Kaanapaali ?

[plead.5th]

I keep getting these email offers from Starwood for Maui in December where you can borrow options, use points, or a pretty sweet cash deal. Does anyone think they will eventually drop some of those available units in II or is it too late for them to drop a bank like that? I don't want to borrow my options but I have a resale Vistana which always pulls the Maui Banks which I would prefer to use.

 

[KOR5Star]

I was under the impression they don't put WKORV into II. If we trade into II, SVN selects the week and it's usually from another resort. Rumor has it that WKORV is kept for internal SVN trades or for renting.

Nothing above can be considered, even remotely, as hard fact. Just hearsay I've picked up from the boards.

 

[short]

Westin Maui

I have an II exchange to a 2 br Westin Maui starting Nov 11. They usually deposit several months ahead, however, if one were diligent about searching or started an ongoing search, I think the three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are possible.

Notice I said possible. I did not say likely. What and when they deposit is a crap shoot but I think they might drop some units from that slow travel time into the bank soon. Probobly just before flexchange starts.

Short

 

[LisaRex]

As they keep building there, I think your chances will definitely increase. FYI, while browsing through II's GetAways this past week, I saw 2 bdrms at Westin Kierland villas on II for $55/night (?) for the week of 11/10-11/17. I would have nabbed it wouldn't have required me to change my flights. The next day it was gone. But I think if you're diligent, and if you're flexible with dates and able to travel at the last minute, I think you can find great deals.

 

[Fredm]

I was under the impression they don't put WKORV into II. If we trade into II, SVN selects the week and it's usually from another resort. Rumor has it that WKORV is kept for internal SVN trades or for renting.

Nothing above can be considered, even remotely, as hard fact. Just hearsay I've picked up from the boards.

There is no question that KOR, or any other Starwood resort, is banked with I.I.
It is a minimal requirement of being a member resort in the I.I. network.
However, I.I. does list KOR as a "Limited Exchange Activity" resort.
Those weeks that are deposited are not likely to appear as Getaway weeks, but exchangeable inventory. The best way to have a shot at this limited availability is to place a pending request, a year or more in advance.

What is truly remarkable to me is that KOR weeks will occasionally appear among the results of an availability search. That means that there were no outstanding pending requests for that week in the I.I. system. I guess so many members assume that it would not be available that they do not even try.

Interestingly, Westin St John is not designated as a Limited Exchange Activity resort. Presumably, the definite low hurricane season makes deposits more available.

Mission Hills and Kierland on the other hand do have a fair number of weeks that do show up as Getaway inventory. As LisaRex observed, these may be bought for cash, without surrendering a timeshare week. Typically, they are summer weeks, or the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Supply is high and demand is low. Consequently, they represent a good portion of Starwood's bulk banking inventory.

 

[plead.5th]

So what will they do with the inventory, because they are pushing the resort from now to XMas, so they obviously have an abundance of units unrented at this point.

 

[LisaRex]

plead.5th, there's a thread on Flyertalk about SPG members who received the following e-mail, which explains one way that Starwood is trying to reduce their available inventory during low season:

"In celebration of the recent expansion at The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas on Maui, Hawai'i, we are offering you two very special ways to visit this breathtaking, beachfront property now through December 20, 2007.

Intuitively designed to suit your personal needs, the spacious villas at The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas encourage rejuvenation. Sleeping four adults comfortably, the villas offer a fully equipped kitchenette with a refrigerator, a Queen Heavenly Bed®, Heavenly Bath® with a separate whirlpool tub and single vanity, sofa bed, private lanai, washer and dryer, color TV and high-speed Internet connectivity.

For the first time ever, use Starpoints for stays at this vacation villa resort.
Redeem 12,000 Starwood Preferred Guest® Starpoints® for a single-night stay in an island-view studio villa. When you stay four nights, your fifth consecutive night is complimentary.

Stay eight days, seven nights for just $1,500, plus receive 15,000 bonus Starpoints."

Note that the rooms are inventory controlled so not all dates were available. (One poster at Flyertalk even wondered if he'd get an upgraded room since he was platinum SPG. Ha!)

They also have some units available to rent on the Starwood website, though the price they're asking seems extreme to me. Here's an example of what showed up with travel dates 3/1-3/8:

Bed Type Room Features Rate Description Average Daily Rate Per Room
1 Queen Bed + Queen Sofa Bed Dlx Oceanview Studio Villa, Heavenly Bed And Bath, Whirlpool, Kitchenette, Non-smoking Best Available Rate
Terms & Addt'l
Charges USD 645.00

1 King + 1 Queen Sofa Bed Oceanview 1 Bedroom Villa, Heavenly Bed And Bath, Whirlpool, Full Kitchen, Non-smoking Best Available Rate
Terms & Addt'l
Charges USD 765.00

1 Queen Bed + Queen Sofa Bed Deluxe Studio Island Vw Villa, Heavenly Bed And Bath, Whirlpool, Kitchenette, Non-smoking Best Available Rate
Terms & Addt'l
Charges USD 485.00

2 Double Beds + Queen Sofa Bed Oceanview 1 Bedroom Villa, Heavenly Bed And Bath, Whirlpool, Full Kitchen, Non-smoking Best Available Rate
Terms & Addt'l
Charges USD 765.00

1 Queen Bed + Queen Sofa Bed Premium Island Vw Studio Villa, Heavenly Bed And Bath, Whirlpool, Kitchenette, Non-smoking Best Available Rate
Terms & Addt'l
Charges USD 525.00

1 King + 1 Queen Sofa Bed Deluxe Island Vw 1 Bedrm Villa, Heavenly Bed And Bath, Whirlpool, Full Kitchen, Non-smoking Best Available Rate
Terms & Addt'l
Charges USD 605.00

 

[plead.5th]

Yeah I saw all of that, but I was wondering if they don't rent all units will they dump any into II as the dates approach or just leave a unit unrented?

 

[Stefa]

Yeah I saw all of that, but I was wondering if they don't rent all units will they dump any into II as the dates approach or just leave a unit unrented?

I have seen WKORV in flexchange if that's what you're asking. Don't know if these are last-minute owner cancellations or unrented inventory.

 

[sharktzu]

I assumed that these were being made available because the owners RTU does not start until 2008, yet the units are ready to occupy now. Hence Starwood is trying to maximize their revenues and perhaps bring in a few new fish to hook on SVO.