Harborside Resort...how strict?

[zendala]

According to the Starwood Vacation Exchange Company Disclosure Guide . . .

It may not be fair, but it is not against the rules to rent out SVN exchanges. I would say about 1/2 of the rental son redweek/myresortnetwork for Harborside are exhanges that have already been made, or that they will try to get for you.
Mark

I was following this thread and up to this point agreed with the determination that renting an SVN exchange is OK, but then I found this ...
and
I am not sure that it is "not against the rules" to rent out an SVN exchange. According to the Starwood Vacation Exchange Company Disclosure Guide (I received when applied to join SVN for my SBP unit).

Section 8.2 SVN Member Rentals. An SVN Member may reserve a Vacation Period at the SVN Member’s Home Resort and rent it on the SVN Member's own account. All renters must comply with the rules and regulations of the Resort Documents affecting occupancy, and the renting SVN Member will be responsible for the acts or omissions of the SVN Member's renters or any other person or persons permitted by the SVN Member to use the Unit. Rental by an SVN Member of Units reserved through SVN (other than a Vacation Period reserved at the SVN Member’s Home Resort) is prohibited.

I would take that to mean that if you own at VV, you may rent out a unit at VV, your home resort - not reserve through SVN a unit at Harborside and rent at Harborside.

This seems to make sense and protects the rights of those who have paid for a more expensive unit, that only they should be entitled to reap the benefit of a higher rental value when reserving their Weeks or Options.

Of course a rule is only as good as its enforcement! And Starwood doesn't seem to be...

Do all owners get this same document?

 

[iluvwdw]

Wow, I never noticed that before. But if in fact it is true, why would they let me reserve FOUR villas in my name for the same week? I can't be in 4 places at once, now can I?? Obviously it is not enforced.

 

[mariawolf]

Clearly they would let you do that because it could be family etc. using the units. I own week 52 at Harborside which last year included Christmas day and I wanted to be home for Christmas so I rented mine and for whatever reason they would not let me put the name of the renter in the reservation notice--reservation was in my name and then they put the renters name in the remarks of the reservation so maybe if you rent it and then put it in someone elses name is how they figure it out???

 

[iluvwdw]

Clearly they would let you do that because it could be family etc. using the units. I own week 52 at Harborside which last year included Christmas day and I wanted to be home for Christmas so I rented mine and for whatever reason they would not let me put the name of the renter in the reservation notice--reservation was in my name and then they put the renters name in the remarks of the reservation so maybe if you rent it and then put it in someone elses name is how they figure it out???

I guess you are right. I have 3 villas for family/friends and 1 that is going unused, which is the reason I am renting this year. I may actually just end up "renting" it to another friend! Then there will be about 15 of us there the same time. (3 are staying in Beach Towers)

 

[arlene22]

I submitted the question to mystarcentral and received this reply:

"As an owner, you can rent out your SVN reservation. Only owners can make or modify the reservation, but if you wish a friend, family or co-worker come in your place, that is allowed. We just need the name and address of the adult in charge who will check in. If they pay you money for this, that is between the two parties."

So whether or not there is a rule on the books, clearly they allow it.

~Arlene

 

[mariawolf]

Thanks Arlene, now that makes sense why they wouldn't take the reservation out of my name and just put the rentor in the remarks--they obviously don't want someone other than the owner changing the reservation-at some point they might enforce the rules that are there--I know last year I got burned by changing/cancelling reservations within 60 days and could only re book within a 30 day window--that rule has been on the books but only recently enforced.

 

[gmarine]

I submitted the question to mystarcentral and received this reply:

"As an owner, you can rent out your SVN reservation. Only owners can make or modify the reservation, but if you wish a friend, family or co-worker come in your place, that is allowed. We just need the name and address of the adult in charge who will check in. If they pay you money for this, that is between the two parties."

So whether or not there is a rule on the books, clearly they allow it.

~Arlene

If it is on the books then they can enforce it if they choose to. Just as II can enforce the same rule by cancelling exchanges, Starwood can likely do the same. All it will take is some unhappy owners at a particular resort who realize there are renters using units that were exchanged for who then complain to Starwood. If it is on the books then it is just a matter of time.

There is no excuse for breaking the rules in the Starwood agreement. Whether
owners agree with the policy or not, they agree to it when they buy and should follow these rules.

 

[arlene22]

gmarine, I would agree, except that Starwood itself says it is okay if you ask. They would have a hard time penalizing someone for something they themselves said was okay. II has no such ambiguity about their rules.

Seems to me they are taking a "don't ask, don't tell" type of approach to this. As a Harborside owner, I am okay with that. It let's people like Kim, the OP, salvage a week and options that might otherwise be wasted, while giving Starwood the authority to step in if someone abuses the system. Works for me (since I was the one whining "not fair" earlier ).

But I do agree that there is a risk, however small, for renter and rentee that Starwood could enforce this rule against them.

~Arlene

 

[mariawolf]

The problem is that at some time they will start to enforce the rule and they will do it without notice--this is exactly what happened to me with the penalty for canceling a reservations within 60 days--my guess is that if this renting rule changes we will be lucky enough to see it posted here!

 

[gmarine]

gmarine, I would agree, except that Starwood itself says it is okay if you ask. They would have a hard time penalizing someone for something they themselves said was okay. II has no such ambiguity about their rules.

Seems to me they are taking a "don't ask, don't tell" type of approach to this. As a Harborside owner, I am okay with that. It let's people like Kim, the OP, salvage a week and options that might otherwise be wasted, while giving Starwood the authority to step in if someone abuses the system. Works for me (since I was the one whining "not fair" earlier ).

But I do agree that there is a risk, however small, for renter and rentee that Starwood could enforce this rule against them.

~Arlene

Because a phone rep says it is ok doesnt mean much unless you have it in writing. Too many times employees give out the wrong info. If it was enforced and the only defense you had was saying "***** said it was ok" you might have a hard time.

 

[bigfrank]

Regarding the towels. I was just there and all they did is look at the card, In fact half the times I never even had to take it out of the envelope. The problem you may have if there are too many people in the room is I do not think they will be able to take a meal plan if they want. As stated I would tell them to bring an Aerobed unless they want one kid in the king bed with them and the other 3 on the sofa.

 

[arlene22]

Because a phone rep says it is ok doesnt mean much unless you have it in writing. Too many times employees give out the wrong info. If it was enforced and the only defense you had was saying "***** said it was ok" you might have a hard time.

Presumably, anyone who wants it in writing can submit the question on mystarcentral and get the same answer I got. I agree that there is a risk involved, and personally, I'm not crazy about the idea of people trading in and renting out at my home resort, but I think Starwood would have a hard time enforcing a rule against someone who had an email from owner services saying it was fine.

 

[iluvwdw]

I am sorry that my original post has caused so much controversy! But like I said, when I called, I specifically mentioned I was renting it out and they told me that was fine, but there are 4 max in the room. I am also glad to see the response you got from MYSTARCENTRAL, Arlene. At least I know I am not doing anything morally WRONG! And like I said earlier, if it were REALLY against the rules, why would they let me book 4 villas in my name for the same 9 days? Obviously I am not sleeping in every room! And if I did "rent" out a room or two, how would they know at the resort? They wouldn't. For all they know, it could just be another member of my family staying in the room.

With all of that said, I am probably "renting" it out to my friends parents in the end, and they only have 2 in their room! So at least I don't have to worry about that.

Now our plans are almost complete. We will have 15 in our party!!

Now to get airfare...

 

[arlene22]

Sounds like you are going to have a great time! Enjoy.

 

[mkfisher]

My understanding through the experience of others is that daily wristbands are given based on the "legal" occupants registered to the room. Folks staying in the room off of the registration radar will not be granted wristbands...