This is where our theories clash - because there is the option to in effect, enroll, the original Westing purchase(s) via buying FlexOptions and adding that to your portfolio (just like enrolled week owners at MVCI can also own DPs directly, and they can be combined to book), that is why I believe that the currency will be FlexOptions to DPs and vice versa; the original StarOptions will not be available to be used as currency, just like unenrolled MVCI weeks cannot be turned into DPs (and thus won't be available to be used as any "currency"). But so long as Vistana is pitching the FlexOptions and allowing folks to enroll their existing StarOptions into the program (without having to give up the deed), then those "enrolled" options should be available. That is why I doubt that MVCI will tell enrolled weeks owners that if they elect DPs they cannot use them as currency to exchange into Vistana. I know that at this point in time, points are points in the MVCI system, with the only exception being that elected DPs cannot thereafter be used to change into BonVoy points (because weeks owners have to do that directly, give up their week in exchange for BonVoy points, and not first elect DPs to thereafter then try and get BonVoy).
Hope that makes my comments clear.
I think the problem is that we each have different understandings of the relationship between the Flex programs and StarOptions. My understanding is more in line with that voiced by
@pchung6 and
@controller1.
1) Owners in the Flex programs have HomeOptions that can be used to book within their Flex resort groups from 12-8 months.
2) At the 8 month point, those Home Options can be used to book in the VSN network. Whether they officially convert to StarOptions or not seems to be semantics, the important thing is they can be used just like all other StarOptions to book in VSN.
This is from the FAQ in the Stickies in the Vistana Forum:
What are the differences between HomeOptions and StarOptions?
Frequently, people overcomplicate their understanding of HomeOptions by thinking of them as completely distinct from StarOptions. However, it is easiest to understand HomeOptions by thinking of them simply as a special type of StarOption, with the following single difference:
HomeOptions can also be used to make home resort reservations at Sheraton Flex resorts during the home resort preference period.
Note that the home resort preference period is 12 months to 8 months prior to arrival. For resale Sheraton Flex ownerships which have not been requalified, an owner can continue making home resort reservations 8 months or less prior to arrival. For other Sheraton Flex ownerships, reservations made 8 months or less prior to arrival would be SVN reservations.
Also the statement that just buying a Flex interest somehow "enrolls" someone's pre-existing week-based StarOptions into some program does not seem to accurately represent how I understand the system works. Yes, you can combine Flex points (HomeOptions, Flex Options, whatever you want to call them) with week-based StarOptions to book, just like an MVC owner that has an enrolled Destination Points can combine them with any Trust points they own, but owning in a Flex program doesn't "supercharge" your "legacy" StarOptions. You just have HomeOptions from your Flex program and also StarOptions from your week deed and can combine them to book in VSN at 8 months. In MVC it works exactly the same way - an owner can more-or-less seamlessly combine their Trust points and enrolled points to book reservations.
Maybe some of the expert Vistana owners like
@pchung6,
@CPNY, and
@controller1 can chime and clarify. What you are saying sounds a lot like what MVC sales reps have, for years, been trying to sell MVC enrolled owners on the false impression that buying MVC DC Trust points somehow "supercharges" enrolled DC Points. We've seen no evidence that they do, so maybe the Vistana sales reps you met with are adopting the MVC sales technique of "supercharged" points.
I think it could work in either of at least two ways:
1) Any cross-program exchange could be open only to Vistana Flex points or MVC Trust points (the products they are actively selling).
2) The cross-exchange could be opened to both Vistana StarOptions (both from Flex and from deeded weeks) and both Trust and enrolled MVC DC Points, but some sort of qualification will be required - either a one-time fee or possibly a new purchase of Flex or DC Trust points.
If I were betting, I would bet on Option #2, but if they want to try to use cross-program booking as an incentive to sell VSN Flex and MVC Trust points, they might choose Option #1.
We will eventually find out.