What's the one thing you would change about a Starwood Vacation Ownership experience?

[zeke013]

OK - You've been made Vice President in charge of Starwood Vacation Ownership. Management has given you an opportunity to make ONE reasonable change to anything about the system - whether it's the reservation system, the trading system, more dish soap in the units, more Starpoints, etc.

What do you do that add the most value to your owners' experiences?

Having just paid off my purchase price on my WKORV-N unit, I am interested in seeing what you folks would change prior to my first SVO experience next April. Good luck!

 

[myip]

On line real-time reservation

 

[duke]

1- Increase StarPoint value per unit in line with devaluation
2- Consistant Policies, Pricing, and Procedures
3- More locations
4- Increase benefits for ELITE levels

 

[DavidnRobin]

2 separate light circuits in the 1Bd bathroom at WKORV.
lol

 

[svntug]

lottery system

I'd like to see them implement a lottery system for highly demanded units available via options (at the 8 month mark) For instance, allow owners to call in and enter the lottery for a spring break week at WSJ (iff any are available). At the end of the day (the first day the units are available), use the lottery to pick which owners can get that week with their staroptions.

(There'd probably have to be some rules so people can sign up for another location while they're waiting in the lottery, and maybe only allow them to enter one lottery at a time.)

svntug

 

[Transit]

1. The abilty to bank staroptions
2. force II to kick up some bonus weeks
3. keeping up with the star point devaluation

 

[califgal]

*Banking staroptions would be great!

*Also agree with not devaluing staroptions when converting to starpoints...afterall we're the ones giving up more to stay in a hotel!

* A Calif beach location either Santa Barbara or So. CA

 

[KOR5Star]

I'd like to see them implement a lottery system for highly demanded units available via options (at the 8 month mark) For instance, allow owners to call in and enter the lottery for a spring break week at WSJ (iff any are available). At the end of the day (the first day the units are available), use the lottery to pick which owners can get that week with their staroptions.

(There'd probably have to be some rules so people can sign up for another location while they're waiting in the lottery, and maybe only allow them to enter one lottery at a time.)

svntug

What the...?!

 

[Cathyb]

My wishlist:

1. Key West location
2. Decrease elite benefits (just kidding, I am jealous)
3. Carryover staroptions
4. Classes online to learn the Starwood system in more detail and with
capability of questions and answers

 

[KOR5Star]

Adjust Starpoints like they do for hotels. If the resort's demand and rent roll increase, then Starpoint trade should increase. If the resort's demand and rent roll decrease, then Starpoints should decrease.

The increases and decreases would be in huge leaps. Just like they are in the hotel chain.

Or they could be locked to local Hotels. For example, WKORV could be linked with The Westin Maui and Sheraton Maui. Whatever percentage they increase, so does WKORV. Other Hotel - Timeshare Resort pairs could be similarly linked.

WSJ and The Westin St John.
WKV and The Westin Keirland.
Vistana and The Swan/Dolphin.
Etc...

 

[bward]

My only wish...

Bank Star Options.

More locations would be nice too. But I think that issue will be resolved in time.

bward

 

[zeke013]

A lot of you mention banking Star Options. But don't you think that'd create an uneven system in which they (Starwood) would ultimately have to pay the piper? Wouldn't they run the risk that some years they might have to have an occupancy rate over 100%? Are there other hotel-based systems that allow you to bank weeks and there's no downside to the system?

If so - what's Starwood's rationale for denying it?

 

[mesamirage]

Adjust Starpoints like they do for hotels. If the resort's demand and rent roll increase, then Starpoint trade should increase. If the resort's demand and rent roll decrease, then Starpoints should decrease.
quote]

I personally don't like the idea of Starwood trying to tinker around with points values each year... IMO the system would become a mess and nobody would every be happy!! I paid for a 148,100 point unit, I expect that unit to always be worth that in the Starwood system. I think everyone knew the points value of the unit they purchased and how far those points would take them as far as potential trades. If Starwood started to play with that, the entire system would become devalued since the trust in the system for future values would be gone.

I would 100% change the online reservation system... oppss... I mean I would have one put in place since it doesn't exist today.

 

[SharonD]

1. Online reservation system

2. "Owner's updates" while at the resort: treat existing owners with respect and listen to their needs, instead of timeshare "hard sell", insulting owners, etc.

3. Resale program through SVO, like Marriott has

 

[MON2REY]

Mesa Mirage:
You're confusing star options with starpoints. Star options are used for internal trades and should remain as the are (in my opinion). Starpoints are for use with Starwood hotels. I think they should be adjusted periodically to reflect the changes of the local Starwood hotels.

 

[Transit]

A lot of you mention banking Star Options. But don't you think that'd create an uneven system in which they (Starwood) would ultimately have to pay the piper? Wouldn't they run the risk that some years they might have to have an occupancy rate over 100%? Are there other hotel-based systems that allow you to bank weeks and there's no downside to the system?

If so - what's Starwood's rationale for denying it?

I do not think it would unbalace the system because you would still be requierd to follow the reservation system.This is an important benefit because many owners are not going to deposit an expensive week to II because they wont get anything equal in return.Marriott owners do deposit valued weeks to II because at least they get bonus weeks in return. It would provide a better alternative to starpoint conversion or II deposit.I think Starwoods rationale is a mystery when it comes to a lot of issues -Like -- Why another so/cal desert location
Why not adjust St Johns S/Os
Supporting resale values
There are more that come to mind .....

 

[LisaRex]

1) I'd like to know which specific units are available and what specific unit I am assigned at the time of booking. Given that we book so far out, I'd opt for a ocean front unit on the 6th floor over an ocean front unit on the 1st floor even if I had to change dates.

2) On-line reservation system.

3) Ability for owners to rent a second unit at a discount. They do this at the Embassy Suites/Kaanapali Beach Club. Owners are able to rent a second unit for $600. (I wouldn't expect such a great deal, but it would be nice to be able to save a good percentage off rack rates.)

 

[KOR5Star]

I personally don't like the idea of Starwood trying to tinker around with points values each year... IMO the system would become a mess and nobody would every be happy!! I paid for a 148,100 point unit, I expect that unit to always be worth that in the Starwood system. I think everyone knew the points value of the unit they purchased and how far those points would take them as far as potential trades. If Starwood started to play with that, the entire system would become devalued since the trust in the system for future values would be gone.

I would 100% change the online reservation system... oppss... I mean I would have one put in place since it doesn't exist today.

I was talking abou StarPoints, not StarOptions. It's a big difference.

And the StarPoints thing is already a devalued mess. I started off with the ability to trade one week for ten days at the Westin Maui. Now I get six days.

 

[KOR5Star]

I do not think it would unbalace the system because you would still be requierd to follow the reservation system.This is an important benefit because many owners are not going to deposit an expensive week to II because they wont get anything equal in return.Marriott owners do deposit valued weeks to II because at least they get bonus weeks in return. It would provide a better alternative to starpoint conversion or II deposit.I think Starwoods rationale is a mystery when it comes to a lot of issues -Like -- Why another so/cal desert location
Why not adjust St Johns S/Os
Supporting resale values
There are more that come to mind .....

I agree with idea of banking StarOptions, but I'd only allow them to bank for one year, then they expire. Also, IMHO, banked options would have to be used at the 8 month window.

Adjust Staroptions?... NEVER! This is the trade value of the unit. NO WAY! I don't care if someone paid more for a WSJ week than I did for WKORV. We're already in the system. That's the way it was presented to me. That's what i agreed to. That's what I bought. That's the way is should stay.

This is EXACTLY the reason I believe StarPoints should adjust with the hotels. Because I had a certain value when I bought and they are taking away that value each year. The value I agreed to and purchased should not be arbitrarily devalued.

 

[KOR5Star]

3) Ability for owners to rent a second unit at a discount. They do this at the Embassy Suites/Kaanapali Beach Club. Owners are able to rent a second unit for $600. (I wouldn't expect such a great deal, but it would be nice to be able to save a good percentage off rack rates.)

We get an owner's discount already. I forget the percentage, but someone will come up with it.

But if no rooms are in the rental pool, you can't rent. Don't expect to rent a second week during President's week or July 4th week... not if that rental is coming at the expense of denying another owner a shot at a high demand week.

Now that you've brought it up, I'd like to completely deny Starwood the ability to rent ANY units during high demand weeks.... weeks that are sure to be at 100% occupancy from owners alone.

 

[GrayFal]

2. force II to kick up some bonus weeks

Yup....When I asked they said they were last given for PGA in 2004?

 

[Transit]

Adjust Staroptions?... NEVER! This is the trade value of the unit. NO WAY! I don't care if someone paid more for a WSJ week than I did for WKORV. We're already in the system. That's the way it was presented to me. That's what i agreed to. That's what I bought. That's the way is should stay

The reason I beleive this adjustment is neccessary is because movement at WSJ is completely stale...3 Bed peak summer season 81000 starpoints ? Also there are no lockoffs.This is the most under rated set of staroptions in the system at one of the most expensive resorts.This creates a ripple effect in SVN with ST John owners rarely depositing S/Os to SVN. This decreases movement through out the peak seasons across the board.The way it's set now it has no value for most because it's so difficult to reserve.I agree that adjusting Staroptions is not a good policy but in this case I think it would help to rebalance the system.
From MYSTARCENTRAL FAQ's..........Q: Could the StarOptions value of my week change?

A: Yes, StarOptions valuations are reviewed annually.
..

 

[DeniseM]

We get an owner's discount already. I forget the percentage, but someone will come up with it.

It's 30%, but that still puts the studios at about $300 a night!

 

[KOR5Star]

It's 30%, but that still puts the studios at about $300 a night!

MF of $1600 for a 2BR-LO makes the price for the entire unit almost $230 per night.

Let's say we paid $48K for the unit. The cost of that money is about $4800 per year, after taxes. That makes the cost of entire unit almost $690 per night.

If we use the Staroptions for each as a guide, that puts the MF cost of the Studio at about $105 per night and the cost-of-money for the Studio at $311 per night for a combined nightly cost of over $400.

If you bought resale for $30K, the end cost of the studio per night is just about $300.

So if you bought from the developer, the rental rate is less than you're paying for your ownership! :whoopie:

If you bought resale, the discount allows you rent as many other units as you want for the what it costs you to own! :whoopie:

Um... er... Oh gosh! Why did I purchase 12 weeks from the developer?! Oh yeah, because I'm stupid.

Wait! What am I saying?! No...no... that wasn't it! It was the nice car or in-ground pool analogy. Yeah. That's it. I'll just keep repeating that mantra to myself. Ahhh... blood pressure reducing. Feeling better already.

Note to self: Never, never, never calculate the cost of timeshare again!!!

 

[DeniseM]

So if you bought from the developer, the rental rate is less than you're paying for your ownership! :whoopie:

If you bought resale, the discount allows you rent as many other units as you want for the what it costs you to own! :whoopie:

Hmmm...you know, I am sure the salesman made the numbers look much better than you just did!