Well, This is a Fine Kettle of Fish - Festiva takes over Escape! Resorts

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

As you well know, wisely changes.

What was right 20 years ago, 15 years ago, 5 years ago, for anyone, any time, may not make sense now, or hence.

Today's advice being divied out by today's ex-spirts is not what was being divied out by the ex-spirts of those times.

Today's criticism by today's ex-spirts is being divied out with the benefit of hindsight, but with the same lack of foresight.

A living in the moment mentality.

The one certainty appears to be that whatever you buy whenever you buy it will not be what you need or want at some point hence.
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Here, for instance, is where someone is in that trying to buy wisely process asking questions about Escapes! and getting answers from people we all knew/know and respect. & there is not even a hint of a suggestion that not long later Escapes! would be toast.

[url]http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14839[/url
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As for our other resort, those weeks came about because of the TUG Trading Power Tests of 1999, the only way available at the time to get quantitative proof of what you were buying. The weeks we own were at the top spot in every TUG Trading Power Test after that.
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So, FTR, after buying wrong, ten years later I did the best job available at the time to correct those mistakes, and buy wisely.

Top of the Trading Power Tests. Quiet title weeks from the Association. As wise as a person could buy.

And 14 years later, those are not the best choices any more.

But . . . no exit strategy.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Here's someone saying what I'm saying, M/L:

tonyg

TUG Member
Posts: 6990
From: East Canaan, CT -- Own at:Royal Mayan, Seapointer
Registered: DEC 2000
posted 06-13-2001 19:51
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's hot now, might not be tomorrow. If you asked the question 2 years ago-many would have said "Blue Whale". Things change, spots get hot, spots get cold. Buy somewhere you want to go if it trades well. You may not need the best trader in the world to go where you want. If there's no availability it doesn't matter how strong your trade power is.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Yes, but you have to know when to hold them and have an exit strategy. I sold the resorts mentioned above and bought somewhere where I convinced them to offer an exit strategy.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Like I said . . . sounds great in hindsight.

I don't sense others on this forum following your example.

Like I said . . . living in the moment, as if what is right now always will be.

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

Like I said . . . sounds great in hindsight.

I don't sense others on this forum following your example.

Like I said . . . living in the moment, as if what is right now always will be.

Nobody has a crystal ball. Well maybe some do.

You worry way too much about this stuff.
Why? You already have your little house.

Just give these puppies back to the resorts.
What are they going to do? Ruin you in your old age?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

It's been 10 months since I discovered Escapes! was kaput, when I went to our account online to pay our 2013 fees. I have still not had one question answered after numerous inquiries to our board, via the hired help and email. I've heard numerous takes from other owners, some saying they are still doing Escapes! trades through Festiva, and others telling me deeded owners are not part of Festiva.

A possibility is that those who "upgraded" to Escapes! Points are now with Festiva and those who dd not, who just own the original deeded weeks, are not with Festiva.

I did find out an interesting fact today in meeting with the group I hope will be buying a couple of our weeks. They have a list of transfer fees from their closing company, and Festiva's Transfer Fee is $1750!!!!!!!!!!

As of now, I have agreed to transfer our weeks to them for "free", us paying at least a $350 transfer fee and at least $650 for 2014 fees, for each week.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Without a reply from whoever is in charge of StoneBridge Village Condominiums, I suppose I can rely on a preponderance of evidence as to whether it is now a Festiva resort. Here is a list of those, and it's not on there:

http://www.festiva-tamarack.com/inde...pitality-group
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Here's another list:

Branson, MO
Stormy Point Village
Cabins at Green Mountain
Thousand Hills

http://www.festiva.travel/midwest_resorts.php
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So, I've sent Festiva an email asking if StoneBridge Village Condominiums is a Festiva resort.

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

When Festiva takes over a resort the old owners don't become Festiva members. They just own a deed at a resort managed by Festiva. Festiva will move unsold inventory into their system and will vote as a block to stack the HOA with Festiva employees. They will hire a 3rd party marketing firm (like outfield) to pressure current owners to pay a high fee to convert to Festiva points by threatening high future assessments and MF's and a dwindling supply of exchanges if you don't "upgrade." Any traditional privileges that had been given to owners will be taken away unless they are specifically written into the original deed or CC &R's.

Peppertree is an example of a minisystem taken over by Festiva. I think they have deeded owners and Peppertree points owners and now Festiva points owners. Both points systems still operate but the old system lost the ability to exchange into any unsold or HOA owned inventory. Also every time an owner defaults or upgrades to Festiva another week would be lost to the old points members, so the system while still existing slowly shrinks.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

When Festiva takes over a resort the old owners don't become Festiva members. They just own a deed at a resort managed by Festiva. Festiva will move unsold inventory into their system and will vote as a block to stack the HOA with Festiva employees. They will hire a 3rd party marketing firm (like outfield) to pressure current owners to pay a high fee to convert to Festiva points by threatening high future assessments and MF's and a dwindling supply of exchanges if you don't "upgrade." Any traditional privileges that had been given to owners will be taken away unless they are specifically written into the original deed or CC &R's.

Peppertree is an example of a minisystem taken over by Festiva. I think they have deeded owners and Peppertree points owners and now Festiva points owners. Both points systems still operate but the old system lost the ability to exchange into any unsold or HOA owned inventory. Also every time an owner defaults or upgrades to Festiva another week would be lost to the old points members, so the system while still existing slowly shrinks.

What I was trying to say is that there is no indication anywhere that StoneBridge Village Condominums, fka Escapes! to StoneBridge Village, in any of its incarnations, is affiliated with Festiva, or managed by Festiva, or anything related to Festiva, except that I know that Festiva is emailing to owners, and somehow conducting business with them.

If anyone can find anything showing an affiliation or relationship, feel free to post a link.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Here's the latest email from Festiva:

Dear Escapes member,

As was previously communicated, several of the Escapes! properties as well as the Escapes! Travel Choices (ETC) club have been acquired by Festiva Development Group (Festiva) and are now being managed by Festiva affiliate Patton Hospitality Management (PHM). We would like to take this time to follow up and answer a few questions that our Member Services team has encountered since we initially welcomed Escapes! members and owners.

First, we have merged the owner account information from the computer system used by Cooper Communities into the system used for all of our owners. You may now register your account at our secure online members-only portal: www.festiva.travel/members. Once registered, you can check account balances, view upcoming reservation information and more.

Please follow the instructions below:

Visit www.festiva.travel/members and choose Need to Register in the login box on the right side of the page. Then use the Owner ID and Validation Key listed at the top of this email to register your account online. Please enter the email address you wish to be associated with your Escapes! account and create a password.
Please take note of your new Owner ID at the top of this letter, as it will help us to quickly locate your account when you contact us via phone or online.
We have included the mailing address and telephone number that we have on file for you. If this needs to be updated, please let us know, or you may update it once you have logged in to your online account.
Additionally, many members have inquired about reservations at the 25 resorts under management by PHM. If you are interested in making reservations at one of these resorts within the Festiva network and managed by PHM, external exchanges are possible through RTX or you may book discounted rentals through our affiliate www.VacationCondos.com. RTX can be reached at (888) 988-4789 or online at www.RTX.travel and Vacation Condos is available through the website above or by calling (855) 826-6361.

We hope this email finds you well and we look forward to hearing from you regarding these changes and new opportunities.

Escapes Member Services
521 College Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(800) 266-7374 or (888) 382-4386
escapes@festiva.travel

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

This is the answer to an email I sent to Festiva. This arrived, May 1. I could not open the attached letter.

We have attached the letter that was sent out to Escapes owners. The Escapes website is not active currently. All Escapes owners are in the process of being transferred into the Festiva website. Once this is complete you will receive information on how to register your account online and be able to have access online. If and when you are looking to book a reservation you can send in an email request or contact the corporate office at 888-382-4386.

Thank you,

Member Services
Festiva Hospitality Group

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

https://www.uslandrecords.com/molr/controller?officeid=1&name=FESTIVA
Not sure if this link will work. But I looked up the online deed records for Stone county and searched both Festiva and Escapes from 12/1/2012 to present. Festiva had 120 entries including this one from May 2013.

Detail Results Preview:
Number File Date Inst. Date
201300007243 5/2/2013 09:46:00AM 1/22/2013
Type Volume Page
(ASG DEV RGT) 000000 0000
Series Name
ESCAPES INC
FESTIVA DEVELOPMENT GROUP LLC

I assume it stands for assigns developer rights from Escapes Inc to Festiva developement group. This site won't show you the entire record but when you are in Stone County I am sure you can do some snoopin' in the deed office.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

https://www.uslandrecords.com/molr/controller?officeid=1&name=FESTIVA
Not sure if this link will work. But I looked up the online deed records for Stone county and searched both Festiva and Escapes from 12/1/2012 to present. Festiva had 120 entries including this one from May 2013.



I assume it stands for assigns developer rights from Escapes Inc to Festiva developement group. This site won't show you the entire record but when you are in Stone County I am sure you can do some snoopin' in the deed office.

That one's Branson Yacht Club, aka Escapes! to Branson Yacht Club. I don't see anything comparable for any of the sections in StoneBridge Village.

Cool site, though. On some you can open a preview of the document by clicking on the magnifying glass, and you can open all the documents with the right stuff, or membership.

"When you have a subscription, you will be able to search and view any documents that have been recorded at the county offices."

I found the two of ours I am trying to give away.

Plus a lot of other stuff we have done!

And some stuff that will be helpful in another matter.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Someone appearing to be in mangement at the resort called, finally, 10 months after I first asked for answers.

As to why we don't have an owners' manual, or anything explaining how owners do the things they need to do, her answer was The Covenants and Restrictions.

We talked about a lot, and I think she really cares, and realizes there is cause for confusion among owners, but I don't believe I moved her to do anything about it.

FWIW, the transfer fee to another family member is $50, to a non-family member (and she said "like those resale companies") $350, and for those who actually are now governed by Festiva (whoever that is), $1750, but she can't comment on that because she's not Festiva.

I believe those that "upgraded" to Escapes! Vacation Club (EVC), which was much-heralded as one the best less than ten years ago, appear to be under Festiva's auspices now.

But who knows?

Almost like trying to deal with an attorney.

Nah, not that bad.



I also stopped by the place that has agreed to take two of our weeks there, free, with us paying the transfer fee and 2014 fees, and that deal still is on, but has not been put into writing, yet.

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

I also stopped by the place that has agreed to take two of our weeks there, free, with us paying the transfer fee and 2014 fees, and that deal still is on, but has not been put into writing, yet.

Hope this works out for you.