So... you are willing to wager? LOL
OR... perhaps reason could be that they protected (supplemented) the Flex MFs as was observed with deeded units for SVO/VSE Resorts early in the Sales period, and now catching up.
Regardless- I would be shocked to see this % increase (6.5-7%) for WKORV/N, WPORV, or WKV (my Resorts that have Westin Flex association).
Perhaps for WSJ since MFs have been relatively flat since 2012, and now dealing with H.Irma aftermath costs.
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If we compare similar resorts between Marriott and Vistana, we will notice in many cases that Marriott has a heavier Replacement Reserve;
Arizona
Canyon Villas at Desert Ridge (2BR LO)
2019 Property Tax Fee $35.20
2019 Replacement Reserve $386.98
2019 Operating Fee $1,035.65
Westin Kierland Villas 2BR LO
2019 Operating Assessment $1,203.22
2019 Replacement Reserves $300.00
2019 Estimated Real Estate Tax $62.09
Orlando
Marriott's Grande Vista 2BR - Platinum Season
2019 Operating Fee $850.18
2019 Replacement Reserve $342.93
2019 Property Tax Fee $163.59
Sheraton Vistana Villages - Bella 2BR - Prime Season
2019 Operating Assessment $739.86
2019 Replacement Reserves $253.19
2019 Estimated Real Estate Tax $134.07
Desert Springs CA
Marriott's Desert Springs Villas II
2019 Master Operating $68.41
2019 Master Reserve $46.98
2019 Operating Fee $854.22
2019 Replacement Reserve $466.68
Sheraton Desert Oasis 2BR LO
2019 Operating Assessment $1133.39
2019 Replacement Reserves $339.29
These numbers are from the MF threads for each system. As you can see, Marriott properties set aside significantly more reserves that Vistana. Do Vistana properties cost less to renovate every 5 and 10 years than Marriott? Is Marriott wasting owner's money or buying better quality goods? We don't really know without digging in to all the details. However it would seem that if Vistana increased the reserves to match those at similar Marriott properties, you would have increases in the overall MFs as follows;
5.97% - Westin Kierland Villas 2BR LO
6.61% - Sheraton Vistana Villages - Bella 2BR - Prime Season
8.86% - Sheraton Desert Oasis 2BR LO
I am sure we could compare them at all locations where they both have properties and see consistent results.
Of course the actual specific cause of the increase in the fees won't be known until after the board meetings and for most after we get our MF bills. Will it be attributed to the Replacement Reserve fee? Perhaps or perhaps not. But given the increases reported for Westin Aventuras and Westin Flex, we know it is attributed to the MFs of the underlying deeds. For Westin Flex, perhaps that could be attributed to Nanea being added. For Westin Aventuras, there are two new properties added. We will just have to wait and see.
However, I would expect that MVW will push the boards to bring their reserves up to par because there is a big disparity between the reserve fee at properties in the same area.