market feeds upon the poor, unsuspecting, uneducated buyer - the misfortune of others. Thats bad ju-ju beans (karma) taking advantage of that. Hopefully when I buy resale, I can actually be at point in my life where I can financially help someone get out of their troubles and let them recoup most of their loss instead of pennies on the dollar.

Talent must have had a bad day, he is generally a great guy with a wealth of information here. He has helped me multiple times. Don't feel bad I as well bought from the developers at HCNY. I even came here prior to purchase but could not find retail sales less than 2/3 asking price at the time (still seems to be that way as well). Yes they (HGVC) also through a bunch of "bogus" points at me and I actually needed the Hilton LT Gold status. Got a couple free nights at 57st and about 5 $100 discount coupons for Hilton Hotels which I did use. While the bogus points are not work the $20K they stated they were worth (24K points) I would say by the time I finish using them I will be at about $9K in value conservatively.
Having said this I will certainly buy my next HGVC property retail in a few years just to get points to supplement HCNY. I have two other fractional ownership properties that I bought retail years ago and still hold them (not HGVC). So all in all I don't have a lot of problem with the NYC purchase. Good Luck.

 

[Talent312]

Sorry... a few issues, like getting up at 4AM, left me in a fowl mood.
"I had the right to remain silent, but I didn't have the ability." -- Ron White (comedian).

We all make choices, some good, sort'a okay, and some not (like my 1st wife).
All we can do is make the most of it.

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.

 

[Helios]

OTOH, we need to have retail buyers, so there'll be a resale market. So, thank you for that.

Exactly, someone needs to buy so someone else can buy resale. @Wongman1, don't take personal. I have bought resale and from developer. Sometimes it makes sense and sometimes it may not be such a good idea. I did it to get 5* Elite with Starwood and it made sense to me at the time. Now, not so much. But it is what it is.

 

[HGVC Lover]

Ouch... Unfortunately, most of the resale market feeds upon the poor, unsuspecting, uneducated buyer - the misfortune of others. Thats bad ju-ju beans (karma) taking advantage of that. Hopefully when I buy resale, I can actually be at point in my life where I can financially help someone get out of their troubles and let them recoup most of their loss instead of pennies on the dollar.

I really think the preying happens more to the new buyers to HGVC then the ones who bought resale.....resale buyers tend to know the how HGVC timeshares really work and what the salesman's game is about.......