Barony Beach Club considering Thur and Mon Weeks Check-in Days

[SueDonJ]

Something new and different from the latest GM Newsletter:

Seeking Feedback on Possible Adjustment to Current Check-In Days
Both the Board and Management Team would like your feedback on the possibility of expanding the designated check-in days for Weeks Owners. Currently the Association’s Bylaws only allow Weeks Owners to reserve a week-long stay on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. During the November 12, 2015 Board Meeting, the Board and Management Team discussed the possibility of expanding these days to include Thursday and Monday, which would provide five possible arrival days versus three. The majority of the inventory would be kept for the three main days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and a small percentage of inventory would be available on Thursday and Monday. This would allow for Weeks Owners to reserve a week from Thursday to Thursday, and Monday to Monday. Please share your feedback on this possibility by emailing your Board of Directors by April 15, 2016 at MVCIBBCOB~AT~vacationclub.com.

I don't feel strongly about this either way but one good thing in favor of it is, flights are less expensive on Monday and Thursday.

 

[dioxide45]

Grande Vista already has Thursday and Monday checkin days. Harbour Lake has the added Thur. Really doesn't impact us much. More flexibility I suppose. I always wonder how they allocate inventory among the checkin days. If it is 20% each day, I think that could cause issues since most people probably want to checkin on a Sat or Sun. If they only allocate a small percentage to the Thur and Mon I think it would work well and give those that want it the option to use it.

 

[SueDonJ]

A few of the Hilton Head resorts have fixed/floating Weeks with Saturday-only check-ins but most are the Fri-Sat-Sun three days. I wonder if the others are also considering this or if Barony is alone; will be interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[wisbadgerm]

Could the fact that DC point reservations can begin/end any weekday have an impact on this decision? It may be that some front desk staffing is required for these reservations makes this change cost less to implement. And the change might give them more flexibility to take DC point reservations with fewer open/lost days.

 

[pedro47]

Sounds great if you are already retired. The head of a household or a two family working household will probably need to take off an extra day or more from work. Maybe, someone is looking at the numbers of national holidays that fall on Monday's and Thursday's. This is only my opinion.

However,I like these new option for check- in.

 

[jd2601]

I am concerned this will take days away from weekend checkin and make a Saturday or Sunday checkin more difficult. It is great to give flexibility but some folks have purchased with different rules and work. Saturday typically is the first day not available for booking.

It does seem like this is a move to support multiple days with DC points and give more availability.

I am sure Marriott will do what is most beneficial for the Corporation.

 

[pedro47]

I am concerned this will take days away from weekend checkin and make a Saturday or Sunday checkin more difficult. It is great to give flexibility but some folks have purchased with different rules and work. Saturday typically is the first day not available for booking.

It does seem like this is a move to support multiple days with DC points and give more availability.

I am sure Marriott will do what is most beneficial for the Corporation.

Good observation this could reduce Saturday and Sunday checkin.

 

[Weimaraner]

Just from my personal experience at Surf Club:
Negatives:
1.Monday check ins have been harder to rent out.
2. We own Plat Plus President's Week and one time we ended up with a Week checking OUT on President's Day. They insisted it's Week 7 President's Week. I remember another owner who was very unhappy about it on Tug. I got rid of the week and set up an II exchange for February and received SAME week with checkout on Mon Pres Day and it was labelled Week 6.

Positives:
1. Airfare was cheaper on Monday
2. Getting thru airport was a breeze
3. Easier for resort to clean rooms and alleviate wait at lobby.

 

[Old Hickory]

Mid-week check-in is good. I'll look closer at Baroney and others who offer that alternative.

 

[Old Hickory]

Just from my personal experience at Surf Club:
Negatives:
1.Monday check ins have been harder to rent out.
2. We own Plat Plus President's Week and one time we ended up with a Week checking OUT on President's Day. They insisted it's Week 7 President's Week. I remember another owner who was very unhappy about it on Tug. I got rid of the week and set up an II exchange for February and received SAME week with checkout on Mon Pres Day and it was labelled Week 6.

Positives:
1. Airfare was cheaper on Monday
2. Getting thru airport was a breeze
3. Easier for resort to clean rooms and alleviate wait at lobby.

4. Fewer parents (and their kids) on mid-week flights.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Labor issue? Adding two additional days may be a way to smooth out the turnover process and make it far easier for the room cleaning staff to clean and prepare all the available Villas between 10 am and 4 pm. (since they will have five days instead of the compressed three days).

Using this scenario, every Villa will not only be ready on time, but maybe even earlier on turnover days.

Additionally, it may make hiring staff easier since it will become a five day work week for most of the staff. Obviously coverage will be needed every day due to the Destination Club, but many of the housekeepers could have Tuesday/Wednesday off on a regular basis.



.

 

[davidvel]

I am concerned this will take days away from weekend checkin and make a Saturday or Sunday checkin more difficult. It is great to give flexibility but some folks have purchased with different rules and work. Saturday typically is the first day not available for booking.

It does seem like this is a move to support multiple days with DC points and give more availability.

I am sure Marriott will do what is most beneficial for the Corporation.

Yes, if I had to bet it would be that MANAGEMENT (aka Marriott DC) came up with this novel idea. Great way to shift extra cost of midweek checkins from DC to the Hoa/weeks owners. They're not stupid.

 

[BocaBoy]

I really don't think this proposal is driven primarily be benefit MVCI. The easiest for them overall would probably be a single check-in day. I truly believe the primary purpose is to give more flexibility to meet owner desires, especially those who are not DC enrolled.

 

[BocaBoy]

A few of the Hilton Head resorts have fixed/floating Weeks with Saturday-only check-ins but most are the Fri-Sat-Sun three days.

Harbour Club weeks all have a Sunday check-in date.

 

[SueDonJ]

I really don't think this proposal is driven primarily be benefit MVCI. The easiest for them overall would probably be a single check-in day. I truly believe the primary purpose is to give more flexibility to meet owner desires, especially those who are not DC enrolled.

That's what I'm thinking. Plus, it's not too difficult to implement as far as staffing changes because since the DC, Housekeeping staff has already increased on what used to be non-changeover days.

 

[SueDonJ]

Harbour Club weeks all have a Sunday check-in date.

Good to know, thanks!

 

[Quilter]

Labor issue? Adding two additional days may be a way to smooth out the turnover process and make it far easier for the room cleaning staff to clean and prepare all the available Villas between 10 am and 4 pm. (since they will have five days instead of the compressed three days).

Using this scenario, every Villa will not only be ready on time, but maybe even earlier on turnover days.

Additionally, it may make hiring staff easier since it will become a five day work week for most of the staff. Obviously coverage will be needed every day due to the Destination Club, but many of the housekeepers could have Tuesday/Wednesday off on a regular basis.
.

My understanding is that this was one of the main reasons Ocean Pointe went to Thurs. check-ins. There was a number of owners who were delighted with the arrangement because of reduced air costs and check-in stress.

Yes it does reduce the number of Saturday and Sunday check-ins but it also reduces the number of owners competing for Saturday and Sunday.

The proposal does say the majority of reservations will remain for Fri./Sat./Sun. with a smaller percentage being designated for Mon. & Thurs. At least that sounds more reasonable than dividing it equally.

 

[andrea t]

I like having the choice. In 3 weeks I check into Surf Club ... On a Monday. Air from NY was very low!

 

[dioxide45]

I highly doubt that this has anything to do with DC. MVCI can already facilitate checkin any day of the week. SO having or not having Thursday and Monday checkins does nothing for DC.

Either owners are writing the board asking for these additional checkin days or someone on the board wants these additional checkin days to be allowed for themselves. That is really what it is all about.

 

[davidvel]

I highly doubt that this has anything to do with DC. MVCI can already facilitate checkin any day of the week. SO having or not having Thursday and Monday checkins does nothing for DC.

Either owners are writing the board asking for these additional checkin days or someone on the board wants these additional checkin days to be allowed for themselves. That is really what it is all about.

That's what I'm thinking. Plus, it's not too difficult to implement as far as staffing changes because since the DC, Housekeeping staff has already increased on what used to be non-changeover days.

It doesn't change anything functionally, but if they add MON and THU checkin days at the HOA level (which just may be big DC check-in days), its harder for the HOA to argue that DC check-ins on MON/THU are added cost, as opposed to HOA cost.

If there are no weeks check-ins on MON/THU its much more transparent and harder for MVC/DC to pass these as HOA costs. Adding these days reverses the burden, making it harder for the (MVC controlled) HOA to claim that the extra costs--both front desk and cleaning-- are attributable to the DC.

Many have noted in MF threads that there have been huge increases in admin costs that seem to be only partially reimbursed by DC.

If someone can show that this idea came from an independent HOA board member(do these exist?) vs Marriott, the "innocent" motive would be easier to establish.

I don't know either way, but to dismiss it seems a bit naive.

 

[tschwa2]

Hilton Head, unlike some of the other MVCI locations is primarily a drive to location. Sure some take flights but other than facilitating partial week stays I don't see this as beneficial to all but a few owners. I also think this move is to justify the costs associated with the short stays by DC members and assign those costs to the weeks owners.

 

[FlyerBobcat]

I am also wondering about that exact week when Marriott changes to Thursday and/or Monday check-ins. How do the logistics of switching to the Thursday/Monday weeks work (when the previous week did not have those check-in days)? Maybe the DC reservations fill in the possible day gaps?

 

[disneymom1]

Hilton Head, unlike some of the other MVCI locations is primarily a drive to location. Sure some take flights but other than facilitating partial week stays I don't see this as beneficial to all but a few owners. I also think this move is to justify the costs associated with the short stays by DC members and assign those costs to the weeks owners.

Agree. I would think the majority of owners, since most are driving, would still prefer a Fri/Sat/Sun check in.

 

[SueDonJ]

I've never understood the thinking that Housekeeping costs for DC Points stays can be "hidden" somehow so that it's easy for MVW to charge Weeks Owners for them. Every reservation confirmation clearly states whether Weeks, Points, Cash or Marriott Rewards Points are being used, and it's a simple accounting/IT function to debit Housekeeping costs correctly.

Why is there this pervading sense that MVW is only too willing to take significant risks with mandated regulations re inventory control and ownership costs? I just don't get it. Angst over MVW not being as concerned as Owners are about keeping costs to a minimum, that I get. Angst over MVW shifting easily-audited DC-related costs onto Weeks Owners, which would put MVW's licenses and business at risk, that boggles my mind.

 

[csxjohn]

...
Yes it does reduce the number of Saturday and Sunday check-ins but it also reduces the number of owners competing for Saturday and Sunday.

....

From which check-in days will the demand for Thur or Mon check-ins come from?

I think it will be hard to predict but one thing is for sure, if you need a Sat or Sun because you work, you will still be seeking those days and there will be fewer of them to choose from if this goes through.