Exchangers being treated as second class citizens.

[Keitht]

In Ask RCI this thread discusses problems with exchangers being treated badly by resorts. I would urge and member who feels treated like a second class citizen to do three things:

1. Complain to the resort while you are there
2. Complain to RCI through the feedback form
3. 'Name and shame' the resorts on TUG both by posting in the Exchange forum and by submitting a review with the details.

 

[kkan]

I wonder which TS brands do NOT discriminate against exchangers. I called the Marriott Cypress Harbour in advance of my Christmas exchange to discuss room assignment. They told me that during a high demand week that I was very low priority to get a good view, good floor, or renovated building - behind Marriott double home owners, Marriott home owners, other Marriott multiple owners, single Marriott owners, renters, and TS presentation "guests". I resigned myself to accept my ground floor unit in an old building. The front desk told me that the priority order is the same at all Marriotts.

When I visit an area, if I have the time, I check out TS (w/o attending presentations) for possible exchange. If it is a Marriott, I decide if I would be happy with what appears to be the worst rooms before trying for an exchange. I imagine that if I go during a slow time of year, my odds of getting a better room are improved despite the low priority of exchangers.

Being relatively new to exchanging, I wish I could find a list of TS brands or resorts that do not discriminate against exchangers so that I could preferentially seek to exchange there.

 

[JLB]

Second Class? Wow! Where?

I'd love the upgrade!

 

[Bootleg]

In Ask RCI this thread discusses problems with exchangers being treated badly by resorts. I would urge and member who feels treated like a second class citizen to do three things:

1. Complain to the resort while you are there
2. Complain to RCI through the feedback form
3. 'Name and shame' the resorts on TUG both by posting in the Exchange forum and by submitting a review with the details.

I would recommend you contact RCI immediately while you are onsite. There is little that can be done after the fact, but if it is a legitimate complaint, an RCI check-in specialist will make every effort to remedy the problem either through the resort, or, in extreme situations, by re-locating a guest to more acceptable accommodations.

 

[Dizholic]

Anything but a Second Class Citizen

I am at the Marriott Grande Vista right now. It is my home resort, but I own a week in the gold season, so I traded through II. I am staying two weeks, so I called a couple of weeks ago to make sure they combined both reservations, and also to request a building. At the time I did mention I was an owner, but I don't think they noted it. Anyway my point is I got exactly the building I requested, and the only thing the young knew when we checked in was we traded in through II. I was treated just like an owner, which of course I am, but He didn't know that.

I wonder which TS brands do NOT discriminate against exchangers. I called the Marriott Cypress Harbour in advance of my Christmas exchange to discuss room assignment. They told me that during a high demand week that I was very low priority to get a good view, good floor, or renovated building - behind Marriott double home owners, Marriott home owners, other Marriott multiple owners, single Marriott owners, renters, and TS presentation "guests". I resigned myself to accept my ground floor unit in an old building. The front desk told me that the priority order is the same at all Marriotts.

 

[Art]

Even though I've been on the wrong end as an exchanger, it still seems reasonable that a resort would want to take care of its owners, the people who pay the bills, would it comes to assigning units.

At some resorts with very high owner usage, even the owners sometimes get a less than prime unit. You can imagine the howls if an exchanger got the prime ocean view unit and an owner got the parking lot view. The Marriott priority system is very well stated, and used across the MVCI system, so no one exchanging into a Marriott should feel that they have any expectation of getting the "best room in the house."

What I don't care for is resorts that , above and beyond the unit assignment, treat exchangers as second rate citizens. Stuff like charging activities fees only to exchangers, etc.

Art

 

[ValDar]

Second class citizens

As an owner at a Royal resort in Cancun, the Royal Islander, as well as an exchanger into Royal resorts, I find that I am treated the same, invited to all the same functions (welcome party, taco party, cocktail party), and can use the same facilities and equipment as either an owner or exchanger. The "extras" are the same. This is not true for most of the exchanges I've had, where the difference between owner and exchanger extends beyond the assignment of unit.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

With all of our exchanges, after checking into our unit there has been no difference we are aware of between our status as exchangers and the status of owners.

I have no problem with a resort reserving the right to assign exchagners to what ever units the resort chooses. But once a unit is assigned, there should be no difference between ocuupying that unit as an exhcanger and occupying the unit as an owner.

 

[debraxh]

With all of our exchanges, after checking into our unit there has been no difference we are aware of between our status as exchangers and the status of owners..

Same here, we've never been treated differently than owners when exchanging.

I have no problem with a resort reserving the right to assign exchagners to what ever units the resort chooses. But once a unit is assigned, there should be no difference between ocuupying that unit as an exhcanger and occupying the unit as an owner.

I also agree with this and in fact believe that owners should have priority over exchangers when it comes to unit assignments.

 

[kkan]

The Marriott priority system is very well stated, and used across the MVCI system, so no one exchanging into a Marriott should feel that they have any expectation of getting the "best room in the house".
Art

Where is this priority system "well stated"? How about if the exchange company mentioned any priority systems in their directory or they could comment - "except during slow periods, exchangers should anticipate a no view room". Furthermore, if a resort has a policy of placing all exchangers into the "back" building, the exchange company could post a picture of the "back" building in their directory.

I think that Marriott or any other resort can setup whatever priority system they want, however they should disclose their system upfront. Maybe resorts are worried that upfront disclosure will diminish their trading power.

 

[gmarine]

Where is this priority system "well stated"? How about if the exchange company mentioned any priority systems in their directory or they could comment - "except during slow periods, exchangers should anticipate a no view room". Furthermore, if a resort has a policy of placing all exchangers into the "back" building, the exchange company could post a picture of the "back" building in their directory.

I think that Marriott or any other resort can setup whatever priority system they want, however they should disclose their system upfront. Maybe resorts are worried that upfront disclosure will diminish their trading power.

II says right on its confirmation that the unit may differ from the one listed and certificate does not indicate a particular view or unit location.

Many hotels dont tell you the type of view when you book. Nothing wrong with owners being given the priority of room locations.

 

[grupp]

Where is this priority system "well stated"? How about if the exchange company mentioned any priority systems in their directory or they could comment - "except during slow periods, exchangers should anticipate a no view room". Furthermore, if a resort has a policy of placing all exchangers into the "back" building, the exchange company could post a picture of the "back" building in their directory.

I think that Marriott or any other resort can setup whatever priority system they want, however they should disclose their system upfront. Maybe resorts are worried that upfront disclosure will diminish their trading power.

Maybe it is best to just assume you will get the room location and view you least desire, than anything else will seem like an upgrade

Gary

 

[JeffV]

I disagree, when I exchange, I am taking the place of the owner and should be entitled to equal treatment.

Nothing wrong with owners being given the priority of room locations.

 

[gmarine]

I disagree, when I exchange, I am taking the place of the owner and should be entitled to equal treatment.

Equal treatment, yes.

Priority in room location etc, no. And not according to the confirmation details from II regarding view, unit location etc.

If you did a direct exchange with an owner then yes. Otherwise you are accepting a unit from II without regards to the units location or view. This is all in II's terms and conditions

And you not necessarily replacing an owner. You may have exchanged into a unit deposited by the developer.