Lahaina Fires Another Blow To Ka'anapali Beach Club

[singlemalt_18]

Our original deeded purchase over 20 years ago, long before Diamond, was at the Embassy KBC. This is heartbreaking, especially for those who have many memories on Maui in particular. The beach erosion issue is bad enough, but who knows what the future holds now? So sad...

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/...re-crews-continue-battle-wind-whipped-flames/

This is currently most recent update:

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/maui-wildfires-08-09-23/index.html

 

[jiffer]

Oh no. I have been an owner for 25 years. I bought when it was Embassy KBC also. I was scheduled to arrive this Saturday. I received an email that the resort will be closed. Now I am trying to get in touch with DR to see what my options are.

 

[singlemalt_18]

Oh no. I have been an owner for 25 years. I bought when it was Embassy KBC also. I was scheduled to arrive this Saturday. I received an email that the resort will be closed. Now I am trying to get in touch with DR to see what my options are.

Sorry to hear, but be glad you weren't there a week earlier. It looks like everybody who has plans for Maui, far more than KBC, will be needing to make other plans indefinitely. This is devastating. Although resorts may not have sustained fire damage, the local economy & economic underpinnings are gone. The workforce & local residents have had the rug pulled out from under them. Apparently affordable housing (and homelessness) on all the islands has been a growing issue, with the Governor declaring a statewide "housing emergency" less than a month ago. This is only making the situation worse; it will likely be a long time before any semblance of the tourist destination many have memories of.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/10/economy/maui-economy-tourism-wildfires/index.html

 

[Dark Wing Duck]

With you both being long term members is there a way to get ahold of the owners association for Kaanapali Beach Club ? Im hoping to refund this years points or donate them as they are going to need every room they can get their hands on to rebuild.
Also is there a way to peer to peer transfer points? we have 7000 pts this year that are now not going to be used.
Any contact info would be helpful as diamond resorts really seams unhelpful.

 

[joyceb7071]

With you both being long term members is there a way to get ahold of the owners association for Kaanapali Beach Club ? Im hoping to refund this years points or donate them as they are going to need every room they can get their hands on to rebuild.
Also is there a way to peer to peer transfer points? we have 7000 pts this year that are now not going to be used.
Any contact info would be helpful as diamond resorts really seams unhelpful.

Hi, You could bank them into their Destination Exchange option. Banked for 5 years, I think.

 

[Two Towels]

Oh no. I have been an owner for 25 years. I bought when it was Embassy KBC also. I was scheduled to arrive this Saturday. I received an email that the resort will be closed. Now I am trying to get in touch with DR to see what my options are.

We also are long-term members. We talked to Diamond, and so far, they are only willing to rebook, or they will only allow us to save 50% of our points for next year! This is NOT FAIR. I completely understand and support the need for KBC to house locals and helpers, but Diamond should let us save 100% of our points for another year! They have poor customer service, two dropped calls from their end today. I am waiting for a "supervisor" to call. Others should speak out.

 

[jiffer]

We also are long-term members. We talked to Diamond, and so far, they are only willing to rebook, or they will only allow us to save 50% of our points for next year! This is NOT FAIR. I completely understand and support the need for KBC to house locals and helpers, but Diamond should let us save 100% of our points for another year! They have poor customer service, two dropped calls from their end today. I am waiting for a "supervisor" to call. Others should speak out.

I am a week's owner and the option I was given was to exchange for another Hawaiian Island through the Diamond exchange program. I couldn't rebook my week to later this year because the resort is temporally closed, and they can't do bookings on a closed resort. I can understand that. What I thought was the kicker was charging me an exchange fee to trade to another island. If I was using a 3rd party company to make the exchange, I can understand the fee, but this was Diamonds exchange program. I think in good faith they should have waived the exchange fee if you book within the timeframe that the resort is closed which I did.

 

[dioxide45]

We also are long-term members. We talked to Diamond, and so far, they are only willing to rebook, or they will only allow us to save 50% of our points for next year! This is NOT FAIR. I completely understand and support the need for KBC to house locals and helpers, but Diamond should let us save 100% of our points for another year! They have poor customer service, two dropped calls from their end today. I am waiting for a "supervisor" to call. Others should speak out.

The problem is, bu extending points they end up in an oversold situation. More points than inventory out there to reserve. I don't understand what is not fair about them following the rules you signed up for when you purchased? You may not like it, but that doesn't make it not fair.

 

[singlemalt_18]

We also are long-term members. We talked to Diamond, and so far, they are only willing to rebook, or they will only allow us to save 50% of our points for next year! This is NOT FAIR. I completely understand and support the need for KBC to house locals and helpers, but Diamond should let us save 100% of our points for another year! They have poor customer service, two dropped calls from their end today. I am waiting for a "supervisor" to call. Others should speak out.

You still have 100% to use if you book something this year. This will likely get blowback from anti-MAXers, but although many complain that there is a fee to save points in MAX, you don't loose any points in a situation like this. You do however pay a slightly higher fee if you are waiting until later in the year, and it's less than most exchange fees.

 

[singlemalt_18]

I am a week's owner and the option I was given was to exchange for another Hawaiian Island through the Diamond exchange program. I couldn't rebook my week to later this year because the resort is temporally closed, and they can't do bookings on a closed resort. I can understand that. What I thought was the kicker was charging me an exchange fee to trade to another island. If I was using a 3rd party company to make the exchange, I can understand the fee, but this was Diamonds exchange program. I think in good faith they should have waived the exchange fee if you book within the timeframe that the resort is closed which I did.

If you are still a deeded week owner, the exchange fee is how its done. If you had converted to points, there could be options without the fee.

 

[NachoDaddy]

The problem is, bu extending points they end up in an oversold situation. More points than inventory out there to reserve. I don't understand what is not fair about them following the rules you signed up for when you purchased? You may not like it, but that doesn't make it not fair.

They extended points during Covid (MAP - Member Appreciation Points) so what's the difference? And there is nothing in the rules about what happens if your reservation gets canceled due to a natural disaster.

 

[dioxide45]

They extended points during Covid (MAP - Member Appreciation Points) so what's the difference? And there is nothing in the rules about what happens if your reservation gets canceled due to a natural disaster.

The rules state the cancellation policy. This is somewhat different this time around as it only impacts a small proof owners.

 

[NachoDaddy]

The rules state the cancellation policy. This is somewhat different this time around as it only impacts a small proof owners.

The cancellation policy refers to if you decide to cancel a reservation.

 

[dioxide45]

The cancellation policy refers to if you decide to cancel a reservation.

This seems to indicate what should happen in the event The Club has to cancel a reservation. It looks like you should be able to carry the points over to 2024. When in doubt, we need to read the rules and push back.
10.3 CLUB OPERATING COMPANY CANCELLATIONS The Club Operating Company may have to cancel reservations in certain circumstances, such as in the instance of a natural disaster, or when a resort ceases to be part of THE Club® portfolio or becomes unsuitable for use. In these unusual instances, the Club Operating Company will give as much notice as possible and will endeavor to offer alternative arrangements. In the instance that a cancellation is the only option, then members will have the points used for the reservation returned and/or be able to save them for the following year.

https://cmsprod.diamondresorts.com/sites/default/files/19491_ANNUAL_MEMBERSHIP_GUIDE_ENG_WEB.pdf

 

[winger]

I am a week's owner and the option I was given was to exchange for another Hawaiian Island through the Diamond exchange program. I couldn't rebook my week to later this year because the resort is temporally closed, and they can't do bookings on a closed resort. I can understand that. What I thought was the kicker was charging me an exchange fee to trade to another island. If I was using a 3rd party company to make the exchange, I can understand the fee, but this was Diamonds exchange program. I think in good faith they should have waived the exchange fee if you book within the timeframe that the resort is closed which I did.

I case you didn't already know, the Diamond product isn't top tier, so don't expect top tier treatment.

 

[pedro47]

To the OP and the other owners at this resort; what are now your feelings about the new ownership of this former Diamond Resort?

 

[singlemalt_18]

To the OP and the other owners at this resort; what are now your feelings about the new ownership of this former Diamond Resort?

I'm not sure if you're asking for resort specific thoughts, but as for the new HGV ownership of the DRI system, I am very positive overall. The short-lived Sunterra debacle was an awful experience. The creation of DRI started an entirely new era; love him or hate him, but Cloobeck had a vision that changed the industry and its standards. The subsequent tenure of Apollo Management IMO led to a noticeable decline in overall quality & experience. The news about HGV gave us reason to be optimistic, and now a few years into the transition, we are pleased with what we see both ITO the quality of the staff and upkeep/upgrades in properties.

As for KBC, POP and Hawaii overall, we have years of incredible memories & photos, and felt a gut punch seeing what has happened in Lahaina. We eloped on the islands, and returned for 5th, 10th, 15th, & 20th anniversaries, complete with a 20yr vow renewal with the same Pastor who originally married us. (Had to cancel our 25th due to the pandemic madness) As east coaster's, Hawaii travel is always a heavier lift, so we always went for at least 2 weeks. With all that behind us, the entirety of our time there has served to reduce the need to feel we must go back anytime soon... or maybe ever?

 

[pedro47]

I'm not sure if you're asking for resort specific thoughts, but as for the new HGV ownership of the DRI system, I am very positive overall. The short-lived Sunterra debacle was an awful experience. The creation of DRI started an entirely new era; love him or hate him, but Cloobeck had a vision that changed the industry and its standards. The subsequent tenure of Apollo Management IMO led to a noticeable decline in overall quality & experience. The news about HGV gave us reason to be optimistic, and now a few years into the transition, we are pleased with what we see both ITO the quality of the staff and upkeep/upgrades in properties.

As for KBC, POP and Hawaii overall, we have years of incredible memories & photos, and felt a gut punch seeing what has happened in Lahaina. We eloped on the islands, and returned for 5th, 10th, 15th, & 20th anniversaries, complete with a 20yr vow renewal with the same Pastor who originally married us. (Had to cancel our 25th due to the pandemic madness) As east coaster's, Hawaii travel is always a heavier lift, so we always went for at least 2 weeks. With all that behind us, the entirety of our time there has served to reduce the need to feel we must go back anytime soon... or maybe ever?

Do you have to purchased the HGV Max program to enjoy the new Hilton Vacation Program? We are a group of four (4) couples in our seventies (70's) that own DRI Club Points (each couple own 21,000 points in DRI The Club) and we also own Marriott's timeshare weeks.

We do not need any added debts at our ages.

 

[singlemalt_18]

Do you have to purchased the HGV Max program to enjoy the new Hilton Vacation Program? We are a group of four (4) couples in our seventies (70's) that own DRI Club Points (each couple own 21,000 points in DRI The Club) and we also own Marriott's timeshare weeks.

We do not need any added debts at our ages.

In order to get 6 mos access to HGV properties, yes. In our case, we wanted more points to get to 17,000. We converted 2 Hawaii Trust contracts for 13,000 into a single US Collection contract, as those resorts are really more of our regular destinations with nominally lower mf. This will be the 2nd year we stay at HGV's Ocean 22 and Ocean Enclave in Myrtle Beach, so we appreciate the additional resorts. As long time Marriot points users, the addition of HHonors has also been a terrific new fit into our travel planning. We have no regrets, but you need to do what works best for you.

 

[geist1223]

If you are a DRI Member you still have the access to the DRI/HGV Resorts that you always had under the same terms and conditions. DO NOT let someone (Sales Person Rat) convince you you have to have MAX.

 

[pedro47]

If you are a DRI Member you still have the access to the DRI/HGV Resorts that you always had under the same terms and conditions. DO NOT let someone (Sales Person Rat) convince you you have to have MAX.

We are in agreement with your post and opinion. Thank you.

I have shared this thread with everyone. Again, Thank you.

 

[easyrider]

This morning I heard my brothers reservation to Kaanapali was canceled. The reservation date was a few days after the fire. He was able to book something else. Their problem was Delta Airlines deciding that they would only refund half of the cost of their flight. I hope everyone is able to make something happen.

Bill