RCI resort rating gamesmanship?

[dougp26364]

So one of the resorts we own is an RCI affiliated resort. I have little use for RCI and bought this resort strictly for personal use and that's how it's remained since we purchased it. We haven't had a personal RCI account for many years and only have the HGVC corporate account included with that ownership.

I say all that because what I'm about to say next really doesn't matter or affect me. It's just a curiosity and takes me back to how RCI suddenly changed it's ratings on Westgate resorts after Westgate decided to go with I.I. several years ago.

One of our resorts, French Quarter Resort in Branson, MO, had their developer/property manager go bankrupt a few years ago. Not just reorganization but liquidation. When all the dust had settled, Spinnaker became the property management company. At that time they started making improvements and completing maintenance that was needed and left undone during the bankruptcy. There have been a few upgrades such as going to all flat screen TV's with a 55 inch TV in the living room. Nothing major but definitely no step backwards.

In all these years before Spinnaker, the resort was Gold Crown. When I checked in, I noted that the resort had been downgraded to Silver Crown. I mentioned it and the girl at the counter said they were pretty mad about that because RCI had set out upgrades/improvements that needed to be done and they had put a LOT of money into the resort.

Now Spinnaker is primarily affiliated with I.I. All of those resorts are nice but maybe middle of the road. Definitely no Marriott, DVC or Hilton quality but more in line with Wyndham, Bluegreen or DRI. Nice, comfortable resorts with good amenities for it's guests. Spinnaker Resorts in I.I. are typically 5 star, their equivalent of Gold Crown.

So what's the deal? Nothing has changed in all these years and suddenly a resort receives a downgrade in quality ratings? Maybe RCI is a little ticked that Spinnaker won't transfer all of their other resorts over to them? It would give them a stronger presence in Branson and help them compete with I.I. if they did. Is this a strong arm tactic? To be fair maybe RCI has elevated their requirements for Gold Crown status but, somehow I doubt that.

Like I said at the beginning, it really doesn't matter to me. RCI has never, nor do we anticipate they will ever, get our French Quarter Resort week for exchange. The only thing that could be a positive is that RCI so infuriates Spinnaker that Spinnaker decides to pull French Quarter Resort from RCI and offer it's owners the opportunity to join I.I., which is something I'd welcome. Not because we ever plan on exchanging this resort but because we've felt more comfortable in getting like for like exchanges thru I.I. based on our personal experience with our particular ownership weeks.

 

[elaine]

interesting. I own at Waterside by Spinnaker and they are also upgrading and this year got downgraded from Gold to Silver. As a (resale) weeks owner, I am not allowed to deposit with II, only RCI, so that stinks.

 

[dougp26364]

interesting. I own at Waterside by Spinnaker and they are also upgrading and this year got downgraded from Gold to Silver. As a (resale) weeks owner, I am not allowed to deposit with II, only RCI, so that stinks.

Does that resort have duel affiliation? Most resorts tend to be either RCI or I.I. Not very many give their owners a choice.

If French Quarter Resort choose to disaffiliate with RCI I'd expect all current owners could choose to either remain with RCI or jump ship and affiliate their week with I.I. I believe, but could be wrong, that's it's a one or the other option where the owner has to pick one and can't flip flop between the two.

 

[elaine]

Spinnaker does not allow resale purchasers of Waterside weeks to deposit with II, only RCI. With II, Spinnaker picks the weeks to deposit with II.

 

[tschwa2]

With Waterside there are 2 types of units. Fixed weeks which only exchange through RCI and ones that have been enrolled in the Spinnaker Flexible Ownership trust (SFO). SFO weeks only exchange through II (even upon resale). Spinnaker does bulk deposit and they do not deposit weeks 24-34 with II.

 

[dougp26364]

It appears to me that, even if French Quarter Resort dumped RCI and went with I.I., it'd still be in our best interest to just use our home resort week as we intended. Summer Branson, MO weeks exchange very well. Anything else, no bad but not so great either. There is a definite oversupply during shoulder season.

 

[pedro47]

We liked Spinnaker at Shipyard Plantation on HHI. This is a very small resort but it is very well maintained. No it is not Marriott or Hilton resort: because it is a true Gold Crown Resort. It's only trade/exchange thru RCI.

 

[judell]

I have 9200 HGVC points that died as of Dec 31. My option is to let them die or port them to RCI...at a price.
The last time I did this a few years ago I found it a waste of time and money as nothing was available and there was an additional fee for booking. Is this still the case or should I let them die?