Letter from RCI re: Hilton Club NY, no more lounge access?!

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

Ugh ! Just got this letter today from RCI. Says that effective immediately, no lounge access at Hilton Club NY for exchangers?! I am sad . I have only ever stayed there once (thanks for sharing your exchange with me, Pat!), and loved the lounge access. It was a great place to hang out before starting a busy day, and a relaxing place at unwind at the end of the day. Did anyone else get this email?! Any chance the resort will change its mind before October?!

Dear RCI Member:

We have some important information to share concerning your upcoming vacation to The Hilton Club of New York in New York.

The staff at The Hilton Club of New York advised us that effective immediately, the Guest Lounge is unavailable to exchange guests.

We realize this may have an impact on your vacation and wanted to inform you of this situation in advance. Since availability is limited in the area you confirmed, we encourage you to retain your vacation. Should you decide to cancel your stay, our standard cancellation guidelines will apply.

If you have questions, please contact our Member Services at (800) 338-7777. RCI Guides are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., local time and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., local time. Call Center hours are based on local times for RCI subscribing members in the Continental United States, Western Canada and Central Canada. For members in Hawaii and Alaska, Call Center hours are based on Pacific Time. For members in the Caribbean and Atlantic Canada, Call Center hours are based on Eastern Time. The Call Center is closed on most major U.S. holidays.

We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to providing you with quality vacations in the years to come.


Sincerely,


RCI Customer Service

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

This provision is particularly outrageous: Since availability is limited in the area you confirmed, we encourage you to retain your vacation. Should you decide to cancel your stay, our standard cancellation guidelines will apply

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Surely for some amount of $$$ you can have access, can't you?

Unless I'm missing the point (golf ball accident ), there has always been discrimination against non-owners at some resorts.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

That is outrageous! I guess people have been mouthing off about the bargain pricing they have achieved through exchange in the lounge. Nothing like loose lips to cause an expensive resort to curb exchanges and privileges to the unwashed timeshare owner.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

That is outrageous! I guess people have been mouthing off about the bargain pricing they have achieved through exchange in the lounge. Nothing like loose lips to cause an expensive resort to curb exchanges and privileges to the unwashed timeshare owner.

You KNOW that that is what happened.
Oh well.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Surely for some amount of $$$ you can have access, can't you?

Unless I'm missing the point (golf ball accident ), there has always been discrimination against non-owners at some resorts.

Nope. No money can buy you in. It has always been included in the exchange.

And it was a great deal. Similar to staying in a concierge level room at a hotel with breakfast and evening appies and wine and beer.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

That is outrageous! I guess people have been mouthing off about the bargain pricing they have achieved through exchange in the lounge. Nothing like loose lips to cause an expensive resort to curb exchanges and privileges to the unwashed timeshare owner.

Oh . . . we've talked about loose lips for how long now?

[norm Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close norm]

I've stated at Hilton Club several times in the past, both as a Hilton Club owner and as an RCI exchanger. I no longer own at the Hilton Club so the change is a disappointment, but I think it makes sense. The daily free breakfast, mid-day cookies, and nightly cocktail reception is a perk I haven't seen at any other timeshare resort. Nobody that exchanges in has this benefit at their their home resort, so it's not like they're losing something they have at their own timeshare.

I'd much rather see this change than have them start charging $30 per day for housekeeping like they do at the Manhattan Club. Look at it this way; most of the maintenance fee that Hilton Club owners pay covers maintenance and taxes, but a large chunk pays for food, drinks, and staff in the lounge. The member lounge will now be reserved for members since they are the ones paying the high fees.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

Oh . . . we've talked about loose lips for how long now?

That is what started the 1-in-4 rules.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

That is what started the 1-in-4 rules.

Oh, I thought it was greed.



BTW, I have always called the loose lips problem the TUG Kiss of Death.

Can't remember why.