Wyndham limiting access by non-owners during most sought-after dates/locations

[Sandi Bo]

I just called and the are closed "for the holiday". How did you get through?

A little sketchy, no? The banks remained open, stock market was open. Wyndham was open this morning. Are they seriously closed for Juneteenth and did they announce somewhere that was going to happen? I don't see any mention of it on the website.

 

[Eric B]

I figured they were closed in preparation for Prime Day....

 

[dioxide45]

A new Wyndham outlet for rentals: https://www.panoramatravelsolutions.com/v6

This is the reason for the limitations on renting inventory. They are making money any way they can, and it will cost owners.

This looks like it is targeted toward travel agents to start selling Wyndham inventory.

 

[wjappraise]

• Your owner website is the best place to find the most up-to-date information.

I don’t find this to be true. WHERE do I find the up-to-date information? I’m on my mobile web browser and I don’t see it? Why do so many of us not get these incredibly important policy changing emails?

Wes

 

[Sandi Bo]

This looks like it is targeted toward travel agents to start selling Wyndham inventory.

It looks like a travel club.

Several years ago we went to a presentation here in Omaha (at one of Warren Buffet's favorite hangout - Gorat's). They were selling some type of travel club, and would have taken my Wyndham points. Hmmmm.

Is this a Travel & Leisure thing?

 

[dioxide45]

It looks like a travel club.

Several years ago we went to a presentation here in Omaha (at one of Warren Buffet's favorite hangout - Gorat's). They were selling some type of travel club, and would have taken my Wyndham points. Hmmmm.

Is this a Travel & Leisure thing?

Could be, but I don't think so. They talk about creating a private label website and B2B2C (Business to Business to Customer) membership programs. Much the same as some cruise excursion companies operate with travel agents. The agent sets up a website with their name but it is all done through the excursion company.

 

[dgalati]

Here are the three bullet points from the email:

With owner feedback in mind, we’re making several enhancements to this effort, including:

• Adding even more resorts and travel dates where owner travel will be prioritized. Your owner website is the best place to find the most up-to-date information about the select destinations and travel periods so that you can plan your vacations accordingly.

• Allowing you to bring guests with you when you will be visiting these identified resorts during the select travel dates. As long as the owner and guest reservation(s) have an overlapping day, you may reserve as many guest reservations as you would like.

• For reservations at identified resorts during the select travel periods when you are not traveling with your guests, up to two times a year, you can use a Guest Confirmation from your annual allotment. Guest reservations during these peak times in excess of the two allowed will be subject to cancellation.


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Looks to be very clear from post above. Everyone just has to keep in mind Gift Certificates are not called Rental Certificates. GC'S were intended for guests not for commercial rentals or a way for owners to pay all maintenance fees then travel for free on the remaining points. Wyndham is trying to prioritize reservations for owners personal use instead of letting the rental abuse continue. A few will argue they were sold more points to pay maintenance fees but the last time I checked this was no a benefit in the members directory. Cancel Re book was also sold as a benefit but it never was. If Wyndham really wanted to limit rentals all they would have to do was limit the percentage of points that could be used with GC'S. I am sure it would be a very easy item to implement like the HK fees were added. JMHO!

 

[Cyrus24]

If Wyndham really wanted to limit rentals all they would have to do was limit the percentage of points that could be used with GC'S. I am sure it would be a very easy item to implement like the HK fees were added.

I like this idea. Let's those of us who like to use our points, but have just a few too many, retain a process for getting rid of the extra using GC's.

 

[dgalati]

I like this idea. Let's those of us who like to use our points, but have just a few too many, retain a process for getting rid of the extra using GC's.

15 GC'S for every million points is excessive IMHO. A few owners are squawking that they are not receiving another 15 at any amount over the first million. Think about it a 1 bedroom for a weekly stay is 154k points or lets assume you only did 3-4 night stays at a average of 77k points. 10 reservations at 77k is 770k points or over 3/4 of what is owned. Lets say every reservation is done in the 60 day discount window at 33.5k per reservation the 15 GC's would cover (15x33.5k) 502k points or over 1/2 owned. GC'S are being abused for rentals but Wyndham also profits by adding the $99 GC fee if you use over the allotted amount.

 

[bendadin]

But this isn't the only noticeable move as of late.

So far we have seen:

Unlimited HK disappear as a benefit to new VIP.
ROFR being added to CWA June/July 2018
A dramatic reduction in the amount of contracts available for purchase on the resale market
Severe stipulations being added to "some" resale contracts (which is a whole new can of worms.)

Are they chipping away at the original VIP owners so they get so frustrated that they leave (hence wiping out unlimited HK?)

 

[wjappraise]

15 GC'S for every million points is excessive IMHO. A few owners are squawking that they are not receiving another 15 at any amount over the first million. Think about it a 1 bedroom for a weekly stay is 154k points or lets assume you only did 3-4 night stays at a average of 77k points. 10 reservations at 77k is 770k points or over 3/4 of what is owned. Lets say every reservation is done in the 60 day discount window at 33.5k per reservation the 15 GC's would cover (15x33.5k) 502k points or over 1/2 owned. GC'S are being abused for rentals but Wyndham also profits by adding the $99 GC fee if you use over the allotted amount.

You’re killing me Smalls.

I use all my guest certificates and buy some each year even though our extended family uses the majority of our points.
1. Not every guest reservation is a rental. I recently gifted two as wedding gifts for their honeymoon trips.
2. Your calculations are flawed as you are assuming a 7 day stay. Average Wyndham stay is 3 days.
3. We have plenty of family members not on the deeds so we need to use guest certificates for them.
4. I own a small business and often send my employees on spring break trips. Or I did.
My advice ... stop giving Wyndham bad advice. Based on their track record, they will use it.

Wes.

 

[VacayKat]

You’re killing me Smalls.

I use all my guest certificates and buy some each year even though our extended family uses the majority of our points.
1. Not every guest reservation is a rental. I recently gifted two as wedding gifts for their honeymoon trips.
2. Your calculations are flawed as you are assuming a 7 day stay. Average Wyndham stay is 3 days.
3. We have plenty of family members not on the deeds so we need to use guest certificates for them.
4. I own a small business and often send my employees on spring break trips. Or I did.
My advice ... stop giving Wyndham bad advice. Based on their track record, they will use it.

Wes.

Second this!

And for those of us that do use some of our points for rentals- it’s not like we are taking inventory that we aren’t entitled to. It doesn’t matter who stays in the room if we purchased the points and pay the MF fees. Additionally Wyndham sold the points with the explicit statement that rentals can be used to cover MF fees and showed us how to do it. [Fun fact through Extraholidays no Guest cert is used…. Maybe they don‘t count those rentals against the policy?)
I won’t hit my GC allotment, but it’s super nice to have a buffer as plans can change and cancelling means the GC isn’t returned and you need to use a second one to rebook. I’d be pissed if Wyndham took them away.

 

[Eric B]

Severe stipulations being added to "some" resale contracts (which is a whole new can of worms.)

Not sure what this is supposed to be. What are they adding as stipulations to some resale contracts and how are they doing that?

 

[paxsarah]

It doesn’t matter who stays in the room if we purchased the points and pay the MF fees.

This is where I come down. If you aren’t able to rent out reservations like you normally do, do they think that y’all are just go let your points expire, unused? Obviously not - you’re going to use them one way or another, so there’s no real additional availability for other owners (it just may be shifted slightly).

It’s always seemed to me that what people who rail against renters want is for those points never to get used. That’s the only way true availability will be opened up. Otherwise, you still just have to be faster or luckier, just like always.

 

[55plus]

It's all about Wyndham's bottom line, which equates into bonuses for some.

 

[wjappraise]

This is where I come down. If you aren’t able to rent out reservations like you normally do, do they think that y’all are just go let your points expire, unused? Obviously not - you’re going to use them one way or another, so there’s no real additional availability for other owners (it just may be shifted slightly).

It’s always seemed to me that what people who rail against renters want is for those points never to get used. That’s the only way true availability will be opened up. Otherwise, you still just have to be faster or luckier, just like always.

Well said.

My work is as a real estate appraiser and some of my work entails valuing future sites in developments, subdivisions, and PUD units. It never ceases to amaze how individuals who own a site in the adjoining subdivision will feel like they want to prevent the new development from proceeding. They feel that they own the rights to view your undeveloped land, and are upset when you want to actually use your land (ironically use it the same way they are - for a home). They don’t pay any of the taxes, but feel their rights are being violated when the land next door is used. Similar dynamics here. Fortunately, most zoning and land use boards understand the applicable laws regarding development and move beyond the inevitable outrage of the homeowner who now has to look at a home as drab and generic as his.

Wes.

 

[dgalati]

You’re killing me Smalls.

I use all my guest certificates and buy some each year even though our extended family uses the majority of our points.
1. Not every guest reservation is a rental. I recently gifted two as wedding gifts for their honeymoon trips.
2. Your calculations are flawed as you are assuming a 7 day stay. Average Wyndham stay is 3 days.
3. We have plenty of family members not on the deeds so we need to use guest certificates for them.
4. I own a small business and often send my employees on spring break trips. Or I did.
My advice ... stop giving Wyndham bad advice. Based on their track record, they will use it.

Wes.

15 GC'S for every million points is excessive IMHO. A few owners are squawking that they are not receiving another 15 at any amount over the first million. Think about it a 1 bedroom for a weekly stay is 154k points or lets assume you only did 3-4 night stays at a average of 77k points. 10 reservations at 77k is 770k points or over 3/4 of what is owned. Lets say every reservation is done in the 60 day discount window at 33.5k per reservation the 15 GC's would cover (15x33.5k) 502k points or over 1/2 owned. GC'S are being abused for rentals but Wyndham also profits by adding the $99 GC fee if you use over the allotted amount.

Be fair Wes I did calculate 3-4 day stays on only a one bedroom in the 60 day discount window. I also mentioned Wyndham finds it convenient to collect $99 for a guest fee if you use your allotment of GC's. @VacayKat we all know sales uses a lot of half truths and lies to seal the deal.

 

[dgalati]

It's all about Wyndham's bottom line, which equates into bonuses for some.

Rember sales is what drives corporate profits. Its hard for corporate to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

 

[chapjim]

A little sketchy, no? The banks remained open, stock market was open. Wyndham was open this morning. Are they seriously closed for Juneteenth and did they announce somewhere that was going to happen? I don't see any mention of it on the website.

Sounds like they got tired of trying to answer questions. VCs probably were unable to answer all the questions so they shut it down.

Where on the website is the notice of the additional restrictions?

Edit: Never mind. I found it. They could have buried it a little deeper and made even more difficult to find.

 

[wjappraise]

Be fair Wes I did calculate 3-4 day stays on only a one bedroom in the 60 day discount window. I also mentioned Wyndham finds it convenient to collect $99 for a guest fee if you use your allotment of GC's. @VacayKat we all know sales uses a lot of half truths and lies to seal the deal.

I’m alway fair Dominic.

Wes.

 

[WyndhamBarter]

Where on the website is the notice of the additional restrictions?

https://clubwyndham.wyndhamdestinat...rces/reservations/owner-priority-reservations

The above link was included in the email from Wyndham. I got it yesterday , with this subject line:

Club Update: Summer Is Here and Vacations Are Back

 

[wjappraise]

Sounds like they got tired of trying to answer questions. VCs probably were unable to answer all the questions so they shut it down.

Where on the website is the notice of the additional restrictions?

Edit: Never mind. I found it. They could have buried it a little deeper and made even more difficult to find.

Where is it? I can’t find it. Sigh.

Wes.

 

[chapjim]

Where is it? I can’t find it. Sigh.

Wes.

You gotta drill, baby, drill!

Priority Reservations for Club Wyndham Owners

Club Wyndham owners get priority access to book timeshare vacations. Explore resort availability and learn more about this exclusive perk to timeshare owners.

clubwyndham.wyndhamdestinations.com

I would think that this deserves the same kind of billing that the system upgrades get. (There you go thinking again, Jim!)

 

[rickandcindy23]

You’re killing me Smalls.

So funny. I have a dear son-in-law who says that, and Rick says it sometimes, too, and mostly to me.

I know that some of you are very happy to see the VIP members going down. You just never know what Wyndham has planned next. I would love to be a fly on the wall for the current sales pitch, but I won't be invited to one, that is for sure.

 

[paxsarah]

You gotta drill, baby, drill!

As an aside, if there’s one thing the current iteration of the Wyndham website has done to me, it’s trained me out of trying to drill down through menus to the information I’m looking for, and I just type words into the search bar. What if you don’t know enough to know what to search for? I guess you’re out of luck!