Embarc members now have free access to DEX!

[cd5]

HGVC sent an email today to all members who did not yet have Destination Xchange (only Extraordinary Escapes members had it) letting them know that all members now have it for free. No need to sign up for an "optional" developer program like HGV Max in order to have it.
Great news that it is being offered earlier than foreseen! Our banking deadline for 2025 points is August 31st and members now have the possibility of depositing (or exchanging) previously banked 2024 points, in DEX, until Oct 31.

 

[chosshaul]

That’s pretty great. I wonder how many more resorts HGVC is going to roll this out to. I’m surprised Embarc didn’t have this already

 

[cd5]

Members with legacy EE (pre-2016 version) and EE 2.0 had it.

 

[iftravel]

So is Max just a crippled version of DEX? So this is better than Max right? Curious if new resales can enroll.

 

[cd5]

Everyone, including resales now has DEX, new resales included.
Principal selling point for Max is that it gives access to Hilton properties which DEX does not have (except for a few places like Craig, I believe).

 

[HuskerATL]

That is great for both you guys and others

 

[sponger76]

Wow. A consumer-friendly decision. Somebody remind me what the point of buying into Max is?

 

[GT75]

@cd5, Wonderful news. What do you think the general feeling is of Embarc members concerning DEX? Do you think that your members will use it or see a value in it?

 

[dioxide45]

@cd5, Wonderful news. What do you think the general feeling is of Embarc members concerning DEX? Do you think that your members will use it or see a value in it?

I suspect those that didn't have it were envious of those with EE or EE2.0 that did.

 

[dioxide45]

Members with legacy EE (pre-2016 version) and EE 2.0 had it.

What is EE 2.0? I see EE mentioned in some of the current HGV literature. Do they still use that terminology?

 

[cd5]

It's a developer program similar to HGV Max that could be changed or cancelled at any time. Legacy EE only cost us $149 a year (before Diamond took over in 2016) and had an Interval membership and some other extras like Disney exchanges. You could get EE legacy even with resale memberships. We also had Hilton exchanges directly with our points without extra fees.
EE 2.0 was the "ramped up" version Diamond initiated in 2016 and required the purchase of new points from the developer, extra annual fee cost per point owned, and had tiers with dubious "benefits" that many members ended up never using (except Interval). You couldn't drop out and had to pay the fee and extra point cost every year or you couldn't use your Embarc points. Also, at that point, no one could join legacy EE any more but you could continue to pay to keep it. They are obviously phasing both versions out as there is now no incentive to continue paying for Legacy EE, and EE 2.0 is no longer being offered to new point buyers (replaced by HGV Max), and it is now permitted to opt out with a notarized form.
When Diamond introduced DEX in 2019, they dropped Interval from EE but members could then get a direct membership with Interval - which many members preferred to DEX. DEX generally doesn't have the same category of resorts with actual availability as II (nice "list" with 4800 resorts but nothing such as Disney, Marriott etc). It's also a more complicated system with the potential to lose points/pay extra points or $ if the resort you choose isn't in the tier you deposited to.
I suspect the free EE was added so that more members would drop II and trade with DEX instead. Having more Embarc weeks available in DEX is undoubtedly the goal as we're in the upper tiers compared to most Diamond (and soon Bluegreen) resorts.
EE is still referred to as there are a fair number of members that have the 2.0 version and it hasn't officially been "killed" yet.

 

[geist1223]

Wow. A consumer-friendly decision. Somebody remind me what the point of buying into Max is?

There is none.

 

[brp]

Wow. A consumer-friendly decision. Somebody remind me what the point of buying into Max is?

It helps get the weasel a second Rolex. Any other questions?

Cheers.

 

[dioxide45]

Will Embarc members in Max also have access? It seems like it could hurt sales some as it will give access to a lot of properties that would have only been available through Max. I guess since Embarc is mostly already sold, they aren't as concerned about sales? Though I suspect they are pushing HVC (DRI) Collection points on Embarc members during sales pitches?

 

[cd5]

Will Embarc members in Max also have access? It seems like it could hurt sales some as it will give access to a lot of properties that would have only been available through Max. I guess since Embarc is mostly already sold, they aren't as concerned about sales? Though I suspect they are pushing HVC (DRI) Collection points on Embarc members during sales pitches?

All members have DEX so of course, anyone buying more points from the developer (who automatically get Max, no choice) gets DEX. Embarc will never be completely sold out because the developer only keeps control of board voting as long as the unsold points never go below 4% of the total. They pay careful attention to never get below that amount. So, to do that they can add rooms to increase their share, or stop selling before it gets to that point. Sales at the Embarc locations are selling Embarc points. The developer has to take back all delinquent accounts after 18 months so that keeps their share up at the 6% mark that they've held for the past few years without having to add rooms or stop selling Embarc itself.

 

[HuskerATL]

Everyone, including resales now has DEX, new resales included.
Principal selling point for Max is that it gives access to Hilton properties which DEX does not have (except for a few places like Craig, I believe).

there are a handful of HGVC properties in DEX or, at least, DEX EU. I assume the inventory is the same or similar.

I see these in DEX EU:

• • The Crane
  • Craig Lodges
  • Plantation Beach Club at Indian River Plantation
  • Carlsbad Seapointe Resort
  • Grand Pacific Palisades
  • Club Donatello
  • Some of the Fiesta Americana properties
  • The Grand Mayan properties

But interestingly, not Bay Club which I know was just added this year and I know folks who have deposited in it...but it isn't in DEX EU.

I also see others in the drop down that you have to search from, like Coylumbridge and some of the Marco Island properties but they have no availability so they may be in the system but just no availability right now.

 

[alwysonvac]

there are a handful of HGVC properties in DEX or, at least, DEX EU. I assume the inventory is the same or similar.

I see these in DEX EU:

• • The Crane
  • Craig Lodges
  • Plantation Beach Club at Indian River Plantation
  • Carlsbad Seapointe Resort
  • Grand Pacific Palisades
  • Club Donatello
  • Some of the Fiesta Americana properties
  • The Grand Mayan properties

But interestingly, not Bay Club which I know was just added this year and I know folks who have deposited in it...but it isn't in DEX EU.

I also see others in the drop down that you have to search from, like Coylumbridge and some of the Marco Island properties but they have no availability so they may be in the system but just no availability right now.

Here's what was reported back in 2022 when they first started seeing HGVC properties in DEX.

HGVC Properties in DEX

I'm able to see several HGVC properties in DEX; some with availability, some without. Seen using a legacy week deposit; I don't know what shows up for points owners. Here's the list of properties: Grand Waikikian by HGVC Grand Islander by HGVC Parc Soilel by HGVC West 57th St by Hilton HGVC...

tugbbs.com

 

[HuskerATL]

Looking now and here is what I see in DEX EU from this list:

Grand Waikikian by HGVC - No
Grand Islander by HGVC - No
Parc Soilel by HGVC - No
West 57th St by Hilton - No
HGVC on Paradise - No
HGVC on The Boulevard - No
HGVC at Marbrisa - No
HGVC at Flamingo - No
HGVC at Seaworld - No
HGVC at Coylumbridge - In the dropdown but doesn't show any availability
HGVC at Tuscany Village - No
HGVC at Craigendarroch - Craig Lodges - Yes
HGVC at Dunkeld - No
The Hilton Club of New York - No
Sunrise Lodge a HGVC - No
Elara, a HGVC - No

I will check through others mentioned in the post but here is the first list. It is interesting though. I am not sure how these would be added. For DEX EU, they would have to be a weekly exchange which I don't think the ones with "no" are. Now could a HGVC owner, exchange in RCI, and then the points from that exchange end up in DEX US points, maybe...if DEX US is also pulling from RCI.

 

[HuskerATL]

More from that post:

• Kings' Land - No
• Kohala Suites - No
• The Bay Club - No
• Trump - No

That is all that I see from that post. Not sure how much it would help us if they are just pulling from RCI, since we can book via RCI with HGVC points but still interesting to see.

DEX EU is much more limited, I think, since it is a weekly exchange and not points.

 

[mandl]

As an old HGVC owner we have never reserved a week and deposited it into RCI, and would not consider it. I would hope DEX cannot access Kingsland and MarBrisa that easy, as it’s not equally fair to those of us who can no longer access the four Club IntraWest we used to back in the day (Vancouver, Palm Desert, San Destin, Whistler) without buying into MAX.

 

[HuskerATL]

As an old HGVC owner we have never reserved a week and deposited it into RCI, and would not consider it. I would hope DEX cannot access Kingsland and MarBrisa that easy, as it’s not equally fair to those of us who can no longer access the four Club IntraWest we used to back in the day (Vancouver, Palm Desert, San Destin, Whistler) without buying into MAX.

You can buy a week in one of the HGVC properties to get access to DEX though, then you get access to that week, the points in HGVC, or use the week in DEX to get access to the four properties that you listed. We are not in Max but own at Craig Lodges which gives us access to DEX EU and have access to all of those...we went to Sandestin this year and have it booked twice next year.

 

[geist1223]

Remember most of the time you get a Unit through DEX there will be a daily Resort Fee.

 

[HuskerATL]

Remember most of the time you get a Unit through DEX there will be a daily Resort Fee.

Not for Embarc or HVC properties if you own in HGV.

We have used both, booked via DEX EU and our deposit from Craig Lodges, with no resort fees

 

[mandl]

I presume you are depositing your week to get a week? And would it be that hard to find a week at the Embarc property in Vancouver (Sheraton Wall Center)?

 

[HuskerATL]

I presume you are depositing your week to get a week? And would it be that hard to find a week at the Embarc property in Vancouver (Sheraton Wall Center)?

Yes, we deposit our Craig Lodges week and then book a week in DEX EU.

There is currently 230 weeks available at Embarc Vancouver between now and July 2026