Owner Update at Cabo Azul August 2023

[Hobokie]

I'm currently here in Cabo (Cabo Azul formerly Diamond now part of HGV due to merger) via an Interval Getaway (I have II access through my resale Worldmark) but I am also a resale HGV owner (Elara Platinum Studio Plus). We agreed to go to an Owner's Update presentation after we were offered $250 resort credit (to help offset some of these crazy resort fees...). Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised that our presentation was lightning fast (15 minutes if that) and we literally said no ONCE and were sent on our way with our gift!

My husband noticed that our little sheet was smaller than the others (they had full packets while ours apparently was only one sheet?). When our sales guy began his talk he asked "do you have any questions for me?" I asked about the 50% discount that Diamond members get if booking 59 days or less before check-in and he gave me a blah blah answer that was rushed and seemed like he didn't quite frankly know what he was talking about. Then he proceeded to tell me that I was flagged as "VIP" in their system which meant they could ONLY offer us the VIP package which was 11,580 (I may be a bit off here) one time use points to be used in the next 18 months. The cost was $1,795 which would be applied to our next purchase if we decided to upgrade. This would also freeze the HGV Max price at $5.70 per point.

The list of resorts offered was not all inclusive (i.e. only Marbrisa was on the list for California, only Elara & Trump for Vegas, only Kings Land and two of the Oahu properties, etc... basically not all of the resorts were included).

We said "No" ONE TIME and he said "ok, nice to meet you, go back upstairs for your gift" and walked away! No manager for the 2nd pitch, no closer, NADA.

He had a sheet that showed our contract at $19k (what the original owners bought for, not what I paid for it resale, obviously).

I was happy this was our experience and am now wondering... are they getting smarter/are we flagged as resale somehow and they just offer us basically extra points at a slightly higher rate? (my MF ratio is about 12.5 cents per point (excluding Club dues) vs what he offered which was about 15.5 cents per point. We don't go to these presentations often (our last one was here 2 years and 1 week ago) so I can't imagine that we are flagged somehow in the system and frequent presentation attendees... I frankly would've considered the 15.5 cents per point package if I had planned use for it (I have a tiny contract of only 5600 points) AND if I didn't have previous terrible experience with the inventory available and process for booking previously (HGV VIP package > 5 years ago and also Marriott which was even worse to find availability...)

Anyone have a similar experience or know of someone who has had this happen?

 

[HuskerATL]

I wonder if it was because you were at a DRI/HVC property and not HGVC but saw you as an HGVC owner. On the other hand, if booked via Worldmark and exchanged your week via II, how would they have even known that you were also a HGVC owner? Obviously, they found that info some how and it is common for them to see the original sale amount for your resale but it will also show that you are a resale buyer. Often, when you are offered an upgrade, they will offer you the original amount toward a different deed. For them, they know it would be very hard for them to sell you DRI Trust points so he probably just gave up. Not many HGVC resale owners would buy DRI trust points. The packets that you saw with other folks were probably DRI/HVC program/trust info packets.

 

[geist1223]

Boy you were lucky. When we were there as DRI Members last winter the Sales person was a total jerk.

 

[Volcom32001]

I just went to an "Owners Update" at MarBrisa yesterday. I was staying on Open Season from Tuesday-Thursday and originally they said it was $125 or 40,000HH and I declined then they said $200 or 100,000HH. I accepted the latter offer. This is the second time I did an Owner Update there and both times they had me as an original owner that bought in 2003 which is not correct. I bought resale LV Boulevard Feb 2023. After I told her I was resale, her attitude quickly changed and offered me a sale for $25,000 and I declined. The presentation only lasted 25min. Has anyone else ran into this kind of situation where they think you're original owners that bought direct but you really bought via resale?

 

[HuskerATL]

I just went to an "Owners Update" at MarBrisa yesterday. I was staying on Open Season from Tuesday-Thursday and originally they said it was $125 or 40,000HH and I declined then they said $200 or 100,000HH. I accepted the latter offer. This is the second time I did an Owner Update there and both times they had me as an original owner that bought in 2003 which is not correct. I bought resale LV Boulevard Feb 2023. After I told her I was resale, her attitude quickly changed and offered me a sale for $25,000 and I declined. The presentation only lasted 25min. Has anyone else ran into this kind of situation where they think you're original owners that bought direct but you really bought via resale?

Often. It is common for them to think that but, if they dig deeper they will figure it out.

 

[dayooper]

I just went to an "Owners Update" at MarBrisa yesterday. I was staying on Open Season from Tuesday-Thursday and originally they said it was $125 or 40,000HH and I declined then they said $200 or 100,000HH. I accepted the latter offer. This is the second time I did an Owner Update there and both times they had me as an original owner that bought in 2003 which is not correct. I bought resale LV Boulevard Feb 2023. After I told her I was resale, her attitude quickly changed and offered me a sale for $25,000 and I declined. The presentation only lasted 25min. Has anyone else ran into this kind of situation where they think you're original owners that bought direct but you really bought via resale?

I always get that. I was once told I haven’t been on a tour since 1994 when “I bought” the deed. I said I was in college in 1994. The concierge was very confused.

 

[mjc775]

We’re original DRI owners. We went to Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort last month. VIP check-in asked if we had any dining or activity plans, and I acted uninterested and unsure about our plans. To my surprise I was not offered a gift or “owner update“ this time. Since I’ve declined buying/upgrading anything, ever - I’ve been to at least 1/2 updates - maybe I’m on a “do not gift” list?

We also used to get surveys emailed after our stays about “How was the room/property/presentation?” Does Hilton not do those? We had plenty to complain about - no light in shower, other bulbs burnt out, one TV didn’t work, DVD player remote didn’t work, etc.

We’re going to Cabo Azul for the second time next month. Hypothetically, I wonder if buying at an owner update in Mexico has different recision rights than in the U.S.?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rpennisi]

I'm currently here in Cabo (Cabo Azul formerly Diamond now part of HGV due to merger) via an Interval Getaway (I have II access through my resale Worldmark) but I am also a resale HGV owner (Elara Platinum Studio Plus). We agreed to go to an Owner's Update presentation after we were offered $250 resort credit (to help offset some of these crazy resort fees...). Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised that our presentation was lightning fast (15 minutes if that) and we literally said no ONCE and were sent on our way with our gift!

My husband noticed that our little sheet was smaller than the others (they had full packets while ours apparently was only one sheet?). When our sales guy began his talk he asked "do you have any questions for me?" I asked about the 50% discount that Diamond members get if booking 59 days or less before check-in and he gave me a blah blah answer that was rushed and seemed like he didn't quite frankly know what he was talking about. Then he proceeded to tell me that I was flagged as "VIP" in their system which meant they could ONLY offer us the VIP package which was 11,580 (I may be a bit off here) one time use points to be used in the next 18 months. The cost was $1,795 which would be applied to our next purchase if we decided to upgrade. This would also freeze the HGV Max price at $5.70 per point.

The list of resorts offered was not all inclusive (i.e. only Marbrisa was on the list for California, only Elara & Trump for Vegas, only Kings Land and two of the Oahu properties, etc... basically not all of the resorts were included).

We said "No" ONE TIME and he said "ok, nice to meet you, go back upstairs for your gift" and walked away! No manager for the 2nd pitch, no closer, NADA.

He had a sheet that showed our contract at $19k (what the original owners bought for, not what I paid for it resale, obviously).

I was happy this was our experience and am now wondering... are they getting smarter/are we flagged as resale somehow and they just offer us basically extra points at a slightly higher rate? (my MF ratio is about 12.5 cents per point (excluding Club dues) vs what he offered which was about 15.5 cents per point. We don't go to these presentations often (our last one was here 2 years and 1 week ago) so I can't imagine that we are flagged somehow in the system and frequent presentation attendees... I frankly would've considered the 15.5 cents per point package if I had planned use for it (I have a tiny contract of only 5600 points) AND if I didn't have previous terrible experience with the inventory available and process for booking previously (HGV VIP package > 5 years ago and also Marriott which was even worse to find availability...)

Anyone have a similar experience or know of someone who has had this happen?

We go two weeks in January. I traded in with RCI, but we also have a Polo Towers week that is now HGV. With two weeks of resort fees and a depreciating dollar, I might try the presentation. I'll keep all informed.

 

[winger]

We go two weeks in January. I traded in with RCI, but we also have a Polo Towers week that is now HGV. With two weeks of resort fees and a depreciating dollar, I might try the presentation. I'll keep all informed.

You are charged a resort fee at Cabo only because you traded in with RCI (like if you used PLT to exchange internally using DeX or THE Club, there is no resort fee) ?

 

[rpennisi]

You are charged a resort fee at Cabo only because you traded in with RCI (like if you used PLT to exchange internally using DeX or THE Club, there is no resort fee) ?

I made the trade with RCI for Cabo Azul before I had the ability to use DEX to make trades. Had I had DEX at the time, I probably would have used it to trade for Cabo Azul. However, I got two bedroom 2 bath exchanges for the two weeks at Cabo Azul for only 11 and 12 TP using RCI, so the resort fees (especially at 20 pesos to the dollar) weren't a problem making that trade for me at the time.

 

[enma]

We just attended a sales presentation at Cabo Azul . We were offered $250. We did the sales presentation mostly to get a discounted price on excursions, lol. We are Marriott owners and not familiar with Hilton program. We came here on Interval accommodation certificate .
The program sounded pretty good to us actually. Of course it was a sales presentation though. The salesman Jason was great. Very informative and not high pressure. The offer we were given was 8000 points every other year for $24,900 plus one time 8000 points. 5500 points every other year for $14,900 (I may be off just a tad). Club fee $795 yearly. If the salesman is to be believed I do like the discount you get for booking 59 days or less and discounted cash prices. We are not interested in buying but the sales presentation gave us good information about the system. In some ways better than Marriott I would say . Btw, love Cabo Azul. Just wish we could swim in the ocean.

 

[Hobokie]

We just attended a sales presentation at Cabo Azul . We were offered $250. We did the sales presentation mostly to get a discounted price on excursions, lol. We are Marriott owners and not familiar with Hilton program. We came here on Interval accommodation certificate .
The program sounded pretty good to us actually. Of course it was a sales presentation though. The salesman Jason was great. Very informative and not high pressure. The offer we were given was 8000 points every other year for $24,900 plus one time 8000 points. 5500 points every other year for $14,900 (I may be off just a tad). Club fee $795 yearly. If the salesman is to be believed I do like the discount you get for booking 59 days or less and discounted cash prices. We are not interested in buying but the sales presentation gave us good information about the system. In some ways better than Marriott I would say . Btw, love Cabo Azul. Just wish we could swim in the ocean.

The 59 days or less discount applies to Diamond resorts only, not HGV unless I am mistaken? Can someone confirm or correct me?

 

[HuskerATL]

The 59 days or less discount applies to Diamond resorts only, not HGV unless I am mistaken? Can someone confirm or correct me?

That is correct. HGVC/HC have open season at <30 days

 

[rpennisi]

You are charged a resort fee at Cabo only because you traded in with RCI (like if you used PLT to exchange internally using DeX or THE Club, there is no resort fee) ?

I just checked on DEX using a deposited Polo Towers week for a January 2025 week. There are many weeks available for the month of January. But...they too show 1200 pesos per day activities fee. So, even using Destination Exchange has that fee .

 

[GT75]

I just checked on DEX using a deposited Polo Towers week for a January 2025 week. There are many weeks available for the month of January. But...they too show 1200 pesos per day activities fee. So, even using Destination Exchange has that fee

1200 Mx pesos = $7

 

[Hobokie]

1200 Mx pesos = $7

More like $70 per day…

 

[GT75]

Oh, man. Thanks. I missed a zero. Wow, that certainly is steep.