Originally Posted by
Schnit
You know this was not the only alternative name right? Even Marriott Vacations would be better.
Sure. Marriott Vacations Worldwide could have called its expanded points-based internal exchange program anything. It chose to call the program Abound by Marriott Vacations, instead of keeping The Marriott Vacation Club Destinations® Exchange Program.
I would think that just Marriott Vacations by itself would be confusing because that's essentially already the name of the whole company (Marriott Vacations Worldwide, or Marriott Vacations for short).
Originally Posted by
Schnit
In my opinion you find a way to just merge all those programs into one program. You no longer have multiple programs, and you just have Marriott Vacation Club. No rebranding needed.
Yes, there will be a combined program. Marriott Vacations salespeople will sell the benefits of Abound to new potential owners. Many current owners will use Abound.
However, there will continue to be other programs reflecting what was in place when owners bought. For example, there's the Florida Club for some owners of Marriott Vacation Club weeks in Florida. Owners of traditional timeshare weeks within the three brands can continue to use their weeks in the traditional way, by booking week-long stays at the resort where they have ownership, which doss not involve using Abound. Owners can also continue to use Interval International for external exchanges, such exchanging into Disney Vacation Club. In short, there will be multiple programs.
Marriott Vacation Club is a resort brand, not a program brand. There will continue to be Sheraton Vacation Club and Westin Vacation Club resorts in addition to Marriott Vacation Club resorts
The resorts are not being rebranded. All that's being rebranded is the internal exchange program, now that there are multiple resort brands (and because the old program name was awkward and wordy).
Marriott Vacations Worldwide also owns Hyatt Vacation Club, but these resorts will not be part of Abound.
Some people may not like Abound by Marriott Vacations as branding for the internal exchange program. The name does not bother me.
Originally Posted by
Schnit
Like I said, Marriott didn't need to change their name when they bought SPG. They didn't continue to run them as 2 separate companies and just put them both under the umbrella of "Bonvoy by Marriott International". They were merged into one company, using one set of points. The timeshare business should be no different
Actually, Marriott did keep all the old brands -- such as Fairfield, Renaissance, and Autograph Collection from the Marriott side, and Aloft, Westin, and St. Regis from the Starwood side.
And, actually, Marriott did change the loyalty programs after it bought Starwood. The old programs -- Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) -- were replaced by Marriott Bonvoy.