II Travel Demand: What does TDI in the Index mean?

[CalGalTraveler]

I see II Hawaiian resorts with a TDI of 13 and another with a TDI of 40 when I click on the Travel Demand Index. What does that mean? Is this like an RCI TPU?

Can a TDI resort of 40 trade for a TDI of 13? What does TDI mean?

 

[bnoble]

The "13" means "Chart #13". Each TDI chart has an associated number, like a page number. That has nothing to do with trade power.

Instead, the TDI chart tells you, generally for this particular area, what is the balance of demand for exchanges vs. supply of deposits for any particular week of the year. A TDI value of 100 means "about the same rate of deposit and exchange requests." A TDI of 150 means there are many many more requests than deposits. A TDI of 50 means there are many many more deposits than requests.

You can see for Hawaii, in general, there is never a week of the year when deposits outrun requests. But, this can vary from island to island, and especially from resort to resort. There are some resorts on Maui that are relatively easy exchanges, even in whale season, but they are "lesser" resorts, and probably the smaller units in those lesser resorts. Likewise, even the first week of December is going to be hard for a larger unit in one of the top-shelf Marriotts on the islands. Not impossible, but not easy.

You also cannot compare TDI values across areas directly, because they are normalized for that area. Yes, demand for Week 7 in Orlando is high. But it is still Orlando. There are lots and lots and lots of timeshares, so lots and lots and lots of requests will still be filled.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Thank you @bnoble. Extremely helpful reply.

If I deposit weeks that are 150 and 140 but are an HGVC affiliate in Scotland (so high quality comparable to MVC). What do you think are the chances of trading into Hawaii Marriott, or Hyatts in high demand location/seasons? How can I assess this? Can I search before I deposit? (I have never traded in II before - only RCI).

Am I better off depositing a 1 bdrm and upgrading via ePlus? or a 2 bdrm (no lockoff possible).

Depositing 2024 weeks better than 2023?

 

[bnoble]

Marriott has an internal preference period. If you don't have preference, high-demand locations/seasons are an uphill climb. Hyatt doesn't (I don't think) but high demand season/location deposits might be rare.

You can search before you deposit, and you can even place an ongoing search without depositing.

 

[travelhacker]

Thank you @bnoble. Extremely helpful reply.

If I deposit weeks that are 150 and 140 but are an HGVC affiliate in Scotland (so high quality comparable to MVC). What do you think are the chances of trading into Hawaii Marriott, or Hyatts in high demand location/seasons? How can I assess this? Can I search before I deposit? (I have never traded in II before - only RCI).

Am I better off depositing a 1 bdrm and upgrading via ePlus? or a 2 bdrm (no lockoff possible).

Depositing 2024 weeks better than 2023?

I'm not sure your odds are very good unless you deposit something that has preference. If it were me, I would take the HGVC points.

Hyatt did not have preference in II. However, when MVW bought Welk to marry up with Hyatt they gave preference for Welk members to trade into Hyatt via II, and vice versa.

When do you want to trade into Hyatt? The availability varies greatly by resort -- you won't see anything in peak ski season (Mid December through March), you won't see Maui, and you won't see Siesta Key. Sunset Harbour rarely makes an appearance, but I've seen it a couple of times. I've seen Carmel a few times but mostly in the winter.

Preference gets removed when someone uses eplus to trade out or cancels an exchange. Given that it's a high demand week that you are depositing, I would think you would be pretty high on the list....however, the following scenario would have to play out:

- Someone deposits the week you want (or Marriott bulk deposits)
- A Marriott owner exchanges in
- The Marriott owner cancels
- You happen to have the best week in the waitlist queue. Or if trade power is equal, you have had the waitlist in for longest.

Or somehow the week would have to survive preference (not likely for high demand weeks).

 

[ScoopKona]

Marriott has an internal preference period. If you don't have preference, high-demand locations/seasons are an uphill climb. Hyatt doesn't (I don't think) but high demand season/location deposits might be rare.

You can search before you deposit, and you can even place an ongoing search without depositing.

Hyatt owners have exclusive right to their unit from 1 year to six months out from their week. Although they can trade in their unit for points at any time, most don't. Their unit is converted to points at the six month mark, whether they like it or not. That's typically when Hyatt inventory becomes available. People have their week converted and kick them into Interval so they have more time to procrastinate.

Hyatt Maui (HKB) is special in that they have float weeks (and I don't know how their float reservations work -- Kal does). And they're special in that they're still a new resort and everyone wants to go there because it's a new Hyatt.

I think the chances of trading into HKB through Interval are somewhere between "slim" and "none." And even when I was trading into Hawaii constantly (to scout out possible locations for retirement), there is no way I'd bother with HKB. It would cost me a slew of Hyatt points for a week -- if I could even get a full week, which is unlikely. I can grab five studio weeks in Interval for the same points as one week at HKB.

In the hopes of helping @CalGalTraveler, I can say with confidence that "the resort basically doesn't matter." (I also haven't stayed in Kauai Beach Villas, which is in apparently really bad shape). I've stayed at a dozen timeshares on every island except Oahu (because I know that Oahu isn't for me). All of them have been fine. Some nicer than others. But not once have I said, "this is unacceptable, I'd rather stay in a hotel."

The very worst of the bunch had dated appliances. That's it. Dated appliances. No big deal. Grab a week in Hawaii. (I recommend Kona Coast Resort on the Big Island -- then you can visit my farm. I'm just up the road.) Any island is going to be fun. And except for a handful of exceptions, all the resorts are (at the very least) "good enough."

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Thanks all for your insights. This is extremely valuable. So it sounds like I can search before depositing and even set up an OGS. If one of my OGS selections hit, is this like RCI where you can pass on the match?

I have several 1 bdrm and 2 bdrm units. Do I need to select the unit and hit "Exchange" for each type of unit to find out if it pulls any matches in search? (I have had a corporate II account for my Vistana, we always use the unit so have never searched in II before. I am an II newbie!)

If I set up an OGS and nothing matches that I want, the unit is not deposited in an OGS (search then deposit) so can I then deposit the unit into HGVC for points? Because this is an HGVC affiliate, I have until 30 days prior to the fixed week to deposit this unit into HGVC and will have the HGVC points for the entire year (or can bank). I see this as providing the most options. Would this work?

Lastly, are there any promos or discounts for signing up with II or is the $99 annual fee standard?

 

[Jackieb]

Hyatt owners have exclusive right to their unit from 1 year to six months out from their week. Although they can trade in their unit for points at any time, most don't. Their unit is converted to points at the six month mark, whether they like it or not. That's typically when Hyatt inventory becomes available. People have their week converted and kick them into Interval so they have more time to procrastinate.

Hyatt Maui (HKB) is special in that they have float weeks (and I don't know how their float reservations work -- Kal does). And they're special in that they're still a new resort and everyone wants to go there because it's a new Hyatt.

I think the chances of trading into HKB through Interval are somewhere between "slim" and "none." And even when I was trading into Hawaii constantly (to scout out possible locations for retirement), there is no way I'd bother with HKB. It would cost me a slew of Hyatt points for a week -- if I could even get a full week, which is unlikely. I can grab five studio weeks in Interval for the same points as one week at HKB.

In the hopes of helping @CalGalTraveler, I can say with confidence that "the resort basically doesn't matter." (I also haven't stayed in Kauai Beach Villas, which is in apparently really bad shape). I've stayed at a dozen timeshares on every island except Oahu (because I know that Oahu isn't for me). All of them have been fine. Some nicer than others. But not once have I said, "this is unacceptable, I'd rather stay in a hotel."

The very worst of the bunch had dated appliances. That's it. Dated appliances. No big deal. Grab a week in Hawaii. (I recommend Kona Coast Resort on the Big Island -- then you can visit my farm. I'm just up the road.) Any island is going to be fun. And except for a handful of exceptions, all the resorts are (at the very least) "good enough."

QQ, do you think Hyatt Sierra Lodge Week 49 (low) is worth it? Im thinking to add a Hyatt to portfolio so I am able to see Hyatt weeks come up, it is a 2BR

 

[ScoopKona]

QQ, do you think Hyatt Sierra Lodge Week 49 (low) is worth it? Im thinking to add a Hyatt to portfolio so I am able to see Hyatt weeks come up, it is a 2BR

If it's the 1100 point copper week, keep in mind it will never be enough for a 2bd Interval high season week. If you can live with that, a point is a point -- doesn't matter that you're trading low for high. As long as you have enough points to afford the trade, you can make the trade. You get the same access as a 2200 point Diamond owner. It's just a question of what you can afford with your points.

If it were me, I'd hold out for a 1300 point bronze week at the very least. And if you can find an inexpensive gold or diamond, that is more vacationing every year for the same maintenance fee.