• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $23,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $23 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

HGV agrees to purchase BlueGreen Vacations

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
May 20, 2006
Messages
50,604
Reaction score
22,071
Location
NE Florida
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grande Vista
Marriott Harbour Lake
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Club Wyndham CWA
My guess: HGV saw value of BVH real estate holdings, looked at interest rates and inflation, and decided to 'bulk up' its RE portfolio.
Old investment saying: Buy land; they ain't making any more of it.
Likely, but I bet they didn't just pay double the current stock price for giggles. There had to be other players out there looking to acquire Bluegreen which drove up the price. Or Bluegreen wasn't in the selling mood and they needed to provide extra return to make it worth their while.
 

bizaro86

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2008
Messages
3,882
Reaction score
2,751
Location
Calgary, AB, Canada
Likely, but I bet they didn't just pay double the current stock price for giggles. There had to be other players out there looking to acquire Bluegreen which drove up the price. Or Bluegreen wasn't in the selling mood and they needed to provide extra return to make it worth their while.

The Levan family still owns enough of Bluegreen stock that without their acquiescence no deal is happening. So it could have been HGVC made an offer and the Levans said they weren't selling for less than this number. I agree for a widely held public company a premium this big would imply a second bidder, but for one where the founder has a blocking stake that isn't necessarily true.
 

ernststarhemberg

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2023
Messages
414
Reaction score
264
News is making waves on the backend. Sitting in the airport minding my own business and some guy's phone next to me is ringing off the hook - whatever business he's in has lucrative contracts with Blue green so his company is frantic.
 

Jeddy

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2021
Messages
95
Reaction score
32
Resorts Owned
Bluegreenpoints; Hotel Blake (Chicago), Ellis Square (Savannah), Christmas Mtn (Wisconsin Dells), Outrigger Beach Club (FL)
Likely, but I bet they didn't just pay double the current stock price for giggles. There had to be other players out there looking to acquire Bluegreen which drove up the price. Or Bluegreen wasn't in the selling mood and they needed to provide extra return to make it worth their while.
Agreed. The buyout price took me by surprise this morning, too. BUT BG has a couple of resorts in development, and given the difficulty of obtaining real estate for decent-sized resorts through various local planning boards, HVG may have decided that the existing BG RE portfolio was 'undervalued' by the market.
Full disclosure: that was my opinion (RE portfolio undervalued) when I bought a few BG shares a some years ago.
Other players sniffing around BVH? possible; I have no direct knowledge, but consider the suspect list:
Hilton, Marriott, Wyndham, Hyatt, Sheraton, maybe InterContinental are the only ones of size.
<edit> B86, you make a very good point about the 'closely held' nature of BVH. Only 12.5M shares outstanding in the public market. Levan family holds the rest.
Notice that there is no "this offer undervalues our company" protestations from BG management... :)
 
Last edited:

dayooper

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2018
Messages
4,141
Reaction score
3,613
Location
The Land of Ice and Snow
Resorts Owned
HGVC: The Flamingo, The Boulevard
Could Hilton Hotels investment in lower cost brands targeting younger travelers be part of this deal? Hilton’s Tru is a very fast growing franchise and they just put out the Spark brand as well. Both of these, along with Home 2 Suites are lower cost options in the Hilton lineup targeting younger travelers. There is at least 1 other lower cost brand Hilton is developing as well. Could they be trying to sell to the Millennial and GenZ generations?
 

sponger76

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2022
Messages
1,753
Reaction score
1,176
Location
Texas
As I understand, they would pitch a discounted timeshare stay. Any presentation would take place later at the resort.
That's how I ended up first purchasing a timeshare. I was at Bass Pro and Bluegreen reps in the store sold me a 3 night stay in Orlando plus incentives, including $200 in Visa gift cards, for $99.
Aruba has a green dot. That must mean something different and harder to book?
The green dots are resorts where Bluegreen only owns/administers some of the units. Orange dots are 100% Bluegreen. Due to this, the green dots are generally harder to book.
I found this thread about Bluegreen. It seems very confusing with different trust types and such. What I don't understand is if you own in a Trust Type, do you also have access to a deeded week and unit or are those deeded week and units really from an older system that Bluegreen had before creating the new trusts?
If you own in a Trust Type, you still have an underlying fixed week/unit that you have access to, you just have to actively request it a certain amount of time ahead. But you also have the HGVC-style option of receiving points to book something different instead.
 
Last edited:

cdrusnret

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2022
Messages
16
Reaction score
16
Resorts Owned
Bluegreen
Could Hilton Hotels investment in lower cost brands targeting younger travelers be part of this deal? Hilton’s Tru is a very fast growing franchise and they just put out the Spark brand as well. Both of these, along with Home 2 Suites are lower cost options in the Hilton lineup targeting younger travelers. There is at least 1 other lower cost brand Hilton is developing as well. Could they be trying to sell to the Millennial and GenZ generations?
Since the Hilton announcement specifically states Bluegreen's properties will be available for booking to current Hilton members, it doesn't sound like they intend to keep them separate.
 

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
May 20, 2006
Messages
50,604
Reaction score
22,071
Location
NE Florida
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grande Vista
Marriott Harbour Lake
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Club Wyndham CWA
That's how I ended up first purchasing a timeshare. I was at Bass Pro and Bluegreen reps in the store sold me a 3 night stay in Orlando plus incentives, including $200 in Visa gift cards, for $99.
I seem to recall at one point there was litigation between Bass Pro Shops and Bluegreen. I believe Bass Pro was suing Bluegreen. I guess they settled things okay and are all on good terms now...
 

sponger76

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2022
Messages
1,753
Reaction score
1,176
Location
Texas
I seem to recall at one point there was litigation between Bass Pro Shops and Bluegreen. I believe Bass Pro was suing Bluegreen. I guess they settled things okay and are all on good terms now...
I heard about it after the fact, but I think that all happened and was resolved prior to me ever buying in.
 

dayooper

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2018
Messages
4,141
Reaction score
3,613
Location
The Land of Ice and Snow
Resorts Owned
HGVC: The Flamingo, The Boulevard
Since the Hilton announcement specifically states Bluegreen's properties will be available for booking to current Hilton members, it doesn't sound like they intend to keep them separate.
It will be available through their Max program. It allows cross booking through the various sub systems (HGVC, HVC/DRI, Embarc and now BlueGreen). The owners in each system can book their systems within their rights as owners, but Max members can book in the other systems at 6 months. Not much has been available, but that’s what us being sold. All new buyers are automatically enrolled into Max, even existing owners.
 

gggllm

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2023
Messages
85
Reaction score
17
I think it is bad news for RCI, hilton is famous for charging resort fee. Which means RCI will have resort fee everywhere now...
 

dayooper

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2018
Messages
4,141
Reaction score
3,613
Location
The Land of Ice and Snow
Resorts Owned
HGVC: The Flamingo, The Boulevard
I think it is bad news for RCI, hilton is famous for charging resort fee. Which means RCI will have resort fee everywhere now...
Maybe. Although Hilton is very important to RCI right now. It’s the only major upscale brand left in RCI.
 

TUGBrian

Administrator
Joined
Mar 24, 2006
Messages
23,328
Reaction score
9,133
Location
Florida
well id say this qualifies as "news of the week" to kick off an early monday...wow!

pretty good day for bluegreen stockholders!

HGVMax - Blue incoming?

bluemax? =D
 

tombanjo

TUG Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2018
Messages
1,809
Reaction score
3,517
Resorts Owned
HCNY
Bass Pro was suing Bluegreen
In April of this year, 16 co-plaintiffs filed another amendment in their lawsuit against Bluegreen Vacations. Their reasoning surrounds fraudulent misconduct that includes misleading sales tactics, statutory violations and a failure to point out the owner’s right of rescission. The damages they’re seeking restitution for began after a routine trip to a local Bass Pro Shop. The plaintiffs and others never really knew the extent of their timeshare purchase and believe they’ve been intentionally manipulated.

 

GT75

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
Moderator
Joined
May 30, 2016
Messages
4,980
Reaction score
3,404
Location
Gig City in Tennessee
Resorts Owned
Legacy HGVC
FAVC-Cabo
How would BG fall within the HGV system (HC, HGVC & HVC)?
 

dayooper

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2018
Messages
4,141
Reaction score
3,613
Location
The Land of Ice and Snow
Resorts Owned
HGVC: The Flamingo, The Boulevard
well id say this qualifies as "news of the week" to kick off an early monday...wow!

pretty good day for bluegreen stockholders!

HGVMax - Blue incoming?

bluemax? =D
:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: No matter they rename it, that’s what will refer to them.
 

Clifbell

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2020
Messages
986
Reaction score
900
Resorts Owned
Worldmark, Hilton, Westin, Marriott
I was surprised to see this announcement since HGV is still absorbing Diamond.... However, one thing I did notice in the frequently asked questions was that if you are an HGVMax owner, no additional purchase is required to get access... Possibly another reason to push HGVMax onto current owners.... Just returned from three different DIamond properties (Point at Poipu, Ka'anapali Beach Club, and Hilton Vacation club in Lake Tahoe... Diamond owners I spoke to (Rather Random) weren't interested in joining the Hilton side... Even the Salesperson (HGV) said Diamond owners were loyal to Diamond and not wanting to join HGVMax.
 

Clifbell

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2020
Messages
986
Reaction score
900
Resorts Owned
Worldmark, Hilton, Westin, Marriott
I looked at the BlueGreen Locations... Not a lot of overlap with existing properties.... It fits with my idea of being able to drive across the country and stay in timeshares the whole way... Like having an RV with good gas mileage :cool: .
 

rapmarks

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
10,084
Reaction score
5,226
I am a Bluegreen owner, in ways not mentioned in this long thread.
I own two homes and a vacant lot in the Christmas mountain village, pay a fee to Bluegreen that allows access to the pool, weight room, etc. no timeshare privileges at all, although we used to get bonus time at all the resorts.

I have a Udi cottage ownership ,can have four reservations on the books at a time. On check in day you can get another reservation. Bonus time at resort only. Also access to camp ground bonus time. I actually booked twenty weeks this calendar year but canceled most of them. Have to pay $138 housekeeping fee for every check in plus maintenance fee. Allowed to rent, allowed to cancel three days in advance with no penalty, $25 penalty if don’t cancel. I booked campground four times for friends this summer. This is ownership Bruce cz had. Many own these just to rent. one year and a half. I deposited about 18 weeks in RCI. I no longer do that seriously thinking of giving it up but will see what new ownership means.

three years ago, Bluegreen gave the golf course, 27 holes, the ski hills, the restaurant building, and the registration building with indoor pool to the Timbers association. They manage it, but the timeshare owners apparently are stuck with any loses.
 

jp10558

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2022
Messages
1,522
Reaction score
1,020
Location
Southern Tier NY
Resorts Owned
HGVC Seaworld
Wyndham Smoky Mountains
Foxrun Lake Lure
W
I also agree with this. HGV didn't include DRI for free so why should they include this?
Which kind of seems silly to me, though maybe not if you want to focus on upselling. But if you're wanting to bring in new people, it seems like the big sell is the size of the system, and the HGVC "legacy" system was pretty straight forward, but now they have basically 2, maybe 3 systems and it starts to just sound confusing.
 

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
May 20, 2006
Messages
50,604
Reaction score
22,071
Location
NE Florida
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grande Vista
Marriott Harbour Lake
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Club Wyndham CWA
Which kind of seems silly to me, though maybe not if you want to focus on upselling. But if you're wanting to bring in new people, it seems like the big sell is the size of the system, and the HGVC "legacy" system was pretty straight forward, but now they have basically 2, maybe 3 systems and it starts to just sound confusing.
I agree. Any existing DRI or HGVC owners not already in Max will have to buy in to get Bluegreen access through Max. The only people getting it for "free" are people who are now Max members already. They still have a huge pool of owners to upsell too. Bluegreen owners won't automatically get Max, they too will have to buy in.
 

jp10558

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2022
Messages
1,522
Reaction score
1,020
Location
Southern Tier NY
Resorts Owned
HGVC Seaworld
Wyndham Smoky Mountains
Foxrun Lake Lure
I agree. Any existing DRI or HGVC owners not already in Max will have to buy in to get Bluegreen access through Max. The only people getting it for "free" are people who are now Max members already. They still have a huge pool of owners to upsell too. Bluegreen owners won't automatically get Max, they too will have to buy in.
I get that timeshare salesmen are good at what they do, and all new owners have Max already, and I guess they often don't know what they're being told anyway. But for upsells, I feel like 6 month (vs 9-13 month?) access, which has to mean (extremely?) limited availability (as discussed from the few Max members on the board) doesn't actually sound like that great a deal to get anyone to purchase. I would still find it more compelling (but not enough to pay retail) if Max was the same availability as the various "legacy" systems, or at least way closer. I guess I don't see why anyone vaguely savvy wouldn't just use RCI. My currentbooking at HGV (Diamond) Wynchor Park was RCI via the HGVC RCI portal (though it was an extra vacation).

And if someone was considering buying more timeshares, why not get Diamond or Bluegreen resale vs Max?

I know I'm silly thinking there should be any consideration of making a compelling product anymore to drive sales, but it seems to me the sales pitch I'd rather see (especially for these more downmarket added resorts) would be "we've added more resorts to the system, so you've got more places to own or stay at - so consider adding a week." Sell the lower end resorts cheaper, they get less points, but people can combine 2 weeks at a mid tier resort of points for one week at more standard HGVC properties.
 
Top