Starwood Official Notification - II Trading

[jarta]

Received via an email blast late Monday night. Here's Starwood's official postion:

"Dear J____,

Now you can enjoy exciting new exchange benefits when you use Interval International® to transact a vacation exchange. With your next exchange, look forward to:

Maximum trading power based on your resort, Unit size and season purchased when you place an exchange request using Interval International-regardless of when you decide to exchange. Owners with float weeks can now exchange using the Interval International Request First exchange method and are not required to hold a backup reservation.

A $35 discount on exchange fees when you exchange back into a Starwood Vacation Ownership resort. Remember to only include Starwood Vacation Ownership resorts in your exchange request.*
Enhanced priority over other Interval International members to confirm an exchange into your Home Resort or into any other Starwood Vacation Ownership resort.

Up to 30 months to travel on an exchange assignment (formerly up to 24 months).
Flexibility, in most circumstances, to discontinue an unconfirmed exchange request for a current or future Use Year in order to access Home Resort availability.**

Best of all, exchanging just got easier. Now there are four simple steps to trade your ownership week for a vacation at your choice of more than 2,000 resorts:

Contact Owner Services to indicate your plans to exchange. For multiple week Owners and lockoff Owners, simply let Owner Services know the resort, season and villa size you intend to exchange.***
Owner Services will provide you with the Resort Assignment Code you will use when you are ready to place an exchange request. You'll even receive an electronic confirmation that includes your Resort Assignment Code and its expiration date.

When you are ready to place an exchange request, simply log on to intervalworld.com, or call Interval International toll free at 877 STAR 088 (782 7088) and provide your Resort Assignment Code.
Receive a vacation confirmation from Interval International. Now you're ready to plan your getaway to one of thousands of exciting travel destinations.

Keep in mind that the ability for Interval International to confirm an exchange request is dependent on the ongoing supply Interval International receives from its affiliated resorts. For the best success when exchanging, please plan as far in advance of your anticipated travel dates as possible.

Starwood Vacation Ownership, in partnership with Interval International, is pleased to extend these exclusive new benefits to you. For more information or to start planning your next vacation, call Owner Services.

Sincerely, ...

* Trade into any Starwood Vacation Ownership resort to qualify for the discount. Non-Starwood Vacation Ownership resorts are not permitted in exchange requests. Owners relinquishing anything other than Starwood Vacation Ownership weeks are ineligible. Discount applies to new exchange requests only and previously confirmed or pending exchanges are not entitled to a refund or discount. Discount is for Owners residing in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean islands, and serviced by Interval International's U.S. Servicing office. All other Owners will receive comparable discounts set by their servicing office. Owners residing in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean islands will be charged the discounted domestic exchange fee when traveling to Starwood Vacation Ownership resorts in Cancún, the Bahamas and the U.S. Virgin Islands. !

** Re-booking is based on availability. Fixed, Ultra Premium or Event dates are not reinstated. You may reinstate your Use Rights at your Home Resort or through the Starwood Vacation Network(SM) program only during the Use Year being reinstated. You may not cancel a pending exchange request from a prior Use Year, or attempt to reinstate a prior-year Use Right.

***All Floating Owners and all Starwood Vacation Network members should contact Owner Services to receive your Resort Assignment. Fixed Week owners from Sheraton Vistana Resort and Vistana's Beach Club may continue to exchange by contacting Interval International directly."

... eom

 

[DeniseM]

jarta - this is not directed to you, you are just the messenger, but this is PURE crap!

Owners with float weeks can now exchange using the Interval International Request First exchange method and are not required to hold a backup reservation.

REQUIRED? WHAT??? You mean not ALLOWED don't you?

A $35 discount on exchange fees when you exchange back into a Starwood Vacation Ownership resort.

We've had that for some time - next?

Enhanced priority over other Interval International members to confirm an exchange into your Home Resort or into any other Starwood Vacation Ownership resort.

We've had that for some time - next?

Up to 30 months to travel on an exchange assignment (formerly up to 24 months).

All my dreams have come true!

Was this just a random email, or in response to something you sent?

 

[Henry M.]

I received the same e-mail last night. It was a generic information letter with the subject:

Enjoy New Vacation Exchange Benefits

 

[LisaRex]

I haven't received the email yet. I'm happy that at least Starwood is communicating the changes to its Owners.

 

[tomandrobin]

I did not receive the email, but my brother in law did. Which I find odd since I have 5 weeks, he has 2 weeks. I have used II many times, he has never logged into his account.

 

[jerseygirl]

I got it also ...

They're probably just sending in alphabetical/account nbr or some random order. I wouldn't worry about it. Most of my d's frequent flyer stuff comes to me, so we get two copies of a lot of stuff. They often arrive HOURS apart ... sometimes even a day apart.

 

[hefleycatz]

I also got the e-mail yesterday afternoon, but didn't get a chance to read it entirely. including the fine print until this am.

I think we should all feel sooooo special because of the generosity that is given to us exclusively. pooey

 

[GrayFal]

Quote:
Up to 30 months to travel on an exchange assignment (formerly up to 24 months).

DeniseM says - All my dreams have come true!

Actually, we used to have 36 months. My July 2010 week I deposited July 2009 and I can travel with it until July 2012 so it is cutting back on the travel window.

 

[Stefa]

Quote:
Up to 30 months to travel on an exchange assignment (formerly up to 24 months).

DeniseM says - All my dreams have come true!

Actually, we used to have 36 months. My July 2010 week I deposited July 2009 and I can travel with it until July 2012 so it is cutting back on the travel window.

They mean up to 30 months from the start of the use year. Under the new rules you will have 18-42 months depending on when you make the deposit.

If you deposit a 2010 week in 2010 it will be good until 06/30/12 no matter what date (in 2010) you make the deposit. If you deposit on 01/01/10 you will have 30 months, but if you deposit on 12/31/10 you will have 18 months.

On the other hand, if you deposit a 2011 week in 2010 you will have 30-42 months to use it depending on when you make the deposit, because it will expire on 06/30/13. If you deposit on 01/01/10 you will have 42 months, but if you deposit on 12/31/20 you will have 30 months.

In this case a July 2010 week deposited in July 2009 would expire on 06/30/12 under the new rules and 07/xx/12 under the old rules.

 

[GrayFal]

*
** Re-booking is based on availability. Fixed, Ultra Premium or Event dates are not reinstated. You may reinstate your Use Rights at your Home Resort or through the Starwood Vacation Network(SM) program only during the Use Year being reinstated. You may not cancel a pending exchange request from a prior Use Year, or attempt to reinstate a prior-year Use Right.

***All Floating Owners and all Starwood Vacation Network members should contact Owner Services to receive your Resort Assignment. Fixed Week owners from Sheraton Vistana Resort and Vistana's Beach Club may continue to exchange by contacting Interval International directly."

... eom

Hmmm, I don't seem to belong to the SVN, now do I?

They seem to be ignoring the Sheraton Broadway Plantation Fixed Week Preference which gives me the right to use my deeded weeks.

I received the email this morning.

 

[Transit]

Wow, Starwood is really trying to spin this as an enhancment.

 

[James1975NY]

I did not receive the email, but my brother in law did. Which I find odd since I have 5 weeks, he has 2 weeks. I have used II many times, he has never logged into his account.

Any type of communication like this will go out in phases. It really is the only way from keeping the IVR system from blowing up the call center.

 

[James1975NY]

Wow, Starwood is really trying to spin this as an enhancment.

Believe it or not, to the majority of the owner base, this will apppear as an improvement (not necessarily all of it).

Unfortunate, but true.

 

[l2trade]

I got my email yesterday. Interesting timing in that this was the very same day and the very first time I saw a 2 bedroom Westin Maui available to instantly exchange with my generic weeks since the new system took affect. btw - I passed on the trade. It is too much work for me to try to get it. I'd have to call up Starwood to cancel my reservation and then re-assign as a generic week for that specific contract to II. Then, I'd have to log back into II and hope the exchange I want is still available. Not very instant, is it? The risk/reward is not worth it to me at this point.

 

[Stefa]

Believe it or not, to the majority of the owner base, this will apppear as an improvement (not necessarily all of it).

Unfortunate, but true.

I wonder how much of the owner base actually understands either the old or the new system...

 

[DeniseM]

Hmmm, I don't seem to belong to the SVN, now do I?

They seem to be ignoring the Sheraton Broadway Plantation Fixed Week Preference which gives me the right to use my deeded weeks.

I received the email this morning.

Pat - in previous communications they have stated that even FIXED week owners lose the right to their deeded week on a "request first."

However, you can still actually deposit your fixed week. I confirmed that with II and they fixed it in my acct.

 

[GrayFal]

Pat - in previous communications they have stated that even FIXED week owners lose the right to their deeded week on a "request first."

However, you can still actually deposit your fixed week. I confirmed that with II and they fixed it in my acct.

The email states only the two resorts, it doesn't mention SBP - and I wonder how many SBP 'early' owners - both resale and thru Starwood know they have that right to their deeded week interval for 24-12 months prior to use date?

Maybe Starwood does not know either - now that would be interesting to ask!

 

[DeniseM]

The email states only the two resorts, it doesn't mention SBP - and I wonder how many SBP 'early' owners - both resale and thru Starwood know they have that right to their deeded week intterval for 24-12 months prior to use date?

Maybe Starwood does not know either - now that would be interesting to ask!

Yes - I also confirmed that with II - I can "see" and deposit my fixed 2011 week right now. The II Rep. said that the 2012 week will automatically show up in my Acct. Jan. 1. I have the contact info. for the II Rep., if you need help.