Sam and Robin. I don't think you have the right set of facts. I hope you will take my thoughts below as helpful and educational. Depending when you signed your contract paragraph numbers may differ but I am pretty sure the specifics are correct. Please take a closer look at your contract. There are two paragraphs regarding what you pay: paragraph 4 covers the room and paragraph 5 covers the AI fee. These fees apply for every night you stay - You pay for both as part of that $148 amount. When I signed my contract in 2014, the room rate was $57 and the AI was $60.65 (low season). Both rates have been adjusted upwards and are now a total of $148. These amounts are enumerated on the cover page of you contract. Depending on when you signed your contract your initial numbers might be different. However, it should be clear that the 148 amount is both the room fee ( actually referred to as the hotel unit fee in the contract) and the AI (referred to as the all inclusive package Fee). The amount you paid for your contract does not pay for your room, Your contract gave you the right to stay at the hotel for a reduced rate (compared to non-members) as specified in the contract for the number of nights you purchased. It also gives you certain privileges (better booze, extra meal choices, premier seating, etc) and a certain number of referral weeks. It also gives you the right to trade weeks using RCI, SFX and World pass and if yours is the same as mine paid for two years memberships in those systems. It would be absolutely fair to say that your contract "bought" you this reduced rate along with what we thought was an inflation protected rate. So, dividing your contract cost by the number of nights you bought is certainly one way to spread out the cost of your contract. Thus, it would be fair for you to say that for this year, you paid 148 + 35 for your room and AI or 183 total in low season ( as you correctly calculated). Applying the same theory, that means your cost for 2018 will be 236 + 35 or 271. That works out to a 48% increase instead of the 60% increase the rest of us have been using....but either way it is outragous when we all thought increases were limited to the increase in the Mexican CPI. Just as an aside - going through this exercise made me realize that the increase in the AI and Room rate over the past two years was almost 25%. I highly doubt that the Mexican CPI increased that much. I guess the hotel used that "failing that" clause in the past but given the relatively small amount of the increase ($15 per night per year) none of us thought much of it.
Ah well, in future I'll just stay for a week instead of two weeks, I'll just have to drink twice as much to make up for it!
Members are all freaking out with an increase in price, once we all hear about the non-member pricing they all will be patting themselves on the back. It is definitely going to price out some people. I don't mind paying more if all my crazy, fun, sexy friends are there it in the other hand I'm not sure I would spend $400/night at TTR when I can do Hedo or RM for not much more cash. Nikki
Nikki I don't mind paying more either - and yes, we will still get a bargain when compared to non-member rates - but that isn't the point. A contract is a contract. And most of us signed that contract believing our increases were limited to the increase in the Mexican CPI. Although they may have a legal right to the increase (the "failing that" clause), I don't think they are acting in the spirit of the contract.
Good luck with the civil judicial system in Mexico. Steve has said many times that their system is run on bribes and corruption. We wish all members the best of luck and a bit of integrity from the resort owner.
I don't either but I'm not even a little bit surprised. Salespeople are salespeople. I've been in Sales for 15 years and I believe that a consumers money looks better in my pocket...HELL...I vacation on my customers money. Never trust ANYONE trying to sell you anything. Nikki
After receiving the email from Premier, we called customer service. The prices are correct in the member email. Example increases: We recently went in April 2016 (low season) for $148 per night per couple for 14 nights totaling $2072.00 total for room and all inclusive. The new rate for low season will be $236.00 per night per couple for 14 nights total equals $3304.00. They had projected the cost prior to renovation to be low season $171.00 per couple per night and high season $218.00 starting in 2018. The difference between 2016 and the new prices for the renovated TTR will be about a 37% increase. Without the renovations (mute point) the increase would have been about 27%. Either way there will be members and non members that no longer will be able to afford to go to TTR or reduce their days and trips per year. Expect a potential atmosphere change. Some members will not be able to afford the higher prices. TTR will likely still book but it will be with people that have income levels that can absorb the increase. The target age group of 30 to 45 will adjust but some repeat (older) couples with level income will be challenged.
The reality is that TTR is changing. Many people bought memberships hoping that it would help maintain cost. The approved renovation changed everything. The difference is moving from a three star resort price toward a projected five star resort. Management sees it as more stars equals more cost. Renovations are expensive even in Mexico. Sales people will never tell you the entire truth. It is always in the fine print. Now, the question for all members and non-members will be, is it affordable?
I think it they can keep the room rate at $300 (or less) for non-members we would still be able to afford it. And when it comes down to it, try and find anyplace you can go with all the food and alcohol you can drink, along with an updated room and all the other amenities (pools, entertainment, etc.). That being said, it will probably take a hit on our other budgeted items (tips, clothing for theme nights, etc.)
