I was able to get some pricing information that I thought other readers might find useful...
148,100 SOs go for $51,835
176,700 SOs go for $61,845
Annual fees are $2,697 for the 148,100 SOs
For 176,700 SOs they were (i did not write down the exact number 3200-3200 per year).
The resorts are the two Westin's in CA (Desert Willow and Mission Hills)
The resort Colorado is Westin Riverfront
The resorts in Hawaii, WKORV, WKORV-N and Princeville. There is no oceanfront category bookable by home options (to us this is a deal killer).
Essentially, it's the same exact purchase price as the Aventuras (Mexico Flex), but the annual fees are much higher with the Westin Flex.
This could be attractive for someone who does not care about booking ocean front view categories at the two Maui properties.
Darius
I don't know if this is a useful comparator, but someone willing to pay $51,000 could buy 4,250 Marriott points (assume $12/point). There are cheaper ways to do it, but that's a reasonable estimate.
For 4,250 Marriott points, the person could book:
6, almost 7, nights in a 1BR OV at Maui Ocean Club (original tower)
6, almost 7, nights in a 2BR MG at Ko Olina (Oahu)
6 nights in a 2BR at Waiohai (Kauai)
7, almost 8, nights in a 2BR at Shadow Ridge (Palm Desert)
6, almost 7, nights in a 1BR at Mountainside (Park City)
I think all this does is prove that Westin knows the pricing of the competition. But Westin benefits from a more simplistic underlying point structure, ensuring 7 nights in a 2BR for any of the Flex properties. I remain curious how Starwood is going to obtain the required inventory to support the underlying demand. They would be smart to allow owners (especially resale owners) to trade their weeks for Westin Flex points.
There must be an imbalance between the demand and the available deeded weeks that support the reservations. Interesting.
Best,
Greg