I'm an owner and not liking the idea that, basically, Marriott give me say 4000 vacation points for my week - but the cost of that week in points to buy in 4500+ points...

plus, that depending on the week on my deed - this may affect how many points I will be awarded if i decide to opt into the new programme.

I've been reading about it, and it appears to be a horrible system. With the current/old system, you get priority at your home resort if you want to exchange back in to a different time period. Not with the new points system. They also want more points to use my weeks than they say they are worth. What a crock. And if you want to exchange vacation points to MR points, you end up getting a LOT less than if you traded your week directly to MR points. They have weekend point rates jacked way up too.

Definitely will NOT be going into the new program. Also, they want to charge an outrageous fee just to join for the privilege to exchange my weeks for points and get less value out of them.
Time to send a nasty email complaining... boy I hope this new program really backfires and their sales drop down the crapper.

As of June 21st you can only buy points, they will no longer be selling weeks.

On the surface at the current time, I own three weeks and superficially it looks like my use of the program would have pluses and minuses...essentially a wash for me.

That being said,there are two very negative issues I can see with the program.

The first is the so called "breakage" tax whereby Mr. Marriott gets to extract his pound of flesh..simply because he can...in some cases, up to 20% but on average has been reported at 7%.

The second negative is that they are now selling arbitrary points that Mr. Marriott can, again, re-value to anything he feels like. Much like the MR hotel points system. The problem is the buyer buys a fixed # of points and when old Bill decides that his retirement fund is running low he simply re-values the points and viola he now has a nice cola(cost of living adjustment)--kind of like the government. :(

Given the sales tactics and the knowledge base of the general public, MVCI will get more then enough of the general public to 'drink the Kool Aid' and this program will be a success.

Well it'll be fun when I go on the next MVCI tour when I'm at staying at one in Sept. Sorry, I'm never going to buy into a 'points' system because it isn't anything tangible, and as you said Marriott can change the points levels at their whim as they did with MR and devalue everything.

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.

Not true. The annual Club Dues is $165 which you must pay even if you occupy at your home resort. That was free in the old system.

So true. My weeks in Orlando are almost useless now for internal exchanges to other Marriotts. Devaluations already killed the old trade-for-points option (where Marriott makes an 64% profit with the growing spread between the 110,000 points that gives me and the 180,000 at which they sell that same week to other MR members). Basically MVCI became an ordinary and expensive timeshare for most owners who can use, rent or exchange to other non-Marriott properties through II.

I agree. I own one week (a 2BR lockoff at Desert Villas 2, white (Gold) season). I have owned this since 2004. Usually we lock off the unit, and I have gotten good exchanges. In the past, I could often get a 2BR for the 1BR portion, a 1BR in exchange for the studio, and sometimes even a 2BR in exchange for the studio portion.

If I sign up under the new program, I get 2150 points. I won't be able to do nearly as well with 2150 points as I did with the program in the past.

There are multiple threads on TUG that discuss the new program. If you try to read them, you'll be very busy. The main thread went well over 1,000 posts a few days ago.

I think many TS groups are going to points. Last stay I had at my home resort I had a lot of pressure to convert my existing contract to points. I have two one bedroom units. I can go one week with friends or stay for two weeks forever. That's all I need. The way I see it, if I convert to points I give the resort owners a lot of power to re value my contract any way they want. I opted for a fixed rate home loan many years ago when Adjustable Rate Mortgages were all the rage. ARM's are killing people financially now. I see time share points as the same poison. They may look good now, but when demand rises for certain properties, how many points will you have to spend to get a quality vacation. I'll keep my two guaranteed weeks in the room configuration of my choice.

Good Morning, all.

We have been relaying all of your comments (and, in fact, quoting many of these posts verbatim) to the appropriate contacts at Marriott Vacation Club. I am happy to share with all of you the following message directly from the Marriott Vacation Club team:

“Marriott Vacation Club welcomes the opportunity to answer individual questions and share information on how the benefits of the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations ownership program apply to each of our valued owners. Because every situation is different and each Owner unique, please contact us at your convenience so a Vacation Ownership Advisor or Marriott Vacation Club representative can assist you.

Marriott Vacation Club Owner Services
1-800-845-4226

Hours: 9 AM - 9 PM EST (Monday - Friday)
9 AM - 5 PM EST (Saturday & Sunday)

Marriott Vacation Club Corporate Office
Customer Advocacy
1-800-936-6824
[email protected]

Hours: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM EST (Monday - Friday)”

I hope this proves to be a helpful resource for all of our Marriott Vacation Club members of FlyerTalk.

Thank you,

Andrew

"New Program" reduces value of loyal TS owners
 

Despite all the spin that Marriott puts on the New Option for reservations there is no denying that it reduces the value of prior "week owners" inventory. Giving the NEW POINTS PROGRAM participants --both those that convert and new members--the ability the RESERVE 3 days AHEAD of Weeks owners at 13 Months is a debasement of what we were SOLD by Marriott as a weeks program. Not only is it unfair, it is disrespectful and very devious on Marriott's part.

If they had given EQUAL reservation opportunity at 13 months for multiple owners at their HOME RESORT the outrage would have been 1) much less 2) nothing to complain about and 3) more honest.

After the many many complaints after raising the Rewards Hotel Points needed for stays plus creating the higher Category 8 --it is obvious that good customer relations does NOT exist within Marriott. Yes times are tough for Marriott --but aren't they also tough for us consumers.

I am a 7 week owner and have referred 2 timeshare purchasers in the past. While Marriott certainly can ADD new programs--but to do so on a basis that injures and debases the value that old owners purchased based on what MARRIOTT TIMESHARE salesman told us is very short sighted.

Grandfather in the old reservation system of 13 Months on the same day basis and I think that the improvement in Relations with previous purchasers will be great.

While there are not many posts here---if you look on the T/S website (link is in 1st post of this thread) there are 1553--yes 1553 posts and about 90% are existing weeks owners that feel like they have been treated unfairly. Marriott ought to consider that once their REPUTATION goes bad it will be almost impossible to restore it.

I own an MVCI developer week (platinum Ocean Pointe), a privately purchased Marriott Grande Ocean week, and assorted non-Marriott weeks.

I have read through all the Destinations Club documents, and the main conclusion I have drawn is that the new system is neither inherently good nor evil with respect to current owners. Everything depends on the specific needs and interests of a particular owner.

For example, someone who is happy with the current system is under no obligation to join the Club. One of the much maligned features of the club is the point credit given when one enrolls a week in the club, and the higher number of points needed to reserve the week. While this sounds incredibly evil, it probably helps the existing owner who stays with the old system.

As a point of reference, my week is worth 4325 points. I can reserve any week in the Jan to April time frame according to the current and continuing system. However, a point user wishing to reserve a week in February or March has to pay 6000 points, or so, 7300 for the prime President's Day week. These higher prices are certainly likely to dampen the rush of point owners to reserve those prime weeks. Incidentally, prime weeks will only be available to the extent that owners of those weeks join the club.

There are various other subtleties that can offer advantages to existing owners.

The key point that I am trying to make is that every owner has an obligation to work through the details and see if it makes sense for him to join. Rejecting the new club because someone else emotionally states that it is the world's worst system for him will be a grievous mistake as will be joining because someone else says it will work perfectly for him. And yes, both situations are possible because there are many different owner situations.

Art

My 2BR Platinum week at the just refurbished Sabal Palms, with access to all services at the Marriot World Center in Orlando, was valued at 2,150 points which are do not take me to any other MV resort during high or medium season. It would take me 2 weeks plus $2,500 worth of MFs, to book your week valued at 4,325 points. That's it until Marriott decides to devalue the whole system as they did many times with the Rewards Program. Crazy...

MC...Im sure that Marriott is monitoring Tug as well but if by chance they are not could you pls pass on that calling owner services as suggested in your post will only work once the reps are up to speed themselves on the program. We've called 3x since last weekend wanting clarification on a number of issues. During the first call we asked 2 questions. By the 2nd call we had further questions and asked the 2nd rep to clarify one of the answers given by the first rep, and we were given a completely different answer. For a further question we had, after the rep checked with a "points specialist" it was suggested to us that we call back in a few days, because "we're really not on top of all this yet". A little frustating when we cant get answers from Marriott, or when M isnt sure how they're own program is going to play out.

Thanks for passing this on !

Marriott has a strong portfolio of resorts and hotels and a well respected reputation for consistently high quality service and product. But this new points offering is disappointing.

Marriott gets much more then the owner in this deal. Marriott gets paid up front to take back its ownership and voting rights, but not any economic responsibility normally associated with ownership. Marriott gets an additional annual fee in the form of club dues (an administrative add-on to an already lucrative management fee buried in the annual maintenance fees).

Marriott gives an internal exchange capability with the ability to travel where, when and for how long the guest wants.

Marriott leverages the transaction further by giving fewer points for a week then the week requires.

It also appears that weeks owners who do not join will be disadvantaged at their own resort with a priority booking capability for points owners.

Here is a great example... I own a Gold week at Frenchman's Cove and it is valued at only 2775pts. To stay at my home resort during most of the season I purchased would cost 2975 points (about 7% breakage). My parents own a Plat week, their value is 3650 but it would cost over 4000 to stay (over 10% breakage).

I am told by various sales reps and insiders at Interval that Frenchman's Cove has the highest trade value in the entire system. In fact, this was one of the major things the sales people push at the property (I've been on several tours over the past few years at this location). As an owner, I am able to fairly easily exchange my gold week every year for platinum time and string a two week trip with my parent's week. I've also been able to easily exchange to other high demand properties in peak season. This would not be even remotely possible with the new system.

I am now extremely worried along with other posters that with this crappy points system Marriott will be holding more weeks back and reduce exchange inventory in the interval system, thereby making it much more difficult to exchange back in to your home resort or other locations. Marriott severely undervalue many locations as they are not taking into account supply/demand of your home property.