Announcement concerning Diamond Resorts International®

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Monday, October 01, 2007

Things are about to change. And with the recent acquisition of Sunterra, Diamond Resorts International® is now one of the largest quality vacation-ownership companies in the industry.

Change can be a good thing, especially when you embrace a commitment to customer service and value. Throughout the coming year, you'll begin to experience the Diamond Resorts International® hospitality brand from enhanced guest satisfaction and value to upgraded designer linens and bed ensembles that gently float you to sleep.

At Diamond Resorts International®, we know that life in today's world can often be busy, stressful, hectic and complicated. The sole mission of every Diamond Resorts International® worldwide family member, including our Chairman, is to provide you, your family and your friends with a variety of vacation choices that indulge you in sophisticated comfort and elegance to help you relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
Diamond Resorts International® is a hospitality brand committed to providing our owner families and guests with simplicity, choice and comfort.
So sit back, relax and write us at chairman@sunterra.com.

Wish they'd get off this duvet vs. bedspread thing and tell us what's really happening. I heard rumors of 100% increase in MFs at Powhatan!! Supposedly it'll be Diamond Resorts and "The Club" sometime this month (Sunterra name gone) in the USA and next month in Europe.

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

Spence please keep on top of this !!!!!

Also did you rec'd an e-mail from Sunterra to purchase more sun options last week ?

[mace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mace]

You Have Got To Be Joking

Monday, October 01, 2007
I heard rumors of 100% increase in MFs at Powhatan!!

Just to be sure are you talking about 100% increase in the bottom figure of $835. Because I know quite a few like myself own multiple weeks at the resort making this kind of increase seem almost criminal. Besides such an increase even makes holiday ownership a poor deal. $1670 / 15000 pt = .11
Is it a one time assessment or what? Hard to believe it could be that much.
If it is then the points need to be increase at the resort by an amount approaching a factor of 2 (which we all know is not going to happen) or this is legalized theft. Talk about the fees at Carlton Court how about Powhatan Plantation! Atleast Court was in LONDON!

C/D Unit (Four bedroom Lock-off) as of 2007

Operating Portion 578.82

Real Estate Taxes 45.68

Reserve Contribution 210.75

Total Maintenance Fee $835.25

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

You Have Got To Be Joking

Just to be sure are you talking about 100% increase in the bottom figure of $835.

You understand 100% increase to mean a doubling of current MFs. That is what I meant. While I called it a rumor, I completely trust my source who told me that (s)he heard it come out of the mouth of Sunterra VP of Homeowners Assns (HOAs) as something that 'should' be happening!!! (Gotta pay for those duvets and that waterpark feature.)

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

While I'm never happy to be paying more money out of my pocket, I also realize that, in general, the resorts we own at that charge the highest MF's are also the resorts that are maintained to a higher standard and have more amenities for guests. Personally, I enjoy that higher standard and those resort also have exchanged better within I.I.

As far as the soft goods, personally I appreciate them. Some of the complaints I had about Greensprings Plantation were: Maintenance on the unit was lacking, inexpensive (cheap) furniture, hard bed, poor quality sheets, cheap towels and my biggest complaint was those cheap plain white mini-blinds. There was no way to sleep in while we were on vacation and mini-blinds are one way to keep us from wanting to exchange into a resort.

Sometimes it's the little luxurys that can make the biggest difference. These are little changes that can be made quickly and easily. Major changes will take longer......and probably more money.

It sounds to me as if Sunterra will go from what I feel were bargain timeshares to more luxury timeshares. The good thing is resorts should have better maintenance and better quality soft goods. The bad news is these things cost more and MF's are bound to go up along with them.

I said back when this started you could look for MF's to increase if DRI increased quality. Also keep in mind that a 100% increase is unheard of in timesharing and is probably a rumor that should never have been posted. A definate 100% increase and someone on the HOA saying MF's "should" increase 100% are two very different things. We have no clue what context that statement was made. Perhaps the HOA member was ticked off and just shooting his mouth off, not realizing words can be taken out of context and start members off in a panic.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

I said back when this started you could look for MF's to increase if DRI increased quality. Also keep in mind that a 100% increase is unheard of in timesharing and is probably a rumor that should never have been posted. A definate 100% increase and someone on the HOA saying MF's "should" increase 100% are two very different things. We have no clue what context that statement was made. Perhaps the HOA member was ticked off and just shooting his mouth off, not realizing words can be taken out of context and start members off in a panic.

Since this was second hand info, I termed it a rumor. I have every right to post it, despite your opinion. It wasn't from 'someone' it was from Linda Riddle Sunterra Vice president for HOAs. While it may be not exact and may be out of context, it was said.

[winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close winger]

well, if the soon to be 15%+ MF increases at the DRI flagship Polo Towers is any indication of things to come, maybe we should eventually get to Marriott/Westin quality????

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Another interesting source for what is going on with Sunterra, with emphasis on Europe is www.madtrot.com/21.html

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Since this was second hand info, I termed it a rumor. I have every right to post it, despite your opinion. It wasn't from 'someone' it was from Linda Riddle Sunterra Vice president for HOAs. While it may be not exact and may be out of context, it was said.

Still, a 100% increase in MF's, no matter how confident you might be in your source, is unbelievable.

Post what you like but I believe your only going to get people all worked up over nothing. Yes I believe MF's will go up. I said that from the very start when DRI bought out Sunterra. However it's laughable to think they'd increase MF's 100%.

Now, a special assessment equal to the yearly MF is completely believable to me. Especially since PT's just had a SA that was in excess of our yearly MF (or a 100% one time increase). But to just double a MF is absurd. Anyone who's spent any length of time in timesharing would know this.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

FWIW, it appears they have begun the name change from Sunterra to Diamond Resorts International. They have replaced the "introducing the newest affiliate resort" with "Welcome to Diamond Resorts International."

[winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close winger]

... Especially since PT's just had a SA that was in excess of our yearly MF (or a 100% one time increase). But ....

to be more specific, my 1 bd MF = $479, special assessment was about $788

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

FWIW, it appears they have begun the name change from Sunterra to Diamond Resorts International. They have replaced the "introducing the newest affiliate resort" with "Welcome to Diamond Resorts International."

That's where post#1 came from.

[somerville Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close somerville]

... Also keep in mind that a 100% increase is unheard of in timesharing and is probably a rumor that should never have been posted.

If you think that a 100% increase in maintenance fees is unheard of, then you are not familiar with what happened to Equivest Vacation and Travel Club fees after Fairfield acquired Equivest.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

If you think that a 100% increase in maintenance fees is unheard of, then you are not familiar with what happened to Equivest Vacation and Travel Club fees after Fairfield acquired Equivest.

Hmmmm, perhaps I stand corrected. At any rate I'm certain we'll find out in a couple of months. If owners get hit with that big of a whack right from the start, I bet their opinion of the new DRI/Sunterra goes right down the tubes.

Hey, I've had to eat my words once. What's having to do it one more time?

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Still, a 100% increase in MF's, no matter how confident you might be in your source, is unbelievable.

Post what you like but I believe your only going to get people all worked up over nothing. Yes I believe MF's will go up. I said that from the very start when DRI bought out Sunterra. However it's laughable to think they'd increase MF's 100%.

Now, a special assessment equal to the yearly MF is completely believable to me. Especially since PT's just had a SA that was in excess of our yearly MF (or a 100% one time increase). But to just double a MF is absurd. Anyone who's spent any length of time in timesharing would know this.

For dougp's benefit, I've flown to Las Vegas and today met with the VP of HOA Relations. A different person than the VP referenced previously. They were also at the meeting though and confirmed that what was said was that they had done a 'study' and that MFs in the $1500 range are what a 4BR at Powhatan should have as annual fees. I guess I'd like to see the study.