Resort may "Pause" RCI exchanges and take cash reservations, blaming CV-19

[Polly Metallic]

We have a reservation for June 19th, made nearly two years ago, at the Eastern Slope Inn in New Hampshire. The governor is allowing hotels and resorts to open as of June 5th, with occupancy restrictions in place based on the facility's number of units and overall configuration. I checked with the resort to make sure our reservation is "go" and got back an email saying the soonest they would resume RCI reservations is June 8th, and due to the occupancy restrictions, they may extend the "pause" for RCI reservations. At the moment, based on their own reservation system, they have a number of unbooked rooms, and I have a feeling they hope to ditch their RCI reservations and book cash reservations instead, which isn't fair. I told the manager we're willing to be moved from the main building, the historic Inn, to another building on the complex if necessary. The manager said RCI will contact us directly and let us know if our week is cancelled. Even though we plan to drive there, we don't want to be left dangling till a few days before we're due to check in. Our reservation is 18 days from now. I'm pretty upset over this. Other resorts that do a brisk cash reservation business may be planning to pull the same stunt on exchangers.

 

[skimble]

This is out of control. A timeshare is a second home. You can socially distance there!
Some resorts are fully open; others are closed in the SAME CITY! I don't get it.

 

[montygz]

Today's uncertainty is difficult for all involved. Resorts are dealing with new regulations. Many laid-off staff who can't be easily called back. They are just starting to open and entering unknown territory.

Having a "feeling" isn't evidence of anything. Many resorts are canceling reservations to limit occupancy.

My personal outlook is that if I get to go anywhere now, it's a bonus. In time, these things will work out.

 

[Polly Metallic]

Today's uncertainty is difficult for all involved. Resorts are dealing with new regulations. Many laid-off staff who can't be easily called back. They are just starting to open and entering unknown territory.

Having a "feeling" isn't evidence of anything. Many resorts are canceling reservations to limit occupancy.

My personal outlook is that if I get to go anywhere now, it's a bonus. In time, these things will work out.

Right now it’s just a “feeling” based on the FACT that they have lots of empty rooms but won’t confirm our reservation. If they need to limit occupancy, that’s understandable, but they shouldn’t be advertising cash bookings while turning away RCI exchangers.

 

[mdurette]

I had posted NH reopening guidelines a couple days ago here: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/new-hampshire-lodging-guidelines-for-opening.305424/

There are capacity restrictions depending on resort size and if units have indoor or outdoor access. An then they want the rooms that will be vacant to be spread out amount the building.

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that they are cancelling exchanges in favor of cash. I'm sure they first have to ensure owners get their weeks.

I certainly wouldn't want to be the person at the resorts to try to figure all the room placements.

If you look at RCI right now, there is no inventory in that area of NH with a start before 6/12. You may want to save yourself the last minute phone call and reach out to RCI. They may already know that your week has been cancelled. This way you can start making other plans.

 

[Polly Metallic]

I had posted NH reopening guidelines a couple days ago here: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/new-hampshire-lodging-guidelines-for-opening.305424/

There are capacity restrictions depending on resort size and if units have indoor or outdoor access. An then they want the rooms that will be vacant to be spread out amount the building.

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that they are cancelling exchanges in favor of cash. I'm sure they first have to ensure owners get their weeks.

I certainly wouldn't want to be the person at the resorts to try to figure all the room placements.

If you look at RCI right now, there is no inventory in that area of NH with a start before 6/12. You may want to save yourself the last minute phone call and reach out to RCI. They may already know that your week has been cancelled. This way you can start making other plans.

I totally understand what you’re saying about the new regulations, but you’re missing the point. They have empty rooms for rent on their website and on other travel booking sites like Hotels.com, which means they are NOT trying to accommodate owners OR exchangers. The travel sites should show NO AVAILABILITY until owners and exchangers are accommodated. Then, if they still have empty units and aren’t over their occupancy limits, it would be fine to offer rooms to the public. BTW I did call RCI and they know nothing. The week hasn’t been cancelled by the resort.

 

[silentg]

It doesn’t sound like they paused your reservation. If it’s still showing on your confirmation you should be able to check in. When you call RCI always ask for a supervisor, you will get answers when you talk to the right person.
Good Luck.Let us know how it goes.

 

[Polly Metallic]

It doesn’t sound like they paused your reservation. If it’s still showing on your confirmation you should be able to check in. When you call RCI always ask for a supervisor, you will get answers when you talk to the right person.
Good Luck.Let us know how it goes.

The resort hasn’t cancelled the reservation yet, but when I wrote to reconfirm our week, the manager wrote back and said that “the pause with RCI might be extended.” So now we wait, wondering if we have a vacation or not.

 

[mdurette]

I totally understand what you’re saying about the new regulations, but you’re missing the point. They have empty rooms for rent on their website and on other travel booking sites like Hotels.com, which means they are NOT trying to accommodate owners OR exchangers. The travel sites should show NO AVAILABILITY until owners and exchangers are accommodated. Then, if they still have empty units and aren’t over their occupancy limits, it would be fine to offer rooms to the public. BTW I did call RCI and they know nothing. The week hasn’t been cancelled by the resort.

I understand your point. If they don't have inventory due to occupancy limits for TS owners/exchanges, then they should not have inventory for their rental pool.

 

[Polly Metallic]

Yep. They just cancelled us.

 

[missyrcrews]

I would imagine that they are limited to 50% occupancy. (The rules say that places with common entry points can only book to that occupancy limit.) My resort is first asking owners if they are planning to use their weeks, encouraging them to bank with RCI, and then doing a lottery with everybody else. Made me glad I'd banked my week. They may just not have shut off the regular bookings yet.

 

[Polly Metallic]

I would imagine that they are limited to 50% occupancy. (The rules say that places with common entry points can only book to that occupancy limit.) My resort is first asking owners if they are planning to use their weeks, encouraging them to bank with RCI, and then doing a lottery with everybody else. Made me glad I'd banked my week. They may just not have shut off the regular bookings yet.

So I just rebooked us at Woodstone at Massanutten in Virginia, same dates. They’re opening at reduced capacity too but the woman I spoke to believed that if weeks showed as available RCI inventory, then it was okay to book them without violating the occupancy guidelines.

 

[escanoe]

I was at the front desk of Massanutten on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Was camping in the area and decided I would order and pick up some pizzas they were selling at a great price (50% off) at the pizza/bbq restaurant in the same building as the main lobby for Massanutten. There was a person at the front desk when I walked on the other side of the room (wearing a mask) to use the bathroom in the main lobby. I asked her if they were open for guests, and she said "if you have reservation we will honor it."

Also when they brought the pizza out to the car, they made a comment like we were guests staying at the resort. I am not sure the resort was ever completely closed. If you have a reservation for the Great Eastern side, I think you have about as sure of a bet as one can have. Mountainside Villas may be slightly different, but they will likely be open once everything else there is ... and they say they will be.

So I just rebooked us at Woodstone at Massanutten in Virginia, same dates. They’re opening at reduced capacity too but the woman I spoke to believed that if weeks showed as available RCI inventory, then it was okay to book them without violating the occupancy guidelines.

 

[missyrcrews]

I hope that it all goes smoothly for you. Let us know how things go. Crossing my fingers!

 

[Polly Metallic]

I was at the front desk of Massanutten on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Was camping in the area and decided I would order and pick up some pizzas they were selling at a great price (50% off) at the pizza/bbq restaurant in the same building as the main lobby for Massanutten. There was a person at the front desk when I walked on the other side of the room (wearing a mask) to use the bathroom in the main lobby. I asked her if they were open for guests, and she said "if you have reservation we will honor it."

Also when they brought the pizza out to the car, they made a comment like we were guests staying at the resort. I am not sure the resort was ever completely closed. If you have a reservation for the Great Eastern side, I think you have about as sure of a bet as one can have. Mountainside Villas may be slightly different, but they will likely be open once everything else there is ... and they say they will be.

Thanks for the info. From what I can tell by looking at travel sites, the meal you bought was part of a Memorial Day weekend event that was probably open to the public.

 

[escanoe]

They ran 50% off pizzas through all of May. I am sure there are a number of people in the community that eat there.

Thanks for the info. From what I can tell by looking at travel sites, the meal you bought was part of a Memorial Day weekend event that was probably open to the public.

 

[Jan M.]

So I just rebooked us at Woodstone at Massanutten in Virginia, same dates. They’re opening at reduced capacity too but the woman I spoke to believed that if weeks showed as available RCI inventory, then it was okay to book them without violating the occupancy guidelines.

Was your original reservation at a Wyndham operated resort? The Wyndham resorts haven't been allowing RCI exchanges or guest reservations as they reopen the resorts.

If the person you spoke with was an RCI rep don't count on what they tell you as being correct. You can talk to three different reps and get three different answers and none of them correct! Wish I was kidding about that. Also don't count on what you see on the RCI website as being correct. After the Wyndham resorts and Disney resorts closed a friend of mine and I both kept making matches to our ongoing searches for dates when the resorts were closed. If you didn't cancel or confirm it would just expire and go back into the available inventory and you didn't lose your ongoing search. This kept happening to both of us over and over for dates in April when the resorts closed. My friend was concerned about losing out on a match she really wanted with dates further out while her search was tied up waiting for the matches no one could use to expire.

 

[Polly Metallic]

Was your original reservation at a Wyndham operated resort? The Wyndham resorts haven't been allowing RCI exchanges or guest reservations as they reopen the resorts.

If the person you spoke with was an RCI rep don't count on what they tell you as being correct. You can talk to three different reps and get three different answers and none of them correct! Wish I was kidding about that. Also don't count on what you see on the RCI website as being correct. After the Wyndham resorts and Disney resorts closed a friend of mine and I both kept making matches to our ongoing searches for dates when the resorts were closed. If you didn't cancel or confirm it would just expire and go back into the available inventory and you didn't lose your ongoing search. This kept happening to both of us over and over for dates in April when the resorts closed. My friend was concerned about losing out on a match she really wanted with dates further out while her search was tied up waiting for the matches no one could use to expire.

My original reservation was in New Hampshire at the Eastern Slope Inn. Before booking Woodstone at Massanutten I phoned their main office at the resort and explained that I wanted to make sure they were open to exchangers before booking anything. The woman said if units were showing up on RCI, then those units should be available despite occupancy restrictions. At that point I phoned RCI and had them book the week.