What is an "External Exchange resort?"

[Bxian]

I apologize if I seem out of the loop. I have not been logging into TUG as much recently because we have been doing non-timeshare vacations in an attempt to use all of our hotel free night certificates and some hotel points that have built up since March of 2020. I logged onto the HGVC site tonight and saw that our home resort (the Charter Club of Marco Beach) is listed as an "external exchange resort." What does this mean? Will we have less of an ability to exchange into other HGVC or DRI (HVC) properties? If we are resale buyers (the only option that was available at our home resort at the time that we bought), will we have to pay a fee to access HGVC properties?

 

[dayooper]

I apologize if I seem out of the loop. I have not been logging into TUG as much recently because we have been doing non-timeshare vacations in an attempt to use all of our hotel free night certificates and some hotel points that have built up since March of 2020. I logged onto the HGVC site tonight and saw that our home resort (the Charter Club of Marco Beach) is listed as an "external exchange resort." What does this mean? Will we have less of an ability to exchange into other HGVC or DRI (HVC) properties? If we are resale buyers (the only option that was available at our home resort at the time that we bought), will we have to pay a fee to access HGVC properties?

Nothing should change with that “new” designation. If you have already paid the enrollment fee to join the HGVC club, nothing has changed. You will still be able to use your points to reserve other HGVC properties. Just like every other HGVC Club member, right now you would have to purchase a new deed (or upgrade an existing one) to reserve the HVC resorts (any DRI resort rebranded to HVC) at 6 months.

 

[Bxian]

Could we reserve DRI closer in if we wait until the 4-5 month mark? Or are we precluded from booking DRI unless we buy in?

 

[Sandy VDH]

Could we reserve DRI closer in if we wait until the 4-5 month mark? Or are we precluded from booking DRI unless we buy in?

You have to make a purchase or payment to join HGV Max to get access to DRI

 

[Mongoose]

Old thread, but this topic just came up. Some FL HGVC managed locations show "External Exchange" on the website. These are not DRI. Any thoughts on that?

 

[oceanblue2]

We own at Eagle's Nest on Marco Beach. We have been owners there since before the time that Hilton began managing the property. We weren't interested in becoming involved with Hilton so are not HGVC owners. I believe that this is true of quite a few of the owners at Eagle's Nest. So although Hilton manage the resort they don't own it and the there are many owner weeks that are not in the HGVC system and that are not restricted by any HGVC policies with exchange companies and so on. I assume that is why some resorts are classed as "External Exchange" on their website. I would think that the majority of them were probably originally Mariner Properties resorts as Hilton seem to be managing quite a few of those.

 

[SmithOp]

At one point you had to call in to use HGVC points at these resorts, they weren't online in our reservation system. There are some limited units available now in our system, so it may no longer be all "external" exchange units where an operator has to look up availability for you.

I managed to get a week next April at Tortuga Beach Club reserved through HGVC system.

 

[alwysonvac]

The "External Exchange Resorts" naming has been around for a while (at least as far back as 2019).
They're basically resorts that are just managed (not owned by HGVC) and/or under some sort of partnership arrangement.

From https://www.hiltongrandvacations.com/development/

 

[Mongoose]

I saw that, but how is the exchange made, via RCI?

 

[alwysonvac]

I saw that, but how is the exchange made, via RCI?

"External" doesn't mean RCI in this case.
It's not an "internal HGVC exchange" but an external exchange that HGVC manages either manually or automated.

 

[rc51]

The "External Exchange Resorts" naming has been around for a while (at least as far back as 2019).
They're basically resorts that are just managed (not owned by HGVC) and/or under some sort of partnership arrangement.

From https://www.hiltongrandvacations.com/development/

​

I don't think their list is super up to date--I'm pretty sure Live Aqua in Playa del Carmen is closed.

 

[alwysonvac]

I don't think their list is super up to date--I'm pretty sure Live Aqua in Playa del Carmen is closed.

At the bottom of the pdf it states "as of April 2022".

 

[Talent312]

would think that the majority of them were probably originally Mariner Properties resorts as Hilton seem to be managing quite a few of those.

That's a result of HGVC's early history...
Mariner's resorts were added to HGVC's list of resorts when HGVC partnered with Mariner to run HGVC. Mariner had the expertise. Although membership in HGVC was voluntary, they gave HGVC the "look" of having way more resorts than they did (just SeaWorld & Flamingo). Mariner even moved it's operation to Orlando, and after a few years, Hilton bought them out, but Mariner's resorts stayed on the list.

 

[DataDrifter]

We own at Eagle's Nest on Marco Beach. We have been owners there since before the time that Hilton began managing the property. We weren't interested in becoming involved with Hilton so are not HGVC owners. I believe that this is true of quite a few of the owners at Eagle's Nest. So although Hilton manage the resort they don't own it and the there are many owner weeks that are not in the HGVC system and that are not restricted by any HGVC policies with exchange companies and so on. I assume that is why some resorts are classed as "External Exchange" on their website. I would think that the majority of them were probably originally Mariner Properties resorts as Hilton seem to be managing quite a few of those.

so what now?

 

[dayooper]

so what now?

You can still enroll your deeds into HGVC like before, it’s just those points can’t be enrolled into Max (even if you are a Max member). Otherwise nothing has really changed.

 

[GMan82]

Sorry to dredge up an older thread, but the title is just too appropriate. I'm looking at Carlsbad Seapointe and Grand Pacific Palisades as an alternative to Marbrisa. Is there something in the rules that differentiates these "external exchange resorts" to a regular old HGVC resort? Cancellation rules when making any kind of reservation say that reservations made with affiliate resorts are non-changeable. What exactly does that mean? Can I not cancel it?

 

[alwysonvac]

Cancellation rules when making any kind of reservation say that reservations made with affiliate resorts are non-changeable. What exactly does that mean? Can I not cancel it?

All online HGVC reservations are changeable (allowing you to change the date, resort, unit size/type and/or length of stay up to 61 days before arrival without paying another reservation fee) however there are a few exceptions.

Once a HGVC reservation is made at a Grand Pacific resort (Carlsbad Seapointe or Grand Pacific Palisades), you can not make changes. If you need to make a change to a reservation at either of these resorts, your only option is to cancel & rebook (paying another reservation fee).

 

[WORLD TRAVELER]

All online HGVC reservations are changeable (allowing you to change the date, resort, unit size/type and/or length of stay up to 61 days before arrival without paying another reservation fee) however there are a few exceptions.

Once a HGVC reservation is made at a Grand Pacific resort (Carlsbad Seapointe or Grand Pacific Palisades), you can not make changes. If you need to make a change to a reservation at either of these resorts, your only option is to cancel & rebook (paying another reservation fee).

This must be a new policy. We have stayed previously at both Seapointe and Palisades using our HGVC Club Season points and we're able to make online changes without issue.

 

[Skyyblueplaya]

This is an interesting thread. I work at one of these properties, Ive never understood why we're called "External Exchange Resort" but i assumed it was because we do "deeded weeks" and not really a lot of "points" reservations. I mean you can book here with points but most every week is owned and deeded to a person(s) instead of people going to HGV.com and searching for where to go with their points. If owners give up their week then someone with points can book it.

Im learning SOOOOO much here lol Timeshare Training 2.0

 

[GT75]

I work at one of these properties, Ive never understood why we're called "External Exchange Resort" but i assumed it was because we do "deeded weeks" and not really a lot of "points" reservations.

The FL Gulf resorts are mainly fixed or flex weeks (some resorts may have floating weeks). But you aren't required to enroll your week with HGVC (it is optional and many owners don't) because they use their week at their resort. If an owner relinquishes their week into the HGVC system, the amount of points they will receive will be determined by the week relinquished.

 

[Talent312]

This is an interesting thread. I work at one of these properties, Ive never understood why we're called "External Exchange Resort" but i assumed it was because we do "deeded weeks" and not really a lot of "points" reservations.

I talked to a Hilton rep at Eagle's Nest before booking went online.
She was like, "Online booking would let people stay LT a full week.
... That ain't gonna happen here." -- Famous last words.
.