Parking fees are coming to Grande Vista

[NboroGirl]

I attended today's Board of Director's meeting, and they are planning on instilling parking fees for non-owners. I asked what about Accommodation Certificate exchangers? What about people who buy Getaways? I was told there'd be no parking fees for those - only those who had a per night cash reservation. Hmmm, I've booked a night or two at MGV to tack on our vacation. But it was stressed- there'd be no fees for owners, whether they booked with points, weeks, or exchanged in. They expect that would save owners $31 on their maintenance fees.

 

[rickandcindy23]

That scared me. I have a reservation for 12/7 through II.

I see Marriott doing what Hilton and Diamond have been doing for years, charging fees for exchanges.

 

[claraj]

@NboroGirl Do you know when they will start charging?

 

[dioxide45]

This means Encore Package stays could also have parking fees. I generally don't like a la cart fees for these things, even if only charged to cash guests. It isn't like those resorts charging resort fees to exchangers as this doesn't seem like it would apply to any timeshare based stays. This is kind of like what they do at the Hawaii resorts vs what they do at Beachplace Towers.

 

[daviator]

This is already the case at most MVC properties, in my experience at least. Ownership reservations (whether direct ownership or any kind of exchange) do not get charged for parking. The only people who pay for parking are those renting for cash (e.g. reserving via the Marriott (hotel) website) and those on Encore (promotional) packages.

It's mildly annoying on an Encore package but I don't think it's the end of the world.

 

[MikeM132]

Really? Are hotels charging for parking in the I-Drive area? Must be a new development. I've never paid for parking outside of Disney or Universal.

 

[dioxide45]

I attended today's Board of Director's meeting, and they are planning on instilling parking fees for non-owners. I asked what about Accommodation Certificate exchangers? What about people who buy Getaways? I was told there'd be no parking fees for those - only those who had a per night cash reservation. Hmmm, I've booked a night or two at MGV to tack on our vacation. But it was stressed- there'd be no fees for owners, whether they booked with points, weeks, or exchanged in. They expect that would save owners $31 on their maintenance fees.

Did they happen to say what the daily parking fee would be?

Was there anything else of significance discussed at the BOD meeting? I wish I could have attended.

 

[jp10558]

That scared me. I have a reservation for 12/7 through II.

I see Marriott doing what Hilton and Diamond have been doing for years, charging fees for exchanges.

This is one thing I think is straight drip pricing on the Extra Vacations etc pricing (put the parking, resort etc fees as part of the booking price) and a scam on exchanges (you're getting paid by the owner in the MFs that are supposed to cover everything) - what does it matter who's staying in the unit? I kind of hope as the government is cracking down on drip pricing, these will again be built into the up front price to stay.

 

[dioxide45]

This is already the case at most MVC properties, in my experience at least. Ownership reservations (whether direct ownership or any kind of exchange) do not get charged for parking. The only people who pay for parking are those renting for cash (e.g. reserving via the Marriott (hotel) website) and those on Encore (promotional) packages.

It's mildly annoying on an Encore package but I don't think it's the end of the world.

Most? I only know of a handful of MVC properties that charge for parking in some way to some people. Those being the ones in Hawaii, City Collection, Beachplace Towers and also Westin Desert Willow. Are there others?

 

[dioxide45]

Really? Are hotels charging for parking in the I-Drive area? Must be a new development. I've never paid for parking outside of Disney or Universal.

We've stayed at several. There are quite a few I-Drive hotels that now charge for parking.

 

[NboroGirl]

Did they happen to say what the daily parking fee would be?

Was there anything else of significance discussed at the BOD meeting? I wish I could have attended.

I also went to the Condominium Association Annual Meeting this morning and learned the following (I was trying to take notes on the agenda paper using my lap as a desk, so I hope I can read my writing accurately)

• MGV earned $3 million from $71 million on their investments, which they were pretty excited about (mostly due to higher interest rates)
• Exterior painting has been completed - a month early. They will begin roof replacements, oldest buildings first, starting with $2 million
• They will be replacing all the door locks with some system that is more secure, in Dec. - 1st quarter. I asked if the wrist bands would no longer work, and he said no they won't, "they'd need to be replaced". I didn't ask if Marriott would replace them at no charge but I'm guessing not.
• They are SO PROUD of their new "multi purpose" room, which is the old activity center. Apparently this is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and "it was like building a house". My husband and I peeked in and looked at it and it looked the same to us. But it is now complete. They have a portable 9-hole glow in the dark mini-golf course in there, offered 3 times week which is very popular. They also hold gnocchi-making classes, among other activities there.
• The parking fee, in 2025, will be $25+tax / night, and owners WILL BE charged if they book cash payment nights through Marriott.
• The resort refurbishments have been completed in July, ending in Golf Village. We are staying in Building 92 and everything (same as the other refurbished units) looks pretty new. The appliances look new (except for a dent in our freezer door).
• Owner satisfaction (base on surveys)has been going up every year.
• Occupancy rates are averaging 90%, highest in July (95%) and lowest this time of year (even so, 85%)
• Maintenance fees are going up 5.4%. For example, 2BR platinum weeks will be $1993.85 and 3BR platinum weeks will b $2634.92. Those are the only ones I wrote down because that's what I own. For any others, just add 5.4% from last year.

I think that's all I got. It was my first time attending, as we just so happened to be down here this week, and I thought they were interesting. A buffet-style breakfast, snacks, and lunch were provided.

 

[jwalk03]

Most? I only know of a handful of MVC properties that charge for parking in some way to some people. Those being the ones in Hawaii, City Collection, Beachplace Towers and also Westin Desert Willow. Are there others?

Ocean Pointe recently added a daily parking charge for cash bookings and encore packages. $20/day.

The Lake Tahoe properties also charge for cash and encore stays.

 

[davidvel]

Ocean Pointe recently added a daily parking charge for cash bookings and encore packages. $20/day.

The Lake Tahoe properties also charge for cash and encore stays.

I think the Grand Residence Tahoe charges for all types of reservations.

 

[daviator]

Most? I only know of a handful of MVC properties that charge for parking in some way to some people. Those being the ones in Hawaii, City Collection, Beachplace Towers and also Westin Desert Willow. Are there others?

Well you hit the properties where I own, lol. I know they charge in Maui and in Palm Springs area (I think the MVC properties there have also started charging.) I just kind of assumed it was something they were doing portfolio-wide for non-owner reservations, but maybe I just happen to own in the places where they've implemented that policy.

But on a possibly related note, last month I went to book a (hotel) stay in Orange County, California – as suburban and car-centric a place as exists anywhere – and discovered that ALL the Marriott family hotels have recently started charging for parking. And not just a pittance, but $20-50/night depending on the brand. This is an area where nearly 100% of their guests are going to have a car (and the hotels have plenty of parking) so I think that Marriott, in partnership with their the property owners, have realized that they can gouge charge guests a hefty add-on and people will have no choice but to pay it.

I expect to pay for parking in heavily urbanized areas where parking is at a premium, but I don't expect it at a Courtyard in suburbia. Welcome to the new normal.
SO... I will not be surprised to see parking fees pop up at many or even all of the MVC properties, as I expect the trend to grow. They shouldn't impact owner reservations but it's another way for MVC to increase revenues on non-ownership stays.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Is MGV going to charge parking for an II exchange?

 

[dioxide45]

Is MGV going to charge parking for an II exchange?

Not according to what has been reported. Only cash/Bonvoy stays.

 

[frank808]

Most? I only know of a handful of MVC properties that charge for parking in some way to some people. Those being the ones in Hawaii, City Collection, Beachplace Towers and also Westin Desert Willow. Are there others?

All pulse properties I have been to in Washington DC, Miami, San Diego and San Francisco.

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[dioxide45]

All pulse properties I have been to in Washington DC, Miami, San Diego and San Francisco.

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Those properties charge it for everyone. MVC owner or not.

I was mainly replying to this comment "This is already the case at most MVC properties, in my experience at least. Ownership reservations (whether direct ownership or any kind of exchange) do not get charged for parking." City Collection is unique on its own as it doesn't discriminate. Everyone pays the parking fees.

 

[MikeM132]

Not according to what has been reported. Only cash/Bonvoy stays.

So those booking from Marriott web site thinking this is a hotel can add the parking fee to their list of grievances.

 

[dioxide45]

So those booking from Marriott web site thinking this is a hotel can add the parking fee to their list of grievances.

Certainly. I am sure it will start to show up in reviews. At $25 bucks a day, I might be upset about it too. That seems to be out of line for other hotels up and down I-Drive. Though it is in line with the likes of World Center or Gaylord. But those properties have large parking garages to maintain. Not just surface lots.