New Interval International Points Program

[tabbyc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tabbyc]

This is a new program that is being added by Interval International.
It seems to be an option for developers to upgrade/resell the existing owner base similiar to the RCI points introduction years ago.
Currently it is not heavily promoted and the information regarding the offering is limited.
Does anyone have more detailed information on the offering and/or how it will affect current Interval International members?

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Sounds like typical timeshare churning, trying to get people to repurchase what they already own. It is disgusting that exchange companies facilitate such things.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

Funny... I distinctly remember a conversation with a top manager of Interval International in which I specifically asked him if Interval would create a points program to compete with RCI.. At the time, he stated unequivocably that II would NEVER institute a points program as it could do tremendous damage to the integrity of the weeks program by creating instances where a single day or just a few days would be reserved, thus removing the unit for occupancy from the weeks program and creating an ever expanding inventory of unreserved nightly stays.

In his opinion at the time, a points program made it a requirement for the exchange system to emphasize non-member rentals to attempt to monetize what would otherwise be wasted nights. The fact that RCI had implemented points was just evidence that they had abandoned the interest of paying members to become first and foremost a rental agency.

Have to wonder how he's reconciled these beliefs now!

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Just one more reason I'm glad that the timeshares we exchange have some sort of internal exchange system/preference. We have two timeshares which are not part of an internal system. Of those two, one is an EOY unit in Branson that we purchased exclusively to use. The other we've been exchanging but, if I.I. goes RCI points on us, we'll likely cancel our personal membership and either use that week for personal use or, give it away if we can. We enjoy the timeshare, MF's are resaonable, it's traded well and, if all else fails, it's a timeshare we enjoy and a location we like so, personal usage is always an option.