Posted by Hilton Grand Vacations Company, LLC (HGVC) markets and operates the Club, which is a points-based vacation ownership and exchange system that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilton Worldwide, formerly known as Hilton Hotels Corp. HGVC also provides property management services to Club and Affiliate resorts. At the date of publish, there are 50 HGVC affiliated resorts worldwide!
Hilton Worldwide was purchased in July 2007 by the Blackstone Group LP (stock ticker symbol BX) in a deal valued at $26 Billion. Blackstone also owns a number of other well known companies including Universal Studios Parks, Legoland, Madame Tussauds, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing, Allied Waste, Pinnacle Foods, and even the Weather Channel!
Early History of the Brand:
In 1919 Conrad Hilton went to Texas to take advantage of the oil boom. When he arrived, he found the local hotels so overbooked that he could not secure a room! One hotel owner told him that he wanted to sell. Within a week, Conrad had put together an investment group and purchased the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas. Business continued to boom and the next year Conrad purchased two more Texas properties, the Melba Hotel in Fort Worth and a hotel in Dallas named after the famous Waldorf. Thirty years later, Conrad came full circle when he purchased the lease on the actual Waldorf-Astoria!
Conrad’s ambition and business savvy created an empire of wealth so vast that even the legendary spending of his second wife Zsa Zsa Gabor and great granddaughter Paris Hilton haven’t made a dent in the family fortune! Today, this behemoth brand owns, manages, and franchises thousands of hotels and the Hilton name continues to be one of the most recognizable in the world.
The Timeshare Resorts:
HGVC destinations offer both developed and affiliated resorts. Most people don’t realize, but only a few timeshare resorts have actually been built and developed by the Hilton brand. The majority of Hilton Grand Vacation Club properties are actually affiliate resorts. These resorts were developed by other companies, and then later entered into an affiliation agreement to participate in the Club. HGVC manages many of the affiliated resorts, but not all of them. Regardless of the original developer, you can be assured that all affiliated resorts conform to the high standards and renowned luxury of the Hilton brand, earning numerous award designations such as RCI’s coveted Gold Crown rating!
Affiliation and reciprocal usage agreements are always subject to future change, but at the time of writing this article the HGVC vacation destinations include:
Carlsbad, California: • Grand Pacific Marbrisa • Grand Pacific Palisades • Carlsbad SeaPointe Resort
Palm Desert, California: • Club Intrawest Palm Desert
Breckenridge, Colorado: • Valdoro Mountain Lodge
Orlando, Florida: • HGV Club at SeaWorld International Center • HGV Club on International Drive • Parc Soleil by Hilton Grand Vacations
Miami Beach, Florida: • HGV Club at South Beach
Stuart, Florida: • Plantation Beach Club at Indian River Plantation Resort
Captiva Island, Florida: • The Cottages at South Seas Island Resort • Harbourview Villas at South Seas Island Resort • Plantation Bay Villas at South Seas Island Resort • Plantation Beach Club at South Seas Island Resort • Plantation House at South Seas Island Resort • South Seas Club at South Seas Island Resort
Fort Myers, Florida: • SeaWatch on the Beach Resort
Marco Island, Florida: • The Charter Club of Marco Beach • Club Regency of Marco Island • Eagle’s Nest Beach Resort • Sunset Cove Resort • The Surf Club of Marco
Sanibel Island, Florida: • Casa Ybel Resort • Hurricane House Resort • Sanibel Cottages Resort • Shell Island Beach Club Resort • Tortuga Beach Club Resort
Sandestin, Florida: • Club Intrawest Sandestin
Island of Oahu, Hawaii: • Grand Waikikian • Hilton Hawaiian Village- Kalia Tower • Hilton Hawaiian Village- Lagoon Tower
Big Island of Hawaii, Hawaii: • HGV Club at Waikoloa Beach Resort • Vclubshop King’s Land by Hilton Grand Vacations • Bay Club at Waikoloa Beach Resort
Las Vegas, Nevada: • HGVC at the Flamingo • Hilton Grand Vacations Club Las Vegas • HGVC on the Las Vegas Strip
New York City, New York: • The Hilton Club New York • West 57th Street by Hilton Club
British Columbia, Canada: • Club Intrawest Whistler
Quebec, Canada: • Club Intrawest Tremblant
Cancun, Mexico: • Fiesta Americana Villas Cancun
Acapulco, Mexico: • Fiesta Americana Villas Acapulco
Los Cabos, Mexico: • Fiesta Americana Villas Los Cabos
Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico: • The Explorean Kohunlich
Zihuatanejo, Mexico: • Club Intrawest Zihuatanejo
Vilamoura, Portugal: • Hilton Vilamoura Vacation Club
Coylumbridge, Scotland: • Hilton Coylumbridge
Craigendarroch, Scotland: • Hilton Craigendarroch
Dunkeld, Scotland: • Hilton Dunkeld
Introduction to Ownership, System Rules, and Usage Strategies:
The First Rule of Timeshare is that ownership should never be considered a financial investment in real estate. Timeshare properties do not generally appreciate over time. Often, the only true gauge of a timeshare’s value is your usage and enjoyment of the property, and in the photos and memories of your incredible vacations!
You should never make an impulse purchase for any type or vacation ownership program! Also, take time to consider the secondary or resale market. Purchasing a timeshare interest on the secondary market from a current owner who no longer uses their ownership can save you thousands on your purchase price. Some benefits may not transfer via the resale market, so you’ll have to compare the positive and negative aspects carefully before buying. Finally, purchasing from an experienced and respected brokerage is the safest way to ensure you have all the information you need to ensure the timeshare you purchase provides you with years of great vacations!