New HGVC Resort - Near Walt Disney World

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

New HGVC Resort - Near Disney World - Orlando Florida

Looks like the Sales Center is in place
Its going to be big!

Here is a news release on the latest HGVC resort:

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On March 20, 2007, a ceremonial groundbreaking marked the official start of construction of the third Hilton Grand Vacations Club resort in the thriving Orlando market. When completed, the new development will be Hilton's largest and most luxurious timeshare resort in Florida.
The new Hilton Grand Vacations Club resort will be operated by Hilton Grand Vacations Company, LLC the timeshare division of Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE: HLT - News). Upon the anticipated opening in January 2009, the resort will strengthen the company's existing Orlando portfolio: the 516-unit Hilton Grand Vacations Club at SeaWorld International Center and the 440-unit Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive.

Projected to ultimately include 1,200 units, the first of seven planned phases will feature 141 superbly appointed one- and two-bedroom timeshare accommodations. Upon completion, the resort is designed to provide a spectacular setting featuring dramatic landscaping and walking paths, and extensive amenities including a super pool with interactive water features, full-service spa, poolside restaurant and bar, fitness center, deli and gift shop. The resort will be built on a 52-acre site within the sprawling master planned development of Midtown, a centrally located 214-acre project proposed to include a variety of upscale lakefront amenities including restaurants, boutiques, office space, and accommodations.

The official groundbreaking ceremony was hosted by Antoine Dagot, Executive Vice President, Hilton Hotels Corporation and President and CEO, Hilton Grand Vacations Company. According to Dagot, the new Hilton Grand Vacations Club resort will bring the Orlando vacation experience to the next level while perpetuating Hilton's leadership in the market.

"For more than 12 years, Hilton has recognized the significance of Orlando as one of the world's top vacation destinations through its commitment to develop extraordinary timeshare resorts here. The quality and success of our first two Club projects inspired the development of a third Orlando resort, and the new project is already receiving an enthusiastic response," said Dagot.

Dagot also noted the company's vision to create the ultimate setting for unforgettable vacations: "The property itself will offer an unsurpassed setting and distinctive amenities, the local attractions are simply the best in the world, and the adjoining Midtown development will offer our owners and guests immediate access to upscale restaurants and retail establishments."

The groundbreaking ceremony also featured presentations by Hilton Grand Vacations executives including: David Desforges, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, who recognized the contributions of key project development resources; and Kim Robert Kreiger, Senior Vice President and Chief Club Officer, who acknowledged the tremendous satisfaction of Club Members with the quality of the Hilton Grand Vacations Club resorts and the unique benefits of the Club membership program.

Among the honored guests were the reigning Miss Florida, Allison Kreiger; and participants in the "Vacations for Vets" program. Since 2006, Hilton Grand Vacations has partnered with the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) to offer the Vacations for Vets program. Through this initiative, Hilton Grand Vacations works with liaisons at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center to provide complimentary vacation accommodations for U.S. military personnel recovering from injuries sustained while serving our country. Hilton timeshare owners have supported this initiative by donating their ClubPoints (the "currency" of Hilton Grand Vacations Club) to help make available luxury resort stays for wounded service members - providing these veterans an opportunity to relax and enjoy vacation time with their families.

Hilton Grand Vacations Company, LLC (HGVC) is a division of Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE: HLT - News), recognized as the leading global hospitality company. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Hilton Grand Vacations develops, markets and operates a system of brand name, high-quality vacation ownership resorts in select vacation destinations.

The company also manages two innovative club membership programs,
Hilton Grand Vacations Club® and The Hilton Club®, providing exclusive
exchange, leisure travel and reservation services for 114,000 Club Members

[jancpa Member Find all posts View Profile Close jancpa]

Where specifically will this resort be near?

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

Where specifically will this resort be near?

Why would that matter?

It going to be the third HGVC in Orlando. Doesn't anyone at HGVC listen? The only serious criticism of HGVC is their concentration of resorts in 3 locations Orlando, LV and Hawaii. Why is HGVC continuing to build in the already oversupplied Orlando area?

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

Hilton Grand Vacation Club

Where specifically will this resort be near?

Between Route 535 and
Central Florida Parkway

On Palm Parkway
Orlando Fla 32836

Lake Ruby

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

If I owned Hilton, I would be disappointed at this news. What about other parts of the country?

Trading into the Hilton resorts in Orlando is pretty easy and the point values through RCI are lower than most of the other GC resorts, so even RCI places little value on Hiltons, compared to Summer Bay and even Vacation Village at Parkway, and some of the others.

We have never taken a tour of Hiltons. They are not exactly out there selling it big time. I know about the one-in-four rule and have not had to "anxiously await" for our four years to be up so we can go again. We haven't actually stayed at the newer Hilton yet. We have not needed to. The Hiltons are nice, don't get me wrong, but there are SO MANY really nice resorts to choose from, and with II and RCI memberships, I can get all of the greatest places.

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

That is disappointing for Hilton owners. Our friends are Hilton owners and love it and just came back from Hawaii, but I am guessing people were hoping for a totally different location. If I am thinking about Orlando correctly though, that is a nice area in Lake Buena Vista.

[rainy~daze21 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rainy~daze21]

it'll probably still get booked like crazy just for being by Disney.

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

I own HGVC and I am throughly disappointed and disgusted with what they're doing. Three Vegas resorts, three Orlando resorts and a couple of Hawaiian resorts. I think they've got those covered pretty darn well. How about some place NEW and exciting!

While others complain their developers are only looking at the bottom line and not thinking of the owners, Hilton goes above and beyond to prove that point, building only where they believe they can easily move units and not being creative with their thinking.

Hiltons refusal to build their own resorts outside the big three vacation destinations is one reason I'm not interested in increasing my ownership with them but do contemplate increasing my ownership with other companies. I own more than enough Vegas timeshares, don't care to go to Orlando and Hawaii is an expensive enough flight from where we live to limit that number of times we'll ever visit the islands. Hilton needs to LISTEN to it's members and build outside the top three tourist destinations for American tourists.

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

Existing owners are not the market. New owners are. They're going to build where it is easy to sell, not where existing owners want to go.

[dopeyfav Member Find all posts View Profile Close dopeyfav]

If I were an HGVC owner I would be frustrated. It appears they are not concerned about expanding into new locations, which I am sure their current owners want. At some point, Orlando is going to be so saturated there will be lots of vacancies, if that is not already the case.

Why don't timeshare companies listen to their current owners? I would think "new" owners would be attracted to a wider variety of locations as well.

Just my 2cents.

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

Existing owners are not the market. New owners are. They're going to build where it is easy to sell, not where existing owners want to go.

I don't know about that. HGVC markets it's owners heavily. More so than any other timeshare I own at. They also market oweners for referals, which is a much better group to prospect in than off the street.

HGVC doesn't seem to get what other major timeshare developers have figured out. That is variety keeps people who have already purchased buying more and those that have already purchased are better prospects than Joe Tourist off the street.

Wyndham, Marriott, Starwood, Westgate and even Sunterra have all figured out that marketing more locations is good business. They've learned that they can sell that variety and get people coming back for more. Hilton seems to only be interested in building in the same three locations, affiliating (not owning) a few other locations and selling to the man off the street rather than cultivating people who they have already shown a willingness to purchase and perhaps refer others to the program.

I would be a prime example of lost sales. Since my purchase with HGVC I've purchased other developer weeks but, I haven't purchased from Hilton because there is no variety, only the big three markets and I'm not excited about those anymore.

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

That's a good point. The conversion rate for existing owners is much higher...