Here are some answers to the questions I got on Facebook. These answers came from one of the product developers and her manager. We have another meeting scheduled. Regarding the quiet season upgrade, I saw someone say on here that it was not utilized a lot because people didn't know how to utilize it. I agree, so I emailed them with that feedback. That's part of what we will discuss at our next meeting. I also heard a rumor they were going to give early check-in back to Silver owners, but that might be someone's wishful thinking.
Q. When is the release date for VIP by Wyndham?
A. November 12th is the official launch date. The last day to purchase points to become VIP or advance your current VIP status under today’s rules is November 10th. After that, if you want to advance your status or become VIP, you must buy enough points to reach the new level requirements. For example, if you want to be Silver, you must have 500k points (if you want to be grandfathered into current VIP silver, you are only required to have 400k points by Nov 10th). If you are not VIP and become VIP November 11th or later, you will not have unlimited housekeeping. On November 11th, the website will go down so it can be updated. The new benefits will start on November 12th.
Q. Why was gold left out of the RCI auto deposit benefit?
A. They felt they had to draw the line at Platinum and above for this benefit. They may reconsider giving this benefit to Gold members later.
Q. We see where it says that existing owners will keep the benefits, they "know and love". Does that include:
a. early check-in for Silver
b. Quiet season upgrades in RCI
c. midweek clean and tidy
A. They will not be giving early check in for Silver owners, even if you are currently a Silver VIP. Their reasoning is because they were seeing that the VIP line was getting long when the regular line was not. They wanted to reduce the long line for VIP check in. They are still working on finding a benefit to replace early check-in for Silver owners. I suggested late check out. She said that with the COVID cleaning measures, that might not be possible. I also suggested the authorized user list. That list would allow non-owners to book a reservation in their name without using a guest certificate. So, let’s say you have parents that like to travel. If they are on the authorized user list, you would choose their name from a drop-down box like you do with your bookings now. No guest certificate needed. She said that was something they were already considering for the future.
B. They are doing away with quiet season upgrades in RCI. They said it was not a benefit that was used a lot. There were some that wanted to keep it, but it was eventually decided that it was a benefit that should be retired.
C. Mid-week clean and Tidy will not be coming back anytime soon, if at all, due to the increased measures they must take to clean the room.
Q. Do you think they will add benefits in the next year or two?
A. Possibly. They are always looking for ways to improve the benefits. I get the impression they do not want to wait another 15 years to update the benefits.
Q. If someone buys points to advance their status after the launch, will they lose their grandfathered benefits, such as unlimited housekeeping?
A. No. They said they learned their lesson from the past where owners who bought points would lose their grandfather status if their total points did not get them to the new point requirements. VIPs will not lose unlimited housekeeping if they advance their status or just buy more points.
Q. If I transfer my timeshare to my children, will they keep the grandfathered benefits such as unlimited housekeeping?
A. Yes. If you transfer your timeshare to an immediate relative through Tribute, the grandfathered status and benefits will travel with it, to the new owner. "Immediate relative" is described on page 240 of the directory; which includes: Parents, spouses, domestic partners, sibling, children, and grandchildren.
Q. If someone buys points, but does not meet the new requirement level, will they lose their grandfather status? For example, if a 300k point silver owner buys 105k points, will they lose their silver status because they do not have 500k points?
A. No, they will not lose their status. They keep their VIP grandfather status even if they do not have 500k points. So, if you want to inch up to a new level, but don't want to buy all those points at once, you can do that without losing your status.
Q. What are examples of rotating benefits?
A. Club pass reservation points discounts, all-inclusive vacations that you can buy with points (and not have to pay the all-inclusive fee), Vacation packages that you can buy with points (Similar to Wyndham adventures, except it's exclusive to VIP owners).
Q. Can you confirm that owners who currently have Grandfather VIP status, will keep their status after the new launch?
A. I did confirm that ALL VIPs will keep their status, including current grandfathered VIPs.
Q. Will grandfather VIPs get all the new benefits.
A. Yes, I confirmed they will get everything that is offered for their level in the new program.
Q. If there are new benefits added in the future, will current grandfathered VIPs get those as well.
A. That is the plan.
Q. Will adding a resale contract cause me to lose my grandfather status.
A. No, it will not. You will keep the grandfather status if you add a resale contract. Like it is today, resale will not count towards VIP status, and will not elevate you to the next level.
Q. When are we getting a new directory?
A. There will be a supplement released on November 12th. For those of you not familiar with what a supplement is, it is sort of like an amendment to a contract. The last supplement was only a few pages and it focused only on the changes. A completely new directory that will include the updated changes is due out June 1st of next year.
Q. Are they keeping the term “Grandfathered” or will it be changed to something else?
A. They have discussed changing it for various reasons but have not settled on what term they would use. One possibility was “Legacy”.
I don't see how an authorized user list relates to early checkin. Apples and oranges. Kind of cool benefit. But I wouldn't confuse it with early checkin. I would assume all VIP levels would get it (so not really a replacement item for silver only).
