Guaranteed scam

Scam

I got this also. Gotta be a scam. I'm cool with the "sit through a timeshare thing" - do them all the time, but this feels "different".

I got a hilton garden inn mailer for 2024 adventure and vacation showcase. The mailer says that this not a timeshare or real estate solicitation. I will receive a comp 5 day 4 night hotel resort stay with r/t airfare included.

I got an invitation in the mail to attend a Travel and Adventure showcase in Waikiki near where I live. I called and scheduled the reservation. They paid for valet parking and I signed in and was led to a back conference room where there were at least 20 other participants there. I was offered a voucher whether I signed up or not and a $100 dining voucher. The spiel was about 90 min long where the presenter spoke about his many travels in the world and even stated how one of his children had passed away and that his family travels in her honor. Basically you can purchase different tiers VIP down to standard. VIP being $13,000 down, $199 every year for lifetime. You can also gift their services to 5 different families. He said travel costs will rise in the future but this company will cut out the middle man like Orbitz, Travelocity, and so on and because of this they can offer hotels, cruises, rail tickets so on and so forth for 50% off the rate given on these websites. You are paying for a concierge/travel agency to book your travel through this company instead of you doing it yourself and in exchange you are saving 50% off your travel expenses. I have the time to research and book my own travel and it was not suited to my lifestyle so I declined. They seem to target older people 40 Plus who travel. I witnessed a sweet elderly couple agree to it and fee so bad now that I've done my research after the fact. They gave them $13,000!! I walked out with a travel voucher with 6 different options to choose from ranging from 3.4.5 day Carnival cruises to 2 RT Airline tickets, to a 7 night condo stay anywhere in the world so on and so forth and well as a $100 dining advantage credit discount card. I did research on that too and apparently 75% of the businesses do not honor it and say they never gave the company permission to use them. It's most BOGO offered or free bread sticks when you order from Pizza Hut stuff anyway. I also read that they sell your information. When I went to redeem the offer for the 7 night stay I had to agree to:

8 Day/7 Night Multi-Destination Vacation – Valid for at least two adults, 7 nights of resort accommodations in a studio, one bedroom or two bedroom unit (based on availability) at one of over 1,000 resort properties around the world including: USA, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Europe/Atlantic Islands, Australia, Central and South America. $100.00 refundable deposit paid on activation and booking and cleaning fees of $56.86 per night ($398.02 for 7 nights) paid on confirmation. The booking agency also charges a 9% service fee at time of booking. Note that many resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean have mandatory all-inclusive plans payable at the resort on check-in and these fees are not included in the offer. In the rare event other fees apply, such as resort fees and taxes, they will be disclosed to you prior to finalizing a booking. No blackout dates, but the offer is based on availability at time of request and travel must be completed within 18 months of issue date. Transportation is not included in this offer.

So it appears there are multiple fees including DAILY cleaning fees of $56.86 Plus you have to pay a refundable $100 fee and non refundable 9% service fee. Such a headache! SUCH A SCAM!

THANK YOU for this very detailed and very helpful report. I got one of those letter too and was leery; glad you confirmed that my instincts were dead on.

excellent info, thank you for the research and the time spent to relay your comments.

Thank you, this was very helpful

I also received one of those letters. The very bottom and small print says it is not a timeshare or a real estate offer. I’m not really sure exactly what it is. I called and lost connection. They are supposed to call me back. I shall let you all know.