Interesting Ocean Pointe unit placement and short stay dialogue

[Saintsfanfl]

Apparently I may have been wrong all this time and Ocean Pointe might in fact downgrade the view of an Interval exchange. I am wondering if this is simply giving Interval the right to switch the view rather than switching based on priority. I have no idea.

The dialogue on the short stays I believe is a technicality and I will find out on Sunday if I can check those in. The previous assumption that Interval cannot chop up a Marriott 7 day reservation might still be correct but clearly not believed to be the case by this supervisor at Ocean Pointe.

Thank you for submitting your online room assignment request. We have noted your requests onto your upcoming reservations. We will do all we can to best fulfill your requests based on availability.

11/24 – Oceanside two bedroom villa (7 nights) – {Renter}
11/24 – Oceanfront two bedroom villa (7 nights) – {Renter}

11/22 – Oceanside one bedroom villa (7 nights)
11/24 – Oceanside one bedroom villa (7 nights)
11/24 – Oceanside two bedroom villa (7 nights)
11/25 – Oceanside guest room unit (6 nights)
11/25 – Oceanside guest room unit (6 nights)
11/25 – Oceanside guest room unit (6 nights)
11/27 – Oceanside guest room unit (4 nights)
11/29 – Oceanside one bedroom villa (7 nights)
..............
{Supervisor}

Hi {Supervisor},

I hope you are having a good day. I just wanted to clarify a few things regarding my reservations. First the 2BR check-in in the second group, which is reservation number 88888888, is listed as Oceanfront on my marriott.com account. I realize that the view is not guaranteed with Interval reservations but I did not realize that Ocean Pointe modified the view. I know some other resorts do, especially the HHI Marriotts. This is not a problem but I was just curious on if this was switched to Oceanside.

Second, all four of the smaller "guest room" units are listed on my marriott.com account as a check-in of 11/24. I know the check-ins you list below came from Interval but I had one of these at Oceana Palms two months ago where they recognized the full 7 nights. This is no problem whatsoever I just need to know what to expect. When I check-in I need to plan who is going where. If I am unable to check-in those units on the 24th will I at least have the unit numbers on that date or do I need to wait until the check-in days you list below? Again, not a problem, but I am just trying to plan.

Good Morning {saintsfansl},

......Your four guest room reservations that starts on 11/25 and 11/27 are short stays. That inventory belongs to Interval International and they can sell the additional days to other guests. Therefore we at Ocean Pointe cannot confirm any of those short stays as arriving on 11/24.

Your Interval International two bedroom unit that I confirmed Oceanside is because Oceanfront is not guaranteed. As an owner with an exchange unit , we will do all we can to put you in a good location.

As a reminder we will do all we can to best fulfill your requests based on availability. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. Travel safely.

Kind regards,
{Supervisor}

{Supervisor},

Thank you for your responses. Just so I am clear on the short stays. You cannot confirm the 11/24 date because Interval can still sell those days. This does make sense, but if they do not end up selling those days will my check-in then be possible on 11/24 since that is the check-in showing in the marriott.com system? I know this is an "if", but I am curious. I don't think Interval set up their short stay system correctly for Marriott. They actually make no attempt to sell the rest of the days for some reason.

Thanks,
{saintsfanfl}

Good Afternoon {saintsfanfl},

Thank you for your quick response. Unfortunately I cannot answer that question. An Interval International representative is the only person who would be able to answer that question for you.

Kind regards,
{Supervisor}

My theory is that I will be able to check-in those short stays on the 24th since on that date those reservations will still be in my name for a 24th check-in. I think marriott.com will be the bible at check-in and not a list that was received by Interval. I could be wrong but that is my theory.

 

[SueDonJ]

Are you saying that you're expecting to check in for a full seven-day stay with each II short-stay you've booked? I'm not sure I'm understanding you correctly. If not, please feel free to correct me.

I thought it was a glitch between II and Marriott that when an II short-stay is booked then the actual dates of the stay don't show up correctly in our Marriott accounts, such that some of the resorts' records appear to show a seven-day stay when fewer than seven days are booked. And, that some TUGgers were reporting that when they showed up for their short-stay check-ins, some of the resort front-desk staff were under the mistaken idea that the TUGgers had booked a full week through II. So, some took advantage of the glitch and were successful with trying to check in for the full seven days.

If they've fixed this glitch and the resorts' records now reflect the actual dates of short stays (as opposed to the dates of the full weeks from which short stays are taken,) I think that's a good thing. I'd much rather that the records reflect correctly what's actually booked, even if it means we're not able to take advantage of a glitch that gives us more. If we're willing to accept those, are we also willing to accept Marriott/II instituting glitches that give us less than what's expected?

Like I said, correct me if I'm thinking wrongly here - my comments aren't meant to criticize you for something you're not doing.

 

[tschwa2]

As soon as I saw that the DC club was selling the program with different points for different views, I had a feeling that the days of getting what was on your II confirmation (what was deposited) would be a thing of the past. It makes no sense from an inventory control/revenue maxing standpoint to not take the best views away from II exchangers (who were never guaranteed views) and to use them to get the most money or points for each reservation. Not only does it free up the better views for DC and paid M.com guests it can be used as leverage to get current owners to join the DC and/or buy more points, "because the days of getting an oceanfront view from an exchange is a thing of the past and the only way to guarantee the view you want -or at least so you won't get stuck with the garden/courtyard view every time is by joining the DC."

For resorts (like in HHI) that already had an HOA approved published pecking order, Marriott will probably let stand for now in regards to II exchanges from owners and priority but I can see (since they stack the HOA in many cases) that in the future they may have the HOA's revisit and revise if it means more money for M.

 

[SueDonJ]

As soon as I saw that the DC club was selling the program with different points for different views, I had a feeling that the days of getting what was on your II confirmation (what was deposited) would be a thing of the past. It makes no sense from an inventory control/revenue maxing standpoint to not take the best views away from II exchangers (who were never guaranteed views) and to use them to get the most money or points for each reservation. Not only does it free up the better views for DC and paid M.com guests it can be used as leverage to get current owners to join the DC and/or buy more points, "because the days of getting an oceanfront view from an exchange is a thing of the past and the only way to guarantee the view you want -or at least so you won't get stuck with the garden/courtyard view every time is by joining the DC."

For resorts (like in HHI) that already had an HOA approved published pecking order, Marriott will probably let stand for now in regards to II exchanges from owners and priority but I can see (since they stack the HOA in many cases) that in the future they may have the HOA's revisit and revise if it means more money for M.

Not that it matters in this discussion but the exchange pecking order that the Hilton Head resorts follow has never been put to an HOA vote - it's just the way they've been doing things for ages. With exchange placement not being guaranteed, as you say, there wasn't any reason to put it to a vote. If you dig into the governing documents for all of the resorts I think you'll find that the overwhelming majority could implement the same placement policy without being in violation of the Master Deeds and Management Contracts, especially following the Reservation Procedures revisions that were implemented a few short years ago. IOW, a vote or further document revision probably wouldn't be necessary to implement a blanket policy now across all of the resorts.

It could be that the DC effect is at work here but I wouldn't be surprised either if Marriott has simply decided to apply a pecking order uniformly across all resorts, after hearing so many complaints over the years from owners about the unfairness of a policy being implemented at some resorts and not others. I like a uniform policy, am encouraged if things are actually changing to that end. But with Marriott you never know - the resort GM's seem to attribute things to "policy" only when it's convenient for them.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

Are you saying that you're expecting to check in for a full seven-day stay with each II short-stay you've booked? I'm not sure I'm understanding you correctly. If not, please feel free to correct me.

I thought it was a glitch between II and Marriott that when an II short-stay is booked then the actual dates of the stay don't show up correctly in our Marriott accounts, such that some of the resorts' records appear to show a seven-day stay when fewer than seven days are booked. And, that some TUGgers were reporting that when they showed up for their short-stay check-ins, some of the resort front-desk staff were under the mistaken idea that the TUGgers had booked a full week through II. So, some took advantage of the glitch and were successful with trying to check in for the full seven days.

If they've fixed this glitch and the resorts' records now reflect the actual dates of short stays (as opposed to the dates of the full weeks from which short stays are taken,) I think that's a good thing. I'd much rather that the records reflect correctly what's actually booked, even if it means we're not able to take advantage of a glitch that gives us more. If we're willing to accept those, are we also willing to accept Marriott/II instituting glitches that give us less than what's expected?

Like I said, correct me if I'm thinking wrongly here - my comments aren't meant to criticize you for something you're not doing.

I don't need the extra days but I was expecting to check all of them in on the 24th. It is how it is reported to work and what I recently experienced at Oceana Palms, although that extra day was on the back end. It would be easier for me planning wise to know the unit numbers on the same day but I will deal with it either way.

That said, there is no "glitch", and no "take advantage of". Interval owns all 7 days but for whatever reason they are not using the additional days. This is why when you book a short stay the entire week disappears and the other portion cannot be booked with a second short stay. So if the person checking in does not utilize the remaining days, nobody will. It was speculated by Dioxide that Interval has no ability to chop up the full week. This very well be the case although this supervisor is apparently waiting for Interval to modify the reservation.

I am not trying to pull a fast one. I just try and learn all I can about the ins and outs. I know for certain that Interval is not putting the remaining days back into the short stay pool. I have booked quite a few short stays and every single one had 7 days sitting in there and whether I book 1 day or 6 days, all 7 go away. It's not a glitch if it is on both sides, it is just Interval not doing what they originally intended for the program, for whatever reason.

Short stay inventory is very similar to XYZ inventory so it really isn't a "loss" for Interval if they are doing this intentionally with certain resorts where it is either impossible or impractical to chop up the week. They get two exchange fees with both programs.

 

[SueDonJ]

I don't need the extra days but I was expecting to check all of them in on the 24th. It is how it is reported to work and what I recently experienced at Oceana Palms, although that extra day was on the back end. It would be easier for me planning wise to know the unit numbers on the same day but I will deal with it either way.

That said, there is no "glitch", and no "take advantage of". Interval owns all 7 days but for whatever reason they are not using the additional days. This is why when you book a short stay the entire week disappears and the other portion cannot be booked with a second short stay. So if the person checking in does not utilize the remaining days, nobody will. It was speculated by Dioxide that Interval has no ability to chop up the full week. This very well be the case although this supervisor is apparently waiting for Interval to modify the reservation.

I am not trying to pull a fast one. I just try and learn all I can about the ins and outs. I know for certain that Interval is not putting the remaining days back into the short stay pool. I have booked quite a few short stays and every single one had 7 days sitting in there and whether I book 1 day or 6 days, all 7 go away.

I think if II defines the short-stay as a stay of less than seven days, which II does, then it's definitely a glitch to be taken advantage of if somebody gets the full seven days from which the short-stay is pulled. I'm not saying it's wrong for someone to take that advantage, but neither do I think it would be wrong for II and Marriott to fix the glitch or enforce the definition so that only the actual less-than-seven-days booked are allowed for such a stay.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

I think if II defines the short-stay as a stay of less than seven days, which II does, then it's definitely a glitch to be taken advantage of if somebody gets the full seven days from which the short-stay is pulled. I'm not saying it's wrong for someone to take that advantage, but neither do I think it would be wrong for II and Marriott to fix the glitch or enforce the definition so that only the actual less-than-seven-days booked are allowed for such a stay.

They should fix it. To leave it the way it is is incompetent. There would be plenty more short stay options if they left the remaining days in the pool to exchange into.

When I say not a glitch I mean more from the stand point of Interval is not just mistakenly giving the wrong info to Marriott. They are actually submitting the full week to Marriott and removing it from their system just as if it was a regular exchange. The majority consensus in previous threads is they are doing it intentionally. If it is intentional by Interval and they don't want the hassle of the remaining days then I can't call it a glitch. Either way those days are fully paid for and will go unoccupied under the current methods.

It would be nice if not only they could fix the chop up but also string together multiple days from 2 or more reservations. Currently you can't. I am sure that was their intention all along but I am betting it is complicated.

 

[sparty]

What a gig... Just curious, did you basically double down on the guest rooms? Locked off two units somewhere and then short stayed these two units to get 4 guest units with the intention of getting full 7 days of usage on all 4 guest short stay units because you believe Marriott doesn't chop weeks even though Interval's "short stay" concept is to chop.

Let us know if you get 7 days! Very enterprising to say the least.

Apparently I may have been wrong all this time and Ocean Pointe might in fact downgrade the view of an Interval exchange. I am wondering if this is simply giving Interval the right to switch the view rather than switching based on priority. I have no idea.

The dialogue on the short stays I believe is a technicality and I will find out on Sunday if I can check those in. The previous assumption that Interval cannot chop up a Marriott 7 day reservation might still be correct but clearly not believed to be the case by this supervisor at Ocean Pointe.















My theory is that I will be able to check-in those short stays on the 24th since on that date those reservations will still be in my name for a 24th check-in. I think marriott.com will be the bible at check-in and not a list that was received by Interval. I could be wrong but that is my theory.

 

[tschwa2]

From the standpoint of an owner at a particular resort, I would rather have the unit sit empty and not have additional wear and tear from someone who hasn't legitimately reserved those days through II or other means. I don't care if Marriott wants to give you 7 nights toward Elite status for booking less through a short stay but even that should not be expected.

I think you are much more likely to be able to use the full 7 days if you reserve the first 5 or 6 but even that should not be expected if you didn't reserve them.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

What a gig... Just curious, did you basically double down on the guest rooms? Locked off two units somewhere and then short stayed these two units to get 4 guest units with the intention of getting full 7 days of usage on all 4 guest short stay units because you believe Marriott doesn't chop weeks even though Interval's "short stay" concept is to chop.

Let us know if you get 7 days! Very enterprising to say the least.

I only needed the 6 days. We have a family get together and most of the family is getting there on Monday. That is why three of the Studios check in Monday but one checks in on Wed. I could have booked the Wed check-in for 6 nights but it would have sat empty and it is a few bucks cheaper for the shorter stay. But that said, yes, I got a free lock-off unit unit that included free usage and I used it to get the four studios. I have plenty of weeks to exchange so I would not risk the idea of assuming I would get 7 nights stay. There are plane tickets involved. I will find out at check-in though because it would be nice to at least know the unit numbers so I can plan who will go where.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

From the standpoint of an owner at a particular resort, I would rather have the unit sit empty and not have additional wear and tear from someone who hasn't legitimately reserved those days through II or other means. I don't care if Marriott wants to give you 7 nights toward Elite status for booking less through a short stay but even that should not be expected.

I think you are much more likely to be able to use the full 7 days if you reserve the first 5 or 6 but even that should not be expected if you didn't reserve them.

I don't disagree in principal but keep in mind all 7 nights were indeed paid for and reserved by an owner. It is Interval that chose to hand all 7 nights over rather than sell the additional nights. In fact it would cost owners more if Interval did manage the short stays properly and had a second exchanger come in because that would mean a full clean. As a matter of fact their short stay program allows the booking of a single night, so in theory you could have 7 single night exchangers, with 7 full cleans required. I think this is one of the reasons the system is not working as intended.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

An update on the result.

First, the 2BR Ocean Front exchange that the front office confirmed as Ocean Side was not only placed as Ocean Front, it was the highest Sunday check-in Ocean Front placement. It was the top floor of the Sailfish and I doubt the other three main buildings had a 7th floor Sunday check-in. It's very possible I was the highest on the priority list. There are likely only 7 2BR OF Sunday check-ins for the 4 main buildings.

The short stay check-ins were interesting. They checked me into the three 11/25 check-ins on 11/24. They verbally acknowledged they were for 11/25 but they said they have the first day of those so they are checking them in. I didn't ask about them but they saw I had 11/25 on a printout. The 11/27 check-in they did not include. They actually switched the check-in days of one of the 11/25's with the 11/27, so technically the 11/27 I checked in on 11/24 and an 11/25 will be ready on 11/27, but this was just an error. This does mean they are manually modifying their info based on Interval and it is not automated. Marriott.com still shows all of them as 11/24.

Another interesting note is that they combined incompatible check-ins. They attached an 11/24-12/1 Studio to an 11/22-12/6 1BR. I was very happy they did this but I thought it was not possible especially at Ocean Pointe. This shows me that they can do anything they want provided the availability is there.