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Wow. 14% increase in MF

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  • #16
    Originally posted by barndweller
    Doug
    I'm always stumped when I hear folks make comments about the higher quality at Marriotts et al when compared to Sunterra or even some better independent resorts. I have only stayed at 1 Marriott and 1 Hyatt and both were certainly very nice but not all that! My Sunterra resort stay included a daily paper, mid-week tidy service, a large supply of pool towels in the unit and great list of activities offered free or at nominal cost. The unit itself was large & very clean with a great kitchen and no maintainence issues at all. The Marriott was pretty shabby and had major maintainence issues. There was no free tidy service or newspaper. Pool towels were only available at the lobby. The Hyatt was really "pretty" from a decor perspective but so tiny it felt more like a hotel suite. We had the full 1 bedroom and adjoining studio. The studio mini kitchen was unusable for my mom since everything was stored in a very high cupboard and there was absolutely no counter space.We could hear every word the guy upstairs spoke. It was a good thing we were watching the same station on TV or it would have made it pretty difficult! We got no newspaper and there were really no activities (not something we really care about anyway.) Heck there wasn't even a wine bottle opener!

    We've also been to a couple of stand alone timeshares that are way above the Marriott, Hyatt, Sheraton & Diamond resorts we have been to. And the MF at those aren't through the roof, either.

    Anyway, I'm just not so sure that Marriott et al are a guarantee of top quality. Sometimes it's just all a front. The designer furnishings don't make up for thin walls & broken lamps & a dirty pool. And the little touches like a daily paper and mid-week tidy are things I like. To me it's a measure of a top quality experience and I have come to expect that.
    I can't speak for whatever Marriott you've stayed at but we've been to four, Horizons by Marriott in Branson, Manor Club Sequel at Fords Colony in Williamsburg, Grand Chateau in Las Vegas and Ocean Pointe in Palm Beach Shores Florida. The later two we own at.

    I've always received a USA today at each of the Marrott's every time we've vacationed there. Horizon's had pool towels in the unit that last time we were there. Both Grand Chateau and Ocean Pointe have pool towels pool side and not in the lobby. We did not use the pool's at Manor Club and I don't recall where the pool towels were.

    Personally I find the mid-week tidy inconvenient, intrusive and unecessary. I'd just as soon not have people in my room. I have had items stolen once at Westgate Branson Woods by an employee who entered my room. Personally, I can make my own bed if I want to and take the trash down the hall to the rubish bin.

    Of the four maintenance has never been an issue, bedding and linens were top quality as was generally everything in the resort. I am aware of a couple of Marriott timeshares where there are maintenance issues. Those being the Marriott timeshares in Vail and Beachplace Towers in Fort Lauderdale. Otherwise I've heard or read very little in the form of complaints.

    To date we haven't spent time in a Hyatt resort. We will spend time at one of the Westin resorts next month and I look forward to seeing what they're quality level is.

    For the last three or four years I've been keeping a photo log of our timeshare visits at my Webshots webpage. I find it's an easy way to compare the basics of different timeshares. I generally don't take photo's of minor maintenance issues as individual units will vary. I prefer to take overall pictures so others can see the general idea of the resort, unit layouts and quality of furnishings.

    That webpage is at dougp26364's photos and albums on webshots for anyone wanting to compare the four Marriott's we've been to with the four DRI resorts we've been to. The Polo Towers web page contains photo's of both the Villa's and the Suites units (two in one album). There are also photo's from Greensprings Plantation and Gatlinburg Town Square. GTS is now managed by Summerbay so I'm not certain you'd want to call it an DRI resort.
    Our timeshare and other photo's at http://dougp26364.smugmug.com/

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    • #17
      Originally posted by dougp26364
      ...There is one other thing that has me upset right at this moment. I was under the impression DRI was going to be an industry leader. I've found a few people that now state Mr. C has made comment that DRI resorts will be a solid upper 3 on a 1 to 5 scale. Maybe I missed something but industry learder and a middle of the road "upper 3" star resort doesn't quite sound the same. ...
      Time for you to call Mr. C again, Doug. One thing, are you sure Mr. C was not referring to a solid 3 being a step towards #1 ? I mean, it is hard to straight to #1 or even #2.
      EMAIL me if you wish, do NOT PM

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      • #18
        I have noticed a sign at the Sedona Ridge which says: Coming soon: The Residences (...of Sedona ?)....so is there a name change planned/announced for the Ridge?
        Life is short, live it with this awareness.

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        • #19
          Spence, the indoor pool and spa is still down at Greensprings Resort as of 12/10/07. I guess the heater part they (Diamond Resort Management Staff) promise at Owner's Meeting on 12/03/07 is coming pony express.

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          • #20
            Indoor - Outdoor. Whats the big deal?

            Originally posted by Ryne08 View Post
            Spence, the indoor pool and spa is still down at Greensprings Resort as of 12/10/07. I guess the heater part they (Diamond Resort Management Staff) promise at Owner's Meeting on 12/03/07 is coming pony express.
            No. It's being shipped from Powhatan - since THAT indoor pool hasn't been fully functional in over 3 years (!) what do they need it for? I guess indoor pools are a problem for management....

            Comment


            • #21
              The part is for to heat the indoor pool and spa.

              Comment


              • #22
                Originally posted by timeos2 View Post
                No. It's being shipped from Powhatan - since THAT indoor pool hasn't been fully functional in over 3 years (!) what do they need it for? I guess indoor pools are a problem for management....
                I think pools overall were a problem for the former Sunterra management. I believe I read somewhere that one of the pools in Sedona was going to have to be ripped out and completely replaced because of an unreparable leak.

                It seems to me that the old management refused to spend money under any circumstance and that's led to a lot of dissatisfaction. Now comes the increase in MF's so that the necessary work can be done. Problem is, there's the increase in fee's before the problem can be fixed.

                Look at it this way. You wouldn't look at a wood burning stove and expect it to give off heat BEFORE you put a log into it. I guess it's going to work the same with DRI. Money will have to be collected first before the repairs can be done. Previous management thought keeping fee's low and not spending money was what the members wanted. I get the feeling they were wrong.
                Our timeshare and other photo's at http://dougp26364.smugmug.com/

                Comment


                • #23
                  The base problem is the lack of owner control

                  Originally posted by dougp26364
                  I think pools overall were a problem for the former Sunterra management. I believe I read somewhere that one of the pools in Sedona was going to have to be ripped out and completely replaced because of an unreparable leak.

                  It seems to me that the old management refused to spend money under any circumstance and that's led to a lot of dissatisfaction. Now comes the increase in MF's so that the necessary work can be done. Problem is, there's the increase in fee's before the problem can be fixed.

                  Look at it this way. You wouldn't look at a wood burning stove and expect it to give off heat BEFORE you put a log into it. I guess it's going to work the same with DRI. Money will have to be collected first before the repairs can be done. Previous management thought keeping fee's low and not spending money was what the members wanted. I get the feeling they were wrong.
                  Doug - What you say has merit and if DRI remains as the management they will need to raise fees and get the resorts back in shape. But the bigger problem is that DRI (the Developer) remains as the management not because they are the best choice but due to the ongoing control they (Sunterra before them) hold of the BOD. That should have been in owners hands years ago and then a real review of fees, management and resort conditions would have taken place. Not with the eye to sales but the needs of the resort and owners. Not to say DRI Management would have been removed - maybe they are the right group - but they would have had to compete with other, fully qualified management companies and the best one put in charge.

                  It is the combination of poor management, bad policies on fees, the focus on sales, inbred control and more that makes the whole thing hard to swallow. When the same group under a new name says the problems where largely from the old group (who had blamed the previous and also inbred group before them) yet under the covers it has been the same operation all along it is hard to think things will really change no matter how much money is thrown at it. There is no trust there nor should there be based on over a decade of history of things just getting worse.

                  You don't have to look far to find resorts all over the country who did turn control over to the owners. Almost without exception you'll find they are better run, with owner involvment, have proper fees and good management in place. At most you'll find better communication and responsive Boards vs the secretive and isolated company run resorts. If owners don't like what is going on they get the chance to vote them out. Thats whats really missing in the DRI Williamsburg situations along with many others like Westgate.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Originally posted by timeos2
                    Doug - What you say has merit and if DRI remains as the management they will need to raise fees and get the resorts back in shape. But the bigger problem is that DRI (the Developer) remains as the management not because they are the best choice but due to the ongoing control they (Sunterra before them) hold of the BOD. That should have been in owners hands years ago and then a real review of fees, management and resort conditions would have taken place. Not with the eye to sales but the needs of the resort and owners. Not to say DRI Management would have been removed - maybe they are the right group - but they would have had to compete with other, fully qualified management companies and the best one put in charge.

                    It is the combination of poor management, bad policies on fees, the focus on sales, inbred control and more that makes the whole thing hard to swallow. When the same group under a new name says the problems where largely from the old group (who had blamed the previous and also inbred group before them) yet under the covers it has been the same operation all along it is hard to think things will really change no matter how much money is thrown at it. There is no trust there nor should there be based on over a decade of history of things just getting worse.

                    You don't have to look far to find resorts all over the country who did turn control over to the owners. Almost without exception you'll find they are better run, with owner involvment, have proper fees and good management in place. At most you'll find better communication and responsive Boards vs the secretive and isolated company run resorts. If owners don't like what is going on they get the chance to vote them out. Thats whats really missing in the DRI Williamsburg situations along with many others like Westgate.
                    You're not going to find me in disagreement with you that owners, not management, should have control. Unfortunately not enough owners have ever banded together to take control. Instead all they've done is complain.

                    DRI hasn't done such a great job with Polo Towers over the last 3 or 4 years. For that matter they assessed a small SA several years back (legionella scare) without the required vote of owners. Then they took forever getting the tennis court removed and family water park put in (also part of that SA). They pre-sold units on the 17th and 18th floors of tower 1 (old sales offices) and called them Skyview units. Completion of those units was a couple of years AFTER the promised complition date. To top in all off there are questionable activities with voting and ballots. Ballots arive to late to vote and are returned to one of the candidates (DRI employee, owner and president of the BOD/HOA).

                    So while I am hopefull, like you I remain skeptical. Unfortunately I'm not in any position where I could do anything other than cast my ballot when it's time to vote.
                    Our timeshare and other photo's at http://dougp26364.smugmug.com/

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Received my bill today for Flamingo Beach in St Maarten. I own 1 week (week 6) of a 2BR lock-out in the Villas.

                      Last year: $749.00
                      This year: $882.00

                      That's a $133 increase or 17.75%

                      Always the same thing when you call them and inquire about the fees. Refurbishing of the units, swimming pool, tennis courts, outdoor furniture, beach chairs, yadda yadda yadda.

                      How can we stop the insanity?

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        In some way talk it up among the owners and see about owners having a vote on how money is spent. There are owners here that have mentioned that they have that right and I think all resorts should be run that way. I have always thought that owners do not have a say in how things are run at resorts. Some resorts will increase fees just because they know they can.
                        If fees are increased I would want to know WHY, see some cost figures for repairs to compare before awarding a contract to the first guy that comes along with a bid. My concern is that resorts spend monies very reckless because they know the owners will just have to pay. My bigest question would be, tell me what am I going to get NOW for this increase that I was NOT getting before!
                        There was mention in another post of a $500.00 mirror when maybe a $100.00 mirror would do. Why spend the money for the sake of spending money. Just look on your EOY statement and see how much dept there is due to owners that do not pay and ask what is being done to correct it so your costs are at the lowest. Go after that!
                        By reading other posts I get the feeling that owners are happy to pay the increases without any questions. If one is rich and doesn't care about the real costs of goods and what could have been spent, then I guess that is all right with them.
                        One of the big sales features way back when was that maint. fees were so low that no first class motels could keep costs low to compete. With some maint. fees at $1,000.00 a year plus SA's and other fees I think t/s are loosing ground. With all the discounts out there for quality motels one would have to think twice. I see nothing wrong with saving money and keeping costs down.

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