Announcement concerning Diamond Resorts International®

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

Well I think I can see my MF bill online for Powhatan

Maintenance Fees $714.31 $0.00 $714.31
Replacement Reserve $211.00 $0.00 $211.00
ARDA-ROC Voluntary $5.00 $0.00 $5.00

Total Due: $ 930.31 or really 925.31

Still waiting on Greenspring properties ......

By my calculations that was an 11% increase which I can
live with if they hold. I wonder however ....

For those who own at the resort thats around $2,600 dollars per C or D unit to provide top quality linens. Duvets for one and all
$100 / 2 * 52 = $2,600

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

Maintenance Fees $714.31 $0.00 $714.31
Replacement Reserve $211.00 $0.00 $211.00
ARDA-ROC Voluntary $5.00 $0.00 $5.00

Total Due: $ 930.31 or really 925.31

Still waiting on Greenspring properties ......

By my calculations that was an 11% increase which I can
live with if they hold. I wonder however ....

For those who own at the resort thats around $2,600 dollars per C or D unit to provide top quality linens. Duvets for one and all
$100 / 2 * 52 = $2,600

Well, at least it's not double last years MF's. If they were to double MF's I can see that being to much for owners to take.

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

yeah agree $930 is alot better than $1,500

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

I thought my Powhatan properties went up quite a bit then I saw Greensprings a younger resort increased from $767 to $896 thats a whopping 17% increase. Mr. Cloobeck reads this forum why not post the analysis that led to last years MFs and the one that lead to the this years on a resort to resort basis. I'm for one quite interested in the justification across the board in MF increases, because without true substantive detail this reeks of the increases that are typical post sale to recoup capital.

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

I have not seen this years breakdown of where the MF's are going. I have been a supporter of putting more money into the capital reserves which, last year, were less than $50. I know that utility costs in NV have gone up and I know that it takes more money to keep qualified employee's working for PT's as more timeshares are built and as more mega resorts are built.

The rumor (keep in mind rumors are generally worth squat) is that it's the mamgement fee's that have gone up and not the reserve fund, utility costs or other fee's. It's also my understanding that the Cap. reserve is down to $45 per 2 bedroom unit. This is of great concern to me as a majority of Suites at PT's unit paid a very large SA.

In defence of PT's, they do not have the amenities the HGVC has on site. They don't have the pool complex, they don't have the Wave's bar, they don't have the owners lounge area (anymore), they don't have the elite lounge, they don't have the large Marketplace that serve's hot/cold food's as well as groceries. They just don't have the public spaces the HGVC has so maybe they don't need as much going into the Cap. Reserve.

I also want a good managent team. I don't want what's left over after Hilton, Marriott, Bluegreen, Westgate, Wyndham, Shell, and Consolidated have picked over the best of the best. I want employee's that care and not just show up to do their job. As Vegas grows that's going to take competitive salaries.

I own 7 resorts that vary from $245/year to $1,400/year in MF's. The cheapest of those resorts are in the Branson, MO where the cost of living is the lowest amongst all of the resorts we own. I'll have to wait until I have all information in front of me before coming to any decision on my own.

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

I have not seen this years breakdown of where the MF's are going. I have been a supporter of putting more money into the capital reserves which, last year, were less than $50. I know that utility costs in NV have gone up and I know that it takes more money to keep qualified employee's working for PT's as more timeshares are built and as more mega resorts are built.

The rumor (keep in mind rumors are generally worth squat) is that it's the mamgement fee's that have gone up and not the reserve fund, utility costs or other fee's. It's also my understanding that the Cap. reserve is down to $45 per 2 bedroom unit. This is of great concern to me as a majority of Suites at PT's unit paid a very large SA.....

Only time will tell, Doug. From the two seemly overworked employees I saw when I was there in June, I hope they hire more qualified help. Even qualified ppl can screw things up when it comes to maintenance if overworked. This is something we (owners) should not skimp on in terms of paying for service.

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

From Streettalk

Nov 16, 07

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: NOV. 16

street @ 12:11 am
LAS VEGAS: You might as well stop using the name Sunterra Resorts. It isn’t official yet, but although the legal name change is pending registration the company is calling itself Diamond Resorts International. That notice is on the front page of each of the (former) Sunterra country-specific Web sites.
Also of interest: If you click on the UK or EU icons at the home page (Welcome to Club Sunterra) you will find the following notice:

Vote online by Dec. 11 on resolution to change name of company from Club Sunterra Limited to Diamond Resorts European Collection Limited.

Of course they have sent out paperwork via regular mail, too, and some European members are wondering if they are paying for it, lol. “All cost associated with the mailing to members and the venue for the holding of this EGM are being funded by the Founder Member” (Sunterra Europe Limited)
Cloobeck has also listened to feedback from DRI’s European members and lifted the check-in restrictions for those wishing to stay at the majority of their 50+ US resorts. European members can now book any combination of nights (minimum two) at these resorts and can check-in when they want (subject to availability) - all of which means even more choice for members.

So, you want a few extra nights? Then book it today… Need to book a holiday outside the standard check-in date? Not a problem…

And finally, a little birdie tells us that Diamond Resorts has advised the employees of Sunterra Travel that it is closing the agency at the end of this month. Word on the street is that the work will be outsourced to a certain large timeshare exchange company headquartered in Miami…
Considering the size of the company and its complexity of issues, I’d say Cloobeck is moving pretty fast.

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

Well, I had thought about trying Sunterra Travel to see if they could offer anything I couldn't do myself and/or at least be as competitive as the rest of the net but, if they're going to outsource to I.I. (big company in Miami) I think I'll just take a pass. Every time I've looked at I.I. travel they've offered fewer choices and been higher than if I just booked online myself directly or using any of the other major travel sites.

[Xolodno Member Find all posts View Profile Close Xolodno]

Well, I had thought about trying Sunterra Travel to see if they could offer anything I couldn't do myself and/or at least be as competitive as the rest of the net but, if they're going to outsource to I.I. (big company in Miami) I think I'll just take a pass. Every time I've looked at I.I. travel they've offered fewer choices and been higher than if I just booked online myself directly or using any of the other major travel sites.

Not surprised thier shutting them down and outsourcing...my experience, Sunterra Travel is only slightly better than I.I. far as choice and price.

A friend who is Travel Agent could offer more, with a bit better price, often comprable with some of the leading discount web-sites. But then I found kayak.com....and have been using them ever since.

[MSWhiteLion Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MSWhiteLion]

I wasn't aware that FL had a law that capped MF increases at 15%. It will be interesting if there is a state cap in VA or if there is a cap written into the HOA documents that limit the amount of any increase. I know that Polo Towers is suppose to have a set limit for increases but it's been reported that MF's are going to go up above that limit. Something was said about a "vote" by owners that had approved such an increase. The problem is, I'm an owner and am quite certain I never had the opportunity to vote for/against that proposal.

I am an owner too and did not vote or have an opportunity to vote on any increase in fees at Polo Towers.

I have been told just in the last week that DRI is the largest privately owned TimeShare company. I know Cloobeck has put together a consortium of investors.

My problem is trying to figure out within a day or so whether to convert my time at Polo Towers to SunPoints. Of course, the salesman that has been calling us since last summer, is asking for $ to convert. I am skeptical.

Paying $2,995 to convert our weeks to points or $4,320 to upgrade one of our deeds to week 52 at PT, which will include converting all of our weeks to points, seems like a lot of dough. I don't like jumping in all at once to Sunterra Points system. I've heard not to good things about Sunterra, although it may change now that it's been bought by Diamond.
I'm considering converting 1 or 2 weeks out of our 4 that we own at PT.

Have you converted to the points? If so, how have you been treated? Can you get the resorts you want, when you want?

Can anyone tell their experience with this so far. We like going to LV about twice a year and want to pass down 2 of our weeks to our girls (25 and 28 years old) when they get married. (Probably won't be that long.) Will we be able to do that? I don't trust anything salesmen say to me on the phone, as you can see.

They say we keep the deed to PT but I know there has to be a downside to their deal. Help with any advice will be appreciated. The saleman is calling back yet again tomorrow night and my husband says it is up to me. Yikes!

Thanks, M

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

If you own 4 weeks it is my opinion that it is well worth converting to Sunterra points for the conversion fee unless all you ever do is stay at Polo Towers. The reason is flexiblity when making exchanges through I.I. Using points allows you more flexiblity and eliminates waste. I added up all of my exchanges and personal usage at PT's and came away with a lost # of points of 39,000 (finally pulled the sheet I tallied up the usage/points on) if we'd had been members all along.

I have not seen an increase in exchange power. What I have seen is that I'll use only the amount of points I need for an exchange. Nothing more and nothing less. There have been times I deposited the enitre 2 bedroom unit but, because of owners only depositing 1 bedroom units at certain resorts ended up trading down in size. If I'd have had points I'd have only used the amount of points necessary no matter what the situation was.

Points may also be used for other services but, as it's been pointed out before, it's not a good value. What is a good value is only half the points are required during I.I.'s flexchange period. We travel to Branson a few times a year and Branson always has availability at several 5 star resorts. Rather than deposit a week and make and even trade, I can wait for the flexchange period and reserve a week usint points at half the cost. Even if using points to offset MF's is a bad deal, it's still better than nothing which is what I've been getting trading in the traditional weeks system you use with your standard PT's units.

If you own 4 units you'll also be in Elite status with the points program, which can get you upgrades internally for a small fee or free depending on your status.

Back to the 39,000 points lost since we originally became owners with PT's. If I didn't use those points for exchange, I could have used them to pay a couple of years MF's or they would have been enough for 5 domestic airline tickets on AA.

Also keep in mind you'll now have floating weeks if you own in the Suite's rather than fixed weeks. So if you're fixed week no longer works for you then it's not problem. You can reserve whatever week is available. For us this was a big plus with our Suite's week since week 36 no longer works for us (have purchased more timeshares since then). We haven't stayed in the Suite's for a few years and wouldn't even think about staying in the Suite's again if we couldn't float that week. Of course, if it's Villa's weeks you own those are already floating weeks so you're not gaining anything there.

[MSWhiteLion Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MSWhiteLion]

Thanks for your insight so quickly! Tonight is the first I've ever done any research on this and happened to find this site and joined after reading a great deal a information.
The weeks we own are 3 in the Villas and 1 in the Suites. We do like to go around twice a year and don't like the idea of giving up the power of "Requesting First" with II. It seems you have nothing to bargain with because you are basically "depositing" all of your time with the points system. However, we have been told we can hold back some or all of our time at PT at the beginning of each year, if we don't want it converted to points. We just have to let them know before the year starts.

I read somewhere in the forum, I think from "Spence", that SunPoint Memberships are NOT transferable to your descendents. Do you know anything about that?

When did you buy at PT? Did you buy a deeded week? It sounds like you've had points for awhile now. Did they call you and you converted sometime lately? They started calling us this summer. My husband first thought you gave up your deed and he said no. Now we're listening, since they've called us back again.

Have you had an easy time going to Hawaii and staying in 5 star resort places in II? Or just at your own properties, such as Branson. (We would like to visit that sometime)

Thanks, M

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

We do like to go around twice a year and don't like the idea of giving up the power of "Requesting First" with II. It seems you have nothing to bargain with because you are basically "depositing" all of your time with the points system.

All your points are in Diamond's system, not II's. You can 'request first' with your points, you don't lose your points from THE Club account until an II exchange is made.

However, we have been told we can hold back some or all of our time at PT at the beginning of each year, if we don't want it converted to points. We just have to let them know before the year starts.

They may have a program like you describe where you can keep your time if you tell them before the 12month mark, but the way THE Club works in general is that you (and all deeded PT owners) can reserve time at PT 12months in advance while other THE Club members have to wait 'till 10months for that inventory that came from deeded owners. This can be confusing when PT becomes part of the Trust (Diamond Resorts U.S. Collection Members Association, Inc.) as inventory in that 'bucket' is available to Trust members at 13months out.

I read somewhere in the forum, I think from "Spence", that SunPoint Memberships are NOT transferable to your descendents. Do you know anything about that?

While I've not personally tested it, you are supposedly able to pass to your heirs although the general statement about Non-Transferability in the Sticky above applies to all other transfers.

When did you buy at PT? Did you buy a deeded week? It sounds like you've had points for awhile now. Did they call you and you converted sometime lately? They started calling us this summer. My husband first thought you gave up your deed and he said no. Now we're listening, since they've called us back again.

How they approach it at PT, I don't know. At other sales locations involved in the Trust they can go either way, keep your deed and sign an Assignment Agreement giving THE Club the right to use your week in exchange for points. Or, turn in your deed and become a member of the Trust. In the past they've been pretty shifty on this. I've seen where they have converted someone to Trust and given them 21,000 points for three deeded weeks worth 30,000 points!! Know what your weeks are worth!

Have you had an easy time going to Hawaii and staying in 5 star resort places in II? Or just at your own properties, such as Branson. (We would like to visit that sometime) Thanks, M

You can go pretty much anywhere in THE Club if you plan at the limit of your 'window.' II to Hawaii may be more of a pig in a poke.

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

When did you buy at PT? Did you buy a deeded week? It sounds like you've had points for awhile now. Did they call you and you converted sometime lately? They started calling us this summer. My husband first thought you gave up your deed and he said no. Now we're listening, since they've called us back again.

Have you had an easy time going to Hawaii and staying in 5 star resort places in II? Or just at your own properties, such as Branson. (We would like to visit that sometime)

Thanks, M

We purchased our first Suite's week in tower 2 in Oct. of '98. We purchased a Skyview unit pre-construction in '99. In '00 we converted our original purchase to a Villa's unit.

We converted to Club Sunterra last September so we haven't been members for very long. You do not give up your deed. All your doing is converting your units into points to exchange in a points based exchange system. You still keep the deed.

I have never seen a five star resort looking online with I.I. using my Polo Towers weeks. Hawaii weeks are in enough demand that I'd have to deposit or request first to get a decent week. I am able to see good availability online with Club Sun's webres system. These are Sunterra units and would be an internal exchange.

Branson is sort of a thow away exchange for us. All but two of our units are lock-outs. We generally use the studio portion to exchange into Branson as we have always been able to get at least a one bedroom unit for a studio deposit. A few years back we took two one bedroom units at the Ridge Crest in Lake Tahoe for our two studio deposits at Polo Towers. Ridge Crest is not a 5 star resort but was decent enough for us at that time.

They did call us to convert. We were not offered the option of joining the trust. Only joining Club Sunterra (now called THE Club). I really don't have a desire to give up my deeds and put them into a trust at this time. I don't see an advantage to it other than to gain an extra month to reserve a week at Polo Towers and, as I've said before Polo Towers has become exchange units for us.