Thread Dedicated to the Upcoming/Anticipated Integration of Vistana and Marriott Ownerships

[Mowogo]

I'll admit, though, that all their talk during investor presentations about a combined product to sell leaves me stumped. Could there be a type of umbrella under which all DC and Flex Trusts could remain separate but with their corresponding Points sold as the same product?

If DC essentially ”purchased” all remaining flex points to add to DC Trust so the trust would essentially be owner of those home options in the existing trusts. And the process continues as future inventory is acquired through ROFR.

 

[JIMinNC]

My thinking has always been that the Exchange Company, not the DC Trust, was set up originally and deliberately to be the conduit through which any inventory could be manipulated. Meaning, Marriott could offer affiliation and open enrollment to any other timeshare/fractional companies/owners/members regardless of whether they come under the Marriott umbrella or not. If that's the case then Vistana members/owners could simply be DC Exchange Members like all of us Marriott enrolled Weeks Owners, defined as "affiliates." It's always seemed to me that would be the simplest of all the options to effect integration.

I'll admit, though, that all their talk during investor presentations about a combined product to sell leaves me stumped. Could there be a type of umbrella under which all DC and Flex Trusts could remain separate but with their corresponding Points sold as the same product?

While just making Vistana owners affiliates in DP could suffice to effect a common exchange platform for owners (i.e. the common exchange currency they have mentioned in investor presentations), it seems they want more than that. By going to a single product offering, they no longer have to have Vistana sales reps who are trained to sell Flex/StarOptions and MVC sales reps who are trained to sell DPs. By selling only one product, they don't have to maintain two parallel sales training programs, two parallel sales accounting systems, duplicative marketing materials and web sites, etc. Wall Street wants to see cost savings from the merger, and simplifying products can contribute to that goal. One company - one product (at least for their Marriott-owned brands). If I were running the company that would be my goal.

 

[daileys]

Newbie on here... read this thread and didn't see much discussion of what I'm most interested in as a MVC owner...

Westin has quite a few interesting properties / locations that MVC does not have - namely Mexico (both and East and West coasts) and Bahamas, plus additional Hawaii properties. My question is: when will Mariott owners be able to use DC points to book those properties, and what will be the points cost compared to MVC properties?

I live in California - the Caribbean is really tough to get to, so Mexico is really appealing, and even the Bahamas is an easier connecting flight from the US than Aruba etc. So I'm excited for these additional options.

Any thoughts on both timing of the actual ability to use DC points for Westin and how Marriott and Westin will decide on relative value vs some of the upper end MVC properties?

 

[JIMinNC]

Newbie on here... read this thread and didn't see much discussion of what I'm most interested in as a MVC owner...

Westin has quite a few interesting properties / locations that MVC does not have - namely Mexico (both and East and West coasts) and Bahamas, plus additional Hawaii properties. My question is: when will Mariott owners be able to use DC points to book those properties, and what will be the points cost compared to MVC properties?

I live in California - the Caribbean is really tough to get to, so Mexico is really appealing, and even the Bahamas is an easier connecting flight from the US than Aruba etc. So I'm excited for these additional options.

Any thoughts on both timing of the actual ability to use DC points for Westin and how Marriott and Westin will decide on relative value vs some of the upper end MVC properties?

If you read through the rumors above, the current "hot" rumor from two sources is March 14 announcement with availability starting in June. But those are just rumors from sales reps. The only authoritative factual info we can bank on is what Executive Management has said in their quarterly earnings calls. The specific quote from the CEO is in post #54 above. Very general and vague, but something is coming.

As far as points values, that will have to wait for them to publish the points schedules, but I would think they would want to come up with points values that are reasonably consistent across brands - i.e. - the Westin's on Maui would be in the same ballpark as the purpose built Maui Ocean Club Lahaina/Napili Villas just down the beach. But that's just more speculation.

If the March 14 rumor is true, we may not have to wait much longer to find out. If it's not true, we'll find out later this spring, most likely.

 

[michael49]

For what it's worth, the "Welcome" person here at Waiohai (full review to follow next week) also told us that the merger details will be revealed on March 14. Of course, she was trying to get us to go to an "update" presentation!

 

[dioxide45]

For what it's worth, the "Welcome" person here at Waiohai (full review to follow next week) also told us that the merger details will be revealed on March 14. Of course, she was trying to get us to go to an "update" presentation!

That is next Monday! Can't wait. I anticipate emails to go out on Sunday!

 

[jmhpsu93]

Sales rep today indicated a soft launch on March 14th with a real launch in June/July for booking 2023 dates, no additional details had been with sales yet.

They had a brief training that morning that showed some examples of points charts but nothing has been released officially. His theory is that Ritz-Carlton>Westin>MVC>Sheraton and that simliar seasons/views in comparable locations will reflect that. Example Westin St. John would be somehere in between RC St. Thomas and MVC St. Kitts.

He knew we weren't buying pretty quickly and had a pleasant chat with the rep and his team lead so I don't think they'd have any reason to lie about it.

 

[TravelTime]

Newbie on here... read this thread and didn't see much discussion of what I'm most interested in as a MVC owner...

Westin has quite a few interesting properties / locations that MVC does not have - namely Mexico (both and East and West coasts) and Bahamas, plus additional Hawaii properties. My question is: when will Mariott owners be able to use DC points to book those properties, and what will be the points cost compared to MVC properties?

I live in California - the Caribbean is really tough to get to, so Mexico is really appealing, and even the Bahamas is an easier connecting flight from the US than Aruba etc. So I'm excited for these additional options.

Any thoughts on both timing of the actual ability to use DC points for Westin and how Marriott and Westin will decide on relative value vs some of the upper end MVC properties?

I am in California too. I agree it is very hard to get to the Caribbean. We are going to Ritz Carlton St Thomas for 15 nights in June. We are flying out of SFO and I am using United miles since the cost per person was $1300+ and we are a family of 4. I live closer to Sacramento and to fly out from Sac would a lot more miles or even more expensive. Maybe I booked too late since I just booked a couple weeks ago. I was waiting to book due to Covid and making sure we could fly.

I am looking forward to a merged MVC/Vistana program even though I own MVC DPs and Vistana. I prefer booking with DPs because I can book at 13 months. Right now, if I want a location other than Maui where I own. I can only book 8 months out and then it is hard to find leftover inventory in desirable locations at 8 months.

I am also hoping that I will be able to move up to Chairman’s level with the merged program since I own a 2 BR oceanfront in Maui. If the DP values are the same as the MOC in Maui, then I would become Chairman’s Club. I am Presidential now, which I have been happy with.

 

[michael49]

And....no news!

 

[dioxide45]

And....no news!

Over in the sister thread on the Vistana forum, it was reported that the announcement was pushed back a week. Expect an announcement on the 21st! Woohoo!

 

[Eric B]

Over in the sister thread on the Vistana forum, it was reported that the announcement was pushed back a week. Expect an announcement on the 21st! Woohoo!

Should I keep holding my breath? Turning some funny colors….

 

[CPNY]

Over in the sister thread on the Vistana forum, it was reported that the announcement was pushed back a week. Expect an announcement on the 21st! Woohoo!

We shall see. I doubt it but that’s just me

 

[dougp26364]

Should I keep holding my breath? Turning some funny colors….

I’ve held my breath so long I could be mistaken for one of the blue Fugates of Kentucky

The Fugate Family Of Kentucky Has Had Blue Skin For Centuries — Here's Why

For 197 years, the Fugate family has remained sealed off from the outside world as they've passed their blue skin through the generations.

allthatsinteresting.com

 

[kds4]

During our update last week, rep didn't seem to try to 'spin'. Confirmed an 'overlay' type of product coming in the 'near future' once conversion rates between Vistana and MVC were finalized, that a new ownership level above Chairman's Club is coming (because of Vistana having a level of ownership with quantity requirements higher than Chairman's Club), and no need to buy additional points as current Chairman's Club would be grandfathered to the new level as they have previously unless you were already grandfathered to Chairman's Club. In that case you would remain at Chairman's Club while those who actually owned enough to be Chairman's Club would get bumped up - meaning only 1 'grandfather' benefit per account (no double-grandfathering). We didn't buy anything and left on pleasant terms.

 

[Fasttr]

During our update last week, rep didn't seem to try to 'spin'. Confirmed an 'overlay' type of product coming in the 'near future' once conversion rates between Vistana and MVC were finalized, that a new ownership level above Chairman's Club is coming (because of Vistana having a level of ownership with quantity requirements higher than Chairman's Club), and no need to buy additional points as current Chairman's Club would be grandfathered to the new level as they have previously unless you were already grandfathered to Chairman's Club. In that case you would remain at Chairman's Club while those who actually owned enough to be Chairman's Club would get bumped up - meaning only 1 'grandfather' benefit per account (no double-grandfathering). We didn't buy anything and left on pleasant terms.

I always enjoyed having 2 grandfathers. ;-)

 

[SunandFun83]

This is such a bummer. Zero advantage to Marriott owners. Big win for Vistana. There is not a single resort I’m interested in on the Vistana side. Is anyone else feeling like we points owners are going to be losing out?

You might open your mind and review the Westins that are superior or at least equal to Marriotts: Kierland, St. John, Nanea, Beavercreek. They also have unique locations like Cancun, Bahamas which widen the Marriott Map.

I am super excited to be able to book some.

 

[craigc]

I'm with you SunandFun83, I see quite a few I'd like to book in '23. I was not aware of the one in Scottsdale, that looks nicer than the MVC location.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I'm with you SunandFun83, I see quite a few I'd like to book in '23. I was not aware of the one in Scottsdale, that looks nicer than the MVC location.

Westin Kierland is gorgeous, and so is Sheraton Desert Oasis, for that matter.

 

[steve1000]

FWIW - I was told in an owner update today that the announcement of the new program that had been planned for March 14th was re-scheduled to Monday March 21.
We'll see if that happens.

 

[Fasttr]

FWIW - I was told in an owner update today that the announcement of the new program that had been planned for March 14th was re-scheduled to Monday March 21.
We'll see if that happens.

The IT department hadn’t started on the changes yet and figured they needed a week to implement the them. (Insert eye roll emoji here).

 

[dougp26364]

With all these dates they’re talking about, do they ever mention what year?

 

[Dean]

I'm getting some tidbits. Booking starts in June but only for 2023. Bahama's and Avon not in initially and no Hyatt initially. No more specifics than that at this point.

 

[dsmrp]

I'm getting some tidbits. Booking starts in June but only for 2023. Bahama's and Avon not in initially and no Hyatt initially. No more specifics than that at this point.

That's for Marriott folks booking Vistana. I'm curious about the other way around, Vistana booking Marriott.

 

[JIMinNC]

I'm getting some tidbits. Booking starts in June but only for 2023. Bahama's and Avon not in initially and no Hyatt initially. No more specifics than that at this point.

Based on Executive Mgmt’s statements, Hyatt is not just “initially”. They are contractually prohibited from including Hyatt under their Hyatt licensing agreement.

 

[Dean]

That's for Marriott folks booking Vistana. I'm curious about the other way around, Vistana booking Marriott.

What I'm being told is both sides will have the same guidelines. At this point I'm not getting any restrictions otherwise but that doesn't mean there won't be any. I'm guessing a reduced booking window but we'll see as more official info is released. What I am also being told is no enrollment of Westin/Starwood together with MVC currently. I know the info is sketchy but the source is reliable IMO.

Based on Executive Mgmt’s statements, Hyatt is not just “initially”. They are contractually prohibited from including Hyatt under their Hyatt licensing agreement.

I'm aware but that was the wording I was given which makes me wonder if there might be changes in the future or it might just be the way it was phrased.