TimeshareGuru

WORLDMARK BY WYNDHAM RESORT INFO

WORLDMARK ORIGINS:

Trendwest Resorts, Inc. located in Bellevue, Washington is the developer of WorldMark the Club, which was incorporated in 1989. The sale of WorldMark credits were adopted as the “vacation credit” system (points) to allow greater flexibility in timeshare ownership. Once primarily focused on the Pacific Coast (from Whistler, B.C. to Cabo, Mexico) for resort locations; developing quality resorts and significantly upgrading existing facilities, WorldMark has expanded to Missouri, Fiji Islands, and Australia. WorldMark, The Club has more than 250,000 owners who have a choice of over 60 locations in the Western United States, Missouri, Arizona, Illinois, Colorado, Florida, Utah, Nevada, Hawaii, Australia, British Columbia, Fiji and Mexico. Trendwest was purchased by Cendant in 2002 which was subsequently aquired by Wyndham in 2007.   Trendwest Resorts, Inc. is now know as Wyndham Resort Development Corporation and does business uner the brand WorlMark by Wyndham.  As a subsidiary of Wyndham Vacation Ownership, Inc., Wyndham Resort Developemnt Corporation is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

RESORTS:

* Some resorts are under construction. These proposed resorts currently have projected opening dates that are given above. The Australian resorts are components of a separate timeshare plan known as Worldmark South Pacific Club.  Title to the resorts in Worldmark South Pacific Club is held by a third party custodian. Almost all of the resorts are Gold Crown with RCI or 5 Star Resorts with Interval International.   

WORLDMARK, SOUTH PACIFIC PROPERTY:

WorldMark South Pacific (Trendwest South Pacific Property incorporated in 1999) is a separate corporation with a seamless exclusive exchange agreement with WorldMark the Club. Owners from either club can utilized the others inventory with only two guideline differences. To provide home club priority, the booking window is reduced to only 11 month out  for reserving into each others club.  There are no bonus time privileges. There is no exchange fee between the two clubs.

WYNDHAM VACATION RESORTS:

With the acquisition of both by Cendant, Trendwest (Now WorldMark by Wyndham) and Fairfield Resorts (Now Wyndham Vacation Resorts) have already begun to leverage each other’s strengths. Though most of these arrangements are invisible to WorldMark owners, an especially significant one was a short-term exchange agreement that made twelve Wyndham Vacation Resorts available without exchange fees or restrictions.  The difference is that you can book 12 months out, not 13 like the WordlMark resorts.  I have listed them above in the resort chart for easier viewing according to areas.  WorldMark owners reserve just as they would at any other WorldMark resort, either through the on-line instant confirmation or by calling a vacation counselor.  Here are the Wyndham Vacation Resorts:

VACATION CREDITS:

POINTS USAGE

Owners purchase vacation credits, which allow them to stay at any of the WorldMark resorts. Each year on the anniversary date of your vacation credits you are issued credits equal to the amount of the original purchase. Credits are automatically carried over for an additional 12 months. You may borrow all or part of the following year’s credits. Credits can be used on a weekly or daily basis at any WorldMark resort, but must be used according to Club guidelines and availability..

The Guidelines for vacation credit usage are as follows:

·        HIGH (RED) SEASON:  One week minimum stay booked 91 days to 13 months in advance with any day check-in available. Red or High season requires requires a seven night minimum if booked more than 90 days in advance.

·        MID & OFF (WHITE & BLUE) SEASON:  No minimum stay except for weekends.  Can be booked 48 hours to 13 months in advance.

·        WEEKEND ONLY:  Weekends require a two-night stay when both Friday and Saturday nights are available. 

Personally, I like the fact that you can set up your week to start on any day if the time is available. The options in terms of starting and ending your vacation can help save many dollars on airfare. You can also mix bonus time, (which we will talk about in the next section) with vacation credit time. The cancellation policy is also quite liberal depending on how far out you made the reservation.  For example, reservations made 90 days to 13 months from arrival you can cancel 30 days from arrival without penalty. 

Two types of credits can be purchased: a forty year right to use; or usage for perpetuity (which allows you to use bonus time).

The following is an average example of points needed to use a resort. With few exceptions, 10,000-12,000 credits will get you a one bedroom or a two bedroom, respectively for one week during red season.

Besides the units listed above some WorldMark Resorts have two or three bedroom penthouse (Premium unit with upgraded amenities, and Jacuzzi); one or two bedroom deluxe (larger than typical WorldMark Unit); one or two bedroom suites (smaller than typical WorldMark Unit); one or two bedroom plus (extra sleeping room); and studio units. The number of units and type of units differ by resort.

Credit Usage Restrictions:

o        Red week usage must be for one week if booked more than sixty days in advance.

o        Two night minimum on weekends. A weekend is considered Friday and Saturday.

HOUSEKEEPING FEES:

·        You are allowed one free housekeeping service for the first credit reservation each anniversary year for each block of 5,000 credits owned.

·        For each subsequent credit reservation, more than one within the same anniversary year, you will pay a housekeeping fee.

·        Extra  housekeeping fees are based on the size of the unit you book and are collected at the time you make your reservation. The fees range from $40 for a studio to $100 or a 4 bedroom Penthouse.

BONUS TIME:

Bonus time was designed to encourage occupancy at times where there would probably be no or low occupancy. You call the vacation center 14 days ahead to find availability and can then book up to four days in one period (you can use two days at one resort and two days at another). The cost of the usage is currently 4.4 cents per credit, which makes a range of approximately $32-95 a day depending on the size of the unit and the season of usage. You can even do it for guests, but the lead time is only 5 days, which means you guests must be very flexible on location and dates. It is most available during midweek and at larger size resorts. Seems like a good trade-off to maximize usage while honoring owners first.  Use the internet website for WorldMark, (www.worldmarktheclub.com) to find bonus time for particular regions. 

Restrictions are:

o        Can only book one period at a time. Once you use the week then you can book another.

o        Can only book one weekend per quarter

o        Maximum stay four days.

o        Booking at more than one resort requires reserving consecutive days.

OWNER SPECIALS:

Inventory Specials work similar to bonus time, but allow owners to take greater advantage of inventory that may go unused.  Cost of usage is 4.4 cents per credit.  Like bonus time, don’t expect availability during the busy season. This is mainly white or blue time.  Calling at the 14 day and 2 day reservation windows may help you get very good deals during red season, but don’t count on it.  The specials are listed on-line and in the Destinations publication sent to owners.  Listed are the inventory specials available during a certain month, and their general availability.  A new feature on-line is bonus time available for resorts in a given region.  This is a real help in quickly finding bonus time. 

Depending on availability you can:

·        Book as many units as you want.

·        Book at several resorts.

·        Stay as long a you want during the inventory time span.

ASSOCIATES PROGRAM:  (This program is highly changeable, so the associates and my example may be outdated)

WorldMark’s Associates program allows you to use your credits to book one or more nights at associate locations. This is an opportunity to expand the reach of credits and stay in locations not currently served by WorldMark..  These are value-added benefits that are subject to change, addition or deletion.  As an example The current credit costs start at 3,000 credits per night at the Alyeska Prince Hotel and Resort in Girdwood, AK :  .  This is not a WorldMark resort, but a hotel accommodation that sleeps up to four adults.

TRAVELSHARE

This is a valued added program which is best described when you go to http://www.wyndhamworldwide.com/media_center  and enter TravelShare as a search.  I will try to have more information at the next up-date about this program.

RCI EXCHANGE:

WorldMark has special arrangements with RCI that allow owners to call before depositing their credits in the space bank to check on units that are currently available for exchange. This is called “Confirm First”, since no credits are used until you know exactly what you are getting in exchange. As an owner I was also allowed to use this line to exchange other timeshares that I wanted to space bank, a definite benefit. There are predetermined credits for each season and unit size. If you confirm 45 days or less in advance it cost only 4,000 credits regardless of unit size or season. I have used this several times for a wonderfully inexpensive vacation. Don’t expect to use it for summer or holiday weeks.

INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL:

WorldMark allows you to be part of Interval International exchange company also. II Members call their toll free WorldMark hot line at 1-877-678-4400 to book an exchange. They have a similar confirm first and allow 60 days or less in advance bookings using 4,000 credits regardless of unit size or season.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS:

1.  
   1. The staff has been helpful in making each mini or regular vacation a pleasant event. They go out of their way to answer questions, address concerns, and make you comfortable and informed.
   2. The units have been clean, stocked with useful equipment, and comfortable furniture.
   3. Reservations are pleasant to make, and on top of it no questions are too stupid to answer.
   4. Persistence with calling 14 days ahead produces excellent bonus time usage during non-peak seasons for weekend usage.
   5. Eight of the facilities are now within a reasonable drive from our home.
   6. Owners can take advantage of two leveled educational events to help them better use their timeshare.

DISCLAIMER:

The information in this article is correct to the best of my knowledge.  If anything is not accurate I would appreciate you letting me know!