WorldMark^® Words

If you bring up the Archives you will find that the first post I made on this blog was on February 10, 2006. It seems only fitting that the last post should occur on the same date, six years later. For a variety of reasons I will no longer be posting to the WorldMark Words blog. Before I go I will offer a few observations. Warning - I do ramble, this is pretty long.

Wyndham – Developer: As the WorldMark developer, Wyndham is like a Captain and crew without a ship. The last WorldMark resort to open was Anaheim, in 2008. WorldMark Grand Elk was started and subsequently shuttered. As far as I know the property is still for sale. Despite the lack of development, Wyndham's inventory of unsold credits has continue to grow as owners allowed their accounts to be repossessed. I do not expect to see any new WorldMark resorts in the foreseeable future. See my June 11, 2011 post for more on that subject.

Wyndham – Legal: Litigation, which dragged out over a span of three years, finally reached a conclusion last year when a settlement was agreed to by the involved parties and approved by the court. It is hard to say who, if anyone, won much as a result of the settlement. The best I can say is that at last it is in the past and maybe things can return to more of a sense of normalcy.

Wyndham – Manager: As the WorldMark resort manager, Wyndham has excelled. Overall the resorts are well maintained, the staff personnel are friendly and helpful, and things are running smoothly. Dues increases have been reasonable, increasing from $500 to $608 on a 10,000 credit account from 2006 to the present. The web site and online booking capability have seen numerous improvements. There is more to be done but the future looks promising.

WorldMark: Despite some dire doom and gloom predictions, WorldMark is doing fine, thank you. The owner base has declined with the economy as more accounts have been repossessed. From a peak of 274,082 owners in 2008,the number of owners was reported as 241,933 at last Octobers Annual Owner's meeting. See my October 27, 2011 post. We will have to wait and see if the decline is reversed this year.

Unlike other more conventional timeshare systems, the loss of owners does not represent a loss of income to WorldMark. When an account is repossessed Wyndham assumes payment of the dues on that account. WorldMark remains financially sound even with the reduction in the ownership level.

Despite the problems with the economy, WorldMark owners continue to visit the resorts for their vacations. Overall occupancy at the resorts was just over 80% for 2010, and over 90% for the weekends. Based on owner feedback surveys, owner satisfaction with WorldMark and the WorldMark resorts remains high.

The most common complaints concerning WorldMark are directed at Wyndham. The sales effort, especially the “Owner Updates” at the resorts, receive much criticism. While some of these updates can be informative and helpful, they often turn out to be high pressure sales pitches to get owners to purchase more credits. The easiest way to avoid any Owner Update hassles is to just say no and not attend.

The higher credit values Wyndham allocated at some of the newer resorts has also received criticism. This goes back to the San Diego resort which was the straw that broke the camel's back. At 15,000 credits for a week in a one bedroom unit there was a lot of pushback from owners. San Diego, along with ten other resorts, had the credit values slightly reduced as a result of the lawsuit settlement. With no new development on the horizon I see the allocation of credits for new resorts a non-issue.

Another common complaint deals with the inability to obtain reservations. This is not directly a Wyndham issue. It revolves around the fact that even though there are many weeks available for booking, owners tend to want to vacation at the same time. Summer is especially difficult to book, as many owners are tied to school schedules and that is the only time they can get away. I believe the solution to this problem is owner education, i.e. teach the owners how to get those difficult reservations.

WorldMark Politics: I'll leave the politics to the wmowners group. They are much more involved in that area than I have ever been. I have never had an interest in running for a position on the Board of Directors. I enjoy my retirement from the corporate world, I don't need the hassle that would go with a Board position.

Should wmowners want my advice, which is unlikely, I will repeat what I have said in several posts. Develop and publish a platform laying out what you intend to do. Gaining an independent majority on the Board of Directors is not a goal, it is a step. Outline what your plans are should you ever achieve that first step. It is that unknown which keeps many away from your cause.

Wish List: The number one item I would like to see is an expansion of the owner education opportunities. The Owner Education workshops were cut back significantly as the economy declined and have not returned to the level they once were. Expansion of the workshops to more geographical areas would be a good first step.

Even better would be for an independent group to step up and start offering workshops. Independent owner education would remove any restrictions on how many of the detailed tips and tricks for getting reservations could be taught. There is currently no group that is headed in that direction and I don't anticipate that it will come to pass in the near future.

There is a reluctance on the part of some owners to share all of the nitty gritty details of those tips and tricks. They fear that as more owners learn them it will become even more difficult to get reservations. To that I say BULL! Let's level the playing field for everyone, no more special treatment for “insiders” or any other class of owners.

Another thing I would like to see is a curb on the rental of WorldMark units as a profit making business. Not all owners agree on this point, but it is very disturbing to many owners when they cannot get a reservation using their ownership but can see the same units they are trying to book being offered on the various rental markets.

I would not propose to ban rentals, that introduces a whole new set of problems. I would propose a cap on the maximum rental price allowed, much like the existing cap on the rental of units booked with Bonus Time. That could be implemented by a change in the guidelines and does not require a vote of owner approval although such approval would be best. Take away the profit potential and the rental issue will be significantly reduced.

WorldMark Words: Has it really been six years since I started this? For the most part it has been an enjoyable experience. I have tried to post on a variety of topics including WorldMark issues, WorldMark history, owner education, and an occasional attempt at humor. But like all good things, this too must come to an end. The site will remain online as long as it receives a reasonable amount of traffic but there will be no new posts.

I am not dropping out of the WorldMark world. I will be concentrating my online efforts on the WorldMark Timeshare Information web site. That site emphasizes owner education and I have decided that is the best place for me. If you want to get involved, join me there and help educate all WorldMark owners.

I have made many friends through my involvement with WorldMark. Some I have met in person, most I have contacted only through the internet. I hope that all of you will stay in touch. You can always reach me through the Contact link in the left side menu, or through the Contact Admin link on the WorldMark Timeshare Information site.

My closing post has stretched on way to long. So for now, I bid you adieu my friends. May your days be filled with fond memories of many WorldMark vacations.

Are you part of the No crowd? No, I can't get a reservation. No, I can't go anywhere I want to go. No, I don't understand . . .

If those statements sound familiar to you it's time to get out of the No and into the Know. There is no excuse for not learning how to get the reservation you want. There are a wealth of tools available to help you.

On the WorldMark web site you will find the following resources:

• The Online Learning Center with the following sections
  • Using the Website
  • Understanding WorldMark
  • Vacationing With WorldMark
  • Understanding Wyndham Benefits
• The Online Reference Library
  • Links to Resources
  • Forms and Information
  • Policies
• Owner Education Sign Up
  • Owner Workshops at Multiple Locations
  • Webinars if classes are not offered in your area
• The Resort Gallery with information and photos for all WorldMark resorts
• The WorldMark Vacation Forum with owner comments and questions about WorldMark resorts.
• RCI Exchange Information and the WoldMark RCI portal link

Need more information? There are several independent web sites where you can find owner hints and tips to help you understand and use your WorldMark ownership. The one I am heavily involved with is WorldMark Timeshare Information. The site contains resort information, photos, a mileage guide, a detailed Owner Education section, and much more. The material is easily accessible via menus and cross links to the various subjects. The site has no WorldMark political undertones and no requests for donation of money. It's primary purpose is To teach owners how to get the reservation they want at the resort they want. Check it out today.

With all of the information available there are no excuses to remain in the No. Get out of the No and get into the Know. Knowledge is power, the power to get the reservations you want and to enjoy your WorldMark ownership.

Apparently more and more WorldMark owners are making their reservations online rather than calling the Vacation Planning Center. That, along with the availability of much more online information, will result in a reduction of hours for the Vacation Planning Center.

Beginning Saturday, February 4, 2012, the new VPC call center hours will be 8:00 am to 7:00 pm Pacific Time on Monday through Friday, and 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on the weekend. That is a 2 hour later opening and 2 hour earlier closing during the week and a 2 hour later opening on the weekends. Owner care will also follow the new hours, Online booking hours remain unchanged, 6:00 am to 11:30 pm every day. You can find the full announcement of this change on the WorldMark web site.

Pictures always seem to be popular. Here are a couple of wintertime scenes from two different WorldMark resorts. The first one was taken from the deck of our unit at Pinetop, the morning after a snowstorm. It was not very pleasant driving to the resort the night before, but in the morning the skies were clear and everything was covered in white. A very pretty scene.


The second image is also a wintertime shot but it is for those of you who want to get away from the cold. It was taken from the beach, across the road from WorldMark Kihei. No snow there, just sun and sand and great whale watching in January.


That's the variety of WorldMark. If you like winter snow and cold it is available at WorldMark. If you prefer it warm and sunny in the winter, you can find that too. 71 resorts, all different, all worth visiting.

Have you ever dreamed of visiting “Down Under”? No worries mate, WorldMark is making it easier with their latest special deal. You can book any of the WorldMark South Pacific resorts for cash, at a rate of 7 cents per credit.

We've been to Australia and New Zealand twice and have stayed at two of the WorldMark South Pacific resorts. It's hard to pick a favorite area, but Brisbane and Melbourne in Australia and Christchurch and Dunedin in New Zealand would be near the top of my list. I'm not sure of the conditions in Christchurch since the devastating earthquakes over the past few years. If you do decide to go there check out the conditions first.

I'd recommend two weeks minimum for the trip. A nice segment is to fly to Brisbane, spend a few days there (we stayed in a B&B), and then drive to Sydney. We stopped at the WorldMark Coffs Harbor and Port Stephens resorts for 4 nights each along the way. Driving on the other side of the road takes some adjusting, but did not prove to be major obstacle. I didn't drive in the big cities, we turned in the car in Sydney and flew from there to Christchurch.

The deal runs through March 31, 2012, with an 11 month booking window. You can make your reservations online or by calling WorldMark by Wyndham Travel (not the Vacation Planning Center). The details and restrictions are similar to the Monday Madness booking rules. You can find all the details on the WorldMark web site.

Following the end of the Holiday Madness booking special, Monday Madness has returned. Last week the three Las Vegas resorts were on Monday Madness special, this week it is Long Beach and Seaside on the coast.

It looks like the rules are the same as they were previously, with one big exception. The cost is now 7 cents per credit, up from 6 cents last year. That makes the deal less attractive since it is about the same as rental credits, especially if you are booking a full week. The price does include housekeeping so the best use of Monday Madness now might be for condo hopping trips or adding a few days at a second resort on a longer trip. It is also a way to book additional units with no hassle after you have used all of your credits,

There are the usual restrictions on the Monday Madness specials so be sure to check the complete rules before booking. You can fine the details on the WorldMark web site, The Monday Madness link is on the left side, just below the main menu.

Have you visited the WorldMark Resort Gallery on the WorldMark web site recently? If not you should check it out. Unit type and description information has been added and contains the answers to some of the common questions owners ask about the resorts.

For example, at Estes Park, a resort I am very familiar with, the description for a 1 bedroom unit includes the following information: “Queen in master, queen sleeper sofa in living area. No washer and dryer, common laundry area is available. Kitchen has 2-burner stove, mini-fridge and microwave, no oven.”. For a two bedroom twin unit the description reads: “King in master, twins in second bedroom, queen sleeper sofa in living area. Full kitchen, fireplace, and washer/dryer. Ground floor units.” There are 12 different unit types at Estes Park and a separate description is provided for each type.

This detailed information is something WorldMark owners have been requesting for many years. Kudos to WorldMark for adding it to the resort gallery pages. Note that it is still a Work In Progress. Not all of the resort pages have the expanded information, but I would hope we will see the project completed in the near future.

The Holiday Madness booking special, which has been running since last November, ends this weekend. Sunday is the last day you can book a unit using the special. For review, the Holiday Special lets you book reservations for cash, at a rate of 6 cents per credit. If you have already used your WorldMark credits this is a reasonable way to book an extra trip or extend an existing one. And since housekeeping is included it is also a good way to set up road trips to multiple resorts.

Most WorldMark resorts are available for this rate, with the main exceptions being the "exotic" resorts in Hawaii, Mexico, and Fiji. Complete details, rules, and restrictions can be found on the WorldMark web site.

On a personal note, I will be offline for a while. I'll see you all in a couple of weeks or so.

What will 2012 bring for WorldMark and WorldMark owners? Although nothing is a sure thing, there are some happenings that are pretty sure bets. For example:

Per the lawsuit settlement that was approved last year - - -

• 400 to 481 "underutilized" units will be removed from 13 WorldMark resorts. One effect of the removal will be lower expenses for the club but at the same time there will be less income since the developer dues being paid on those units will stop.
• 21 units at Anaheim will swapped for 21 units at Dolphins Cove. Owner reviews rate Anaheim higher than Dolphins Cove but the higher credit values at Anaheim cause some owners heartburn. The swap provides more lower credit value options for Disneyland and other attractions.

From announcements at the Annual Owners meeting last October - - -

• Project Voyager, a new reservations and information web site will launch this year.
• Wireless internet service will be installed at more WorldMark resorts replacing the ResortNet power line modems that have been scorned by many owners.

There are some potential events that range from a natural follow on of existing conditions through some that are pure speculation or rumor. In no particular order of importance or likelihood of happening:

• Owner updates at the resorts will continue to be a sore point for many owners.
• Even with the removal of over 400 units, there will be no new development in 2012.
• An old one that I first mentioned in 2010 - Wyndham will begin the process of divesting itself of WorldMark. The reduction in the developer dues that goes along with the removal of units makes this more likely to happen since it reduces the liability that a would be purchaser would need to assume.
• Ghost sightings will be reported at more WorldMark resorts.
• Despite the grumblings of some owners, the overall WorldMark owner satisfaction ratings will remain high.

That's my list for now. Thanks for visiting my site and stay tuned to WorldMark Words for the latest news and views of WorldMark.

Happy New Year everyone!

For some time WorldMark Words has been co-hosted on the fredincolorado site and here on the WorldMark Timeshare Information host. The start of the new year seemed like an appropriate time to make the switch to this location permanent.

As of today, WorldMark Words will be found only here on the WorldMark Timeshare Information host. All previous content is contained here, nothing was deleted in the relocation. Links to the old location will be automatically transferred with a gentle reminder to adjust your bookmarks to this location. RSS feeds will also be automatically redirected but you should change your subscription to the new location.