Bluegreen premier benefits (changes)

[Maggie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Maggie]

HEE HEE HEE I’m looking at a bluegreen premier benefits quick reference guide. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THIS WILL GO INTO EFFECT, THIS IS WHAT THE SALES STAFF HAS BEEN TOLD BUT NO IMPEMENTATION DATE HAS YET BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT I KNOW OF.

The email said I cannot forward or distribute this but I think I can give some highlights

The Platinum level encore reward is $100.00
Bronze is $62.50

Bronze = 15,0000 to 19,999 annual points
Silver = 20,000 to 34,999 annual points
Gold = 35,000 to 59,999 annual points
Platinum = 60,000 +

The select connections reservations fees are the same as before but Platinum has no fee so Platinum can go selection connections at no charge.

Villa upgrades: a one category upgrade (Does not include upgrading to Presidential Suite)
Bronze = 1 day prior 3 per year
Silver = 2 days prior 5 per year
Gold = 3 days prior 7 per year
Platinum = 4 days prior 10 per year

Presidential Upgrades only available to Gold and Platinum
Gold - 4 days prior
Platinum – 7 days prior

Okay here is the bad news folks and you aren’t going to like it.
Waive of Cancellation or Modification Fees
Bronze – not applicable
Silver – 3 per year
Gold – 5 per year
Platinum – Unlimited (YIPPEE) I’m Platinum

Friends and Family Bonus time
Bronze = 1 additional villa 1 time per year
Silver = 2 additional villas 2 times per year
Gold = 3 additional villas 3 times per year
Platinum = 4 additional villas 4 times per year

Discounts on Presidential Suite Bonus time Rates
Bronze = $199 per night
Silver = $169.00 per night
Gold = $119.00 per night
Platinum = $79.00 per night

Gold and Platinum member can get extended stays free based on availability
Platinum members get their Traveler’s Plus membership paid

Gold Members can have one free white and Blue Season reservation per year
Platinum can have three free white and blue season reservations per year.

Maggie

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

This is a fantastic upgrade to the Preferred program. I really like it. It makes sense and it is certainly better than I could have done.

The only issue is the limited number of cancellations and rebooks. But, if you think about it, it's fair. We should discourage people from thrashing reservations.

[Maggie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Maggie]

I too think it is well thought out. I'm sure that Silver owners won't like being limited to 3 changes but when you think of it. If you only have 20,000 points you shouldn't need to make many more changes than that. It discourages people from making several reservations until they decide where they really want to go. Chances are if you have 60,000 points or more you are making reservations for others and they are more likely to change their plans.

I love that 45 days out you can check and see where you might get 3 or 4 units available so you can make inexpensive reservations for a whole group of people without tying up lots of points. Example: in Late January, I can find out when I can get 3 units at the Fountains for a 4 night stay. Let's say I have 6 couples that want to go. That's basically $960.00 divided by 6 is $140.00 per couple. So you charge each couple $150.00 and they each get 4 nights for $150.00 What a bargain. You end up making $60.00 but if they are all encore reward referrals who take the tour than you get $600.00 more in encore rewards and you haven't used point 1. I like it I like it.

Needless to say I like the thingy

[BransonIOWA Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BransonIOWA]

Looks like we're finally getting some solid info on Platinum. Thank You---Thank You ALL!!! I'm still wanting to know if Gold members with 60,000 points or more currently get grandfathered in automatically the day it becomes official and what the wait list period will be for Platinum?? Our family is currently Preferred Gold at 65,000 points.

[Maggie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Maggie]

Hi there Branson,

I too have 65,000 points and yes you will be grandfathered in (I assume). I am not a bluegreen employee but I did do my last upgrade this past January at Shorecrest I and consolidated all my previous purchases including resales into one package with lower maintenance fees. I was told that if and when they introduced Platinum, I would be grandfathered in.

The information sent to me was sent by my sales person who promised me that whenever he knew I would know. He kept his promise.

Platinum can get wait listed 15 months in advance but of course the reservation won't be filled until the 11 month window. They do not know what inventory is available until the 12 month window has passed because some owners have the right to reserve their deeded weeks at 12 months.

I'm not sure when this is being rolled out but the reservation people do not have the information yet and the computers haven't yet been set up to interpret all these rules yet. I imagine they are beta testing it now.

Wait list are as follows:

Bronze at 12 months
Silver at 13 months
Gold at 14 months and
Platinum at 15 months.

I was also told that of the over 200,000 Bluegreen members that only 350 qualify as Platinum so they have already checked the files to count the Platinum members and I hope they will be mailing out our Platinum Cards SOON!

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

...
Wait list are as follows:

Bronze at 12 months
Silver at 13 months
Gold at 14 months and
Platinum at 15 months.

I was also told that of the over 200,000 Bluegreen members that only 350 qualify as Platinum so they have already checked the files to count the Platinum members and I hope they will be mailing out our Platinum Cards SOON!

This is new too. Gold and silver have been bumped up a month. I would have to believe this would encourage owners to go to at lease Bronze level. It isn't that many points to jump up to a month earlier in the wait list.

Looks like BG has a good plan in place.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

For those of you interested in an upgrade to one of the above levels. Let me know and I'll put you on my distribution list for great upgrade offers when I learn of them.

[Sister Syl Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sister Syl]

Are the Preferred Changes in effect now?

Maggie
I saw one post that the preferred changes are in place. Do you have information on it? I haven't received any e-mail or notice on it and was wondering what you knew. I am only Bronze but would like to know what changes are in effect.
Hope you had a good fourth.............were you at one of your favorite places.......Shorecrest I ?

[Maggie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Maggie]

I saw a post on another forum that the new policies are in place but do not know that for fact. There is nothing on the website yet. I've been out of town on a trip up to visit family in Ohio. Just got back tonight.

Maggie

[Reelpops Member Find all posts View Profile Close Reelpops]

BG Premier benefits changes

I will be doing an update later this week at the Fountains and I will keep my ears open. I am calculating a little bit to see if it would benefit me to go from 47K to 65K to get plat.
Reelpops

[spectacularone Member Find all posts View Profile Close spectacularone]

More info

I don't know what all is in effect but I called today and I got to waitlist 13 months out. I'm newly Silver (thanks Boca) and I was looking into August at Big Cedar. The girl on the phone said even she hadn't gotten to read everything! She said they were telling her that they were sending out an update within the week.

I agree that it's a good plan. However, I had planned on maybe renting some of our time and that's going to be harder to do with fewer cancellations allowed. I know it's probably fair--but just a slight kink in my plans since I have more points than I know what to do with!

With the exception of the 13 month window I'm not sure what upgrades I saw. 13 months is not really and upgrade since everyone else got bumped up a month earlier too!

What's the friends and family thing mean--I still have to go with them (f&f), right? Can I book my cousin Bonus Time? No still, right? Booking them rooms with along with us has never been a problem--even before we were Silver. We put one room in my husbands name and one in mine and went on our way so what's the difference with the Friends and Family Bonus time now?

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

I just received a copy of the new Premier Program from another owner. It is attached. Maggie's info seems to be right on the money. Note: There is rumor for a change to the value of points to pay for maintenance fees. I'll post it when we learn what it is.

If you are interested in upgrading to any of these levels, let me know. There may be some changes to future eligibility for upgrades to these levels. Send me a private message for details.

Jim

[Maggie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Maggie]

This PDF is exactly the information I was sent a couple of weeks ago but at that time I did not feel at liberty to post it so I typed the pertinent information.

The new benefits went into effect last week and I have already been able to book some complimentary weeks.

I'm told that the website will be changing soon to make this information available on the website but the people making reservations on the preferred line are able to see what benefits you are entitled to and make your reservations accordingly. They are doing a fantastic job.

The benefits must apply to those that already have the proper number of points because I did my last upgrade last January at Shorecrest and I am recognized as a Platinum owner.

As for the free white or blue reservations. It runs on calendar year so I was told I could have three yet in 2008 and then three in 2009. The first reservation I made was for Spring of 2009 and I was told that I could go ahead and do 3 for yet this year. I've already made two of them.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Here is some additional information that I was able to get today for various sources. I wanted to wait until it was a bit more formalize before I presented it so as to not jump the gun on Bluegreen.

As many of you know, it is true that the sales teams are now selling these benefits at owner update meetings. We are aware of this because multiple owners have been reporting back consistent information about it.

Owner services has been trained on the new benefits. And, they are honoring the new benefits now and recognizing all owners with qualifying points for the new levels. There is currently no change to how owners can qualify. To repeat, all points purchased from Bluegreen or a Bluegreen authorized reseller count towards these new levels. If you are interested in getting to one of these levels, send me a PM and I'll provide you with your options.

The one feature that is not being enforced is the number of cancellations. That will be in place by a target date of August 1. They are doing this to provide enough time for an owner communication to go out to all preferred owners on the new program. So, if you are not platinum, I would make all of your changes now before the new date comes into play. My understanding is that there will be software in the current reservation system that will track cancellations and rebooks. Not sure when the count will start. My guess is it will start when the system is put in place.

The owner website should be updated sometime this week to reflect the new benefits. In addition, all preferred owners will be getting a letter in the mail on the new program and to attend an owner update for specific details. Obviously, you can contact the Preferred line or owner services to get the details as they have been trained and are answering questions today.

In addition to the obvious change of limited cancellations and rebooks for Silver and Gold owners, I have determined that there are at least 2 other changes to the preferred program. First, the value of points for paying maintenance fees have changed. The rate will no longer be published and will likely change more frequently than in the past. It is now set at $200 per 5000 points up to a maximum of $1400 for 35000 points. That is about $.04/point instead of the previous $.05/point.

Also, it appears that to extend your trip up to 3 nights for no additional fee for Gold's and Platinum's, there will be a new rule that states you can only extend your trip if YOUR specific unit is available. The old rule allowed for an owner to extend by changing units and paying a housekeeping fee. Evidently, that caused a lot of issues for the resorts. So, they decided to keep it to the same unit.

Overall, I give the program a thumbs up. I think the program is offering more off season time to owners for a good rate to get better ulilization of resorts and Bluegreen has optimized it to their largest owners. In addition, the takeaways should help all owners by creating a disincentive for parking reservations for later changes. Owners will be incented to take the vacations they book rather than tying up prime weeks. This will be good for everyone.

It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds. Stay tuned.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Oh, I forgot to mention. Perhaps Maggie can confirm this. I was told that to book your free blue or white weeks, you must download a coupon that tracks how many you have used. This is good because this means that Bluegreen has a tracking mechanism in place for this inventory. My guess is that Bluegreen will use the points they get from owners paying for maintennace fees with points to book this "free time." Therefore, the books will balance from a utlization point of view. So, they won't have to rent out as many units to cover the time they give to owners or the points they get for maintenance fees.