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aliikai2 · 01-26-2012, 05:46 PM

How much do they want for this privledge??

Originally posted by Svenpup

What is the consensus here on HICV?

I am an owner at Desert Club Las Vegas which has just been purchased by Orange Lake/Holiday Inn. I received a letter that I can join HICV, which appears to have all the benefits of RCI with reduced fees plus additional benefits. Obviously this sounds great, but me Spidey sense is tingling that this is may not be all they are implying.

There is a reason

Does HICV really have all the benefits of RCI points?

Yes,
Would I still have access to all the same inventory?

Svenpup · 01-26-2012, 07:40 PM

Thanks for the quick response!

It sounds like the only drawback is that a buyer may lose my saved points if I sell.

Am I right in thinking this would be equivalent to having an RCI Points membership but for $20 less per year and with a few cheaper options for trading within the HICV network?

How about converting to Priority Club points to get hotel rooms? Does this end up being a good deal or is it a waste of points? I usually have more points than I can use anyway. Being able to use points for hotel rooms seems like it would be enormously convenient.

jackio · 01-26-2012, 08:19 PM

I, too, own at the Desert Club and I am thinking I will try the HIVC program because, at a $100 conversion fee, and $104 dues, it won't cost me that much money to try it out.
I spoke to the rep, and they said the conversion fee to priority points is 5:4.

madbuns · 01-29-2012, 03:59 PM

Many Benefits, Easier to Monetize Points

I also own in Desert Club (2 units - 1 RCI Points, 1 RCI Week) and have been going through the analysis of transitioning my ownership into Holiday Inn Club Vacation points. Based on my understanding, I have decided to move forward. Some of the main reasons include the following:

* Basic cost structure of HICV is lower than that of RCI
* My units are worth more RCI points in HICV than in the current RCI program (based on the current HICV to RCI points conversation rate of 2 HICV=1 RCI)
* RCI interface does not limit inventory to converted RCI points holders
* Conversion to priority points (5 HICV = 4 PP) allows for much more diverse and unlimited ability to monetize the points back into something

Some challenges which I am willing to accept in the interim include the following:

* Existing RCI points and deposited RCI Weeks will not convert (only moving forward) - must maintain original RCI accounts (and pay for them ourselves)
* Must join HICV for a minimum of 3 years - the contract gives them the right to increase membership costs during that time
* HICV points will NOT be transferred with the future sale of the unit (the buyer would have to buy into HICV from scratch, except for family transfers)

@Svenpup - Aliikai2 hit it on the spot - the increased value during ownership is paid for with a lower ability to leverage resale and a loss of outstanding points (however, points should be converted to PPs before you sell)

@Svenpup and jackio - the nightly PP hotel rate is 25,000 (the range is from 10,000 [HIXpress] to 40,000 [IC]), so, at least from a Desert Club standpoint, if an average 2BR unit is 150,000 HICV points, they will convert to 120,000 PP points, you would get about 4-5 hotel nights as a result (plus you do pay for PP conversion - $45 for first 100k, $5 per 10k thereafter)

@jackio - I also agree that the cost is minimal to check out the system - worst case, after 3 years and under $500, I end up with two season two weeks in Vegas - the same ones that I started with

Good luck - I will be happy to share how, eh, smooth the conversion process is.

Best Regards,

Ethan

Chevelle · 01-31-2012, 07:06 PM

RCI Points

I am a new owner to Desert Club, having bought on the resale market last month. I called to convert to HICV points and was told i had to purchase 45,000 more points for almost $7,000!

I read about the conversion fee you reference of $100, does anyone have a letter from them that has this information that I can use to negotiate with the Club?

Or was this conversion fee to change HICV points to PP points and i missed the boat?

Can anyone help?

JLB · 01-31-2012, 07:17 PM

So much I could say about Orange Lake-related crap. Do some googling. Read the thread about owners wanting to sue. Read about owners wanting to unload their weeks, but can't.

Stuff like that.

You don't need me to tell you about it.

Oh yeah, I've been around OLCC, and such, for more than 20 years.

jackio · 01-31-2012, 07:47 PM

Originally posted by Chevelle

I am a new owner to Desert Club, having bought on the resale market last month. I called to convert to HICV points and was told i had to purchase 45,000 more points for almost $7,000!

I read about the conversion fee you reference of $100, does anyone have a letter from them that has this information that I can use to negotiate with the Club?

Or was this conversion fee to change HICV points to PP points and i missed the boat?

Can anyone help?

Chevelle, PM me a fax number and I will fax you my letter.

Chevelle · 02-08-2012, 10:02 PM

Update

Okay, here is what i found out. If you are a "traditional week" member with Holiday Inn Club, the only way to get into points is to purchase added inventory, like another week. I was told that for $7,000 i wouild get 45,000 points on top of my 296,000 HICV points, for a total of 341,000 points, and a added maintenance fee of $233 on top of what i have.

So I called the 800 number on the letter (888) 213-9990 and was told i could convert to 148,000 points, the value of my 2 BR unit, for $100 plus Holiday Inn fee of $104 and a 3 year commitment. Well i jumped on it.

I called back the first woman i spoke to, at Orange Lake in Florida, and she said "impossible" as i had bought my "traditional week" on the secondary market and not from the developer. After much checking, i found out that they have waived the requirement of buying added invenotry until June 30, 2012 for all members of Desert Club, no matter how you obtained your week.

As for the 296,000 points i was supposed to have? They blamed the system interface between Desert Club and Orange Lake that it made my unit appear to be worth 296,000 points as it was listed as a odd and even year contract. This makes no sense to me, but it was their "Excuse" to get me to go away.

All in all, not to shabby.

Thanks for all your help.

JLB · 02-09-2012, 09:16 AM

typical

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...n-lawsuit.html

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...vacations.html

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...ange-lake.html

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...ntry-club.html

Post 5:

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...tml#post468487

madbuns · 02-17-2012, 04:21 PM

I Was Not Banned in Vegas, Documents Signed, Follow-Ups

All -

After all of the research that I did, I ended up signing the documents and becoming a HICV member with both of my timeshare interests at the Desert Club.

Some feedback about the process:

* Contract questions were very difficult to get answered (e.g., there is a marketing component that I wanted removed; easier to ask to be put on do-not-contact list after the fact)

* Technology support for automated document signing was less than stellar (I liked the idea, but did not like the execution; also - no redlining - either sign or not)

* The number provided by Orange Lake is NOT for membership services - it is a specialized line to market the transition to HICV (as such, they were able to provide a good deal about the benefits, but not able to cover contract or specific situation issues)

* Little communication once documentation is signed (I got a message saying that the documents were signed and I would get something in 8 weeks - no contact information was provided)

* There was a lack of clarity with regard to current use year points (RCI Points) and banked deposits (RCI Weeks). Effectively, if you have already been issued your 2012 use year points by RCI OR have already banked your 2012 use week, you will NOT get HICV points for either of those properties until 2013. If you complete the membership contract prior to use week (or use year points issuance), even if you don't have your membership materials, you WILL get HICV points for the property (properties).

Here's to a hopefully trouble-free three years...

Best Regards,

Ethan

jackio · 02-17-2012, 07:54 PM

Originally posted by Chevelle

Okay, here is what i found out. If you are a "traditional week" member with Holiday Inn Club, the only way to get into points is to purchase added inventory, like another week. I was told that for $7,000 i wouild get 45,000 points on top of my 296,000 HICV points, for a total of 341,000 points, and a added maintenance fee of $233 on top of what i have.

So I called the 800 number on the letter (888) 213-9990 and was told i could convert to 148,000 points, the value of my 2 BR unit, for $100 plus Holiday Inn fee of $104 and a 3 year commitment. Well i jumped on it.

I called back the first woman i spoke to, at Orange Lake in Florida, and she said "impossible" as i had bought my "traditional week" on the secondary market and not from the developer. After much checking, i found out that they have waived the requirement of buying added invenotry until June 30, 2012 for all members of Desert Club, no matter how you obtained your week.

As for the 296,000 points i was supposed to have? They blamed the system interface between Desert Club and Orange Lake that it made my unit appear to be worth 296,000 points as it was listed as a odd and even year contract. This makes no sense to me, but it was their "Excuse" to get me to go away.

All in all, not to shabby.

Thanks for all your help.

They told my friend the same thing, that she had to pay almost $7,000 and she didn't even have any existing points. Then she called another number, and she bought in with the $100 and the $104 membership fee.
Sorry I could not find that letter for you, but I'm glad it worked out.

Mongoose · 03-15-2012, 08:37 PM

Originally posted by Chevelle

Okay, here is what i found out. If you are a "traditional week" member with Holiday Inn Club, the only way to get into points is to purchase added inventory, like another week. I was told that for $7,000 i wouild get 45,000 points on top of my 296,000 HICV points, for a total of 341,000 points, and a added maintenance fee of $233 on top of what i have.

So I called the 800 number on the letter (888) 213-9990 and was told i could convert to 148,000 points, the value of my 2 BR unit, for $100 plus Holiday Inn fee of $104 and a 3 year commitment. Well i jumped on it.

I called back the first woman i spoke to, at Orange Lake in Florida, and she said "impossible" as i had bought my "traditional week" on the secondary market and not from the developer. After much checking, i found out that they have waived the requirement of buying added invenotry until June 30, 2012 for all members of Desert Club, no matter how you obtained your week.

As for the 296,000 points i was supposed to have? They blamed the system interface between Desert Club and Orange Lake that it made my unit appear to be worth 296,000 points as it was listed as a odd and even year contract. This makes no sense to me, but it was their "Excuse" to get me to go away.

All in all, not to shabby.

Thanks for all your help.

I just purchased 150,000 points on the resale market for $1.25 plus the $100 transfer fee. The deed was for a fixed week, but when HICV bought their Myrtle Beach location, they made a deal to allow conversion and resale to points. I would have thought that Desert Club was similar. Did you call the Desert Club? If you call OLCC, don't call sales, go through Deeding.

jackio · 03-15-2012, 09:43 PM

I owned a traditional week with Desert Club. I paid $104 + $100 and received 98,000 HIVC points plus an RCI points account. I haven't dabbled with the RCI account, but I can get on the HIVC site and search for vacations. They have weekly sales also. For example, you can get a week at Desert Club in April for 25,000 points vs. 96,000 points. I guess they are like last-call weeks.
I had no trouble with the conversion, nor did my friend who also owned a tradional week. Her week was in season one, so she received 96,000 points.

Mongoose · 03-15-2012, 11:41 PM

Global Choice

Originally posted by jackio View Post

I owned a traditional week with Desert Club. I paid $104 + $100 and received 98,000 HIVC points plus an RCI points account. I haven't dabbled with the RCI account, but I can get on the HIVC site and search for vacations. They have weekly sales also. For example, you can get a week at Desert Club in April for 25,000 points vs. 96,000 points. I guess they are like last-call weeks.
I had no trouble with the conversion, nor did my friend who also owned a tradional week. Her week was in season one, so she received 96,000 points.

Excellent! Have you dabbled with the Global Choice option? I have another brand TS affiliated with RCI and understand I am supposed to be able to convert that week to HICV points through GLobal Choice. Its in the guide, but I can't find any details. Love to hear your experience!

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