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Why was SVN split into 2 "vacation clubs" Westin and Sheraton?

btoby61

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I have not noticed any difference in how the internal exchange system operates. Is it a marketing effort to uplift the Westin properties for developer sales? :shrug:. I am just curious if there was reason anyone may know of..

Thanks! B
 

tschwa2

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My guess is because the blended MF's for the Westin Club is higher but you can still sell the points at a higher price point with the higher MF"s based on the higher luxury of the Westin brand. The Sheraton blended MF's are pretty high too but you can discount the sale price on the points to get someone in the door and roped in as an owner or upgraded owner.
 

dioxide45

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The split is really only for marketing purposes anyway. Though now that they have the two separate flex products, they can distinguish the products more. They also have a few properties that don't carry either the Westin or Sheraton brands. Think Vistana's Beach Club. Though it is included in the Sheraton Flex portfolio. I am not sure if this is because Vistana hasn't been one to push the HOAs at these properties to do the upgrades needed to bring them up to brand standards to carry the name. Perhaps once MVC takes over, they will make that push.
 

VacationForever

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Don't forget that there is also Aventuras Flex, comprising the ones in Mexico (Lagunamar - Cancun and Cabo). Sales folks said when Costa Rica timeshare comes on board, it will also be added to Aventuras.
 

gravitar

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I have owned since 2005 and there have been 2 distinct segments going back at least this far.

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vacationtime1

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They are trying to segment the market to increase their sales/profits.

I had thought the same, until they put a high end ski property into the Sheraton trust and started construction at the Sheraton Kauai property (which logically will go into the Sheraton trust).

Starwood/Vistana has made a mishmash of their system: voluntary properties, mandatory properties, HomeOptions (Nanea), Sheraton Flex, Westin Flex, Florida Club. I honestly believe their planning department is incompetent -- but I love their Hawaii resorts.
 
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controller1

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I had thought the same, until they put a high end ski property into the Sheraton trust and started construction at the Sheraton Kauai property (which logically will go into the Sheraton trust).

Starwood/Vistana has made a mishmash of their system: voluntary properties, mandatory properties, HomeOptions (Nanea), Sheraton Flex, Westin Flex, Florida Club. I honestly believe their planning department is incompetent -- but I love their Hawaii resorts.

I thought Florida Club was part of the Marriott Vacation Club, not Vistana?
 

cubigbird

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Don't forget that there is also Aventuras Flex, comprising the ones in Mexico (Lagunamar - Cancun and Cabo). Sales folks said when Costa Rica timeshare comes on board, it will also be added to Aventuras.

I don’t believe Vistana owns any properties in Costa Rica. To my knowledge no Starwood hotels were spun off or sold to Vistana in the timeshare spin-off transaction .

My guess since it came from sales that it’s just fluff. Costa Rica would be nice, but it’s wishful thinking.

Back to the OP question, I can see a reason to have multiple vacation programs would be to continue ownership churn / future sales and a reason to get folks to “upgrade” again, pay huge money again and create one gigantic combined points program, bringing all together, given lack of brand new inventory historically. Secondly, It also gives sales an immediate opportunity to sell one program against another and trying to get people to switch back and forth. I remember talking to someone by the pool recently that owns Sheraton Flex and in her update they tried to sell her on trading in and “upgrading” / switching to Aventuras for a nice hefty cost. Fortunately she declined it, but those pitches are happening.....as previously stated, it’s totally for marketing purposes.
 
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controller1

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I don’t believe Vistana owns any properties in Costa Rica. To my knowledge no Starwood hotels were spun off or sold to Vistana in the timeshare spin-off transaction .

My guess since it came from sales that it’s just fluff. Costa Rica would be nice, but it’s wishful thinking.

. . .

I believe you hit the nail on the head when you said that it is just sales fluff!

In ILG's most recent 10-K it does not show any Vistana property holdings in Costa Rica. So if there is a Costa Rica timeshare in the future it is several years into the future.
 

DeniseM

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The SVN was originally cobbled together with resorts that they bought from other companies. Most of them were designated as "Sheraton" resorts.

When Starwood started building their own SVN resorts from the ground up, the new properties were designated as "Westin Resorts." I think this is because they were the new, top tier resorts in the SVN, and they were a notch above the Sheraton resorts.

That's my theory - YMMV.
 
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Helios

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I honestly believe their planning department is incompetent

Perhaps at the beginning (creating mandatory resorts), but caught up and made brilliant moves for the shareholders and the sales forces...The churning is simply brilliant.
 

dioxide45

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The SVN was originally cobbled together with resorts that they bought from other companies. Most of them were designated as "Sheraton" resorts.

When Starwood started building their own SVN resorts from the ground up, the new properties were designated as "Westin Resorts." I think this is because they were the new, top tier resorts in the SVN, and they were a notch above the Sheraton resorts.

That's my theory - YMMV.
This seems to be the case, at least for most properties. However, the Westin St John was one of the original properties that they bought, if not the first? And it carries the Westin Name. All of the old Vistana properties have either Sheraton or no brand attached. Any hotel conversions seem to be Sheratons also.
 

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Yes, that's why I said "most," I think Starwood viewed WSJ as a resort that belonged in the top tier.

Most recently, they have deviated from this with the 3 newest resorts in Mexico that they bought from someone else, but that may have been an ILG decision.
 

Helios

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I don’t believe Vistana owns any properties in Costa Rica. To my knowledge no Starwood hotels were spun off or sold to Vistana in the timeshare spin-off transaction .

My guess since it came from sales that it’s just fluff. Costa Rica would be nice, but it’s wishful thinking.

Back to the OP question, I can see a reason to have multiple vacation programs would be to continue ownership churn / future sales and a reason to get folks to “upgrade” again, pay huge money again and create one gigantic combined points program, bringing all together, given lack of brand new inventory historically. Secondly, It also gives sales an immediate opportunity to sell one program against another and trying to get people to switch back and forth. I remember talking to someone by the pool recently that owns Sheraton Flex and in her update they tried to sell her on trading in and “upgrading” / switching to Aventuras for a nice hefty cost. Fortunately she declined it, but those pitches are happening.....as previously stated, it’s totally for marketing purposes.
I think this is very true.

In CR they manage the condos by the Westin Playa Conchal. Could those be added to the network like the AZ property that joined for a while and then left.
 

JIMinNC

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Yes, that's why I said "most," I think Starwood viewed WSJ as a resort that belonged in the top tier.

Most recently, they have deviated from this with the 3 newest resorts in Mexico that they bought from someone else, but that may have been an ILG decision.

My perception is it has nothing to do really with who bought them or developed them, but it's just like Starwood designated certain hotels as Sheraton and others as Westin. The two brands were always positioned differently and targeted at different demographics. Sheraton was always viewed as a nice, upscale, full-service hotel brand, but Westin was always targeted at least a notch or two above Sheraton and was known for more luxury. So, the properties they wanted to price higher and target toward a more affluent tier they designated as Westin.
 

dioxide45

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I think this is very true.

In CR they manage the condos by the Westin Playa Conchal. Could those be added to the network like the AZ property that joined for a while and then left.
I think it matters who owns the property. Like Los Cabos, Sheraton Kauai, and the Westin Cancun. Those were spunoff with the timeshare division. So Vistana actually owned the property. Who actually owns the Westin Playa Conchal? Probably some investor that had Starwood manage the property for them. Starwood managed a lot of properties around the world.
 

VacationForever

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I don’t believe Vistana owns any properties in Costa Rica. To my knowledge no Starwood hotels were spun off or sold to Vistana in the timeshare spin-off transaction .

My guess since it came from sales that it’s just fluff. Costa Rica would be nice, but it’s wishful thinking.
When I attended an owners' update at Westin Mission Hills, the salesperson asked if I had heard of Aventuras and I said yes and it comprised current and future Mexico timeshare. She said in a condescending manner and said "It is not just timeshare in Mexico. Costa Rica will be in it when it comes onboard." I said whatever.
 

DavidnRobin

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The Westin Vacation Club and Sheraton Vacation Club names have existed for quite a while -
well before the the name change of this forum to VSE.
 

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That Costa Rica property has been around for quite awhile. When Starwood spun off the timeshares, that property was not one that was released to ILG in the sale. Starwood gave ILG corporate owned property that needed to be redeveloped. CR is marketed as an all inclusive which is different for a Starwood property.


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controller1

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That Costa Rica property has been around for quite awhile. When Starwood spun off the timeshares, that property was not one that was released to ILG in the sale. Starwood gave ILG corporate owned property that needed to be redeveloped. CR is marketed as an all inclusive which is different for a Starwood property.


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Are you discussing The Westin Golf Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal?
 
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