Starwood Has Won [Unilateral II Changes] [merged]

[Pit]

- If you want to exchange, you call starwood and they assign a code to be used with II to trading. The code is determined by your resort, season, and type of unit you own. For my SBP it is "ST2". This process is really the same process as request first however your assigned this code as your trade vs. a specific week that you would normally trade with(ie marriott).
II uses my code "ST2" to determine the trading power and ongoing-search is placed on my behalf. If I was using this request for year 2010 as trade, this request would be good for use with II until June 30, 2012, approx. 2 years from the year of usage that you are trading.

This sounds more like deposit first, using a generic deposit. Starwood must be depositing a week with II, if your trade token remains valid 2 years beyond your use-year.

This is not necessarily bad. It all depends on the trade strength assigned to "ST2" by II. If ST2 is equivalent to a July 4 week, then all is well. If not, then I suspect many prime weeks will soon be headed to RCI and the rental pool.

Basically, what you are saying is that II has made an agreement with Starwood in which II agrees to no longer accept deposits of Starwood resorts from owners. If true, it seems like a boneheaded move on the part of II.

 

[DeniseM]

If this is correct, all SDO exchangers will have the trading power of a summer desert week

Not if it's based your your deeded week...which may or may not be true.

 

[J&JFamily]

I was asked several times during the 90 minutes if I wanted to join the network.

I too am very interested to know how much they would charge you for joining SVN. If we buy a resale and they allowed us to join SVN, I suspect the resale value of their TS would go up and we (those who bought or want to buy resale) would benefit.

 

[DeniseM]

I too am very interested to know how much they would charge you for joining SVN. If we buy a resale and they allowed us to join SVN, I suspect the resale value of their TS would go up and we (those who bought or want to buy resale) would benefit.

Barndweller owns a TS where owners have recently been invited to join the SVN (Villas of Cave Creek) - this doesn't apply to all resorts.

 

[Politico]

Everything just gets more confusing each day......

 

[Politico]

I'm an non-SVN owner who own a 2bd platinum floating summer week at SBP deeded week 30. I just got off the phone with Nick at starwood in resolution services, perhaps the same person barndweller spoke with earlier. After speaking with him and getting an explanation of how the new process works it makes sense to me (although I am not happy about it!) and answers some of the questions from tuggers on this thread.

Here are the detail summary of what I got from him:

- Deposit first is no longer an option with the new process.
- If you want to exchange, you call starwood and they assign a code to be used with II to trading. The code is determined by your resort, season, and type of unit you own. For my SBP it is "ST2". This process is really the same process as request first however your assigned this code as your trade vs. a specific week that you would normally trade with(ie marriott).
II uses my code "ST2" to determine the trading power and ongoing-search is placed on my behalf. If I was using this request for year 2010 as trade, this request would be good for use with II until June 30, 2012, approx. 2 years from the year of usage that you are trading.

Questions I asked:

My deed is week 30 and my season at SBP floats 9-43, 47, if another owner who's deed is week 9 with same size unit, does he have same code as me?
Answer: Yes.

Why do I no longer have capability to do deposit first?
Answer: I'm sorry but that is how the new system works and we try to make it smoother for all owners. No real explanation here.

Why can't I reserve the week I want and exchange that week:
Answer: You can reserve the week you want to use to stay at your home resort, for exchanges you will have to go through starwood and we will assign the code for you trade with II.


My analysis/conclusion:

The reasons why all the tuggers cannot see their 2010 weeks anymore is b/c they have removed our ability to do deposit first with II and exchanging with a specific week. That's why you cannot see your 2010 weeks.

With regards to trading with an assigned code, this give starwood the ability to control what week they release to II when a exchange is fulfilled.
Thus you lose also the ability to reserve a specific week ( ie 4th of july) for trading.

THIS REALLY SUCKS!!!

Do we have any legal grounds to fight this?

Unfortunately, Starwood employees are not the most clear and intelligent. Even though you own a non-SVN week, did you ask the employee whether this process applies to non-SVN weeks? It makes sense for SVN weeks, but it does not make sense at all for non-SVN weeks, and I was told yesterday that this new process specifically does not apply to non-SVN weeks (for whatever that it worth)....

 

[LisaH]

One newbie question: assuming Starwood would only allow depositing SDO week on the deed, would a week 14 trade well with II? Looks like half of the time, it will be either the week before or after Easter...

I'm in the process of closing a Premier 1BR (deeded as week 14) at SDO. Hope it will not be affected too much by the new policy...

 

[bogeygolf]

I called II late last night after speaking with Nick at starwood and they confirmed the process that that Nick told me. However, the rep. at II said Starwood would use the code "ST2" in my case (which is not setup in II yet) but starwood still has to give II a specific week for the exchange.

Perhaps starwood will give our deeded week I'm not sure about this but this sounds to me that starwood should be able to tell us owners when we are making a request to trade with II which specific week they will be using for the trade. We should all ask this question when making a request for exchange and let them know if we're not happy with a specific week that they are using. The II rep also mentioned that everything regarding the new process is still based upon availability so I think its going to be more beneficial for those who make earlier request for exchange than later as there will be more inventory of good weeks left for starwood to give to II.

In terms of doing online exchange and doing this yourself, I believe we cannot do that either (not 100% sure about this) and when making the request for exchange with starwood they will work with II to see if you can get instant exchange. If not an on-going search will probably be placed on your behalf.

Pit, you bring up a good point, I'm not sure how they do this unless starwood explains further.

 

[LisaRex]

It shouldn't matter what your deeded week is. Per the permitted use clause of your contract, you are allowed to reserve any week within your season. Buying a timeshare solely for reserving a high demand week and depositing it to trade is a perfectly legitimate way to exploit the rules to your benefit, especially with float ownership. Starwood should have anticipated this. Now there is little they can do legally to limit it. They only exacerbated the problem with their lax coding of seasons (e.g. coding Hawaii platinum year round or Arizona as platinum all winter) when there were clear trends showing certain weeks had much higher demand.

I do think that once the economy turns around, those who bought to trade might find it less easy to milk the system. But for now, those with a few thousand bucks can buy a good trader and go on some really great vacations for pennies on the dollar. I just hope those higher end resorts will be around because with foreclosures on homes still on the rise (acc. to WSJ), I fear that folks will walk away from their TSs and leave remaining owners holding the bag.

 

[Pit]

I called II late last night after speaking with Nick at starwood and they confirmed the process that that Nick told me. However, the rep. at II said Starwood would use the code "ST2" in my case (which is not setup in II yet) but starwood still has to give II a specific week for the exchange.

So, this is the deposit first scenario. I expect Starwood to simply deposit your reserved week. For the unimformed, they will offer to choose the deposit for you. I wonder if II will treat all ST2 deposits equally, or if trade strength will depend on the actual week deposited.

 

[ArtsieAng]

I don't know if others have checked their II accounts recently, but I have now been given "Gold Plus weeks" in addition to my normal weeks....So, for the same exact weeks currently deposited in II, I now have them being shown under both categories.

Clueless to what it all means!

Edited to add......."Gold Plus" = ST2 code

Also, I am able to do searches with my Gold Plus weeks.

 

[Joshadelic]

I sent it through the messaging system at mystarcentral. My experience says that the $7.00/hour person will read it and attempt a response. Then I'll have to write back and ask for the $10/hour person to attempt (and probably fail) to give me any more information. Then, by the time the $15/hour person sends me their version of what they've been told to say to people when they really have no real answers, I've probably reached the point of boredom with the whole thing. That's how they've been getting away with this crap...at least with me. Shame on me for not having more conviction of follow-through to make these people live up to their promises and just in general act like people who are sincerely interested in their customers wants/needs. On the other hand, why is it up to me to MAKE these things happen. Starwood should be more proactive...and like was said many times before...

HINT, HINT...STARWOOD - READ THIS PART!!!

STARWOOD SHOULD HAVE ACTIVE REPRESENTATION ON THIS BOARD!! AN EMPLOYEE WHO ACTUALLY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ANSWER THE SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT WE AS OWNERS HAVE - AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM. THEIR LACK OF REPRESENTATION HERE ONLY MAKES THINGS WORSE FOR EVERYONE. IF THEY COULD TAKE THAT $15/HOUR PERSON AND ASSIGN THEM TO MONITOR THIS BOARD, THEY COULD SAVE THEMSELVES A LOT OF FUTURE PROBLEMS. I PERSONALLY KNOW PEOPLE WHO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A JOB LIKE THAT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY STARWOOD'S UNWILLINGNESS TO FACE THEIR CUSTOMERS IN A TRANSPARENT MANNER THAT IS CAUSING IT NOT TO HAPPEN. WHAT A SHAME.

THIS WAS THEIR RESPONSE TO MY EMAIL...

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

We extend our apologies for any confusion that this matter may have caused. For information purposes, every owner that is eligible for the modification to the Interval International methodology is being notified regarding this matter. Notifications regarding the Interval International methodology change have been sent to every owner in the form of a newly modified and customized Interval International resort directory. Again, we extend our apologies for any confusion that this matter may have caused. Should you have additional concerns regarding this matter, please feel free to contact our offices at the toll free number listed below. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

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

Sheraton 888-SV- OWNER (786 9637)
407- 903- 4649

Owner Services is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time.

We appreciate your patronage and thank you for contacting Sheraton Vacation Ownership. Have a wonderful day.

Sincerely,
Enrique Fernandez
E-Communications Specialist
Owner Services

 

[DeniseM]

That's good news - at least they put (the bad news) in writing.

But how stupid, that no one from Starwood or II told anyone about the new II guide, when they called!

 

[Twinkstarr]

I don't know if others have checked their II accounts recently, but I have now been given "Gold Plus weeks" in addition to my normal weeks....So, for the same exact weeks currently deposited in II, I now have them being shown under both categories.

Clueless to what it all means!

Edited to add......."Gold Plus" = ST2 code

Also, I am able to do searches with my Gold Plus weeks.

No Gold Plus=ST2 code, but I had already deposited my 2010 week.

My 2009 week was showing up before the change(I can deposit 48-50), but that is still gone. No ST2 code for it.

 

[Joshadelic]

That's good news - at least they put (the bad news) in writing.

But how stupid, that no one from Starwood or II told anyone about the new II guide, when they called!

Denise,

You seem like you may have some idea what is going on here. Could you tell me how this might effect me? I own a small 1br SDO week 50 and a 2br LO SVV week 9. I know my week 9 SVV is one of the highest demand weeks there, but on the II demand index, my week 50 SDO doesn't look as good. Should I just be happy that both of my weeks are platinum, or does that actual week count at this point? Being that these are both in SVN, does it even matter?

BTW...I can't see my 2010 weeks in II either and can only search out about one year with the 2009 weeks. I'm not sure why the 2009 weeks are even there because I've already used them.

 

[bccash63]

I only own a non-SVN SDO odd yr lock-out. It is platinum season with week 10 on the deed. Last yr I reserved a week 12 to deposit and it did very well--I would assume a week 10 would do just as well if it comes to using our deeded week only. If we use our week and do not deposit are we still able to reserve w/in the season we bought--for example if I wanted to book week 52 to vacation? Are they just choosing/limiting the weeks people can deposit? I belong to RCI not interval at this point--thanx, Dawn

 

[ArtsieAng]

No Gold Plus=ST2 code, but I had already deposited my 2010 week.

My 2009 week was showing up before the change(I can deposit 48-50), but that is still gone. No ST2 code for it.

ST2 is most likely resort specific......I'm guessing that each resort will have it's own code for "Gold Plus," similar to it's normal code. In my case, they changed the last letter in the resort code to a "2."

 

[Fcast]

I just got off the phone with Starwood.

They indicated that if you want to deposit your week you need to contact Starwood and they give you a "resort access code" that corresponds to your season and unit size and not the week listed on your deed if you have a floating week. I have a 1-52 week floater at SDO.

You provide this code to II and make a request. If II does not fulfill the request or you change your mind you will be permitted to bring the week back into starwood and reserve again at your home resort.

Not sure how this affects trading power and I guess you have some advantage by bringing your week back into Starwood.

 

[DeniseM]

Denise,

You seem like you may have some idea what is going on here

I do?????

 

[ArtsieAng]

Joshadelic

Notifications regarding the Interval International methodology change have been sent to every owner in the form of a newly modified and customized Interval International resort directory.

Thanks for posting their reply......I'll wait and see if I receive a new resort directory.

 

[Twinkstarr]

ST2 is most likely resort specific......I'm guessing that each resort will have it's own code for "Gold Plus," similar to it's normal code. In my case, they changed the last letter in the resort code to a "2."

No ST# code for me, are those showing on your 2010 weeks?

 

[Joshadelic]

I do?????

Of course! You've always struck me as one of the smart ones around here!!

 

[ArtsieAng]

No ST# code for me, are those showing on your 2010 weeks?

No, they are only showing on the 2009 weeks that I have already deposited into II.

 

[DeniseM]

Of course! You've always struck me as one of the smart ones around here!!

Starwood and II have baffled me with BS this week - I don't know if we will really know until the new II guide comes out. Any bets if we will get it before 2010? Since we already got the 2009 books, I'm suspicious.

 

[Joshadelic]

This is what shows up for me...

My Units

Sheraton Desert Oasis - Platinum Plus
SI1
Unit: 1BED
Float

Sheraton Vistana Villages - Platinum
SV3
Unit: 2BED
Float

Unit: 1BEDA
Float

Unit: 1BEDB
Float




Are the "SI1" and "SV3" the new codes? I didn't notice before that it specified which season and I didn't notice that code before. Of course, I wasn't looking for it either.