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

[dgalati]

I see it as a win for Extra Holidays. My assumption is I can still turn rooms over to Extra Holidays. How did that free up rooms for other owners?

It doesn't but remember they are a for profit corporation with a responsibility to their shareholders.

 

[dgalati]

My two cents/opinion worth.

This policy is all about benefitting Extra Holidays (EH) at the owners expense. We were told last year at Clearwater that many of the units were reserved through EH. One of the staff told us they were surprised that we were an "actual owner".

The question is: is EH the one reserving the units or is it the owners reserving the units and then turning the reservations over to EH?

Is it possible that by limiting the owners to reserve units for guest reservations Wyndham is giving EH a chance get more owners to turn their reservations over the EH so that EH balance sheet will improve? Hmmmmm.

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Bingo!

 

[dgalati]

The only consistent element is everything is subject to change

The changes have not been not very helpful to owners that are renting. You see the pattern?

 

[Lisa P]

To be really sinister and conspiracy theory based:
THEY ALL HAVE SALES CENTERS?

Not sure how these lists were determined but I don't believe there are sales centers at ALL of the listed resorts (ex., some in Kissimmee and Pompano Beach, FL). Plus, I think there are sales centers at some resorts that are NOT on the lists. Not sure why Clearwater and Myrtle Beach locations are not included for summer holidays. Peculiar.

 

[cbyrne1174]

How in the world does Clearwater not make this list, when its the hardest resort in the whole system to book?

My guess would be because it's such a small resort.

 

[Jan M.]

I haven't checked the availability on Extra Holidays however someone in one of the Wyndham Facebook groups did but just for Bonnet Creek. They said that the times on the list were blocked out for availability at Bonnet Creek through Extra Holidays.

I was very surprised that Panama City Beach, Majestic Sun, Emerald Grande, Glacier Canyon and Great Smokies Lodge weren't included for Memorial Day and Independence Day. Whoever drew up the list really needs to be better at their job because those resorts absolutely should have been on that list for those dates too.

I too wondered how in the world Clearwater isn't on that list at all. I continually see owners saying they can't get stays there.

 

[CO skier]

I’m imagining it might also effect people hoping to rent those periods out after obtaining a VIP discount. It’s probably no accident that 3/15 is just outside the 60 day mark for Memorial Day.

That is the only explanation I can think of for why Desert Blue Las Vegas is on the list for July 4th week and Grand Desert Las Vegas is not. With the high point costs at Desert Blue relative to Grand Desert, Desert Blue would have availability within 60 days, whereas Grand Desert might not.

Why are neither of these resorts on the list for the last two weeks of the year?

 

[Jan M.]

That is the only explanation I can think of for why Desert Blue Las Vegas is on the list for July 4th week and Grand Desert Las Vegas is not. With the high point costs at Desert Blue relative to Grand Desert, Desert Blue would have availability within 60 days, whereas Grand Desert might not.

Why are neither of these resorts on the list for the last two weeks of the year?

I didn't add them to my list of resorts on the post above yours. I should have because 4th of July and New Year's Eve are in very high demand for both Grand Desert and Desert Blue. Like you said Grand Desert has more appeal to owners who rent out stays because it's fewer points to book.

 

[CO skier]

Edit: and I agree, it is a weird list.

How much availability is freed up through guest reservations at these resorts -- a few thousand? Whatever the number is, it is a drop in the bucket. Wyndham probably could have freed up as many reservations simply by eliminating guest reservations at Bonnet Creek and Glacier Canyon from mid-June to mid-August.

It is a strange, short list. I am not one for conspiracy theories, but could this be a trial balloon for a larger, permanent program at the most sought after locations and dates?

 

[CO skier]

I haven't checked the availability on Extra Holidays however someone in one of the Wyndham Facebook groups did but just for Bonnet Creek. They said that the times on the list were blocked out for availability at Bonnet Creek through Extra Holidays.

I was going to suggest this kind of an idea. For all those Extra Holidays conspiracy theorists, it should be an easy task to find the proverbial "smoking gun" anytime before the end of the year.

 

[rpeacock]

Is Clearwater sold out? I don't know for sure, but I don't think so. If it is NOT sold out, then any unsold inventory Wyndham is allowed to do what it wants with, because if it is NOT sold then it does not belong to the club yet. So Wyndham could be populating unsold inventory into EH, and long before it is allowed to grab a % club inventory that is available at X days out. Don't recall how many days out it is. It does populate EH with remaining inventory.

As an owner I would never put a unit in EH. I have no control. I could give them a week, they could rent 1 night only. I also can't tell if they rented out mine or someone else's so I would NOT use EH as a renting mechanism. Do any TUGgers use it? I would be surprised. I am sure a few have tried, but I can't imagine that it is something that someone is using consistently.

So again with the EH conspiracy theories.

We tried EH one time. We gave them a week at Ocean Walk, I think for bike week, and they only sold 2 of the 7 days of our reservation. So by the time they got their cut we hardly got anything. There was, at least at that time, ZERO transparency on their part. So No, we don't use them. . . fool me once. . . .

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[rpeacock]

@CO skier, as you theorized:
"I am not one for conspiracy theories, but could this be a trial balloon for a larger, permanent program at the most sought after locations and dates?

That is my fear, that this is a test balloon for Wyndham.

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[dgalati]

@CO skier, as you theorized:
"I am not one for conspiracy theories, but could this be a trial balloon for a larger, permanent program at the most sought after locations and dates?

That is my fear, that this is a test balloon for Wyndham.

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Yes it is a test ballon for future policy changes. The mega renters were snuffed out now they go after the next big fish. VIP owners that rent more then they use personally. They also are onto the use of resale points with VIP discounts and upgrades. Its a slow calculated process but it is no different then the elimination of cancel and rebook. To many are abusing these benifits to rent and make a profit at all club owners expense. Wyndham sales sold this as a way to cover maintenance fees like cancel and rebook was.

 

[dioxide45]

To many are abusing these benefits to rent and make a profit at all club owners Wyndham Destination's expense

It could also be written like this?

 

[chapjim]

I haven't checked the availability on Extra Holidays however someone in one of the Wyndham Facebook groups did but just for Bonnet Creek. They said that the times on the list were blocked out for availability at Bonnet Creek through Extra Holidays.

I was very surprised that Panama City Beach, Majestic Sun, Emerald Grande, Glacier Canyon and Great Smokies Lodge weren't included for Memorial Day and Independence Day. Whoever drew up the list really needs to be better at their job because those resorts absolutely should have been on that list for those dates too.

I too wondered how in the world Clearwater isn't on that list at all. I continually see owners saying they can't get stays there.

Sandi Bo made essentially the same point -- that the logic behind the list is elusive.

Why not Old Town Alexandria and National Harbor for 4th of July? Both are within shouting distance of the District and a pretty good fireworks show (never mind that the Capitol looks like a war zone).

Skyline Towers for Memorial Day? What's up with that?

Two San Antonio resorts for Independence Day and Labor Day? No Bonnet Creek on Labor Day? What goes on at Park City on Labor Day?

Midtown 45 for Independence Day and the winter holidays but nothing else. No New Orleans resorts for 4th of July (did they call off Essence Festival?)

Either Wyndham has some metrics used to arrive at the list or this is Wyndham flexing its muscles, showing what it can do. Think pro wrestlers entering the ring.

As a bottom feeding, sometime renter, none of these dates/resorts are within the 60-day discount window. And, over the years, I don't think I've done a lot with any of these time periods. We went to National Harbor for Memorial Day 2019 and to Old Town Alexandria for the 4th in 2019. Both are just down the road. I did rent a week at Ocean Walk for the 4th in 2019. I'm usually out of points way before Thanksgiving or Christmas/New Year plus I have some non-Wyndham fixed weeks for those periods.

All in all, I don't see this as anything that will bother me. It's something to pay attention to when booking reservations but not to be upset by. At least not this year.

 

[montygz]

1. Wyndham knows exactly how many guest certificates are issued for each resort and when. It could be targeting the resorts with the biggest percentage of renters. Or it could be targeting the resorts that have received the most complaints from its owners about booking availability.

2. Wyndham may be doing this as a PR campaign to extract some goodwill from its typical, non-renting owners and pulled some resorts out of a hat.

3. Some combination of the two.

With the pandemic easing, Wyndham may be sensing a massive surge in travel demand and it is just trying to do something to appease some of its customers. If there is a big surge in demand for travel this is a way to show they are doing something about it, although when you make one customer happy you disappoint another.

 

[Sandi Bo]

A lot of things that don't add up. What data points did they use???

They did do this before, cancelled guest reservations. Got tons of complaints. So interesting they'd take another stab at it.

I think it appeases the owners that don't travel often and aren't that savvy at booking reservations. It doesn't have to be too successful, or provide any additional availability. Not having availability they can blame on the post-covid surge - and they can point to this new policy as them trying to do their part to help get owners on vacation.

In March, I had a son in a presidential at La Belle Maison for Mardi Gras, brother in a 3 Bedroom a few nights at Ocean Walk for the Daytona 500, multiple ski weekends for the family in Massachusetts at Bentley Brook, oops almost forgot the nephews skiing in Avon President's week. All extremely sought after dates. All booked last minute. Sometimes you have to work for it. Owners want to look one time, don't see it, and whine there's no availability. Either plan ahead or plan to work a little for it.

So a nice PR stunt on Wyndham's part. I just want to know what the rules are. Playing with my 3 year old grand-daughter today, she was making up a new game / new rules with the pieces to don't drop Mama. And I thought of Wyndham. Changing the rules as they go along so they can win. I don't mind so much when it's a 3 year old.

I just want to know the rules. With more than 4 hours notice please. As Jim Chapman said, something to pay attention to when booking reservations.

 

[Richelle]

Has anyone looked to see if you can book those specific dates on extra holidays or a hotel booking website like hotels dot com? I only checked for Bonnet creek so far, but those specific dates are blocked off. You cannot book them. I went to hotels do com and looked for “Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek” (not to be confused with the hotel side, Wyndham Grand Bonnet creek) and didn’t see any availability there either. It appears to be affecting all rentals, including Wyndham’s. Existing reservations with guest certificates are safe. Both for owner reservations and Wyndham’s reservations. I have not had a chance to check more. I’ve been to busy between work and dealing with idiot megarenters on Facebook who are trying to scare people and get them worked up. This no doubt will ruin someone’s family vacation, and that does suck. However, most of the people complaining on Facebook are people who made a business profiting from timeshares. I assume these dates were their bread and butter. I saw only a couple “well this ruined our family trip for X resort during X dates.” Maybe we will see more as time goes on, but for now, it seems the renters are hurting more then the owners. I don’t see Wyndham back tracking on this one like they did last year, but I could be wrong.


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[troy12n]

(never mind that the Capitol looks like a war zone).

You really think that's necessary? Or accurate? I was there recently, and if you think that looks like a war zone, you've never been to one...

Whatever [occurred] on January 6 is long since cleaned up, and was ever only limited to the mall and immediate Capitol zone, I was there recently and heading back on 4/2...

Midtown 45 for Independence Day and the winter holidays but nothing else.

I Imagine New York is still hurting because of COVID...

No New Orleans resorts for 4th of July (did they call off Essence Festival?)

La Belle Maison is completely closed for renovations until at least January 2022... and the other NOLA facility I think is just Suites and Hotel rooms, not quite the place renters want to send people

Either Wyndham has some metrics used to arrive at the list or this is Wyndham flexing its muscles, showing what it can do. Think pro wrestlers entering the ring.

Think probably enough people have complained at "updates" that it's affecting sales, Wyndham certainly has the data and if they think renters are affecting owners ability to book, I wouldn't be surprised if they did this.

I do agree that there should be more transparency...

All in all, I don't see this as anything that will bother me. It's something to pay attention to when booking reservations but not to be upset by. At least not this year.

Doesn't seem like it will affect me either, i'm an October to September use year person and am preparing to use the rest of my points... so far i've seen plenty of availability, and since I don't rent anyway and rarely use guest certificates, I see this largely as a potential win at best for me, at worst a wash

[Political remark redacted]

 

[CO skier]

However, most of the people complaining on Facebook (and TUG) are people who made a business profiting from timeshares.

Emphasis inserted and added to make the point.

 

[CO skier]

Maybe we will see more as time goes on, but for now, it seems the renters are hurting more then the owners. I don’t see Wyndham back tracking on this one like they did last year, but I could be wrong.

IF this is a trial balloon for a larger program, and IF it works to put more owners on vacation with their families (how could it not?), it could be expanded to take back control of Club Wyndham to put more owners, who invested into Club Wyndham through an ownership, on an excellent vacation, at the expense of profiteers.

 

[WyndhamBarter]

La Belle Maison is completely closed for renovations until at least January 2022...

Can anyone confirm this? I've been holding reservations for October and November
since 2 months ago. They're still there, and no email from Wyndham.

 

[josegm888]

IF this is a trial balloon for a larger program, and IF it works to put more owners on vacation with their families (how could it not?), it could be expanded to take back control of Club Wyndham to put more owners, who invested into Club Wyndham through an ownership, on an excellent vacation, at the expense of profiteers.

At expense of profiteers? Haha you mean at expense of Wyndham. Wyndham owners that rent points probably bring more business to the program than Wyndham owners who don’t. Not sure how it’s one owner’s problem that the other owner can’t plan accordingly or that they got into something that they don’t know how to use properly, or they don’t want to spend time researching about it, which you can tell by the amount of very simple questions seen posted here that can be answered by reading and researching more. Again, every owner has the same opportunity to plan and book their stay, the only difference is some people are smarter about it. What’s probably going to happen is savvy timeshare owners are going to look to other timeshare programs that don’t pull this socialist rules in limiting how owners can use their interest in a piece of REAL ESTATE they purchased. They’re are rights that come with owning real estate which by law should be honored. I believe they should be sued.


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[Roger830]

Can anyone confirm this? I've been holding reservations for October and November
since 2 months ago. They're still there, and no email from Wyndham.

This was discussed on facebook last week. It's my understanding that they will be open but not accepting new reservations because of renovations.

 

[AtlasRse]

How in the world does Clearwater not make this list, when its the hardest resort in the whole system to book?