This will negatively impact existing owners. I havent read the TUG forum yet. My opinion comes from my own first impression after reviewing the program last night.

Marriott will now maintain its own internal inventory for owners on the point program, decreasing the availability for those on the traditional week system. This can and will occur on ALL deposits, not just point deposits.

For example, I just deposited my Orlando week last night. Traditionally, the week would automatically go to Interval International for exchange and Marriott owners had first crack at it for 60 days.

With the new system, Marriott has no incentive to give it to Interval. They will maintain it and use it for inventory for their points system, excluding traditional owners who trade with Interval from using it.

Not only is there an up front cost with the new point system, the value that they are assigning to weeks is reduces the opportunity for people who own the less expensive resorts. I have four Marriott weeks that I have successfully traded to Hawaii every year for the last 10 years. They are offering me for my 1950 points for my Orlando Cypress Harbour property. When I searched how many points Maui and Kauai cost, they ranged from 4500 to 6800 points. Therefore, it would cost me two to three weeks for one week in Hawaii.

My Streamside Vail Colorado weeks are only worth 950 and my Hilton Head is worth 450 points!!! I just traded the same Hilton Head property for Kauai for this August. Under the new point system, one week in Kauai would cost me 15 years of Hilton Head weeks.

Now tell me it doesnt effect current owners.

I guess the system would benefit any owners who own Kauai or Maui. They can probably get 20 weeks in Branson for one of their Hawaii weeks.