Wyndham Privileges: new Wyndham VIP Levels starting late 2020 [Merged]

[bendadin]

Digging this out as questions are still popping up.

Does someone have the Emerald-Titanium screenshot and the date as to when the Advantage-Founder's replaced it?

So we started with Emerald-Titanium, 60% discount, PR included on that page. Was mid-week tidy on that page?
Then it changed to Advantage-Founders, no mention of PR.
Over time the 60% discount for Founders disappeared as did the 15% discount for Advantage.

This is like a funnel. I wonder what will make it through in the end.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Digging this out as questions are still popping up.

Does someone have the Emerald-Titanium screenshot and the date as to when the Advantage-Founder's replaced it?

So we started with Emerald-Titanium, 60% discount, PR included on that page. Was mid-week tidy on that page?
Then it changed to Advantage-Founders, no mention of PR.
Over time the 60% discount for Founders disappeared as did the 15% discount for Advantage.

This is like a funnel. I wonder what will make it through in the end.

The screenshots for both should actually be embedded in this thread already - you just have to go back and find them.

I spoke to the senior execs at the owners meeting about the fact that some of the content - specifically for the Founders content - like the 60% discount - disappeared. This was because it’s too costly to offer up the larger discount across the board. Their current thinking is that they will use a “rotating benefits” approach which is referenced in the current brochure here:

Notice that Club Pass points discounts is listed. The exec basically said that additional Club Plus points discounts will probably fall under this same rotating benefits approach. Founders will always get the same 50% that Legends gets, but higher points discounts will be offered on a periodic basis. This rotating approach will allow Wyndham to better control discount costs over time and to limit the costs into specific time windows.

If you have any bright ideas, please share them here - I’m sending these execs our ideas to help craft new VIP benefits along this line to help all of us.


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[bendadin]

Get rid of 90% of the sales team and start over?

We also own DVC. We don't get bullied or harassed (or even asked) at the parks. We get invited on their ships but that is as far as it goes. We have never been told our ownership is garbage and that we need different or more.

Wyndham has a nice product. I just can't figure out why anyone who wears a Wyndham name is allowed to tear it down.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Get rid of 90% of the sales team and start over?

We also own DVC. We don't get bullied or harassed (or even asked) at the parks. We get invited on their ships but that is as far as it goes. We have never been told our ownership is garbage and that we need different or more.

Wyndham has a nice product. I just can't figure out why anyone who wears a Wyndham name is allowed to tear it down.

While I agree with the sentiment, constructive VIP specific program improvement recommendations is what I’m after here. I have no ability to improve/alter the sales practices as part of this effort.


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[Mr. Phil]

If your read the news on their website. Mentioned for months the changes in the levels. Yet do agree most of the sales personnel are wessels.

 

[Silverdollar]

While I agree with the sentiment, constructive VIP specific program improvement recommendations is what I’m after here. I have no ability to improve/alter the sales practices as part of this effort.


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As we consider new VIP program benefits, I would like for Wyndham to improve their existing benefits. I am a VIPP owner and have observed five VIP benefits that are not practiced consistently by Wyndham resorts:

1. First, is the ability to request specific units. To me, this benefit is important because it can sometimes determine whether I go to that particular resort or another. Some resorts don't take this benefit seriously. It's "hit and miss".
2. Second, is the ability to check-in early (2:00 p.m.). This benefit is "hit and miss". Sometimes you can check in early and other times you have to wait until 4 or later.
3. Third, is the mid-week clean and tidy. Again, this is "hit and miss". Some resorts take the initiative to do it without you having to ask. Others will do it, but it's like "pulling teeth".
4. Fourth, is the exclusive VIP check-in area. Some resorts have it and others don't.
5. Fifth, is the complementary USA Today newspaper each weekday morning and a local newspaper on the weekend. Some resorts don't offer this benefit any more. Others you have to call daily to prod them to bring it.

If Wyndham is going to offer VIP benefits, it needs to take them more seriously, and resorts be more consistent in implementation.

 

[cbyrne1174]

Wyndham Ocean Walk is especially important for requesting specific units. The point chart doesn't let you get a guaranteed ocean front room unless you book a 3 bedroom deluxe or 2 bedroom lock-off. WorldMark has it built into their points chart, so essentially WM resale owners get to have a guaranteed 2 BR Deluxe Ocean Front unit and VIP-G doesn't.

The highest level benefit, Club Pass discounts, is essentially the bonus time and inventory specials that Worldmark resale owners get access to. Anyone with $2,000 can buy a small 10,000 credit WM account and get the same benefit. What's the point of owning 1.4M points?

 

[chapjim]

Wyndham Ocean Walk is especially important for requesting specific units. The point chart doesn't let you get a guaranteed ocean front room unless you book a 3 bedroom deluxe or 2 bedroom lock-off. WorldMark has it built into their points chart, so essentially WM resale owners get to have a guaranteed 2 BR Deluxe Ocean Front unit and VIP-G doesn't.

The highest level benefit, Club Pass discounts, is essentially the bonus time and inventory specials that Worldmark resale owners get access to. Anyone with $2,000 can buy a small 10,000 credit WM account and get the same benefit. What's the point of owning 1.4M points?

I pass on a lot of reservations at Ocean Walk for just this reason -- I don't know where the 2BR Deluxe unit is. The only upgrade I'll take is to a 3BR or the cheaper 2BR Lock Off.

On the other hand, places like Ocean Boulevard are too complicated -- building, view, upper or lower. I haven't completely figured out the upgrade calculus there. I just keep trying until I get what I'm looking for (or don't).

 

[Braindead]

As we consider new VIP program benefits, I would like for Wyndham to improve their existing benefits. I am a VIPP owner and have observed five VIP benefits that are not practiced consistently by Wyndham resorts:

1. First, is the ability to request specific units. To me, this benefit is important because it can sometimes determine whether I go to that particular resort or another. Some resorts don't take this benefit seriously. It's "hit and miss".
2. Second, is the ability to check-in early (2:00 p.m.). This benefit is "hit and miss". Sometimes you can check in early and other times you have to wait until 4 or later.
3. Third, is the mid-week clean and tidy. Again, this is "hit and miss". Some resorts take the initiative to do it without you having to ask. Others will do it, but it's like "pulling teeth".
4. Fourth, is the exclusive VIP check-in area. Some resorts have it and others don't.
5. Fifth, is the complementary USA Today newspaper each weekday morning and a local newspaper on the weekend. Some resorts don't offer this benefit any more. Others you have to call daily to prod them to bring it.

If Wyndham is going to offer VIP benefits, it needs to take them more seriously, and resorts be more consistent in implementation.

I agree with all your points & would add this one.
I’m ok with discounted reservations for all but VIP discounts should be on top of the discounts to all owners.
If a 100k reservation is discounted 30% to 70k. Then VIPP should be 50% off the 70k making the VIPP owners reservation 35k points.

I’m with you not wanting more VIPP benefits, just make the benefits we have now real instead of maybe benefits!!!
Unit request are no longer request that unit is yours as you reserved it!!!

 

[Jan M.]

The screenshots for both should actually be embedded in this thread already - you just have to go back and find them.

I spoke to the senior execs at the owners meeting about the fact that some of the content - specifically for the Founders content - like the 60% discount - disappeared. This was because it’s too costly to offer up the larger discount across the board. Their current thinking is that they will use a “rotating benefits” approach which is referenced in the current brochure here:

Notice that Club Pass points discounts is listed. The exec basically said that additional Club Plus points discounts will probably fall under this same rotating benefits approach. Founders will always get the same 50% that Legends gets, but higher points discounts will be offered on a periodic basis. This rotating approach will allow Wyndham to better control discount costs over time and to limit the costs into specific time windows.

If you have any bright ideas, please share them here - I’m sending these execs our ideas to help craft new VIP benefits along this line to help all of us.


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Unless I missed something, which is entirely possible, the type of rotating benefits Annie Roberts mentioned when she was talking to you, me and a few others after the meeting sure didn't sound like anything worth having. They sounded like the coupons for discounts, a free appetizer with the purchase of a meal, that you find in the booklets or the ones they give you with your stuff at the parking pass desk.

I also wasn't sure if all inclusive experiences meant all inclusive resorts. Those resorts are primarily in the Caribbean and Mexico and very few of us can drive to any of them. Nor are the all inclusive charges cheap especially if you're talking for a whole family. For many owners a large part of the appeal of having the timeshares is being able to take nice vacations without a lot of additional expenses. Airfare and all inclusive charges for say a family of four is going to be an expensive vacation. I've heard people talk about stays they've had where the all inclusive fees were dirt cheap because it was in the off season. If something like that was offered at some mid to higher end resorts, not the lower end resorts, I could see that having appeal to some owners.

As I understand it the 60% discount for the Founders level is now off the table because it isn't feasible for Wyndham to do. However maybe it could still be 60% but at select resorts, meaning the resorts in less demand, during the lower demand times. I could actually see that benefiting those resorts and there are a number of owners who would be quite happy to have that benefit.

 

[Kozman]

The last time I checked in to Smoky Mountains the parking pass Czar informed me that I would have to attend the update to accept my new privileges...that they would not be grandfathered in. More weasel speak?

 

[bendadin]

The last time I checked in to Smoky Mountains the parking pass Czar informed me that I would have to attend the update to accept my new privileges...that they would not be grandfathered in. More weasel speak?

I got that garbage as well at GSM and the Glade. When I pushed the parking pass guy, he really had no idea what that meant.

 

[Eric B]

The last time I checked in to Smoky Mountains the parking pass Czar informed me that I would have to attend the update to accept my new privileges...that they would not be grandfathered in. More weasel speak?

I believe it should be “More weasel speak!” rather than “More weasel speak?”

 

[vv813]

once you go onto the interactive-- where is the brochure and additional info found (know this is still work in process on their part)

 

[paxsarah]

The link to the current brochure is here: https://www.wyndhaminteractivesaleshub.com/club-wyndham/CW_Privileges.pdf It looks like it was last updated in June. I think it's the only official publication we have at this point. In addition, there's some reporting by forum members from the annual owners meeting a few months ago that I would also consider official (but subject to change at any time) at this point. I wouldn't trust anything coming from sales staff that goes beyond those two sources.

 

[OutSkiing]

I think it is not necessary to get a deeper discount than the 50% currently offered to VIPP members, but it would be a huge benefit if a discount were more reliably available further in advance than 60 days. Maybe a 25% discount for any and all reservations made out through the 13 month mark, and then the 50% discount for inventory that happens to be left at the 60 day mark. That would be closer to what was lost when the cancel/rebook was removed.

Rotating benefits does not sound like a reliable benefit .. and does sound like the typical '2 for 1' or 'free appetizer' deals used to reel people in for no fee everywhere.

Bob

 

[CO skier]

That would be closer to what was lost when the cancel/rebook was removed.

That was not a benefit; it was a loophole used by sales to upsell to VIP levels.

There are good reasons why VIP discounts are limited to Last-Minute reservations. Wyndham essentially subsidizes the competition for their Extra Holidays program when VIP discounted reservations are rented out. I do not think Wyndham wants to expand the competition beyond 60 days.

 

[cbyrne1174]

They could just increase the window to 75 days for discounts and upgrades.

 

[bendadin]

They could just increase the window to 75 days for discounts and upgrades.

I don't see this as ever happening (except on perhaps rotating benefits on value weeks as "some" resorts) because Wyndham can take inventory at 60 days and then again most of it at 30 days. They are too smart to cut into their own benefits.

 

[55plus]

I don't see this as ever happening (except on perhaps rotating benefits on value weeks as "some" resorts) because Wyndham can take inventory at 60 days and then again most of it at 30 days. They are too smart to cut into their own benefits.

Who says Wyndham won't start taking inventory at 75 days out?

 

[bendadin]

.

 

[chapjim]

Is this a record?? Twenty-two pages and no one has any idea what will happen.

 

[dgalati]

Is this a record?? Twenty-two pages and no one has any idea what will happen.

Wyndham daze and confuse. How much was sold by Wyndham that will not help current owners achieve higher VIP benefits and will be grandfathered in under old rules with current points owned? Great sales strategy to sell more points!

 

[Jan M.]

Wyndham daze and confuse. How much was sold by Wyndham that will not help current owners achieve higher VIP benefits and will be grandfathered in under old rules with current points owned? Great sales strategy to sell more points!

Anyone who didn't think that Privileges was a marketing scheme to sell more points and it wasn't going to be abused by salespeople is an idiot in my book. Not saying I don't have my own idiot moments but this isn't one of them. Lol.

 

[lprstn]

VIP benefits - I will never upgrade again.
Upgraded to a product that has the ability to keep changing is a set up for the need to upgrade again. I got to Gold and many of the benefits are not consistently provided or honored, either by the inability to do so or them changing them.