Letter from Polynesian Isles Re: DRI

[DianeNYS]

Hi...I haven't been to TUG in 2 years or more, and admit that I haven't been paying attention anymore to the "politics" of timeshares, but just using or renting out our weeks with success. Today I received a letter from the Condo Association for Polynesian Isles in Kissimmee, and surprise! There apparently is a rumble going on among non-developer unit week owners to disassociate themselves from DRI for a variety of reasons that I haven't realized existed (except for the terrible rise in MFs and special assessments ever since the big hurricane that hit it a few years ago).

I don't exactly know what leaving Diamond Resorts would accomplish for me besides most likely losing the 5500 club points I have with them attached to my 2BR unit, and I don't want to do that. But--are there ANY benefits to my voting to do this? And, if the majority decides to leave DRI, does that mean I HAVE to give up my points attached to DRI? How will that affect my using my week in the future? I can call DRI or the person who wrote the letter (or maybe not; there's just a fax # there with a Lawyer's name), but that will only give me biased information and quite possibly not the truth as to how it would affect me and my usage of my week/points.

Does anyone here own at Polynesian Isles and have an idea of just what the problem is between that resort and DRI? And if you do own there, do you have an opinion as to whether it would be better to break up with DRI or not? Today is first I've heard of this "controversy" and I really am in the dark and pretty confused...Help!!! Thanks, Diane

 

[dougp26364]

All it will mean is that DRI will no longer manage the resort. In the past, resorts have jetisoned Sunterra but, those units that were in THE Club stayed in THE Club. An example would be Gatlinburg Town Square. GTS was once managed by Sunterra but, they decided to get rid of Sunterra and bring in another management company. DRI still lists units availabe for internal exchange with GTS. Those are the units sold by Sunterra that remain members of THE Club.

You're association is probably wanting to get rid of DRI due to their management fee's. From what I can tell, they're considerably higher than most. It may also be that DRI is trying to dictate changes that they feel aren't necessary, needed or wanted by the owners of this resort. If that's the case, it's time to move them out and bring someone in that will manage the resort the way the owners of the resort want it managed.

 

[falmouth3]

Hmmm. I didn't get that letter yet. I'll keep my eyes peeled.

My maintenance fees have actually gone down at PI from the 2008 assessment. Not a lot, but definitely down.

Sue

 

[lv_maui]

DRI's fees

There apparently is a rumble going on among non-developer unit week owners to disassociate themselves from DRI for a variety of reasons that I haven't realized existed (except for the terrible rise in MFs and special assessments ever since the big hurricane that hit it a few years ago).

There have been general comments throughout timeshare boards that have complained that DRI is increasing maintenance fees by amounts that do not seem to be reasonable. I personally witnessed a DRI representative make the comment that DRI realized that they were not charging HOA's for the appropriate amount for software, reservations, etc.

You probably received the letter since the non developer owners need to campaign against DRI to gain your support. In my opinion, if DRI is replaced, Club will not go away and you will not lose your points since DRI would be deluged with unhappy customers.

 

[DianeNYS]

Thank you all for responding

I appreciate the information; in retrospect, I guess it would be similar to what happened with Coral Sands in Miami Beach (now called Westgate South Beach). When I bought it (actually from Club Sunterra), it became part of my ClubSun points (it's the purchase that brought my CPGV into the point system with them). Once Westgate purchased it (or took it over, whatever), it didn't change my ownership and usage in any way, except with who got the MFs and what those ended up costing.

All in all, I *like* DRI (though the fees HAVE gone up, and that I *don't* like), and do not want to lose my PI points in their system. Does anyone know anything more about PI Owner's complaints in this instance? The letter I received yesterday really was the first I've heard of any discontent...Thanks again!

 

[timeos2]

DRI does not have to manage the resort to have Club Points there

I appreciate the information; in retrospect, I guess it would be similar to what happened with Coral Sands in Miami Beach (now called Westgate South Beach). When I bought it (actually from Club Sunterra), it became part of my ClubSun points (it's the purchase that brought my CPGV into the point system with them). Once Westgate purchased it (or took it over, whatever), it didn't change my ownership and usage in any way, except with who got the MFs and what those ended up costing.

All in all, I *like* DRI (though the fees HAVE gone up, and that I *don't* like), and do not want to lose my PI points in their system. Does anyone know anything more about PI Owner's complaints in this instance? The letter I received yesterday really was the first I've heard of any discontent...Thanks again!

Cypress Pointe Resort / Grande Villas, a few miles away from PI, changed management from DRI (then Sunterra/RPM) back in 2001. It does NOT affect your membership in Club - it just changes who manages the resort. And may result in lower or at least stable fees. As one who has gone through it I would recommend a change to a non-DRI management even as I enjoy my DRI Club membership. The best of both worlds.

 

[DianeNYS]

Thanks for replying, John

I was HOPING you would join in the conversation here, John! (In the past, when I used to read/post here all the time, I would value your input more than you will ever know! You've helped me with Sunterra and CP1 & 2 info in the past).

I guess I'll fill out my proxy and let the Board of Directors have my vote to do what they feel is best; we live in upstate NY and never ever make ANY of our owner meetings--every timeshare we own is in Florida--so I don't have enough knowledge of the specifics here to NOT let the Board of Directors have my vote. I guess. Right? I'll trust their judgment...

Thanks again for giving me your thoughts on this issue.

 

[timeos2]

I was HOPING you would join in the conversation here, John! (In the past, when I used to read/post here all the time, I would value your input more than you will ever know! You've helped me with Sunterra and CP1 & 2 info in the past).

I guess I'll fill out my proxy and let the Board of Directors have my vote to do what they feel is best; we live in upstate NY and never ever make ANY of our owner meetings--every timeshare we own is in Florida--so I don't have enough knowledge of the specifics here to NOT let the Board of Directors have my vote. I guess. Right? I'll trust their judgment...

Thanks again for giving me your thoughts on this issue.

Hi Diane and thank you for the kind comments. I think your plan is perfect as it sounds like the BOD at Poly are doing their duty of looking out for the owners. Giving them the proxy will hopefully result in a satisfactory outcome.

 

[tatvan]

Polynesian Isles Proxy Letter

Hi,
We received the proxy letter and we are sending it back for the Homeowners Board of Directors to vote on our behalf. There is an immediate timeframe that must be met.
Diamond Resorts International is our management company who are looking out for their own interest. The Board is elected to look out for our interest. The Board are owners themselves.
DRI has excessively increased our maintenence fees.With them gone I do believe our maintenence fees will come down. In addition, I noticed DRI has their name /logo on linen and on other areas of our resort property. It looks like they really want to take over from the actual owners. They have forgotten who the owners are and they must believe because we are not on site they can do whatever and we'll never know the difference.
Owners have to stand together to get rid of them. I believe the Board Members, who are owners, will find a management company to replace them... a management company that will work on the owners behalf.
Tell any one and everyone you know who are owners at Polynesian Isles
to send back the proxy vote to the HOA.
And I think Polynesian Isles is broken into 2 different HOA. So that one HOA has already gotten rid of DRI and the other HOA (us) are trying to do the same. So not everyone who is an owner at Polynsian Isles Resort will receive a proxy..again only the owners who still have DRI for management...for now.
We need to spread the word about the timeline to get the proxy back to the HOA so they can vote for us.

 

[tatvan]

Hi Diane and thank you for the kind comments. I think your plan is perfect as it sounds like the BOD at Poly are doing their duty of looking out for the owners. Giving them the proxy will hopefully result in a satisfactory outcome.

Hi,

I wrote my thoughts about the proxy we recieved this week.

Hope my comments help to make you comfortable with your decision.

Thelma

 

[tatvan]

I was HOPING you would join in the conversation here, John! (In the past, when I used to read/post here all the time, I would value your input more than you will ever know! You've helped me with Sunterra and CP1 & 2 info in the past).

I guess I'll fill out my proxy and let the Board of Directors have my vote to do what they feel is best; we live in upstate NY and never ever make ANY of our owner meetings--every timeshare we own is in Florida--so I don't have enough knowledge of the specifics here to NOT let the Board of Directors have my vote. I guess. Right? I'll trust their judgment...

Thanks again for giving me your thoughts on this issue.

Hi Diane,

I thought I was leaving you an email and it went to John...
Anyway just to say I made a comment regarding the proxy letter we recieved earlier this week and we hope our comment make you feel comfortable with your decision to send it in asap.

Thelma

 

[AwayWeGo]

Timeshare Soap & Timeshare Towels.

I noticed DRI has their name /logo on linen and on other areas of our resort property.

I would not care to see the DRI emblem emblazoned all over the property at Cypress Pointe Resort & Cypress Pointe Grande Villas, but I would not object to DRI-branded timeshare soap & timeshare linens if -- if -- they are of premium quality and are made available at no higher cost than comparable premium quality unbranded items.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[tatvan]

Polynesian Isles

Hi Alan,

I think branding ought to be reserved for owners not management. When you pick up anything on property it ought to reflect the property's name... its the owners items not the management's items. I agree quality does matter however regardless the property owners name ought to be promoted not the management of the property.

I really like your signature. Quite creative and thoughtful.

Thelma
P.S.I'm new with posting to this site. I can't recall how I may have included the prior post above my post.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Timeshare Soap Saga.

I think branding ought to be reserved for owners not management. When you pick up anything on property it ought to reflect the property's name... its the owners items not the management's items. I agree quality does matter however regardless the property owners name ought to be promoted not the management of the property.

I really like your signature. Quite creative and thoughtful

I wouldn't want to pay anything extra for DRI-branded timeshare soap, etc. But I wouldn't consider the timeshare company's emblem on the soap & shampoo, etc., a negative.

Ideally, even when an independent, owner-controlled HOA takes over & installs an independent management company, the relationship between the timeshare company & the owners of the resort should remain positive as possible.

That is, I would expect the timeshare company to want the resort to reflect positively on the timeshare company & likewise I would expect the resort to want the timeshare company to reflect positively on the resort.

Even though the 2 are not apt to see eye to eye on all issues, their interests overlap more than they diverge & thus it is better on both sides of the divide for the parties to operate cooperatively rather than combatively.

Cypress Pointe Resort once furnished all the units with high-quality timeshare soap, etc., in wrappers & containers emblazoned with the resort's emblem on every item. Then costs went way up -- not for the actual soaps & toiletries, but for the custom-logo labeling. So the independent HOA-BOD, taking care to see that every dollar spent returns value to us regular, every-day, walking-around timeshare owners, dropped the Cypress Pointe labeling & went with premium quality toiletries bearing the manufacturer's regular brand labels, saving serious money.

If for the same price or less DRI would supply DRI-branded timeshare soap & toiletries of comparable premium quality, that would be OK. The resort, although independently managed, is still affiliated with DRI & DRI is still the Developer Of Record at that timeshare. Nothing is gained by camouflaging that, nor is there any reason to emphasize it unduly. But where there is an advantage to the resort -- i.e., to the owners more than to the timeshare company -- in going with DRI-branded goods, then I say Bring On The D.R.I. Timeshare Soap.

Full Disclosure: I am not in the DRI fan club nor do I belong to DRI's timeshare-exchange "club," not that there's anything wrong with T.H.E. Club other than the fact that (A) it costs big bux to get in & (B) when I'm done with it I can't sell it to anybody else. By me, nothing the timeshare companies sell at full freight is worth the money, & that goes for DRI's "club" right along with all the other big bux offerings pushed by all the other timeshare companies.

PS: Thanks for your kind words about my TUG-BBS "signature." Sometimes I think it contains Too Much Information. Other times I think it's OK. So it goes.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[dougp26364]

At the Suite's at Fall Creek, the premium toiletries did not have a private label and no DRI branding. We'll be there next month so I'll see if any changes have been made.

 

[tatvan]

Polynesian Isles

I wouldn't want to pay anything extra for DRI-branded timeshare soap, etc. But I wouldn't consider the timeshare company's emblem on the soap & shampoo, etc., a negative.

Ideally, even when an independent, owner-controlled HOA takes over & installs an independent management company, the relationship between the timeshare company & the owners of the resort should remain positive as possible.

That is, I would expect the timeshare company to want the resort to reflect positively on the timeshare company & likewise I would expect the resort to want the timeshare company to reflect positively on the resort.

Even though the 2 are not apt to see eye to eye on all issues, their interests overlap more than they diverge & thus it is better on both sides of the divide for the parties to operate cooperatively rather than combatively.

Cypress Pointe Resort once furnished all the units with high-quality timeshare soap, etc., in wrappers & containers emblazoned with the resort's emblem on every item. Then costs went way up -- not for the actual soaps & toiletries, but for the custom-logo labeling. So the independent HOA-BOD, taking care to see that every dollar spent returns value to us regular, every-day, walking-around timeshare owners, dropped the Cypress Pointe labeling & went with premium quality toiletries bearing the manufacturer's regular brand labels, saving serious money.

If for the same price or less DRI would supply DRI-branded timeshare soap & toiletries of comparable premium quality, that would be OK. The resort, although independently managed, is still affiliated with DRI & DRI is still the Developer Of Record at that timeshare. Nothing is gained by camouflaging that, nor is there any reason to emphasize it unduly. But where there is an advantage to the resort -- i.e., to the owners more than to the timeshare company -- in going with DRI-branded goods, then I say Bring On The D.R.I. Timeshare Soap.

Full Disclosure: I am not in the DRI fan club nor do I belong to DRI's timeshare-exchange "club," not that there's anything wrong with T.H.E. Club other than the fact that (A) it costs big bux to get in & (B) when I'm done with it I can't sell it to anybody else. By me, nothing the timeshare companies sell at full freight is worth the money, & that goes for DRI's "club" right along with all the other big bux offerings pushed by all the other timeshare companies.

PS: Thanks for your kind words about my TUG-BBS "signature." Sometimes I think it contains Too Much Information. Other times I think it's OK. So it goes.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

Let me first say I started with my first post discussing the need for owners of Polynesian Isles to return the proxy they may have received....quickly.
I had secondarily mentioned Diamond Resort, our management company, placing their name on items throughout the owners resort and had mentioned branding on linen as an example.
So just to be understood and to keep the primary point primary and not to get side tracked on a secondary mere mention, I do agree with you regarding keeping cost down whenever possible. I do agree with being quite content having the manufacturer branding on items indicating HOA is keeping cost down whenever possible.
I think when you choose the resort to own you'll choose one you believe demonstrates quality with linen,toileteries,furniture etc. When I walk around a resort for the first time and thought their furniture was flimsy junk, with low thread linen and cheap looking toileteries, I would not be interested in purchasing at that resort. For me, quality does matter for my comfort however again I can be content on the manufacturer branding in effects to control cost.
Yes I do agree with your statement... "thus it is better on both sides of the divide for the parties to operate cooperatively rather than combatively." .... whenever possible parties ought to striveto be cooperative however I do think the HOA has the last word.

Thelma

 

[pedro47]

Sound like this resort needs a mgt change.

 

[timeos2]

It appears they have new management

Sound like this resort needs a mgt change.

From what I'm hearing that's what they are getting. Apparently SPM (an independent management company like VRI) has been given the contract over RPM/Diamond for at least parts of the resort (I'm not quite sure if there are multiple sections or Associations at Poly but it sort of sounds like there are). Like many management changes while it may be best for the owners/resort in the long run the short term effect is a real upheaval. I hope they work things out, get a good independent management in place and owners are happy.

 

[falmouth3]

Hi,
And I think Polynesian Isles is broken into 2 different HOA. So that one HOA has already gotten rid of DRI and the other HOA (us) are trying to do the same. So not everyone who is an owner at Polynsian Isles Resort will receive a proxy..again only the owners who still have DRI for management...for now.
.

I must be in the second group. I still have not received the proxy and my MF went down about $30 this year.

Sue

 

[Chanook729]

Poly -

Sue,

What phase are you in? I got my proxy about a week ago. I am glad to see discussion on the subject here, as I was out of the loop on events at PI. Does anyone know of a HOA group for Poly? If not that might be an idea to float past the board so that information can be shared with the owners.

 

[tatvan]

Polyesian Isles HOA

Sue,

What phase are you in? I got my proxy about a week ago. I am glad to see discussion on the subject here, as I was out of the loop on events at PI. Does anyone know of a HOA group for Poly? If not that might be an idea to float past the board so that information can be shared with the owners.

We received our proxy letter mid week last week so yes you are in the phase with us who still has DRI. We're sending our proxy back for the HOA to case on our behalf ... an owners. The HomeOwners Association is / has The Board Directors who are property owners. They are in place working for us and they are who sent out the proxy letter. In one of the post , I think from John Chase, said when we have new management all will be well at the resort... I say 'Amen' to that statement!

Thelma

 

[falmouth3]

Sue,

What phase are you in? I got my proxy about a week ago. I am glad to see discussion on the subject here, as I was out of the loop on events at PI. Does anyone know of a HOA group for Poly? If not that might be an idea to float past the board so that information can be shared with the owners.

I'm in Phase IV. I haven't been there yet. A co-worker is using my week this year and I did an exchange with a TUGGER last year.

Sue

 

[DianeNYS]

Thank you EVERYone for the great discussion

I had company this weekend and this is the first I could get online, and I'm so happy that you came in here to give me your opinions and experiences with this issue!

I'm an owner in Phase I (bought re-sale over the internet, and folded into Club Sunterra for only $500--since I was already a member by virtue of CPGV and Coral Sands--right before they discontinued the practice). I really had no idea of HOA's and management companies and struggles for control, etc. (duh!), since I've always just gone on my merry way staying at our timeshares w/o incident. I'm learning a lot in this thread...

Oh yeah...I filled out and mailed my Proxy with a "yes" to getting DRI out of PI, right away on Friday (3/20) morning, so I'm hoping all ends well for every owner...We'll be staying there next February, and I'm curious as to how things might change--for the better!

One thing we did after purchasing our week and immediately turning it into Club SunOptions--at the advice of the kind Club Sunterra manager who helped us with the conversion--was to add our 2 grown sons' names to the entire SunOption Contract. According to her, when our timeshares that are included in the Club are passed on to them, they will be already in the Club so the points/options will go along to them at the same time (all of our tmeshares are deeded properties), at no cost at that time. We didn't pay anything extra at the time of the PI transaction, either, to add their names.

I'm hoping that what she told us was true, and that my sons will have full usage of the Diamond Resort Club point system regarding all those timeshsares, just as promised (well, by Club Sunterra, anyway). Does anyone have any experience with this type of transaction? Does it sound like this is something we can count on? I never worried about it before (Diamond Resorts just took over our stuff, and I never thought of asking them about it...), but now I'm wondering...As far as I know, all of our names should have just gone along with our Club Sunterra holdings to Diamond Resorts "as is," no?

Thanks again for everyone's input...I know a lot more than I did when I first posted, and I feel comfortable with my decision to say yes on the proxy and send it in.

 

[dougp26364]

The only worry I would have about putting our childrens names on a contract is that they can be held liable for fee's and dues under that contract. I would never assume our kids would want our timeshares after we pass on. I would rather them have the option to decide to accept the timeshares and all the liablities that go along with ownership. Should they not want them, by having them on the contract, they'll have to find a way to get rid of them.

But that's just my opinion and how I view things. For all I know, I could be completely wrong. I just know that when my mother passed away, the companies that attempted to tell me I was personally responsible for her bills were told good luck. My mothers estate was responsible for those bills/liabilities and, once probate was over, so was any chance they had for payment.

 

[DianeNYS]

Hi, Doug

"The only worry I would have about putting our childrens names on a contract is that they can be held liable for fee's and dues under that contract. I would never assume our kids would want our timeshares after we pass on."

I totally agree with you here, and I neglected to say in my post above that I did check with my sons first, and as we've owned timeshares since 1990 (and got into the Sunterra Club in 1999), they've ALways wanted to own what we own, and use the properties as we've used them (staying and renting out what we can't use). They can't WAIT . But, yes...get the kids' permission first, before obligating them... Good point!