benjaminb13
newbie
People could make a case for both arguments-
Just wanted to get a feel of what owners thought
Just wanted to get a feel of what owners thought
Heres a thought....what if Hilton started building in more locations? Like Hyatt, Marriott and starwood-?
After all, rCI or II memebership allows access to many of these affiliate/ type resorts - thats why we pay for rCI annually
Heres a question.....Is it possible to get Marbrisa or intrawest through rCIfor less points?
That thought has been floated many times but HGVC doesn't seem to want to think about it. It's the one easy out I have any time we do an owners update. HGVC has lost business that we've given to Marriott becasue Marriott has the locations with Marriott built resorts that Hilton doesn't. If Hilton had the locations that Marriott offers we'd probably own 21,000 points with them rather than the 7,000 we currently have. I like HGVC's exchange system better than Marriott's week for week but, what good is a great internal exchange system that doesn't offer a wide variety of resorts to use it with?
Yes HGVC has affiliates. And with few exceptions those affiliates are listed in the guide as having limited availability. So they look nice but aren't real practical.
I also learned something the hard way about rescueing points. Those rescued points only seem to be good a HGVC built resorts. I should have waited to see what the availabilty would be in Hawaiil but, I was certain I'd spend more than my 7,000 points that I had rescued. As it turned out, all I could get that was acceptable was a 1 bedroom ocean view unit that only cost me 6,200 points. Now I have 800 rescued points that are likely to go to waste unless we return to Vegas, Orlando or Hawaii. Something we're not likely to do next year.
One of the big benefits of these resorts being affiliates is that as HGVC members, we have a ability to get Open Season reservations there. That has been a HUGE benefit for me, personally. Valdoro is a 2 hour drive from me, and in the last two years I have had at least 6 Open Season stays for some fantastic short (2-3 day) ski trips! If Valdoro was just another RCI property, that would never happen. In fact, Valdoro being part of the HGVC system was a major contributing factor to why we purchased HGVC in the first place.I just find it strange as - all these "affiliates" can be accessed through rCI anyway- and rci is paid for by a member- sometimes I sort of feel cheated and wish HGVC would just build in California, Colorado, Kauai, Marco island etc.
One of the big benefits of these resorts being affiliates is that as HGVC members, we have a ability to get Open Season reservations there. That has been a HUGE benefit for me, personally. Valdoro is a 2 hour drive from me, and in the last two years I have had at least 6 Open Season stays for some fantastic short (2-3 day) ski trips! If Valdoro was just another RCI property, that would never happen. In fact, Valdoro being part of the HGVC system was a major contributing factor to why we purchased HGVC in the first place.
A property being an affiliate is a huge step up over just being another RCI property, in my opinion.
Kurt
Your original question is whether or not HGVC is better off with affiliates. I gave you a concrete example of how it is better off with the affiliates, vs. those properties being in RCI only.that is true- In your case, the affiliate is a great perk-
But Now imagine you owned Hyatt, not HGVC- park Hyatt, Main street staition- grand aspen, mountain lodge.......... ski - heaven- and you would have your pick of Hyatts-
I just wish HGVC would open a Hilton in colorado-
After all you did pay a little more for the Hilton brand
I have been hearing HGVC has plans to build and expand its locations.
I hope this is true, as I also heard that HGVC will stick to affiliate management
If anyone has some insight on their future plans - nice if you could share the info
Your original question is whether or not HGVC is better off with affiliates. I gave you a concrete example of how it is better off with the affiliates, vs. those properties being in RCI only.
Now, if you are asking the question of whether or not HGVC should build more resort locations outside of Orlando/Vegas/Hawaii, I doubt you would find anyone who disagrees with you. But that is a totally different question.
BTW, if Valdoro was a HGVC-owned property, how would things be any different than they are now? All Valdoro owners are HGVC members -- unlike some of the FL affiliates, membership in HGVC is mandatory (all Valdoro weeks are in the HGVC system). Even in Hyatt, owners get priority to reserve at their home property -- if you don't own one of the mountain properties, chances of getting a ski week are certainly not a given.
Bottom line -- if you want a HGVC property in a ski location, buy at Valdoro. Even though it is an affiliate, I don't see much difference vs. a Hilton-owned property.
Kurt
That is good to know, thanks! Someday I may be looking for another timeshare to compliment my HGVC, and Hyatt has seemed appealing.Im a Hyatt owner Kurt- if you have enough points- its easy enough to get a ski week-if you plan ahead-
Not taking it personal at all -- this has been a good discussion, IMO.Anyway,Back to HGVC-Heres another question ,
Try not too take it too personal
If HGVC feels that most owners have settled for the fact that - like you have previously stated-there is not much differentce between an affiliate and a Hilton owned property- than why spend the money to expand- just go affiliate crazy.
You have to understand that the original Florida affiliate properties (Sanibel, Captiva, Marco Island, Hutchinson Island) were part of the Mariner Group with which Hilton Hotels formed a joint venture to create HGVC in the early 1990's in order to get the timeshare expertise. The owners at these resorts were eligible but not required to join the new HGVC. Many did not since they rarely exchanged. Later in the 1990's Hilton bought out the Mariner Group and became the sole owner. Later affiliates required membership or where provided membership as part of their purchase and therefore are all members.
That is good to know, thanks! Someday I may be looking for another timeshare to compliment my HGVC, and Hyatt has seemed appealing.
Not taking it personal at all -- this has been a good discussion, IMO.
That may very well be Hilton's strategy, I don't know. I think what people want is more Hilton locations that have the same availability as the big 3. But bringing back the case of Valdoro -- it is simply a smaller property, and even if it was Hilton-owned, I really don't think it would make much difference -- there would still be greater demand than supply at that location.
Now if Hilton had 5 affiliate ski properties, then it would be easier to get a ski week (just like with Hyatt). But whether or not those ski properties are affiliates or Hilton-owned, I don't think it would make much difference.
As I understand it, the new Mabrisba property in Carlsbad will be similar to Valdoro, where HGVC membership is mandatory. That should make it easier to get a reservation. I think where the affiliates have gotten a bad rep is those properties where not every owner is a HGVC member -- that really limits the availability, IMO.
Kurt
Benjaminb13:
I will try to answer you questions as best I can. Please remember these are only my opinions.
1. When HGVC was formed both Mariner and Hilton were owners and the only resorts were the original Mariner resorts. All owners at these resorts were given the opportunity to join the new Club. Later HGVC developed the HGVC Flamingo and HGVC Sea World with Hilton capital and Hilton bought out the Mariner Group from HGVC. Many of the original Mariner timeshare executive remained with HGVC (Kim Kreiger who is now HGVC's SVP and Chief Club Officer is an original Mariner executive). The original Mariner, now HGVC affiliates, retained their management agreements with HGVC and the owners retain the right to join HGVC. Hilton focused on the Orlando and Las Vegas markets as well as developing HGVC at the Hilton properties at Hilton Hawaiian Village and Waikoloa. The only other properties they developed were in South Beach and their experiment with the Hilton Club in the New York Hilton. Hilton has chosen the affiliate route for many of their new resorts, in my opinion, as a way of reducing the amount of capital they have to invest in new properties while retaining the HGVC quality and growing the HGVC. Remember that most Hilton hotels are not owned by Hilton but are only operated by Hilton or franchised to developers and operated by others. I believe that Hilton see this partnering as the best way of growing the HGVC.
The other hotel chains, Marriott, Starwood and Hyatt also do not own most of their hotels and just manage or franchise them. I believe that future timeshare development with the large capital required will most likely go the same route as Hilton. There should be no downside to this "affiliate" development if the project and management is structured properly.
2. In answer to your question as to what happens to your points if your resort whether and affiliate or HGVC developed opts out of the HGVC, I suspect that if you are still an owner at another HGVC resort, nothing but if you are not you will be given a period of time to either use your points or transfer them to Hilton Honors Points with don't expire. Just my opinion.