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

[Red elephant]

I own in Sunset Bay and have plenty of options for a 3 bedroom at 12 months. It’s just not available at all

I hope it’s not in Abound!!!

 

[cubigbird]

I hope it’s not in Abound!!!

No…Vistana Sunset Bay Homeoptions.

 

[GrayFal]

I own in Sunset Bay and have plenty of options for a 3 bedroom at 12 months. It’s just not available at all

I know you know, I was asking @Red elephant because He did not seem aware.

 

[cubigbird]

Checked again today. Plenty of Sunset Bay 2 Bedrooms and studios available at 12 months but no 3 bedrooms. Doesn’t make sense since those are the components of the 3 bedroom units.

 

[GrayFal]

Checked again today. Plenty of Sunset Bay 2 Bedrooms and studios available at 12 months but no 3 bedrooms. Doesn’t make sense since those are the components of the 3 bedroom units.

Dare I say call? Or do online chat.

 

[GrayFal]

I hope it’s not in Abound!!!

In order for people to book using Abound Club Points, owners at Sunset Bay would have to elect Club Points for 2024. I don't see WSJ owners rushing to do this because the other high demand Westin resorts in Hawaii/Scotsdale can be booked using StarOptions on an equitable basis, there is no incentive to convert to Abound Club points.

Marriott would now have control of any unsold inventory that would be put in the Abound club point pool but I can't imagine this would be a very high percentage of ownership.

And resale owners who have not requalified their ownership can only reserve at WSJ SB so that inventory would never make its way into Abound.

There is no ROFR in SB and CV so Marriott would not get units back that way.

 

[cubigbird]

Dare I say call? Or do online chat.

Been there done that. Rep had no idea what I was talking about. It was an exercise of futility.

My wonder is if MVC owns enough home options and transferred them into Abound for the premium.

 

[GrayFal]

My wonder is if MVC owns enough home options and transferred them into Abound for the premium.

Highly unlikely. Especially Diamond season - have you been able to reserve 3BR in Diamond season before?
There are only 8 studios in Sunset bay I believe? So everything has to align in order to get that three bedroom unit.
Coral Vista has 18 studios to combine for three bedroom units

 

[cubigbird]

We have been very successful in reserving 3 bedrooms in Diamond season in the past. This is the first year showing nothing for 3 bedrooms at exactly 12 months at 12am EDT.

 

[Red elephant]

No…Vistana Sunset Bay Homeoption

We have been very successful in reserving 3 bedrooms in Diamond season in the past. This is the first year showing nothing for 3 bedrooms at exactly 12 months at 12am EDT.

This is why I think Abound has something to do with this. Unless all the studios in SB and CV are booked.

 

[Red elephant]

In order for people to book using Abound Club Points, owners at Sunset Bay would have to elect Club Points for 2024. I don't see WSJ owners rushing to do this because the other high demand Westin resorts in Hawaii/Scotsdale can be booked using StarOptions on an equitable basis, there is no incentive to convert to Abound Club points.

Marriott would now have control of any unsold inventory that would be put in the Abound club point pool but I can't imagine this would be a very high percentage of ownership.

And resale owners who have not requalified their ownership can only reserve at WSJ SB so that inventory would never make its way into Abound.

There is no ROFR in SB and CV so Marriott would not get units back that way.

With the high maintenance fees folks may just give back or not pay them. Where do those units go?

 

[cubigbird]

This is why I think Abound has something to do with this. Unless all the studios in SB and CV are booked.

There are studios showing available now, hence my theory that Abound has something to do with this. If this is the case then 12 month Home Resort Priority is impacted by Abound and we are seeing a case of that here.

 

[Red elephant]

There are studios showing available now, hence my theory that Abound has something to do with this. If this is the case then 12 month Home Resort Priority is impacted by Abound and we are seeing a case of that here.

Someone had mentioned that on another thread and everyone put him down . I remember people were booking WKV in Abound left and right earlier this year at 13 months.

 

[DavidnRobin]

5+ years ago MVC/Vistana owned 10-12% of WSJ


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[sponger76]

Someone had mentioned that on another thread and everyone put him down . I remember people were booking WKV in Abound left and right earlier this year at 13 months.

The obvious follow-up to test that theory then is to see whether or not anyone saw the WSJ inventory in Abound at 13 months (a month ago). Nobody has reported that on TUG, which they are normally very quick to do, so it doesn't look like it. After the first week of Abound launch, there stopped being all that Vistana inventory at 13 months in Abound, so it looks like that was an error rather than a normal thing. Conspiracy theory looks to be debunked.

 

[SandyPGravel]

​

Board of Directors meeting minutes:

VIRGIN GRAND VILLAS – ST. JOHN CONDOMINIUM OWNERS ASSOCIATION
LETTER TO OWNERS​

Dear Fellow Owner:

The Annual Meeting and a regular Board Meeting were held at The Westin St. John Resort Villas (WSJ) on March 8, 2023. This letter will bring you up to date on the items that were discussed in both meetings.

The leadership team at the WSJ has been working hard on Associate Recognition and retention. It appears that Frenchman’s Reef on St. Thomas will be opening in late spring or early summer. The resort has been rebranded by Marriott International that operates it under license from Marriott International as a Westin instead of a Marriott. When open, they will be hiring over 400 people. Our team is vulnerable because of the travel time to get to St. John from St. Thomas, where most of our team members live. The board participated in an Appreciation Day event the day before our annual meeting. Efforts are being made by department leaders and resort management to make our team members want to stay with us. If you are at the resort, be sure to thank the team members you encounter and tell them how much you appreciate their efforts to enhance your stay.

Guest Satisfaction data continues to improve. If you see something wrong or needed in your unit, please notify the front desk or call x5000 while you are there so it can be fixed as soon as possible.

Menus are being updated at Snorkels and Lemongrass and more options will be available at those two food outlets as time goes on. The Spa is reopening and there are more classes and activities planned all the time. There is now a weekly wine tasting and there are art classes. The resort will also be adding a yoga instructor in the near future.

Work on fixing facades on buildings in the Sunset phase of the resort (nearest to the pool and beach) is progressing and will be finished this summer. It has proven to be less of an inconvenience than anticipated.

In island news, Caneel Bay is far from re-opening. There is a forum scheduled in April with the National Parks Service (NPS) to review options on site usage. There is no end in sight of conflict resolution between the current Management Company who still has a lease on the property for another year or so and the NPS. Even if everyone agreed to a future plan, it would take several years before anything could be up and running.

Our 2021 financial audit was successfully completed. Labor costs have and will continue to rise to be competitive in the marketplace. Inflation is a factor as everything needs to be brought to St. John and transportation costs are rising. Efforts are being made to modify spending patterns to best manage costs.

A major impact on our budget is unpaid maintenance fees. The amount of uncollected fees continues to increase every year. The owners who do pay their fees are paying for those who do not. This continues to increase the fee amount for those who are in good standing.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide did have over 100 owners return their deed in lieu of payment in the past year. This process removes future obligations from a current owner who doesn’t want to own anymore at WSJ. It has the benefit to the Association of having our current year fees paid on the due date in January. It also places more units in the inventory of the developer for resale.

Questions were raised during the Annual Meeting about this process and were discussed in the Board’s subsequent meeting. The Association has an agreement with Vistana Signature Experiences, Inc. to purchase units from us in the foreclosure process. An owner of a unit that has not paid its fees is “locked out” of use of that unit. There is a legal process of then placing a lien on the unit and going through a legal process to take back ownership and transfer the deed back to the association. This can take several years and leaves us waiting for maintenance fees during that time. There are efforts to speed the process up in the Virgin Islands, but the rules for a new process have not been completed.

John Hilbert, who had been elected to a one-year term last year, was elected to a 3-year term at the meeting. There was discussion and questions from the owners present. Some asked about the resale and repurchase policy which was addressed at the board meeting. Another question, which was also addressed at the board meeting, concerned making some of the financial reports available to owners prior to the annual meeting. The board is working on a process to allow this to happen as we move forward. We will also be making annual audit reports available in the future.

The officers for 2023-2024 were elected during the Board Meeting. David Futransky, President; William Bolton, Vice President; John F. Hilbert, Secretary and Mike Singley, Treasurer.

We, your owner-elected Board of Directors of Virgin Grand Villas – St. John Condominium Owners Association, are honored to serve you and happy to answer your questions and concerns.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Looks like MFs going up even more - that sucks. Lots of give backs. Sad.
I wonder if there is a correlation?
{sarcasm}


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[Markus]

Is there a fixed wall now in the 3 bed pool villas in buildings 41 and 42?

 

[cubigbird]

Looks like MFs going up even more - that sucks. Lots of give backs. Sad.
I wonder if there is a correlation?
{sarcasm}


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Sunset Bay jumped 28% this year. It’s a different phase but wondering if it has similar problems? At what point does WSJ enter the death spiral?

 

[GrayFal]

FYI

Received USVI tax bill in the mail yesterday. VGV
No change -week 7 1BR $250

 

[Red elephant]

Sunset Bay jumped 28% this year. It’s a different phase but wondering if it has similar problems? At what point does WSJ enter the death spiral?

I truly enjoy that resort and the island. I own Sunset Bay EOY and was going to make it annual but now no way. Fortunately for the maintenance fee I get to spend 16 days in a studio on that island EOY so still some value . I locked out this year and was placed in a 2 bedroom as the AC was not working.

 

[Eric B]

FYI

Received USVI tax bill in the mail yesterday. VGV
No change -week 7 1BR $250

Just got mine - VGV 1 BR weeks 14 & 15 $202.61 each; VGV studio week 51 $156.18.

 

[Theodore Borromeo]

Been several years since I visited. Is Westin still running a ferry from St. Thomas? Tips on car rental on St. John? Actually, any tips appreciated. We will be in the VG in a 2 br. Thanks.

 

[tamu_bu]

Been several years since I visited. Is Westin still running a ferry from St. Thomas? Tips on car rental on St. John? Actually, any tips appreciated. We will be in the VG in a 2 br. Thanks.

Sent my son and daughter in law last summer. The ferry service included unlimited trips between StJ and StT then. Just get their schedule.

 

[tborr123]

Considering deedback of my week 28 VG 2 br. Maintenance fee and tax is north of $4k. Thinking I can rent one for less and have flexibility on week of travel. Is there an alternative I should consider?