Have any Royal owners heard AI rumours for renters and exchangers? [merged]

[tikicarver]

Totally agree with your statement above. They should not have mandatory AI for exchangers. If people think exchangers are coming in an using their resort for free, then they don't know what an exchange is. We all pay a MX fee.
The exchange companies should tell any resort that wants to charge a mandatory AI fee for exchangers, that they are dropping them from the system.
The whole idea of depositing my unit with II is so I can exchange it for a similar unit at another resort. Why would anyone want to trade into a place that they had to pay several $1000 for food that they don't want.

If you want to charge for renters, that is another story.

 

[dpatchie]

RR AI not for me

One of the reasons I purchased my second unit with RR after owning one, was that they did not have the AI. I really don't like resorts that lock you in to their locations, and usually at a very high price.
My husband and I routinely spend at least two weeks in Cancun at RC, we own one week there, and I usually rent a second to back the first.
There are a myriad of excellent places to eat in Cancun, and I don't like the idea of being "required" to pay the AI fee and always dine at their restaurants.
You might say that it does not "require" you to eat all of your meals there, but for the price I pay, I would feel that I was waisting money if I go elsewhere.
Keep RR the way it is, it has been working and working well for 30+ years for the company and the members. I, for one, am not looking forward to the change.

 

[BoaterMike]

One of the reasons I purchased my second unit with RR after owning one, was that they did not have the AI. I really don't like resorts that lock you in to their locations, and usually at a very high price.
My husband and I routinely spend at least two weeks in Cancun at RC, we own one week there, and I usually rent a second to back the first.
There are a myriad of excellent places to eat in Cancun, and I don't like the idea of being "required" to pay the AI fee and always dine at their restaurants.
You might say that it does not "require" you to eat all of your meals there, but for the price I pay, I would feel that I was waisting money if I go elsewhere.
Keep RR the way it is, it has been working and working well for 30+ years for the company and the members. I, for one, am not looking forward to the change.

At least, as an owner, you aren't required to purchase the AI. And, they have not confirmed that RC will be going AI. As far as your own use is concerned you can continue to enjoy your meals off-site just like you have in the past.

Mike

 

[hillsk]

Marriotts acquiring Royals in 2013?

Just returned from AMAZING week at RH. I too, heard this rumor. The way I understood it was that renters will be OBLIGED to do all inclusive but it will be optional for owners. Makes sense to me, why own if you can rent and not have to worry about maintenance fees, etc?

I also heard rumor that 2 companies are in the running for taking over Mayan when contract expires next year, one being Marriott. I am hoping this is true and perhaps we could "trade" or upgrade our Canyon Villa Platinum week for a week in Mexico instead!!!

We heard a Marriott Destinations Program sales pitch last week. One of the new things we heard is that Marriott is pretty close to acquiring 7 Royal Resorts in Mexico early next year. That led to a discussion about The Royal Sands and Royal Haciendas going all-inclusive as of 10/27/12. The sales rep knew nothing of this as I pressed to find out how Marriott would handle the AI going forward if the acquisition goes thru. Has anyone else heard anything more about this?

 

[suzannesimon]

I haven't heard that, but would love to have the Royals in the Marriott program. I imagine it would be really easy to get rid of the AI. Just change the policy going forward.

 

[maja651]

We heard a Marriott Destinations Program sales pitch last week. One of the new things we heard is that Marriott is pretty close to acquiring 7 Royal Resorts in Mexico early next year. That led to a discussion about The Royal Sands and Royal Haciendas going all-inclusive as of 10/27/12. The sales rep knew nothing of this as I pressed to find out how Marriott would handle the AI going forward if the acquisition goes thru. Has anyone else heard anything more about this?

This is interesting news. I don't understand 7 though, unless they are counting Grand Residence?

Royal Cancun (VCI)
Royal Mayan
Royal Carribean
Royal Islander
Royal Sands
Royal Haciendas

I am wondering if Marriott is considering this as a part of buying the Royal Mayan? Maybe they are making an all or nothing offer to the Royals?

We enjoy trading into the Marriott timeshares, but I am not sure what their maintenance fees are or how they manage things such as promises, etc. I am surprised the Royals would consider selling out all of the Royals.

Michelle

 

[ilene13]

We heard a Marriott Destinations Program sales pitch last week. One of the new things we heard is that Marriott is pretty close to acquiring 7 Royal Resorts in Mexico early next year. That led to a discussion about The Royal Sands and Royal Haciendas going all-inclusive as of 10/27/12. The sales rep knew nothing of this as I pressed to find out how Marriott would handle the AI going forward if the acquisition goes thru. Has anyone else heard anything more about this?

We own 4 platinum Marriott weeks, 2 weeks at the Royal Sands and 1 week at the Royal Haciendas. As far as I know there has been no talk of this merger. Also there are only 6 RR in Mexico and the Royal Mayan's RTU is up in 2013 and there is talk of that property being sold.
The Marriott timeshares we own are wonderful but they do not offer the amenities---daily maid service that the RR do. Also, our maintenance fees in Aruba and Hilton Head are much higher than our RR fees. I hope there is no truth to the rumor.

Also I would like to know where you went for that DC sales pitch.

 

[hillsk]

We own 4 platinum Marriott weeks, 2 weeks at the Royal Sands and 1 week at the Royal Haciendas. As far as I know there has been no talk of this merger. Also there are only 6 RR in Mexico and the Royal Mayan's RTU is up in 2013 and there is talk of that property being sold.
The Marriott timeshares we own are wonderful but they do not offer the amenities---daily maid service that the RR do. Also, our maintenance fees in Aruba and Hilton Head are much higher than our RR fees. I hope there is no truth to the rumor.

Also I would like to know where you went for that DC sales pitch.

We were at Marriott's Oceana Palms (Singer Island, FL). We had mentioned how much we like Royal Haciendas and exchange into it. The rep had been there and the Sands many times and was anxious to share the great news that Marriott was close to this "acquisition." We have a daughter who owns at the Haciendas, so I was very curious and asked lots of questions. It sounded like if this goes through, Royal owners' ownership will not be affected in any way but that the Royals will now be available to Marriott owners (like the additions of the Autograph Collection and Edition and AC Hotels). The rep said "all 7 Royals" but maybe he meant 6 or was including the Residences. Anyway, that's when I asked about the all-inclusive that starts next month at The Sands and Haciendas, and he knew nothing of that at all. In fact, he was shocked. I suggested he do some fact-finding if he's going to talk about Royals in his presentation. We did not join Destinations nor did we buy Trust points; so I am not sure how this possible acquisition will affect us going forward. Maybe we can use Reward points to stay or continue II exchanges . . . although the AI fees is a huge turnoff.

 

[alfie]

There actually are 7 Royals if you count the El Castellano Condo/Hotel in Merida.

 

[maja651]

There actually are 7 Royals if you count the El Castellano Condo/Hotel in Merida.

That is actually not a part of the Royals anymore. The Royals help manage it, but it is not a RR. I asked about this last year after I stayed at El Castellano, because it does not meet RR standards. My sales person from the Royals is the person who told me it is no longer a RR.

 

[jschmidt]

If the Marriott rumor is true, it could get very complicated!

Here are some of the things I’m thinking: The current situation is that the Royal Resorts will not profit from the sale of the Royal Mayan. So are the developers going to try and sell the entire operation and try to make another huge profit? :ignore: But wait a minute, each resort has an expiration date, then it will be sold and the proceeds split between members and developers. Will a new owner who just bought a resort sell it and re-buy it when the expiration date arrives? If so, will a resort be re-bought for the real current market value? Should the members get the Marriott purchase money instead of the developers? :whoopie:

I’m sure there are many more scenarios. If this actually happens, it may be time to get a lawyer!

 

[heathpack]

If the Marriott rumor is true, it could get very complicated!

Here are some of the things I’m thinking: The current situation is that the Royal Resorts will not profit from the sale of the Royal Mayan. So are the developers going to try and sell the entire operation and try to make another huge profit? :ignore: But wait a minute, each resort has an expiration date, then it will be sold and the proceeds split between members and developers. Will a new owner who just bought a resort sell it and re-buy it when the expiration date arrives? If so, will a resort be re-bought for the real current market value? Should the members get the Marriott purchase money instead of the developers? :whoopie:

I’m sure there are many more scenarios. If this actually happens, it may be time to get a lawyer!

I wonder if there is a grain a truth in this if perhaps it is that Marriott might be looking to buy the Royal Mayan when its term is over. I could see them buying it, renovating and adding a Cancun property to their line up. Not that I actually know anything about it0 I own neither Marriott nor a Royal...

H

 

[Gussie]

It could be as simple as making excess inventory available to Marriott owners...

 

[maciec]

Does anyone know when they are making AI madatory at the Tri's or if they are? I would really like to squeeze one last trip in beofre they go that way.

 

[suzannesimon]

According to the Mexico Forum, it starts Week 43.

 

[ilene13]

According to the Mexico Forum, it starts Week 43.

Week 43 is only for the Royal Sands and the Royal Haciendas. There has not been any confirmation that the Triroyals are going AI.

 

[maciec]

Week 43 is only for the Royal Sands and the Royal Haciendas. There has not been any confirmation that the Triroyals are going AI.

Well I will certainly keep my fingers crossed they don't!

 

[maciec]

I have a question!

We decided to go ahead and rent from an owner I found here on TUG yay! for November of 2013 at the Sands. If we decide to fl down on Friday as opposed to Saturday, can the owner also book us a 1 night room stay without having to pay AI fees? How do we get around the AI for that one night?

 

[pjrose]

I have a question!

We decided to go ahead and rent from an owner I found here on TUG yay! for November of 2013 at the Sands. If we decide to fl down on Friday as opposed to Saturday, can the owner also book us a 1 night room stay without having to pay AI fees? How do we get around the AI for that one night?

The owner can't rent you a night unless s/he also owns the week before and is willing to split that week up. S/he might be able to get a night through ISCO and then have a guest certificate issued in your name....that would avoid AI.....but note that it's highly unlikely you'd be in the same villa.

You can check TUG or OMCancun.com or Redweek.com or RoyalWeek.com to see if any owners are advertising just the one night. My guess is that a year ahead of time, you're unlikely to find anyone who is willing to split up their week(s).

You could also look at Travelocity, Expedia, etc and rent a night at a hotel. We've done that at the Omni and it even included a very good breakfast buffet for all four of us.

In any case, you might be able to get a head start on your Saturday check-in at The Royal Sands. If they know you're arriving early they can put your villa on an earlier cleaning schedule.

 

[maciec]

I didn't have any luck in January with an owner willing to give me that one night so I am doubtful I will be able to find it this year. I really could care less if we are in the same villa and have to move. It's only1 night and it wasn't hard to do. I haven't even looked to see what 1 night would cost us through RR website or any others for that matter. Hopefully we are able to get good times with our FF miles and not have to fly in on Friday.

Thanks

 

[momeason]

That is actually not a part of the Royals anymore. The Royals help manage it, but it is not a RR. I asked about this last year after I stayed at El Castellano, because it does not meet RR standards. My sales person from the Royals is the person who told me it is no longer a RR.

On the way back to the Royal Sands after going to RH, the salesman mentioned Club Internationale as owned by Royal Resorts.

 

[pjrose]

The post to which you responded was about El Castellano, a hotel (not timeshare) in Merida.

Club International or Vacation Club International (aka VCI) in Cancun was the first Royal Resort, and when its 30 year trust expired it was renewed and renamed The Royal Cancun (oft confused with a similarly named property developed by a different group). There are still weeks available for sale.

It's quite different than the other Royals, more like a village of low buildings, gorgeous landscaping, very shallow sea, very quiet.

 

[momeason]

Totally agree with your statement above. They should not have mandatory AI for exchangers. If people think exchangers are coming in an using their resort for free, then they don't know what an exchange is. We all pay a MX fee.
The exchange companies should tell any resort that wants to charge a mandatory AI fee for exchangers, that they are dropping them from the system.
The whole idea of depositing my unit with II is so I can exchange it for a similar unit at another resort. Why would anyone want to trade into a place that they had to pay several $1000 for food that they don't want.

If you want to charge for renters, that is another story.

The sales presentation at the RH said AI would attract a higher income clientele. The owners (imho RR management) do not like for people to buy cheap getaways and then use their pools,towels, etc when they are paying over $900 in MFs for their week. (This makes the owners investment look unnecessary as it is with most timeshares.) The salesman said RR did not renew their contract with RCI because RCI wanted RR to treat owners and exchangers the same and RR did not want to do this.
The AI was presented as $105 pp per day. Not as high as I expected, but I do not spend $105 per day on drinks and food. I spend less than $200 pp on food most weeks on vacation. I love to travel. If I took 1-2 weeks vacation a year, I might blow a wad. I would rather be careful with money and travel 12 weeks a year.

 

[ilene13]

The sales presentation at the RH said AI would attract a higher income clientele. The owners (imho RR management) do not like for people to buy cheap getaways and then use their pools,towels, etc when they are paying over $900 in MFs for their week. (This makes the owners investment look unnecessary as it is with most timeshares.) The salesman said RR did not renew their contract with RCI because RCI wanted RR to treat owners and exchangers the same and RR did not want to do this.
The AI was presented as $105 pp per day. Not as high as I expected, but I do not spend $105 per day on drinks and food. I spend less than $200 pp on food most weeks on vacation. I love to travel. If I took 1-2 weeks vacation a year, I might blow a wad. I would rather be careful with money and travel 12 weeks a year.

The only RR that was with RCI is the Royal Mayan. The others trade through II and the Mayan trades through both.

 

[KarenLK]

I think VCI still has some trades through RCI. El Castellano WAS and maybe still is a timeshare, at least in part...Edited to add that it is still in the II catalog. AND VCI is till listed in the RCI catalog.