Club Director Update-Have You Booked the Right Unit Size?

Do you know why room capacities are so important to confirm at the time of reservation?

Each unit type has very clear guidelines for room occupancies, which are set to ensure your safety, comfort and the efficient management of the hotel. Your reservation agent can assist you in making sure your booked unit type adequately accommodates the total number of guests in your party. Here is the maximum occupancy allowed for each room configuration:

-Studio: 2 adults and 2 children under 12 years old

-1 Bedroom: 4 people

-2 Bedroom: 6 people

-3 Bedroom: 8 people

When you arrive at the resort, it’s important to us that your room is ready. The last thing you want after a long and tiring day of traveling is to arrive, and then, because of confusion as to the size of your group, not have a room available. Who wants to be stuck in the lobby waiting to see if the hotel can accommodate you, when you could be in your room with your shoes off, blending your first batch of margaritas!?

We want you to start your vacation off the right way. Therefore, we can’t stress enough how important it is to be accurate with the number of guests in your group at the time of reservation. Please be sure to call back if the total number of guests changes, so we can adjust your reservation if necessary, and make sure that the hotel is holding the correct size unit for you. See you soon!

2015 Annual Member Social

Pull on your leg warmers, tease up your hair, it’s an 80’s Theme Party – be there or be square! We are excited about our “totally awesome” upcoming events and hope you will be too. All members are invited to attend this great event. Your resort team of executives and managers will present the latest updates and you will also have opportunities to meet one-on-one with representatives to have your personal questions answered. PLUS you can visit with old friends and new at several fabulous social and fundraising events with delicious food and entertainment. Don’t miss it!

All events will be held at the Villa Del Palmar Flamingos in Nuevo Vallarta, October 27-28, 2015.

1-The Member Social is free to all members, but advanced registration is required in order to monitor the capacity in the conference center. In order to attend the events, members must register online to attend.

2- Each membership is limited 2 (two) person(s) complimentary for your first membership account only, regardless of how many points/weeks you own.

Please register for the event FIRST. We generally sell out of member inventory by October; however, we have rooms set aside for the event so that all members attending the Member Social are guaranteed space. The reservation agent needs your Member Social confirmation to complete your reservation.To book your room call 800-852-4755.

REGISTRATION FOR THE ANNUAL MEMBER SOCIAL IS FULL.

Click here for Schedule of Events.

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT THE UVC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION:

The UVC Board of Directors of election will be moved to a separate business-only meeting in September in Las Vegas, Nevada. There will be no social events at this 2 hour meeting; the only agenda items will be the Board election and a brief Treasurer’s Report. Therefore, we will no longer be holding the voting in October. We will be sending separate mailing information about this business-only meeting, which will include your ballots. Do not plan to bring your ballot to October event as no election will be held. All members will receive a copy of the Treasurer’s Report with the annual maintenance fee bill.

Please direct inquiries to ashleyj@myuvci.com.

Multi-Million Dollar Renovation – Dramatic New Look for Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta

If you thought you loved VDP Puerto Vallarta before, get ready to fall head over heels!  At the Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta, our expert designers, builders and architects have been hard at work completely reinventing this property.  The resorts new look boasts vivid colors and elaborate textures, and it will delight you with its unique twist on traditional Mexican charm.  The hotel has always been a favorite among members and guests due to its stunning beachfront property, heartwarming hospitality and convenient proximity to historic downtown Puerto Vallarta.  Now, with its trendy new style, there is even more to love at the Villa del Palmar – these exciting renovations and improvements will enhance your vacation experience like never before!

Exterior:

• Your amazing first impression of the resort begins when you enter the property and immediately notice a dramatic, wider front entrance.
• As you drive up the sweeping entranceway to the crisp new motor lobby, your eyes will gaze upon flowing waterfalls, beautiful fountains, and lush landscaped gardens, setting a peaceful mood from the second you arrive.
• The expansion and redistribution of the parking areas allow for more convenience and create an enticing feeling of open space and relaxation.
• Beautiful enhancements to the resort’s two free-form swimming pools include pool decks and surfaces resurfaced with a gorgeous high-tech pebble texture, which makes the water’s reflections even more dazzling.

Interior:

• Open the door and come inside – immediately you will feel at home in your modern Mexican Villa.
• All 511 rooms and suites of Villa del Palmar have been upgraded with new furniture and décor. The units have been revamped and restyled by Karoll Gonzalez, a visionary designer whose work has included award-winning 5-star properties.
• Inspired by Mexican pop culture as well as icons like Frida Kahlo, the décor of the suites is contemporary and trendy, yet comfortable. It’s a vibrant and bold look that embraces the charm and culture of Mexico in a whole new way.

Fall in love with Mexico all over again.  Come back to your home away from home and see your old friend with fresh eyes.  You have never experienced Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta like this!

Member Advisory Committee Update

The Member Advisory Committee is charged with providing feedback to the Board and Management, and they have identified two ongoing challenges that detract from the comfort of all members’ vacation experiences. We ask please that all members keep these policies in mind when you are vacationing at any of our beautiful resorts.

LOUNGE CHAIRS: Lounge chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis ONLY.  There is no saving chairs for later.   We have found this is the most fair policy, as every member and guest has worked hard to earn this precious vacation time, and everyone deserves an equal chance to enjoy a relaxing day at the pool.  Chairs are monitored, and unattended items left on the chairs will be removed by the staff. We appreciate your cooperation, your courtesy and your patience with the pool concierge and security staff as it is their responsibility to enforce this policy.

NO-SMOKING. The resort units, pool area, restaurants, and lobby are non- smoking areas. There are designated smoking areas on each property.  Smoking on balconies is permitted if it does not bother your neighbors; if complaints are received you will be asked to refrain from smoking on the balcony and you will need to use the designated smoking area. Smoking in rooms will result in a fine of US $150 to cover cleaning and sanitizing costs.

2015 Annual Member Social

2015 ANNUAL MEMBER SOCIAL!  (Formerly the UVC Annual Meeting

Are you itching to get back to a time when everything was “totally” cool?  Well, pull on your leg warmers, tease up your hair, it’s an 80’s Theme Party – be there or be square!   We are excited about our “totally awesome” upcoming events and hope you will be too.

All members are invited to attend this great event.  Your resort team of executives and managers will present the latest updates and you will also have opportunities to meet one-on-one with representatives to have your personal questions answered. PLUS you can visit with old friends and new at several fabulous social and fundraising events with delicious food and entertainment.   Don’t miss it!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

MONDAY OCTOBER 26  

10:00 am – 12:00 pm         Event Registration – Pick up your registration materials.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 27

8:30 am – 9:00 am              Event Registration – Pick up your registration materials.

9:00 am – 12:00 pm            Eagle’s Wings Foundation (EWF) Bus Tour – This charitable organization has donated millions of dollars to orphanages, homes for the elderly, education and other civic groups. Join other members to visit some of the facilities and see first-hand the dramatic difference your donations make to the needy men, women and children in Mexico.

10:00 am – 12:00 pm         Event Registration – Pick up your registration materials.

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm           Membership 101/Lunch – Learn the latest about your Club’s benefits and programs in an interactive, informal setting while enjoying a buffet style lunch.

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm              Event registration – Pick up your Pick up your registration materials.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm              Icebreaker Cocktail Party – Catch up with staff, embrace old friends and make new ones while you enjoy ice-breaker games, music, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm           EWF Fundraiser Event – This annual dinner party is the primary fundraiser for Eagle’s Wings and each year dozens of fabulous prizes are raffled and auctioned off at great prices. Trips, dinners, spa treatments, excursions and much more!

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28

9:00 am – 10:00 am            Continental Breakfast – Coffee and a light continental breakfast will be offered prior to the updates.

10:00 am – 11:30 am          Club and Villa Group Presentations   – A great overview of the programs and services your Clubs have to offer.  Open to all members.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm         Roundtables –  Sit down one-on-one for a personal discussion of your individual needs regarding member services, Referral, On Call, sales, exchange, and more.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm         Resort Q&A Session – Resort Q&A – Join the managers of each Villa Group destination to learn about the latest happenings at each of the resorts.

7:00 pm – 11:00 pm           “Don’t Stop Believin’!”  80’s themed dinner party, show and dancing.  Get ready to boogie down to all your funky favorites! Bring your platform shoes, your lone silver glove, your shoulder pads and your Don Johnson stubble.  Let loose at this great event finale!

Important Notice About the UVC Board of Directors Election :

The UVC Board of Directors of election will be moved to separate business-only meeting in September.  There will be no social events at this 2 hour business meeting; the only agenda items will be the election and a brief Treasurer’s report.  Therefore, we will no longer be holding the voting in October.  We will be sending separate mailing information about this business-only meeting which will include your ballots. Do not plan to bring your ballot to the October event as no election will be held. All members will receive a copy of the treasurers report with the annual maintenance fee.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:All events will be held at the Villa Del Palmar Flamingos in Nuevo Vallarta, October 27-28, 2015. The Member Social is free to all members, but advanced registration is required in order to monitor capacity in the conference center. In order to attend the events, members must register on-line. Each membership is limited 2 (two) person(s) complimentary for your first membership account only, regardless of how many points/weeks you own. Our priority is to allow members, and not guests of members, the opportunity to register for the meeting. IMPORTANT CHANGE IN RULES REGUARDING GUESTS!! We have consistently run into challenges with having adequate space for our members, so this year the policy has been changed. No guests will be allowed until all members have been registered.  We will allow members to register up to two weeks prior to the event.  All guests will be placed on a waiting list and we will begin to confirm guests two weeks prior to the meeting. We understand this may have an impact on your travel plans, but we must give priority to the members to attend the meeting that has been created for them and that is paid for through their maintenance fees. If there are any spots available for non-members we will allow a maximum of two guests on a first-come, first-served basis for a fee of $125 per person. The $125 guest fee covers the food and beverage and other expenses for the guests. Payment will be collected at time of confirmation Children who occupy their own seat are considered guests and will be charged $75 to attend the meeting. Please direct inquiries to ashleyj@myuvci.com.

DON’T FORGET YOUR ROOM! TO BOOK YOUR SPACE CONTACT MEMBER SERVICES 800-852-4755.

Please register for the event FIRST by clicking here.  We generally sell out of member inventory by October; however, we have rooms set aside for the event so that all members attending the Member Social are guaranteed space.  The reservation agent needs your Member Social confirmation to complete your room reservation.

Club Director Update – Winter 2015

Transparency and clear communication are top priorities for us.  Recently, we received some inquiries and we believe that by sharing them with you it will be helpful to all members.  We hope whenever you have questions you reach out to your Club Member Servicing representatives. Your feedback and interaction is what helps us become better and better, and allows us to provide more value to your membership.  Here are some examples of the questions we have received:

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Children’s Facilities – Do any of the facilities have children facilities? Do they ever plan on adding this to Flamingos?

There is no current plan to add on a playground area at Flamingos as the space is already very limited. This is true for the existing properties. However, the newer properties, such as those in Loreto and Cancun, are more spacious and have more flexibility in developing these types of areas.  Currently, all properties offer Kids Clubs and children’s programs and activities.  Please check with the Activities staff for schedule, games and age-appropriate toys while onsite.

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Guests – What is the money for the guest cert used for? Why the big increase? Why do I need one for a guest staying in a separate unit then me at the same time I am here? I can’t stay in 2 places at once.

Guest certificate fees are used to cover administrative costs.  These administrative costs are incurred because you, as the member, are not using the room in which your guest is staying. This would be the same even if you are at the resort and your guests are staying in a separate room. The fee has been the same for approximately 10 years.  Guest fees are a standard industry practice used by many other resorts as well as the exchange companies. 

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Day Passes – Can a guest registered at one resort visit and use facilities of another for the day?

Yes, day passes are available and granted based on availability at the specific resorts.  Please check with the Front Desk to ask for more information on the specifics of that resort’s day pass.

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Online Check In  – Can we please do “online” check in/check out to ease the time and pain of it all?

 We hope to be able to offer this great service next year. The technology is available within the industry and we are working with management and operations to understand how our current systems would interface with this type of program. There are technical and operational details to work out but it is a priority and one we continue to explore.

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Transportation – Vallarta – Why aren’t shuttles offered to take guests to Mega or Bucerias on a daily basis? Taxis are pretty expensive.

This is primarily a transportation union issue. The laws are such where individual resorts are not allowed to offer competing transportation services.  We have hope one day to be able to offer a solution, but for now we have to work within the system This issue is part of ongoing discussions regarding public transportation, public services, and the choices offered to visitors to Mexico. Some progress has been made and we look to see this improve in the future.

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Elite Benefits – Why do the elite amenities vary from resort to resort?

They should not vary from resort to resort. The resorts are tasked with fulfilling the program features as they are communicated to Elite members.  The Club Director has held a series of meetings regarding standardizing and maintaining the Elite benefits across all properties and it is a priority to follow up on this each time she visits Mexico.  We are working as a team with the resorts to ensure we have all of these benefits standardized.

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Spanish Only – I request all the information that is sent, is only in Spanish. I do not understand English and I have requested several times and have had no response satisfaction.

The majority of our members are English speaking and therefore materials are produced in English. However, if you receive communication from us and need something translated we will be happy to accommodate this request. We also print the welcome packages, newsletters, and miscellaneous member forms such as billing statements, in Spanish.

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Transfer Ownership/Resale – I don’t understand the procedure to transfer ownership. Is there a department/office where to register a unit for sale?

If you are just transferring ownership, it is an easy process. You can go online to download the form or request it from Member Services. The form is simple to complete. There is a one- time processing fee and you’re done.  If you are selling your week, it’s different.  We do not have a resale service. Unfortunately, there are a number of unethical companies out there that perpetrate different frauds and scams trying to convince you that they can sell your timeshare quickly.  These are not reputable companies and we do not we recommend any resale service at this time.

Club Director Update – Fall 2014

New Airport Shuttle Company in Cabo San Lucas

We have switched our airport shuttle company from CAPE Travel to Cabo Seasons. We have heard your feedback, and want to provide the best vacation experience possible. As such, we have created an agreement with Cabo Seasons to provide the shuttle transportation for our members and guests moving forward. The response from our members so far has been great. Cabo Seasons is consistent, reliable and safe which are all things that are important to us as your vacation club. We hope you will provide us with your feedback about Cabo Seasons next time you travel to Cabo San Lucas! Look for a sign with the logo below when you arrive at the airport and exit the doors to the transportation area outside.

Pools Pools Pools!

Have you visited our resorts lately and experienced the abundance of pools of all varieties for you to enjoy? At the Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta resorts, there is a pool for every mood. Whether you want to have fun and enjoy water aerobics and water polo, or you want to relax and sip on a cocktail while tanning, we have something for you. There are even pools specifically with your young ones in mind. Villa del Palmar prides itself on offering resorts that everyone in your family can enjoy, from 1 to 100 years old, you will never skip a beat.

The two newest Villa Group resorts, Villa del Palmar Cancun and Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loréto, were specially designed to accommodate larger pool and seating areas. Therefore, these two properties have space for an additional pool area reserved for Elite members.  If you are an Elite member, the pools at these two resorts are a great way to escape distractions while you relax and soak up the sun.

Get Connected with the Villa Group!

The Villa Group is proud to announce our new in-house internet service.   As we are now directly servicing the equipment, we are very excited to be able to offer more value to our Club members by offering *FREE* internet service. (Guests will be charged a nominal fee for the service.)   This has been a long time coming and we are pleased to present this to all our members.

However, in order to maintain adequate service levels and reasonable operating costs, it is necessary to establish device limits for the units.  This limitation is not meant to take away from the free service we are so pleased to offer; rather it is a critical measure we must employ to provide the quality of internet services you deserve.  The greater the number of devices utilizing the service, the greater the strain on bandwidth, and the greater the effects on overall speed and performance, especially for complex browsing such as streaming media or use of VoIP (voice over IP) systems.  We do not want to frustrate you with slower speeds or the necessity to charge.  The only way we can sustain offering the service for free is to carefully monitor the number of devices utilizing the system so that our costs of operation allows us to continue to provide these services in a fair manner.  Therefore we have set the following device limits per unit:

Studio: Up to 2 devices Free

One Bedroom: Up to 3 devices Free

Two Bedroom: Up to 4 devices free

Three Bedroom: Up to 6 devices free

We hope you appreciate our intentions with this rule and understand that the limits have been set to ensure that ALL members enjoy ‘staying connected’ while at the resorts. See you soon at a Villa Group property!

New Policy for Resale Scams

New Policy for Resale Scams

We are working closely with the federal and local law enforcement as well as ARDA (the American Resort Development Association) to put a stop to these occurrences which are, unfortunately, becoming more prevalent in our industry. ARDA has provided a helpful library of articles on this topic at http://www.arda.org/advisories. If you encounter any instances of scams, you may contact us with the details at memberservices@resortcom.com. We have recently learned that, unfortunately, per agency protocol, we are unable to file a claim on your behalf with any of the aforementioned agencies.  Claims must be initiated by the actual victim of the scam who will be able to provide the details to the authorities in a first-hand account.

Below are the steps you should take once you have reported the incident to us:

1.      Make a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Contact the Business Fraud Division by calling 1-877-382-43571-877-382-4357.

2.      Report your experience to the Attorney General’s Office in your home state. Contact information will vary by state. Please consult the internet or your local yellow pages.

3.      If you are provided with additional written materials from the scammer or receive additional telephone calls, please follow up with us by emailing the information to memberservices@resortcom.com and they will add additional details to your file.

4.      Report fraud to the American Resort Development Association (“ARDA”). Find contact phone numbers at http://www.arda.org/advisories.

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Communicating the Best We Can!

One of our primary goals this year is to enhance the content in our newsletters and the effectiveness of our communication.  We have heard from our members and have responded to your needs for a more user friendly and interactive format.

We have changed from a print based newsletter to an electronic one that is easily readable and accessible from any device including laptops, tablets and smart phones.  You will still receive the newsletter sent to you quarterly to your email, except now instead of downloading a PDF of the printed newsletter, you can just click the links right from the article previews, and be directed to our new blog! The great thing about this format, is you will be able to easily access previous articles by category, so you have one place to look for all of your member news! We are happy to be moving to a digital platform which will make it easier for us to deliver time sensitive information, and much easier for you to read it and leave comments with your feedback! Thank you so much for all of your valuable input over the years which allows us to implement these changes and more our organization forward into the digital age!