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

[X-ring]

[My experience led me to buy two additional replacement weeks at the Royal Resorts whose integrity I have come to trust implicitly over the last nine years.

Still trust them implicitly?[/QUOTE]

Hmm-m-m if any aspect of anyone's contract has been abrogated I guess I've missed it.

What article(s) in your contract have they broken?

 

[X-ring]

I think that the AI is really going to change the vibe for the resort.

That would be my main concern as long as the AI doesn't become mandatory for members. I would prefer the vibe to stay exactly as it is but unfortunately the world around us is changing and it is impacting the Royals as is obvious when you check the number of units listed for resale .

As we know, the economy has been rough for some the last few years and there may be more pain ahead. We also know that the RH and TRC are not sold out and under this circumstance, I understand (feel free to correct me) that the Royals assume the maintenance for these unsold units. If this situation were to continue for several more years (not an impossibility by any stretch), is there not a possibility that the management company itself would come under severe financial stress? Then where would that leave us?

The above has been of concern to me for a while. So personally I am pleased to see that they are proactively trying to do something to raise revenue and in the process minimize the possibility of eventually having to put our investment in our vacations at risk.

 

[jbuzzy11]

im also wondering if the owner has to be checked in to the resort for the guest of the owner to have the AI option waved? this way just renting from an owner wont be valid and the renter will have to pay the AI fees? ill be putting my exchange to the Royals on hold till I get some answers. sad all around.....

 

[pjrose]

im also wondering if the owner has to be checked in to the resort for the guest of the owner to have the AI option waved? this way just renting from an owner wont be valid and the renter will have to pay the AI fees? ill be putting my exchange to the Royals on hold till I get some answers. sad all around.....

At this point it doesn't SAY so, so I'd argue no. If they think of that....then it could become an issue.

I've got to go check my contracts to see what they say about renting and guests....

 

[kenie]

This is a response from Mark Carney to a poster on the Royal Resorts members forum.

"Mark Carney director of marketing and sales quickly answered my question. It doesn't get any clearer than this.

I do believe that there is a huge misunderstanding .You will of course
be able to continue to rent your weeks to whoever and at whatever price
you would like. The AI package does not need to be included.

The renters you book directly into your units will not have to pay the AI rate if you so wish. Nothing has changed for Members in that respect."

So it looks like owners can still rent their unit without the renter having to pay the AI fee.

They really shouldn't have announced this before they had the pricing and details in place.
It really does diminish their reputation...

 

[yumdrey]

This is a response from Mark Carney to a poster on the Royal Resorts members forum.

"Mark Carney director of marketing and sales quickly answered my question. It doesn't get any clearer than this.

I do believe that there is a huge misunderstanding .You will of course
be able to continue to rent your weeks to whoever and at whatever price
you would like. The AI package does not need to be included.

The renters you book directly into your units will not have to pay the AI rate if you so wish. Nothing has changed for Members in that respect."

So it looks like owners can still rent their unit without the renter having to pay the AI fee.

They really shouldn't have announced this before they had the pricing and details in place.
It really does diminish their reputation...

Then how about II exchangers?
Those royal weeks are deposited by owner, so exchangers are also excluded from AI?
That would be nice to hear.

 

[pjrose]

Then how about II exchangers?
Those royal weeks are deposited by owner, so exchangers are also excluded from AI?
That would be nice to hear.

I agree. It seems to me that member-owned weeks, on which members have paid maintenance fees, should be exempt whether occupied by member, friends, family, renter, OR exchanger. I sure hope that's the answer we get!

 

[BoaterMike]

I agree. It seems to me that member-owned weeks, on which members have paid maintenance fees, should be exempt whether occupied by member, friends, family, renter, OR exchanger. I sure hope that's the answer we get!

I hope so. Sure would be a nightmare to manage if that's not the case.

Mike

 

[radmoo]

I agree. It seems to me that member-owned weeks, on which members have paid maintenance fees, should be exempt whether occupied by member, friends, family, renter, OR exchanger. I sure hope that's the answer we get!

I was wondering same. We own RH week and a Marriott week. I have a Marriott week on deposit w/II and was hoping to trade for RH in 2013 so we can have back-to-back weeks. Hopefully we wouldn't be subject to AI the second week. If someone knows answer, please post or PM me.

Thanks

Meanwhile, we returned last Sat from an AMAZING stay at RH

 

[jbuzzy11]

I was wondering same. We own RH week and a Marriott week. I have a Marriott week on deposit w/II and was hoping to trade for RH in 2013 so we can have back-to-back weeks. Hopefully we wouldn't be subject to AI the second week. If someone knows answer, please post or PM me.

Thanks

Meanwhile, we returned last Sat from an AMAZING stay at RH

8. Which criteria determine whether the packages are optional?
All members registered in the membership agreement will have optional access regardless of how they are staying at the resort, e.g. a Royal Resorts member who exchanges or rents at Royal Resorts will have optional access to all packages.
Family and friends staying as guests of a member in their unit(s) will have optional access to all packages

 

[Phydeaux]

Then how about II exchangers?
Those royal weeks are deposited by owner, so exchangers are also excluded from AI?
That would be nice to hear.

That's not my interpretation. If a member deposits their villa, it's in the exchange pool, and they no longer control it. They are no longer renting it out, and thus have no idea who will be renting it. Therefore, my understanding is the mandatory AI would indeed be in effect. Only when the member themselves rents out their villa are the renters exempt from the AI package. So, rent from members if you don't want to be forced into the AI package.

 

[yumdrey]

But numerous times, when I exchanged into other resorts (Four Seasons, Willowbrook at lake harmony, Royal Sands, etc..), they treated me like an owner and offered owner discounts. several front desk people told me that it was owner deposit (even if it was one of developer bulk deposits) so I could enjoy owner benefits.

 

[kenie]

It sure would have been nice if they had figured out all the details before rolling this out.

 

[BoaterMike]

This post on the Royal Resorts News Ask Joanna page offers some clarification:

The all-inclusive packages will be optional for Royal Resorts members regardless of how they are staying at the resort, whether it is in their own villa or in a rental or exchanged unit. Family and friends staying as guests of a member in their unit(s) will have optional access to all packages.
With regard to your question about exchanging or renting additional space for your guests, I can clarify that if the rental, exchange or guest certificate reservation is in your name as a Royal Resorts member then access to the all-inclusive packages would be optional for the occupants. If the reservation is in the name of a non-member the all-inclusive package would be mandatory.
I hope that this helps answer your question. Please let me know if you have additional concerns.​

For what it's worth, we need to provide objective feedback to RR management about the exchange policy.

Mike

 

[pjrose]

Posts 86 and 77 are contradictory regarding rentals.

I'll go with 77, since Mark Carney is at the top of the chain.

Regarding non-owners who exchange in, nothing has been answered.

 

[tschwa2]

I think 86 is saying if you put your renter on your reservation as your "guest" who will be checking and your name remains on the reservation as the owner in then AI is optional. If a a non member rents through the resort or has a reservation where the owner's name has been removed from the reservation the rental will be subject to the mandatory AI.

 

[radmoo]

8. Which criteria determine whether the packages are optional?
All members registered in the membership agreement will have optional access regardless of how they are staying at the resort, e.g. a Royal Resorts member who exchanges or rents at Royal Resorts will have optional access to all packages.
Family and friends staying as guests of a member in their unit(s) will have optional access to all packages

Good news, to be sure

 

[pjrose]

I think 86 is saying if you put your renter on your reservation as your "guest" who will be checking and your name remains on the reservation as the owner in then AI is optional. If a a non member rents through the resort or has a reservation where the owner's name has been removed from the reservation the rental will be subject to the mandatory AI.

I don't think so, because that part of 86 refers to "exchanging or renting additional space"

This post on the Royal Resorts News Ask Joanna page offers some clarification:

The all-inclusive packages will be optional for Royal Resorts members regardless of how they are staying at the resort, whether it is in their own villa or in a rental or exchanged unit. Family and friends staying as guests of a member in their unit(s) will have optional access to all packages.
With regard to your question about exchanging or renting additional space for your guests, I can clarify that if the rental, exchange or guest certificate reservation is in your name as a Royal Resorts member then access to the all-inclusive packages would be optional for the occupants. If the reservation is in the name of a non-member the all-inclusive package would be mandatory.
I hope that this helps answer your question. Please let me know if you have additional concerns[/B].​

For what it's worth, we need to provide objective feedback to RR management about the exchange policy.

Mike

And Mark Carney makes it very clear that if it's a private rental, the AI is optional:

This is a response from Mark Carney to a poster on the Royal Resorts members forum.

"Mark Carney director of marketing and sales quickly answered my question. It doesn't get any clearer than this.

I do believe that there is a huge misunderstanding .You will of course
be able to continue to rent your weeks to whoever and at whatever price
you would like. The AI package does not need to be included.

The renters you book directly into your units will not have to pay the AI rate if you so wish. Nothing has changed for Members in that respect."

So it looks like owners can still rent their unit without the renter having to pay the AI fee.

They really shouldn't have announced this before they had the pricing and details in place.
It really does diminish their reputation...

 

[jbuzzy11]

it only makes sense that if you are renting from an owner the AI should be optional, how many of you would be IRATE if you have to turn people away because they dont want the AI. Its hard enough to get it rented at just MF's then try telling someone they have to pay $150 a day for an AI. Go into RCI and take a look at how many Cancun AI resorts you can grab from now till 2 years from now, Their TPU's (point value) are from 4 to about 8!! Its terrible.
when this _____ the bed and we all know it will they will do a 360 on it. maybe they are testing it out at the 2 Sands and RH to see the response. I hope it fails miserably.

 

[ml855]

Are you guys saying if we have an exchange from II for the Sands we will be forced to do an AI package with our exchange? The reason I ask is we have an II exchange this June which we've had in place now for over a year and I just would like to know are we going to get hit with this fee upon check-in? Plus, is this AI fee per person/per day? How much is the AI fees, and does it include everything during our 7 night stay that we purchase at any of the Royal's restaurants and bars?

Thanks for your answers.
Jean

 

[buceo]

I can only answer that the AI doesn't start until Oct., you should be fine.
"This program is scheduled to be launched at The Royal Sands and The Royal Haciendas in Week 43, October 27, 2012"

 

[KarenLK]

Jean, it goes into effect in October.

 

[ada903]

Let me make sure I understand this: so if I own at Royal Islander, and I travel on an exchange to Royal Haciendas through Interval International, and the exchange is in my name, I don't have to buy the all inclusive? I guess I'll have to buy a hurricane season cheap Royal Resort so I can continue traveling to the Haciendas through Interval.

 

[pjrose]

Let me make sure I understand this: so if I own at Royal Islander, and I travel on an exchange to Royal Haciendas through Interval International, and the exchange is in my name, I don't have to buy the all inclusive? I guess I'll have to buy a hurricane season cheap Royal Resort so I can continue traveling to the Haciendas through Interval.

Yes, that is correct. (Post 62 #8)

You also can rent directly from an owner and not have to do AI. (Post 77)

 

[calgal]

It seems only fair that people who secured their exchange via II prior to the new policy should not be required to participate in the AI requirement. I am thinking about grabbing one of the Royals for 2013 now, before this policy is officially set in writing, and hope that my exchange would be grandfathered into the AI optional group.