Starwood Has Won [Unilateral II Changes] [merged]

[Joshadelic]

Josh
I think I posted someplace on the thread that my VCC gold plus and my SDI Plat plus (both non-SVN) see exactly the same stuff. The kicker is that all my other independent resorts see that stuff, too. Doesn't appear to be any Starwood pref in effect for me.

I've been seeing a lot more Starwood stuff today. Quite a few WKV, SDO, WMH, SVV, SVR, SMV, etc. I've noticed that they are showing some 2br when I search with my small 1br SDO and small side of my 2br LO at SVV.

 

[gmarine]

I left a message for a contact at Starwood. Waiting for a call back and in the past my calls have been returned.

If Starwood insists they have the right to do as they wish with our weeks they are going to have a fight from me. I'm going to ask for some TUG members to help post on other timeshare/travel/points message boards to gather other Starwood members together. I'm thinking first a large group letter to the CEO and if that fails then we go from there but first I'm going to see what they say.

 

[Politico]

upset

So, Starwood is now confirming to me (after telling me the exact opposite on the phone) that this new II deposit procedure applies to non-SVN weeks. See my emails below (in blue) and Starwood's responses (in Red)


I have received conflicting information about how the new request, deposit, and exchange process works with II, given the new changes (I called II and Starwood and was told that the exchange process has been "improved"). Please explain the following about Starwood exchanges in II: 1) what is new; 2) what has changed; and 3) who has been affected. The fact that this change has/is being made with no communication to owners is terrible.


Thank you for contacting Sheraton Vacation Ownership. We welcome the opportunity to assist you.

We apologize for any confusion regarding the new exchange method. We no longer deposit your week with Interval International (II), we actually issue a Request First Assignment.

- This now gives you true trading power with II based on your home resort and season owned.

- Once the assignment is done, it is available immediately for you to contact II to initiate your search.

- Prior to or within the Use Year, the owner is always welcome to reverse an eligible assignment with Interval International and travel within the Starwood Vacation Network.

- The expiration of the Request First Assignment is always the same regardless of when you contact us with your intent to exchange. The expiration date of the new II exchange method also provides owners additional time to utilize their assignment with Interval. With the June 30 expiration, the owner has anywhere from 18 to 30 months to use with II depending on when the owner called to request the assignment. Previously, the owner had anywhere from 12 to 24 months depending on the week that was deposited for the owner.

We're sorry if you have not yet received notification. You should receive a special edition of the Interval International Directory soon. This directory also includes the new exchange enhancements.

Have a pleasant day.

Sincerely,
E-Communications Specialist
Owner Services



Can you clarify whether the "anwer" you gave me below applies to all of my Starwood weeks (i.e. my two SDO Arizona weeks and SVV Florida week) or just to my Florida week? It is very unclear whether Starwood and II are applying these changes to non-SVN weeks (i.e., my two SDO Arizona weeks). Starwood has no right to restrict what week I deposit in II for my two SDO Arizona weeks, which are non-SVN weeks. I should be able to deposit in II the exact SDO Arizona week I reserved. Correct?


Thank you for contacting Sheraton Vacation Ownership. We welcome the opportunity to assist you.

We extend our apologies for any confusion that may have been caused by any of our previous messages. For information purposes, our records show that your three ownership accounts are for floating weeks. Because of this, our previous response regarding the new Interval International exchange methodology applies to all of your weeks. It is important to mention that since the new methodology for exchange with Interval International (II) came into effect on August 18, 2009, this only applies to exchange requests submitted after that time. Because of this, any deposit requests submitted prior to August 18, 2009 will have to be utilized using the previous methodology for exchange with Interval International. On the other hand, any deposit request that is submitted after August 18, 2009 against any of your ownership weeks, whether they are in the Starwood Vacation Network (SVN) or not, will be processed under the current methodology which will give you true trading power with II based on your home resort and season owned. Please feel free to get back to us if you have additional concerns regarding this matter. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

As a friendly reminder, our records show that you currently have 13,900 available StarOptions for 2010. To avoid the expiration of your 2009 StarOptions, these must be utilized before December 31, 2009. Please get back to us at your earliest convenience with your vacation plans. We look forward to assisting you in the near future.

We hope that this information was beneficial to you. Should you need further assistance, please contact Owner Services.

 

[gmarine]

I just placed a second call to Starwood. Awaiting a call back.

Seems to me that using this system II members will never see any high demand weeks at any SVN resorts.

 

[tschwa2]

I have an EOY odd week at SBP deeded as week 34 so I have several months until I would need to worry about this but I am following the issue. I bought primarily to use but I wouldn't mind searching to see if something catches my eye.

So if I reserve a June or July week 12 months out and want to see what else is available through II, I would need to call Starwood and give them back my week? and if I see nothing is available that interests me in II, I would need to call back and see what week might be left for me to reserve? That sucks. Would I be able to search 12 months without giving back my week or would I be unable to search at all as long as I had a reserved week?

 

[barndweller]

So if I reserve a June or July week 12 months out and want to see what else is available through II, I would need to call Starwood and give them back my week? and if I see nothing is available that interests me in II, I would need to call back and see what week might be left for me to reserve? That sucks. Would I be able to search 12 months without giving back my week or would I be unable to search at all as long as I had a reserved week?

Those are the big unknowns for me.

I don't call up & reserve a high demand week just to exchange it at II. I reserve a week I would like to use. I never just deposit my reserved week. In the past, I was able to search with my week at II and see if there was someplace else I'd rather go. If I found something I could exchange right then and there using the online deposit method. Now I can't do that. I'm not in the Network so that was the only option open to me for getting a nice exchange while not jepardizing loosing my reserved week. I can no longer do this. Starwood won't let me and II is complying with Starwoods effort to control what I can deposit. It is annoying but I will probably just stop using II with my Starwood units. I'd be more than happy to join any group protest or letter writing campaign. But I was never one to reserve high demand and deposit to get high trade power in the first place. Those with fixed weeks are the one's really being shafted and I will help you folks any way you need.

 

[Ken555]

My fixed weeks are still showing as able to deposit at II, as of this morning.

 

[sml2181]

A little late, but I just read this thread for the first time.
My II account only shows my already deposited 2009 week. 2010/2011 disappeared - so I searched here for information.

Got curious so called SVO to ask what would happen if I would have to deposit my fixed event week. Got the same sad story as everyone else.

This week is not in their system. I don't have to reserve it, as it is fixed - I only have to cancel it if I don't use it. If I don't use it, it will not go in the SVN system for others to reserve - don't know what they would do with it - some say it just stays empty, others told me it will be rented on SPG/Sheraton websites.
But I can't deposit THAT week. They wil give me a week. If I would deposit this week, I would have to cancel it first - and I didn't have to do that last year, although it did take a week then to have it deposited.

 

[Politico]

A little late, but I just read this thread for the first time.
My II account only shows my already deposited 2009 week. 2010/2011 disappeared - so I searched here for information.

Got curious so called SVO to ask what would happen if I would have to deposit my fixed event week. Got the same sad story as everyone else.

This week is not in their system. I don't have to reserve it, as it is fixed - I only have to cancel it if I don't use it. If I don't use it, it will not go in the SVN system for others to reserve - don't know what they would do with it - some say it just stays empty, others told me it will be rented on SPG/Sheraton websites.
But I can't deposit THAT week. They wil give me a week. If I would deposit this week, I would have to cancel it first - and I didn't have to do that last year, although it did take a week then to have it deposited.

I can't see how it is legal to not allow someone to deposit their non-SVN fixed week! Wow, Starwood, you are just asking for a lawsuit.

 

[Bill4728]

I don't call up & reserve a high demand week just to exchange it at II. I reserve a week I would like to use. I never just deposit my reserved week. In the past, I was able to search with my week at II and see if there was someplace else I'd rather go. If I found something I could exchange right then and there using the online deposit method. Now I can't do that. I'm not in the Network so that was the only option open to me for getting a nice exchange while not jepardizing loosing my reserved week. I can no longer do this.

The system as II & starwood has designed it, is wrong and clearly illegal. And it is for Barndellers reason. You should be able to reserve a week, then be able to do two things, search II for any exchanges you may want OR use the reserved week yourself if you don't find an interesting exchange.

Maybe Starwood & II will let you do this by putting in a fake deposit so you can search and still allow you to hold a reservation.

 

[Politico]

Maybe Starwood & II will let you do this by putting in a fake deposit so you can search and still allow you to hold a reservation.

Ultimately, thisis where I think Starwood and II will end up. I tink they will say that if you decide to use the high-demand non-SVN week you reserved, you can withdraw the II search and use it. But, if you decide to deposit it, they will deposit an "equivalent season" week.

The problem with that is that SDO non-SVN floats the whole year!

 

[rickandcindy23]

George must not have received a call back. I was hoping George would hear back from his contact.

My weeks are awful: 24 at SDO and 19 and 41 at SBP. Bummer.

It seems that anything you get for searching purposes is going to have lowered trading power. I don't understand the point of all of this, except to mess up the < 1% who have a clue! It feels very personal right now.

 

[barndweller]

For those who bought a resale week for low $$ strictly to use for exchanging with II, this new system is a bummer. We all know that buying just to have great trade power is a crap shoot and a constantly moving target. That seems to be what has happened with Starwood resorts. For those folks, it's time to dump your units and try to find the newest secret cheap resale with secret super power that others haven't discovered.

For those who purchased a resale with high season designation whether with the intent of using themselves or exchanging, the new system hampers the ability to exchange at II only, not other exchange companies. Either use the new system or abandon II for another exchange company. If enough of us go to SFX or TPI their available exchanges will improve for all of us.

For fixed week purchasers, the new system is illegal and is a blatant attempt to control deposits that Starwood has no legal claim to control. A lawsuit certainly is in order. Hopefully Starwood will fix this within their system. I can't believe they don't have a way to seperate out the fixed week owners.

 

[jarta]

Bill, ... "The system as II & starwood has designed it, is wrong and clearly illegal."

"Wrong" sometimes depends on your point of view. I am sure that Starwood sees removing reserve first;then deposit for all Starwood properties as leveling the playing field. Now, non-SVN members will be on the same footing as SVN members in making reservations through II.

There might be many SVN members who appreciate that. I am one who does. Moreover, your initial point is still valid - that reserving "prime" weeks only by those who want to use the "prime" week after reserving it might make it easier for everyone, SVN and non-SVN, to reserve in those weeks. Is accomplishing that "wrong?"

So far, it looks like all weeks in a season will receive the same trading power designation from II because Starwood will give II a designator by season. If that happens, there would be no need to race to reserve a "more prime" week because that week will get no advantage over other weeks in a season.

But, even if the weeks within a season receive different trading power allocations, wouldn't that just be a reflection of the true value and, most likely, the purchase price on the resale market for those weeks? I have always been advised to purchase where I want to go and at the time (or at least in the season) I want to go there. So, I have. Those who didn't have violated one of the more important rules of buying timeshares.

But, even more than designating the new II procedures as "wrong," you go on to say that the new procedures are "clearly illegal." What law do they violate? What right of ownership do they violate? What part of the declaration governing any of the Starwood associations do they violate?

As I see it (and, BTW, I am an attorney and a non-Starwood ex-association board president), Starwood has convinced II that it is in II's best economic interest to change its policy and accept all Starwood deposits through Starwood. II surely can do that if it wishes. II can even go out of business if it wants to.

As barndweller has pointed out, if you don't like the new II rules for depositing Starwood timeshares, don't use II. And, if II can't change its rules for depositing, I'd really like to know what law, what right of timeshare ownership or what declaration II is violating by changing its rules for depositing timeshares. ... eom

 

[GrayFal]

Bill, ... "The system as II & Starwood has designed it, is wrong and clearly illegal."

"Wrong" sometimes depends on your point of view. I am sure that Starwood sees removing reserve first;then deposit for all Starwood properties as leveling the playing field. Now, non-SVN members will be on the same footing as SVN members in making reservations through II.

There might be many SVN members who appreciate that. I am one who does. Moreover, your initial point is still valid - that reserving "prime" weeks only by those who want to use the "prime" week after reserving it might make it easier for everyone, SVN and non-SVN, to reserve in those weeks. Is accomplishing that "wrong?"

So far, it looks like all weeks in a season will receive the same trading power designation from II because Starwood will give II a designator by season. If that happens, there would be no need to race to reserve a "more prime" week because that week will get no advantage over other weeks in a season.

But, even if the weeks within a season receive different trading power allocations, wouldn't that just be a reflection of the true value and, most likely, the purchase price on the resale market for those weeks? I have always been advised to purchase where I want to go and at the time (or at least in the season) I want to go there. So, I have. Those who didn't have violated one of the more important rules of buying timeshares.

But, even more than designating the new II procedures as "wrong," you go on to say that the new procedures are "clearly illegal." What law do they violate? What right of ownership do they violate? What part of the declaration governing any of the Starwood associations do they violate?

As I see it (and, BTW, I am an attorney and a non-Starwood ex-association board president), Starwood has convinced II that it is in II's best economic interest to change its policy and accept all Starwood deposits through Starwood. II surely can do that if it wishes. II can even go out of business if it wants to.

As barndweller has pointed out, if you don't like the new II rules for depositing Starwood timeshares, don't use II. And, if II can't change its rules for depositing, I'd really like to know what law, what right of timeshare ownership or what declaration II is violating by changing its rules for depositing timeshares. ... eom

Just in case you didn't see the following - not all of us are purely float owners - People who purchased weeks at Broadway Plantation that were originally deeded to Embassy have the following rights...

From the StarCentral Website

"Fixed Week Preference Period

Fixed week preference period begins 24 months prior to the first day of use of your numbered floating unit week and lasts 12 months. During this fixed week preference period, owners of similarly numbered floating unit weeks have the exclusive right to reserve the the use of their numbered floating unit week in the same villa type they own without any competition for the same vacation time from owners owning differently numbered floating Unit Weeks.
Floating Use Period

The floating use period allows you to vacation at a different time then the numbered floating unit week u own. The floating use period begins 12 months prior to use of an unreserved vacation ownership interest in a given calendar year and ends on the last day of that calendar year. During that time you will be competing with other floating week owners on a first come, first serve basis. Blahhhhh

I purchased my weeks resale from 2 different people who were in SVN - so we are complaining that our deeded weeks are getting less value now from Starwood as non-SVN owners - there are also people that are in SVN that are also getting screwed with the new designations.
And yes, those people did tell me they paid more at time of purchase to get weeks 27 and 32 so they could have those guaranteed weeks without having to fight for reservation.

You are of course right - II can change any rule they like. But they can't make me give them my prime summer weeks - they can get the leftovers that this new policy will foster.

Maybe you will get a better shot at getting the reservations you want thru SVN - or maybe not as people make those good reservation anyway and use them or rent them or give them to different exchange companies

It's all a crap shoot.

 

[ArtsieAng]

GrayFal

Originally Posted by GrayFal
From the StarCentral Website

"Fixed Week Preference Period

Fixed week preference period begins 24 months prior to the first day of use of your numbered floating unit week and lasts 12 months. During this fixed week preference period, owners of similarly numbered floating unit weeks have the exclusive right to reserve the the use of their numbered floating unit week in the same villa type they own without any competition for the same vacation time from owners owning differently numbered floating Unit Weeks.
Floating Use Period

The floating use period allows you to vacation at a different time then the numbered floating unit week u own. The floating use period begins 12 months prior to use of an unreserved vacation ownership interest in a given calendar year and ends on the last day of that calendar year. During that time you will be competing with other floating week owners on a first come, first serve basis. Blahhhhh

And, to add to the above......Those who purchased weeks 9-43 as "Platinum Weeks" at SBP were down graded to "Gold Plus Weeks." Can Starwood arbitrarily change their designation?

 

[gmarine]

Those are the big unknowns for me.

I don't call up & reserve a high demand week just to exchange it at II. I reserve a week I would like to use. I never just deposit my reserved week. In the past, I was able to search with my week at II and see if there was someplace else I'd rather go. If I found something I could exchange right then and there using the online deposit method. Now I can't do that. I'm not in the Network so that was the only option open to me for getting a nice exchange while not jepardizing loosing my reserved week. I can no longer do this. Starwood won't let me and II is complying with Starwoods effort to control what I can deposit. It is annoying but I will probably just stop using II with my Starwood units. I'd be more than happy to join any group protest or letter writing campaign. But I was never one to reserve high demand and deposit to get high trade power in the first place. Those with fixed weeks are the one's really being shafted and I will help you folks any way you need.

You can still make a reservation for your home resort and then search online through II. If you find something you can then confirm it and notify Starwood that you made an exchange and to cancel your reservation to confirm the exchange.

 

[jarta]

Grayfall, ... "Fixed Week Preference Period

Fixed week preference period begins 24 months prior to the first day of use of your numbered floating unit week and lasts 12 months. During this fixed week preference period, owners of similarly numbered floating unit weeks have the exclusive right to reserve the the use of their numbered floating unit week in the same villa type they own without any competition for the same vacation time from owners owning differently numbered floating Unit Weeks."

First, your quote is from mystarcentral, not the declaration or your deed. But, I'll assume it's correct.

So, go ahead and reserve your fixed week during your preference period - and use it or even rent it.

Don't trade it through II. If you want to trade, use something other than II.

I'm sorry, but nothing you have quoted says anything about any "right" to not use the reserved fixed timeshare and trade it through II or anyone else in any way you want to. ... eom

 

[jarta]

ArtsieAng, ... "Those who purchased weeks 9-43 as "Platinum Weeks" at SBP were down graded to "Gold Plus Weeks." Can Starwood arbitrarily change their designation?"

That's a completely different issue than what II wants to accept. It goes to trading power. It's also an issue I do not have sufficient information about to debate with you.

However, assuming you really were downgraded (and not just assigned a different designator or name for your season), you would probably have a good bitch. ... eom

 

[djyamyam]

You can still make a reservation for your home resort and then search online through II. If you find something you can then confirm it and notify Starwood that you made an exchange and to cancel your reservation to confirm the exchange.

George, that's not true anymore. I can only search online (as of today), only until Sept 8, 2010. I cannot search for more than 12 months out because only 2009 non-banked usage weeks are showing up on my II account. Previously, would have reserved my 2010 week but not banked it. I could then search online by selecting my 2010 year, typing in the date and the reservation number and then searched as far back as 1 year from the reservation date I typed in and 1 year forward into 2011. Now I can't do that.

As I understand it, the only was I can do what I used to is cancel that prime reservation date, call Starwood and then have them bank a unit in my season to search. If nothing is available, then I have to cancel and take the dregs of what's left for an actual usage week. How's that fair?

If I don't understand it correctly, someone please let me know. I'm not quite sure I understand the request first feature.

This new system doesn't work for me as I reserve a week for three purposes, to trade, to rent or to use. I used to be able to flip between all three at the same time; now I have to choose one much earlier in the process.

 

[cindi]

I bought SDO floating weeks 1-52 and my account in II shows it as gold plus. Not platinum, even though my deeded week is in the platinum season. I had wrongly assumed it would show up at platinum.

 

[djyamyam]

I bought SDO floating weeks 1-52 and my account in II shows it as gold plus. Not platinum, even though my deeded week is in the platinum season. I had wrongly assumed it would show up at platinum.

It would only show up as platinum if it were one of the floating 1-21,50-52 weeks that were sold by Starwood. The original floating 1-52 weeks are all considered gold plus because they are pre-Starwood, even though the underlying deeded week might be a week that falls during platinum season.

 

[gmarine]

George, that's not true anymore. I can only search online (as of today), only until Sept 8, 2010. I cannot search for more than 12 months out because only 2009 non-banked usage weeks are showing up on my II account. Previously, would have reserved my 2010 week but not banked it. I could then search online by selecting my 2010 year, typing in the date and the reservation number and then searched as far back as 1 year from the reservation date I typed in and 1 year forward into 2011. Now I can't do that.

As I understand it, the only was I can do what I used to is cancel that prime reservation date, call Starwood and then have them bank a unit in my season to search. If nothing is available, then I have to cancel and take the dregs of what's left for an actual usage week. How's that fair?

If I don't understand it correctly, someone please let me know. I'm not quite sure I understand the request first feature.

This new system doesn't work for me as I reserve a week for three purposes, to trade, to rent or to use. I used to be able to flip between all three at the same time; now I have to choose one much earlier in the process.

I just noticed that we cannot search past Sept 8 next year. I'm going to call and ask about that.
It was explained to me today that we can still put in an ongoing search for another destination while retaining our home resort reservation if we dont confirm an exchange. I'm going to call and confirm that as well tomorrow. If that isnt true then we do indeed have a problem that I will take up with Starwood and II.

 

[djyamyam]

It was explained to me today that we can still put in an ongoing search for another destination while retaining our home resort reservation if we dont confirm an exchange. I'm going to call and confirm that as well tomorrow.

The other consideration is that I have to put out the cost of the exchange fee to do the ongoing search. I didn't have to do that previously when I did all the searching. I'd only pay the fee if I found something I wanted to confirm. When you more than 1 week (like 5 or 6), that's a lot of exchange fees to put out at one time just to search!

 

[gmarine]

The other consideration is that I have to put out the cost of the exchange fee to do the ongoing search. I didn't have to do that previously when I did all the searching. I'd only pay the fee if I found something I wanted to confirm. When you more than 1 week (like 5 or 6), that's a lot of exchange fees to put out at one time just to search!

You always have to pay the exchange fee at the time of entering an ongoing search. You may be confusing an ongoing search with an instant search online.