CLOSED: Thread Dedicated to the Upcoming/Anticipated Integration of Vistana & Marriott Ownerships (Marriott Link + Vistana Discussion)

[regatta333]

Where do I go to get this information?

Do you happen to know what WLR 2BR PLAT+ converts to?

I only know the conversion rate for what we own. We are in the process of getting our two resale weeks qualified so that we have the option of converting them when it makes sense to do so. We will probably continue to mostly use the weeks within VSN, especially for booking in Maui, but Vistana does not really have any options on Oahu, and few desirable ones on the east coast.

 

[jabberwocky]

I beleive SBP does as well, but there is some provision there that allows owners to reserve that early too. Not sure if SDO or SVR have similar provisions. Their resorts date back a long time, pre Starwood.

I think all of the Cascades (and possibly Lakes) phases are “fixed-float”. We own a week 51 SVR Cascades. It is automatically booked for us 18 months in advance, but is released for general booking if we don’t confirm by x date (I think it is 12 months but I’ve never used this feature). Conceivably, if I were to deposit my week well in advance to II they could keep that Christmas week and make it available.

There is not a similar provision in our SDO that I recall - although a fair number of fixed weeks deeds were sold here.

 

[pchung6]

I beleive SBP does as well, but there is some provision there that allows owners to reserve that early too. Not sure if SDO or SVR have similar provisions. Their resorts date back a long time, pre Starwood.

I was able to book SBP 24 months before. I had to call and find the rep knows the rule. Most reps don't know SBP deeded week can be booked at 24 months. Of course, this was done with prepaid 2 years of MF.

 

[dioxide45]

I think all of the Cascades (and possibly Lakes) phases are “fixed-float”. We own a week 51 SVR Cascades. It is automatically booked for us 18 months in advance, but is released for general booking if we don’t confirm by x date (I think it is 12 months but I’ve never used this feature). Conceivably, if I were to deposit my week well in advance to II they could keep that Christmas week and make it available.

There is not a similar provision in our SDO that I recall - although a fair number of fixed weeks deeds were sold here.

SVR also has some kind of internal exchange company that is separate from VSN that allows owners to move between phases and maybe even book either PGA or Vistana Beach Club at six months?

 

[TravelTime]

I went back and looked and don’t see it either, so I may have misremembered or interpreted someone else's interpretation as having come from “the source.” My apologies.

He says two contradictory things though, he says that anyone who pays a VSN fee will be able to elect DP, and then he says that resale weeks, even mandatory resale weeks (which DO pay the VSN fee) will not be able to elect DC. Both of those statements cannot be true.

I would bet you $5 that the “can you convert to Bonvoy points?” test will turn out to be the right answer to your question, but I don’t think anybody on this board knows 100% for certain yet.

I agree he says contradictory things. A few of us on this thread noticed that too. Until this is in writing and publically announced, I am not taking anything he says seriously.

 

[TravelTime]

I don’t think you will be able to book Maui (the Westins at least) at 13 months through MVC.

The underlying deeds only allow owners them to book at 12 months. Even if the trust is the owner, legally they should not have the ability to make it available ahead of other owners.

That might be true. How do DP owners get to book ahead of MVC weeks owners? Aren’t they able to book at 13 months and some weeks owners can only book at 12 months?

 

[jabberwocky]

SVR also has some kind of internal exchange company that is separate from VSN that allows owners to move between phases and maybe even book either PGA or Vistana Beach Club at six months?

Yes. Lakes and Cascades have this feature. I don’t believe the older phases (Courts, fountains etc.) had this included. Practically I don’t think anyone uses it as its pretty easy to book within SVR phases and VSN is more convenient.

 

[TravelTime]

It is the same as you do with a voluntary resale week. Pay $10k for the first deed plus $5k for subsequent deeds to make an additional purchase. Technically they have you sign the VSN agreement as if you were the original owners - I think this is where the term “retro” comes from.

Do you mean you buy something direct from Vistana and that qualifies the resale week? I have heard of this but who would do that? I heard it is very expensive and a waste for what you get.

 

[VacationForever]

Yes. Lakes and Cascades have this feature. I don’t believe the older phases (Courts, fountains etc.) had this included. Practically I don’t think anyone uses it as its pretty easy to book within SVR phases and VSN is more convenient.

Do you have a 2BR or 2BRLO at Cascades? Thanks.

 

[dioxide45]

Do you mean you buy something direct from Vistana and that qualifies the resale week? I have heard of this but who would do that? I heard it is very expensive and a waste for what you get.

It isn't as expensive as enrolling a post June 2010 resale Marriott week by buying developer DC points. The current retro program through Vistana is $10,000 to retro one week then $5,000 for each additional week. So you can retro two weeks for $15,000, three for $20,000. To bring an external, otherwise ineligible, Marriott week into DC, you need to spend a minimum of about $35,000.

 

[jabberwocky]

Do you mean you buy something direct from Vistana and that qualifies the resale week? I have heard of this but who would do that? I heard it is very expensive and a waste for what you get.

Yes. Usually you would buy Flex direct from developer, but some resorts have weeks still available for sale onsite (WKV is one). I have never seen the value in doing a retro on a mandatory unit as the SO were already available and I’m never going to be converting to Bonvoy. points. The only other benefit may be 3, 4 or 5* elite - but I wouldn’t pay a premium to get those.

 

[lily28]

if i have 2 every other yr week, does that count as 1 week for retro purpose w $10k spend or will it count as 2 weeks for $15k spend?

 

[jabberwocky]

if i have 2 every other yr week, does that count as 1 week for retro purpose w $10k spend or will it count as 2 weeks for $15k spend?

Each VOI counts as a single week for retro purposes. So you would have to spend $15k

 

[NiteMaire]

Kierland 2BD platinum converts to 4,050 DC points.

Not bad at all considering how low the MF is for that resort.

But not as good as the value in SVN, unless one is looking for a location not available in SVN.

 

[jabberwocky]

Do you have a 2BR or 2BRLO at Cascades? How many DC points does the week translate to? Thanks.

We have a standard 2BR (non-LO). Our sheet we were shown stated 2625 for the week - but ours is week 51 - so not sure if that makes a difference in value.

 

[robertk2012]

I agree. It was me that made that “can you convert to Bonvoy points?” interpretation and I do think that is how it will play out. Unfortunately, even with "soft launch", we still can't get that one question answered without relying on salespeople that don't give the same answers. The "soft launch" is nothing more than doing what they have been doing for months. The only difference now is that they do have some points charts they can show us, but they won't actually give them out or put them out there yet for people to see. People have to sneak photos while the sales person is away from the desk. Making those available would open them up to too much scrutiny that for the most part will show conversions and requirements to book aren't a very good deal.

I talked to one person today that was at a recent sales presentation and it seems that some sales people are using the new charts as a scare tactic by saying in the future you won't have enough points to book anything. All while never saying that you can continue to use VSN the same as you always had. So this "soft launch" is just a way for corporate to endorse the sales force to pass on more lies and half truths.

Definitely confusing doublespeak and conflicts to scare and sell more product.

 

[Mroze]

Do you mean you buy something direct from Vistana and that qualifies the resale week? I have heard of this but who would do that? I heard it is very expensive and a waste for what you get.

Yes. It means you would have to purchase FLEX [Westin, Sheraton or Aventuras]. It is not as expensive as qualifying resales with Marriott, however, purchasing FLEX is bad value as all FLEX points have much higher Maintenance fees than owning a week with ZERO resale value.

As POST #786 commented, if what you are qualifying is a MANDATORY, then you don't stand to gain much anyway other than inheriting a few FLEX-Points with High-MF.

 

[TravelTime]

It isn't as expensive as enrolling a post June 2010 resale Marriott week by buying developer DC points. The current retro program through Vistana is $10,000 to retro one week then $5,000 for each additional week. So you can retro two weeks for $15,000, three for $20,000. To bring an external, otherwise ineligible, Marriott week into DC, you need to spend a minimum of about $35,000.

Why would someone want to retro a week? What are the benefits?

 

[byeloe]

Why would someone want to retro a week? What are the benefits?

If it's a voluntary resort then you would get access to the Star options at 8 months. You can also convert to Bonvoy and count for status level,(not great perks for me)

 

[dougp26364]

This BBS is very helpful for long-owning TS owners like myself, but just FYI, we have all of this same benefits currently as Vistana owners. I am sure I am nowhere as sophisticated an owner as many here, but we have owned OF at WKORN for a while and I think, like St. John, folks buy/own there because that's where they want to go. Having said that, there are a few MVC properties that we are pretty interested in...

my motto has always been buy/own where you are happiest and will be willing to use/return to every year.

However, as timeshare has evolved, I’ve had to tweak that motto. It’s since become buy/own in the system that has the quality and destinations that make you happy at the benefit level you’re most comfortable owning.

In 2001 we purchased our Ocean Pointe week and have used it every year with the exception of one. We’re still happy with that resort, the season we own and the quality. If we had it to do all over again, we’d still buy our week there, but it might only be a 2 bedroom instead of a 3 bedroom (the kids never joined use there).

As time has gone on and after 20 years, we’ve decided to rotate where we stay at that time of year between Ocean Pointe, Oceana Palms, Crystal Shores and Hawaii. Systems with points make this easier than weeks exchanging through II or RCI. When Marriott went to the trust system, I never really thought we’d use it much, but paid the small fee to join to keep our options open. That turned into one of the better decisions I’ve made owning timeshare.

 

[YYJMSP]

I beleive SBP does as well, but there is some provision there that allows owners to reserve that early too. Not sure if SDO or SVR have similar provisions. Their resorts date back a long time, pre Starwood.

I think this probably applies to any fixed unit/week deed. you are guaranteed that that specific time and place, so it can be reserved for you more than 12mos in advance by the system.

we have SVR Cascades and Spas unit that do this. they show up as tentatively booked 18mos in advance, and you have until 10mos? to confirm, and in this case as they are fixed-float they will release and turn into floating weeks automatically if you don't confirm. I assume purely fixed stay booked unless you cancel...

 

[carpie99]

I own one developer week (it happens to most of us once /shrug) ... and 4 cheap resale weeks. Hopefully I'll have the ability to convert those to DC points if I want ... and I can rent the points I need if I need more? I think that prevents me from ever having to buy or retro just for more DC points. Does that sound reasonable?

What was the assumption on conversion of a Platinum Vistana Villages 2 Bedroom into DC points?

 

[Eric B]

I think this probably applies to any fixed unit/week deed. you are guaranteed that that specific time and place, so it can be reserved for you more than 12mos in advance by the system.

we have SVR Cascades and Spas unit that do this. they show up as tentatively booked 18mos in advance, and you have until 10mos? to confirm, and in this case as they are fixed-float they will release and turn into floating weeks automatically if you don't confirm. I assume purely fixed stay booked unless you cancel...

I have several fixed-fixed WSJ VGV weeks. They also show up as tentatively booked at the 18-month point and I have until the 10-month point to confirm them. On a positive note, if they are enrolled because they're mandatory resale weeks, for two of them I could cancel the reservations at the 8-month point and rebook them with SOs prior to the election time for conversion to DC points. I do enjoy the interactions between different systems when I can figure out how best to use them - this would be a situation where it might be worth qualifying particular mandatory resale weeks as those two are platinum+ ones and will likely get decent conversion rates.

 

[dioxide45]

This is from one of the facebook groups, but shows what fees go away when you go to the higher Club Fee amount. The numbers in the bottom right are the fees for different levels in the MVC DC program. It doesn't seem to indicate the VSN fee going away. So not sure what that means. It would also be great if housekeeping fees were eliminated. I notice they also have the old fee shown for the II exchange fee (it went up $10 in January).

 

[Mroze]

mainly so you get access to the Star options at 8 months. You can also convert to Bonvoy and count for status level

Why Qualify/Retro a RESALE Purchase?

• If its a Mandatory-Week it already has access to SO at 8-Months to exchange internally within VSN.
• Conversion to Bonvoy is not something I would do due to poor value.
• The one reason I can see enrolling a Mandatory is to gain status: 3*, 4* or 5* [accompanied with Bonvoy-Status: Gold/Platinum] which is minimal value.
• The NEW reason is being able to exchange internally within the MVCI-DCP-Program.