Orange Lake "Go Global"....Points based program

[snowlady]

I am an owner of 3 weeks at OLCC and am curious about when I will receive some written details about this program??? When I was there in February and attended the "owner update meeting," none of this was mentioned. I don't want to jump to any conclusions without the facts. I'm assuming a mass mailing with all the info is planned. Does anyone know WHEN this will happen?? I am going to call OLCC later today and see if I can get some literature sent out.

 

[JLB]

I can see I am not the only doing the math. The new team must be graduates from the David Seagull Academy of Milk Them For All Their Worth.

Like I said, and like the guy on the network morning show said, we'll keep our money in our own pocket, and save it up for the days when this all grinds to a halt ( ). Like he said, just think how many excellent vacations you could buy outright for what some folks ask for their timeshares!

In sales, fear of loss is stronger than desire for gain. Those in charge of marketing know they are guaranteed success because of those who will buy just because they don't want to miss out on something.

I wonder if this is the vision Kemmons had almost 30 years ago!

 

[lawgs]

ah timetraveler ....

the wu li dance continues.....

Global Access was the concern of this thread....not member services ( do not quite see the correlation being made )

we already have had a mailing and have been called by support staff from OLCC ( hope that is not what is meant as "rushing the issue" )


some "prior HOA orientation" information seems to be contradicted by them. Given, since then, there might have been some changes which might explain the discrepancy and which they have not forwarded to all spokespersons for the program in question for perusal..

in an obtuse way, there is an implication that post 41 contained "mis information"

( a perceived mission, here on TUG, to dispel OLCC "mythinformations" and to save the realm from "seekers" )

Thank you for your diagnosis about a state of concern, it hard to argue with "absolutes".

YASAAPT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[lawgs]

snowlady

we also called and during the conversation they offered to send out "information".

The mailing ( which was not a mass one ) we received was a booklet titled:


2006-2007 Member Guide

Global Access

Created by Orange Lake Resorts

it explains a lot about the program but IMHO needs some tweaking ( which they may do as they get input from prospective members ).

It might create some questions in your mind that will require further "clarification" by Owner Support Service

January is a point in time when the first USE years will be implemented thus even joining now will not affect this years "weeks".

smilawgs

 

[BocaBum99]

I am absolutely confused by this thread. Can someone (re)explain to me what they think "Go Global" is? What are the program details as you see them? I am an owner and I would like to know?

Also, I do not want to get my information in private. I would like to have a clear and concise description of the program as we currently understand it so that we have a baseline for updating and correcting the facts. And, I would like for it to be described in public so that as new information comes out, we can update the understanding accordingly.

 

[timeos2]

I am absolutely confused by this thread. Can someone (re)explain to me what they think "Go Global" is? What are the program details as you see them? I am an owner and I would like to know?

Also, I do not want to get my information in private. I would like to have a clear and concise description of the program as we currently understand it so that we have a baseline for updating and correcting the facts. And, I would like for it to be described in public so that as new information comes out, we can update the understanding accordingly.

Amen Boca. The secrecy and selected "roll out", failure to publish exact details and differing stories from various sales folks says this isn't really a great new owner friendly program but a way to, as JLB says, milk more out of the owner base. Open disclosure means they have to live up to the promises. Stealth and only one on one rollout and sales means everyone hears what they want to and no one knows what it all really is. Be very very careful before you even think of signing on.

 

[JLB]

I noticed my crystal ball glowing this morning, and when I checked it was the voice from beyond with more comments on this topic.

I would like to, but feel a little uncomfortable about sharing on an Internet forum what it had to say. If I could, I believe it would tend to put a damper on all the hoopla surrounding this topic.

The one thing that is clear is that the owners are being stratified, reevalauted and placed in a queue for milking, based on their relative contributions to profits in the past.

Like others are saying, caveat emptor.

 

[timetraveler]

Go Global, don't go Global. The resort is not forcing anyone to do anything. Nor will you be treated differently if you do not join the points based product.

I'm sure there will be many that have no need for a points based product. No problem....remain as you are.

 

[gjw007]

So far the thing that I'm certain about this program is that OLCC introduced it too soon. Shame on them! It should have been fully developed when introduced. I'm not sure that I see a ownership "tier" so much as what I've heard sounds more of an owner loyalty program. Some people like them, such as the Hilton's Honors program or the frequent flyers, but for me, they have done very little.

I'm going to reserve judgement until OLCC does have something official but based on what I've heard, the program does little for me and I will probably continue as a weeks owner. If I really wanted to go points, I can always deposit my week with RCI for a fee (of course) into my points account (talk about double dipping, they charge to put the week into points and then charge me when I use the points - what a gimmick). I like the way that DVC does points (in general, there's a couple areas that gives me problems with DVC such as the banking requirements) but I'm not an overwhelming fan of RCI Points (I've had too many surprises such as paying for housekeeping on short stays) except for having those week-long vacations at week resorts made within 45 days of the vacation - I like those RCI Points use.

 

[timetraveler]

and as an OL owner Gary, on your very next visit, you should tell your member services rep that very thing. He/she will be calling you.

I agree, nothing should have been said until the program was ready to "fully roll out". The piece meal has done nothing but confuse and frustrate people.

That's why in the beginning I spoke in general terms. I knew the program was not fully functional, and I felt talking about it on an open forum would result in negative comments made by non OL owners, and even some OL owners.

I cringed when I saw the thread entitled, OL GO Global program.

I had just returned from the resort, and I knew they were not ready. I and some others feel the "gun was jumped" big time!! I have no idea why they launched when they did.

I'll be back there in a few weeks.....I'm afraid some of the trip won't be so pleasant.

 

[akfoss]

For what it is worth, I was just at OLCC this past week on a Latitudes program week. We purchased this week on an RCI exchange in 2004 and had to use it. We stayed in the East Village.

During our required presentation, we were told by the sales person that there will be two more buildings build near River Island. Owners purchasing there will automatically go into the Global program. The Global program will work based on points, and an owner can use points to stay any number of days, not a full week at a time. They also talked about the $40 exchange internal to OLCC or to other resorts, and they mentioned the one just purchased in WI. Yjey said nothing about buying units elsewhere, and WI was the only location outside Fl that was mentioned. The salesman said that owners in other villages could join the global program and then exchange into River Island but it would require more points and they would have to rent or buy them from OLCC. They also said that OLCC Global program will control all exchanges into or out of OLCC, depositing vacant weeks into RCI only three months in advance, thus depleting inventory in RCI. He specifically stated that OLCC wanted to restrict people exchanging in and instead encourage owners to use the weeks or make them available for internal trades or possibly rent them through the global program. This could have been a sales ploy though, since as a non-owner, RCI would be my most likely way to return in 4+ years. I do not know what the program would cost.

HTH

Allan

 

[lawgs]

akfoss

1. if i sense your post correctly, "prior" River island owners will not be "grandfathered" then, contrary to what has been posted with a "persistance" on this thread but consistent with what owner support service personnel contend (it does comes to mind there might be a possibility that some may have been "comped" the initiation fee and thus that might be construed as "grandfathering" at least for those individuals )

2. wonder how they intend to control weeks that are deposited by owners not in global access or for that matter those in Global Access who book their week during Home Access period and then turn it over to RCI. OLCC certainly seems to have control of Points valuation for OL within the RCI points family compared to the generic RCI points chart for Florida that has existed since "points" inception

3. it would seem once they gain control of inventory from OLCC going to RCI, the gem RCI points Instant Exchanges and RCI Weeks Extra Vacations will disappear ....or will they??? ( we certainly are looking forward to our upcoming Instant Exchange into OLCC. Where else could one get an exchange into a 2 or 3 bedroom for a miniscule co$t. We might just be among the last RCI points "pioneers" to be able to do this ....Orange Lake HO!! )

of course, there are those here who might say that the sales force is on a "lower echelon" at OLCC, not in the "total loop" and do not have clear understanding of the product they are selling, thank you for "sharing" your observations of the presentation you attended

 

[lawgs]

[Message deleted for violation of TUG posting rules. Dave M, BBS Administrator]

 

[JLB]

I posted the following on another timeshare forum earlier today. Since then I have searched for OL on RCI. I can say, and most likely call it a fact, that RCI will still be involved for at least the next 2 years, and there are 3 bedroom units available in 2008 at OL.
- - - - - -


I haven't read all of the OL discussions, but what I have appear to be about how this will affect OL owners.

How about the other 99.99999999% of timeshare owners, those who don't own at OL? And, specifically, how will this affect trading into OL?

My guess is it won't, or not much. We have been through one of these cash-producing manipulations at Mr. Seagull's vacation mill when he decided to disaffiliate with RCI in 1990 or 1991 or so. The end result of that is that we continued to be RCI members and trade through RCI for the remaining 12 years or so of our ownership.

Like when RCI introduced Global Points (you think OL would at least come up with a more dissimilar name for their replication of it ), an option, the option opted for by the overwhelming majority, was to do nothing, to not fork over more bucks to do what they had already been doing, only differently. RCI Weeks is a paid-for, profitable program that could stand alone today, with Weeks members trading for other Weeks members' weeks, without any help from outside, and there would even be excess inventory.

How many years has it been since Global Points was introduced?

So, extrapolating, most OL owners will do nothing except what they have always done, use their week at OL or deposit it with RCI Weeks. And exchanges will still be available. Why would OL enter into a long-term agreement with RCI (if my crystal ball is accurate) if that was not the case?

The way Go Global is being so poorly introduced would tend to discourage owners from buying in.

Let's face it, in timesharing the vast majority are satisfied and complacent, and doing nothing is easiest. OL would have to bombard their owners with hype in order to greatly affect the number of RCI Weeks members, IMO.

Let's meet back in five, ten years, and see? In fact, let's all trade into OL the same week and discuss it there.

 

[PerryM]

Surprise, surprise as Gomer would say

I just stumbled upon this thread and it sounds like the folks at OLCC snatched all the brains behind RCI Points and are headed down the same rabbit hole that RCI Points has blazed.

I’m assuming that the program is hypothetical and has not been implemented – I guess.

Here is my background with OLCC – we exchanged a SA week into OLCC about 2+ years ago – liked the place and took a sales tour.

Out of the 30+ sales tours we have now been on in 6 years OLCC was the only one where I literally had to go take a shower afterwards – it was so full of BS that I had an “yucky” feeling afterwards.

We got a slick haired sales rep in a business suite (This was June in FL and most folks would have worn nice golf pants and shirt – but not “slick” and the crew). They fed us a 3 course lunch and we were stuffed to the point of wanting to take a siesta – my mind was numb – all the blood was headed for my tummy for processing.

Well Slick took us on a golf cart ride around the campus – it was very impressive. They were building a new building around some theme park or something and I stated that we always bought and compared week 52 at resorts – seems all week 52 units were sold out. OLCC ONLY sells fixed weeks in fixed condos in fixed buildings at the fixed campus – sounds like they now want to change that.

Well I would not budge – week 52 or nothing. Slick said sorry - but he wanted to check something first. He dragged his sales manager back with “Surprise surprise” (Reminded me of Gomer Pyle) they found a week 52 from a bankruptcy and it was mine. He quoted me the price and showed me where it would be in the building. I didn’t like the location and said so and got up to leave.

“Surprise surprise” they were flexible as to price – this was a bankruptcy and they desperately wanted to unload it. They finally came down 40% in price but I didn’t like the location and got up to leave.

“Surprise surprise” they could sweeten the deal with free RCI memberships and some other junk – I just asked where gifting was and left.

This wheeling and dealing from one customer to another really ticks me off – why have published price sheets when a load of BS is really where they start negations from.

I wish OLCC well but I suspect that this attitude will permeate a beautiful Point System and have the same disastrous results at RCI Points has had. You heard it here first OLCC - sounds like you will duke it out with RCI for the worst Point system in the timeshare world - I wish you good luck.

 

[JLB]

I see you found your way here Perry. How do you really feel?

No, the program is not hypothetical. It has been implemented and is being sold to OL owners. If they hurry they can get the introductory discount offer. If you'll check around the BBS, you will see that no one can explain what it really entails.

My crystal ball suggests they did, in fact, lift the point values straight from RCI, without even saying thanks for putting this together for us. Yeah, they multiply the points by two or something to make it look proprietary.

I wouldn't know because I get really confused when these really smart timeshare people start rattling off all this new-fangled jargon.

From word on this board, there's a new sheriff in town at OL, and it's open season.

Like RCI Points, though, it's another way of getting folks to pay again for what they already have, by dressing it up in another outfit.

 

[silentg]

Orange Lake Points?

I purchased a small studio unit at Orange Lake (from Holiday Group). Will I be forced to change from fixed week to points? I plan on going there this November to use my week. This will be the first year as an owner at OLCC.
I live in the area so I bought the week to be able to use the facilites year round. TerryC

 

[timeos2]

Avoid sales - your trip is better

I purchased a small studio unit at Orange Lake (from Holiday Group). Will I be forced to change from fixed week to points? I plan on going there this November to use my week. This will be the first year as an owner at OLCC.
I live in the area so I bought the week to be able to use the facilites year round. TerryC

No. You don't even have to talk to them (and if it were me I wouldn't). Enjoy your visit and don't bother with sales of any type.

 

[timetraveler]

I purchased a small studio unit at Orange Lake (from Holiday Group). Will I be forced to change from fixed week to points? I plan on going there this November to use my week. This will be the first year as an owner at OLCC.
I live in the area so I bought the week to be able to use the facilites year round. TerryC

Terry, you can choose to join Global or not.

Call OL the week of your arrival to tell them you will be using your unit. My brother likes to do that to make sure a cleaning crew freshens up his unit, in case it wasn't exchanged into the week prior to his arrival. That way he knows the unit will be aired out and freshly cleaned.

 

[akfoss]

Lifting Points Ideas from RCI

One point our sales person made on several occasions was that the #1 person at OLCC now was recently hired away from a similar job at Hilton (Grand Vacations) and their #2 person at OLCC was recently hired from a similar job at Fairfield (until recently a sister company of RCI in Cendant). He repeated that OLCC was proud that they were "stealing" the best ideas from Hilton, Fairfield and RCI, but "leaving the bad ideas." I would think this all comes down to marketing and getting people to part with their money, and Hilton, Fairfield and even RCI have a lot of experience with doing that!

Allan

 

[akfoss]

OLCC Sales Presentations

BTW: I have been to two sales presentations now, first in 2004 and then again this year. Now that OLCC has a dedicated tour facility and sales facility close to River Island, I doubt there would be problems. Our first experience, the sales person kept up for more than 3 hours, and basically refused to give us the paperwork to receive our gifts. Finally, we bought the Latitudes program in part just to get out of there, so I guess the tactic worked. This year, we said early on that we would not purchase anything. The sales person shared some info with us, then asked again. When we said no again, he went and got the paperwork and we were on our way in just over an hour.

One other point, it is clear that OLCC sales wants nothing more to do with you once you enter the gifting room. There is a separate exit and then a shuttle that takes you back to your car. You get a personal ride on a golf cart going in, but herded out on a shuttle bus. Interesting how they simply "drop" you at the door and walk away.

Allan

 

[JLB]

I just received an extensive email from an owner at OL.

He was reporting OL's version of some of the things that other OL owners have posted on TUG concerning Global Access. He reports that some of the things that have been posted here are inaccurate. He suggested that OL may be looking into who has been saying what and where their information is coming from.

Since it is secondhand, me not being the one who talked to the officials at OL, I am not going to post his information.

I don't feel it would be inappropriate for me to share it privately, though, for those who contact me by email. If it is, I'm sure he will let me know.

 

[gjw007]

I just received an extensive email from an owner at OL.

He was reporting OL's version of some of the things that other OL owners have posted on TUG concerning Global Access. He reports that some of the things that have been posted here are inaccurate. He suggested that OL may be looking into who has been saying what and where their information is coming from.

Since it is secondhand, me not being the one who talked to the officials at OL, I am not going to post his information.

I don't feel it would be inappropriate for me to share it privately, though, for those who contact me by email. If it is, I'm sure he will let me know.

JLB:

Like you, I've received information privately from a number of people. I haven't posted them as general knowledge because I have yet to receive any information from the resort regarding this program. When I called, maybe 3 weeks ago, I was told they were undergoing training. So far, the only information I have on the program I treat as speculation and most of it has been from here. The information may be correct but I haven't been able to verify it and it is possible that OLCC has changed it since the information was given out. Shame on OLCC for introducing the program without it being fully developed!

Just curious what the breakeven point would be, I calculated it as follows: Just using the numbers posted here for an owner with one week and assuming that they exchange internally every year, also assuming the exchange rate difference (savings) between GoGlobal and RCI doesn't change over the next few years, the membership fee is correct ($89), and the exchange rate ($40) for GoGlobal is correct (a lot of assumptions), it takes roughly 10 years to break even compared to exchanging through RCI. The calculations are:

GoGlobal Cost $1,295

RCI Membership ($99) + Exchange fee ($164 -starting September 1) = $263
GoGlobal Membership ($89) + GoGlobal Exchange ($40) = $129
GoGlobal Savings = $263 - $129 = $134
GoGlobal Cost ($1295) divided by saving ($134) equal approximately 10 or roughly 10 years to break even.

If they don't exchange every year, it will take a longer time to reach the breakeven point.

 

[JLB]

Like you suggest, there are still a lot of versions floating around. Some I've heard are even higher than what's been discussed here. So, it's hard to do the specifics.

Of course, it isn't the intention in any of these conversion promotions that it be overly-analyzed, that folks spend time seeing if it makes sense, and dollars.

Fear of loss will make it productive for OL. Of course, if it continues being the debacle it has been to this point, that new management team will be looking for new work.

 

[BocaBum99]

I find it very unhelpful for people to post rumors of rumors or suggestions of hidden information without posting actual verified data or facts. And, this sharing of information only if you ask privately or if you are a certain ownership status is also not helpful. All that does is create more confusion, less trust and even less clarity on the situation.

As far as I am concerned, I spoke to a commissioned sales person who made me an offer for my week. That is valid data. I could have got it in writing and made the deal at that level.

If you have tips from others, why don't you verify the information by calling someone at Orange Lake and then post your findings here. That would be helpful.

Otherwise, I heard from a secret source that Orange Lake is terminating its affiliation with RCI and going on its own. See, anyone can make up stuff and confuse the situation.