Why are you merging Privileges and Lifestyle by Wyndham?
- The key reason is simplicity.
- Running one Developer benefit program instead of two separate programs means that members will be able to keep track of their benefits and entitlements through the one website and mobile app and better discover and utilise the full potential from the program.
- Lifestyle’s website and existing app will provide members with greater awareness about their benefits and opportunities to use them.
- Administration savings from managing one program instead of two translates to a greater budget to put toward benefits.
What is the rationale for changing the Developer benefits program?
- Over the past few months, we have been assessing how both Privileges and Lifestyle by Wyndham, the two Developer benefits programs, can provide better customer value, greater flexibility and additional benefits.
- Some exchange benefits (such as Wyndham Rewards) needed to be altered to ensure the program could operate at a financial balance in the long-term.
Is there anything different to how the tiers work now?
- The five tiers of Privileges have been renamed and merged with Lifestyle by Wyndham tiers but there is no difference to the number of qualified vacation credits required for each tier:
No. “qualified” vacation credits | Original Privileges Tier Name | New Lifestyle Tier Name |
6,000 to 19,999 | Privileges | Lifestyle Bronze |
20,000 to 34,999 | Privileges Elite | Lifestyle Silver |
35,000 to 62,999 | Privileges Diamond | Lifestyle Gold |
63,000 to 99,999 | Privileges Platinum | Lifestyle Platinum |
100,000 and above | 100 Club | 100 Club |
- Current Privileges members do not need to do anything – their membership will automatically be renamed to the new corresponding Lifestyle tier where they will continue to access their benefits without any changes to the method of payment of membership fees.
- There is a flat membership fee payable for each Lifestyle tier – which means that instead of members paying for each qualified vacation credit, they will now be paying for the tier.
Name change
Why does the name need changing?
- We are merging the two Developer benefits programs together for the sake of simplicity – which means that one name will have to be chosen above the other.
Why choose Lifestyle By Wyndham instead of Privileges?
- The refreshed program utilises the current Lifestyle by Wyndham platforms (website and app), meaning that Privileges merged with Lifestyle and we believe that Lifestyle better reflects the benefits on offer and purpose for those benefits.
Was this an elimination of Privileges?
- Not at all. It was simply a merger and a refreshed program.
- The five tiers of Privileges merged with Lifestyle, where they continue under a different name:
No. “qualified” vacation credits | Original Privileges Tier Name | New Lifestyle Tier Name |
6,000 to 19,999 | Privileges | Lifestyle Bronze |
20,000 to 34,999 | Privileges Elite | Lifestyle Silver |
35,000 to 62,999 | Privileges Diamond | Lifestyle Gold |
63,000 to 99,999 | Privileges Platinum | Lifestyle Platinum |
100,000 and above | 100 Club | 100 Club |
Who paid for the name change?
- This was a change to the Developer benefits program, so the entire cost of changing the name or the program itself was paid by the Developer. There was no cost incurred by Club Wyndham South Pacific or Club Wyndham South Pacific owners and you will see that many Lifestyle members will save on their membership fees under the new membership pricing.
Flat fees
Why make this change?
This change will:
- Simplify the membership fee structure
- Allow for lower membership fees for many members
- Create clarity around membership fees when increasing the number of Lifestyle Qualified Credits or moving between Lifestyle membership tiers
- Enable the addition of more Lifestyle Qualified Credits within the same tier without Lifestyle members incurring higher membership fees
What will I be paying?
- Instead of paying fees based on the number of Lifestyle Qualified Credits held, members will pay the same flat fee across each Lifestyle tier.
- The fees for each tier (regardless of how many Lifestyle Qualified Credits are held within the tier) are as follows:
Lifestyle tier | Fee (per year)* |
Bronze | AU$80 |
Silver | AU$150 |
Gold | AU$270 |
Platinum | AU$410 |
100 Club | AU$740 |
- The majority of Lifestyle members will save money under this structure, compared to their full fees under the Privileges structure.
When does the new system kick in?
- The new fee structure will be charged from the first day of the month following the launch of the revamped program.
- For example, if the launch takes place in April (as intended), the new fee will be payable from May 1.
What about in the meantime?
- The current fee structure will continue – including the 31.5 per cent discount on membership fees announced in December 2020 due to the reduced benefits available.
What if I have paid annually or paid in advance?
- If you have made any payments in advance, you will receive a credit toward your next payment when due.
New benefits
What new benefits does this program include?
These are the new benefits:
- RCI Hotel Exchange
- Selection Benefit
- Digital Newspapers, Magazines & Books at Resort
- Wyndham Rewards® Redemptions – (including Levies, Housekeeping, Travel & Resort Restaurant Vouchers)
- Elevated Wyndham Rewards® Status
- Premium Wi-Fi
- Travel Exchange
What is RCI Hotel Exchange?
- This benefit allows Lifestyle Bronze members and above to exchange their Club Wyndham South Pacific vacation credits with RCI towards a discount on stays at approximately 600,000 hotels.
- The savings will vary however can translate to up to 60 per cent off your stay at some properties, and the benefit enables you to make reservations as close as 24 hours out from check-in.
- More detail will be available in the new Lifestyle program guide and website/mobile app by searching for the benefit under the search function.
What is the Selection Benefit?
- The Selection Benefit enables Lifestyle Silver members and above to choose a special benefit every calendar year from a curated list, based on their Lifestyle tier level and residential location and subject to availability.
- The list of benefits may change annually and members will be able to pick a different benefit each year. The selection must be exercised between 01 November 2023 to 29 February 2024 for the 2024 benefit.
- The 2024 Selection Benefit list has been circulated from lifestyle@wyn.com and Lifestyle Silver members and above now have until 29 February 2024 to select their benefit.
What is Digital Newspapers, Magazines & Books at Resort?
- Lifestyle Bronze members and above will receive free access to the PressReader app while on holiday at participating Club Wyndham South Pacific resorts, giving them access to more than 7,000 of the world’s most popular digital newspapers and magazines.
- More detail can be found in new Lifestyle program guide and website/mobile app by searching for the benefit under the search function.
What are additional Wyndham Rewards® Redemptions – Levies, Housekeeping, Travel & Resort Restaurant Vouchers?
- Previously, Wyndham Rewards® Redemptions allowed eligible Privileges members to use Wyndham Rewards points to exchange their Privileges Qualified Credits to pay part of their Club Wyndham South Pacific annual levies.
- Lifestyle tiered members are now able to convert them into credits to use towards housekeeping fees, Travel Club reservations and at food and beverage outlets at participating Club Wyndham South Pacific resorts.
What is Elevated Wyndham® Rewards Status?
- Lifestyle Bronze members and above will receive elevated status in Wyndham Rewards®, one of the world’s most generous rewards programs.
- Wyndham Rewards member levels are determined by the number of nights accommodation booked and completed in participating properties during a year, but Lifestyle Bronze members and above will receive status automatically, depending on their Lifestyle tier.
- This will provide members with access to new perks at the thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide, which are accessible through the program.
- More details on the perks available with Wyndham Rewards are available on the Wyndham Rewards website.
- This benefit will be available from late May, and we will provide further detail at that time.
What is Premium Wi-Fi?
- Premium Wi-Fi is capable of supporting video and movie streaming, gaming and Chromecasts while on holiday at participating Club Wyndham South Pacific managed resorts (excluding Club Wyndham Denarau Island).
- Please note that speed and consistency of the service may also depend on local demand at the property and in the surrounding area.
What benefits have been changed?
The following benefits have been changed:
- Platinum Pamper Pack
Why has the Platinum Pamper Pack been changed?
- The Platinum Pamper Pack has been refreshed for 100 Club members only and is named Welcome Wine, Robes and Slippers.
- Over the years, this benefit had mixed reviews.
- In response, we have created the Selection Benefit that will allow Lifestyle Silver members and above to choose a benefit matching their personal tastes to use or keep. Lifestyle Platinum and 100 Club members will receive access to an elevated value of benefit.
Could you tell me more about Travel Exchange?
- The Travel Exchange benefit is undergoing some further additional adjustments. The team is excited about the idea of launching it in the coming weeks and we will keep you updated.
- We apologise for any inconvenience, particularly to those members who wanted to utilise the benefit immediately.
What benefits have been removed?
The following benefits have been removed:
- Airport Lounge Membership
- Urban Escapes
- Associate Resort extended booking window and Reserve Guarantee
- Personal Choice
Why was Airport Lounge Membership removed?
- In a post-COVID-19 world, we believe that the Airport Lounge Membership no longer represents the value it had done previously and that it is potentially more financially beneficial to the Lifestyle member to offer a lower annual fee and allow you to source the same product or a product you would like in its place.
Why was Urban Escapes removed?
- Similar to Wyndham Rewards Membership, this benefit was an exchange where the Developer purchased products or services at its own cost and provided them to Lifestyle tier members, receiving Lifestyle Qualified Credits in return.
- The Developer recovered its costs from the rental or use of the Lifestyle Qualified Credits it received from the exchange.
- Its objective is to achieve a financial balance and not operate the program at a loss. Previously, the Developer was unable to achieve this. The revised benefits and conditions of use have been developed to ensure longevity of this Developer benefit program and that included the removal of Urban Escapes.
- Urban Escapes allowed 100 Club members to book in Australian and New Zealand capital cities where there were no Club Wyndham South Pacific resorts.
Why have Associate Resort Extended Booking Window and Reserve Guarantee been removed?
- Associate Resort Extended Booking Window and Reserve Guarantee provided advanced notice about new Associate Resorts.
- As the Associate Resorts program is currently suspended, both Associated Resort Extended Booking Window and Reserve Guarantee have been removed from the program.
How is it that Developer Benefits can change?
- The Privileges (and new Lifestyle) programs are optional membership programs that are subject to change. They are not part of Club Wyndham South Pacific ownership, the benefits of which are fixed for the life of the Club. This is similar to any other membership program you may join, the terms of which are subject to change by the operator and you are able to cancel your membership at any time.
- An overview of Developer benefits and the Privileges program was contained in the Product Disclosure Statement provided to you at the time you attended a presentation to purchase vacation credits in Club Wyndham South Pacific together with the explanation that it was a separate program to Club ownership. Full details of the Privileges Program are set out in the Privileges Program Guide. The Privileges Program Rules also clearly state: “the benefits bestowed under the Privileges Program are provided at the complete discretion of the developer, which may revoke, modify or add benefits at any time at its discretion without prior notice.”
How do I access Travel Exchange?
Travel Exchange is available through Lifestyle by Wyndham – lifestylebywyndham.com. Please follow the steps below.
- Click “I forgot my password” from the Sign In page and enter your email address within the “Username” field to reset your password.
SIGN UP (if you have never visited)
| LOG IN
Search “Travel Exchange” within the top search bar |
What Travel Exchange offers
Can I use Lifestyle Qualified Credits on any travel product offered through Travel Exchange?
- You can use your Lifestyle Qualified Credits on a selection of Fly-Cruise, Holiday Packages and Tour Packages offered through the Travel Exchange program by Our Vacation Centre and made available through Lifestyle by Wyndham.
- There are regular updates made to the selection which will be advertised on the Travel Exchange website.
What is offered through Travel Exchange?
- The Lifestyle website will exhibit the current Fly-Cruise, Holiday Packages and/or Tour Packages available through the Travel Exchange benefit which are offered by Our Vacation Centre.
- The available Travel Exchange packages will be updated regularly and all current packages will be advertised on the Travel Exchange website, which is accessed through the Lifestyle by Wyndham website.
- You can also call Our Vacation Centre or send an enquiry through the Travel Exchange website if you would like to make your package more bespoke.
How many credits can I use per year?
- Lifestyle Gold, Platinum and 100 Club members can exchange available Lifestyle Qualified Credits (utilising current Housekeeping Tokens) for the current year and any Lifestyle Qualified Credits accrued from the preceding year. This excludes Lifestyle Qualified Credits (and Housekeeping Tokens) borrowed from the subsequent year.
- Tiers can exchange a maximum number of credits each Anniversary Year:
- Lifestyle Gold: up to 60,000 Lifestyle Qualified Credits
- Lifestyle Platinum: up to 90,000 Lifestyle Qualified Credits
- 100 Club: up to 150,000 Lifestyle Qualified Credits
- There is no limit to the number of Travel Exchange transactions each Anniversary Year provided you do not exceed the maximum number of credits permitted.
How often can I use this benefit?
- There is no limit to the number of Travel Exchange transactions each Anniversary Year provided you do not exceed the maximum number of credits permitted.
- Lifestyle Gold, Platinum and 100 Club may exchange a maximum number of credits each anniversary year:
- Lifestyle Gold: up to 60,000 Lifestyle Qualified Credits
- Lifestyle Platinum: up to 90,000 Lifestyle Qualified Credits
- 100 Club: up to 150,000 Lifestyle Qualified Credits
What if I am trialling a tier?
- Members trialling a higher tier will be subject to the terms and conditions of the tier they are trialling, and will see the offers made to the tier they are trialling.
What is the exchange fee?
- There is no exchange fee.
- However, Members will be required to provide a current housekeeping token for each full block of 10,000 credits exchanged. Tokens cannot be borrowed from next year’s allocation and members who do not have enough tokens at the time of the transaction will pay a flat housekeeping fee of AU$118 for each token required. This is the average housekeeping cost in 2022 across all room types and this fee may be adjusted annually to factor in any housekeeping increases.
What validity do the Lifestyle Qualified Credits need to have?
- Lifestyle Qualified Credits used for this benefit must be valid for a period no less than 6 months (180 days) from the date of booking. They cannot be Lifestyle Qualified Credits transferred from other Lifestyle members or borrowed from any subsequent year.
What is the exchange value per credit?
- The value provided per Lifestyle Qualified Credit (often referred to as an exchange rate) will fluctuate depending on the package offered and on the member’s tier.
- It is not a fixed exchange rate, so value between packages may vary – however, the member will have the ability to purchase packages entirely with Lifestyle Qualified Credits.
What are the cancellation guidelines?
- Cancellation of any Travel Exchange package will be subject to the Our Vacation Centre or other third party provider’s cancellation terms and conditions which will be contained in each Travel Exchange package and/or on the individual provider’s website. The location of these terms will be provided at the time of booking.
- On cancellation by the member, no refunds of any credits will be provided. However, where a cancellation is made within the Our Vacation Centre cancellation policy terms and conditions, the Lifestyle Qualified Credits will be banked with Our Vacation Centre for up to 2 years from the date of the original booking and can be used towards another Travel Exchange package. Otherwise, cancellations will result in the loss of up to 100% of the Lifestyle Qualified Credits and Housekeeping Tokens/fees paid.
- Where payment for a package has been made using a mix of cash and Lifestyle Qualified Credits, the cash portion will be applied first to cover any cancellation fees, with any remaining cancellation fees covered by Lifestyle Qualified Credits. Any cash portion not required to cover any cancellation fees will be refunded back to the Lifestyle member.
Am I able to top up my booking with cash?
- You may, in line with Our Vacation Centre terms and conditions. The amount of cash that can be used towards a Travel Exchange package will be limited and will vary with each Travel Exchange package. These amounts will be confirmed by Our Vacation Centre at the time of booking.
- The exchange rate will be equivalent to AU6 cents in place of each credit required, although this is subject to change without notice from Our Vacation Centre.
Can I use my Lifestyle Qualified Credits on additional travel products offered through OVC?
- Your Lifestyle Qualified Credits are only available to use on the products advertised as Travel Exchange through the Lifestyle by Wyndham website.
How do I contact Our Vacation Centre?
TRAVEL BOOKING ENQUIRIES Australia: 1300 362 928 New Zealand: 0800 643005 Hours of operation are Mon to Fri: 8am – 6pm AEST / Sat: 8.30am – 2.00pm AEST / Sun: Closed |
You originally announced this would be a cash and credits benefit. Why is it different?
- Yes, the original announcement was that Travel Exchange would require cash and credits.
Since making that announcement we have given further consideration as to how we can assist Lifestyle Gold and higher tier members to have additional travel options using their Lifestyle Qualified Credits. Our team therefore decided to rethink the idea of mandating cash as part of the transaction.