Does RCI award status REALLY mean quality?

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

John, this is no surprise to me. This will mean our twenty-year-old resort will really slip from its Silver Crown status, which is probably why RCI has already reduced my trading power for 2008.

I know that most on these forums are pretty fair when filling out their comment cards, but most people are not. If they own at the newest and best, they really don't want something older. It would take a pile of money to make some of the older resorts' interiors up to par, but our "resort," which can hardly be called that because it has only six units, has no outdoor amenities except a tennis court, barbecue grills, horseshoe pit, playground and a giant hot tub on each deck. We have no activities, either. It sits in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Summit County, with dozens of activities nearby. How is the resort ever going to hold Silver Crown?

Some travelers need to be entertained by the resort. I have not generally taken advantage of the ice cream socials, various classes and other activities that are offered by the resort because I don't go on vacation to do crafts or sit with strangers. We did, however, take advantage of some of those activities while visiting our home resort on Kauai last month. We had a good time playing bingo, making leis and attending the owners' lunch. I was surprised how much fun it was to meet the other owners. Rick's mom was with us and she enjoyed every minute of our trip and loved the activities. I think older people really like to socialize on vacation.

I am really upset at the change. It will take loud complaining from HOA boards to change RCI's mind. I hope there is a movement toward that end. I will lose my trade power, drastically, not to mention my Points for Deposit. I wonder who will get all the good units now? We will have a caste system of timeshare owners, those with GC will stay at GC quality resorts and the rest of us will have to settle for regular old resorts.

At least Vistana and OLCC older units will get lambasted by the new ratings as well. I would like to see how OLCC will keep their GC rating with the new policy of placing exchangers into the less-desirable West Village. Of course, the developer will be there forever and there is definitely some inside dealings between developers and RCI. I guess greed will rear its ugly head.

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

I would also like to add that I am one who is VERY fair when I fill out the forms. If you really take your time to read the questions, you will notice that you have to be fair.
For example, if I really dislike a resort but it has lots of amenities, then my answer is going to be 5 on that one.

If all employees were very courteous and check-in/check-out was a breeze, then a 5 is also in order.

If the area activities are great, like they are in Orlando or in Colorado, you answer 5 on that as well.

If you don't use the restaurant or the resort activities, then you should always answer N/A

Cleanliness is the stickler with me. I think even my worst stay (out of dozens of stays in Orlando) was at OLCC. I don't remember exactly, but I probably gave them a very low mark for the unit's interior, but for the resort in general, I gave them high marks because everything generally seemed clean. Their furnishings were pretty beaten up as well. Vistana was clean but the furnishings were old and stained, so I downgraded them on those points.

I guess I am saying that it isn't fair to go down the list and give the lower marks when you are upset that the desk clerk was rude or because you found a kleenex behind the sofa.

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

Not really.

If you look at the categories used for award status, the things that the resort with all of the new bells and whistles have are not even covered. Not Resort Amenities. Not Unit Amenities. Not Resort Activities. Not Unit Quality.

What is covered, ANY resort could do well on. Check-in/check-out? The small resort with quick check-in might well have the advantage over the newer mega resort with a long line at check-in, check-out or both. Resort Hospitality? The small resort with the personal touch may again have the advantage. Unit Housekeeping? Any resort can succeed or fail at that. Resort Maintenance and Unit Maintenance? Newer resorts may start out with less wear and tear, but any resort is capable of keeping its facilities up.

I fail to see in which of these categories, the big new resorts have much of an advantage, if any at all.

It is the categories NOT used for award status where a big new resort could have an advantage, but the key is that those categories are NOT used.

John, this is no surprise to me. This will mean our twenty-year-old resort will really slip from its Silver Crown status, which is probably why RCI has already reduced my trading power for 2008.

I know that most on these forums are pretty fair when filling out their comment cards, but most people are not. If they own at the newest and best, they really don't want something older. It would take a pile of money to make some of the older resorts' interiors up to par, but our "resort," which can hardly be called that because it has only six units, has no outdoor amenities except a tennis court, barbecue grills, horseshoe pit, playground and a giant hot tub on each deck. We have no activities, either. It sits in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Summit County, with dozens of activities nearby. How is the resort ever going to hold Silver Crown?

Some travelers need to be entertained by the resort. I have not generally taken advantage of the ice cream socials, various classes and other activities that are offered by the resort because I don't go on vacation to do crafts or sit with strangers. We did, however, take advantage of some of those activities while visiting our home resort on Kauai last month. We had a good time playing bingo, making leis and attending the owners' lunch. I was surprised how much fun it was to meet the other owners. Rick's mom was with us and she enjoyed every minute of our trip and loved the activities. I think older people really like to socialize on vacation.

I am really upset at the change. It will take loud complaining from HOA boards to change RCI's mind. I hope there is a movement toward that end. I will lose my trade power, drastically, not to mention my Points for Deposit. I wonder who will get all the good units now? We will have a caste system of timeshare owners, those with GC will stay at GC quality resorts and the rest of us will have to settle for regular old resorts.

At least Vistana and OLCC older units will get lambasted by the new ratings as well. I would like to see how OLCC will keep their GC rating with the new policy of placing exchangers into the less-desirable West Village. Of course, the developer will be there forever and there is definitely some inside dealings between developers and RCI. I guess greed will rear its ugly head.

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

We will have a caste system of timeshare owners, those with GC will stay at GC quality resorts and the rest of us will have to settle for regular old resorts.

I'm concerned as this will likely affect our resorts. However, isn't this a step towards levelizing the exchange system? I'm neither an RCI supporter or basher but to me, this could be interpreted as a move to have people with "quality" resorts get an equal "quality" resort when they exchange. It will be less of the "trading up" that many knowledge TSers have exploited. For me who is learning to do that, this is rotten timing!

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

Twice before while I have been privy to the RCI Comment Card reports has RCI tweaked the meaning of their numerical designations. Once it resulted in a significant increase in average scores, not just for resorts I was familiar with, but for the averages for the whole North American market. The other time, it resulted in a signifcant decrease.

Based on those events, there is no doubt in my mind that the new arrangement will increase scores. Will it increase them proportionately to the new award levels? Only time will tell. Does RCI really expect it to? Who knows for sure. Perhaps they want to decrease the number of resorts with award status. Perhaps the new numbers do accurately reflect the shifts shown in the beta tests.

Will the numbers be applied honestly to some of the big developers still in sales (OLCC for example)? No way to tell! Anything that RCI makes public, whether it be seasonal color codes, award status, or point values, is subject to politicking between RCI and the developers.

The form sent to guest is changing and may result in overall higher scores thus the claim being a "wash". But he new levels required to meet the three standards is going up on 1/1/08 using the results from 9/1/06 - 8/31/07.

The comaprison is:

Check In/Out 2006 GC 4.0 SC 3.9 2008 GC 4.6 SC 4.5
Hospitality 2006 GC 4.2 SC 3.9 2008 GC 4.5 SC 4.4
Resort Maint 2006 GC 4.0 SC 3.7 2008 GC 4.5 SC 4.3
Unit Maint 2006 GC 4.2 SC 3.9 2008 GC 4.4 SC 4.2
Housekeeping 2006 GC 4.0 SC 3.7 2008 GC 4.5 SC 4.3

To get these new levels the new wording on the guest questionaire changes
from Extremely Satisfied (value 5) Very Satisfied (4) Satisfied (3) Somewhat Satisfied (2) Not At all Satisfied (1)

The new scale: Very Satisfied (5) or (4) or (3) or (2) Very Dissatisfied (1)
Yes there are no labels next to 4 - 3 -2 values.

I think it unlikely that this new scale will result in the massive increases needed to get 4.4 or better on the 2008 GC rankings vs the 4.0 or better needed now. It only takes a 3 or less once or twice and a few 4's (which many may choose just because "nothing is perfect") and the ranking is lost.

I could see changing the questionaire but I'm not at all sure the massive result level increase was required. I think they are trrying to squeeze out older resorts and newer ones get the ranking by "expected" results and planned features vs the real world of guest markings. By the time the guests results count the buildier is gone and the resort now becomes unranked making the new one they started building up the street "better" because it has a ranking. This seems to be a sales driven change not one reflecting the needs of guest/owners.

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

But the new levels required to meet the three standards is going up on 1/1/08 using the results from 9/1/06 - 8/31/07.

Pardon the dumb question, but what are the implication for the 2007 year? If I understand the process, RCI measures the resort scores from Sep last year -Aug this year. Then they take 4 months (from Sep this year -Dec this year) to compile and tabulate the scores and then annouce the new distinction each resort achieves. Is that what happens?

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

If this is what RCI was doing, they would have taken a different approach. They would have added categories like Unit Quality, Unit Amenities, and Resort Amenities to the requirements. They didn't do that. The categories that continue to use are ones that ANY resort can achieve good scores in if they work at it.

Indeed, RCI has gone the opposite direction. Unit Quality scores were one of the categories that counted on award status until a few years ago when that category was dropped.

If anything, they may be trying to reduce the percentage of resorts with award status. But then again, they MAY be on the level about the depth of the changes in scores shown on their beta tests.

I'm concerned as this will likely affect our resorts. However, isn't this a step towards levelizing the exchange system? I'm neither an RCI supporter or basher but to me, this could be interpreted as a move to have people with "quality" resorts get an equal "quality" resort when they exchange. It will be less of the "trading up" that many knowledge TSers have exploited. For me who is learning to do that, this is rotten timing!

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

Pardon the dumb question, but what are the implication for the 2007 year? If I understand the process, RCI measures the resort scores from Sep last year -Aug this year. Then they take 4 months (from Sep this year -Dec this year) to compile and tabulate the scores and then annouce the new distinction each resort achieves. Is that what happens?

The results are usually announced sometime in November.

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

The results are usually announced sometime in November.

To take effect in the following January?

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

If anything, they may be trying to reduce the percentage of resorts with award status. But then again, they MAY be on the level about the depth of the changes in scores shown on their beta tests.

On hand, RCI has said we don't actually check the resorts, we just depend on the feedback. And then you have some exchangers questioning why a particular resort has the award level that it may. Maybe they decided to listen to people and this change is designed to bring down those that are overrated? Maybe I'm giving RCI too much credit?

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

Are these new changes?

Are these new changes to the ranking system? Or changes only to the VEP determination?

If unit quality is not part of the ranking, then why is Crown Point Resort at Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas a Gold Crown while Crown Point Condominiums (same resort, different units) only has a hospitality award?

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

No time to post details now but the required levels for the various RCI awards go up 1/1/07. They are really high in a couple areas.

Here is RCI's official word on the increase in the thresholds for awards, from a letter from Jeffrey W. Parker, Senior VP, North American Operations of RCI to resort affiliates dated August 11, 2006:

''We recognize that these award levels represent an increase over previous levels. However, the test results demonstrated an average increase using the new rating scale, which means that this increase is not artificial and is therfore based on empirical patterns.''

RCI doublespeak or straight scoop? You be the judge!

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

However, the test results demonstrated an average increase using the new rating scale, which means that this increase is not artificial and is therfore based on empirical patterns.''

If RCI's testing on survey's is anywhere as accurate as it was on their testing of their new website , look out!!