Westin St John [Master Thread] - Part 2 (June 2014 and forward)

[SMHarman]

For those who don't read the Caribbean general forum, the Finance Committee reduced the daily fee/tax to $25 per night (from $30). Now it's off to the Rules Committee.

My expectation is that it will pass. Get ready to add another $175 for your week of vacation.

Cancel / Q Roo hit you up for $20 a day.

 

[SMHarman]

http://viconsortium.com/business/ma...art-of-five-year-sin-tax-plan-sent-to-senate/

Interesting post.

Infers that you need the occupancy tax to fund the costs of collecting the 52x a unit tax bills.

So why not pass a law that allows you to bill the HOA for timeshare property tax bills.

The HOA has tools and enforcement for getting that from the unit owners. You send out say 100 bills (WAG of the total timeshare hoa in USVI) instead of the many thousands that are creating significant strain on the assessors office and join cashflow improves immeasurably.

Didn't the timeshare management companies suggest that.

 

[SandyPGravel]

Has anyone used the car barge recently? I just noticed this message on the WSJ website:

Car Barge Service Between St. Thomas and St. John – through March 2017

• Car rentals are available on both St. John and St. Thomas. However, if you rent a car on St. Thomas, please note that there is currently only one car barge service operating between the two islands. Please anticipate waiting at least three hours to load in either direction.

I haven't seen anyone mention issues with the car barge lately. Wondering if this is accurate?

 

[Helios]

Has anyone used the car barge recently? I just noticed this message on the WSJ website:

Car Barge Service Between St. Thomas and St. John – through March 2017

• Car rentals are available on both St. John and St. Thomas. However, if you rent a car on St. Thomas, please note that there is currently only one car barge service operating between the two islands. Please anticipate waiting at least three hours to load in either direction.

I haven't seen anyone mention issues with the car barge lately. Wondering if this is accurate?

I took it in late November and there was only one company running. I did not have to wait. I traveled on Sunday both ways...

 

[DavidnRobin]

There is a STT-STJ car barge FaceBook page...
iirc, currently 2 car barges are running

On Facebook - search St John Car Barge Schedule

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1300284193364752/

 

[lizap]

Excited to be going back to WSJ in Oct!

 

[Helios]

I'll be missing St John this year, too many kid activities (conflicts) around then.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Good news for STT-STJ car barge (Mister B coming back... eventually)

http://newsofstjohn.com/2017/02/18/boyson-inc-gets-mister-b-back/

 

[DavidnRobin]

WSJ-VGV Owners - Don't forget to vote!
I gave Phil my proxy vote. YMMV

*****
VIRGIN GRAND VILLAS - ST. JOHN CONDOMINIUM OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Online Voting

Dear Owner,

We are pleased to invite you to the Annual Meeting of the Members of Virgin Grand Villas - St. John Condominium Owners Association (the "Association") that will be held on February 27, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. AT at The Westin St. John Resort and Villas, 300A Chocolate Hole, St. John, United States Virgin Islands. Please take a brief moment to respond to this important matter regarding your Association's upcoming Annual Meeting.

We welcome your attendance in person, but for those who are unable to attend we urge you to please submit your proxy electronically. Through this website you will be able to electronically sign and vote your proxy.

To proceed, please enter your Member ID and Password which were included on the meeting notice previously mailed to you. Then click 'Login' to view your proxy and submit your vote for the 2017 Annual Meeting – must be submitted no later than 6:00 p.m. ET on February 26, 2017.

 

[GrayFal]

I voted. Gave Phil my proxies.
Someone wanted to know this .,,,,,

Virgin Grand Patio Furniture

Kingsley-Bates
Genuine Teak Furniture
Manassas Virginia

Having intermittent rain but still fabulous sitting on the balcony of Building 33

 

[okwiater]

Looks like the Sin Tax / Timeshare Tax passed the Rules Committee and is now headed to the full Senate for a final vote. It is expected to pass. Get ready to pay $175/week for your timeshare stays on St. John. Also, anyone who has rented their unit for a date after March 1 may want to give their renters a heads-up.

 

[alexadeparis]

I voted. Gave Phil my proxies.
Someone wanted to know this .,,,,,

Virgin Grand Patio Furniture

Kingsley-Bates
Genuine Teak Furniture
Manassas Virginia

Having intermittent rain but still fabulous sitting on the balcony of Building 33

I think it is with no S = Kingsley Bate

 

[SandyPGravel]

March 2017

Dear Fellow Virgin Grand Villas Owner:

As your elected members of the Board of Directors, we have recently returned from the Annual Meeting and the February Board of Directors meeting of our condominium association.

NEW GENERAL MANAGER

As you may know, Mike Ryan recently retired; his last day as General Manager of the resort was January 17. We are very pleased that the new General Manager is Sam Hugli, who has spent his career in the hospitality industry and has served as Mike’s Director of Operations for a year and a half before Mike left. We have gotten to know Sam well, and we are certain that he will maintain the high standards that we have gotten used to under Mike’s leadership. If you see Sam during your next visit to the resort (perhaps at the owner’s cocktail reception), please introduce yourself and wish him well.

NEW RESTAURANT ABOVE THE LOBBY

Knox and Ollie’s has opened in the space above the lobby where Cruz Bay Prime used to be. The owner-managers have come to St. John from Vieques, Puerto Rico, where they ran a successful restaurant. We have eaten at the new restaurant and can report that the food and service is excellent, on a par with Cruz Bay Prime. In fact, it may well be the best restaurant on the island right now, certainly worth your giving it a try when you visit the resort.

NEW VIRGIN ISLANDS TIMESHARE “ENVIRONMENTAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACT FEE” (OCCUPANCY FEE)

One of the most important pieces of news that we have to share with you is that, unfortunately, the legislature of the Virgin Islands has just adopted a new fee of $25 per day on the occupancy of timeshare units, effective on May 1, 2017. The owners association is legally responsible for collecting this new fee. While the details have not been worked out, we expect that this fee will probably be collected when you check out of your unit, rather than being added to your annual maintenance fee. However, it is important to pay the fee, as the Virgin Islands government will have the ability to place a lien on your timeshare unit if the fee is not paid. (Bad as this news is, it could have been worse: the original proposal from the governor’s office was to levy a fee of $35 per day, but advocacy by the trade association of timeshare developers was instrumental in lowering the rate.)

The Board authorized the expenditure of a relatively small amount of money, provided that each of the other condominium associations at the resort matched this expenditure, to obtain an opinion from an experienced Virgin Islands attorney as to whether there were grounds for a legal challenge to this new fee. Two of the other Boards have agreed to match our contribution. The third Board has yet to meet, but will likely agree to match the contribution as well.

NEW 3RD PARTY GUEST FEE

On January 26, 2017, Vistana Management, Inc. announced a new administration fee will be applied when adding third-party guests to Vistana Signature Network (VSN) reservations.

For weekly owners who are Vistana Signature Network members, a charge of up to $59 will apply to VSN reservations when changing a reservation to a 3rd party. Please note that this charge applies only to VSN reservations made eight months or less in advance of the arrival date. The fee does NOT apply to:

1. reservations made during your Home Resort Reservation Period 12 to 8 months prior to your arrival, to stay in your own unit;
2. reservations made during your Home Resort Reservation Period 12 to 8 months prior to the first day of the week that you own, to stay at your own resort in a unit that is of the same type as your unit, but is for a different week in the same season;
3. you when you are coming to use your own unit and want to add, to your previously confirmed reservation, the names of guests staying with you (so that your guests will be allowed to check in even if they arrive before you do – see below for the procedure);
4. a fractional rather than a weekly owner; or
5. a four-star or five-star elite owner if that owner has not used the one complimentary guest fee waiver for each qualified vacation ownership interest that the owner owns.

PROCEDURE FOR ADDING A GUEST TO YOUR RESERVATION

You and your guests may be arriving on different flights, and you might arrive a few hours or even days after they do. Or you may have reserved your unit originally but decided later to provide use of the unit to a family member or guest. Only individuals who are listed on your reservation are allowed to check in at the airport or the lobby. Guests will not be allowed to check in without you unless you call Owner Services, in advance, to place their name on your reservation.

In an effort to provide pre-arrival assistance, the resort will offer Diamond Lane service beginning in spring 2017. A Diamond Lane form will be available online (accessible from a link on your reservation confirmation, Vistana Owner Dashboard, or 30-day pre-arrival reservation confirmation) so that an owner may convey preferences and guest names to the resort. However, this form does not eliminate the requirement to contact Owner Services to add a 3rd party guest to a reservation if the guest happens to arrive before you or instead of you.

So if your 3rd party guest might arrive before you do, or if you assign your unit to someone else and are not planning to occupy it yourself, please ensure that the reservation has been changed through Owner Services. If you arrive before or together with your guests, however, you can provide their names at the airport office or the lobby desk. Having your guest names registered at the Front Desk will allow the resort to locate them in an emergency or allow them to replace any lost keys.

TWO NEW RESORTS OPENING IN APRIL

The Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa in Mexico is scheduled to open on April 1st, and the new resort in Maui, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas is set to open April 15th.

RECENT RESORT IMPROVEMENTS

Our resort has implemented a number of improvements, described below.

There are now water fountains at the hillside pools. (Please use them only for drinking and not for rinsing sandals!)

Soft goods such as sofas, chairs and carpeting have been replaced in all of the units within the last two years. The pool villas now have new floor tiles in the living rooms. Some new artwork, featuring marine life, will be arriving this year.

The resort is now adding to the inventory of the freecycle shed by purchasing a few beach chairs each year for the use of owners. This will supplement the inventory that is purchased by owners and left to recycle for other Virgin Grand users. Please return all beach chairs and other freecycle equipment to the shed when you check out of your villa; do not leave the chairs on the beach, in your villas or any other place – the use of these items belongs to all of us. The hinges on the shed have been repaired so that the door closes securely when you leave the shed, and Security checks every night to be sure that the shed is locked.

Leaks in the pools at the pool villas have been repaired, so the water level should now be fairly constant. The equipment providing air to the Jacuzzis in buildings 43 and 44 has been repaired, so those Jacuzzis should be fully operational.

There is new water sports equipment for use without a fee on the beach, located to the left of the boat dock. Three new exercise machines are in the fitness center. The lobby has a new printer, and the resort has a spare for use when, as in the recent past, the printer suffers a breakdown. The resort also has a good reserve supply of grill starters. Those starters have a short life span in the tropics, so if you notice that a grill starter has failed, please call Engineering, which will plug in a new grill starter. The staff cleans the hillside grills every night.

There are screens at the gazebo, which is available for private massages. The resort has invited local vendors to run a Farmers Market on Mondays, so you will be able to purchase local produce and fresh fish. A new online grocery order form for the St. John Market & Deli has been created, so that your villa can easily be stocked for your arrival.

Coming soon: the trees will be trimmed to improve the views from the hillside units, although to some extent what the resort can do is limited because it does not own all of the trees between the units and the bay. In addition, this year the hillside balcony tables and chairs will be replaced, probably by the end of June, so that four people will be able to enjoy breakfast or drinks on the balconies. By then, all of the chaises at the pool villas should have cushions like those at the big pool.

Also, at the request of many owners, television screens are being installed in one corner of Snorkels. They will not be turned on all of the time, and rarely during the lunch period. Instead, they will be turned on only for events of general interest such as Super Bowl and the World Series.

The hillside pools are due for resurfacing. We expect that work to be done late this year.

WI-FI

There have been several wi-fi outages lately, as a result of power problems and partial brownouts on St. Thomas. The problem results from aging generators at the power company and is beyond the control of the resort. But the good news is that, once again, when you sign into the internet for the first time on any particular device, you can choose to have the internet system recognize that device for your entire stay. The Board has budgeted funds to run fiber-optic cable to all Virgin Grand units, which will double the available bandwidth.

CANOPIES FOR THE BALCONY END-UNITS

Rain often drenches the patios of these units. The management company is looking into the feasibility of installing soft canopies for these units that can withstand the island’s winds. The issue will be considered next fall in connection with the next budget.

FORCLOSURES

In our continuing effort to keep maintenance fees down by providing ownership of unit weeks only to those who contribute to our fixed costs, the Board authorized the commencement of foreclosure action against the owners of 88 more unit-weeks as to which maintenance fees are seriously delinquent.

WEEK 53

In our March 2012 periodic report to owners we addressed the "Week 53" issue that occurs every few years because a year extends longer than 52 weeks. We wrote to you at the time: "At present, owners who own both week 52 and week 1 are offered the option of exchanging their week 52 for week 53 when it occurs, and in any event [management plans] to continue to offer the exchange so that their weeks are not interrupted by a hiatus in which they have no housing." Upon discussion with Vistana Management, they confirmed that this option will be available for owners who own both week 52 and week 1.

MANAGEMENT – BOARD CONSULTATION

The owner-elected representatives noted that the Board had not been consulted in advance regarding a few reductions in amenities and services, particularly a beta-test of eliminating the linen change during the mid-week tidy up (the linen change has been restored); a cessation in late 2016 of distribution of the Times Digest (this distribution has now been restored), and the imposition of the 3rd party guest fee for certain alterations to reservations (described above). We clearly expressed to management that we were not happy when we heard about diminutions in services or additional charges, from owners or even directly from management, after those events had already occurred. The management company heard our concerns and we think this issue has been resolved. We also noted that although we are thrilled by the selection of Sam Hugli as General Manager, and he would have been our first choice if we had been consulted, we were not told about his selection until after he had been appointed. We proposed a resolution asking management to give the Boards at the resort an advisory role in the selection of future general managers. Management explained that the industry standard is that the management company has absolute control over all personnel matters, that it would not be practical to give the Boards an advisory role, and that the management company would not agree to modify its existing practice. Our proposed resolution was defeated, 3-2. We do expect, however, that the management company will continue to select general managers for this resort who are as competent and attentive to owners as Mike Ryan and Sam Hugli have been.

REMINDER REGARDING THE OWNERS DIRECTORY

If you want to remain listed in the owners online directory, you need to re-list your name and e-mail address annually. Those who register will receive an automatic email when the current listing has expired. This procedure insures that the directory does not include listings for owners who have sold their units. The owners website can be accessed through the dashboard at vistana.com. Once you have logged in and clicked on “dashboard”, click on “governing documents” in the Owners Association section, then select one of your Virgin Grand units, scroll down to “Association Information” and click on the “+” sign to the right of those words to expand that information, and then click on “VGV Owner Posting Board.” You must then register (or have previously registered) on the posting board with a username and password to list yourself in the owners directory.

Philip G. Schrag
phil.schrag@gmail.com Robert H. Werbel
robert.werbel@yahoo.com

 

[DavidnRobin]

Hey! You're taking my job!
Thanks for posting.

It could be worse inn that they are only charging $25/day and not $35/day...
Boy... this pisses me off. This fee is more than our Property Taxes.

Yep - really fair...
Studios get charged same as 3-Bd villas - even though this is an environmental/infrastructure fee and the occupancy difference is more than double?
Only TSs get this fee (aka tax) even though all visitors impact environment/infrastructure AND we already pay individual Property Taxes to the USVI that should already cover impact?

And, as a bonus, we will be charged more for drinks and alcohol?

How can this be legal? How do the HOAs treat this so lightly. Going to wait until they meet? They should immediately file against this unfair and biased taxation.

The HOA is going to request payment at checkout?
For those that rent out - or let friends/families use - if fee is collected at checkout, then you better warn them as $175 is not unsubstantial - but it could be worse? LOL good idea - let's normalize this...

Mark this - 1st the studio Owners are going to walk (Gold 1st), causing MFs to increase, then 1Bd, repeat with MF increase, etc. etc.

 

[bobpark56]

So...timeshare vistors to the USVI pay, but those who stay in B&Bs or Hotels do not? Or in rental properties (other than in rented timeshares)?
This does sound rather inequitable. It looks like the politicians are trying to split the opposition...or is this just a case of taxing the man behind Hughey Long's famous tree?

 

[okwiater]

Only TSs get this fee (aka tax) even though all visitors impact environment/infrastructure AND we already pay individual Property Taxes to the USVI that should already cover impact?

So...timeshare vistors to the USVI pay, but those who stay in B&Bs or Hotels do not? Or in rental properties (other than in rented timeshares)?
This does sound rather inequitable. It looks like the politicians are trying to split the opposition...or is this just a case of taxing the man behind Hughey Long's famous tree?

Don't get me wrong, I am not happy about this tax either. And there may even be legal problems with it. But what you're saying isn't quite accurate.

Visitors to hotels and other rental properties DO pay an occupancy tax, and in fact, the law had previously stated that timeshare occupancy was ALSO subject to the occupancy tax. The reason we all paid $0 is because there was no legal clarity regarding the amount on which to calculate the tax. This new law "resolved" the situation by simultaneously REPEALING the occupancy tax for timeshares and instituting this new environmental/infrastructure impact fee in its place.

Yes, I understand that timeshares are already subject to exorbitantly higher property taxes than any other class of property, and probably agree with most or all of the arguments you may want to make about that. But we need to be accurate in our description of the situation.

 

[SandyPGravel]

Hey! You're taking my job!
Thanks for posting.

To poorly paraphrase Fried Green Tomatoes "I'm younger and faster" Just Kidding!! Please don't accidentally run into my car 6 times!! I just happened to be online when the email came through.

It could be worse in that they are only charging $25/day and not $35/day...
Boy... this pisses me off. This fee is more than our Property Taxes.

Yep - really fair...
Studios get charged same as 3-Bd villas - even though this is an environmental/infrastructure fee and the occupancy difference is more than double? Good Point
Only TSs get this fee (aka tax) even though all visitors impact environment/infrastructure AND we already pay individual Property Taxes to the USVI that should already cover impact?

And, as a bonus, we will be charged more for drinks and alcohol?

How can this be legal? How do the HOAs treat this so lightly. Going to wait until they meet? They should immediately file against this unfair and biased taxation.

The HOA is going to request payment at checkout?
For those that rent out - or let friends/families use - if fee is collected at checkout, then you better warn them as $175 is not unsubstantial - but it could be worse? LOL good idea - let's normalize this...

Mark this - 1st the studio Owners are going to walk (Gold 1st), causing MFs to increase, then 1Bd, repeat with MF increase, etc. etc.

"The Board authorized the expenditure of a relatively small amount of money"...Well, don't make too much effort

 

[SandyPGravel]

Can't wait for my 13 night stay at the end of May $25 x 13 = $325. That will take care of some of my excursion money. Nice way to impact the small business owners on St. John. At least the poor "gov'nor" can still live at the Ritz and ride around in his limo (or so I have read.)

So they start collecting the money, it goes to court, court says it's unfair, I can expect my money to be returned around 2025 or so? That will be plus interest right??? Oh dear I think I forgot to take my medication, I am becoming delusional

 

[okwiater]

Can't wait for my 13 night stay at the end of May $25 x 13 = $325. That will take care of some of my excursion money. Nice way to impact the small business owners on St. John. At least the poor "gov'nor" can still live at the Ritz and ride around in his limo (or so I have read.)

Just pretend it's a resort fee and then make a frozen rum drink. It won't hurt anymore, I promise

 

[NNerland]

In addition to the "TimeShare Tax" this is an update of the "Sin Tax" -- the author anticpated it won't be quite as bad as initially proposed.
But you know one small tax hike, opens the door to others perhaps in the future. Here is a good summary


http://newsofstjohn.com/2017/03/24/the-sin-tax-the-details-its-not-as-awful-as-first-proposed/

 

[okwiater]

In addition to the "TimeShare Tax" this is an update of the "Sin Tax" -- the author anticpated it won't be quite as bad as initially proposed.

You'll see a lot of this now that the law passed. People with a vested interest in tourism lobbied hard against the tax, but now that it's the law of the land, they'll downplay its effects so as to keep visitors coming.

 

[NNerland]

You'll see a lot of this now that the law passed. People with a vested interest in tourism lobbied hard against the tax, but now that it's the law of the land, they'll downplay its effects so as to keep visitors coming.

Don't get me wrong, it stinks and the articles about the "Governor" are disturbing. But no "sin tax" is going to slow visitors. I, at least, have never "googled" local taxes when deciding my vacation locales. I hate the greed of areas going after "easy absentee taxes" as it is taxation without representation.

 

[okwiater]

Don't get me wrong, it stinks and the articles about the "Governor" are disturbing. But no "sin tax" is going to slow visitors. I, at least, have never "googled" local taxes when deciding my vacation locales.

I don't think it's a matter of vacationers looking up tax rates as part of selecting a destination, but more a matter of making it less attractive over time. Even though $175 is for many people a rounding error on their vacation spending, seeing it itemized as a timeshare impact fee will leave many with a bad taste and may give them pause about visiting as soon or at all. The sin taxes will also have an effect with a long tail, in that higher prices will over time depress voluntary spending from visitors, cruise ships, etc. You may not consciously think about tax rates, but unless you're a very rare person, you certainly think about prices before deciding to buy things, and that will impact your decision making when you visit the island whether you know it or not.

 

[DavidnRobin]

For a VGV studio owner - it is ~10% increase in their MFs, and about 6% increase in MF for 3Bd pool villas. For us, it is more than our property tax - which btw is also under threat of being unfairly increased. Saying this is a blip in total vacation budget means that Owners would be okay with their MFs being increased because that increase is also just a blip (?) - yet that is one of the main focuses when buying a TS interval.

We will certainly being spending less while in StJ (sadly, one less charter) - just like Maui.

Again... this 'fee' (aka tax) is stated as an infrastructure/environmental fee. However, this fee unfairly charges more (%-wise) to studio owners than owners of larger size villas (which have higher occupancy) - this alone should be basis to legally challenged this fee (IMO). This fee unfairly punishes those villas with lower occupancy that impacts infrastructure and environment less than higher occupancy villas - contrary to the stated claim of the fee.

We already pay Property Taxes that already go to infrastructure/environment impact on the USVI.

I hope WSJ doesn't collect this fee at check-out and that we are billed - because if we are billed - I have the ability not to pay it. What are they going to do? Put a lien on my TS? I can walk and leave it to the HOA. Apparently they already have 88 owner weeks in foreclosure - not hard to figure out what the majority of these villa types are. I suspect this will start causing more defaults which will begat more defaults.

Check back in 2020...

YMMV

 

[SMHarman]

Slowing Down, Finding Hidden Paradise on St. John https://nyti.ms/2nHaB6o