HGV Club Combinations conversion to Vacation Connections

[eddieb21]

Hi. Looking to see if anyone else is going through this and what they did. HGV is converting the old Diamond Club Combinations to Vacation Connection. I own 23,000 points. My Star Island deposit can get me 13,000 points, but while we were Diamond they sold us on additional points by giving us contracts for ghost points, one for 8,000 points and one for 10,00 points, which eventually got me to Premier Plus level. They'd say we'll list your Star Island and I'd say it's already been accounted for. They then would say no worries, you know you can't use the points but they're just there for your membership level. There are contracts for those club combination ghost points.

Now the Hilton rep trying to get me to sign on to Vacation Connection is telling me they will need to drop those ghost points when determining my membership level, which will drop me from Premier Plus to at best, Preferred Plus. Is that something they can do? Or should I keep pushing to maintain my membership level? Of course they'd be happy to sell me the 18,0000 points I'd need for like a half million bucks. Another question, is there a way to pick up 18000 points on the after market at a reasonable price that would count in HGV.

Appreciate any help and insight. Thanks.

 

[magmue]

...... that would count in HGV.

Resale points are certainly available, and very inexpensive, I think. But I don't think they will accomplish your goal.

But first, acronyms.

• HGV = Hilton Grand Vacations. This is the parent company, the umbrella for the whole system.
• HGVC = Hilton Grand Vacation Club. This is the "legacy" system - the group of timeshares that has been around for several decades, with deed-based ownership that has point attached to it.
• HVC = Hilton Vacation Club. This is the system formerly called Diamond or DRI. It was bought out and renamed by HGV several years ago. Mostly point based in several trust Collections, except for a few deeded weeks that were never relinquished to the DRI trust by the owners.
• bHC = By Hilton Club. A sort-of club within a club. They are upscale properties that generate HGVC points, but have restrictions for who can book and when. MF per point is also higher than most HGVC, so even though owners can use the points elsewhere in HGVC it isn't a good value.

Anyway, since you were in Diamond, you are now in HVC. And if I understand the HVC point system correctly, you can use your current The Club membership points to book in any Collection. Resale points are not eligible for The Club, and you must use the points in the Collection they are assigned to. I am pretty sure they won't count toward elite status either.

We have some members here who have "washed" resale points by adding some retail points. I don't know if that option is offered to buyers now.

 

[eddieb21]

Resale points are certainly available, and very inexpensive, I think. But I don't think they will accomplish your goal.

But first, acronyms.

• HGV = Hilton Grand Vacations. This is the parent company, the umbrella for the whole system.
• HGVC = Hilton Grand Vacation Club. This is the "legacy" system - the group of timeshares that has been around for several decades, with deed-based ownership that has point attached to it.
• HVC = Hilton Vacation Club. This is the system formerly called Diamond or DRI. It was bought out and renamed by HGV several years ago. Mostly point based in several trust Collections, except for a few deeded weeks that were never relinquished to the DRI trust by the owners.
• bHC = By Hilton Club. A sort-of club within a club. They are upscale properties that generate HGVC points, but have restrictions for who can book and when. MF per point is also higher than most HGVC, so even though owners can use the points elsewhere in HGVC it isn't a good value.

Anyway, since you were in Diamond, you are now in HVC. And if I understand the HVC point system correctly, you can use your current The Club membership points to book in any Collection. Resale points are not eligible for The Club, and you must use the points in the Collection they are assigned to. I am pretty sure they won't count toward elite status either.

We have some members here who have "washed" resale points by adding some retail points. I don't know if that option is offered to buyers now.

Thanks for the reply. We bought some points from Hilton last year that as part of the deal moved us over to the Hilton Grand Vacations Club. Sorry I wasn't more clear. It's all fuzzy stuff to me even after all these years.

 

[dayooper]

Thanks for the reply. We bought some points from Hilton last year that as part of the deal moved us over to the Hilton Grand Vacations Club. Sorry I wasn't more clear. It's all fuzzy stuff to me even after all these years.

I, and many HGVC and HVC members here believe it’s done on purpose. Easier to talk someone into purchasing if they they only half understand what they are buying.

 

[magmue]

We bought some points from Hilton last year that as part of the deal moved us over to the Hilton Grand Vacations Club

If you bought points, you weren’t “moved over” to HGVC. You probably bought more HGV points, which included MAX. MAX is a sort-of exchange program that allows HGV owners to use HGV points to book HGVC resorts at the 6 months mark and vice versa. HGVC owners have access to HGVC resort reservations at 9 - 12 months, so by the time you have access via MAX, your options will be somewhat limited.

And I agree with @dayooper - the confusing acronyms are a feature, not a bug. Adding to the confusion, Hilton sales reps are focusing on selling HGV (formerly Diamond) points ownerships even at presentations held within HGVC resorts, where most folks would expect thet are buying what they are seeing around them.

 

[GT75]

You probably bought more HGV points

on selling HGV (formerly Diamond)

You meant HVC pts because there is no such thing as HGV pts.

 

[magmue]

You meant HVC pts because there is no such thing as HGV pts.

Ack! You are absolutely right. I laid out the acronyms correctly and then promptly screwed them up.

It really is so easy to do, even when you know better.