Increase on Marriott Prices Coming or Hoax by Marriott to drive sales?

m61376 said:

That's exactly my point- IF there is a new system that diminishes the value of certain weeks, will Bronze, etc. week owners abandon their responsibilities over time? Alternately, IF Marriott institutes a trust based system (they can't take away deeded rights, but owners can voluntarily join a new internal trading system and relinquish those rights, as in the Asia Pacific program offered last year to overseas customers), then Platinum week owners, who would benefit from higher point allocations, would also incur higher expenses (assuming that system would have MF's allocated on a per point basis).

That's why I see MF's as a potential problem when superimposing a new system on an old one. I am not saying it cannot be done, but it is not a simple matter, which is why I think Marriott has repeatedly postponed rolling out such a system, assuming one has really been in the works for several years.

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I am going to make an educated guess here and suggest that Marriott is more likely going to keep the deeded rights in tact and balance the maintenance fees across the owner base as they have. (Assuming a points based program rolls out).

The Starwood over-lay of the Starwood Vacation Network (SVN) did just that and gave the owners the opportunity to join at a nominal fee and owners of all seasons saw a benefit simply in the addition of more resorts without having to use an external exchange company but would also have a corporate membership to the external exchange company which is II. So, for the $109 an SVN member would pay every year (assuming one week of ownership), this covers their II membership and SVN participation. Of course, owners of lower seasons had less points than their high season counterparts of the same exact unit type and they paid same maintenance fees (taxes could vary if in Cali).

I cannot speak to whether or not Marriott will offer a corporate membership with II but I think it would be smart. They just renewed with II and I would imagine that this topic was discussed.

For this type of over-lay to work, they will need substantial participation from owners of all seasons and resorts to insure inventory is "ceded" from the multitude of categories for when the "club points period" opens for points reservations. When owners do not participate, the club does not work. Similar to an II or RCI situation. If owners did not deposit weeks, they would not request weeks, the system does not work.

Points systems are not perfect and will never be. It is all based on participation. Many owners will like the flexibility of a points program and I believe that participation will be there in reasonable time. Many will like the opportunity to do a shorter stay at a drive-to resort or a stay that is longer than 7 nights but less than 14.

It will be very interesting to see what mayroll-out in the near future and how they will phase the roll-out.

Actually, the significant price increases are true. Also, it is true that MVCI's sales this year so far are at very high levels. Sometimes it is easy to poke fun without considering the facts.

You are so right. I sometimes shake my head when people make fun of Marriott which is a very successful international corporation that's been around for a long time. The long term strategy and pricing points are decided by a lot of analysis from different departments, focus groups, and highly paid experts in the field. They don't make such decisions quickly or lightly and anyone who works in the corporate field should know that.

James1975NY said:

I am going to make an educated guess here and suggest that Marriott is more likely going to keep the deeded rights in tact and balance the maintenance fees across the owner base as they have. (Assuming a points based program rolls out).

The Starwood over-lay of the Starwood Vacation Network (SVN) did just that and gave the owners the opportunity to join at a nominal fee and owners of all seasons saw a benefit simply in the addition of more resorts without having to use an external exchange company but would also have a corporate membership to the external exchange company which is II. So, for the $109 an SVN member would pay every year (assuming one week of ownership), this covers their II membership and SVN participation. Of course, owners of lower seasons had less points than their high season counterparts of the same exact unit type and they paid same maintenance fees (taxes could vary if in Cali).

I cannot speak to whether or not Marriott will offer a corporate membership with II but I think it would be smart. They just renewed with II and I would imagine that this topic was discussed.

For this type of over-lay to work, they will need substantial participation from owners of all seasons and resorts to insure inventory is "ceded" from the multitude of categories for when the "club points period" opens for points reservations. When owners do not participate, the club does not work. Similar to an II or RCI situation. If owners did not deposit weeks, they would not request weeks, the system does not work.

Points systems are not perfect and will never be. It is all based on participation. Many owners will like the flexibility of a points program and I believe that participation will be there in reasonable time. Many will like the opportunity to do a shorter stay at a drive-to resort or a stay that is longer than 7 nights but less than 14.

It will be very interesting to see what mayroll-out in the near future and how they will phase the roll-out.

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One of the better, more level headed posts I've seen on this subject.

Right now, we know nothing about what Marriott will roll out. We do, however, know what many of the other developers are using at this time. While Marriott might come out with something completely different I'd say that would be a long shot if I was a betting man. It's more likely that Marriott will follow the tried and true paths of those who have gone before them, tweeking the program just enough to customize it to their corporate outlook.

The only post that bothers me came from Fletch, who worked in sales. The rumor was no home resort adavntage. The only system I know of that don't have a true home resort advantage are trust based ownerships.

There is one shining example of a developer going to a trust based ownership program and that's Sunterra/DRI. Sunterra originally started out just converting owners over to an internal points based exchange system. Later, they came out with their version of an ownership trust and continued to convert deeded owners deeds into a membership in one of their trusts.

If you want to add a little backgound to the rumor, Marriott does have one form of an internal exchange club. That being the Florida club. With the Florida Club owners in resorts that participate can reserve units in any of the FL Club resorts, in their season of ownership, begining six months from their desired reservation date. There is a $39 fee for the FL Club that is mandatory. An owner can reserve any resort week and can deposit that week with Interval International. All owners keep their deeded week and, since they have the first six months to book their home resort exclusively, there is home resort advantage.

Not that I expect Marriott to model any internal exchange program exactly like the FL Club but, they already have a template of sorts to work from. Add to that all the other internal programs they can research and Marriott has a wealth of information to put together what could be a really great program.

I just don't really get all the anxiety a few owners have about this. It's not as if Marriott will be blazing any new ground. Sure it will be change if it ever happens but, change is sometimes a good thing. Can you imagine what life would be like if all resorts were selling fixed week only and there wasn't the exchange companies as we know them today?

I would like to think it will roll out in June but, the rumor has been around for several years now and there's nothing to hang our hats on yet. Only rumors propigated by salesmen who are typically the last to know. That and the inside information that DaveM and Fletch have posted. We'll just have to see when June rolls around.

I have a late June reservation at a Marriott resort. I might actually do the owners update during that stay just to see if the sales floor has anymore tidbits of inforamtion trickling out. While the sales floor is often the last to know, maybe they'll have the next roll out date rumored to give us a little more to chew on.

Latravel said:

You are so right. I sometimes shake my head when people make fun of Marriott which is a very successful international corporation that's been around for a long time. The long term strategy and pricing points are decided by a lot of analysis from different departments, focus groups, and highly paid experts in the field. They don't make such decisions quickly or lightly and anyone who works in the corporate field should know that.

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You're right. And I think that's why this rumor has been around so long. I'm guessing they have talked about a program and likely anticipated rolling out a program long before now, but due to the many complexities (many of which have been touched upon here) they have been holding off. I think they rolled out the Asia Pacific program to try something on a smaller scale and evaluate it. I also think they have looked long and hard at the Ritz program, which has had less than stellar reception. I think these are the reason my source indicated that things were shelved, at least for the time being. So while we may very well see something come June as DaveM and Fletch indicated, it may be much longer until, or if, we see a new program rolled out.

Unlike Perry, I don't think the stretch of time has been a gimmick or tease, but a result of the complexities of overlaying a new system on an old, and a desire to keep old customers happy and offer them something new and exciting, while attracting new customers.

I agree with Heidi- Marriott is in business to make money, and they are smart. A company keeps making money by keeping customers happy and expanding their customer base. IF they do in fact roll out a program, many of us may be pleasantly surprised. I am am hopeful that they have considered the issues that we have brought up here. That's actually why I don't think this is a waste of time; while we are just pontificating and speculating, we are a real time consumer base and bringing up potential usage issues and, frankly, I would be surprised if someone at Marriott wasn't perusing these comments. Certainly Marriott execs know about Tug and we are a good, free, timeshare savvy resource, and I'm guessing threads like this are looked at. Maybe even some of our good ideas will wind their way into a new program if, in fact, there is one.

I recently completed a tour and I am debating on purchasing another week through Marriott. The sales agent told me the following about the new points program coming out in June:

1. All sales operations will shut down 6/17 for training of the new program.
2. They will no longer sell deeded weeks.
3. All new purchasers will be on 99 year leaseholds. New owners will no longer have the option to purchase deeded weeks.
4. Marriott direct owners will have the opt-in option and forfeit their deeded week.
5. Resale owners will be excluded from the program as they only make up a 1.8% of Marriott owners.
6. It will be very close to the Asian points program or the very same system.


The question is buy now or wait with this new information for a deeded property or see if the program actually comes to fruition?

AceValenta said:

I recently completed a tour and I am debating on purchasing another week through Marriott. The sales agent told me the following about the new points program coming out in June:

1. All sales operations will shut down 6/17 for training of the new program.
2. They will no longer sell deeded weeks.
3. All new purchasers will be on 99 year leaseholds. New owners will no longer have the option to purchase deeded weeks.
4. Marriott direct owners will have the opt-in option and forfeit their deeded week.
5. Resale owners will be excluded from the program as they only make up a 1.8% of Marriott owners.
6. It will be very close to the Asian points program or the very same system.


The question is buy now or wait with this new information for a deeded property or see if the program actually comes to fruition?

Click to expand...

IF the salesperson provided the correct information, then deeded weeks will become scarce over time, and could in fact push up their resale value. I am not to sure how the Marriott customers will accept a RTU (right to use) concept.

Just my opinion, would enjoy hearing from others.



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AceValenta said:

I recently completed a tour and I am debating on purchasing another week through Marriott. The sales agent told me the following about the new points program coming out in June:

1. All sales operations will shut down 6/17 for training of the new program.
2. They will no longer sell deeded weeks.
3. All new purchasers will be on 99 year leaseholds. New owners will no longer have the option to purchase deeded weeks.
4. Marriott direct owners will have the opt-in option and forfeit their deeded week.
5. Resale owners will be excluded from the program as they only make up a 1.8% of Marriott owners.
6. It will be very close to the Asian points program or the very same system.


The question is buy now or wait with this new information for a deeded property or see if the program actually comes to fruition?

Click to expand...

So....pretty much exactly the opposite of what I had predicted!? :hysterical:

This is really interesting. Looking forward to learning more.

AceValenta said:

I recently completed a tour and I am debating on purchasing another week through Marriott. The sales agent told me the following about the new points program coming out in June:

1. All sales operations will shut down 6/17 for training of the new program.
2. They will no longer sell deeded weeks.
3. All new purchasers will be on 99 year leaseholds. New owners will no longer have the option to purchase deeded weeks.
4. Marriott direct owners will have the opt-in option and forfeit their deeded week.
5. Resale owners will be excluded from the program as they only make up a 1.8% of Marriott owners.
6. It will be very close to the Asian points program or the very same system.


The question is buy now or wait with this new information for a deeded property or see if the program actually comes to fruition?

Click to expand...

If that was a sales pitch he'd have been pitching the wrong thing to me. It would have put me off of Marriott permantly. Maybe he really knows something but, my feelings are that salesmen are the last to know. They'll make stuff up based on rumor and what little they do already know. Right now, they know the AP program exisits and they know how it works. I can see a sales staff looking at that program and making assumptions that's how Marriott will go.

As for a RTU system, I suppose one can look at DVC as an example of how a RTU system can work in todays market. On the other hand, DVC doesn't build resorts nearly as fast as any other developer in the timeshare market. The only developer that's as slow to introduce new products might be HGVC. DVC has been so unsure of itself it's even sold off two of it's prospective properties, Newport Coast and Paris France, to Marriott. The sales staff might be assuming Marriott will be a model after DVC and their own AP program but I'm not so sure.

At any rate, if that's the case I'll stick with my two deeded weeks I own now and, if I wanted another deeded week, I'd buy one off the resale market rather than direct from Marriott. I'll be more likely to keep my deeded weeks and opt out. I certainly never see myself buying into such a program as what this salesman proposes.

When it comes to a timeshare saleman telling you anything there's one rule you MUST keep in mind. If his lips are moving.......he's lying. Salesmen have one job and one job only and that is to sell. IMHO, this one is trying to create a sense of urgency by giving the prospect a drop dead date before Marriott forever changes it's product. He doesn't know. He's guessing.

Urgency is created by making a prospect believe that what's being offered is in limited supply. They did this in Branson for years by telling prospects that Disney would be building a new theme park. Buy now before the prices go through the roof. A couple of years ago the sense of urgency line changed to Branson making a law saying no other timeshares can be built in Branson. Management estimates that the existing supply will run out within 6 monhts. Buy now before the existing supply runs out. That was 3 years ago and, as far as I know, they're still selling timeshares in Branson.

Some Marriott salesmen read TUG. They'll use your fear against you when they can. Some TUG members have done a pretty good job of whipping up that fear. Don't fall for the sense of urgency sales pitch. Let's wait and see what Marriott offers before moving forward.

But I will say it again. If Marroitt comes out with anything that removes my deeds from my hands, the likelyhood that we'll give up our deeds to join any pie in the sky RTU scheme are pretty much slim and none. I wish them well going forward but, they'll go forward without me and without any referals I might give.

I had thought about attending a sales presentation on one of our next two trips to Marriott timeshares. Now I'll skip that presentation and wait until there's something official. I don't need a salesmans speculation whipping up any sense of fear of big time change in me when he doesn't have anything to prove his statements to show me. If Marriott won't confirm it then it's all guesswork on the sales staffs part.

1.8%? Is that it? Seems low to me, even if you take away Marriott reselling weeks. Has any other TS program that converted completely shut out resale owners? Also, what would they do to new resale owners? You can buy the points, but you just can't use them.........

However, I can kind of understand why they would go with a straight point system. No deeds, no home resort, MF based on points owned, the more points you own the more places you can go, you have a fair chance at every Marriott just as long as you have the points and call early... No thanks for me, but I can understand why many people would like it.

AceValenta said:

I recently completed a tour and I am debating on purchasing another week through Marriott. The sales agent told me the following about the new points program coming out in June:

1. All sales operations will shut down 6/17 for training of the new program.
2. They will no longer sell deeded weeks.
3. All new purchasers will be on 99 year leaseholds. New owners will no longer have the option to purchase deeded weeks.
4. Marriott direct owners will have the opt-in option and forfeit their deeded week.
5. Resale owners will be excluded from the program as they only make up a 1.8% of Marriott owners.
6. It will be very close to the Asian points program or the very same system.


The question is buy now or wait with this new information for a deeded property or see if the program actually comes to fruition?

Click to expand...

Why would any owner of prime fixed weeks give them up for such a program?? Seems like Marriott would already know that the Asia Points system doesn't appeal to most American owners, so I hope they have something different in mind...Could see them selling strictly points in future - may be why salesmen have fled...

The idea that resale weeks make up 1.8 percent of Marriott owners is complete and absolute nonsense.

Every stat cited here for what percentage of Marriott owners are resale purchasers comes from Marriott. Guess what? It's to their advantage to downplay those numbers.

There is no way we will every know what the real number is, because Marriott won't release it.

My guess? It's well over 50 percent.

Anyone who wants to keep believing salesmen ... well ... that's why they keep finding buyers for $30,000 weeks that could be purchased for $5,000 resale. One born every minute, as they say.

AceValenta said:

I recently completed a tour and I am debating on purchasing another week through Marriott. The sales agent told me the following about the new points program coming out in June:

1. All sales operations will shut down 6/17 for training of the new program.
2. They will no longer sell deeded weeks.
3. All new purchasers will be on 99 year leaseholds. New owners will no longer have the option to purchase deeded weeks.
4. Marriott direct owners will have the opt-in option and forfeit their deeded week.
5. Resale owners will be excluded from the program as they only make up a 1.8% of Marriott owners.
6. It will be very close to the Asian points program or the very same system.


The question is buy now or wait with this new information for a deeded property or see if the program actually comes to fruition?

Click to expand...

This is an April Fools, right?

ondeadlin said:

The idea that resale weeks make up 1.8 percent of Marriott owners is complete and absolute nonsense.

Every stat cited here for what percentage of Marriott owners are resale purchasers comes from Marriott. Guess what? It's to their advantage to downplay those numbers.

There is no way we will every know what the real number is, because Marriott won't release it.

My guess? It's well over 50 percent.

Anyone who wants to keep believing salesmen ... well ... that's why they keep finding buyers for $30,000 weeks that could be purchased for $5,000 resale. One born every minute, as they say.

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Granted, it's true that some salesmen will stretch the truth , but what makes your "well over 50%" any more believable than what they may say? You really think that more than half of the original inventory ever sold by Marriott has been resold? I think that's wishful thinking on your part.

This latest from Ace's agent doesn't sound like it'll be a slamdunk money-maker, that's for sure. The 99 years RTU, in particular, is useless. I like the idea of RTUs so that our kids aren't saddled with the financial commitment forever, but 99 years covers the next three generations. Bah. As for the rest, it's too much of a change from what's available currently, leaves too much to chance for future use, to consider buying anything now. It's worth at least waiting until that 6/17 employee training day has come and gone.

AceValenta said:

1. All sales operations will shut down 6/17 for training of the new program.
2. They will no longer sell deeded weeks.

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I have also heard this from a salesman I trust. I have met more than a few Marriott sales people and with most of them I must hold much of what they say in suspense, but I have also dealt with some who are both knowledgeable and reliable. When I hear that all sales people are liars, well, I know better. Or as I was told when I was very young, "All generalizations are false, include the one I just made.".

TheTimeTraveler said:

If the salesperson provided the correct information, then deeded weeks will become scarce over time, and could in fact push up their resale value.

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Hmmm, could this be the law of supply and demand?

GaryDouglas said:

I have also heard this from a salesman I trust. I have met more than a few Marriott sales people and with most of them I must hold much of what they say in suspense, but I have also dealt with some who are both knowledgeable and reliable. When I hear that all sales people are liars, well, I know better. Or as I was told when I was very young, "All generalization are false, include the one I just made.".



Hmmm, could this be the law of supply and demand?

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O.K., let's not go with liars. How about story tellers. Marriott hasn't released information about any new product yet so, I doubt the sales staff really has anything definative past speculation over things they can see. Most of this seems to be based off the same things we as owners can see and that's Marriott's AP program.

I'm not going to get excited about anything even the most respectable salesman tells me. If they knew, then we'd know in short order behind them. Since Marriott has told owners nothing I'm going to go out on a limb and assume they haven't told the salesmen anything either. I'll risk the assumption that Marketing is taking educated guesses at what the changes will be.

On this topic I'll agree with PerryM in that Marriott brass should have put the brakes on this sort of specultaion being discussed with sales prospects. It doesn't help their cause and it can spread fear and panic among owners. It's not very professional for an organization I had held in high regard.

So this guy says the date is June 17th for retraining. I guess I'll put that date down in my calander. We have reservations for a stay at the end of June. I hope to see something firm in writing by then. Something I can hang my hat on rather than speculate as to what might or might not be the way of Marriott's future.

I certainly hope they don't go to a RTU program. While I believe I would like the option of a points based program I feel certain that I don't want to give up my deeded weeks. I believe, at this time and without seeing anything from Marriott, that keeping my deeds and continuing to use I.I. for exchanges when and where I want them would be in my best interest. I also tend to believe that the majority of Marriott's existing owners will feel the same way.

But, I've been wrong before.

ondeadlin said:

The idea that resale weeks make up 1.8 percent of Marriott owners is complete and absolute nonsense...My guess? It's well over 50 percent.

Anyone who wants to keep believing salesmen ... well ... that's why they keep finding buyers for $30,000 weeks that could be purchased for $5,000 resale. One born every minute, as they say.

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Well, I am more likely to believe the 1.8% figure than 50%. Marriott timeshares have not been around long enough for 1/2 of all units to be resold. They are selling more on the direct market at a faster rate than they can sell on the resale market. If your figure was correct, the Marriott timeshare division would not be profitable and could not stay in business.

I think I've read somewhere that the figure for resale owners is around 7%.

99% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

Latravel said:

Well, I am more likely to believe the 1.8% figure than 50%. Marriott timeshares have not been around long enough for 1/2 of all units to be resold. They are selling more on the direct market at a faster rate than they can sell on the resale market. If your figure was correct, the Marriott timeshare division would not be profitable and could not stay in business.

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Heidi,
Can you expand or clarify what you mean by the part that I put in bold... Maybe I'm confused at the two "they" words... Thanks

dougp26364 said:

I think I've read somewhere that the figure for resale owners is around 7%.

99% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

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I think the 7% is an industry average of the % of resales each year. Older resorts the number would be higher, perhaps even 100%, new resorts would be at 0% until the first resale.

Only Marriott knows the exact number of resale owners there are in the system. I doubt that information is subject to any public filing, so we will never know. I dont think I would trust a salesperson's number because they have a reason to down play the number.

dioxide45 said:

I think the 7% is an industry average of the % of resales each year. Older resorts the number would be higher, perhaps even 100%, new resorts would be at 0% until the first resale.

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it could be but, if it's the industry average, it's probably a pretty good bet that Marriott will be close to that same figure. While it's true that older resorts that have sold out would be 100% resale, the number of those units on the market at any given time would be far lower than the developer inventory being actively marketed and sold on that same date.

Gentleman - Start your engines.....

AceValenta said:

I recently completed a tour and I am debating on purchasing another week through Marriott. The sales agent told me the following about the new points program coming out in June:

1. All sales operations will shut down 6/17 for training of the new program.
2. They will no longer sell deeded weeks.
3. All new purchasers will be on 99 year leaseholds. New owners will no longer have the option to purchase deeded weeks.
4. Marriott direct owners will have the opt-in option and forfeit their deeded week.
5. Resale owners will be excluded from the program as they only make up a 1.8% of Marriott owners.
6. It will be very close to the Asian points program or the very same system.


The question is buy now or wait with this new information for a deeded property or see if the program actually comes to fruition?

Click to expand...

Have the day off and read all the latest posts - the salesrep that cooked up this set of whoppers had a lot of fun.

1) Probably the company picnic worldwide. Retraining on how to sell Points and not weeks anymore.
2) What Marriott is morphing into Disney?
3) A leasehold should be for the life of the building not 4 generations of humans
4) How many lawyers and title processors reside in North America again?
5) ARDA stats from 3 years ago put resales at 7%. If Marriott isn't building anymore they better hope for higher stats than that; they are the largest resale buyer.
6) I don't speak Chinese so I don't know.

My guess is that Marriott will continue to sell deeded weeks and lump them into their seasonal program. The new exchange system is just that - it takes deeded weeks and converts them into Points that will make little sense to current seasons. These Points become the fuel of their new sales engine.

1 year after release owners will be poorer and have much less exchange options - but at least 50% of the owners will join and after 3 years 90% will join. Resale values will plunge so Marriott can recycle cheaper weeks for big bucks.

This is all about Marriott - owners are just fuel for this new sales engine. Kind of like when they take corn out of the human fuel chain and put it into the automobile fuel chain - it's just a bad idea gone amuck.

I may be wrong, but I thought that 7% was a number released in the Marriott statistics, when they released owner use, occupancy, trading, and unused statistics. It was awhile ago, though. And it referred to the portion of units, not of owners. Since many owners own multiple weeks (some both direct and resale), I'd think the percentage of owners would be closer to the 10% mark. But, of course, that's a guess.

That said, everything but the 1.8% statistic does seem, unfortunately, very reasonable. I have been concerned that the new program might mirror the Asia Pacific program. If this information is correct (a big IF) then Marriott's new program will probably mimic DVC's in many respects, but with a longer RTU which will take generations before that is given a glance. But it will be truly a points system, with no home resort advantage.

On the other hand, I can see the appeal to future buyers. You buy enough points to get where you want to go, in the size unit you want to reserve, and you pay only for what you need and, annually, you pay only the MF's for what real benefit you are receiving. Traveling off season- you need less points and pay lower MF's. Family grows in the future- need a bigger unit- no problem- add some more points when you have some extra cash; the system is designed to keep owners coming back for more and more, as they need more points to get the trades they want.

For the next several decades, it appears that Marriott will be running two separate systems. They may have decided that doing that would be logistically easier than trying to superimpose a new system on an old.

This does bring up an interesting question- IF this information is true and, basically, we see the Asia Pacific points program instituted and, assuming many (if not most) current owners decide to stay with their deeded weeks and home resort priority, how will MF's work? I know HOA's set the MF's for individual resorts now. But MF's in a point system are averaged and set system-wide. So I am a little perplexed as to how the two systems can co-exist MF-wise.

To believe that only 7 percent of Marriott owners are resale purchasers is to ignore the fact that the majority of MVCI family of resorts is sold out or almost sold out at this point. It's a fairly mature network. Every sale in Park City, Colorado, Boston, the majority of the Florida resorts, the majority of the Hilton Head resorts, etc. is a resale sale.

Those numbers add up very quickly.

Again, is it 50 percent? I don't know, but we're all just guessing (or believing sales staff, which might be worse) and my guess is well above 7 percent.

Unlike many folks around here, I don't have a strong opinion about a points overlay - why get excited until the rules are known?

But I think the fact that the Marriott network is maturing is part of why they're doing this. They need to find other ways to drive revenue, and getting resale purchasers to pay X-dollars to join the new network is a logical and smart move.