CLOSED: Thread Dedicated to the Upcoming/Anticipated Integration of Vistana & Marriott Ownerships (Marriott Link + Vistana Discussion)

[jabberwocky]

Questions below pertain to the scenario of a resale 2 bedroom lockoff week purchased at WKORVN (mandatory)
1. Can we still split the two bedroom reservation into a studio and 1 bedroom?
2. Can we use staroptions to stay somewhere else in the vistana system?

Wife and I are strongly considering buying a week on the resale market at either WKORV south or north and are trying to figure out what the downsides would be with the program merger.

To answer your first question, yes, you can book both sides separately, so you could stretch it out to two weeks if you would like.

 

[grgs]

Went to a general info session at Nanea. The sales rep gave me the DP points for our various units. It matches prior reports.

Update: the SDO week that is listed at 81,000 SOs/1,500 DPs is a true plat 1 bedroom premium unit. Not a 1-52 Gold Plus week.

 

[TravelTime]

Went to a general info session at Nanea. The sales rep gave me the DP points for our various units. It matches prior reports.

Those are great point values for some of the weeks.

 

[PlayInTheDirt]

Went to a general info session at Nanea. The sales rep gave me the DP points for our various units. It matches prior reports.

I'm assuming you own 'qualified' (either developer purchased or later requalified) weeks - correct?
And the current guess is 'non-qualified' (resale) WKV weeks are not eligible for converting to DC points?

 

[dioxide45]

Those are great point values for some of the weeks.

It certainly doesn't look like a great number for SDO 81K Gold Plus weeks. Most of those weeks can book 1-52. I can't recall the 81K Orlando number, but it looks like they pegged SDO quite a bit lower.

 

[grgs]

I'm assuming you own 'qualified' (either developer purchased or later requalified) weeks - correct?
And the current guess is 'non-qualified' (resale) WKV weeks are not eligible for converting to DC points?

Correct, all our weeks are either requalified or developer purchased.

I didn't ask about resale WKV weeks.

 

[grgs]

It certainly doesn't look like a great number for SDO 81K Gold Plus weeks. Most of those weeks can book 1-52. I can't recall the 81K Orlando number, but it looks like they pegged SDO quite a bit lower.

Just to clarify: the SDO week that is listed at 81,000 SOs/1,500 DPs is a true plat 1 bedroom premium unit. Not a 1-52 Gold Plus week. My bad for not saying that upfront. I'll add that info to the other post.

 

[dsmrp]

Just clarify: the SDO week that is listed at 81,000 SOs/1,500 DPs is a true plat 1 bedroom premium unit. Not a 1-52 Gold Plus week. My bad for not saying that upfront. I'll add that info to the other post.

1500 DPs still seem low for a true plat, even if 1 bdrm.

 

[grgs]

Those are great point values for some of the weeks.

The sales rep was pleasant and not agressive. Her one angle was that we should buy Maui, as we'll be locked out of future SO trades once all the Vistana Maui owners convert to DPs. The one thing I found ironic was that she kept saying we could get into WLR so easily via II getaways, and yet Marriott has assigned WLR a fairly high DP number (at least for Plat weeks).

That's one thing that has surprised me: WLR plat being assigned more points than WKV plat.

 

[Ken555]

1500 DPs still seem low for a true plat, even if 1 bdrm.

I’d say it’s an insult, not just “low”. They obviously don’t want these owners to exchange for DPs.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[dsmrp]

I’d say it’s an insult, not just “low”. They obviously don’t want these owners to exchange for DPs.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yeah, the WKV 81K option unit (1 bdrm ?? or 2bdrm gold) is 1100 points more, not quite double. Marriott obviously values Westin a lot more than Sheraton. I have set my expectations pretty low for my SVR.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

The sales rep was pleasant and not agressive. Her one angle was that we should buy Maui, as we'll be locked out of future SO trades once all the Vistana Maui owners convert to DPs. The one thing I found ironic was that she kept saying we could get into WLR so easily via II getaways, and yet Marriott has assigned WLR a fairly high DP number (at least for Plat weeks).

That's one thing that has surprised me: WLR plat being assigned more points than WKV plat.

Based on what I've heard so far, I don't think there will be a rush of Westin Maui owners converting to DP like the sales person stated:

1) Owners will have already made 12 month reservation for the following year for peak spring and summer dates by the time the DP Deposit deadline in October. This will allow for 12 and 8 month SO inventory for 1H use year to be in the system before the DPs are deposited.

2) An owner would need to be intentional about depositing DPs. This is not a natural act for many owners and they would need to learn how to trade DPs. However, there may be some long time owners who would like a change to different MVC resorts in the system so willing to undergo the effort to learn.

3) A Westin Maui owner is paying a high MF so it is risky to trade for an unknown DP unless they can see what they can trade into before they deposit. Especially relevant for the OV and OF owners. Might be less risky to rent out their unit and then buy what they really want. But that entails effort too.

4) Resale owners cannot enroll DPs without requal so this inventory is going nowhere or they will use SOs to trade, will deposit in II or Third Key. It's sad that MVC is excluding this inventory from access by the MVC DP community but other value traders in II and Third Key will potentially get access to this inventory.

5) If you are an owner on the fence as to whether you will use, why deposit in October prior year when you can cancel within 60 days in use year when more of your travel plans are known? This also allows more time to attract a renter before you cancel.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Based on what I've heard so far, I don't think there will be a rush of Westin Maui owners converting to DP like the sales person stated:

1) Owners will have already made 12 month reservation for the following year for peak spring and summer dates by the time the DP Deposit deadline in October. This will allow for 12 and 8 month SO inventory for 1H use year to be in the system before the DPs are deposited.

2) An owner would need to be intentional about depositing DPs. This is not a natural act for many owners and they would need to learn how to trade DPs. However, there may be some long time owners who would like a change to different resorts in the system so will take the effort to learn.

3) A Westin Maui owner is paying a high MF so it is risky to trade for an unknown DP unless they can see what they can trade into before they deposit. Especially relevant for the OV and OF owners. Might be less risky to rent out their unit and then buy what they really want. But that entails effort.

4) Resale owners cannot enroll DPs without requal so this inventory is going nowhere or they will use SOs to trade.

Agree with all of that. Our resale oceanfront Maui is going to remain in SO's. That is how I talked Rick into buying. It will be used as exactly what we bought. It will be something our son will love to inherit. Our daughter and other son wouldn't want the maintenance fees.

 

[Erinaadyn]

Just had Vistana owner update.
offered 39,000 sheraton flex points and to move into program 2 resales for $13,500 after an owners discount and a $1500 credit for staying at a Marriott property before our reservation.Worth it?
also own Harborside. Bought from developer.
salesman couldn’t tell us how many destination points it will convert to in Marriott system. Still waiting for word from above. Anyone have an idea why?

 

[dsmrp]

Based on what I've heard so far, I don't think there will be a rush of Westin Maui owners converting to DP like the sales person stated:

1) Owners will have already made 12 month reservation for the following year for peak spring and summer dates by the time the DP Deposit deadline in October. This will allow for 12 and 8 month SO inventory for 1H use year to be in the system before the DPs are deposited.

2) An owner would need to be intentional about depositing DPs. This is not a natural act for many owners and they would need to learn how to trade DPs. However, there may be some long time owners who would like a change to different MVC resorts in the system so willing to undergo the effort to learn.

3) A Westin Maui owner is paying a high MF so it is risky to trade for an unknown DP unless they can see what they can trade into before they deposit. Especially relevant for the OV and OF owners. Might be less risky to rent out their unit and then buy what they really want. But that entails effort.

4) Resale owners cannot enroll DPs without requal so this inventory is going nowhere or they will use SOs to trade.

5) If you are an owner on the fence as to whether you will use, why deposit in October prior year when you can cancel within 60 days in use year when more of your travel plans are known?

I wonder how many Maui owners are resale compared to direct buy. On TUG, I think it is skewed to resale. With the high MFs, why would a Maui resale owner want to requalify to be direct?

 

[VacationForever]

Just had Vistana owner update.
offered 39,000 sheraton flex points and to move into program 2 resales for $13,500 after an owners discount and a $1500 credit for staying at a Marriott property before our reservation.Worth it?
also own Harborside. Bought from developer.
salesman couldn’t tell us how many destination points it will convert to in Marriott system. Still waiting for word from above. Anyone have an idea why?

What do you own, resort, size and season?

 

[dioxide45]

People who regularly use their home resort don't really matter in the equation. Their units were available for StarOptions anyway. The main issue will be, how many owners in Maui that usually book via StarOptions will instead elect Club Points? That is what will really determine if Maui inventory will go down in VSN, not those that stay at their home resort. Given the valuation that we are seeing for Maui weeks, it makes more sense to convert to Club Points in hope of getting more nights, even if booking more nights might be a problem.

 

[dioxide45]

Agree with all of that. Our resale oceanfront Maui is going to remain in SO's. That is how I talked Rick into buying. It will be used as exactly what we bought. It will be something our son will love to inherit. Our daughter and other son wouldn't want the maintenance fees.

But it won't really remain in SOs because you never have the intention to use it for StarOption reservations. Your week would never have been available for VSN reservations.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

People who regularly use their home resort don't really matter in the equation. Their units were available for StarOptions anyway. The main issue will be, how many owners in Maui that usually book via StarOptions will instead elect Club Points? That is what will really determine if Maui inventory will go down in VSN, not those that stay at their home resort. Given the valuation that we are seeing for Maui weeks, it makes more sense to convert to Club Points in hope of getting more nights, even if booking more nights might be a problem.

Interesting thought. Can you give an example of how many more nights are possible with DPs?

I could see this potentially working for an IV owner - if skim doesn't take too much. But if a Maui owner had a 2 bdrm couldn't they already lock-off to get another guaranteed owner priority week at the 12 month mark in a smaller unit without all the DP uncertainty and hassle? I believe that owner could also lock off one side and then deposit as an SO for rebooking at 8 months if they need less than a week without the skim. But this is riskier availability. I don't think you can deposit half a unit in DPs. Isn't it all or nothing?

 

[sharr7]

Interesting thought. Can you give an example of how many more nights are possible with DPs?

I could see this potentially working for an IV owner - if skim doesn't take too much. But if a Maui owner had a 2 bdrm couldn't they already lock-off to get another guaranteed owner priority week at the 12 month mark in a smaller unit without all the DP uncertainty and hassle? I believe that owner could also lock off one side and then deposit as an SO for rebooking at 8 months if they need less than a week without the skim. But this is riskier availability. I don't think you can deposit half a unit in DPs. I believe it is all or nothing.

Have people with non-OF views been told they're getting 8,000+DP? I have a hard time believing that would/could happen. If you own IV I would expect more like 5500 DP based MVC resorts there.

OF people could certainly trade in for more time but it probably has to be at a lower view category, which may not be attractive to people who bought OF.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Here is a potential benefit of DP: If the DPs are high and a Maui owner wants cash out of their unit by renting to pay for other bills etc. One benefit of enrollment is to convert to DPs and then rent out your points instead of renting out the unit for a lot less hassle.

So if an OF owners has 8000(?) points, how much per point could they get by renting the points vs. renting a prime week on Redweek? Assuming .63 cents a point x 8000 points = $5040 which is about what you would get renting direct but a lot less hassle.

But if you own an EOY do you get 8000 points EOY? or 4k annually. Can you combine the 4K across years?

 

[Erinaadyn]

What do you own, resort, size and season?

149,000 Sheraton flex
95,700 Harborside 2 br lock off
2 resales: 95,700 2br. virgin grand and 95,700 3br Lock off villages key west

 

[Erinaadyn]

149,000 Sheraton flex
95,700 Harborside 2 br lock off
2 resales: 95,700 2br. virgin grand and 95,700 3br Lock off villages key west

Sorry that’s 2 br key west

 

[damianinpa]

Anyone know how many points a Florida Vistana 2 bedroom (not lock off) will get? Today, 81,000 staroptions and 126,000 Bonvoy points. Home season says Prime and VSN Season says Gold Plus under the 'what I own'. Also, is there any indication of when official word will be send to all owners. Seems like a lot of speculation right now on some of what is being reported from these owner updates.

 

[VacationForever]

149,000 Sheraton flex
95,700 Harborside 2 br lock off
2 resales: 95,700 2br. virgin grand and 95,700 3br Lock off villages key west

I have not been tracking St John property. 2BR L/O SVV prime season should covert to around 2900 DC points. I would probably do it for $13.5K to enroll the 2 resale weeks. However, I would want to get everything in writing that these would all qualify for DC enrollment.