Gary, when your making a request using the "assignment" method as you describe above, do you know if II will allow your on-going request for search to be beyond the 12 months? I believe that with a request first method, your search cannot be more than 12 months. This is what I heard from II rep.
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Call to Starwood about new system
- Thread starter gmarine
- Start date
Gary, when your making a request using the "assignment" method as you describe above, do you know if II will allow your on-going request for search to be beyond the 12 months? I believe that with a request first method, your search cannot be more than 12 months. This is what I heard from II rep.
barndweller
TUG Member
Bogey
When using the request first method you can continue to do online searches but you are restricted to the check-out date on the unit against which you have placed the request. You cannot search a full two years out with that unit anymore. How it would work using a Starwood unit now with the new system is not certain. The June 30th date has been thrown around but I still don't understand it. June 30th of what year?
When using the request first method you can continue to do online searches but you are restricted to the check-out date on the unit against which you have placed the request. You cannot search a full two years out with that unit anymore. How it would work using a Starwood unit now with the new system is not certain. The June 30th date has been thrown around but I still don't understand it. June 30th of what year?
barndweller
TUG Member
Okay, just re-read gmarine's post. It looks like a "request first" would allow you to search until June 30 of 2011 and NOT a full 2 years. That is because Starwood is only showing 2009 units in our accounts. My 2009 is no longer available but I have no way to search using 2010 unless I call Starwood to put in a request. Would my searches allow me to look until June 30, 2012?
SCMom
TUG Member
Guinea Pig
I am new to Starwood and II, as I just closed on an EY SDO last week. This whole thing blew up as I was closing! And I bought just to trade.... But I knew there were no guarantees. Yesterday I booked two weeks with the two sides of my 2 bedroom. I booked a two bedroom at the Hyatt Pinon Point in Sedona for the week of October 31 with one side of SDO and a ski week, January 23rd at the Hyatt High Sierra Lodge in Tahoe with the other side. I have a Gold Plus designation for SDO, but it seems to be seeing all the Marriott and Hyatt and other nice resorts. I know that the Sedona is not high season, but Tahoe certainly is! So, this is all new to me, but I was plenty happy to trade by 2 bedroom into 2 two bedrooms at those two resorts..
Emily
I am new to Starwood and II, as I just closed on an EY SDO last week. This whole thing blew up as I was closing! And I bought just to trade.... But I knew there were no guarantees. Yesterday I booked two weeks with the two sides of my 2 bedroom. I booked a two bedroom at the Hyatt Pinon Point in Sedona for the week of October 31 with one side of SDO and a ski week, January 23rd at the Hyatt High Sierra Lodge in Tahoe with the other side. I have a Gold Plus designation for SDO, but it seems to be seeing all the Marriott and Hyatt and other nice resorts. I know that the Sedona is not high season, but Tahoe certainly is! So, this is all new to me, but I was plenty happy to trade by 2 bedroom into 2 two bedrooms at those two resorts..
Emily
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Maybe all of us should call II and tell them we want refunds. I think that would shake them up a bit, and since they are going along with this decision to limit our exchange possibilities, I will consider moving everything to another exchange company. I am selling my Foxrun weeks anyway, already sold one...two to go.
Twinkstarr
TUG Member
I am new to Starwood and II, as I just closed on an EY SDO last week. This whole thing blew up as I was closing! And I bought just to trade.... But I knew there were no guarantees. Yesterday I booked two weeks with the two sides of my 2 bedroom. I booked a two bedroom at the Hyatt Pinon Point in Sedona for the week of October 31 with one side of SDO and a ski week, January 23rd at the Hyatt High Sierra Lodge in Tahoe with the other side. I have a Gold Plus designation for SDO, but it seems to be seeing all the Marriott and Hyatt and other nice resorts. I know that the Sedona is not high season, but Tahoe certainly is! So, this is all new to me, but I was plenty happy to trade by 2 bedroom into 2 two bedrooms at those two resorts..
Emily
Good job Emily, nabbing that Hyatt Tahoe in January.
K2Quick
TUG Member
I am new to Starwood and II, as I just closed on an EY SDO last week. This whole thing blew up as I was closing! And I bought just to trade.... But I knew there were no guarantees. Yesterday I booked two weeks with the two sides of my 2 bedroom. I booked a two bedroom at the Hyatt Pinon Point in Sedona for the week of October 31 with one side of SDO and a ski week, January 23rd at the Hyatt High Sierra Lodge in Tahoe with the other side. I have a Gold Plus designation for SDO, but it seems to be seeing all the Marriott and Hyatt and other nice resorts. I know that the Sedona is not high season, but Tahoe certainly is! So, this is all new to me, but I was plenty happy to trade by 2 bedroom into 2 two bedrooms at those two resorts..
Emily
Based on the this and limited other sightings from guinea pigs, I'm going to keep my pitchfork in the shed for now. As long as I can see with this new system everything that I could see before under the old system, I have no complaint. The execution of the roll-out of the system was abysmal and questionable from an ethical perspective (has anybody gotten one of these new, tailored-for-Starwood II guides yet?), but I don't seem to have lost anything from a trading power perspective.
Twinkstarr
TUG Member
When did the new tailored for *wood II guides come out? I've talked to someone at the Starwood desk in March and
.I talked to someone last week and they were very nice. I need to make another call as I want to double check a couple of codes at a resort I've rented from in the past(many sections and I have all but 2 of the codes figured out).
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Most people will not even notice a difference, because they just know things worked before. They trusted Starwood, allowed the company to make a deposit of a week, and they searched against that week.
Many of the people who were unhappy, because they didn't have the trading power they desired, so they paid postcard companies to take their weeks.
Many of the people who were unhappy, because they didn't have the trading power they desired, so they paid postcard companies to take their weeks.
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I was on a conferance call with Starwood director and a supervisor today. Here's the deal.
Currently you cannot search or confirm an exchange more than 12 months out from the current date. This really stinks. Another words you cant even search for October of 2010 using your 2010 week. According to Starwood this is something they are evaluating.
You also cannot keep a reservation at your home resort while an ongoing search is pending. If you have a reservation and then enter an ongoing search your search or your reservation has to be canceled. This to me is a huge disappointment. You can no longer use your home resort reservation as a back up if you dont receive an exchange confirmation. I asked them to reevaluate this as well.
The Starwood reps were very nice and did agree that changes need to be made and are being considered.
They are also looking for opinions from owners. The Starwood director gave me permission to give out her contact info. If you would like to share your opinion of the system and let them know you would like changes made, please send me a PM and I will give the email/phone information and/or answer any questions you have.
George
Currently you cannot search or confirm an exchange more than 12 months out from the current date. This really stinks. Another words you cant even search for October of 2010 using your 2010 week. According to Starwood this is something they are evaluating.
You also cannot keep a reservation at your home resort while an ongoing search is pending. If you have a reservation and then enter an ongoing search your search or your reservation has to be canceled. This to me is a huge disappointment. You can no longer use your home resort reservation as a back up if you dont receive an exchange confirmation. I asked them to reevaluate this as well.
The Starwood reps were very nice and did agree that changes need to be made and are being considered.
They are also looking for opinions from owners. The Starwood director gave me permission to give out her contact info. If you would like to share your opinion of the system and let them know you would like changes made, please send me a PM and I will give the email/phone information and/or answer any questions you have.
George
barndweller
TUG Member
Thank you Emily & George
You have both cleared up my concerns and I think I now know my suspicions are indeed reality. I certainly can make the new system work for me but I am bummed about not being able to keep my reservation when putting in a request. I see no advantage to doing a deposit except to save my week for beyond the 12 months I am able to search right now without requesting or contacting Starwood. This new system certainly levels the playing field for all non-SVN owners (except fixed week owners...a whole nother issue!)
Emily, just my opinion but as an owner of 4 weeks in Sedona where we go often, your October exchange is terrific. Summer may be high demand but it is the worst season weatherwise. Monsoon season, with frequent thunderstorms and high humidity. October is awesome, perfect temps for hiking and the lower sun makes the colors more intense. The trees turn color, too. It is our favorite time in Sedona. Pinon Point is a great location right in the center of town. We had a 2 bedroom there once and enjoyed our stay. Just be prepared if you like to do any of your own meals. The kitchens are very poorly designed. But the units are very nicely appointed other than that. Very nice exchanges.
You have both cleared up my concerns and I think I now know my suspicions are indeed reality. I certainly can make the new system work for me but I am bummed about not being able to keep my reservation when putting in a request. I see no advantage to doing a deposit except to save my week for beyond the 12 months I am able to search right now without requesting or contacting Starwood. This new system certainly levels the playing field for all non-SVN owners (except fixed week owners...a whole nother issue!)
Emily, just my opinion but as an owner of 4 weeks in Sedona where we go often, your October exchange is terrific. Summer may be high demand but it is the worst season weatherwise. Monsoon season, with frequent thunderstorms and high humidity. October is awesome, perfect temps for hiking and the lower sun makes the colors more intense. The trees turn color, too. It is our favorite time in Sedona. Pinon Point is a great location right in the center of town. We had a 2 bedroom there once and enjoyed our stay. Just be prepared if you like to do any of your own meals. The kitchens are very poorly designed. But the units are very nicely appointed other than that. Very nice exchanges.
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So right now, I have an old deposit that expires March 2011. I can put in a search for anything until then. I just put in a pending request for February 2011.
With the new system, is it true then that I would not be able to search for anything beyond one year from today?! That is incredibly annoying to me and not very useful. I am often planning 18 months out, so I am already thinking about Easter 2011.
With the new system, is it true then that I would not be able to search for anything beyond one year from today?! That is incredibly annoying to me and not very useful. I am often planning 18 months out, so I am already thinking about Easter 2011.
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Incredibly annoying is a nice way to put it. But yes, you cant do anything more than one year out. And you cant have a reservation at your home resort and use that reservation for an ongoing request.
Twinkstarr
TUG Member
Incredibly annoying is a nice way to put it. But yes, you cant do anything more than one year out. And you cant have a reservation at your home resort and use that reservation for an ongoing request.
That's a going to be a real pain, as I usually put my ongoing searches in before 12 months.
Incredibly annoying is a nice way to put it. But yes, you cant do anything more than one year out. And you cant have a reservation at your home resort and use that reservation for an ongoing request.
I know many on the marriott forum that have gotten exchanges into platinum seasons with a gold season beating out other platinum season exchangers just b/c the request was put in earlier. Not having the ability to go beyond 12 months is a hugh issue for me!
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The date a request is entered with II is only a factor in trade power if all other things are equal.
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I think the real advantage isn't that there is such a boost in trade power with the earlier request, but that the request is in place before any of the units are deposited. As the first units hit II, II will match them with on-going requests. So if a Gold week is already looking for the deposited week and there isn't a stronger trading week looking for the deposited week- voila, the request made by the Gold week owner is granted.
I called and left a message yesterday morning to the person gmarine provided contact information to but I have not heard back from her.
I spoke to her yesterday and pretty much got the same spiel that george received. They are considering extending the 12 month request/exchange limitation. The other issues like unable to keep existing reservation at home resort if you want to exchange I'm not sure if they are really going to do anything about it. She also mentioned to me that she is interested in the opinions of other owners so I think the more people call and express their feelings about this, the more consideration they will give to us tuggers.
When I spoke with her, I did not get the feeling that many people had complained about the new process with II. Djyamyam, she will return your call it might just take a couple of days.
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I think the reason they arent getting many complaints is because they havent sent notifications to owners yet. If you dont follow TUG or another message board that is talking about it, then you dont know anything about it.
The new system absolutely sucks. Next week I'm contacting II to let them know I'm unhappy with the system and wont be depositing anymore Starwood weeks because of it.
I know I've been saying I'm waiting to see what changes they make but the more I think about it, the more annoyed I'm getting with Starwood.
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Starwood follow up call
Starwood followed up with me today and they are already working with II to change the search period in the new system from one year out to two years out. It appears Starwood is listening to us and taking action.
Starwood followed up with me today and they are already working with II to change the search period in the new system from one year out to two years out. It appears Starwood is listening to us and taking action.
i spoke to a specialist who said they are trying to figure out with II why the future years weeks went away and how to correct it.
also confirmed the SI 2 (gold plus) coding for SDO 1-52 weeks are best that's going to be.
platinum is SI 3
also confirmed the SI 2 (gold plus) coding for SDO 1-52 weeks are best that's going to be.
platinum is SI 3
The original Sheraton Desert Oasis owners bought 1-52 red weeks, not seasons. It was first come, first serve. What legal right does Starwood have to reduce the value of our ownerships to a gold plus season?
I think the correct action is for Starwood to continue to treat non-SVN 1-52 floating weeks as they have always been. We are exceptions to the SVN system they created and should not be treated like 2nd class Starwood citizens. I should have the right to request the week I own on a first come, first serve basis, just like all of us always have. I should have the right to disposition the week as I see fit. This action by Starwood is wrong!!!
Is it legal??? Starwood, please reverse this unilateral decision against the interests of non-SVN owners. Communicate with us. Give us choices. Let us decide. Up until today, I have always sung the praises of the Starwood and Interval International brands. Everywhere I go, I let people know I am a big fan of timeshares. I want to be able to continue to do so. However, this action, if it stands, seriously devalues my ownerships. I feel it leaves me with no choice but to stop exchanging my Sheraton Desert Oasis timeshares with II.
I think the correct action is for Starwood to continue to treat non-SVN 1-52 floating weeks as they have always been. We are exceptions to the SVN system they created and should not be treated like 2nd class Starwood citizens. I should have the right to request the week I own on a first come, first serve basis, just like all of us always have. I should have the right to disposition the week as I see fit. This action by Starwood is wrong!!!
Is it legal??? Starwood, please reverse this unilateral decision against the interests of non-SVN owners. Communicate with us. Give us choices. Let us decide. Up until today, I have always sung the praises of the Starwood and Interval International brands. Everywhere I go, I let people know I am a big fan of timeshares. I want to be able to continue to do so. However, this action, if it stands, seriously devalues my ownerships. I feel it leaves me with no choice but to stop exchanging my Sheraton Desert Oasis timeshares with II.
For someone who just purchased SDO (not closed yet) strictly as a trader, I am more concerned in the decrease in trading power than the 12+ month search capability. I was really wanting to get into WKORV in either November or Feb/Mar. Now I have no idea what kind of chances I will have. Any thoughts?
pacman
DeniseM
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I think you have a good chance in Nov. - but if you look back through the Sightings for Feb. and Mar., you will find very few. As we talked about over on the Sightings Board - Feb./Mar. is high season, and Starwood hangs onto those weeks for owners. However, we have no idea how Starwood is going to make deposits in the future.