What is the difference between purchasing a Starwood timeshare resale (now Vistana Signature Experience) at a “Mandatory Resort” versus a “Voluntary Resort” and why is it important?
There are six “Mandatory Resorts” which participate in the StarOptions program which is also known as the Starwood Vacation Network or SVN. They are:
Westin Ka anapali Ocean Resorts Villas, Lahaina, Maui
Westin Ka anapali Ocean Resorts Villas North, Lahaina, Maui
Westin Kierland Villas, Scottsdale, Arizona
Westin St. John Villas (Hillside Phase), St. John, US Virgin Islands
Sheraton Vistana Villages (Bella and Key West Phases), Orlando, Florida
Harborside Resort at Atlantis (Phases I and II), Paradise Island, Bahamas
The most important factor about purchasing a timeshare resale in a “Mandatory Resort” is the owner is allowed to participate in the Starwood Vacation Network (SVN) and exchange into other Starwood Vacation properties.
Purchasing a timeshare resale in a Voluntary Resort will not allow the owner to participate in the Starwood Vacation Network (SVN).
Westin St. John Great Cruz Bay
If being able to exchange into other Starwood Vacation properties is NOT important to you, you might want to consider purchasing a Westin timeshare resale or Sheraton timeshare resale at one of the now 16 “Voluntary Resorts”:
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort, Princeville, Kauai
Westin Nanea Ocean Resort Villas, Maui, Hawaii – Scheduled to open in May 2017
Westin St. John Villas Bay Vista Villas, Coral Vista and Sunset Bay Villas, St. John, USVI
Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas & Spa, Cancun, Mexico
Westin Desert Willows Villas, Palm Desert, California
Westin Mission Hills Resort & Villas, Rancho Mirage, California
Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas, Avon, Colorado
Sheraton Mountain Vista, Avon, Colorado
Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Lakeside Terrace, Avon/Vail, Colorado
Sheraton Desert Oasis, Scottsdale, Arizona
Sheraton PGA Vacation Resort, Port St. Lucie, Florida
Sheraton Vistana Resort, Orlando, Florida
Sheraton Vistana Villages (Amelia and St. Augustine Phases), Orlando, Florida
Sheraton Broadway Plantation, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Villas of Cave Creek, Cave Creek, Arizona
NOTE:
Starwoodvacationnetwork.com has officially changed to vistana.com.
Vistana Signature Experiences is the name of the new company, (formerly Starwood Vacation Ownership) and is the exclusive provider of Westin and Sheraton vacation ownership through the Vistana Signature Network.
Syed Sarmad, Principal Broker for Advantage Vacation
