Starwood Has Won [Unilateral II Changes] [merged]

[DeniseM]

I don't show any codes or season designations at all with my deposited SDO week, and my non-deposited fixed SVR week....weird...

 

[ArtsieAng]

Hmmmm, I wonder if the new code, "Gold/Platinum Plus." etc., is somehow representative of a point value that is being assigned to your week?

 

[Joshadelic]

I don't show any codes or season designations at all with my deposited SDO week, and my non-deposited fixed SVR week....weird...

My weeks are both in SVN. I'm looking at my corporate II account. Same for you? None of my weeks are deposited. I've already used my 2009 weeks, so I'm not sure why they are even there, but the 2010 weeks are not there.

 

[DeniseM]

No - those are non-SVN weeks in my non-SVN Acct.

But when I look at my SVN Acct., that week doesn't have a code or season designation, either.

 

[barndweller]

Hmmmm, I wonder if the new code, "Gold/Platinum Plus." etc., is somehow representative of a point value that is being assigned to your week?

I think it is supposed to but I'm puzzled. I did a little trade testing this am early. I have one listed as Plat Plus and one as Gold plus. The Gold Plus could see a lot more Sheraton resorts than the Plat Plus. Makes no sense. Also....my non Starwood units see everything my Starwoods see but can go beyond 12 months. Seems like trade power is no longer working for Starwood. My other tester units do NOT have golden pineapple designations!

 

[barndweller]

Here's a thought...

Maybe you MUST do a deposit or request to see beyond 12 months. Also, this may be the only way to get a Starwood advantage. Just using the units to search doesn't seem to be of any advantage over any other non-affiliated resort searches.

 

[K2Quick]

This is a lot like watching the TV show "Lost" - Everyone time one question is answered, three more questions are brought to light. The difference is I like the TV show.

 

[ArtsieAng]

I think it is supposed to but I'm puzzled. I did a little trade testing this am early. I have one listed as Plat Plus and one as Gold plus. The Gold Plus could see a lot more Sheraton resorts than the Plat Plus. Makes no sense. Also....my non Starwood units see everything my Starwoods see but can go beyond 12 months. Seems like trade power is no longer working for Starwood. My other tester units do NOT have golden pineapple designations!

OY! Let's hope that we receive those new directories soon, and not in 2010, as DeniseM has questioned.

 

[ArtsieAng]

This is a lot like watching the TV show "Lost" - Everyone time one question is answered, three more questions are brought to light. The difference is I like the TV show.

:hysterical:

 

[ArtsieAng]

Here's a thought...

Maybe you MUST do a deposit or request to see beyond 12 months. Also, this may be the only way to get a Starwood advantage. Just using the units to search doesn't seem to be of any advantage over any other non-affiliated resort searches.

The thing is, the designation of Gold Plus has been given to weeks that I have already deposited.......2009.

I agree tho, I too can only search a year out on the same weeks that are now designated as "Gold Plus."

 

[barndweller]

So here's some more fuel for the fire....

I called II last night. I asked how to search beyond 12 months like I am supposed to be able to do. I was told I can not do that any longer with Sheraton units. I must either deposit or request. Otherwise I can only see 12 months out. The connection was so bad I couldn't hear well and so had to hang up and try again (which I haven't done). What I don't know is how to initiate a search first (request ?) that will allow me to look and see what's available beyond 12 months. I book 90% of my exchanges by just seeing something online and deciding to go. I rarely have a specific week and place in mind. This new system doesn't work for me at all!

 

[ArtsieAng]

So here's some more fuel for the fire....

I called II last night. I asked how to search beyond 12 months like I am supposed to be able to do. I was told I can not do that any longer with Sheraton units. I must either deposit or request. Otherwise I can only see 12 months out. The connection was so bad I couldn't hear well and so had to hang up and try again (which I haven't done). What I don't know is how to initiate a search first (request ?) that will allow me to look and see what's available beyond 12 months. I book 90% of my exchanges by just seeing something online and deciding to go. I rarely have a specific week and place in mind. This new system doesn't work for me at all!

Don't know if it's true, but, I was told that you call Starwood, and ask them to deposit a week for you to do online searches with. They will deposit a dummy week ( I was told your deeded week will be used.) for you to search with. You have one year to either use the week, in which case Starwood would then actually give the week to II, or you can give the week back to Starwood, and stay at your home resort, etc.....Depending on availability, of course.


Edited to add......Oh wait, you're talking about request first. That I never asked, sorry! I did read somewhere in this thread that request first searches would no longer be available to Starwood owners.

 

[barndweller]

Big Whoop! SVN people will get all the poop in their new II catalogue. I'm not in the network so when do I get an explaination from Starwood? Or from II? I paid for my account. I paid to have my units added to my account when I purchased them. I read the II PR junk that says I have the ability to search first for up to 24 months without depositing my unit. This is supposed to be a big selling point over RCI.

Suddenly, Starwood and II have taken that away from me. I can't search beyond 12 months with my Sheraton managed resorts unless I call Starwood and relinquish my reserved week. This is blatant manipulation by Starwood. They should not be able to hold my reserved week hostage!!!

This is not easier or smoother. It gives all the control to Starwood. Since I am not a member of their network I should not be held to their rules for exchanging at II.

 

[Denise L]

Yikes. I have three units on deposit and don't see any of those ST2 or equivalent codes. I still have the resort codes listed, weeks I deposited, expiration dates, etc.

Still no access to 2009 or 2010 weeks.

 

[Twinkstarr]

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

My 2010 week is already deposited and it still has the "old" II code.

 

[barndweller]

The search first thing really frosts me.

I'm probably in the minority in that I didn't buy my units to get Starwood pref. I actually like them and have used them for myself. Most of my exchanges have been found while just browsing. When I've exchanged it was instant online when I saw something I wanted. I could care less if I can get into the eastern highly coveted resorts or the hoity toity Hawaiian places. If it's that important I'd have joined SVN. I'm content to use TPI or SFX for the exchanges I want and probably won't use II with my Starwood units anymore. I'm very open to private exchanges. If anyone wants to pursue exchanging into Scottsdale high season in the future, let me know. I'd rather give it to you than Starwood.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I wonder what affect this will have on RCI? Not that I would use RCI for my weeks, but I wonder if the same confusion applies?

It's premature to be worried, in my opinion, but I do worry without wanting to worry.

 

[barndweller]

It's premature to be worried

If you think Starwood will give you back the search functions and trade power you had before this mess, you've been drinking the koolaide. Starwood wants to control what gets deposited and now they do. End of story.

 

[Politico]

I don't show any codes or season designations at all with my deposited SDO week

I see the same thing.

 

[Politico]

SVN or not

When people post what they can see and not see, I think it would be very helpful if you could state whether it is an SVN week (corporate account) or a non-SVN account (non-corporate account). My calls with Starwood indicate that there is/will be a difference.

 

[barndweller]

I have stated over & over that I am non-SVN, This is my personal II account. I paid to list my units that Starwood now controls.

 

[Pit]

I have stated over & over that I am non-SVN, This is my personal II account. I paid to list my units that Starwood now controls.

Starwood does not control your week, you do. If II will no longer accept your reserved week, you can rent it or deposit with an exchange company that will accept it. Perhaps you should contact II and request a refund of the fees you paid, since it seems they are unwilling to uphold their end of the deal.

 

[Twinkstarr]

I see the same thing.

Put me down also as not seeing the new code on a non-SVN unit.

I'll also start putting down CO ski week non-SVN on my sightings.

 

[ArtsieAng]

When people post what they can see and not see, I think it would be very helpful if you could state whether it is an SVN week (corporate account) or a non-SVN account (non-corporate account). My calls with Starwood indicate that there is/will be a difference.

I am a non-SVN account.

 

[BradC]

Hmmmm, I wonder if the new code, "Gold/Platinum Plus." etc., is somehow representative of a point value that is being assigned to your week?

I think this is the season name within SVN -- that is, it's the "new" season name, not the one on your deed.

If you recall, we recently discovered that the new StarOptions charts had new color coding on them, with new season names. So my deeded Kierland Platinum week is listed on the new StarOptions chart in a pink color, which is shown as "Platinum Plus" in the footnotes (orange weeks are called "Platinum", pink are "Platinum Plus").

When I look at my II account, I see that week listed as "Westin Kierland Villas - Platinum Plus". Granted, this is in my SVO-provided II account.

Weeks at Kierland were originally sold as Platinum, Gold, and Silver; but the new chart shows Kierland weeks designated as Platinum Plus, Gold Plus, and Gold.

So I'm guessing the season designations you're seeing are just Starwood's new season names, not any particular point value from II (although they could be closely related).