Westin St John Master Thread - Part 3 [Dec. 2017 and forward]

[cubigbird]

June 2018

Dear Fellow Sunset Bay Owner,

A quarterly meeting of the Board of Managers of Sunset Bay Vacation Owners Association was recently conducted by conference call. In addition, a bi-weekly call is being held with representatives from the other associations (Virgin Grand, Bay Vista and Coral Vista) and Vistana management representatives to obtain updates on the progress of repair and renovation at the resort.

A few highlights of our quarterly call and updates on the recovery process are below.

From a financial perspective, the Association is doing well. As of April 30, we have collected 98.3% of this year’s maintenance fees. Thanks to our owners for continuing to pay in a timely manner.

Vistana is managing the claims process in a highly professional manner and we have a very active team overseeing the construction process. Work is moving ahead in a thoughtful and well-planned approach to have the resort ready for the proposed January 4, 2019 reopening.

One of our concerns has been environmental protection inside the units and controlling the inevitable growth of mold that occurs in a tropical climate. We have hired an independent hygienist to review the work on site and to provide testing for mold and other environmental growths in all units. This is over and above the work of the hygienic team that is working with the contractors. Our desire is to manage the environment in a way that will minimize potential problems in the future. All interior areas are being treated to protect against mold growth and, as drywall goes up, air-conditioning is turned on to keep mold to a minimum. Ductwork has been going through a remediation process and all the environmental analytics are being reviewed on an on-going basis.

Supplies and new furnishings have been ordered and deliveries and installations are scheduled to follow the completion of the drywall replacement. Two of the Sunset Bay buildings have been dried-in and the metal studs, plumbing and rough electrical work have been completed. Drywall installation started this week in one of the buildings.

For those owners who are members of Vistana Signature Network, as we have reminded you in the past, we are approaching the deadlines for banking your StarOptions for future use within the Vistana Exchange Network. You will be hearing more from Vistana as the deadlines approach on July 1, October 1or December 1 (depending upon your level of ownership), but PLEASE DO NOT WAIT. You can call 888-986-9637 or 407-903-4635 or email ownerservices.usage@vistana.comand get help in using your StarOptions.

STAROPTIONS EXPIRE IF NOT USED OR BANKED AND WILL NOT BE REINSTATED IF EXPIRED.

The resort is scheduled to reopen on January 4 and reservations are being taken for 2019.

We will do our best to keep you informed as more progress is made over the next few months.

Thank you for your continued support.

Your Sunset Bay Board of Managers
You have received this message as part of your vacation ownership. Please do not reply directly to this system-generated email. Contact Vistana Management, Inc. at 9002 San Marco Court, Orlando, FL 32819 or click here.

©2018 Vistana Signature Experiences, Inc.

Privacy Statement | Terms & Conditions | 5326 | 20A | 18-WSJ-1127

 

[canesfan]

That was much more descriptive than our update last week for Bay Vista. Ours just had a bunch a pictures of the progress and said it was moving along schedule as long as nature didn’t throw any curve balls.


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[Henry M.]

I received almost the exact same e-mail from Bay Vista today.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Not that it is important to WSJ Owners (not going this year), but here is the seasonable restaurant closure list:

http://newsofstjohn.com/2018/07/16/2018-seasonal-closings-list/

It certainly goes to show STJ is still recovering - relative to previous closure lists.

 

[GrayFal]

I saw on the Wyndham Bluebeard's Beach Club STT site that owners have started getting their USVI tax bills.
Has any VGV owners received their bills yet???

 

[GrayFal]

Not that it is important to WSJ Owners (not going this year), but here is the seasonable restaurant closure list:

http://newsofstjohn.com/2018/07/16/2018-seasonal-closings-list/

It certainly goes to show STJ is still recovering - relative to previous closure lists.

Ocean Grill, a favorite of ours, closed August 14th for good.

http://newsofstjohn.com/2018/08/14/popular-cruz-bay-closing/

 

[SandyPGravel]

I saw on the Wyndham Bluebeard's Beach Club STT site that owners have started getting their USVI tax bills.
Has any VGV owners received their bills yet???

I have not.

 

[MPERL]

USVI tax bills have been sent. Some Marriott owners in St Thomas have received them this week the mail, some have not. They are all posted on the USVI Tax site.
https://propertytax.vi.gov/Lookup/TaxBillLookup.aspx

 

[GrayFal]

USVI tax bills have been sent. Some Marriott owners in St Thomas have received them this week the mail, some have not. They are all posted on the USVI Tax site.
https://propertytax.vi.gov/Lookup/TaxBillLookup.aspx

Thanks, I will look mine up.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Thanks, I will look mine up.

Ours is the same as 2017


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[DavidnRobin]

New Westin Ferry

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[tomandrobin]

The new ferry looks nice but I will miss the exterior, upstairs seating option.

 

[Helios]

The new ferry looks nice but I will miss the exterior, upstairs seating option.

Agree. This one is pretty sleek looking.

 

[dioxide45]

I wonder if they used insurance proceeds to help pay for that? Otherwise wouldn't it be paid for by the owners? That certainly can't be cheap, a million dollars or more?

 

[GrayFal]

About the boat
http://newsofstjohn.com/2018/07/15/westin-gets-amazing-new-boat-for-guests/

One year later
http://newsofstjohn.com/2018/09/06/one-year-later/

 

[DavidnRobin]

Virgin Grand Villas — 2018 USVI Property Tax

The Office of the Tax Assessor of the United States Virgin Islands has issued the 2018 property tax bills to all property owners of record as of Jan. 1, 2018. Payment is due in full no later than Oct. 31, 2018 in order to avoid late payment charges.

Vistana Management, Inc. (VMI) just received the 2018 tax bills and is in the process of mailing them to Owners. The 2018 tax bills are currently available for viewing online. Please follow the steps below to submit your payment by Oct. 31, 2018. To locate your information online, you must have an established Parcel Number or your loan must have been paid in full as of of Jan. 1, 2018.
Click here to conduct a tax bill search using your Name and/or Parcel Number.
Select the Parcel Number for the 2018 Tax Year.
If multiple Parcels are owned, select the Owner Name then scroll through the 2018 Account Numbers to individually select each Parcel.
Select the Bill Number for the 2018 Tax Year to view the amount due and print the Tax Bill Detail page.
Choose one of the following payment methods:
Payment by Check:
Make your check payable to the Government of the United States Virgin Islands.
Write the Parcel Number on your check.
Payment by Credit Card:
Print and complete the USVI Credit Card Authorization Form in its entirety.
Write the Parcel Number in the “Apply Amount to” section of the form.
Provide a copy of the cardholder’s passport or driver’s license.
Include a copy of the Tax Bill Detail page for the Parcel that shows the amount due.
Request a paid receipt and include a stamped self-addressed return envelope. Please be sure to retain your paid receipt for future reference.
Send your check or credit card authorization form, via certified or registered mail with return receipt requested, to:
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Property Tax Collection Division
P.O. Box 447
Cruz Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands 00831
If you choose to pay your tax bill using one of the methods described above, please retain the tax bill you receive from VMI for your records.

The Property Tax Collection Division does accept online credit card payments of Visa and MasterCard; however, payment by this method requires you to have a Control Number and Invoice Number (same as Bill Number noted in Step 3 above) to access your account. This information will appear on the tax bill that is being mailed to you and is located on the back of the payment coupon. The Control Number remains the same each year; therefore, you may also reference last year’s tax bill to obtain this information. Click here to access the Virgin Islands online bill pay site.

VMI is happy to assist you with any questions you may have on this matter, however, please understand that VMI does not have the ability to adjust your tax bill. Furthermore, contacting VMI will not preserve your protest rights with the Office of the Tax Assessor. The deadline for filing appeals with the Board of Tax Review regarding tax assessments is Sept. 15, 2018. Please click here to access appeal forms and information regarding the tax appeal process.

Sincerely,

Vistana Management, Inc.



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[DavidnRobin]

Video on H.Irma and St John by Steve Simonsen
You will need To watch on Vimeo - click ‘Watch on Vimeo’

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[cyntravel]

Thanks DavidnRobin for sharing.
WOW what a story and miracle!

 

[sachia007]

Virgin Grand Villas — 2018 USVI Property Tax

The Office of the Tax Assessor of the United States Virgin Islands has issued the 2018 property tax bills to all property owners of record as of Jan. 1, 2018. Payment is due in full no later than Oct. 31, 2018 in order to avoid late payment charges.

Vistana Management, Inc. (VMI) just received the 2018 tax bills and is in the process of mailing them to Owners. The 2018 tax bills are currently available for viewing online. Please follow the steps below to submit your payment by Oct. 31, 2018. To locate your information online, you must have an established Parcel Number or your loan must have been paid in full as of of Jan. 1, 2018.
Click here to conduct a tax bill search using your Name and/or Parcel Number.
Select the Parcel Number for the 2018 Tax Year.
If multiple Parcels are owned, select the Owner Name then scroll through the 2018 Account Numbers to individually select each Parcel.
Select the Bill Number for the 2018 Tax Year to view the amount due and print the Tax Bill Detail page.
Choose one of the following payment methods:
Payment by Check:
Make your check payable to the Government of the United States Virgin Islands.
Write the Parcel Number on your check.
Payment by Credit Card:
Print and complete the USVI Credit Card Authorization Form in its entirety.
Write the Parcel Number in the “Apply Amount to” section of the form.
Provide a copy of the cardholder’s passport or driver’s license.
Include a copy of the Tax Bill Detail page for the Parcel that shows the amount due.
Request a paid receipt and include a stamped self-addressed return envelope. Please be sure to retain your paid receipt for future reference.
Send your check or credit card authorization form, via certified or registered mail with return receipt requested, to:
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Property Tax Collection Division
P.O. Box 447
Cruz Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands 00831
If you choose to pay your tax bill using one of the methods described above, please retain the tax bill you receive from VMI for your records.

The Property Tax Collection Division does accept online credit card payments of Visa and MasterCard; however, payment by this method requires you to have a Control Number and Invoice Number (same as Bill Number noted in Step 3 above) to access your account. This information will appear on the tax bill that is being mailed to you and is located on the back of the payment coupon. The Control Number remains the same each year; therefore, you may also reference last year’s tax bill to obtain this information. Click here to access the Virgin Islands online bill pay site.

VMI is happy to assist you with any questions you may have on this matter, however, please understand that VMI does not have the ability to adjust your tax bill. Furthermore, contacting VMI will not preserve your protest rights with the Office of the Tax Assessor. The deadline for filing appeals with the Board of Tax Review regarding tax assessments is Sept. 15, 2018. Please click here to access appeal forms and information regarding the tax appeal process.

Sincerely,

Vistana Management, Inc.



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[sachia007]

Can someone tell me how to pay bill without having bill in front of me (it never arrived in the mail)?

I went online and found my bill # and my account #, but when you go to the VI online pay site to pay the bill, they ask for control and invoice # - can these be found on my tax bill?

 

[DavidnRobin]

Can someone tell me how to pay bill without having bill in front of me (it never arrived in the mail)?

I went online and found my bill # and my account #, but when you go to the VI online pay site to pay the bill, they ask for control and invoice # - can these be found on my tax bill?

I will check when we get home - and get back to you (next week?)

 

[LisaRex]

Wow, the new ferry is very nice and will give a much nicer first impression than that rust bucket they were using in recent years. While it kind of stinks that they've taken away al fresco seating (which I'll admit was a delightful way to start your vacation!), it'll also be nice not having to queue up 45 minutes early in order to secure a seat outside.

My biggest concern is that it looks quite a bit smaller than what they were using. I wonder if they'll add more runs, especially on big check-in/check-out days? The Saturday ~9:45am ferry was always crowded because so many people had early afternoon flights back to the US mainland. It's the one place where I'd definitely recommend giving yourself 3 hours to get through TSA. I wonder how WSJ will Saturday morning rush, given that it's not reasonable to ask a guest to wait another hour for the next shuttle.

Guess that's one more reason to rent a car on STT and take the car ferry back!

 

[GrayFal]

Can someone tell me how to pay bill without having bill in front of me (it never arrived in the mail)?

I went online and found my bill # and my account #, but when you go to the VI online pay site to pay the bill, they ask for control and invoice # - can these be found on my tax bill?

Darn, I did not get my bill either. And I have received it from Vistana in the past.

 

[GrayFal]

From the Facebook page of “Vistana Careers”

Currently hiring for resort operations leadership roles at Westin St. John Resort & Villas, U.S. Virgin Islands! We are interviewing candidates for Housekeeping Managers, an Executive Housekeeper, an Activities Manager and a Director of Security now! If you are interested, please email your resume to Carvelle at Carvelle.Rogers@westinstjohnvillas.com today!

 

[SandyPGravel]

Darn, I did not get my bill either. And I have received it from Vistana in the past.

+1