Aimfair Gathering

March 6, 2019

More than 80 participants joined the fun as Patrick O'Leary, who is the Training Director for Vida Vacations, presented updates and answered questions from the floor about the status of projects underway at a number of Grupo Vidanta properties. It was a chance for Aimfair members and some non-members to meet each other for the first time and become reacquainted with each other.



Following are copies of emails we received later, when we returned from our evening meal:

Dear Bob And Mary Ann
Thank you for the invitation to a most interesting meeting this afternoon. The topics were “spot on” with the large number of attendees. My wife and I received the answers to many of the things we talk about. This is a useful way to find changes to problems we see on the property. The AimFair is a great avenue to discuss them.
Thanks for the invitation, Our best regards, Alex and Sally

Bob and Mary Ann

Thank you again for organizing the recent meeting at the GL. I find this always and informative. Patrick O’Leary does such a wonderful job representing Vidanta.

Roger Condos owner since 2002

Thanks for a fun and informative meeting. Seemed like the biggie is always getting out the gate. Would be nice if they opened the gate by the grand Mayan, but gate on 16th hole has worked. It’s a 2 mile walk from Luxxe 2 to Eddies.
Would like to see a beach club like in Riv maya. We’ll see same for cruise liner.
Again thanks
Jack and Sharon

Vida Vacations generously hosted the event, which was a wonderful surprise for all of us. Thank you!

Following is a summary of the discussions that took place:

1. Topic: Leaving the property by foot -
   • The access and egress point is the Little Gate at the Nayar Course 17th hole tee box.
   • It was reported that the gate is now open around 9 AM and closes around 10 PM.
   • Safety issues are key reasons for the inconsistent open access to the outside through this gate.
   • Suggestion that was presented - provide access and egress through the Guard Gate at the Grand Mayan end of the property. Electronic recognition confirming whether the person entering or leaving the property could easily be integrated with coded wrist bands. The suggestion will be presented to Management.
   
   
   
2. Topic: Going South to travel North
   • Taxis and private vehicles leaving Vidanta's Nuevo Vallarta property and driving to northern destinations must first drive south and cross the Ameca River, use a dangerous turn around to exit on the left, pass between a car dealership and another retail structure and then try to merge into northbound traffic via an undeveloped, unpaved access point, traffic willing, and proceed north back across the Ameca River Bridge to your northbound destination.
   • Projects are underway that will remedy this issue sooner than the previously thought date that was related to the opening of the Park.
   • Stay tuned for official announcements and be ready to cheer!
   
   
   
3. Topic: Making Reservations - "I call at the first moment I can, I am put on hold for hours and then I am told there is no availability."
   • Issue #1 - Floor plan availability for a specific arrival date during popular weeks:
     • The small, finite number of units in certain floor plans reduces availability during weeks in high demand.
     • The small, finite number of units is further reduced to accommodate arrivals on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.
     • Answer - reservations for units that are in greater supply are more likely to be granted.
   • Issue #2 - Time spent on the telephone waiting for an agent to respond could be hours:
     • Calls for all resorts come in at the same time and overwhelm the system.
     • Answer - The Call Center is expanding. A new, expanded space will be opening soon. More agents will be hired. A new voice recognition system will be introduced to speed up the verification process. The goal: reduce the time it takes for an agent to access the system to determine availability at any specific moment. Long term, availability of different floor plans is expanding.
   • A suggestion from the floor: Introduce an automated system that asks the caller if he or she would like to receive a call back without losing his or her place in line.
     • This process would relieve the stress of having to wait for hours on the phone.
     • When the agent returns the call, the conversation can begin in a civil manner.
   
   
   
4. Topic: Room Assignments - How are room assignments made?
   • Rooms are assigned the week before guests' arrival dates.
   • Assignments are based upon a formula that includes factors such as levels of ownership, amount of investment, ownership history, owner preference, length of stay and other factors that may change over time.
   • The process is dynamic - allocations for each week are viewed based upon the circumstances that are presented at that time.
   • It is not easy to please everyone all the time, but staff seems to be doing a better job each year.
   
   
   
5. Topic: The Estates - What will the buildings look like and where will they be located?
   • Management is not willing to make any statements yet.
   • Interior designs are being considered.
   • Buildings are not likely to look like the one on the other side of the Ameca River in Jalisco.
   • One and two bedroom units are likely to be under the four bedroom units for many reasons.
   • Three bedroom units are the combination of one and two bedroom units.
   • If you want the most luxurious unit of all, buy the 4 BR Estates. It will be spacious, private, luxurious and have all the amenities that a high end, luxurious unit should have. This statement has appeared in officially sanctioned announcements.
     

     Credit - Grupo Vidanta
   
   
   
6. Topic: The Park
   • Cirque du Soliel is still a participant in the Park.
   • No Teenage Adrenaline rides to speak of. Rather, the Park is being designed to have more broad appeal.
   • We have seen this before. The Developer is focused on doing it right the first time. Consequently, plans change, and delays occur.
   • Opening? Maybe before 2022.
   
   
   
7. Topic: East Cape
   • Construction is under way.
     

     Credit - Aimfair Member - January 2019
     

     Credit - Grupo Vidanta - March 2019
     Three structures are under construction in the above photos.
   • What is not in the photos shown above is another structure that is on the southern boarder of the Vidanta property. It may open by the end of 2019.
   • Greg Norman and his team of golf course designers are working on the course design now.
   
   
   
8. Topic: Riviera Maya Water Park
   • There is a water park in Riviera Maya that is now under construction. You can view the latest news by tapping the following link: CN 2019 Feb 10 - Riviera Maya Water Park
   • Opening is planned for April. That may slide a bit, depending on a number of factors beyond everyone's control.
   • There has been no official statement or announcement about what the terms of use will be. Rumors are floating about, but nothing is official yet.
   
   
   
9. Topic: Vidanta Elegant - Vidanta Cruises
   • The newly refurbished ship called Vidanta Elegant is currently in Mazatlan to finish detailing the ship in preparation for its maiden voyage.
     

     Credit - Grupo Vidanta - March 2019
     

     Credit Aimfair Member January 2019
   • Itineraries may begin in September, 2019.
   • Vidanta Elegant will be the only ship with Puerto Vallarta as its home base.
   • The ship is reconfigured to become a "Mega Yacht".
   • Possible itineraries might include three or four day cruises along the Pacific Coast of Mexico, with stops in San Jose del Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco.
   
   
   
10. Topic: Nuevo Vallarta - Shops and Restaurants
    • Where: Across the lagoon from the Grand Bliss.
    • What: Shops and restaurants - similar to Salum in Riviera Maya.
    • When: Plans are being finalized.
    • Goal: Create a more centralized shopping experience for members in the Grand Mayan and Grand Bliss.
    
    
    
11. Topic: Pickleball
    • Pickleball is a growing sport and enjoyed by all ages.
    • Request that management stripe the tennis courts with Pickleball lines too.
    • Then the courts could be enjoyed by a larger number of guests.
    
    
    
12. Topic: Sales Representative
    • Find a representative that you like and can work with.
    • Allow the representative to act in your behalf.
    • Communicate with him when you are away from the resort to stay up with changes taking place on the properties.
    • He or she will become a valuable resource.

Thank you all for your participation. Thank you to Vida Vacatons for hosting the event and sharing Patrick with us. We look forward to our next event and discussing changes that have occurred since our last Gathering.

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