13-Month Maui Reservation Experience

[windje2000]

Dan,

I don't believe it is a hidden cost (to us), I believe it is a hidden benefit (to the DClub).

I believe that enrolling in DClub and then making trades thru II gives DClub a first pass to make your requested trade, giving Marriott the option to keep your week for the DClub instead of passing it along to Interval and to some random Marriott owner.

I've used this example before -- and if it doesn't work this way, Marriott missed a major opportunity to snag prime weeks.

Let's say that I want to trade my 3BR MOC week for a 3BR at Ko Olina. I call my Marriott VOA and say that I want to make this trade.

Marriott Trust has tons of 3 BR Ko Olina units in it -- I believe they would make that trade using Trust Inventory and take my MOC week into the Exchange Pool. Or maybe, they make a second trade simultaneously with Interval International providing the desired 3BR Ko Olina week, and then Interval has agreed to trade my 3BR MOC back to Marriott.

If they didn't, is Marriott really going to let the 3BR MOC go into II's inventory and just sit there?

So, I believe a major reason for the free II trades is to give Marriott a first look (Right of First Refusal concept) at inventory before it gets deposited into II.

I posted this theory before and it was criticized as too manual and labor intensive -- but I believe criteria could be established to make it very very simple -- ie, any 2BR or larger at a TDI property greater than 130 and the unit never makes it to II.

I would be very surprised if Marriott hadn't implemented something like this, but I have no evidence that the arrangement actually exists.

Best to all,

Greg

I agree that one Marriott objective with respect to the II account is to get 'first pass' although I've never seen it in writing.

What your hypothetical transaction goes on to describe is a request first trade - if you don't get it . . . there's no downside for you.

But what you describe as a Marriott 'first look' or ROFR concept is a lot like the Marriott owner preference or advantage in II.

That 'first look' represents an option on the week you surrender in favor of the members of DClub . . . to the exclusion of the other members of II who are Marriott owners.

Options have value.

The 'hidden benefit' you describe must have a 'hidden cost' to those who give that option to Dclub, the legacy owners who enroll. They got paid nothing for writing that option and, in fact had to pay to join DClub.

 

[SueDonJ]

Thanks. Though I am looking for a link to the post, not what we remember it said or our interpretation of it. I believe Dave included Marriott's actual language in response to his inquiry, that is what I want to see.

Did it specifically indicate points pools for converted or trust owners, or just enrollments? Of course what was said and what Marriott is in fact doing could be two different things.

Is this the one you're thinking of?

 

[dioxide45]

Is this the one you're thinking of?

I found that post in my extensive search and also thought that it may have been THE post.

That post was part of the "No access to trust pool" thread. It discussed which specific inventory was available to enrolled owners and confirmed what many believe, that enrolled owners can't directly book trust inventory unless it gets deposited in to the exchange company.

The post I am/was looking for relates more to pro-rata allocation of reservations on a week for week basis. I know it is out there is the mass of posts post 6/20.

 

[hotcoffee]

Is this the one you're thinking of?

I think that is one of the links that are pertinent. I think there was also a thread or discussion about a pro-rata allocation for each week at each resort.

Unfortunately, the supplied link does not really address the question of whether an enrolled owner who does not elect points competes with just other enrolled owners or all owners for reservations. I think it might infer that there is only one weeks pool at each resort rather than two (i.e., enrolled and non-enrolled) but it does not really address that question.

 

[pharmgirl]

Just looked to see availability for our weeks [own 2 weeks]. Surprise! stated no availability for KoOlina - couldn't be correct

Kept clicking and a points calendar came up to give dates when reservations are available for points owners - another surprise- they are working on developing an online calendar for weeks owners!!!! One of the things i liked about marriott compared to Starwood was being able to make our reservations using the online calendar. It was already available and I have used it for at least 3 years, now it is 'under development'???

what a mess Marriott has made

 

[sparty]

Just got back today from MOC, stayed in Napili. The thing that surprised me was the amount of sales traffic. Out of all the resorts I've been to, MOC by far had the most sales traffic. To me it seemed like people were buying points.

I didn't go to a sales presentation since last week I went to Kauai Lagoons presentation. Maybe sales are up at MOC and Marriott is booking people in for next year? Pure speculation..

 

[BocaBoy]

Just got back today from MOC, stayed in Napili. The thing that surprised me was the amount of sales traffic. Out of all the resorts I've been to, MOC by far had the most sales traffic. To me it seemed like people were buying points.

I didn't go to a sales presentation since last week I went to Kauai Lagoons presentation. Maybe sales are up at MOC and Marriott is booking people in for next year? Pure speculation..

Maui has always had a very good sales office. It does not surprise me if they are selling a lot of points. And they are pretty straight shooters, unlike some of the other sales offices. I will be in Maui next week and plan to attend a sales presentation to see how they are pitching points.

 

[BocaBoy]

Just looked to see availability for our weeks [own 2 weeks]. Surprise! stated no availability for KoOlina - couldn't be correct.

What weeks were you trying to book? Last year there was availability at Ko Olina for most weeks well past the 12-month window.

 

[dioxide45]

Just looked to see availability for our weeks [own 2 weeks]. Surprise! stated no availability for KoOlina - couldn't be correct

Kept clicking and a points calendar came up to give dates when reservations are available for points owners - another surprise- they are working on developing an online calendar for weeks owners!!!! One of the things i liked about marriott compared to Starwood was being able to make our reservations using the online calendar. It was already available and I have used it for at least 3 years, now it is 'under development'???

what a mess Marriott has made

Did you check online or call Owner Services? One has never been able to check 13 month availability online.

 

[pharmgirl]

that is the point - reservations seem not available online for weeks owner - I tried for this week for 2012, I think this is an error as I have no doubt there is availability

and the issue is no online calendar reservation for weeks owner when this has been available for at least 3 years

 

[MOXJO7282]

13 month rule worked for MOC

I was seeking the highly sought after President's week for my Maui Units. I didn't want to split anything but all this talk about not getting Maui weeks has gotten me very nervous so i decided to see what i could do.

This morning I split my Aruba Surf and made the following run

Aruba Surf Studio- Sunday Feb 5th
Aruba Surf 1BDRM- Saturday Feb 11th
Maui Original 2 BDRM OV Saturday Feb 18th
Maui Original 2 BDRM OV Saturday Feb 18th
Maui Original 2 BDRM OF Sunday Feb 19th

Don't like splitting my Aruba but was told I can try at 12 month window to combine although I will lose the $75 split fee.

All in all I'm happy to get the Maui weeks right because that is our next big trip for us so I really needed that school holiday week.

 

[DanCali]

I was seeking the highly sought after President's week for my Maui Units. I didn't want to split anything but all this talk about not getting Maui weeks has gotten me very nervous so i decided to see what i could do.

This morning I split my Aruba Surf and made the following run

Aruba Surf Studio- Sunday Feb 5th
Aruba Surf 1BDRM- Saturday Feb 11th
Maui Original 2 BDRM OV Saturday Feb 18th
Maui Original 2 BDRM OV Saturday Feb 18th
Maui Original 2 BDRM OF Sunday Feb 19th

Don't like splitting my Aruba but was told I can try at 12 month window to combine although I will lose the $75 split fee.

All in all I'm happy to get the Maui weeks right because that is our next big trip for us so I really needed that school holiday week.

Joe,

Since the OP was having trouble booking any type of room Maui for Feb 11 (and studios for Feb 4) and I have this 2 inventory bucket theory for weeks owners (enrolled and not enrolled) I was wondering if you knew more about the availability at Maui for the week of Feb 11? If you, as an unenrolled owner, can book that week and the OP, who is enrolled, cannot that must mean you are not pulling from the same buckets...

 

[MOXJO7282]

Joe,

Since the OP was having trouble booking any type of room Maui for Feb 11 (and studios for Feb 4) and I have this 2 inventory bucket theory for weeks owners (enrolled and not enrolled) I was wondering if you knew more about the availability at Maui for the week of Feb 11? If you, as an unenrolled owner, can book that week and the OP, who is enrolled, cannot that must mean you are not pulling from the same buckets...

First off I'm talking the original section and OP is dealing with the new wings, so its totally different from that perpsective. However that being noted there was inventory for Feb 11th in MOC, I just didn't want it.

 

[DanCali]

First off I'm talking the original section and OP is dealing with the new wings, so its totally different from that perpsective. However that being noted there was inventory for Feb 11th in MOC, I just didn't want it.

Joe - thanks for this info.

Not directly comparable due to the different phases, but an interesting datapoint nevertheless.