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Switching my Vistana Ownershio to New Marriott Vacation Club

M

mkyle

TUG Member
Joined
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Location
Toledo Ohio
I was told on a recent owner update at my home resort in Orklando that it would be best to convert my Vistana ownerships to the Marriott program they claimed that my current 81,000 options on a 2 bedroom per timeshare week would be converted to two 37,000 Marriott options which would be good for two weeks at any Mariott 2 bedroom property at any time per year. Has anyone else found this to be true of course this came at a price .
 
mkyle said:
I was told on a recent owner update at my home resort in Orklando that it would be best to convert my Vistana ownerships to the Marriott program they claimed that my current 81,000 options on a 2 bedroom per timeshare week would be converted to two 37,000 Marriott options which would be good for two weeks at any Mariott 2 bedroom property at any time per year. Has anyone else found this to be true of course this came at a price .
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Be careful.
 
mkyle-- can you clarify? Where were you... at a Vistana update/presentation or was this a Marriott update/presentation?
This may be the first glimpse behind the curtain toward integration. The Marriott trust will need some Vistana inventory for Marriott point usage.
 
Nobody really knows yet what the new program will look like so salespeople are playing on that lack of information.

The most consistent rumor is that the conversion ratio is 1:32 which would make your 81,000 Staroptions worth about 2500 Marriott DP. If you take a look at the 2022 points charts for Marriott you will see that it doesn't get you much, but it can get you a 2BR unit at some resorts during some off-peak times. This is of course assuming that your units would be eligible to enroll in that program - we don't know yet what the fees will be and whether it will apply to resale units too.

Do yourself a favor - do not make any hasty decisions, especially if those decisions involve spending more than $5000 and are based on information you hear from a salesperson that is not yet public information. Odds are that the salesperson doesn't know either (or is misrepresenting what they know), and is saying what they need to say based on your situation in order to make a sale.
 
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mkyle said:
I was told on a recent owner update at my home resort in Orklando that it would be best to convert my Vistana ownerships to the Marriott program they claimed that my current 81,000 options on a 2 bedroom per timeshare week would be converted to two 37,000 Marriott options which would be good for two weeks at any Mariott 2 bedroom property at any time per year. Has anyone else found this to be true of course this came at a price .
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Wow the lies are just so blatant…… These Marriott (I say Marriott since Marriott bought vistana and they are all Marriott employees now) are just terrible people. The lies are just getting worse.

don’t give that company a penny more than what your annual fees are now.
 
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The Vistana sales offices in Orlando are awful. Full of plenty of embellishments and mistruths. They know nothing more than we do. And if 81K StarOptions would convert to 37K DC points, I am all for it!
 
mkyle said:
I was told on a recent owner update at my home resort in Orklando that it would be best to convert my Vistana ownerships to the Marriott program they claimed that my current 81,000 options on a 2 bedroom per timeshare week would be converted to two 37,000 Marriott options which would be good for two weeks at any Mariott 2 bedroom property at any time per year. Has anyone else found this to be true of course this came at a price .
Click to expand...

Did you get it in writing? I bet not.

They are playing on everyone's lack of knowledge of what the integration will be. Yet, they know no more than anyone else.

DO NOT do anything based on their representation until the integration details have been formally released by Marriott Vacations corporate. You will be disappointed and will have very little if any recourse.
 
Where the Sales Person's lips moving?
 
Be careful. Lips is moving. What you own is perfectly fine.
 
It seems that no one on TUG has heard of this possibility. That’s highly unusual.

Furthermore, there’s been no official announcement that there’s been a systems merger or that such a system is available to,owners. I doubt that MVC would make such a monumental move without fanfare to announce that a nee program is available to owners.

If it were me, I’d have asked the salesman to produce something official. I’d also place a call to MVC corporate and ask them for information directly, along with having the name of the salesman pushing this idea. If I bought I’d darn sure call corporate within the right the rescind period.

Basically, I’m calling BS on the salesman’s claims
 
mkyle said:
I was told on a recent owner update at my home resort in Orklando that it would be best to convert my Vistana ownerships to the Marriott program they claimed that my current 81,000 options on a 2 bedroom per timeshare week would be converted to two 37,000 Marriott options which would be good for two weeks at any Mariott 2 bedroom property at any time per year. Has anyone else found this to be true of course this came at a price .
Click to expand...
Just curious- have you posted this over on the Vistana/Sheraton/Westin tug boards?
Wonder if anyone else with your ownership has received this same info since no one here seems to have heard about it.
 
I think its a near certainty that they are offering to take back your 81000 unit and sell you two 37000 flex units for a bunch of money. Maybe the sheraton flex units will automatically convert to Marriott, but I think its just as likely they'll want another purchase for that.

If you do this, you'll pay upfront, have less staroptions per year, and almost certainly have higher annual fees. This is likely one of the worst developer deals I've ever heard of, which is saying something.
 
mkyle said:
I was told on a recent owner update at my home resort in Orklando that it would be best to convert my Vistana ownerships to the Marriott program they claimed that my current 81,000 options on a 2 bedroom per timeshare week would be converted to two 37,000 Marriott options which would be good for two weeks at any Mariott 2 bedroom property at any time per year. Has anyone else found this to be true of course this came at a price .
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As others have said, be cautious. Regardless of the exact offer, it sounds like they're promising things that are not currently in place. I'd wait until all options are known and on the table before proceeding. It's very likely you'll be out big $$$ and not have what you think you're getting as a minimum but it sounds like you'll be out $$$ and be worse off.
 
It's really too bad there isn't reliable information on the exchange. I would like to get into MVC, and I've been searching for resale Vistana, which can be found pretty cheaply. There are some definitely appealing offers out there, but I can't pull the trigger until we know more about what's actually going to happen. I have my eyes on a $1 Vistana resale with 141k pts/$3k maintenance fees. I personally don't want to sign up for something that's upside down from a MVC maintenance fees perspective. At 32:1 it's $.68/pt, but who knows what reality will be.
 
Lodemia said:
It's really too bad there isn't reliable information on the exchange. I would like to get into MVC, and I've been searching for resale Vistana, which can be found pretty cheaply. There are some definitely appealing offers out there, but I can't pull the trigger until we know more about what's actually going to happen. I have my eyes on a $1 Vistana resale with 141k pts/$3k maintenance fees. I personally don't want to sign up for something that's upside down from a MVC maintenance fees perspective. At 32:1 it's $.68/pt, but who knows what reality will be.
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That's the nature of exchanging in general, the uncertainty. Being educated will help but ultimately there's a large element of faith and risk in the process plus the requisite planning ahead to be the most successful for most situations. Personally I think buying the other options hoping to get into MVC is even more risky and likely to be more expensive.
 
From what I understand, (spoke with someone in the know), unless they lied, but I don't think so as they were not trying to sell me anything, the conversion will be 1:32. This is really great for premium elite members as you go right into Titanium in Bonvoy. Also, what's good for Vistana owners is that we will still be able to convert 100% of our options to points. Whereas, Marriott depending on level only allows up to 65%. There are 4 buckets and one is to enroll in the "Marriott" bucket. If there is a cost, it will be nominal (so I'm told). You will have 13 months in which you can book properties and that will include Westins.

The other buckets are our normal Vistana options
Interval
and conversation to Bonvoy points.

I also believe that it is more advantageous to those who upgraded or purchased after the merger as the properties were already owned by the Marriott Corporation. If this information is correct, it could be a very positive game changer. Apparently, Vistana owners will come out ahead.

Has anyone heard any of these facts as well?
 
Oh, and I wouldn't convert anything or give any money until this is all in writing. The rollout will be in April (targeted) and announcements by October.
 
samcar1 said:
From what I understand, (spoke with someone in the know), unless they lied, but I don't think so as they were not trying to sell me anything, the conversion will be 1:32. This is really great for premium elite members as you go right into Titanium in Bonvoy. Also, what's good for Vistana owners is that we will still be able to convert 100% of our options to points. Whereas, Marriott depending on level only allows up to 65%. There are 4 buckets and one is to enroll in the "Marriott" bucket. If there is a cost, it will be nominal (so I'm told). You will have 13 months in which you can book properties and that will include Westins.

The other buckets are our normal Vistana options
Interval
and conversation to Bonvoy points.

I also believe that it is more advantageous to those who upgraded or purchased after the merger as the properties were already owned by the Marriott Corporation. If this information is correct, it could be a very positive game changer. Apparently, Vistana owners will come out ahead.

Has anyone heard any of these facts as well?
Click to expand...
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their eyes. I'll believe it when I see it in writing.
 
samcar1 said:
From what I understand, (spoke with someone in the know), unless they lied, but I don't think so as they were not trying to sell me anything, the conversion will be 1:32. This is really great for premium elite members as you go right into Titanium in Bonvoy. Also, what's good for Vistana owners is that we will still be able to convert 100% of our options to points. Whereas, Marriott depending on level only allows up to 65%. There are 4 buckets and one is to enroll in the "Marriott" bucket. If there is a cost, it will be nominal (so I'm told). You will have 13 months in which you can book properties and that will include Westins.

The other buckets are our normal Vistana options
Interval
and conversation to Bonvoy points.

I also believe that it is more advantageous to those who upgraded or purchased after the merger as the properties were already owned by the Marriott Corporation. If this information is correct, it could be a very positive game changer. Apparently, Vistana owners will come out ahead.

Has anyone heard any of these facts as well?
Click to expand...

First I’ve heard of this, but that doesn’t mean much.
 
samcar1 said:
Oh, and I wouldn't convert anything or give any money until this is all in writing. The rollout will be in April (targeted) and announcements by October.
Click to expand...
I have some pretty good contacts who would know if anything has been announced internally to the sales staff and they have heard nothing so far. The one certainty is that some will be unhappy with whatever program comes down.
 
Dean said:
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their eyes. I'll believe it when I see it in writing.
Click to expand...
Like I said, I wouldn't put any more money in now.
 
samcar1 said:
From what I understand, (spoke with someone in the know), unless they lied, but I don't think so as they were not trying to sell me anything, the conversion will be 1:32. This is really great for premium elite members as you go right into Titanium in Bonvoy. Also, what's good for Vistana owners is that we will still be able to convert 100% of our options to points. Whereas, Marriott depending on level only allows up to 65%. There are 4 buckets and one is to enroll in the "Marriott" bucket. If there is a cost, it will be nominal (so I'm told). You will have 13 months in which you can book properties and that will include Westins.

The other buckets are our normal Vistana options
Interval
and conversation to Bonvoy points.

I also believe that it is more advantageous to those who upgraded or purchased after the merger as the properties were already owned by the Marriott Corporation. If this information is correct, it could be a very positive game changer. Apparently, Vistana owners will come out ahead.

Has anyone heard any of these facts as well?
Click to expand...
A lot of this has been talked about in several posts over in the Vistana threads, and I have read most of them. I’ll focus here on the 32:1 conversion factor for Vistana to MVC points.

if I own 81,000 Westin Flex points, I can go to any of the Hawaii locations for 7 nights (one week) any time of the year in a 1-bedroom. Of course this is subject to availability even booking at 12 months, but what I get could be island (mountain) view or more likely ocean view, and I am not calendar restricted. When I look at the MVC chart to use my 2531 converted points to book MOC for a week, right off the bat I am limited to only a certain window of dates, and in that window of dates I am going to be able to choose Mountain View only. So I have yet to see how 32:1 is going to be a fair conversion for a Vistana owner like me.
 
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