Starwood Vacation Network Program offering complimentary enrollment in in SVN

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Starwood Vacation Network Program offering complimentary enrollment in in SVN.

I own at Villas of Cave Creek in AZ. Now they are offering this program for free in the first year.

I am not sure if it is worth it but study it I must.

Join SVN Today


comments?

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

What if I don't take advantage of this charter membership offer? Can I join the Starwood Vacation Networksm program at a later date?

Owners who purchased their Unit Weeks directly from Starwood Vacation Ownership can join the Starwood Vacation Network program after the limited-time membership offer expires. However, payment of the standard enrollment fee, which is currently $599 per Unit Week, is required for those who join the Starwood Vacation Network program after October 1, 2009.

* Please note: Owners who purchased their Unit Weeks from independent resale sources ("resale units") and not directly from Starwood Vacation Ownership are eligible to enroll their resale unit into the Starwood Vacation Network program if the purchase was completed by December 31, 2007 and a copy of the recorded warranty deed was provided to Starwood Vacation Ownership by March 31, 2008. Resale units may only be enrolled during the limited-time enrollment period, which ends on October 1, 2009. After this date, the offer is void and Owners will no longer be eligible to enroll any resale unit into the Starwood Vacation Network program.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

So now I need to figure out what I can get with 67,100 StarOptions.

What is my Unit Week worth in StarOptions?
Sheraton Vistana Resort Falls and Springs

Weeks StarOptions Value
1-52 76,000


Villas of Cave Creek

Weeks StarOptions Value
1-52 67,100


* Please note: StarOptions values may be subject to change.


So now I need to figure out what I can get with 67,100 StarOptions.

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

Limitations on using Options.

While I like all of the Starwood properties I have exchanged into, their points system is not nearly as flexible as HGVC. I am probobly just spoiled by HGVC but I would likely go for this offer if I could easily borrow points from next year or push points foward to next year to combine two years points into one. It seems very likely that no matter what I do I will probobly end up with orphen points each year.

I could see using this for 2 or 3 day trip to Phoenix or Palm Springs. Any comments on availability at these locations within the 90 day period? Unit size availibility? 2 bedroom or 1 bedroom?

Can you search online or do you have to call to find availablity? If I wanted to go to Keirland from Jan 1-4 2010. I is this no way you'll get this. Maybe. Yes likely?

Lots of unknowns here?

Short

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

One downside that I can think of is that once you're a member of SVN, Starwood has the right to choose the week that gets deposited into II, if you want to exchange out of SVN. They are suppose to give you a week from your season, but from what I've heard, that does not always happen. I've even heard that it's possible to get a week from different resort, altogether. Not sure if that's true, or not, but you will not get the week of your choosing.

SVN bulk banks, and will give you a week that has already been deposited, opposed to you choosing the week within your season.....Not currently being a member, I have always been able to call SVO, and get the exact week that I want, then I deposit it myself into II. I don't believe that will be possible, once a member of SVN. However, CC does not have the lock-off option, so that would not apply to you.

It's a good deal, and would be a help in a resale, as well.....I'm a little spoiled, tho. I'm accustomed to locking off my unit, and getting two great weeks. I would not be able to get 2 comparable weeks using SVN.

PS....I didn't receive this offer, unless I accidentally deleted it. Was this offer sent to all SVO retail buyers, or just CC because it was not part of SVN ?

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Angie it appears to be targeted at VCC and SVR Falls & Springs. Those are the only two that are compared at the web site. I got a direct mailing from SVO and it referred to the web link I posted.

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

Angie it appears to be targeted at VCC and SVR Falls & Springs. Those are the only two that are compared at the web site. I got a direct mailing from SVO and it referred to the web link I posted.

OK, thanks, that what I figured.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

OK, thanks, that what I figured.

Yes, this is a 'new' invite for resorts that are not currently in SVN - our resale resort is already a SVN resort.

You need 148,000 star options to reserve a 2BR at any of the new properties in high season ....Hawaii, Westin St John, Westin Kerland, Harborside at Atlantis ....so it is quite pricey for you.

If u are not locked into school vacations - it makes economic sense to keep out of SVN and contunue getting the great Starwood preference with II.

Many savvy SVN developer owners saw the trend for the invite and purchased at the Vistanna Orlando resorts - those people who already have Staroptions found a cheap way to add more SO to their portfolio.....but remember that the staroptions do not transfer with resale (edit - they do transfer bt only if u own one of the 5 mandatory resorts in the correct phase) so they are really only useful to you!

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Has anyone done this? It is not worth it for me. How does the new problems with II and SVN factor into this?

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Well today is the last day to join for free......maybe I should join since now it seems we are unable to deposit the week we want anyway....so I am ripped off if I want a week outside of SVN but the whole reason I got VCC was for SVN....it is all too up in the air to really make a good decision.

Should I join or not?


Dear JOHN,


Request enrollment online in
three easy steps.

1. Click here
2. Click "Request Enrollment"
3. Complete the secure online form and click "Submit"

You'll receive your enrollment documents via email within two business days of requesting enrollment.

After you review the documents, complete your enrollment online in one quick step by submitting your electronic signature. To learn more, call 888 619 2988.

You have just three more days to join the Starwood Vacation Network program without paying the standard enrollment fee and 2009 membership fee—a combined $708 value. This exclusive offer ends October 1, 2009.* Be aware that Owners who acquired their weeks through a third party resale vendor will no longer be eligible to enroll in the Starwood Vacation Network program after this date.

As a Starwood Vacation Network member, you will enjoy special perks and privileges, including:
Priority reservations at your Home Resort
Access to 20 diverse Starwood Vacation Network resorts without paying exchange fee
Automatic Gold Preferred status in the Starwood Preferred Guest® program
The flexibility to convert your week** into Starpoints®, which can be redeemed for free nights at more than 890 Starwood hotels and resorts worldwide with absolutely no blackout dates
Access to the Signature EscapesSM program, connecting you with world-class travel providers
Corporate membership with Interval International®, which is included in the Starwood Vacation Network annual membership (an $89* value) and gives you access to more than 2,200 villa-style vacation resorts in 75 countries
Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership.

Remember, this exclusive offer ends on October 1, 2009, so don’t delay. Visit starwoodvacationownership.com/joinsvn and request your enrollment materials today. You may also contact Owner Services toll free at 888.619.2988 Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time..

Sincerely,

Suzanne Clark
Vice President, Owner Services

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

If the terms allow you to later withdraw, I'd give it a shot.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Wow.....my VCC 2BR week will convert 67,100 star options and convert for $99 to 22,000 star points.....what a friggin joke. 22k starpoints will get me a cat 6 hotel night...one night....maybe.....for about $1000 a night.....sheesh.

But considering that I cannot choose my II deposit week now and my II Starwood priority may be messed with I may as well do it....plus I can get out of SVN if I don't like it....so here we go.....what the hay.

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

Passed on SVN

I chose to pass on SVN membership for the following reasons.

1. 67,100 will not get me a 2 bedroom in HI through SVN while I can still get one using II.

2. It does not allow the you to move extra points easily to book more expensive points based size units. You can borrow from next year but only within 90 days. I don't have enough experience to determine if there would be much availability.

3. If I want to go to Mission Hills or Kierland(I would normally go between May and December and never in high season. II usually has some selection of one bedrooms or even other very nice resorts for stays. I can obtain these using a much less expensive trader without a Westin priority.

4. so fare the Gold plus week they gave me in II appears to have adaquate trading power and a Westin priority for anything I am likely to want to trade into. This is still a work in progress so I might change my mind on this one.

Short

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

I will now have two separate II accounts...one corporate one that is included with the SVN membership and my personal one that has my VCC deposit for 2009. I plan to put my 2010 week into the new II account.....so it will be interesting to see how they stack up against each other.

I agree with your analysis....I figure it was worth looking at and testing considering the new starwood developments.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Ok...so I call SVN to confirm my membership is all in order...supposedly it is...and I ask them about my new II corporate account they are setting up for me. They gave me my existing II account number which is already paid for until next year. I call to find out what is going on and about all the restrictions against other resorts being on my corporate II account (I have another resort listed) and if they are going to extend my membership out beyond the year already paid for....and they have no answers....they are confused and giving out contradictory information.

I will call II and try to get some answers.