Dear Kpaul,
Thank you for your comments...
Deeded owners and Points owners are all equally important to DRI. Maintenance fees were brought inline to make certain that every reosrt was financially self sufficient. A fact that many do not wish to acknowledge.
I speak to many deeded owners who enjoy their membership and know how to maximize it use. I'm sorry you have not met with the same enjoyment.
I do offer assistance to many and enjoy the opportunity. If you require further assistance then you can email me at;
patrick.duffy@diamondresort.com
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Diamond Resorts International
I've given you this chance and now I have 4 simple worded paragraphs that you should be able to answer in "detail".
DRI has completely ruined the "deeded weeks ownership" program that was in place when many of us purchased timeshares. DRI has increased the dues to amounts that no longer make it affordable to keep. Who benefits when we own these units outright? DRI does because these owners are forced to "give away" or get foreclosed on due to the simple fact the DRI escalated the management fees on these resorts from the years prior that Sunterra who was able to manage at reasonable costs. I am also a developer so I do know the importance of better management but the increase is ridiculous. I own 4 units, all deeded and they were worth $80, 000 easily on the resale market when Diamond took ownership. Now that the fees are ridiculous, the value of these units are declining tremendously. My timeshares have dropped in value to $28, 000 in the short time DRI took over. WHY?
As a general comment, maintenance fee increases were primarily due to the rising cost of owning and maintaining property in Hawaii. As you know, the cost of living in Hawaii is extremely high—the highest in the country—taxes, utilities and insurance are very expensive. Price increases for goods and services are driven by supply and demand in addition to inflation. Another reason costs are so high is because nearly everything used on the island must be shipped to the island. Freight charges are included in the price of items such as food, linens, furniture, vehicles, cleaning supplies, pens and paper. You should also know that Ka’anapali has been heavily subsidized in over the years by Sunterra and by DRI—$2.5 million in 2007, more than $500, 000 in 2008, $1.7 million in 2009 and $1.1 million in 2010.
As a developer, you are undoubtedly aware of the erosion of property values since the real estate bubble burst in 2007. As real property, timeshare resale value is subject to many of the same economic factors as residential and commercial properties. Resale value is based on how much another person is willing to pay for the property and today, that’s below resale values three years ago for almost every single timeshare worldwide. The fact that your timeshare has dropped in value since 2007 (when DRI acquired Sunterra) has less to do with any actions taken by DRI than with the economic climate and the basic premise of value.
Weeks owners do have the availability of booking last minute vacations at a discount, and many of them rent these unit far below market value. This has a major affect on the weeks owners. Some of the units have been reserved of inventory for points owners and made not available to deeded owners until a later date. WHY?
The presence of Diamond Resorts Hawaii Collection (points owners) does not impact the ability of traditional deeded owners to secure a reservation at Ka’anapali. Inventory is divided into “buckets.” Traditional owners like you have their own bucket, Hawaii Collection members have their own bucket and Diamond itself has a bucket of inventory it owns that is uses for rentals, marketing tours, etc. As a traditional owner, you will always have the rights to your bucket of inventory until it is exhausted. The same is true for the Hawaii Collection—its members cannot reach into your inventory bucket and use those weeks.
Did some things get better? Yes, our dues were raised $500 over two years x 50 weeks equals $25, 000 per unit. For that we get a flat screen, an ipod hook-up and other upgrades that don't total up to $10, 000 combined. The $25, 000 annual increase is a joke.
There is no way you can put $10K in improvements in each one of the units every year.
If you really believe that, itemize what you have done to these units the past 3 years and what we will get for $25, 000 this year. There is a common misperception among timeshare owners in general regarding where the maintenance fees go.
There are not $10, oo0 in additional funds collected annually for any one unit. The funds are used to cover the resort’s day-to-day operating expenses for the all of the units, grounds and all common areas and the staffing and other expenses necessary to deliver services to the owners, maintain the property inside and out, and provide for reserves to build up cash to cover planned and unexpected replacements and repairs. Regarding improvements over the past couple of years, in additional to the items you have listed above, funds were used to replace the elevators, refurbish the pool and purchase new pool furniture, and outfit the rooms with new mattresses, linens and small appliances, to name a few items. New A/C chillers and phone system are also planned.
Please provide the "total" management fees paid the prior two years before DRI took over and provide the "total" management fees for the past three years since DRI has been in control. Yes we do have these numbers but they are more readily accessible by you.
The management fees are: 2006 - $868, 500; 2007 - $886, 900; 2008 - $964, 800; 2009 - $2, 336, 700; and 2010 - $2, 833, 900. The management fee had been static for many years and was significantly below the industry standard rate. The VOA had been paying a flat $36 per interval fee and the AOAO a flat fee of $40 per unit per month. The management agreement was renegotiated with the board of directors to a more common percentage of maintenance fees basis. In the 2009 billing, increased management fees started being phased in and they will top out in 2011. To help with the increase in fees, Diamond contributed $1.7 million in the 2009 billing and $1.1 million in the 2010 billing. Also, don’t forget the subsidies mentioned above: $2.5 million in 2007, more than $500, 000 in 2008, $1.7 million in 2009 and $1.1 million in 2010. So, in essence, very little in total management fees have been paid to DRI over the last three years.
Last but not least, you told Bugz2 that DRI did not purchase "any" resorts. Is this true? Yes.
Does DRI own KBC?
No. Whomever possesses a deed owns a part of the resort. KBC is owned by a combination of traditional owners (like you, Kpaul5257), DRI (which holds deeds), and the Hawaii Collection (which holds deeds). If Kpaul5257 wants more information, the ownership breakdown at KBC is approximately 64% traditional owners, 28% Hawaii Collection and 8% DRI
Hope this is of assistance to you Kpaul5257
Patrick Duffy
Dear Rodriguez Family,
Permit us the opportunity to assist. No one who is reading this can solve this issue except you, me and my staff. Please contact me at;
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
It will be a pleasure to both clarify, assist and accomodate you.
Patrick C Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Dear Mrs. Bell,
Thank you for this request for information. We will action this ASAP and be back with you to verify your concerns, and correct as necessary and required.
Patrick C. Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Dear Paul_SJ...
If I can help to expedite your cancel, please permit me the opportunity. Sometimes these products are not suited to everybody. That is why we provide cancellation periods for each purchaser.
With 450, 000 owners and members, there will always be a percentage of users that are not comfortable. We're happy to accomodate you.
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
Dear Paul_SJ...
If I can help to expedite your cancel, please permit me the opportunity. Sometimes these products are not suited to everybody. That is why we provide cancellation periods for each purchaser.
With 450, 000 owners and members, there will always be a percentage of users that are not comfortable. We're happy to accomodate you.
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
Dear Catalina K,
Thank you for this candid perspective regarding your presentation. I apologize if it did not answer the questions you had, but please feel free to reach-out to myself and staff at a time that is convenient to you at:
patrick.duffy@diamondresort.com
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Diamond Resorts International
Thank you Ms. Bell...
A complete forencic audit was completed on your account on June 9, 2010. The findings;
1) • The address in Atlas on Ms. Mary B. Bell’s account was changed to the P.O. Box address indicated in her e-mail below in October of 2009 however, the address
history does not indicate that the address on 1469482 was ever the same as similar named account.
2) • Now Ms. Mary Beatrice Bell is claiming to have made payments that were misapplied to another account for the last three years yet we have not received proof of payment as requested from MBB and/or Mr. Phillip Bell on Dec 11, 2009/ Feb 23, 2010/ Mar 4, 2010
3)• There is no record of Ms. Mary Beatrice Bell attempting to contact us regarding her account between 2004 and December 11, 2009?
4)• The account balance for 1469482 was $5, 035.45 when the property went to auction on June 2, 2010. It was foreclosed on and the property has been transferred
We advised Mr. Phillip Bell via email on June 3, 2010 that I was having the account audited, I emailed him on June 9, 2010 to advise him I was ready to discuss the account and requested a time to call him. He has not responded and as such I am closing ticket number [protected]. When/if he responds I will advise him of the account status
Thank you for the opportunity to speak to your account clarification.
Yours cordially,
Patrick C. Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Gush,
Thank you for your post, information and experience. Please feel free to contact me to assist you in the usgae and multiple benefits your memberhip has associted with it.
Yours truly,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
Mr/Mrs Not Happy...
Why don't you reach out to me...You seem to be so full of mis-information. You never get an invoice every year? Hmmmm...Really? But you seem to know about it?
Email me like I write...so I can help you get your invoice...If you have not gotten it already.
Yours respectfully,
Patrick Duffy
Gail,
Please email me with your contact information...It is more of our interest to have satisfied, knowledgeable customers.
Yours truly,
Patrick Duffy
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
Ms. Caldwell,
How many points do you own now as compared to 1999? Your management fee is based on points and disclosed to you (with your signature) at every junction?
We are not thieves, you did get your billing...right?
Why don't you call me so I can research the alleged issue. I would be happy to.
Thank you,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Diamond Resorts International
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
[protected]
Lady,
I sleep well at night...don't you concern yourself with that...Now, what is the point of your message?
Let me explain something to you;
If DRI did not decide to acquire and run these resorts correctly...You, and all the other uninformed owners and members whould be crying about losing your timeshare. Everyone, including DRI pays to own. Your maintenace fees pay salary, utilities, upkeep, etc.
Do you think since your purchase in 2000 prices have declined in Hawaii?
If you have a cogent question/inquiry my contact information is as such;
Patrick Duffy
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
[protected]
Ms. fourtimesamomma,
Let me explain something to you;
If DRI did not decide to acquire and run these resorts correctly...You, and all the other uninformed owners and members whould be crying about losing your timeshare. Everyone, including DRI pays to own. Your maintenace fees pay salary, utilities, upkeep, etc.
Do you think since your purchase in 2000 prices have declined in Hawaii?
If you have a cogent question/inquiry my contact information is as such;
Patrick Duffy
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
[protected]
Ms. fourtimesamomma,
I may have asssisted her...Now what is your question? I assist many people, do you need assistaance?
Patrick Duffy
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
[protected]
DaisyS...
We have over 450, 000 owners and members. Did you think/read that perhaps emailing me might be of some help? My name and contact information is listed on 4 posts on this page alone?
Yes, you do have a recission period. This is a Real Estate transaction.
If I can help you, I'm very happy to.
Patrick Duffy
Daisy S,
I'm here...As much as I would enjoy hearing from you. I have not received any communication outside of this forum...
Sorry, but I await your communication at;
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com or call me at [protected]
Thank you,
Patrick
CCLun,
This is a very few to the 500, 000 owners and members that enjoy their memberships annually. If we/I can help or assist you, please feel free to reach me at;
patrick.duffy@diamondresort.com
Thank you,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Diamond Resorts International
Each and every one of you have your certain situation/position or experience to share, In the end, after you hit "enter", I'll bet no one from this forum actually reaches out to help you.
So, you just write into a "GREAT BLACK HOLE"...What ashame.
If you need some real help, not buyers remorse after reading these posts, then reach out to me and I would be happy to assist.
Sincerely,
Patrick C. Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
We are sorry that this small number of dissatisfied comments had such and influence on you. Instead of the 450, 000 that use the membership with great satisfaction that you should also be aware of also...
No matter what we are always here to assist you or help you in your transaction and or thought process.
Best regards,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Diamond Resorts International
Dear DBATS,
I guarantee you, no one can help you on this forum...Except me! My email is right above your message.
Maybe if you get to see your message in print, you'll see.
What resort...We manage a resort in Palm Springs? But we do not sell any timeshares at that resort?
Who and where did you call? If this is of real importance to you, it would be best to email or call me at;
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com or [protected]
Thank you,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Diamond Resorts International
Dear Halaine G...
Firstly, thank you for your confidence in Diamond Resorts International. I have every assurance your Sampler will give you what you expected and more...Enjoy it to the fullest.
Of course, if I may be of any assistance please permit me the opportunity.
Yours cordially,
Patrick Duffy
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
Dear Ms. Sero,
Thank you for your message. We appreciate the opportunity to assist you. When you return home, please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Also, just contact me this week if you would, as I am personally aware of your situation and would like to speak with you. At your convenience of course.
Yours cordially,
Patrick
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
Maybe if you could be a little more specific with me at;
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
Then you could be better informed of the fact vs your perception.
Give it a try? You won't have anyone else answer you with better assistance.
Best regards,
Patrick Duffy
Chief Experience Officer
Diamond Resorts International
You will need to email me your contact information at;
patrick.duffy@diamondresorts.com
Thank you,
Patrick
