SVO’s VP of “Strategic Technology” earns award!

[DeniseM]

That's a hoot! Although I have rented/exchanged my Maui week for the last 3 years and the Resv. has been in someone else's name for months, I still get this same type letter (but usually before the trip.) Then afterwards, they send me a survey - in the renter's name!

 

[nodge]

Time for another SVO fun fact quiz:

Before Starwood purchased Vistana, Inc. to form SVO, Mr. Avril was the “Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer” of Vistana, Inc. On January 1, 1999, Mr. Avril resigned from that job, but agreed to remain as a “consultant to the company” (Translation: "get paid anyway") for two years beginning on January 1, 1999.

Here’s the quiz part:

Why did Mr. Avril resign?

A. To walk the earth finding himself while doing good where needed;
B. To attend the prestigious Cornell University School of Hospitality Management in Ithaca, New York to learn how to better manage the properties he operates; or,
C. To attempt to become one of the top amateur players in golf.

Check your answer here.

Ut Oh . . . .. . . I'm thinking rather than SVO rising to Starwood hotel's customer service standards, we're about to watch Starwood's standards fall to SVO's.

I sure hope they have golf courses in White Plains.

-nodge

 

[DeniseM]

Geez...who writes their press releases? Very dated style and self-congratulatory to the point of being sickening!

 

[nodge]

Is he bailing out of a sinking ship and leaving everyone else behind to take the political blame?

"When I was president, our sales figures doubled each year . .. . blah, blah, blah. I don't know what YOU have done with SVO to make its numbers tank like that. And have you read TUG lately? What did YOU do to piss them off so much?"

He must have some embarrassing photos or facts on someone important to have escaped SVO so cleanly.

Classy.

On the plus side, maybe we SVO owners won't have to keep paying his salary, green fees and private charter jet fees anymore.

-nodge

 

[clsmit]

With only one CEO, tho, we can hope he makes consistent decisions quickly that will benefit the customers and shareholders. Having been in a couple of organizations with "box buddies" running the organization (actually, causing 2 people to be in the meeting instead of one, and decisions being made always by committee), I'm glad that's no longer the case for SVO. They can't blame each other if sales aren't up, or properties aren't done on time, or people drop out of SVN.

 

[nodge]

Lookie what SVO had to do to make sure we could pay our SVO loans and maintenance fees on-line via credit cards.

It appears that if it comes to SVO getting paid, SVO is more than happy to upgrade its systems, but when it comes to issues unrelated to SVO getting paid, it isn't.

I know, I know. The "economy" is precluding 'em from implementing on-line availability checking and booking.

-nodge

 

[DeniseM]

Thanks Nodge!

And just so everyone knows - the link posted above is a pdf download.

 

[Westin5Star]

I call it like I see it, often times sticking up for or supporting Starwood. However, since I own a credit card processing company....

The integration of payments should have been a much easier and I'm sure less expensive event than what they made it to be. This process is a low level gateway function which can be programmed in a few hours based on software that is previlent in our industry. We have been integrating real time transactions with merchant software for almost 10 years!!! They make this seem like a major success.

I realize that 6 seconds is listed as "acceptable" processing time to owners. By our industry standards that is a very long time. Most of our IP customers have their transaction process in less than half that time.

Why do they insist on documenting and publishing this type of stuff? I would be embarrassed if I were them to admit the time and money that I spent to get these subpar results.

 

[nodge]

Prototype of SVO's new on-line reservation system!

Hey Gang,

I think I've stumbled onto this video of SVO testing its new on-line reservation system!

I'm fairly sure this is SVO's handiwork because there is no oven in the kitchen.

-nodge

 

[gravitar]

Hey Gang,

I think I've stumbled onto this video of SVO testing its new on-line reservation system!

I'm fairly sure this is SVO's handiwork because there is no oven in the kitchen.

-nodge

that was great

 

[Ken555]

Awesome video