Breaking news! See new SO chart!

[LisaRex]

As suspected when Starwood announced that WKORV OF owners would be assigned more SOs than OV/IV owners, it appears that exchangers can now use their SOs to guarantee an OF designation:

http://svo-web-static.s3.amazonaws.com/charts/svn_valuechart.pdf

Effective with 2017 reservations, here's the weekly SO chart for North and South:

THE WESTIN KĀ‘ANAPALI OCEAN RESORT VILLAS* LĀHAINĀ, MAUI, HAWAI‘I

2-BEDROOM LOCKOFF OCEANFRONT
176,700
2-BEDROOM LOCKOFF
148,100
1-BEDROOM PREMIUM OCEANFRONT
95,700
1-BEDROOM PREMIUM 81,000
STUDIO PREMIUM OCEANFRONT 81,000
STUDIO PREMIUM 67,100

Also, as suspected, Nanea 3 bdrms will have the same allotment as a 3 bdrm at WSJ in platinum plus season.

THE WESTIN NANEA OCEAN VILLAS* LĀHAINĀ, MAUI, HAWAI‘I

3-BEDROOM OCEANFRONT 257,700
2-BEDROOM OCEANFRONT 176,700
2-BEDROOM PREMIUM RESORT VIEW 148,100
1-BEDROOM PREMIUM RESORT VIEW 81,000

Some interesting changes to Sheraton Steamboat as well. It looks like a mountainside reservation will cost you more than the valley side, and now you'll have the ability to reserve hotel rooms (gasp) for SOs.

Current:
SHERATON STEAMBOAT RESORT VILLAS (MORNINGSIDE TOWER)
3-BEDROOM
Platinum+ 196,900
Platinum season 125,000
Gold Plus season 57,700
2-BEDROOM
148,100
95,700
46,500

Effective 2017:
SHERATON STEAMBOAT RESORT VILLAS (MORNINGSIDE TOWER)
3-BEDROOM MOUNTAIN SIDE
257,700
196,900
57,700
3-BEDROOM VALLEY SIDE
196,900
125,000
57,700
2-BEDROOM VALLEY SIDE
148,100
95,700
46,500

Effective with 2017 reservations.
SHERATON STEAMBOAT RESORT VILLAS

2-BEDROOM LOCKOFF
MOUNTAIN SIDE
176,700
148,100
46,500
1-BEDROOM PREMIUM
MOUNTAIN SIDE
95,700
81,000
25,800
STUDIO PREMIUM
MOUNTAIN SIDE
81,000
67,100
20,700
2-BEDROOM LOCKOFF
VALLEY SIDE
148,100
95,700
46,500
1-BEDROOM PREMIUM
VALLEY SIDE
81,000
51,700
25,800
STUDIO PREMIUM
VALLEY SIDE
67,100
44,000
20,700
HOTEL ROOM
VALLEY SIDE
50,000
30,000
15,000

*Effective with 2017 reservations

 

[okwiater]

Nice to see this codified on the SO chart -- it seems to definitively answer the question regarding the ability to book specific views using SOs. But unless I'm missing something, there don't appear to be any major surprises; both of these changes to the SO values were already known based on previous announcements.

 

[DeniseM]

it appears that exchangers can now use their SOs to guarantee an OF designation:

Not necessarily - that may just be how many Staroptions an OF owner gets if they trade out.

* I really don't see this happening, because it's not to Starwood's advantage. Right now, if an Ocean Front owner converts to Staroptions, Starwood can Hoover up the unit. They don't have to put it online for other owners to reserve, as long as they put another 2 bdm. in the pot.

 

[okwiater]

Not necessarily - that may just be how many Staroptions an OF owner gets if they trade out.

I don't think that's correct, for 2 reasons:

1. A similar situation exists for Vistana, but the following disclaimer is listed below the chart: "Weeks in Seasons available for Bella Phase Home Resort Owners to reserve in the Bella Phase may differ from the weeks in Seasons required by other Owners in the Starwood Vacation Network to access the Bella Phase." No such disclosure is made below the Steamboat Springs charts.
2. The Steamboat Springs East Tower chart includes view designations, but there are no owners at this tower and therefore nobody is trading out. So clearly this is meant to convey information relevant for trading in.

 

[SMHarman]

Not necessarily - that may just be how many Staroptions an OF owner gets if they trade out.

* I really don't see this happening, because it's not to Starwood's advantage. Right now, if an Ocean Front owner converts to Staroptions, Starwood can Hoover up the unit. They don't have to put it online for other owners to reserve, as long as they put another 2 bdm. in the pot.

I'm with Lisa here. This is the points needed to book a space.

As noted in the Orlando week's the points to book may not be equal to the points granted but in 95% or cases that are.

At this rate I may need to amp up my shopping for a single side of a WKV lock off.

 

[LisaRex]

Not necessarily - that may just be how many Staroptions an OF owner gets if they trade out.

I don't think so. Then I think their StarOption chart would be both misleading and confusing. And when they've done funky things like this in other phases, they note it on the chart itself. Example: "*StarOptions amounts required for Sheraton Desert Oasis Home Resort Owners to access Sheraton Desert Oasis may differ from the amounts required by other Owners in the Starwood Vacation NetworkSM program to access this resort."

Most importantly, this provides an incentive for the vast majority of their owners who are 67,100/81,000/148,100 owners to buy another week, possibly in low season.

Worst case scenario, this would allow them to collect more SOs for OF exchangers where previously they've upgraded exchangers into these villas for no additional SOs. This past December, I was upgraded to OF Deluxe for the entire time I was on Maui, and I paid nothing additional for this.

 

[DeniseM]

I believe that the only reason that change was made was so that the OF owners at WKORV and WKORVN, get the same number of SO's as WNORV.

Starwood takes care of Starwood - there is no benefit to them if they allow owners to book Ocean Front units with Staroptions.

But it's hard to say, because sometimes Starwood seems like they make decisions that are not well thought out - we'll see what happens.

 

[LisaRex]

Starwood takes care of Starwood - there is no benefit to them if they allow owners to book Ocean Front units with Staroptions.

No benefit? How about more timeshare sales? Or, another scenario I can envision is Starwood allowing owners to buy those extra SOs at a nice markup.

FYI, both Hilton and Marriott charge exchangers more points for OF. It only makes sense to me.

 

[LisaRex]

At this rate I may need to amp up my shopping for a single side of a WKV lock off.

This is precisely WHY it's a good marketing tool.

 

[SMHarman]

This is precisely WHY it's a good marketing tool.

Though ask again in Mid Feb. It could be WSJ um shopping for!

 

[DavidnRobin]

'Guarantee'...
I assume that this also means based on availability...
So one can get OF with SOs (at 8-months) if available which goes to Denise's point.

 

[LisaRex]

'Guarantee'...
I assume that this also means based on availability...
So one can get OF with SOs (at 8-months) if available which goes to Denise's point.

Well, of course, it's based on availability. Now that OF owners are given more SOs, they have more incentive to exchange to other resorts. And there's nothing to say that it's ONLY at the 8 month mark that you'll see OF availability. You might see an OF unit pop up 3 months prior to arrival, or possibly even at check-in.

 

[sjsharkie]

Not necessarily - that may just be how many Staroptions an OF owner gets if they trade out.

* I really don't see this happening, because it's not to Starwood's advantage. Right now, if an Ocean Front owner converts to Staroptions, Starwood can Hoover up the unit. They don't have to put it online for other owners to reserve, as long as they put another 2 bdm. in the pot.

I look at it another way Denise.

I think they will allow it, but now they've shut out the vast majority of owners who only own a single unit from reserving an ocean front unit at any of these properties without borrowing/banking. In return, these units have a greater chance of not being booked and going back into the Starwood pool for rental.

I think it is unfair to people who say bought at WPORV where there is no view designation, and they will now be forced to either take a non-ocean view unit, or pony up more options for OV.

I hate it, but knew it was coming. All they've done is devalue the options of current owners in favor of the owners who own where they are developing more units for sale.

-ryan

 

[DavidnRobin]

At 8 months or less - of course.
Previously there was speculation that somehow OF would be open at 12-8 months for owners of OF at other resorts (not correct...)

Overall - it may lead me to exchange the OF studio side for a 1Bd at various resorts (at <8 months). Right now I am renting it because of lack of sufficient vacation time per year but that will change in 2017. So, I might be inclined to exchange the studio now that it is 81K SO.

 

[DavidnRobin]

I think it is unfair to people who say bought at WPORV where there is no view designation, and they will now be forced to either take a non-ocean view unit, or pony up more options for OV.

Ryan - I do not understand this comment. An WPORV owner has 148.1K SO - that they can use as they see fit - it is the OF that was altered - not other views. What has changed for a WPORV owner?

 

[sjsharkie]

Ryan - I do not understand this comment. An WPORV owner has 148.1K SO - that they can use as they see fit - it is the OF that was altered - not other views. What has changed for a WPORV owner?

They have a reduced pool to rent from. Now, instead of being able to trade into any 2br at WKORV/N/NN, they only have access to the island view pool without borrowing/banking.

Since there are no view designations at WPORV, their SO buying power is essentially decreased.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[GregT]

Overall - it may lead me to exchange the OF studio side for a 1Bd at various resorts (at <8 months). Right now I am renting it because of lack of sufficient vacation time per year but that will change in 2017. So, I might be inclined to exchange the studio now that it is 81K SO.

This is a great example -- I think it would be appealing to trade a Studio OF for a 1BR somewhere....even if back into WKORV. Personally, I like this because I love OF's and don't mind the extra SO's.

Best,

Greg

 

[LisaRex]

They have a reduced pool to rent from. Now, instead of being able to trade into any 2br at WKORV/N/NN, they only have access to the island view pool without borrowing/banking.

Correction: They'd only have access to island view and ocean view, but not ocean front.

 

[lizap]

I suspect there will be few OFs available at 8 months out for those who want to use SOs, but we'll see..

 

[Ken555]

Correction: They'd only have access to island view and ocean view, but not ocean front.

Exactly. I don't see this change as a significant impact on my use of WKORV, nor ability to trade in. There are owners who will no doubt use more SOs to trade into OF, and their trade will similarly release a week in OV/IV that I could grab.

I see this change as offering more choice for owners, at a cost, and could be used advantageously. In the past we have had no way to guarantee OF with a StarOption exchange so now, perhaps for a special trip, we have the option to spend more to get a better unit (of course, I predict a number of complaints about receiving first floor units that really don't have much of a view).


Sent from my iPad

 

[alwysonvac]

This is a great example -- I think it would be appealing to trade a Studio OF for a 1BR somewhere....even if back into WKORV. Personally, I like this because I love OF's and don't mind the extra SO's.

Best,

Greg

Me too...:whoopie:

This was something that was seriously lacking with Starwood. It now puts them on par with the other hotel based timeshares where owners have the option of using more points for a better view (HGVC, Disney & Marriott)

 

[DavidnRobin]

Correction: They'd only have access to island view and ocean view, but not ocean front.

Correct - I do not see how my WPORV has been devalued. Because I can't get OF at WKORV/N/NN? It was unlikely I would get OF anyway if I exchanged WPORV other than 'surprise and delight' which is rare - or end up on low floor, or OF that has obstructed ocean front view (like some WKORVN villas).

Which brings up a good point - even those using SOs to exchange into OF (<8mo) starting in 2017 are likely going to get lesser locations (lower floors, or farther away from ocean like at WKORVN). I wonder which resort will be more targeted for OF reservations?

What is misaligned SO-wise is that the OFD has same SOs as other OF villas, but MF and size is larger

 

[LisaRex]

What is misaligned SO-wise is that the OFD has same SOs as other OF villas, but MF and size is larger

I agree. FWIW.

 

[Markus]

More SOs

Hopefully they also increase SOs at Lagunamar for the Oceanside weeks.

Markus

 

[lizap]

This is an excellent point - I was thinking the same thing. All OF units are not equal. A couple of years ago when we stayed at WKORV, I was told that our 2 BR was considered OF (that we got it since I was the first in line because I had called in first at 8 months out). We loved the unit we were in, but would not say it had a great OF view. Our unit's balcony overlooked a parking lot with a side view to the ocean, but it was quite a distance. The unit was a corner unit with lots of windows, which we loved. I don't remember the views of other OF units at WKORV, but we stay at Marriott Ocean Pointe almost every year. There are units there that are considered OF on the first and second floors that have obscured views; I suspect WKORV may be similar. I would not be a happy camper if I had spent extra points for OF and got a first or second floor unit with obscured views.

Correct - I do not see how my WPORV has been devalued. Because I can't get OF at WKORV/N/NN? It was unlikely I would get OF anyway if I exchanged WPORV other than 'surprise and delight' which is rare - or end up on low floor, or OF that has obstructed ocean front view (like some WKORVN villas).

Which brings up a good point - even those using SOs to exchange into OF (<8mo) starting in 2017 are likely going to get lesser locations (lower floors, or farther away from ocean like at WKORVN). I wonder which resort will be more targeted for OF reservations?

What is misaligned SO-wise is that the OFD has same SOs as other OF villas, but MF and size is larger