Resale-Combining StarOptions

[VacationPro]

It seems to me that it might work out for Starwood to allow resale buyers to also join SVN for a limited time. They could charge them a price to do it--there is $599 fee that's already "on the books." In addition, they'd get the $109 SVN ea. year. This would give them a nice short term revenue boost, which I'm assuming they could use right now.

Glorian

I suspect that this is the real reason behind this offer, but in this case it can be a win-win! for owners who want into the SVN and Starwood with increased revenue. I would also think that over time, there will be a need to do this at many of the voluntary resorts since original purchasers will gradually sell their units and there will be fewer and fewer in the network available for other members of SVN.

 

[Ken555]

With this new info, this would then not impact the price at mandatory (or any) SVN resorts, since you would have needed to purchase from the developer... what a strange twist with the story this thread has taken!

 

[SDKath]

Not following you, Ken.

If you purchased from Embassy before Starwood took over at SBP, PGA and SDO, you can now join SVN for free (plus their yearly membership fees).

If you own a couple resale M resorts, you can now combine SOs from them all if you want (at least for now -- still want to see this in writing and see if they can just "pull" this benefit at some future time).

So no need to purchase from Starwood unless you want to be Elite...

Or am I getting it wrong?

Katherine

 

[Denise L]

If you own a couple resale M resorts, you can now combine SOs from them all if you want (at least for now -- still want to see this in writing and see if they can just "pull" this benefit at some future time).

This is exactly what I was thinking tonight...SVO can change its mind at any time about resales and what they can and cannot do. Resales are only guaranteed the interval purchased (unless mandatory, then they have to give you SOs). In the beginning of resales, resale owners were allowed to combine SOs. Then SVO changed the policy, and now it sounds like it is changing it again, maybe because the resorts are not filling up as quickly because of the economy/oil prices, etc. So it is relaxing the rules a bit. SVO retains the right to switch back if the resorts start filling up again with developer purchases. I don't think they have to put anything in writing for resale owners.

 

[jhm40cu]

Wow, that is awesome news for Starwood resale owners. I wonder if they will also allow StarOptions to SPG points conversion privilege in the future. Then resale prices for Starwood on eBay would be skyrocketed.

 

[LisaRex]

Wow, that is awesome news for Starwood resale owners. I wonder if they will also allow StarOptions to SPG points conversion privilege in the future. Then resale prices for Starwood on eBay would be skyrocketed.

I've suspected for awhile that resale owners could convert to StarPoints. I KNOW that resale owners get gold SPG status. I'm a resale owner and on MSC, it states that my StarPoint conversion rate is 80,000. I also got a letter welcoming me to Starwood and inviting me to buy StarPoints, which would complement my new gold status. Face it, the conversion rate is so skewed towards Starwood that it would be in Starwood's best interest to allow everyone to do it. And gold status MAY get you a cup of coffee, but only if you hassle the front desk clerk.

I'd still never convert. I don't book a lot of hotel stays and when I do they're at nicer hotels. The 80k doesn't get me very far. And with the # of miles needed to book airfare to Hawaii now at 75-150k bawl vs. 35k-75k per seat, converting my sweet 2 week OF villa would net me just one airline ticket to Hawaii, with a current retail value of $1100-$2000. In other words, I MIGHT break even with my MFs. No thanks.

 

[pointsjunkie]

Wow, that is awesome news for Starwood resale owners. I wonder if they will also allow StarOptions to SPG points conversion privilege in the future. Then resale prices for Starwood on eBay would be skyrocketed.

i doubt that, they would have thousands of owners of developer weeks really PO"d and then how would they sell any developer weeks so we can buy resales?

 

[LisaRex]

i doubt that, they would have thousands of owners of developer weeks really PO"d and then how would they sell any developer weeks so we can buy resales?

Silly, silly girl. Because owners of developer weeks get leather "Starwood" luggage tags!

 

[Ken555]

Not following you, Ken.

If you purchased from Embassy before Starwood took over at SBP, PGA and SDO, you can now join SVN for free (plus their yearly membership fees).

My point was that resale purchasers for these resorts won't be positively affected by this new rule. Original owners would certainly benefit!

If you own a couple resale M resorts, you can now combine SOs from them all if you want (at least for now -- still want to see this in writing and see if they can just "pull" this benefit at some future time).

Well, are we sure this applies to mandatory resorts? If so, then this may bolster mandatory prices - in which case I was wrong with my earlier post (oops!).

So no need to purchase from Starwood unless you want to be Elite...

Yup.

 

[DeniseM]

Well, are we sure this applies to mandatory resorts? If so, then this may bolster mandatory prices - in which case I was wrong with my earlier post (oops!).

Yup.

I doesn't apply to voluntary resorts, because they don't have Staroptions...

It doesn't apply to developer purchases, because the options can already be combined with developer weeks...

So if it's true, it has to apply to mandatory resorts.

 

[Ken555]

So if it's true, it has to apply to mandatory resorts.

Y'know, that makes a lot of sense. Don't know what I was thinking...

 

[SDKath]

Jeez. This is like a logic problem. Bring back memories?

If A=B and B=C then A has to equal C.

:rofl:

K

 

[pointsjunkie]

it only applies to the resorts i mentioned earlier. sdo. pga.smv, they did not mention sbp, i wonder why.

and this will only effect original owners that originally opted not to be in the svn when starwood took over.they will not be charged the $599 and they have until oct 1,2008 to join.

the only revenue starwood will get is the svn amount .not that much in the scheme of things.

 

[DeniseM]

it only applies to the resorts i mentioned earlier. sdo. pga.smv, they did not mention sbp, i wonder why.

and this will only effect original owners that originally opted not to be in the svn when starwood took over.they will not be charged the $599 and they have until oct 1,2008 to join.

the only revenue starwood will get is the svn amount .not that much in the scheme of things.

You totally lost me...

Are we still talking about combining resale Staroptions?

 

[pointsjunkie]

this is for owners who would like to join the svn> sorry i wasn't clear.

 

[abdibile]

This it is good for owners of more than one week with low points, but is this really good for the owners that bought expensive weeks and already have more than 81.000??

Combining resale Staroptions would mean more people competing to get into the big units in platinum season, which owners below 81.000 SO could not compete for previously.

 

[LisaRex]

This it is good for owners of more than one week with low points, but is this really good for the owners that bought expensive weeks and already have more than 81.000??

Combining resale Staroptions would mean more people competing to get into the big units in platinum season, which owners below 81.000 SO could not compete for previously.

First of all, since SVO didn't advertise this benefit, most resale owners probably don't know they can combine resale StarOptions.

Secondly, most people aren't as SVN-savvy as Tuggers. Tuggers know that SVN definitely favors those who plan ahead and call in as soon as the window opens up.

Finally,those who currently own 148,100 StarOptions are still shy of the number of SO's needed to book the 3 bdrm units that are coming on the market. So the new rule can work in their favor, too.

 

[tomandrobin]

What this does is allow existing Starwood property owners to participate into the SVN program. How many pent up owners at SVR wanted to go to Harborside or Hawaii but never could because no SVN participation? All these new SVN members will use thier SO and exchange into HRA and Hawaii. This does two things - first, fresh meat for the sales/owner updates. Who better to sell timeshares to then existing Starwood owners. Second, it will tighten up the reservations at the hard to get resorts. This will reinforce the buy where you want to travel mantra.

 

[saluki]

I have read through this thread & there is a series of conflicting info. What exactly is this new policy?

Is it that StarOptions for all mandatory properties (whether developer or resale) can now be combined or is something more restrictive?

 

[LisaRex]

I have read through this thread & there is a series of conflicting info. What exactly is this new policy?

Is it that StarOptions for all mandatory properties (whether developer or resale) can now be combined or is something more restrictive?

The former policy was the resale owners could not combine their StarOptions. That has changed and now they can.

It can only affect mandatory properties because voluntary resale properties are not assigned StarOptions.

 

[SDKath]

Yes, but let's make this clarification too. Again, someone PLEASE correct me if I am wrong (again)! But as a resale owner, you CANNOT convert to StarPoints! Not with M or V resorts. Period. No hotel points for resale owners.

I hope I am right but I am seeing posts all over the map with these changing policies and I hate to have someone buy resale thinking they can use it at Starwood hotels.

Mystarcentral gives me my Starpoint (and Staroption) levels but they did not let me convert to SPs today and told me it was resale so sorry.

Katherine

 

[Kildahl]

That is certainly my understanding, Kath.
Could someone give me a practical application of Starwood's new policy on the ability to combine options from a mandatory resale with other developer acqiured options? Thanks.

 

[LisaRex]

Yes, but let's make this clarification too. Again, someone PLEASE correct me if I am wrong (again)! But as a resale owner, you CANNOT convert to StarPoints! Not with M or V resorts. Period. No hotel points for resale owners.

That's the way I understood it. However, I just looked at the "StarPoint" section of the User's Guide on MSC. Nowhere can I find where it says that resale owners are exempt from converting to StarPoints, even under the Rules & Terms of Use.

I'd call again. It's worth a shot.

 

[myip]

Mystarcentral gives me my Starpoint (and Staroption) levels but they did not let me convert to SPs today and told me it was resale so sorry.

Katherine

Now, I am totally confuse. Didn't you requalify? Shouldn't you be able to convert to starpoint. I am confused with this thread. Can someone summarize the new policy.

 

[Denise L]

All I know is what I have read on this thread .

So, basically it seems that resale owners at mandatory SO resorts are currently being allowed to combine SOs to book. So if you own a 81K + 67.1K, you can now book a 148,100 2 bedroom villa in Maui, for example, at 8 months out, if it was available. In the beginning of resales, this was allowed, then not allowed, and now it appears to be allowed again.

The other thing I have read here is that SVO is inviting some original owners at some resorts to join SVN for a limited time for no $599 fee.

So far, that's all I think I have learned.