Vistana Update from Marriott Insider

[Red elephant]

It might be the case where StarOptions are still used among those properties in the VSN as of 8/8 but that process will now happen within the Abound exchange, still using StarOptions. That would make the most sense since converting to DP has been told to us as a usage option for our ownership and that the internal Vistana system of exchanging wouldn't change.

I certainly hope so.

 

[Dawnwrey]

I have a question that I don’t think has been addressed. If we own WSJ and it was purchased from the developer (Coral Vista, therefore voluntary but able to use star options as original owner), will we be part of Abound without additional purchase?

 

[dioxide45]

I have a question that I don’t think has been addressed. If we own WSJ and it was purchased from the developer (Coral Vista, therefore voluntary but able to use star options as original owner), will we be part of Abound without additional purchase?

According to the information provided in the OP, it would be included. Voluntary is really only something that applies to resales.

 

[DeniseM]

From the original post:

• Anything purchased before 8/8 that was mandatory, will be put in Abound.

In other words, if your week had Staroptions before 8/8, it will automatically be enrolled in Abound.

 

[DeniseM]

I'm sorry, but why is this information from yet another "respected source" not open to the scrutiny that any other information provided by others is? This is a discussion forum after all. Why is your information somehow protected?

The key word is "attack." The last time I posted "insider" info, there were some nasty posts directed at the insider by people who had no idea what they were even talking about. I expect a spirited debate about the upcoming changes, but attacking the source (or me), because you don't like the upcoming changes is just stupid.

Did you notice how long it's been since I posted info about this? It's because some people acted like jack asses last time.

Don't shoot the messenger!

 

[VacationForever]

From the original post:

In other words, if your week had Staroptions before 8/8, it will automatically be enrolled in Abound.

Will these resales weeks qualify for elite status?

 

[DeniseM]

Isn't "Elite Status," a Vistana concept?

 

[jabberwocky]

Will these resales weeks qualify for elite status?

They should. In our owner profile they were included in our total Abound point values

 

[DeniseM]

Update on questions asked above.

INSIDER: BTW, every VSN member is enrolled in Abound. You decide if you want to use it but you WILL be paying the new ABOUND fee in place of the VSN fee regardless of whether you use Abound or just use your Vistana week.

[Definition: VSN members own deeds with Staroptions.]

 

[kozykritter]

Update on questions asked above. (Definition: VSN members own deeds with Staroptions.)

INSIDER: BTW, every VSN member is enrolled in Abound. You decide if you want to use it but you WILL be paying the new ABOUND fee in place of the VSN fee regardless of whether you use Abound or just use your Vistana week.

Yes, they would have to be enrolled automatically since the StarOption internal exchange feature is moving to the Abound platform. Makes sense!

 

[DeniseM]

@kozykritter - It's the same with the current VSN membership: If you own a week with Staroptions, you are automatically enrolled, but no one forces you to use it.

 

[VacationForever]

Isn't "Elite Status," a Vistana concept?

MVC calls elite status ownership level, i.e. owner, select, executive, presidential and chairman's club. Still the same question, will these resale mandatory weeks owned before 8/8 qualify for elite/ownership level?

 

[dioxide45]

@kozykritter - It's the same with the current VSN membership: If you own a week with Staroptions, you are automatically enrolled, but no one forces you to use it.

It sounds like you are kind of forced. The only option going forward is to use Abound points or your home resort week. No option for StarOptions there from what I read from the insider. How will they handle HomeOption reservations at a home resort? Not everyone bought something nice and even to book a single week in a single unit. I doubt they would force them into the Abound point charts and eliminate the StarOption chart.

 

[ocdb8r]

I agree with you - Mandatory resorts have to be part of the “club”, but it doesn’t state that it has to be VSN - it could be Abound if you read it liberally. There are a few logical issues I have with what is being suggested. But since I don’t want to risk this post being sent to the memory hole I’ll not state them.

Agreed - this was discussed way back when.... here: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/mandatory-resorts-must-they-really-be-in-the-network.294047/

To me, the bottom line is:

a) nothing forces "the Club" (Vistana East Vacation Club) to continue to use VSN as "the Network" - such affiliation is a result of a Network Affiliation Agreement, which presumably can be terminated (say if "the Network" a.k.a. VSN decided to cease operating);

b) given MVC now owns/controls the network it could easily decide to terminate the Network Affiliation Agreement;

c) even if it decided to continue with the Network Affiliation Agreement, it completely controls "the Network" and can change it's rules, regulations and procedures as it sees fit; and

d) it doesn't even need to change the existing rules to change the "points" values assigned to any VOI as The Vistana East Vacation Club docs and Vistana Signature Network docs make clear:

Club Operator also reserves the right to revise the assignment of Club Points based on the Assignment Factors. As a consequence, the relative reservation power of Club Points in the Club may vary from the relative reservation power of StarOptions in the Network in the future.

The number of StarOptions assigned represents the reservation power of a given Vacation Ownership Interest within the Network is based on such
factors as relative Network Member demand for the particular Network Resort, seasonality of the VOI, Unit type assigned to the VOI Use Rights
associated with the VOI, Network Resort type, Network Member use patterns, and availability of Vacation Periods for reservation at the
particular Network Resort ("Assignment Factors"). Network Operator reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to revise the number of
StarOptions required for reservations within the Network annually, each without Network Member consent.

So there isn't even a need to get rid of "VSN" so to speak; they could simply amend references to "StarOptions" or "Club Points" to mean "Abound Points" and use the existing power in the existing agreements to completely change the point values.

It sounds like you are kind of forced. The only option going forward is to use Abound points or your home resort week. No option for StarOptions there from what I read from the insider. How will they handle HomeOption reservations at a home resort? Not everyone bought something nice and even to book a single week in a single unit. I doubt they would force them into the Abound point charts and eliminate the StarOption chart.

They will likely have to maintain a "HomeOption" chart in line with the ownership interests baked into various trusts. While those charts were aligned with the existing VSN charts, nothing requires VSN or the VSN charts to continue (the HomeOption charts will continue as standalone guidance for use of those who own "HomeOptions").

 

[DeniseM]

@dioxide45: Per the info above - everyone will still be able to make home resort reservations - if you own a flex program, you just have more then one home resort.

 

[dioxide45]

@dioxide45: Per the info above - everyone will still be able to make home resort reservations - if you own a flex program, you just have more then one home resort.

But what chart are those reservations based on? The StarOption chart or Abound point values?

 

[jabberwocky]

But what chart are those reservations based on? The StarOption chart or Abound point values?

And what happens to those of us with points banked into 2024? Do we just lose them?

 

[DeniseM]

But what chart are those reservations based on? The StarOption chart or Abound point values?

Don't know yet.

And what happens to those of us with points banked into 2024? Do we just lose them?

Why would you lose them? - everything is just going to roll over to Abound. But the exact details of HOW, have not been released yet.
.
These are all very good questions, and I will post the answers, as I get more info

 

[cubigbird]

@dioxide45: Per the info above - everyone will still be able to make home resort reservations - if you own a flex program, you just have more then one home resort.

Let’s use WKV as an example. If I don’t want to use my home resort week at Kierland and instead I want to go to say, Westin Lagunamar. Under VSN, I have staroptions. I can book that WLR at 8 months out. Under Abound, under the same example, I would now be forced to trade in Abound, thus subject to the skim? I can’t just exchange within Vistana resorts? I thought VSN was still going to exist with Abound as just an overlay? From what has been posted it looks like that now won’t be the case?

 

[kozykritter]

I think we might be going off the rails a bit here! StarOptions are not going away and will still be the currency for internal exchanges within the Vistana resorts. The exchange system is moving to the Abound IT platform and that will then make it easy to convert your ownership to DP/Abound points for use with MVC properties if you so choose. You will still pay a club fee but it will be the new combined fee that includes banking, etc. We won't be losing anything we already have, just gaining new options and simplifying the fee structure. It's what we've been told all along.

 

[alexinorlando]

Denise,

Did your contact mention anything about flex resale purchased before or after the deadline?

 

[DeniseM]

This rule applies to all types of ownerships: If you had Staroptions before 8/8, your ownership will automatically be enrolled in Abound.

But we don't know the exact details of that conversion, yet.

 

[cubigbird]

@Denise Your insider eludes to VSN being dismantled. Can you get clarification on what that means?

 

[dioxide45]

I think we might be going off the rails a bit here! StarOptions are not going away and will still be the currency for internal exchanges within the Vistana resorts. The exchange system is moving to the Abound IT platform and that will then make it easy to convert your ownership to DP/Abound points for use with MVC properties if you so choose. You will still pay a club fee but it will be the new combined fee that includes banking, etc. We won't be losing anything we already have, just gaining new options and simplifying the fee structure. It's what we've been told all along.

But to simply say "VSN is dismantled" would lead many to a different interpretation. One can't simply say "VSN is dismantled" without any additional context.

 

[kozykritter]

But to simply say "VSN is dismantled" would lead many to a different interpretation. One can't simply say "VSN is dismantled" without any additional context.

Agreed. Wars have been started for less inflammatory statements!