DSV I survey about use of JW facilities

[applegirl]

I was incorrect about the amount of money that is added on to the yearly MF's for the Spa and fitness center privilege. The amount has been $46 a year recently, corrected by cp73 (Chris). That's for EVERY week of ownership at the resort. If I knew how many units there were I could figure it out quickly.

Wait a minute I have a property map...let me look...

Looks like there are 25 buildings. As I remember I think there are usually 8 or 10 units per building so I'm going to use the average 9 to figure this out.

Okay, I just called DSV and asked. They have 236 units in phase one!
So 236 units X $46 X 51 (weeks of ownership) is $553,656 a year that the Spa and fitness center garner from this sweet little deal.

How can the Spa really afford to lose 1/2 million dollars a year by not renewing the contract? Times are tough as it is, so I really don't get it if they discontinue the privileges, which is what sounds most likely.

Janna

 

[cp73]

Okay, I just called DSV and asked. They have 236 units in phase one!So 236 units X $46 X 51 (weeks of ownership) is $553,656 a year that the Spa and fitness center garner from this sweet little deal.

How can the Spa really afford to lose 1/2 million dollars a year by not renewing the contract? Times are tough as it is, so I really don't get it if they discontinue the privileges, which is what sounds most likely.
Janna

Janna,

Great comment. I agree with you. I dont see how they walk away from that. DSV I must be their biggest customer. I am sure most the people who stay never go over to the spa. Or if they do it might be for one or two days.

I am also concerned about losing the use of the pools at JW. This was also part of the agreement. My girls love the JW pools and hate the pools at DSV I or II.

 

[Superchief]

Is Royal Palms losing resort facility access?

I noticed there was a special assessment for the Royal Palms MF to build a new fitness center. I hope this doesn't indicate that access to the Marriott World Center facilities will be stopped in the near future. With the downturn in MVC, is Marriott trying to separate the timeshares from the resorts?

 

[EducatedConsumer]

Have any Phase I owners received anything in writing yet from the GM or HOA about the spa access ending at the end of the year?

We will be at DSVI in January and have not received any communication other then the usual from Marriott.

 

[Cathyb]

DSV I spa

Have any Phase I owners received anything in writing yet from the GM or HOA about the spa access ending at the end of the year?

We will be at DSVI in January and have not received any communication other then the usual from Marriott.

Owner going in February -- to my knowledge, no official words.....

 

[OutAndAbout]

I'm all for a pay-as-you-play system with outside vendors including Marriott hotels near MVCI resorts; it doesn't seem fair that all timeshare owners subsidize outside activities through maintenance fees.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

At $46/week that's about US$7/day

What do you get for $7/day?

Over the past 20 years we have had a 'Recreational Agreement' in place with the adjoining JW Marriott Resort that includes access to their spa, spa fitness center, tennis courts and pools.

Let's go through these:
*Spa (notice that "fitness center" and "pools" are separate line items) - Is there anything gratis in the Spa? Can't anyone, staying at the Marriott or not, pay the exact same for a massage? If so, this sounds like marketing gibberish as there's no incremental value.
*Spa fitness center - Doesn't the timeshare has its own fitness center? If so, do owners need/want two fitness centers? If the hotel one is "better" then shouldn't they shut the one at the timeshare? (if they had full use at the hotel)
*Tennis courts - It seems these courts are "free" for DSV II, which makes me wonder if tennis is really part of the $46 fee.. {As SueDonJ pointed out, at Barony 100% of owners paid for tennis while only 10% actually used the tennis courts}
*Pools - Pretty sure DSV I has these too. Are the hotel/spa pools worth US$7/day (and increasing to about $11/day)?

DSV I isn't just favored due to the JW access, but also the villas are larger than other Marriott timeshare villas.

I don't know what the survey results were, but I give the HOA credit for standing up to Marriott and not overpaying for the "perk."

Let the hotel/spa go a without the assurance of $550k/year (thanks applegirl for doing the math) plus the ancillary spa revenue and see what they come back to the table with.

 

[jcr]

We bought specifically because of that agreement and were told that it would most likely never change. It did change when they decided to do the massive unnecessary rebuild of the spa. DSVI had free access to all the fitness classes. All of a sudden, because of the remodel, we had to start paying $10.00 per class without any warning. Not only that, parking used to be free and with the remodel, they put up a booth and started charging everyone for parking.

Although perturbed, it was still worth it. The classes were high caliber - great instructors. I got a better workout there than at my home gyms. Wherever we travel, the first thing I do is stake out local gyms to get my fix. None of the other Marriotts compared to what this particular center offered. Not only that, there was no turnover in instructors - or extremely rare. I'd see the same people year after year in these classes who basically also bought DSVI because of this perk. My husband is a master's swimmer. The lap pool was the draw for him. It is just too difficult to get his workout in any of the other property pools.

As for the DSVI being larger. Yes, very attractive, but when we bought in 2001, the units were extremely rundown with no upgrading on the horizon. They are now upgrading in stages, but we have yet to stay in a remodelled unit. Again, we didn't care because fitness mattered more than the condition of the unit. I know it sounds insane, but it's true. I'm re-reading this thinking I sound like a lunatic.

We've never used the spa for massage or whatever else it is they do there so can't say anything about that. Everything seems to have started going downhill just after the remodel.

Just heard the assistant GM resigned today. When I called today about the contract, the front desk still claims there is no decision as of yet. For us, it'll matter only because of the pool. I don't think they will be offering classes much longer since the fitness staff was let go. It'll be interesting to see what it's like in a couple of weeks when we visit.

 

[EducatedConsumer]

We bought specifically because of that agreement and were told that it would most likely never change. It did change when they decided to do the massive unnecessary rebuild of the spa. DSVI had free access to all the fitness classes. All of a sudden, because of the remodel, we had to start paying $10.00 per class without any warning. Not only that, parking used to be free and with the remodel, they put up a booth and started charging everyone for parking.

Although perturbed, it was still worth it. The classes were high caliber - great instructors. I got a better workout there than at my home gyms. Wherever we travel, the first thing I do is stake out local gyms to get my fix. None of the other Marriotts compared to what this particular center offered. Not only that, there was no turnover in instructors - or extremely rare. I'd see the same people year after year in these classes who basically also bought DSVI because of this perk. My husband is a master's swimmer. The lap pool was the draw for him. It is just too difficult to get his workout in any of the other property pools.

As for the DSVI being larger. Yes, very attractive, but when we bought in 2001, the units were extremely rundown with no upgrading on the horizon. They are now upgrading in stages, but we have yet to stay in a remodelled unit. Again, we didn't care because fitness mattered more than the condition of the unit. I know it sounds insane, but it's true. I'm re-reading this thinking I sound like a lunatic.

We've never used the spa for massage or whatever else it is they do there so can't say anything about that. Everything seems to have started going downhill just after the remodel.

Just heard the assistant GM resigned today. When I called today about the contract, the front desk still claims there is no decision as of yet. For us, it'll matter only because of the pool. I don't think they will be offering classes much longer since the fitness staff was let go. It'll be interesting to see what it's like in a couple of weeks when we visit.

I enthusiastically second much of what you wrote.

I didn't know that the fitness staff were let go. When did that happen? Bob too? Most of the fitness staff have been there for years.

What we still don't know is why is the spa/hotel perk not renewed. Did the hotel say no? Increase their fees? Did the DSVI Board say no? It's all a mystery and there still seems to be no communication from the Board.

 

[jcr]

I have no idea why it happened. The fitness staff was let go two weeks ago and Friday was their last day. Bob too, after 17 years I believe. In terms of the contract, I don't recall seeing anything at all in the Minutes about the contract renewal, but then again, I don't read those things that carefully. Glad to know there is someone here who also loved the fitness center. I am going to call again tomorrow and see if there is anymore information. The front desk at DSVI is definitely aware of the contract negotiation - they don't sound surprised and have a ready answer "no news yet".

 

[EducatedConsumer]

I have no idea why it happened. The fitness staff was let go two weeks ago and Friday was their last day. Bob too, after 17 years I believe. In terms of the contract, I don't recall seeing anything at all in the Minutes about the contract renewal, but then again, I don't read those things that carefully. Glad to know there is someone here who also loved the fitness center. I am going to call again tomorrow and see if there is anymore information. The front desk at DSVI is definitely aware of the contract negotiation - they don't sound surprised and have a ready answer "no news yet".

When we last stayed at the hotel the hotel looked like a deserted island. We were told that their bookings were down dramatically and that the same was expected for this winter. Many of the restaurants were closed and the few that were open had reduced hours. Our convention rate was the lowest it had ever been. We noticed something was off at the spa, and I could not put my finger on what it was. I could not tell if it was employee morale, dismissive management, no business, or something else. The mood at the spa was flat.

I wonder if Marriott's strategy is to do to the spa what they did to the restaurants, mothball them until the economy turns around. If the spa is bleeding, this would be one way to cut their losses. Do you think the fitness center were layed off due to the end of the DSV contract?

If the spa/hotel perks do come to an end, I hope DSV acts quickly to raise the bar on their fitness center, as the equipment is a fraction of that at the hotel. I wonder how DSV is going to accommodate all of their guests.

All very sad. I'm far less concerned about our inconvenience then the loss of jobs for the Marriott's talented fitness center staff.

We are staying at the Westin in Rancho Mirage and then Desert Springs in January. It'll be interesting to see what's going on at the Westin.

 

[jcr]

We're heading to DSVI today. I called this morning and they said the contract is still in effect until Jan 1. After that, DSVI will no longer have access. "The fitness center was dissolved". However, for this week, they will be having classes. They do not know what will happen after January 1.

 

[applegirl]

We're heading to DSVI today. I called this morning and they said the contract is still in effect until Jan 1. After that, DSVI will no longer have access. "The fitness center was dissolved". However, for this week, they will be having classes. They do not know what will happen after January 1.

Wow! They are just going to close the fitness center over at the spa?!?!?!?! That is such a nice facility. HOw can a large, high end resort like the JW Marriott NOT have a top notch fitness center for it's guests who sometimes are paying $400 and $500 a night for an average resort room?

I just really don't get what's going on with the Spa and fitness center. I know the economy has affected their revenue, but it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense to severe their ties with all the DSV I owners they have been serving for 25 years and close their fitness center.

This is not sounding good at all....

Janna

 

[gardon]

Sad News About DSV1

What can be done now that the agreement has not been renewed? Is it a done deal or can pressure be put on our Board of Directors to go back to the table and negotiate a deal for us? Surely they must recognize that spa/fitness and tennis privileges are what sets DSV1 apart from all the rest. As many people have already indicated, that is why we own this particular timeshare. Without this agreement, our investment is devalued. Who should be contacted?