Forum - A Bravenet.com Forum

Mavovich

Aug 11, 07 - 9:19 AM

Is there an answer to the availability problem?

One of the reasons for complaints over availability is undoubtedly caused by people wanting prime time apartments in periods like school holidays and then failing to book far enough in advance in order to achieve this. This said even if we educate people to be more disciplined the problem will still be there as demand severely outstrips inventory at these times.
Another reason must also be the lack of "family" accommodation during school holidays with very few 2 and 3 bed apartments being available anyway, so putting further strain on availability and causing disappointment and complaints on an annual basis.
I do know that many couples, who are say retired or can take holidays at times other than school holidays, do in fact stay clear of the resorts at peak times, in order to give families a better chance of finding a holiday. Studios and one beds are thus not as oversubscribed during these periods.
So why cannot say some studios and one beds or one beds x 2 be turned into "lockoffs" then opened up at this time thereby creating more family accommodation when it is needed most. A secondary plus to this idea would be that if more family accommodation were to be made available when it was needed most then the younger generation with growing families would not only be encouraged to join timeshare points systems but would also be encouraged to take on a larger points holding as they would then be able to use the points more effectively.

Simoncc

Aug 11th, 2007 - 9:22 AM

Re: Is there an answer to the availability problem?

What surprises me is that many families will happily accept a 1 bed unit, or even a single hotel room, when booking traditional holidays.

I don't know if it is true that availability of smaller units is better during high season but I personally would accept a 1 bed if that was all that is available at the time I need to go - fortunately I've not been in that position yet.

I've not personally stayed in a lock-off type unit but have read several reviews that have suggested that noise from next door is more audiable as a result. If this is true then I wouldn't want to buy such a unit purely to benefit over parties that may benefit when I'm not there. If you owned and used both sides of the lock off then that of course is a different matter.

Carolinian

Aug 11th, 2007 - 9:24 AM

Re: Is there an answer to the availability problem?

In a recent survey by Sunterra it was found that from the 9000 responses that 73% had internet access and 66% of the members wished to spend more time with their families.
What does this mean within the context of this thread?
Ever greater internet access is being acquired not just by weeks owners and points owners but also by prospective new members to timeshare who have the ability to do internet research on the many timeshare sites before they purchase. It is essential that these potential new members are not frightened off by the availability issues. How can it be done?-- Solve the issues -- or fail, it is as simple as that. They wish to spend more time with their families? Availability of family accommodation again rears it`s head. More family apartments are required. What can be done? Lock offs are a possibility but will inevitably create other problems. Will the new problems be greater or lesser that the current problems with family holidays on the points systems in the school holidays?
Can the newly created problems be dealt with effectively by short term renting or leasing of pieces of inventory at "guest resorts", which is one tactic that Sunterra have employed over the last 12 months? Against this short term fix may be the point that in the long term it has a negative effect on the situation ie., finances which could have been used for resort purchases on freehold resorts are diverted into leasehold acquisitions, resulting in a downturn or stagnation of fixed assets. Perhaps a combination of the two is the best solution for now, until the industry adjusts to the changing situation that access to information on the internet has created.

Pepper

Aug 11th, 2007 - 9:25 AM

Re: Is there an answer to the availability problem?

Another problem with summer season is that many owners during those periods bought to use and therefore never deposit for exchange. A few years ago I looked at and analyzed the usage records at a resort on the North Carolina Outer Banks. From December through early June, about 30% of weeks were deposited for exchange. From late August to late November, it was about 20%, and for early June through late August, it was only 10%. Thus during the period when there is the most demand, there are also the fewest exchange deposits. According to others who had looked at similar records at other resorts on the Outer Banks, the results there were generally similar.

Author	Comment
Mavovich Aug 11, 07 - 9:19 AM	Is there an answer to the availability problem? One of the reasons for complaints over availability is undoubtedly caused by people wanting prime time apartments in periods like school holidays and then failing to book far enough in advance in order to achieve this. This said even if we educate people to be more disciplined the problem will still be there as demand severely outstrips inventory at these times. Another reason must also be the lack of "family" accommodation during school holidays with very few 2 and 3 bed apartments being available anyway, so putting further strain on availability and causing disappointment and complaints on an annual basis. I do know that many couples, who are say retired or can take holidays at times other than school holidays, do in fact stay clear of the resorts at peak times, in order to give families a better chance of finding a holiday. Studios and one beds are thus not as oversubscribed during these periods. So why cannot say some studios and one beds or one beds x 2 be turned into "lockoffs" then opened up at this time thereby creating more family accommodation when it is needed most. A secondary plus to this idea would be that if more family accommodation were to be made available when it was needed most then the younger generation with growing families would not only be encouraged to join timeshare points systems but would also be encouraged to take on a larger points holding as they would then be able to use the points more effectively.
Simoncc Aug 11th, 2007 - 9:22 AM	Re: Is there an answer to the availability problem? What surprises me is that many families will happily accept a 1 bed unit, or even a single hotel room, when booking traditional holidays. I don't know if it is true that availability of smaller units is better during high season but I personally would accept a 1 bed if that was all that is available at the time I need to go - fortunately I've not been in that position yet. I've not personally stayed in a lock-off type unit but have read several reviews that have suggested that noise from next door is more audiable as a result. If this is true then I wouldn't want to buy such a unit purely to benefit over parties that may benefit when I'm not there. If you owned and used both sides of the lock off then that of course is a different matter.
Carolinian Aug 11th, 2007 - 9:24 AM	Re: Is there an answer to the availability problem? In a recent survey by Sunterra it was found that from the 9000 responses that 73% had internet access and 66% of the members wished to spend more time with their families. What does this mean within the context of this thread? Ever greater internet access is being acquired not just by weeks owners and points owners but also by prospective new members to timeshare who have the ability to do internet research on the many timeshare sites before they purchase. It is essential that these potential new members are not frightened off by the availability issues. How can it be done?-- Solve the issues -- or fail, it is as simple as that. They wish to spend more time with their families? Availability of family accommodation again rears it`s head. More family apartments are required. What can be done? Lock offs are a possibility but will inevitably create other problems. Will the new problems be greater or lesser that the current problems with family holidays on the points systems in the school holidays? Can the newly created problems be dealt with effectively by short term renting or leasing of pieces of inventory at "guest resorts", which is one tactic that Sunterra have employed over the last 12 months? Against this short term fix may be the point that in the long term it has a negative effect on the situation ie., finances which could have been used for resort purchases on freehold resorts are diverted into leasehold acquisitions, resulting in a downturn or stagnation of fixed assets. Perhaps a combination of the two is the best solution for now, until the industry adjusts to the changing situation that access to information on the internet has created.
Pepper Aug 11th, 2007 - 9:25 AM	Re: Is there an answer to the availability problem? Another problem with summer season is that many owners during those periods bought to use and therefore never deposit for exchange. A few years ago I looked at and analyzed the usage records at a resort on the North Carolina Outer Banks. From December through early June, about 30% of weeks were deposited for exchange. From late August to late November, it was about 20%, and for early June through late August, it was only 10%. Thus during the period when there is the most demand, there are also the fewest exchange deposits. According to others who had looked at similar records at other resorts on the Outer Banks, the results there were generally similar.