13-Month Maui Reservation Experience

I want to report on my experience yesterday in attempting to reserve my Hawaii legacy weeks at the 13-month window for four weeks beginning on Saturday, January 28. First the facts: We own one Ko Olina 2BR ocean view lock-off week and two Maui 2BR lock-off weeks in Lahaina/Napili Towers. We wanted to reserve as follows:

Jan.28--Ko Olina 1BR (lock-off)
Feb. 4--Maui Guest Room (lock-off)
Feb. 11--Maui 2 BR
Feb. 18--Maui 1BR (lock-off)

The Ko Olina week was no problem two days after the 13-month window opened up. That was no surprise.

There were no guest rooms available in Maui for Feb.4 even though it was farther out than 13 months. That was a surprise. We got a 1 BR.

There were NO ROOMS OF ANY KIND AVAILABLE FOR MAUI for Feb. 11. That was a shock! So we booked a Ko Olina Guest Room.

We had no problems with Maui for Feb. 18, so we booked a 2BR. On Feb. 11 when the 12-month window opens for Feb. 11, I will try to book a Maui guest room and droop the Ko Olina guest room.

I am very surprised. I have always been able to book 13 months ahead for Maui at this time of year. And this year, for the first time, I was not starting with Maui but was actually looking for Maui weeks that were still more than 13 months away. Of particular concern is the fact that nothing was available in Maui on the entire weekend of February 11. No one could have yet booked that week unless they had also booked at least the two weeks before that. So if this is true, a full 50% of the rooms in Maui's new towers had already been booked by people who had to be in at least their third consecutive week in Hawaii.

What do you think is going on? Could it possibly be that a large number of Maui owners have traded for points and that Marriott has grabbed all of their weeks from the prime February season (and Valentine's week in particular) to offer to points people? That does not seem likely, but it seems impossible that enough owners have booked three or more consecutive weeks in Hawaii to have filled up half of the resort almost three weeks before the 13-month window opens.

I would appreciate any ideas.

Is it possible that they are holding some of the inventory back for the actual 13 month mark? Try calling back for the regular 13 month window for the actual week of the 11th. You may find they have something available.

What explanation did you get from Owner Services (I'd ask for a manager...)?

I wonder how many Maui weeks were unsold and converted to points. I thought Lahaina was virtually sold out while Napili still had plenty of unsold inventory.??

Those unsold weeks were probably available to be reserved in past years, because Marriott wouldn't have put those weeks up for rent until a couple of months later.

I didn't know you could even split weeks to extend a reservation run so you taught me something. I wish I wanted to split my weeks or I'd be doing the same thing but I don't so I can only run my string so far.

I'm looking for Feb 11 Aruba, then my Maui weeks for Feb 18. I hope it works out for you and I hope it works out for me as well.

MOXJO7282 said:

I didn't know you could even split weeks to extend a reservation run so you taught me something. I wish I wanted to split my weeks or I'd be doing the same thing but I don't so I can only run my string so far.

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You can split weeks as long as the string includes more than one owned week. For example, you cannot split a single week and stay two weeks, but you can take the master suite from one week and the guest room from another week and stay two weeks.

thinze3 said:

I wonder how many Maui weeks were unsold and converted to points. I thought Lahaina was virtually sold out while Napili still had plenty of unsold inventory.??

Those unsold weeks were probably available to be reserved in past years, because Marriott wouldn't have put those weeks up for rent until a couple of months later.

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Lahaina was completely sold out, except maybe for a handful of fixed week, fixed units. Napili was mostly sold out, but had some inventory left. That could have made some difference in the past.

dioxide45 said:

Is it possible that they are holding some of the inventory back for the actual 13 month mark? Try calling back for the regular 13 month window for the actual week of the 11th. You may find they have something available.

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They say no, but I will call anyway at the 13 month mark. It cannot hurt. Thanks for the idea.

DanCali said:

What explanation did you get from Owner Services (I'd ask for a manager...)?

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The representative seemed surprised that there was no availability, but explained that a lot of Maui owners own multiple weeks and stay for several weeks. That is true, but I don't think it can be the whole explanation, especially with the guest rooms for the first weekend in February already gone, but not the master suites. Guest rooms are usually the last to sell out. I will call back and speak to a manager.

By the way, I was on the phone with the VOA for over an hour after being on hold for 59 minutes waiting for someone to be free to answer my call.

Interesting Boca
see my post here on a similiar issue re: Aruba

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137248

BocaBoy said:

I have always been able to book 13 months ahead for Maui at this time of year.

Of particular concern is the fact that nothing was available in Maui on the entire weekend of February 11.

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Just to recap to make sure we understand:

Dates wanted/available
Jan. 28--MKO 1br / MKO 1br
Feb. 4--MMO studio / MMO 1br (no studios)
Feb. 11--MMO 2br / No MMO available (no studio, 1br or 2br)
Feb. 18--MMO 1br / MMO 2br (all room types availabe)

What marriott tells us:
*50% of inventory is released for 13+ month reservation
*50% of inventory is released for 12 month reservations
*Marriott does not tell us where they are in the cue for developer weeks, marriott owned weeks or Destination Club weeks.

Variables that have changed since last year (i'm not sure how many years prior BocaBoy has booked Valentines day at MMO):
*Consumers are spending more money and traveling more than the previous 2 years
*Marriott introduced Destination Club points

As BocaBoy pointed out, in the past there's rarely been an issue bookings made over 13 months out (Feb 4 is 13 months + 1 week & Feb 11th is 13 months + 2 weeks). Although not impossible, i find it hard to believe that consumers can be the main driver of bookings made over 13 months out (espeically if there wasn't an issue in 2007, when consumers were spending more than today). Which only leaves Destination Club points...

..."when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

Technically Marriott owned weeks and DC club weeks are "owners" and pay maintenance fees for the weeks that they own. If Marriott/DC follows the rules for owners they can start 14+ months out booking just one villa for each week then book multiple villas for Feb 11th up to the 50% of inventory available.

A few questions:
(a) Did they check availability around your dates (Feb 3/4/5 & 10/11/12)?
(b) I'm not that familiar with the DC program, but if you can book DC more than 13 months out it would be interesting if there's DC inventory.

I would HOPE that Marriott is being good to its word and only allocating a fair share of each reservation period to each pool of users, as they stipulated they would be doing. That said, another possibility is that given the relatively high point allocation, new DC users may be playing in points this year and trying other places, so it could be that there were a disproportionately high number of point deposits and that, coupled with developer inventory being allocated to the points pool, may be tipping the scale so that the impact of multiple week owners who stay for 4+ weeks is first being felt. If there are a lot of 3 week owners who lock-off to stay 6 weeks that would explain Bocaboy's difficulties, esp. since he didn't call at the 13 month mark but a few days later.

Keep in mind that Maui owners, and Ko'Olina owners to a lesser degree, felt almost compelled to use their units so as not to trade down. The DC program is good for them in that respect, so I can see more Maui owners esp. (given the point allocations) depositing their units for points and going elsewhere, despite the skim, because they'd still benefit from most point exchanges. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Maui tightens up a bit because of this, at least initially.

m61376 said:

I would HOPE that Marriott is being good to its word and only allocating a fair share of each reservation period to each pool of users, as they stipulated they would be doing. That said, another possibility is that given the relatively high point allocation, new DC users may be playing in points this year and trying other places, so it could be that there were a disproportionately high number of point deposits and that, coupled with developer inventory being allocated to the points pool, may be tipping the scale so that the impact of multiple week owners who stay for 4+ weeks is first being felt. If there are a lot of 3 week owners who lock-off to stay 6 weeks that would explain Bocaboy's difficulties, esp. since he didn't call at the 13 month mark but a few days later.

Keep in mind that Maui owners, and Ko'Olina owners to a lesser degree, felt almost compelled to use their units so as not to trade down. The DC program is good for them in that respect, so I can see more Maui owners esp. (given the point allocations) depositing their units for points and going elsewhere, despite the skim, because they'd still benefit from most point exchanges. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Maui tightens up a bit because of this, at least initially.

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That's probably right on target. Owners of 'high priced' weeks with the high point allocations may well come to view DClub as a two edged sword. Good for trading, but less good for reservations at the home resort.

I too wonder if the occupancy Boca had hoped to reserve is available for points.

I was able to extend my vacation in Hawaii next summer by booking a prime week at the Maui Ocean Club Lahaina Villas using destination points. I am an owner at MOC and had no luck with my 2011 week. On a whim last week, I checked with a VOA and he said there was availability on the DC side for the exact dates I needed during week 26.

Okay. I don't feel like thinking yet this morning. So, I will comment without thinking this through. Since all unsold weeks at the MOC were dumped into the Trust, and since weeks controlled by Marriott that were obtained through other means might now be withheld for the DC Exchange inventory, is it possible that some of those weeks that were usually available for reservatons were weeks that Marriott had controlled?

I called the VOA to see if BocaBoy's weeks were available thru Destination Club, but the lines were full -- it wouldn't even let me hold, it told me to call back later.

I will try again, because it's puzzling that he couldn't get MM1 13+ months in advance.

Best,

Greg

According to DC Points T&C, DC reservations cannot be made prior to 13 months in advance. I don't think that the consecutive week reservations beyond the 13 month window are possible with points. Therefore, DC reservations for Feb 11 should not yet be possible.

However, additional inventory for that week may be on hold for DC reservations, reducing availability for legacy owners.

Superchief said:

According to DC Points T&C, DC reservations cannot be made prior to 13 months in advance. I don't think that the consecutive week reservations beyond the 13 month window are possible with points. Therefore, DC reservations for Feb 11 should not yet be possible.

However, additional inventory for that week may be on hold for DC reservations, reducing availability for legacy owners.

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Agreed and understood -- if I get thru, I'll ask them for an extended (21 nights?) stay beginning on Jan 28th and crosses the Feb 11th week. That will be an interesting experiment by itself.

Best,

Greg

GregT said:

I called the VOA to see if BocaBoy's weeks were available thru Destination Club, but the lines were full -- it wouldn't even let me hold, it told me to call back later.

I will try again, because it's puzzling that he couldn't get MM1 13+ months in advance.

Best,

Greg

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Greg: I think the telephones lines will be extremely busy today until midnight because many "week" owners believe this is the last day to jump into the Destination Club. Additionally, today IS the last day you can convert your 2011 use into Marriott Reward Points. And, I believe maintenance fees are due for many resorts today....

NOT A GOOD DAY TO CALL MARRIOTT

Happy New Year to all


.

I did get thru and asked them about an extended stay in a 2BR, I asked for Jan 29th or 30th check-in and check-out on Feb 16th, which would have crossed BocaBoy's request.

No inventory was available at all, not even 7 days. She made the comment that they are still waiting for owners to put in the weeks and that 13 months out inventory was spotty.

Best,

Greg

hotcoffee said:

Okay. I don't feel like thinking yet this morning. So, I will comment without thinking this through. Since all unsold weeks at the MOC were dumped into the Trust, and since weeks controlled by Marriott that were obtained through other means might now be withheld for the DC Exchange inventory, is it possible that some of those weeks that were usually available for reservatons were weeks that Marriott had controlled?

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This is exactly what is happening at the MOC new towers but the oceanfront units were not in the trust at the Lahaina tower and some were not sold yet so Marriott still owns them. I don't remember if I checked the Napili tower because I am not familiar with the oceanfront condo numbers there but assume that it is the same story.

I was late locking off last year but was confirmed within 24 hours and I was late with a request first again this year and am still waiting. Marriott recommended to belong to the DC because they would be able to help me but I don't like the skim of over 1,000 points but the oceanfront units were not in the trust when I first checked. Are they now?

I am curious what GregT will find out about getting confirmed with DC points.

Superchief said:

According to DC Points T&C, DC reservations cannot be made prior to 13 months in advance. I don't think that the consecutive week reservations beyond the 13 month window are possible with points. Therefore, DC reservations for Feb 11 should not yet be possible.

However, additional inventory for that week may be on hold for DC reservations, reducing availability for legacy owners.

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My assumption is that an equivalent number of weeks to what Marriott controls are no longer available for regular weeks reservations at any time due to their being reserved for the DC inventory. Plus, a percentage of the weeks equal to the percentage of DC enrollees at the resort is unavailable due to the same reason.

That still leaves a lot of weeks available for regular reservations; but for peak time periods, it might result in a noticeable reduction of available weeks to reserve.

iconnections said:

This is exactly what is happening at the MOC new towers but the oceanfront units were not in the trust at the Lahaina tower and some were not sold yet so Marriott still owns them. I don't remember if I checked the Napili tower because I am not familiar with the oceanfront condo numbers there but assume that it is the same story.

I was late locking off last year but was confirmed within 24 hours and I was late with a request first again this year and am still waiting. Marriott recommended to belong to the DC because they would be able to help me but I don't like the skim of over 1,000 points but the oceanfront units were not in the trust when I first checked. Are they now?

I am curious what GregT will find out about getting confirmed with DC points.

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I was able to get an ocean front reservation at the Napili tower with DC points. So, some are getting into the DC program. They could be getting there via MRP trades, DC enrollments, delinquencies, etc.

GregT said:

I did get thru and asked them about an extended stay in a 2BR, I asked for Jan 29th or 30th check-in and check-out on Feb 16th, which would have crossed BocaBoy's request.

No inventory was available at all, not even 7 days. She made the comment that they are still waiting for owners to put in the weeks and that 13 months out inventory was spotty.

Best,

Greg

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Does that mean that Marriott still owns the oceanfront units and they are not in the trust or dumped into II? That will make locking off a lot harder to do. How many new buyers were sold on this concept at the new towers because of the high maintenance fees? They will be pretty upset when they find out that it is a lot harder to do than last year.

Am I glad that we didn't enroll.

hotcoffee said:

My assumption is that an equivalent number of weeks to what Marriott controls are no longer available for regular weeks reservations at any time due to their being reserved for the DC inventory.

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Marriott weeks are Marriott weeks. Why do you think they were ever available for weeks reservations? Marriott would just reserve high demand weeks for itself, no?

m61376 said:

I would HOPE that Marriott is being good to its word and only allocating a fair share of each reservation period to each pool of users, as they stipulated they would be doing.

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Unlike the 13 month rule inventory, their "word" on this particular issue was never in writing, and that may be for a good reason...

If they are not good to their word on this, wouldn't this be the most obvious explanation?