“Resort Manager Update” at WKORV

[daviator]

So we arrived today at WKORV, where we own and have visited many times over the past twenty years.

the concierge gave me the daily activity schedule, which (if I’m being honest) I don’t usually even look at, but this time I did.

i note that on Tuesday – probably every Tuesday, I’m guessing – there is a “Resort Manager Update” at 9 am in the Board Room (which I’ve walked past a zillion times, it’s on the ground floor of building 3.)

The kicker is that it costs $10 to attend. So I’m wondering if anyone has ever gone to this update, and how they get off charging money for a property update.

I doubt I will go, the idea of giving them any amount of money to tell me what’s going on at the property where I own just strikes me as strange and a little offensive. But wondering what I might be missing.

 

[theo]

So we arrived today at WKORV, where we own and have visited many times over the past twenty years.

the concierge gave me the daily activity schedule, which (if I’m being honest) I don’t usually even look at, but this time I did.

i note that on Tuesday – probably every Tuesday, I’m guessing – there is a “Resort Manager Update” at 9 am in the Board Room (which I’ve walked past a zillion times, it’s on the ground floor of building 3.)

The kicker is that it costs $10 to attend. So I’m wondering if anyone has ever gone to this update, and how they get off charging money for a property update.

I doubt I will go, the idea of giving them any amount of money to tell me what’s going on at the property where I own just strikes me as strange and a little offensive. But wondering what I might be missing.

I know nothing about WKORV, but a similar weekly (Monday morning) meeting with the manager is routinely held at one (independent) resort where we own a few weeks. No sales pitches, just a resort status update and a welcome Q&A opportunity for interval owners on site during any given week. Exchangers and renters may attend as well, but few ever do so. They don't charge any money for the coffee, juice, pastries and donuts provided, but that may be the reason for the $10 being charged by a (tight fisted?) manager at WKORV?

P.S. I am certainly not defending the unexplained charge, just speculating on a possible reason for its’ existence.

 

[Eric B]

Manager might be tight-fisted, but there's something to be said for not charging it to the HOA if it really costs $10 per attendee for coffee and donuts. The owners update from management they have weekly at WSJ don't cost anything, though - last time I went they had coffee but no donuts and they didn't charge anything.

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

I look at these whenever we are there (last time Jan 2024) and don't ever remember seeing this before. Many moons ago there used to be free owners 'welcome breakfasts' at WKORVN on Monday morning (I think) where they would take you through what events were on that week etc.

 

[mjm1]

I have attended Resort Manager updates at Marriott’s Ko Olina and Hyatt Pinon Pointe where complimentary coffee and pastries are provided. Not many owners attended in either location. Like OP I don’t think I would attend if they charged for it.

I could see for Maui that they charge and donate the proceeds to a Maui non-profit organization to help the fire victims and others in need. I imagine some owners would donate even if they didn’t attend the meeting.

 

[dioxide45]

Perhaps the $10 is to cover anything given out? Doubt they are providing alcohol at 9am and don't think coffee and light snacks would be worthy of such a charge? Sheraton Vistana Villages has an afternoon owner forum every Tuesday. They do provide two drink tickets for beer and wine but there is no fee. I highly suspect that Marriott Vacations, who owns the liquor license, charges those drinks back to the HOA. Great deal for them.

 

[sjlola]

We attended last January at WKORVN but there was no charge. They did serve light refreshments that morning (coffee, juice, pastries). I'm assuming they charge now to cover the food costs and this doesn't necessarily offend me. For the record, the presentation was informative, if a bit too focused on management patting themselves on the back for all they accomplished during COVID and the period immediately following the Lahaina fire. But they all answered questions and lingered afterwards and I felt it was a worthwhile way to spend an hour.

 

[Eric B]

I have attended Resort Manager updates at Marriott’s Ko Olina and Hyatt Pinon Pointe where complimentary coffee and pastries are provided. Not many owners attended in either location. Like OP I don’t think I would attend if they charged for it.

I could see for Maui that they charge and donate the proceeds to a Maui non-profit organization to help the fire victims and others in need. I imagine some owners would donate even if they didn’t attend the meeting.

The charity aspect of it isn't a horrible idea but it does seem wrong to me to link it to providing a resort manager update. IMHO, information on what and how they are doing to maintain/operate a resort you own a stake in should not be something you have to pay extra for regardless of whether the funds go to a good cause. Charity is charity and the business of business is business - not arm twisting for charity.

 

[dioxide45]

The charity aspect of it isn't a horrible idea but it does seem wrong to me to link it to providing a resort manager update. IMHO, information on what and how they are doing to maintain/operate a resort you own a stake in should not be something you have to pay extra for regardless of whether the funds go to a good cause. Charity is charity and the business of business is business - not arm twisting for charity.

I would agree. This is something that should be free. Even if they only have water. I find it very strange to have a $10 charge for such a thing. I wonder if it is an error. I would text the front desk to confirm.

 

[jnsywg]

So we arrived today at WKORV, where we own and have visited many times over the past twenty years.

the concierge gave me the daily activity schedule, which (if I’m being honest) I don’t usually even look at, but this time I did.

i note that on Tuesday – probably every Tuesday, I’m guessing – there is a “Resort Manager Update” at 9 am in the Board Room (which I’ve walked past a zillion times, it’s on the ground floor of building 3.)

The kicker is that it costs $10 to attend. So I’m wondering if anyone has ever gone to this update, and how they get off charging money for a property update.

I doubt I will go, the idea of giving them any amount of money to tell me what’s going on at the property where I own just strikes me as strange and a little offensive. But wondering what I might be missing.

Can you post the activity schedule? Arriving in a few weeks and curious. Thank you!

 

[daviator]

Can you post the activity schedule? Arriving in a few weeks and curious. Thank you!

 

[daviator]

I have attended Resort Manager updates at Marriott’s Ko Olina and Hyatt Pinon Pointe where complimentary coffee and pastries are provided. Not many owners attended in either location. Like OP I don’t think I would attend if they charged for it.

I could see for Maui that they charge and donate the proceeds to a Maui non-profit organization to help the fire victims and others in need. I imagine some owners would donate even if they didn’t attend the meeting.

The money is not for charity. Maybe they have coffee and pastries or something but nobody is coming for the pastries and there shouldn’t be a charge. Of all the ways in which MVC could and perhaps sometimes does waste our money, having some pastries at a resort update for owners would not be a waste (and if money is the issue, they should skip the pastries.). We are all speculating of course, maybe they don’t even have pastries.
I could buy a pastry and a coffee retail somewhere and it probably wouldn't cost $10.

it's not that $10 is a lot of money, it’s that charging owners to attend an informational property update seems wrong and designed to discourage attendance.

 

[vacation dreaming]

They could sell pastries and coffee at the event but charging to attend the update is ridiculous. The resort manager should be willing to meet with owners, and expected to exhibit a customer service attitude, not charge for his/her time. Whoever created this charge is creating a very negative impression of how management views owners and customers. (I have owned since construction and have never heard of this)

 

[daviator]

They could sell pastries and coffee at the event but charging to attend the update is ridiculous. The resort manager should be willing to meet with owners, and expected to exhibit a customer service attitude, not charge for his/her time. Whoever created this charge is creating a very negative impression of how management views owners and customers. (I have owned since construction and have never heard of this)

I have also owned since pre-construction and this is a first for me too.

 

[dioxide45]

Not only is it $10, but you also have to make a reservation.

 

[Eric B]

Perhaps owners there should call the resort manager’s staff and make an appointment to get an update personally without the $10 charge. If enough did, maybe they’d get the message and stop it.

 

[geist1223]

I look at these whenever we are there (last time Jan 2024) and don't ever remember seeing this before. Many moons ago there used to be free owners 'welcome breakfasts' at WKORVN on Monday morning (I think) where they would take you through what events were on that week etc.

Mistake.

 

[Superchief]

I could understand a nominal charge if all guests at the resort at the time are invited. However, I don't think anyone who is staying there as an owner (home resort, MVC points, MVC II exchange) should be charged this fee. I have to admit that I'm tired of paying for the cost for activities of people who have no skin in the game and are driving up our annual MF's.