Marriott Aruba Ocean Club Owners Being Ripped Off By Marriott - READ IF AN OWNER

[StarwoodCanadafan]

Email the General Manager at the resort at marriott@setarnet.aw

Got this from my ownership rep.

I have found that a well written letter to the office of the president clearly explaining the problem/situation can often work wonders. Companies tend to take such letters seriously and, as Dave suggested, if many people write a similar letter it can have a big impact. The letter needs to clearly outline the issues/problems and ask for their assistance to remedy the problem(s) in a non-threatening manner.

 

[Zac495]

The board emailed me and said Marriott assured them owners may make payment arrangements - we called and asked Marriott - they said no way. I'm emailing back about that.

 

[Luckybee]

I wish you luck, truly I do Ellen, but that said having just read the report emailed to me by the owner who was at the most recent board meeting with both the "owner members"(no pun intended), and the Marriott members I am skeptical that you'll get anywhere. The one thing that seemed abundantly clear from this gentlemans report is that the last thing anyone involved in the meeting(other than Allen Cohen and this gentleman) were concerned about were the owners. They apparently made it abundantly clear that they had no interest in considering anything the owners had to say unfortunately.

 

[marksue]

Lucky,

I don't disagree but am totally supportive if someone has a valid suggestion on what to try. It can not hurt to send a few hundred letters to Mr. Marriott. At least he will become aware of owners concerns, if he isn't already. This is just one of a few approaches under way. I have a call with a few owners, who are working behind the scenes, on Saturday where we are going to discuss some next steps. We can speak after that call and I can fill you in. I will not be posting what is discussed on the call here, but will speak with any owner who is interested.

 

[ecwinch]

For once, I agree with MarkSue. While I think it is a longshot that MVCI will intervene in regards to the issues regarding how the BOD wants to handle business, I think it might put in the BOD in a more responsive mode to the owners concerns.

 

[marksue]

I heard from another owner regarding the payment plan and they heard the same thing as Ellen that Marriott had no payment plan. Ellen, let me know if you hear anything back on that.

 

[qlaval]

Speaking of poor resale value....

$4,500 for a 1Bd gold week...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Marriott-Aruba-Ocean-Club-Villa-Timeshare-for-Sale_W0QQitemZ280299099811

 

[lovearuba]

not surprised

This is not unique to the ocean club, all the timeshare prices are pretty low. It seems to be right in line with the housing industry.

 

[irish]

i just rented my week at the ocean club for 2009(gold week) for LESS then my yearly m/f's.BUT at least it got rented. 2008 not even an inquiry and i had a REALLY good week.

 

[marksue]

Wow, That is giving the unit away. Pricies may be down but that is below down, that is so far in the basement. Marriott is selling those units, well trying to sell those units for 18k.

 

[marksue]

For all owners who would like to know the latest to where this effort is going, there was a conference call yesterday among a group of owners. We disucssed specific steps we are taking. I will not post what steps we are undertaking since Marriott is watching this board, but if you send me a PM, I can call you with an update. Those that already ahve my phone number please feel free to call me.

 

[m61376]

Sounds like an anxious seller who just wanted to free himself of MF's and the assessment. I don't know that we can conclude that this reflects current value unless we start to see a stream at these prices.

I guess if someone is trying to keep his head above water in this economy it pays to sell even at such a low price rather than pay a postcard company or let Marriott foreclose. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people in that predicament today.

 

[modoaruba]

just being cynical

Redweek has of today 140 units for rent starting at $14/night!!!
Resales starting at $9250!!!

Great times to increase our MF.
Sounds like pouring in more money into a poor investment in severley inopportune times is a great solution.

What about a Marriott bailout?

Or should we call Maddoff?

Can't help being cynical. Sorry.

 

[vincenzi]

I Think the Ad In Redweek Was Posted Incorrectly

Redweek has of today 140 units for rent starting at $14/night!!!

I looked at the ad for AOC on the Redweek website and it read $14 a night for 147 nights. I think???the ad should have read $147 a night for 14 nights.

 

[lovearuba]

ha ha

Hi
I'll rent it for $14 a night, thats really funny:whoopie:

 

[modoaruba]

Guess you can't believe everything you read.

Which is what this whole blog is about?

You can't believe everything Marriott and/or the Board say?

My mistake, a lesson learned.

 

[MikeM132]

You never know. We stayed at the Borgata in Atlantic City for 5.95 in September.

 

[marksue]

Any owners that have thier bills for previous years. If you notice Marriott states the estimated useful life of the roof to be 25 years. Earlier years had 6 - 25 and then they say jsut 25. Then in 2006 they say remaining life is 25 years so the information we are getting from MVCI on the rrof has been contradictary. Just pointing out information given to me today that we should all be aware of.

The furniture, fistures and equipment, as of 2006, still have life expectancy of 8 years, so this being 2009 says there is still 5 years left. Why do we need to replace it all now?


I think there is an explanation needed by the board and Marriott arround this discrepancy.

 

[qlaval]

I looked at the ad for AOC on the Redweek website and it read $14 a night for 147 nights. I think???the ad should have read $147 a night for 14 nights.

Sure the owner did a typo mistake...
Price: $2,000 ($14 per night)
Length of Stay: 147 nights <<<<<<<<
Available: Dec 19, 2009 - Jan 1, 2010

In this particular case it's $2,000 for 13 nights (not 14...?) Xmas + New Year!
The ad don't tell but you can bet that this is the lockoff and not the full villa....

 

[qlaval]

Sounds like an anxious seller who just wanted to free himself of MF's and the assessment.
I don't know that we can conclude that this reflects current value unless we start to see a stream at these prices...

You're absolutly right.
Probably someone who wanted to bail out as fast as he can.
Starting price was only $1,500 NO reserve with a BIN of $4,500...

For many people paying $1,200 or more for only one week in a one bedroom during LOW season doesn't worth it and I tend to agree with that.
Remember a one bedroom cannot be split for two weeks like at the SC for the same maintenance fee...

 

[m61376]

You're absolutly right.
Probably someone who wanted to bail out as fast as he can.
Starting price was only $1,500 NO reserve with a BIN of $4,500...

For many people paying $1,200 or more for only one week in a one bedroom during LOW doesn't worth it and I tend to agree with that.
Remember a one bedroom cannot be split for two weeks like at the SC for the same maintenance fee...

For most of the other Caribbean islands I might agree that low season (silver) would hold a lot less value (although many have paid big bucks for the newer Marriott resorts even in Silver season), but there is really no low season in Aruba. The winter weeks are peak period because of the Northeasterners wanting to escape this wonderful frigid weather but since the climate is basically the same year round, it is a desirable vacation locale year-round, so the value doesn't dive like some Silver or Bronze weeks elsewhere..

 

[qlaval]

Yes Aruba is a nice place all year around.
But there is a big difference in price for rentals and hotel fare during let's say a week in October and one in February....
So the value compared to the maintenance fees paid is a lesser one during "low" season.

 

[marksue]

Ellen,

The letter ha
s been distributed to all owners who have responded to the calling of the special board meeting. I have asked that all the letters be sent out if possible within the week.

 

[modoaruba]

IRS has just approved waiving late fees for many taxpayers.
Maybe even a payment plans.

Hey Marriott, ARE YOU UP ON WHAT'S GOING ON?

 

[marksue]

This came from an owner who questioned about the sharing between the resorts. So if anyone needs clarification on what is and is not shared here it is. The onlything that I have not heard, sicne it was supposed to be revisted in Dec was the pool area sharing was to be revisited.

I am not sure where the information you heard may have come from as the Ocean Club Board still maintains the same stance it did over a year ago in regards to the pool areas between the two properties. For cost saving reasons as well as vacation enhancement the three Marriott properties do have an integration agreement of which many facilities are shared. Presently the Ocean Club shares the Resort Health Club, the Tennis Courts and Basketball Court are shared by all, the Kid’s Club at Surf Club is used by Ocean Club, etc. The one area the Boards of both Ocean Club and Surf Club requested for Marriott to consider in October 2007 was placing a temporary suspension to the agreement is the sharing of those two pool areas. Nothing has changed and that suspension is closely monitored by myself and the Surf Club General Manager; exceptions are only given from time to time due to the fact that we have over 1,500 owners at both properties and they have families that come all at the same time.