Posts: 51
From: nj,usa
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 12-15-2004 08:52               

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How can Starwood be renting out Westin St. John villas if I, as a starwood SVN owner, have called every day and have been told that there is no availability? I just received an email from StarwoodResortHotels@spg.starwood.com that they are taking reservations for the villas at this resort. How can they do this? What is going on? Why should they honor my request for a SVN exchange into this resort if they can rent it out for thousands of dollars? Is there anyone out there who can relieve my paranoia?

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Posts: 1955
From: Northern CA Owner: Westin Ka'anapali & Sheraton Desert Oasis
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 12-15-2004 09:38               

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I asked the same quesion about Ka'anapali. They said the units for rent are developer owned units that have not been sold yet, so they are not generating any income for the developer. They haven't been purchased yet, nor are the collecting any MF, so the developer rents them to make some money. Once they are sold, they will go into the owner's pool of units and be available for exchange.

Since SVO now has a rental program, they could also be units that the owners have deposited for rent or in exchange for StarPoints.

Yes, I think it stinks too...

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Denise

[This message has been edited by dbmMayer (edited 12-15-2004).]

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Posts: 51
From: nj,usa
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 12-15-2004 10:13               

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I thought that Westin St. John was sold out.

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Posts: 1955
From: Northern CA Owner: Westin Ka'anapali & Sheraton Desert Oasis
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 12-15-2004 10:29               

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quote:

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Originally posted by soccer321:
I thought that Westin St. John was sold out.

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I believe they just built some new units? Also, these could be units deposited by owners for rentals or StarPoints as I said in my previous post - they don't go into the exchange pool - they "belong" to the developer.

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Denise

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Posts: 51
From: nj,usa
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 12-15-2004 10:34               

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Thanks for your reply, I guess that we just have to trust them.

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Posts: 1955
From: Northern CA Owner: Westin Ka'anapali & Sheraton Desert Oasis
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 12-15-2004 10:42               

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quote:

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Originally posted by soccer321:
Thanks for your reply, I guess that we just have to trust them.

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Oh no....I didn't say anything about trusting them!

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Denise

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Posts: 1099
From: fort worth, texas usa
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 12-15-2004 11:14               

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quote:

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Originally posted by soccer321:
Thanks for your reply, I guess that we just have to trust them.

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Are you kidding?

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Posts: 51
From: nj,usa
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 12-15-2004 11:35               

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Unfortunately, unless anybody can figure out a way to verify the legitimacy of what they are doing, the answer is "No, I am not kidding"

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Posts: 28
From: Owings Mills, MD, USA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 12-15-2004 15:33               

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I just spoke to someone at owner services about this same problem. He basically reiterated what was said before. If an owner rents their week through the new renter program or changes over to starpoints, than owners no longer have access to those weeks. The first part I understand because you can rent a week at St. John for top dollar, however; the second one I am skeptical on. They said that starwood needs to recover the cost of the starpoints they are giving out.

Well lets exam that further. Owners already pay $99 to convert to starpoints. Even at $.05 per starpoint which is way high in my opinion that would not come close to the $12000 it cost to rent a 3 bedroom for 7 nights.

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Posts: 229
From: Forest Hill, MD - Westin St. John; Aruba Surf Club
Registered: May 2003

posted 12-15-2004 15:46            

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quote:

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Originally posted by soccer321:
I thought that Westin St. John was sold out.

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Most of the very popular weeks are sold out but there are still some weeks available.

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Posts: 1445
From: Carlsbad, CA, USA Carlsbad Inn, Trendwest , Marriott DSV & Newp, Westin MissionHills, Whaler/Maui & PonoKai/Kauai
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 12-18-2004 16:10               

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caspers or anyone: Can you elaborate on the new rental program. Does that apply also to Westin Mission Hills. I have been traveling so I guess I missed the previous posts. Thanks in advance for any insight.

Did you get something in the mail?

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Posts: 1955
From: Northern CA Owner: Westin Ka'anapali & Sheraton Desert Oasis
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 12-18-2004 20:03               

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quote:

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Originally posted by Cathyb:
caspers or anyone: Can you elaborate on the new rental program. Does that apply also to Westin Mission Hills. I have been traveling so I guess I missed the previous posts. Thanks in advance for any insight.

Did you get something in the mail?

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The last Starwood magazine, that came sometime during the last month, has a little blurb about it, but no real info. It seemed to apply to all resorts and said to call if you are interested.

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Denise

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