MilesBuzz! - Time share presentations for miles/free travel?

I know this topic perhaps doesn't get much discussion here on flyertalk, but is attending time share presentations for the accrual of points/miles, or the objective of obtaining cheap travel, still commonplace?

If so, where can you find out about these deals, or are they typically still highly targeted?

A number of timeshare companies that will be happy to give you a few days in exchange for a sit down. Some can be heavy handed but in the end, you can always look at a salesman and say no!

Go to www.tug2.net and look around. Lots of info there.

I recently did a timeshare tour with Westin in Colorado for 8,000 spg points. Two hours long and points arrived within 2 weeks.

Wow, never heard of any of them paying with miles/points.
We have done dozens of them for $$$, all in Mexico. In places such as cancun, puerto vallarta, you can get between $200-500 for many of them depending on qualifications.

When I was at the Hilton Hawaiian about 5 years ago, I picked up a bonus of 50,000 Hilton Hhonors points for doing a timeshare presentation. Very low key. Not heavy handed. Just explained the benefits and I left.

I own 2 Starwood and 1 Marriott timeshares. I always sign up for the owners update presentations whenever I travel to one of these resorts.

At Starwood resorts, I usually get between 3k and 10k SPG points. Many times they will give you the option of Cash, Resort Credit, Theme Park tickets, etc.

Marriott usually gives a few more points that Starwood, but then again MR are worth about half of what SPG points are worth. We did a presentation at Marriott Ocean Club in Maui, in Jan 2012 and received 2 rounds of golf valued at $175 each retail. This option was more valuable that the 10K points they offered.

We attended the presentation at the Westin Riverfront in Avon, CO and received 10k SPG points for attending. We were in and out in no more than 45 minutes.

We were on a Priceline stay at the Princeville Westin in Kauai. We were offered, I believe, 10,000 SPG points for a presentation. We declined so can't add much else.

anyone other than Marriot or SPG do this?

good info...

Folowing up on the posting regarding the Westin Riverfront in Avon CO, they offered me either a cash/traveler check/pre-paid credit card (sorry do not remember which one at this property) or the SPG points.

anyone other than Marriot or SPG do this?

good info...

Wyndham, did one at Bonnet Creek (Orlando) but found it to be high pressure! Same with Diamond on Maui. But we didn't buy just didn't like the heavy pressure and push .

Wyndham, did one at Bonnet Creek (Orlando) but found it to be high pressure! Same with Diamond on Maui. But we didn't buy just didn't like the heavy pressure and push .

I did a Wyndham is San Francisco and it was also very heavy handed. At one point a salesman took a paper out of my hands I was taking notes on and crumpled it up and threw it in the garbage. The reasoning was that the deals that day were only good for that day... it was just really unpleasant all around and honestly not a good deal, I did go in open minded. So I would say avoid the Wyndham one....

Good point on Wyndham. I too have heard that numerous times from friends who have done a tour with them.

Does anyone know of a presentation opportunity in Austin TX?
Thanks :cool:

What's the best way to find these presentations' info?

What's the best way to find these presentations' info?

Check out TUGS (a timeshare forum)

http://tug2.net/

I did 90 minutes at an MVCI for a $400 credit towards my stay. Seeing as I was staying on a $139 F&F rate for the week I was quite happy!

Many couples were gathered together in a waiting area to have presentations from difefrent salespeople, and as they were greeted I could hear quite clearly that they were being offered different incentives from one another, some (lower) cash amounts, some MR points etc. My theory was that this was somehow dependent on length of stay and/or previous activity.

It wasn't a particularly high-pressure pitch, but it was executed fairly poorly (I've worked in sales) to the point where I was questioning why anyobody would ever buy from them.