O.R.E. – OWNERS’ RESORTS and EXCHANGE
Article submitted by:
John Collister
WHERE DID IT ALL START:
The
following is taken from O.R.E. web site www.ore-inc.com
. It is a brief history, but you can
find more information by going to their web site and clicking on the link at
the bottom of the history page.
Owners' Resorts and Exchange, Inc. (
Currently,
RESORTS: (RCI and/or II codes listed next to resort)
THE
M.R.O.P. (Multi-Resort Ownership Plan)
MROP is one of the associations
Here is how it works:
1. Owner receives from
2. Around the end of April each participant
is mailed a scheduling packet, which includes the request form, and the
3. Members have two ways to submit their choice: first, by filling out the forms and mailing
them in, going on-line and completing the form.
4. You can select as many resorts and dates as you want
to exchange into for that year, but they must be in the color range of your
week/resort. Red = high demand - White = medium demand and Blue = low demand. Thus a while week cannot request a red
week. The more week choices you
enter, the better your chances of receiving one of your desired destinations.
5. All participants in the ORE Annual Scheduling Process
who receive a week that was requested will be assigned the STANDARD UNIT in
each resort even though they may have submitted a larger or special unit.
6. Those whose requests can be filled are notified by
mail with a confirmation letter. Members
whose requests could not be filled receive a by pass notification and thus can
exchange their week in the
7. SPECIAL
NOTE:
O.R.E. EXCHANGE
(
The O.R.E. exchange contains
weeks that are deposited from M.R.O.P. participants or M.R.O.P. by-passers, and
other resorts that do not participate in the M.R.O.P. but are part of the
exchange system. The following are
important ideas to understand about the exchange:
·
Once
you submit a week it is unconditionally given to the exchange regardless of any
request being fulfilled for you.
·
You
have until December 31ast of the following year to pick an exchange week.
·
When
you receive an exchange it is for the standard unit (minimum capacity) within a
resort, unless all standard units are taken.
This is true regardless of size or location of unit deposited with the
exchange.
·
The
earlier a unit is banked in the exchange the greater is the priority given to
special requests.
·
Requests
for certain units, larger units, or special units require submitting a Special
Unit Request.
·
Long Term Requests may
be made by mail, e-mail, and fax or over the telephone. A credit card is
necessary at the time of request but not charged until a request is
fulfilled. Requests can be made for a
particular area, noting weeks and locations desired within that region.
·
Short Notice
Requests may be made by mail, fax or over
the telephone. Using a week of any
color these requests can be made 28 days prior (
·
Split
Week Option allows
exchanges to divide usage into two parts, a
3-night weekend portion and a 4-night mid-week portion. Only one weekend can be
used for the split. These exchanges are
based on availability at participating resorts.
Vacation Services Department sells the split
week option.
·
The exchange fee
is currently $67.00 per week.
BONUS TIME
Bonus Time is available to all
1. Continental
2. A
three-night minimum is required within any given week.
3. Operates on a first come, first served basis.
4. Costs
equal the $67 processing fee plus $25 per night ($30 for
5. If you need to cancel, be aware the processing fee is non-refundable, but the nightly cost is if cancelled at least 3 days prior to arrival.
6. No show, then no refund.
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:
·
Many of the resorts are condominiums that do
not always have the amenities or activities associated with timeshare
resorts. This does not mean that they
are substandard, but just that you must read the available amenities and be
clear about what they do offer.
·
O.R.E. counselors are easy to work with and
answer gracefully the most ridiculous questions.
·
Understanding and utilizing the exchange
system is extremely vital if you exchange often.
·
O.R.E. has managed to keep the maintenance fee
down while more than adequately keeping the facilities maintained.