I think Marriott should just brand its all-inclusive properties (be they these properties, the previously announced ones or any future ones) as "All-in by Marriott." Why reinvent the wheel and confuse brands? And the idea that Autograph Collection is not a brand is absurd. Calling it a "collection" is marketing/advertising-speak.

Perhaps what's weirder is that Marriott puts Luxury Collection in the same "distinctive luxury" category of brands as Edition, Ritz-Carlton Reserve (not a Bonvoy-participating brand) and W Hotels. Missing from that category is Bulgari. I also don't understand how Marriott Vacation Club and Delta are in the same "classic premium" category of brands as Marriott and Sheraton. I have never stayed at a Delta property anywhere close to the best Marriott or Sheraton properties. I have stayed at numerous Four Points and Courtyard properties with more to offer than Delta properties. Delta strikes me as the North America equivalent of Protea.

Of course, even the listing of brands and categories of brands is misleading and inaccurate since there are sub-brands, like Sheraton Grand, the Marquis branded Marriott or JW Marriott properties, the all-suites Marriott properties, and the Westin or Sheraton timeshare properties that despite being called a Westin or Sheraton aren't actually a real Westin or Sheraton and don't provide full Bonvoy benefits.

The absurdity gets worse when Gaylord is placed into the "distinctive premium" category of brands alongside Le Meridien, Renaissance and Westin.

I would put Gaylord, Marriott Vacation Club, the Westin and Sheraton timeshares, and the new all-inclusive properties into the same brand category. For lack of a better term, call this category the "events and leisure" brands.