At what point do I give up?

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

Hi Mark
I placed a request in May for an exchange to Banff for August/September of 2007. How realistic is this request? My husband and I want to go to Banff, and we're just not ready to give up this location.

The automated "Vacation Request Status" email I received from SFX advised that I contact Ramona. However, when I sent Ramona an email message, it came back as undeliverable. Is Ramona no longer an employee of SFX?

Thanks

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

I went on vacation for a week, and came back expecting to find an answer to my question. How disappointing.


I'm bumping to the top for an answer. Mark, this happened last time I asked about Banff - it got ignored.

Mark, can you comment on my question.
Thanks!

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

I went on vacation for a week, and came back expecting to find an answer to my question. How disappointing.


I'm bumping to the top for an answer. Mark, this happened last time I asked about Banff - it got ignored.

Mark, can you comment on my question.
Thanks!

Hi Lanalee - I did respond to your post on 12-4, but for some reason it didn't post.

When I perused a couple of directories, all I could see was just "one timeshare resort in Banff". (Just one).

There are two premium demanded seasons for that area, ski season and Summer. You are requesting premium Summer demand, in a prime demand location when all the kids are out of school, one resort and Owners have first pick of reservations.... obviously I cannot tell you the odds are good. In fact no one can, as demand is much higher than availability.

Although you have kindly selected a window of time instead of a specific week, still all the other factors are overwhelmingly against the possibilities.

My recommendation is to keep Banff in search mode, and add alternative locations as a plan B. If there were several resorts in Banff, then the odds would increase, but that is not the case.

Hope this insight helps...

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

Thanks Mark. You said I'm requesting a premium summer demand. Does that include September? I really didn't expect to get August. But I thought for sure that there would be availability in September when the kids are back in school. The last communication I had with SFX, I was told there were three timeshares in Banff, not one. In fact, I was specifically told that there was "...only one actually in Banff, one in Canmore and one at Harvey Heights." Now you tell me there is only one. What happened to the other two?

If my request was so unreasonable, I wish I had been told sooner. In fact, I was told that deposits are made a year in advance and that I should "hang in there" until after September of this year for next year's deposits. I didn't want to put in another request because then that request would have been filled instead of Banff.

Your post is very direct and honest, shooting down any hope that my request will ever be filled. I just honestly wish I had been told this sooner so I could make other arrangements. It sounds like my best course of action now is to withdraw my Banff request altogether, find another place to exchange with SFX, and exchange in to Banff using another exchange company.

Thanks anyway. I appreciate your answer.

By the way, I mentioned my last communication with SFX (specifically Ramona) came back as undeliverable. Who is the person who is handling the Canadian requests now?

[I-DE-HO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close I-DE-HO]

According to SFX's directory at http://www.sfx-resorts.com/directory.html they don't accept deposits from ANY resort in, or near, Banff. Maybe they don't meet SFX's high standards. Of course, as Mark has said before, this directory is not 100% complete/accurate. They do take very popular weeks at 'standard' resorts (such as President's Week at a 'standard' ski resort).

I've seen quite a few warm weather weeks in the Banff area with RCI over the years. In fact, I exchanged into Banff two summers ago with RCI (Aug.).

Phil

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

Lanalee

I live in Calgary and Mark is right about there being only one timeshare in Banff however Canmore is only about 10 miles from Banff and Harvey Heights is on the other side of the highway from Canmore so about the same distance. There are several timeshares in Canmore but maybe not GC or 5* resorts so that could be the problem.

Lynn

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

I also live in Calgary (hi Lynn) and there are at least four 5* or Gold Crown resorts in Canmore - Grand Canadian, Elkhorn at the Lodges, Banff Gate Mountain Lodge and Spa, Elkhorn at Falcon Crest and maybe Windtower. Blackstone Mountain Lodge is under construction but it should be open well before next Aug/Sept. There is also the Lodge at Kananaskis and Hotel Kananaskis that are close to Canmore but they do not have kitchens.

September availability should not be impossible.


Dial an Exchange has frequent availability at Banff Rocky Mountain Resort.

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

I have an exchange for a two bedroom for next July at Sunset Resorts in Canmore through II. When I confirmed the exchange, I had a choice of several summer weeks...including August. I think you would have better luck with II. However, it's a bit too late now for 2007...so you may need to try for 2008.

Steve

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Thanks Mark. You said I'm requesting a premium summer demand. Does that include September? I really didn't expect to get August. But I thought for sure that there would be availability in September when the kids are back in school. The last communication I had with SFX, I was told there were three timeshares in Banff, not one. In fact, I was specifically told that there was "...only one actually in Banff, one in Canmore and one at Harvey Heights." Now you tell me there is only one. What happened to the other two?

If my request was so unreasonable, I wish I had been told sooner. In fact, I was told that deposits are made a year in advance and that I should "hang in there" until after September of this year for next year's deposits. I didn't want to put in another request because then that request would have been filled instead of Banff.

Your post is very direct and honest, shooting down any hope that my request will ever be filled. I just honestly wish I had been told this sooner so I could make other arrangements. It sounds like my best course of action now is to withdraw my Banff request altogether, find another place to exchange with SFX, and exchange in to Banff using another exchange company.

Thanks anyway. I appreciate your answer.

By the way, I mentioned my last communication with SFX (specifically Ramona) came back as undeliverable. Who is the person who is handling the Canadian requests now?

Lanalee - I am sorry if I gave you the impression of no hope... that is not the case, there is always hope and possibilities of the space becoming available. But you need to face up to the fact there is only "one" resort in Banff and you are requesting high-season !! Yes, even September is high season, as there is huge demand by folks who are empty-nesters. September in certain areas has huge demand from people who's kids are grown and they don't want to travel with the Summer crowds which typically involves lots of young kids running around.

Canmore is a different area to Banff, and it was not what you had requested. I strongly recommend keeping the Banff request and add Canmore as an acceptable location, that will increase the possibilities.

Requesting Banff with another exchange company does not necessarily increase your odds of being confirmed into Banff. We are networked, and other exchange companies at this time have not matched the request either. It's not an SFX issue, it's an availability issue. There is still only "one resort", Owners have first priority on reservations and then there is an extremely small amount of space left for exchangers... that's the reality.

Even if a request is deemed unreasonable, it is still our job to search and look for it, no matter how difficult it is.

It is still very early days, and no need to over-react at this time. It is around 8-9 months still in advance of your travel dates. There is still plenty of time for space to become available especially if you will accept Canmore as an alternative. If there are other areas in Canada that you would accept as an alternative, perhaps Vancouver... then I recommend adding those too.

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

I have an exchange for a two bedroom for next July at Sunset Resorts in Canmore through II. When I confirmed the exchange, I had a choice of several summer weeks...including August. I think you would have better luck with II. However, it's a bit too late now for 2007...so you may need to try for 2008.

Steve

Steve - Canmore was not requested. Banff was requested... a "different" location. We have suggested adding Canmore to the search as this can make a difference for results.

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

Lanalee - I am sorry if I gave you the impression of no hope... that is not the case, there is always hope and possibilities of the space becoming available. But you need to face up to the fact there is only "one" resort in Banff and you are requesting high-season !! Yes, even September is high season, as there is huge demand by folks who are empty-nesters. September in certain areas has huge demand from people who's kids are grown and they don't want to travel with the Summer crowds which typically involves lots of young kids running around.

Canmore is a different area to Banff, and it was not what you had requested. I strongly recommend keeping the Banff request and add Canmore as an acceptable location, that will increase the possibilities.

Requesting Banff with another exchange company does not necessarily increase your odds of being confirmed into Banff. We are networked, and other exchange companies at this time have not matched the request either. It's not an SFX issue, it's an availability issue. There is still only "one resort", Owners have first priority on reservations and then there is an extremely small amount of space left for exchangers... that's the reality.

Even if a request is deemed unreasonable, it is still our job to search and look for it, no matter how difficult it is.

It is still very early days, and no need to over-react at this time. It is around 8-9 months still in advance of your travel dates. There is still plenty of time for space to become available especially if you will accept Canmore as an alternative. If there are other areas in Canada that you would accept as an alternative, perhaps Vancouver... then I recommend adding those too.

Mark
I am very confused. Back in May, I posted this thread because I wanted clarification about the resorts in Banff:
http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...ighlight=Banff

You responded to my question in a private message and I shared your response in that thread. I still have the private message you sent me, and you specifically said:

"Unfortunately Banff only has 3 timeshare resorts. Only one actually in Banff, one in Canmore and one at Harvey Heights."

Based on your response, I was under the impression my request included the three timeshares. Now you're telling me that I needed to specifically ask for Canmore and Harvey Heights? How am I supposed to know that? I am not familiar with Banff and when I submitted my request, the choice was "Canada/Banff". There is no "Canada/Canmore". Does this mean I have missed any Canmore matches that might have occurred because I didn't specifally request it? Again, how am I supposed to know about Canmore and Harvey Heights if I've never been there and your directory doesn't mention it? Why wasn't it suggested to me back in May to request Canmore? And again, have I missed a Canmore exchange because I didn't specifically request it?

Also, I live in Seattle and have been to Vancouver and Whistler many times. I have never been to Banff. We're not being unreasonable. We simply want to go to Banff. Whether through an exchange, or some other means. For now, I'll leave my request "as is" and hope you can find a match. Meanwhile, I'll do my best to look elsewhere.

Right now, when I look at the list of areas to request, I still only see "Canada/Banff". If a request is made to "Canada/Banff" will you only match it to the ONE resort in Banff and not match to Canmore and Harvey Heights if a resort becomes available? Can you please clarify what "Canada/Banff" includes?

And if I add Canmore now, will my request "start over"?

Thanks again, I appreciate your response.

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Mark
I am very confused. Back in May, I posted this thread because I wanted clarification about the resorts in Banff:
http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...ighlight=Banff

You responded to my question in a private message and I shared your response in that thread. I still have the private message you sent me, and you specifically said:

"Unfortunately Banff only has 3 timeshare resorts. Only one actually in Banff, one in Canmore and one at Harvey Heights."

Based on your response, I was under the impression my request included the three timeshares. Now you're telling me that I needed to specifically ask for Canmore and Harvey Heights? How am I supposed to know that? I am not familiar with Banff and when I submitted my request, the choice was "Canada/Banff". There is no "Canada/Canmore". Does this mean I have missed any Canmore matches that might have occurred because I didn't specifally request it? Again, how am I supposed to know about Canmore and Harvey Heights if I've never been there and your directory doesn't mention it? Why wasn't it suggested to me back in May to request Canmore? And again, have I missed a Canmore exchange because I didn't specifically request it?

Also, I live in Seattle and have been to Vancouver and Whistler many times. I have never been to Banff. We're not being unreasonable. We simply want to go to Banff. Whether through an exchange, or some other means. For now, I'll leave my request "as is" and hope you can find a match. Meanwhile, I'll do my best to look elsewhere.

Right now, when I look at the list of areas to request, I still only see "Canada/Banff". If a request is made to "Canada/Banff" will you only match it to the ONE resort in Banff and not match to Canmore and Harvey Heights if a resort becomes available? Can you please clarify what "Canada/Banff" includes?

And if I add Canmore now, will my request "start over"?

Thanks again, I appreciate your response.

Yolanda - thank you for your reply. I did some research with our IT department. In the event you request a location that is very popular, and it only has minimal space (like Banff), the search process will target the specific area you requested, but if there are no results within a certain time frame, then it automatically expands the search to include alternative close-matches. So although Canmore wasn't specifically requested, it will be included in the search at a certain point. If space is located, it would be offered to you as a "close-match", to which you may accept or decline the offer.

I don't believe you have missed a Canmore match, as we hardly get any requests from our Members for that location. Allow the process to work... as stated earlier, it is still around 8-9 months ahead of time, and much can positively happen.

Yolanda, any further questions regarding your transaction should be sent as a private message as it divulges details of your travel plans which are private.