So I'm Now Required to Buy In to Abound?

[Miner49er]

I bought Westin Princeville when it first opened and I've always been able to book at other Westin resorts without a fee (we've stayed at the Maui properties and Westin St. John.) This was touted as a benefit at our sales presentation when we bought Princeville.

Now, when I try to book those other properties on the Vistana website I'm only offered reservations at my home property. I called Vistana and they said I "hadn't paid the Abound membership last August, so your membership in that was cancelled." They're willing to make a one-time exception and reinstate me for about $250. Said that's because Princeville is a "voluntary" resort, where members have to buy in to Abound. (I've seen this term bandied about on the TUG Vistana threads over the last few years and never understood what it meant.)

Have I been asleep at the wheel, or has Vistana changed the terms of my ownership without clearly communicating that? I have to say I was mildly interested in Abound when Marriott first took over, but it sounded optional and we decided it wasn't worth paying extra to go to a Marriott resort; we'd just stick to the Westin resorts as we always have. And now I'm being told Abound membership is all but mandatory to travel to the Westin resorts we've always enjoyed.

Meanwhile, the "Introducing Marriott Abound Vacations" video on the Vistana website https://www.vistana.com/help-center#/resources says toward the end, "Not ready to elect? VSN members can continue to use their vacation ownership interests as they have in the past." Sounds reassuring, but seems it's the opposite of what I was told: Pay for Abound, or you'll never visit another Westin!

 

[Miner49er]

This is a sales person's LIE - just say NO!

Thanks Denise, but in what way was it a lie? The salesperson said we could book at any Westin resort without a fee and over the years, we've been able to do just that. Until now! I think Marriott is changing the terms of my ownership without even clearly communicating that they've changed. That's even sneakier than any salesman's lie. I wonder how many other owners aren't aware?

 

[5finny]

Is the OP talking about $250 in annual club dues?
Or something more?

 

[davidvel]

It's a lie because you do not have to convert to Abound. You can continue using your ownership exactly as you always have.

But OP is reporting that they are unable to to use it as they have in the past. (I don't know either way, but that is what they are saying.)

 

[dioxide45]

It sounds like you failed to pay the Abound Club Dues last year and were unenrolled from VSN. With Voluntary only ownership, these are billed separately from the maintenance fees on your Vistana VOI. They are paid directly through the Marriott Vacation Club portal that you access via the Vistana Dashboard.

 

[jabberwocky]

It's a lie because you do not have to convert to Abound. You can continue using your ownership exactly as you always have.

It might help to read what the OP wrote. This isn’t a sales presentation.

I suspect that they have been part of VSN for years. The VSN dues would have been billed on the same statement as the MF.

When Abound was introduced they don’t include the Abound fee on your MF statement if you only own a voluntary property - they send a separate statement. If you have mandatory property they bill the Abound fee on that.

OP likely didn’t pay the Abound invoice (which replaced VSN) and as a result lost both. They may be able to only pay the VSN - but the Abound is probably worth a few extra dollars.

 

[dioxide45]

OP likely didn’t pay the Abound invoice (which replaced VSN) and as a result lost both. They may be able to only pay the VSN - but the Abound is probably worth a few extra dollars.

I don't seem to recall an opt-out process for Voluntary owners. It was an all or nothing. They get VSN and Abound or they get just neither. I understand there was only an opt-out process for Mandatory owners. Those Mandatory owners could opt to forego Abound but retain VSN and continue to pay the lower VSN fee. They would lose the single fee structure and would revert to having to pay individual fees like guest name changes, housekeeping, banking fee.

 

[jabberwocky]

I don't seem to recall an opt-out process for Voluntary owners. It was an all or nothing. They get VSN and Abound or they get just neither. I understand there was only an opt-out process for Mandatory owners. Those Mandatory owners could opt to forego Abound but retain VSN and continue to pay the lower VSN fee. They would lose the single fee structure and would revert to having to pay individual fees like guest name changes, housekeeping, banking fee.

You’re right with respect to the opt-out. Voluntary owners will still need to pay the Abound fee separately.

 

[DeniseM]

My apologies - to @Miner49er: the wording confused me, because paying club dues is not buying into Abound, and at sales meetings, they do indeed try to convince you that you need to buy into Abound.

"So I'm Now Required to Buy In to Abound?"​

"This was touted as a benefit at our sales presentation when we bought Princeville".