[2008] Festiva is now managing my resort, how bad is it going to get?

[rickandcindy23]

Tom, which buildings are in phase I? Are those the ones with the lofts? If so, I will be very relieved to have an owner board in charge and not the developer. I need to look at my deed again, but I am pretty sure mine is an older unit. I believe that is a good thing in this case. I don't want to be in the position of having to fight a developer-owned board.

Festiva Rep, thanks for being here and being so patient. We appreciate the time you are taking to answer questions.

 

[tombo]

I am not sure which buildings are in Phase one and which are in Phase 2. I own in a building right by the club house which I understand is Phase 1, and I own in a building at the top of the hill which is a phase 2 from what I have been told. Phase 2 was built later from what I understand and many were sold as points whereas all of the Phase one units were fixed weeks. Both olf my weeks are 2 bed room units and have lofts, but the newer 2 bed rooms in Phase 2 are bigger with over 1400 square feet as opposed to the older phase 1 units which have about 1300 square feet. I am not sure which buildings are Phase one and which are Phase 2, but you can call the resort and find out which phase you own. I wish both of mine were in the older phase to have an owner controlled board as opposed to a developer controlled board and vote that i have with my phase 2 unit.

 

[abdibile]

Atlantic Beach Villas

Thanks, FestivaRep for all your help!

Does anyone know if renovations are planned at "Peppertree" Atlantic beach villas and how their boards are comprised (owners/Festiva)

Thanks a lot!

 

[Talent312]

This thread is now 8 pages long, and no longer about Buying, Selling...
Perhaps TUG should have a separate Festiva forum.

 

[ace2000]

I agree about the separate forum, or at least sub-forum. Especially, out of respect to the Festiva Rep that is currently posting replies.

Right now, there's a lot of negativity in this thread, and the Festiva Rep has been very patient. I appreciate it.

 

[FestivaRep]

Phase one has a board which is owner controlled. According to what was said at the annual meeting by a CEO of Festiva, the Phase 2 board and votes are 80% controlled by Festiva. The CEO said Festiva can do what it wants to in Phase 2 because they control 80% of the vote. Are the decisions about renovations and MF's in Phase one and Phase two going to be decided by the HOA Board President of each, or will Phase 2 be decided purely by Festiva? Will both be renovated or neither, or is there a possibility that Phase 1 won't renovate and Phase 2 will renovate? I own in both Phase one and Phase 2 so what happens at both of them concerns me.

Thanks,

Tom

From what I understand, from the GM at BRV, our CEO was actually not at that meeting, the two executives who attended were our president and our SVP of Resort Operations. Since I was not at the meeting I cannot confirm what was said by anyone there, but I do know that the Festiva employees that are currently on the board simply replaced the Wyndham employees that were there when they managed the resort.

Also, based on what the president told me yesterday when we talked about your questions, it is my understanding that the HOA Board Presidents of both Phase 1 and Phase 2 will be making those decisions. Again, as far as what gets renovated and when, the best information would come from the presidents of each board.

Let me know if I can clarify anything further on this issue, or PM me if you need the general manager's contact information so that you can contact the boards.

 

[FestivaRep]

thanks

rickandcindy, abdibile, ace2000, I definitely appreciate your support.

Abdibile, I asked around to be sure and confirmed that there are no Festiva employees on any of the HOA boards at Atlantic Beach. Festiva employees only took spots on HOA boards that were previously held by Wyndham employees. I have not heard of any major renovations there; however, 45 of the units at PAB have been refurbished, and details about that are in the recent owner newsletter that was sent out.

Talent, I'd certainly be open to having a Festiva forum; however, I know that whether or not that happens is based on the traffic, and is ultimately up to our friends at TUG...

Hope everyone has a great weekend...

 

[jercal10]

Jercal, what exactly do you mean by 'expanding' the resort at Tamarack?[/QUOTE]

Festiva Rep:
It is my understanding that Festiva got all the vacant land "up on the hill" as part of the purchase from Wyndham.
I am interested to see if there are plans to expand what seems to be an otherwise dying resort???

 

[dmbrand]

I am in favor of a Festiva forum or a new thread; anything is better than the title of this thread. We purchased a resale unit at Tamarack during the Festiva transition in 2007. So far, we have been very pleased with the resort, utilizing our week for the first time in June, 2008. I am curious as to the reference of a "dying" resort.

A question for the Festiva Rep...as a fixed week owner, are we able to trade internally for other Festiva resorts? The website isn't clear if this is available to everyone under the Festiva umbrella or members of the points-based units. Thank you for taking the time to visit this forum and answer questions. DawnB

 

[TUGBrian]

a single thread does not warrant its own forum...im sorry.

FestivaRep isnt here full time as part of her job.

she has provided an email address for personal questions and such.

 

[pianodinosaur]

Planning Trips to Branson & St. Maarten

My wife and I have been considering vacations in Branson and in St. Maarten in the the next 2-3 years. Should we avoid Festiva managed properties? We have heard lovely things about The Atrium in the past, but if Festiva is in the process of destroying The Atrium to make a fast buck, would a trade into The Atrium be a mistake at this time?

 

[somerville]

a single thread does not warrant its own forum...im sorry.

...I agree...

 

[tombo]

From what I understand, from the GM at BRV, our CEO was actually not at that meeting, the two executives who attended were our president and our SVP of Resort Operations. Since I was not at the meeting I cannot confirm what was said by anyone there, but I do know that the Festiva employees that are currently on the board simply replaced the Wyndham employees that were there when they managed the resort.

Also, based on what the president told me yesterday when we talked about your questions, it is my understanding that the HOA Board Presidents of both Phase 1 and Phase 2 will be making those decisions. Again, as far as what gets renovated and when, the best information would come from the presidents of each board.

Let me know if I can clarify anything further on this issue, or PM me if you need the general manager's contact information so that you can contact the boards.

I believe it was the president who made the statement that festiva could do what they want to in Phase 2 because Festiva owns 80% of the vote. I said "a CEO" because I couldn't remember what title he had, but I knew he was way up in Festiva's heierarchy. I will be glad to contact the HOA Board presidents to ask them the status of possible renovations and increases in MF's.

I know you said that you can't verify what was said at the annual meeting, but there were plenty of owners there who heard it. To get beyond semantics, can you please tell me if in fact 80% of the vote in phase 2 is controlled by Festiva. If so, how did Festiva gain majority control of a sold out resort in less than 2 years since you purchased it from Wyndham?

What scares me is if in fact it is true that Festiva owns 80% of the vote in Phase 2, then the owners can't stop renovations, MF increases, change mgt companies, or stop anything else Festiva decides they want to do. Of course Festiva won't have to pay for any upgrades or renovations festiva decides are needed at the resort, we the owners will. The president of Phase 2 has no real power or incentive to protect the owners. He was voted in by the 80% vote of Festiva (he might even be a Festiva employee), and he knows that he can be voted out (or fired) at any time if he doesn't tow the Festiva company line.

Festiva Rep, thank you so much for responding. I would really appreciate clarification on whether or not Festiva actually owns 80% of the phase 2 vote. Also which officers (i.e. president, secretary, treasurer, etc) of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 boards at BRV are Festiva employees? Finally how many board members in Phase 1 are Festiva employees, and how many in Phase 2?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[Talent312]

a single thread does not warrant its own forum...im sorry.

No problem-mo. I was only half-serious. Like...
If this thread is going to continue as an on-going repository for multiple-management issues, perhaps it could be more aptly named, "Food Fight: Festiva Corporate Flunky vs. Disgruntled, Whining Owners (Free Admission)," or something like that. ...Ruh, Roh! (run away, run away)

 

[Kozman]

Festiva Resorts

My wife and I have been considering vacations in Branson and in St. Maarten in the the next 2-3 years. Should we avoid Festiva managed properties? We have heard lovely things about The Atrium in the past, but if Festiva is in the process of destroying The Atrium to make a fast buck, would a trade into The Atrium be a mistake at this time?

I wouldn't think there would be a problem trading into a Festiva resort, but I'd think twice about buying into one.

 

[tombo]

No problem-mo. I was only half-serious. Like...
If this thread is going to continue as an on-going repository for multiple-management issues, perhaps it could be more aptly named, "Food Fight: Festiva Corporate Flunky vs. Disgruntled, Whining Owners (Free Admission)," or something like that. ...Ruh, Roh! (run away, run away)

This thread is important to Peppertree owners, who became Wyndham owners, who are now Festiva owners without ever having a vote or input on any of the above changes. We are now concerned about possible changes at our resorts with increased MF's, lack of representation on the HOA Boards, and possible assessments, all of which are very important to us. This is why the thread has lasted so long and the reason why there are so many responses on this thread. Festiva Rep answering our questions is a big plus even though we might not like many of her answers. At least she is here answering questions and we are very happy that she continues to do so.

You apparently are bored with the thread and are not required to keep reading it. Instead you have found a way to insult both the Festiva Rep and concerned owners on a thread you would like titled "Food Fight". The sarcasm and name calling is not appreciated. Feel free to start a thread called "Festiva food fight", and see how long that thread runs.

Sincerely,

A Disgruntled, Whining OWNER!

 

[coinman374]

I am sorry that you found that I was rude. That was my first post. I am new to the group. There was no attempt on my part to elicit sympathy nor do I particularly care for Joyce.

 

[tombo]

I am sorry that you found that I was rude. That was my first post. I am new to the group. There was no attempt on my part to elicit sympathy nor do I particularly care for Joyce.

The complaint about your post was from talent, the one I was offended by too. I tend to be verbose and was scolded for not using paragraphs when I first started too. Your post was a great first post and most here are accepting and will guide you throught the learning process. Welcome and don't worry about talent. They apparently don't have a dog in the Festiva race but want to come here and demean the people who do. You have a lot more people here who will be positive for you than the few detractors.

 

[Talent312]

I am sorry that you found that I was rude. That was my first post. I am new to the group. There was no attempt on my part to elicit sympathy nor do I particularly care for Joyce.

[Heh]. I do sympathize with your encounter with these cretins... It seems that many developers/managers, not merely content to rip-off hapless direct-buyers, keep trying to find new ways to stick it to current owners. Its a shame and a disgrace. About all you can do is resist these soulless creatures. My kudos to you for doing so.

And in the same vein, my apologies to Tombo for making light of matters which are very serious to you. Regardless of what management may "announce," there are rules to which they must adhere. Perhaps you could look for a ways to use them to benefit the owners.

 

[tombo]

Apparently, but I want to mention that "coinman"'s post was 45 lines (by my count), without spacing for paragraph breaks. I did actually read the whole thing, but whatever sympathy I initially felt for the poster was dissipated by his James Joyce style, which I thought rude. How about some consideration for the readers?

Dang talent, 3 strikes and you are out. If you don't like this thread or topic how about not posting negative comments about those that do. Rude is your treatment of a first time poster who is trying to be a part of TUG, and rude is calling Festiva Rep a corporate Flunky and owners on this thread disgruntled whining owners.

 

[Talent312]

Dang talent, 3 strikes and you are out. If you don't like this thread or topic how about not posting negative comments about those that do. Rude is your treatment of a first time poster who is trying to be a part of TUG, and rude is calling Festiva Rep a corporate Flunky and owners on this thread disgruntled whining owners.

Yep, I've been way too hostile of late. Sorry. Later, dude.

 

[tombo]

No problem with me, I have thick skin. I sometimes say things here that make people mad, but I say what I feel just like you. I am not upset with you but simply had to respond about the posts. I may make you mad one day, but it won't be on purpose. I am too blunt sometimes and have been scolded on TUG myself more than once. None of us want to scare off a newbie here on TUG and we all want to make sure that they continue to post. Please feel free to correct me if I ever appear rude.

You apology is accepted, and if I ever make you mad I hope you will do the same for me.

Good night,

Tom

 

[Carolinian]

Festiva employees only took spots on HOA boards that were previously held by Wyndham employees. ...

. . . thereby continuing Fairfield / Wyndham's brazen conflict of interest.

What happened at Bluebeard's Castle is very good reason for timesharers to always work to end this slimy practice of management holding board seats.

 

[Carolinian]

Not all Peppertree resorts followed that path. The HOA boards at Peppertree Outer Banks Beach Club and Peppertree Outer Banks Beach Club II kicked out Fairfield (before they became Wyndham) as management, and hired their own independent management company out of Myrtle Beach, SPM Management.. They also dropped the ''Peppertree'' from their names. SPM is doing a much better job there than Fairfield did.

This thread is important to Peppertree owners, who became Wyndham owners, who are now Festiva owners without ever having a vote or input on any of the above changes. We are now concerned about possible changes at our resorts with increased MF's, lack of representation on the HOA Boards, and possible assessments, all of which are very important to us. This is why the thread has lasted so long and the reason why there are so many responses on this thread. Festiva Rep answering our questions is a big plus even though we might not like many of her answers. At least she is here answering questions and we are very happy that she continues to do so.

You apparently are bored with the thread and are not required to keep reading it. Instead you have found a way to insult both the Festiva Rep and concerned owners on a thread you would like titled "Food Fight". The sarcasm and name calling is not appreciated. Feel free to start a thread called "Festiva food fight", and see how long that thread runs.

Sincerely,

A Disgruntled, Whining OWNER!

 

[Carolinian]

Hi Tom,
I spoke with our president today, and he said the decision about renovations is up to the HOA Board President at BRV, and you can certainly offer your suggestions and/or input to the board. They will also be able to give you more specific details about what renovations are/will be planned, and what cost will come to the owners. I do not have their contact information; however, you can get in touch with BRV General Manager Kim Dalton for that information. Please let me know if you have any other questions about this or any other issue.

An HOA president should never have this power unilaterally. The power should be vested in the entire board, which for a major renovation should consult the membership especially if it involves a special assessment. Several resorts I have owned at had provisions requiring a vote by the owners on any special assessment, which is the best control.