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

[55plus]

Very vague wording on the website. But it doesn't state anything about outright renting. To make it harder on renting if you are going to rent you have to be there too.

 

[dgalati]

Very vague wording on the website. But it doesn't state anything about outright renting. To make it harder on renting if you are going to rent you have to be there too.

Very confusing policy. I think it by design to daze and confuse owners into not renting.

 

[chapjim]

I thought I understood the restrictions of certain resorts during desirable booking weeks. When I read the Wyndham description of the restrictions I understood that all owners would to be allowed to have two guest certificates during restricted weeks to rent or give to guests or friends. I called Wyndham today and was added a guest to a non restricted resort. I asked whether I could add a guest to my Bonnet Creek reservation for Aug 9 to 16. I was told that the only way I could put the reservation in a guest name for that week is I would have to be at Bonnet Creek in another unit during that week. I cancelled my Bonnet Creek reservation and then went back to Wyndham website and the memo about restricted resorts. It seems to clearly state that you can do two reservations a year and rent them out with guest certificates. What am I missing here?

You're not missing anything. You happened to talk to one of the people who still doesn't understand what the "owners only" policy says.

One of the hazards in Wyndham promulgating poorly worded, vague, and imprecise policy is that even their own people don't understand it and get it wrong. Earlier in this same thread, there's an example of someone talking to a Vacation Counselor and then to Owner Care and both gave an erroneous reading of the policy and they were wrong for different reasons. And both changed their minds when the policy was quoted verbatim.

 

[rickandcindy23]

You're not missing anything. You happened to talk to one of the people who still doesn't understand what the "owners only" policy says.

One of the hazards in Wyndham promulgating poorly worded, vague, and imprecise policy is that even their own people don't understand it and get it wrong. Earlier in this same thread, there's an example of someone talking to a Vacation Counselor and then to Owner Care and both gave an erroneous reading of the policy and they were wrong for different reasons. And both changed their minds when the policy was quoted verbatim.

Yes. Agree with this.

 

[paxsarah]

You're not missing anything. You happened to talk to one of the people who still doesn't understand what the "owners only" policy says.

This reminds me, on Facebook several owners have mentioned that they called and were told that as long as their guest doesn’t check in on one of the blackout dates they’re fine. Check in on Thursday, stay the weekend, it doesn’t count.

I have a bad feeling about this.

 

[CO skier]

You're not missing anything. You happened to talk to one of the people who still doesn't understand what the "owners only" policy says.

I guess I am missing the part of the policy where it is stated that the owner must be present for the two unrestricted guest confirmations. Can anyone point to that specific detail in the email or website policy (maybe it has been updated to include this?)

 

[paxsarah]

I guess I am missing the part of the policy where it is stated that the owner must be present for the two unrestricted guest confirmations. Can anyone point to that specific detail in the email or website policy (maybe it has been updated to include this?)

It doesn’t say that, and that’s the issue. The vacation counselor insisted the owner must be present, but the initial email and current website language make it clear that an owner can send guests twice per year during restricted dates without being present. It seems there’s a big training issue over there.

 

[55plus]

I guess guest means different things to different people. It appears guest in the dictionary means, in so many words, 'invited to come to you', however, "take part in a function organized by another" could mean renting. Here is the definition of guest:

noun:
1. a person who is invited to visit the home of or take part in a function organized by another.
2. "I have two guests coming to dinner tonight"

 

[Cyrus24]

invited to visit the home of

........for $10,000/week. Nowhere does the definition say that the visit is free a cost or that the home owner will be present at arrival or during the visit.

 

[bnoble]

Look at how long it took us to figure out what it meant…and many of us were highly motivated to get it right.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Deleted

 

[rickandcindy23]

Deleted

 

[lost patience]

Just a thought.... Desert Blue is on the weekend restricted list. While it is not a resort I've paid much attention to, I'm guessing it is normally sold out? For July 16, there are currently 7 different room types (with accessibility chosen). Who knows how many actual rooms. I bet some of those are going to sit empty now. The owners that would have used those for guests can't. That means the owner still has those points and could potentially push those points forward perpetuating the "bump" of stacked up points caused by COVID. Some owners making last minute reservations will be thrilled - which is a good thing. Please don't get on the rent for profit vs share with family topic here. That is a topic for a different thread. I'm only pointing out that these restrictions will leave rooms empty and will push the timeline for regaining balance out another year, or so.

 

[dgalati]

Just a thought.... Desert Blue is on the weekend restricted list. While it is not a resort I've paid much attention to, I'm guessing it is normally sold out? For July 16, there are currently 7 different room types (with accessibility chosen). Who knows how many actual rooms. I bet some of those are going to sit empty now. The owners that would have used those for guests can't. That means the owner still has those points and could potentially push those points forward perpetuating the "bump" of stacked up points caused by COVID. Some owners making last minute reservations will be thrilled - which is a good thing. Please don't get on the rent for profit vs share with family topic here. That is a topic for a different thread. I'm only pointing out that these restrictions will leave rooms empty and will push the timeline for regaining balance out another year, or so.

If this happens maybe Wyndham will extend the blackout dates for renting into 2023?

 

[HitchHiker71]

I'm only pointing out that these restrictions will leave rooms empty and will push the timeline for regaining balance out another year, or so.

The new restrictions will produce empty rooms in the short term. That is a known quantity and is by design IMHO. If Wyndham wants to address the issue of limited inventory due to too much rental activity, the first step is to free up inventory - and create the necessary slack in the inventory system - which is exactly what is being done. The next steps are to modify behavior with existing owners who've become so frustrated with the lack of availability that they no longer bother to check - and don't use their ownership as a result. Re-education takes time - probably a couple of years - but eventually the bet, IMHO, is that the subset of owners who've been so frustrated with the lack of available inventory will start to see more inventory available in the system - and eventually take more vacations - and eventually consider purchasing more points as they take more vacations. It's a longer term strategic play toward owner satisfaction. Yes, it's at the expense of a very small subset of commercial renters/owners - but if it's not already obvious - this subset of owners is no longer a priority to Wyndham moving forward.

 

[SueDonJ]

Just a thought.... Desert Blue is on the weekend restricted list. While it is not a resort I've paid much attention to, I'm guessing it is normally sold out? For July 16, there are currently 7 different room types (with accessibility chosen). Who knows how many actual rooms. I bet some of those are going to sit empty now. The owners that would have used those for guests can't. That means the owner still has those points and could potentially push those points forward perpetuating the "bump" of stacked up points caused by COVID. Some owners making last minute reservations will be thrilled - which is a good thing. Please don't get on the rent for profit vs share with family topic here. That is a topic for a different thread. I'm only pointing out that these restrictions will leave rooms empty and will push the timeline for regaining balance out another year, or so.

I'm not a Wyndham owner but it occurs to me that Wyndham is hearing, like every other timeshare system is, from irate owners who lost usage due to COVID-19 and now are finding that Wyndham doesn't have availability while plenty of rental brokers do. "WHY IS IT THAT I AS AN OWNER CAN'T BOOK ANYTHING ON THE OWNERS' WEBSITE BUT I AND EVERY PERSON ON THE PLANET CAN PAY CASH TO A BROKER FOR THE EXACT SAME INVENTORY I WANT?!?! GRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAIIIIIEEEE!!!! THIS IS %#^$% CRAP!!!!!!"

I don't think this is the impetus for Wyndham having rolled out a crusade against mega-renters but it might be the reason their crusade has been rolled out now rather than later, in such a disjointed fashion rather than well-thought out and -presented.

Whatever's happening, it's worth watching for every timeshare owner because usually what one company does, others at least consider following.

 

[55plus]

My sister and brother-in-law are going to the Margaritaville side of Desert Blue the end of July for a week to celebrate their anniversary. Last minute reservation with an upgrade. Usually the weekends would be book, but the restriction policy made it possible for them and I'm sure others to go. They are considered owners on my account, not guests, which also made it possible.

 

[chapjim]

Very vague wording on the website. But it doesn't state anything about outright renting. To make it harder on renting if you are going to rent you have to be there too.

The new restrictions will produce empty rooms in the short term. That is a known quantity and is by design IMHO. If Wyndham wants to address the issue of limited inventory due to too much rental activity, the first step is to free up inventory - and create the necessary slack in the inventory system - which is exactly what is being done. The next steps are to modify behavior with existing owners who've become so frustrated with the lack of availability that they no longer bother to check - and don't use their ownership as a result. Re-education takes time - probably a couple of years - but eventually the bet, IMHO, is that the subset of owners who've been so frustrated with the lack of available inventory will start to see more inventory available in the system - and eventually take more vacations - and eventually consider purchasing more points as they take more vacations. It's a longer term strategic play toward owner satisfaction. Yes, it's at the expense of a very small subset of commercial renters/owners - but if it's not already obvious - this subset of owners is no longer a priority to Wyndham moving forward.

A great way to treat your best customers -- pee on their legs.

 

[WhiskeyJack]

The new restrictions are still confusing to me based on my conversations with Owner Care. However I think when reading the language on the website it is not entirely confusing. Here is what the website currently says:

"You can travel with your guests to these resorts during the dates listed below and may use two guest confirmations during the restricted dates when not travelling with your guests."

So I read this to say that if an owner has a reservation at a restricted resort during the restricted dates then they can have up to the limit of guest confirmations.

In addition up to two times (I assume based on calendar year but nothing is said about timing) an owner can have two confirmations at restricted resorts, restricted dates, without having to have an owner reservation at that resort during that time.

So that seems somewhat clear to me; up to the limit of GCs when the owner has a "matching" reservation and only two (per year I assume) if the owner does not have a "matching" reservation.

What is definitely not clear to me is, what is a "matching" reservation? The email said the reservations (owner and guest) had to have just one overlapping day. The website doesn't make any indication of this. Does anybody have any experience with this yet? Would one overlapping day be sufficient or would the owner reservation need to be the same dates as the guest reservation?

 

[chapjim]

Not sure this belongs here on in another thread...

I see Desert Blue on the blackout list but not the Margaritaville at Desert Blue. Anyone have any insight on that? I wondered if the Margaritaville is safe to put a guest confirmation on our not. I called and the VC said that since they are in the same building, Margaritaville is also included (as a blacked out resort). I see Inn on Long Wharf Long Wharf both listed so... still left wondering. Anyone else called on this or have more information?

Long Wharf and Inn on Long Wharf are distinct properties. Not comparable to Desert Blue/Margarita at Desert Blue.

The Desert Blue/Margaritaville at Desert Blue sounds like a trap if it is as the VC said. I wonder if the VC just made it up.

 

[Sandi Bo]

Long Wharf and Inn on Long Wharf are distinct properties. Not comparable to Desert Blue/Margarita at Desert Blue.

The Desert Blue/Margaritaville at Desert Blue sounds like a trap if it is as the VC said. I wonder if the VC just made it up.

My guess is the latter. But who wants to test that?

 

[chapjim]

This reminds me, on Facebook several owners have mentioned that they called and were told that as long as their guest doesn’t check in on one of the blackout dates they’re fine. Check in on Thursday, stay the weekend, it doesn’t count.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Me, too! There's nothing in the letter or on the website to support this.

 

[chapjim]

My guess is the latter. But who wants to test that?

I don't want to test any of it. I don't have enough points left in 2020 2021 to try anything out. I would hope we have it figured out by 2021 2022!

Edited.

 

[dgalati]

[/QUOTE]

The new restrictions will produce empty rooms in the short term. That is a known quantity and is by design IMHO. If Wyndham wants to address the issue of limited inventory due to too much rental activity, the first step is to free up inventory - and create the necessary slack in the inventory system - which is exactly what is being done. The next steps are to modify behavior with existing owners who've become so frustrated with the lack of availability that they no longer bother to check - and don't use their ownership as a result. Re-education takes time - probably a couple of years - but eventually the bet, IMHO, is that the subset of owners who've been so frustrated with the lack of available inventory will start to see more inventory available in the system - and eventually take more vacations - and eventually consider purchasing more points as they take more vacations. It's a longer term strategic play toward owner satisfaction. Yes, it's at the expense of a very small subset of commercial renters/owners - but if it's not already obvious - this subset of owners is no longer a priority to Wyndham moving forward.

It may also help guys like me to buy back into Wyndham if it becomes cheaper to own than rent from a VIP owner. I hope this doesn't offend or shame anyone.

 

[Eric B]

I don't want to test any of it. I don't have enough points left in 2020 to try anything out. I would hope we have it figured out by 2021!

I think the 2020-2021 ship has sailed….