DSV I survey about use of JW facilities

[cp73]

Just got this email asking to participate in the survey. If you receive it be sure to think about the questions before you answer them. If you like using the JW pools, spa, tennis, fitness center be sure to be vocal about it. They ask you questions about how frequently you use these facilities and how you feel about increases in your dues and how much to cover the use of these facilities. I personally would pay the top amount or more. Without it my wife and daughters probably wouldn't go.

Dear Desert Springs Villas I Owner,

Over the past 20 years we have had a 'Recreational Agreement' in place with the adjoining JW Marriott Resort that includes access to their spa, spa fitness center, tennis courts and pools. The agreement expires at the end of this year. We are involved in negotiations with the hotel's owners and we are unsure if we will be able to reach a new agreement. However, we would like your feedback on this amenity and how important it is to you when you use your vacation week at Desert Springs Villas. We need your input as soon as possible as we look at our options and the cost of keeping this amenity in 2010 and beyond.

On behalf of your Board of Directors, we would appreciate a timely response of completing this brief but important survey by no later than Friday, November 20th, 2009. I invite you to participate in the following survey. We welcome your thoughts and ideas. All responses are confidential and will only be used to help us develop the product and services that will continue to provide you and your family with unforgettable vacation experiences.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work to continually evaluate the experiences at your resort with the goal to best meet our Owners' future vacation needs.

Please click on the link below to access the survey. The survey will be available online through 12:00pm on Friday, November 20, 2009.

 

[LAX Mom]

Chris,

I'm not an owner at DSV and I've never stayed there. But I have wondered about the Spa access. From your post I gather this includes the use of:

spa, spa fitness center, tennis courts and pools

Obviously any treatments at the spa would be for $$, but can't guests at DSV II and Shadow Ridge also pay for treatments there? So what is the advantage to DSV owners at the spa?

What about the other facilities? Are they a much better option than the pools & fitness center at DSV II and Shadow Ridge?

Thanks! Just curious what your wife & daughters enjoy so much about the spa access at DSV and how it compares to the other Palm Desert Marriotts. I hope to visit there soon!

 

[cp73]

Chris,

I'm not an owner at DSV and I've never stayed there. But I have wondered about the Spa access. From your post I gather this includes the use of:

spa, spa fitness center, tennis courts and pools

Obviously any treatments at the spa would be for $$, but can't guests at DSV II and Shadow Ridge also pay for treatments there? So what is the advantage to DSV owners at the spa?

What about the other facilities? Are they a much better option than the pools & fitness center at DSV II and Shadow Ridge?

Thanks! Just curious what your wife & daughters enjoy so much about the spa access at DSV and how it compares to the other Palm Desert Marriotts. I hope to visit there soon!

Lisa,
Yes it covers the spa, spa fitness center, tennis courts and the pools at the JW. The advantage of the spa is that there is no day use cover charge. I believe that charge is about $35?? to use the pools and facilities at the spa. The pool at the spa is very quite and relaxing. No children are allowed or cell phones. The attendants at the spa pool come around bringing you water or whatever you want at that pool. Anything special (massage, etc) is extra $$. The fitness center at the spa is also a lot more plush and more items to choose from.

The big draw for my family (wife and three girls 20,24,25) is the JW pool. I guess I would say its kind of like a pool at Vegas...with lots of action going on. The pools at the Villas are mostly old people or young families (per my daughters). That's probably why I prefer them.

The big draw for me are the tennis courts. I have been playing tennis for over 20 years and when I go to the desert the club at the JW always sets up matches for you. I can't see them losing this ammenity otherwise there would be no tennis at DSV.

I am really surprised this hasn't been resolved. At my last stay during the summer I played tennis with one of the board members who said that it was a done deal and the access to the facilities had been approved and agreed upon.

 

[LAX Mom]

Thanks Chris! I can see why you value that spa access, it sounds wonderful! I hope they are able to negotiate a solution that allows continued access without costing the owners too much additional $$. Good luck!

 

[Latravel]

I completely agree with you. Even though we own at Shadow Ridge, we only stay at DSV I because of the access to the JW facilities. When I think of going to Palm Springs, I only search for DSV I.

On a related note, I wonder how trading value for DSV I will be effected if they don't renew the contract? I personally would not be interested in DSV I without the access and would stay at newer resorts. I hope they think of that point.

 

[Cathyb]

DSV email

Just got this email asking to participate in the survey. If you receive it be sure to think about the questions before you answer them. If you like using the JW pools, spa, tennis, fitness center be sure to be vocal about it. They ask you questions about how frequently you use these facilities and how you feel about increases in your dues and how much to cover the use of these facilities. I personally would pay the top amount or more. Without it my wife and daughters probably wouldn't go.

Dear Desert Springs Villas I Owner,

Over the past 20 years we have had a 'Recreational Agreement' in place with the adjoining JW Marriott Resort that includes access to their spa, spa fitness center, tennis courts and pools. The agreement expires at the end of this year. We are involved in negotiations with the hotel's owners and we are unsure if we will be able to reach a new agreement. However, we would like your feedback on this amenity and how important it is to you when you use your vacation week at Desert Springs Villas. We need your input as soon as possible as we look at our options and the cost of keeping this amenity in 2010 and beyond.

On behalf of your Board of Directors, we would appreciate a timely response of completing this brief but important survey by no later than Friday, November 20th, 2009. I invite you to participate in the following survey. We welcome your thoughts and ideas. All responses are confidential and will only be used to help us develop the product and services that will continue to provide you and your family with unforgettable vacation experiences.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work to continually evaluate the experiences at your resort with the goal to best meet our Owners' future vacation needs.

Please click on the link below to access the survey. The survey will be available online through 12:00pm on Friday, November 20, 2009.

We have been owners for years but didn't get the survey, hmmmm -- wonder why! Haven't seen the renovated Spa -- going in February.

 

[thinze3]

If I am correct, the annual fee is well over $100 per owner week for this privilege. DSV II annual fees are that much cheaper as they don't have the same agreement.

Question is, how many owners would rather have the $100 knocked off their annual fee vs pay it and have use of the JW facilities?

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Does DSVI and DSVII each have their own budget and association or does it operate as one owners association?

 

[mprocopi]

I didn't get the survey yet, but it seems like a no brainer to me.

 

[cp73]

If I am correct, the annual fee is well over $100 per owner week for this privilege. DSV II annual fees are that much cheaper as they don't have the same agreement.

Question is, how many owners would rather have the $100 knocked off their annual fee vs pay it and have use of the JW facilities?

Terry,

I believe the current amount is $46 per year. In the survey they asked how you felt about increases and they started at $46 per year and went up in $5 increments to $75 per year with you rating how you felt about each amount.

Also the survey came via email...

 

[thinze3]

You're correct. I was incorrectly basing DSV fees vs DSV II.

I checked the DSV website and it stated that the expense for 2009 was $45.49.

 

[californiagirl]

Just wanted to add that as owners of DSV II we have use of the tennis courts. It is in our contract. As stated above, we do not have use of the spa.

Use of the spa is a deciding point when we trade back in or buy a getaway week. We love the spa. I hope they can reach an agreement to keep the spa part of DSV I. We were so naive when we bought our first property at DSV II. I would much rather have bought villas I, but didn't know it was a possibility at the time.

 

[EducatedConsumer]

The Desert Springs JW Marriott is owned by Host Hotels & Resorts, a group known to be shark-like.

If you do not receive a survey, I suggest you share your opinion with the President of the Homeowners Association and the President of Host. The President of Host is:

W. Edward Walter
President, Chief Executive Officer
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 1500
Bethesda, MD 20817

The spa reportedly derives a handsome revenue from Desert Springs Villas owners and guests. On our last visit we were told by our perennial favorites at the Spa that their business is way down.

What's not known here is whether or not the hotel and spa have chosen not to re-enter into the Recreational Agreement, if they've put a much higher price tag on the Recreational Agreement, or if the HOA is being prudent about raising fees.

If it's the hotel and their ownership that aren't playing ball, one way to send them a message during the upcoming busy holiday season is to "boycott" revenue-producing spa and hotel services (e.g. massage, aesthetics, fitness classes, spa cuisine, food outlets) at th JW Hotel and Spa. While the spa and hotel would feel the economic impact, sadly those who would be wounded would be the employees, who are already apparently feeling the impact of low hotel occupancy and reduced demand for many services, including spa services.

We are disappointed and surprised that at this late date that there is not a successor Recreational Agreement in place, and that one month before the expiration of the Agreement that the HOA is for the first time surveying owners about the Agreement. This does not bode well for the HOA.

 

[EducatedConsumer]

Does any one know if access to the tennis courts is in or out with the Recreation Agreement?

 

[cp73]

Does any one know if access to the tennis courts is in or out with the Recreation Agreement?

I believe its part of the agreement. IT was also part of the survey. The four items which were indicated were part of the agreement were: tennis courts, spa, pools, jw fitness center.

 

[SueDonJ]

I'm all for a pay-as-you-play system with outside vendors including Marriott hotels near MVCI resorts; it doesn't seem fair that all timeshare owners subsidize outside activities through maintenance fees.

Barony used to have an inclusive tennis contract with Port Royal Racquet Club. From a newsletter:

The cost of the tennis program, budgeted at $122,600 for 2009, is currently charged to all Owners as part of the annual maintenance fee; but is used by approximately 10% of the owners. Since other activities such as golf, off-site tours, and rental of beach chairs and bicycles are on an individual fee basis, the Board questioned the equity of requiring all Owners to subsidize the tennis program.

That's an excellent question, I think, and when they asked for input I said that the contract shouldn't be renewed at the expense of all Owners.

The Board managed to continue the tennis contract for 2009 but with a reduction that year; following 2009 it's now a pay-as-you-play arrangement with a 30% discount off rack rates at the tennis club. A similar discount arrangement is in place at the European Spa on property.

Maybe DSV I could negotiate a discounted program with the JW, and continue any arrangement in place for payment through DSV I? That might be a solution that could make all owners at least not unhappy. And it would be better than what's in place at Crystal Shores, where spa treatments at the Marriott hotel down the beach cannot be charged to your villa.

 

[pwrshift]

First of all, it's refreshing to hear that owners of DSV1 are hearing from the HOA and asked to let them know their feelings on the renewal of agreement. These days the HOA's of the Marriott I own just make blind decisions and don't seem to give a damn about what owners want ... even though it would be very simple to poll the owners via email.

I don't own at DSV1 but if I ever buy another week out that way to balance my Canyon villas ownership it would be there ... as long as the JW deal is renewed. Otherwise, I wouldn't consider buying. I spend a weekin DSV1 a few years back and loved the daily access to the spa and their pool just to get away from the hoards of kids at the TS pools. When my adult daughters wanted a holiday I exchanged them into DSV1 for the same reason and they thought it was a great benefit ... I remember them coming home and encouraging me to buy a week there. When you search II for available weeks, it's obvious that DSV2 is readily available all year long while getting DSV1 is very tough...and that seems to indicate DSV1 is a more valuable asset regardless of the extra $43 a year.

It will be interesting to see what happens as I suspect the HOA will get a great and positive response to continuing the agreement. Manor Club has an agreement with Ford's Colony for 6 'free' rounds of golf each week that has an expiry date, but I haven't had a chance to look up that date. Again, it was the key reason I bought there. My guess is that the Manor Club HOA won't even survey owners about it and make some stupid decision.

It is very discouraging that in this day and age the HOA's don't survey owners when at the touch of a button they could find out everything they want to know about what the owners want. Maybe they just don't want the owners to have a say. Shame on them.

Brian

 

[pwrshift]

Seems like Host is part of the family from this post in Bill Marriott's blog:

http://www.blogs.marriott.com/

'When we split our company, he moved over to the Host Hotel Board of Directors. Host was the company that retained the ownership of the Marriott Hotels we owned before the split and is now called Host Hotels and Resorts."

Brian

The Desert Springs JW Marriott is owned by Host Hotels & Resorts, a group known to be shark-like.

If you do not receive a survey, I suggest you share your opinion with the President of the Homeowners Association and the President of Host. The President of Host is:

W. Edward Walter
President, Chief Executive Officer
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 1500
Bethesda, MD 20817

The spa reportedly derives a handsome revenue from Desert Springs Villas owners and guests. On our last visit we were told by our perennial favorites at the Spa that their business is way down.

What's not known here is whether or not the hotel and spa have chosen not to re-enter into the Recreational Agreement, if they've put a much higher price tag on the Recreational Agreement, or if the HOA is being prudent about raising fees.

If it's the hotel and their ownership that aren't playing ball, one way to send them a message during the upcoming busy holiday season is to "boycott" revenue-producing spa and hotel services (e.g. massage, aesthetics, fitness classes, spa cuisine, food outlets) at th JW Hotel and Spa. While the spa and hotel would feel the economic impact, sadly those who would be wounded would be the employees, who are already apparently feeling the impact of low hotel occupancy and reduced demand for many services, including spa services.

We are disappointed and surprised that at this late date that there is not a successor Recreational Agreement in place, and that one month before the expiration of the Agreement that the HOA is for the first time surveying owners about the Agreement. This does not bode well for the HOA.

 

[sernow]

Hi Chris,

I just returned from a week at DSV 1 and had such a great time (except for stumbling down the steps to the sunken living room) that I was thinking of buying a resale week.

I'm hoping you might be able to answer some questions for me concerning the differerent amenities available at the JW for DSV 1 versus DSV 2 owners.

1. Golf: What is the access for DSV1 and DSV2 owners and what's the cost? Do guests at the JW have priority?

2. Same question as 1 except for tennis.

3. Besides the access to the JW pools and having the day fee at the spa waived for DSV1 owners, is there anything else that the DSV1 owners get that DSV2 don't?

Thanks for your help.

 

[cp73]

Hi Chris,

I just returned from a week at DSV 1 and had such a great time (except for stumbling down the steps to the sunken living room) that I was thinking of buying a resale week.

I'm hoping you might be able to answer some questions for me concerning the differerent amenities available at the JW for DSV 1 versus DSV 2 owners.

1. Golf: What is the access for DSV1 and DSV2 owners and what's the cost? Do guests at the JW have priority?

2. Same question as 1 except for tennis.

3. Besides the access to the JW pools and having the day fee at the spa waived for DSV1 owners, is there anything else that the DSV1 owners get that DSV2 don't?

Thanks for your help.

Glad to hear you had a great time SERNOW. Next time stay on the ground floor I dont believe they have the step down living room. Its easy to take that fall when you looking out at the view.

Golf...both DSV I and II are the same as far as fees. I somehow want to say that both get some discount during certain times of the year. Unfortunately I dont recall what that it is and its probably during the summer. Other than the discount I dont believe its any less or more costly than staying in the hotel unless your staying on some golf package which the JW occassionaly has.

Tennis...Both I and II have the same use of the tennis courts and there is no charge for court use. Also the tennis facility there has three different court types, grass, clay, and hard court. They are also very good at finding players for you to play with from local residents if hotel/villa guest aren't available.

Another difference between I and II is the layout and location of the lockouts. DSV I has two double beds, DSV II has one doulble bed and a couch that opens into a bed. Another difference which could be important to you if you have youngs kids is the location of the lockout in the suite. DSV I's lockout is pretty isolated from the rest of the villa. Great if you have older kids or adults guests but not ideal if you have young kids which need to be near you. DSV II lockout is more an integral part of the villa. You should go the Marriott Vacation Club web site and look at the layouts. Overall I believe DSV I units are larger in size and probably one of the largest villas that Marriott has.

Maybe others can chime in if I forgot something. Applegirl is very knowledgeable about both resorts and has young kids.

 

[sernow]

Thanks Chris for the info. I was staying on the ground floor and it had that sunken living room too.

You're right that the lock-off layout for DSV1 would be ideal for groups traveling together that aren't related or for older children or adult guests. The studio layout for DSV1 is isolated from the rest of the unit. It's actually a seperate apartment with no interior door accesss. I agree that it wouldn't work as well with very young children unless an adult stayed in the studio portion with them.

It may not be as much of a problem as I think though, because I saw more younger children at this resort than I saw during my last visit to Marriott's Cypress Harbour in Orlando.

 

[thinze3]

I received an email Monday stating that DSV II is going to be doing a survey with its owners about future agreements with the JW. Currentlt there is a very limited use agreemenet in place.

We will be developing a brief survey that will be e-mailed to all Desert Springs Villas II Owners whom we have a current and valid e-mail address and are not on the DNC (Do Not Call) list, to get your input and feedback on amenities at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa.

 

[danuty]

DSV1

We are currently at DSV 1 and have enjoyed the complimentary spa facilities. I will ask tomorrow if there is any update on status of future privileges.

Diane

 

[caroln]

I received this email from Susan Belleville the Manager of Desert Springs villas in response to my question if the spa issue had been settled given there is a $50 charge for "Recreation Agreement" on my maintenance bill.

"No, it is still in negotiation at this time, and the $50 was just a placeholder as the Maintenance Fees had to go out. You will receive a letter from your Board President within the next 2-3 weeks that will give an update of the contract as well as what has been happening at the resort and plans for 2010."

 

[danuty]

DSVI

Front desk personnel stated JWM spa facility and gym usage for DSVI guests are available at no charge until the end of the year. A decision had not been reached for 2010.