Abound contest

[GerryWA]

I think this is their attempt at smoothing things over for a horrible launch

Worked for me today, took a little bit to come up, but once it did was ok. Most interesting were the FAQs. My take As a Vistana owner is that I can just ignore Abound and not much changes for us.

 

[dsmrp]

I never got an email, but saw sweepstakes advertised w/links after I logged in to Vistana.

The entry form link posted in this thread gave me the runaround 'illegal email domain" error no matter which email address I used. I guess requires valid Vistana account to enter, and they are preventing bots or non owners from entering contest.

I don't recall anyone in TUG ever posting they won something in a Starwood/Vistana contest.

 

[dioxide45]

I don't recall anyone in TUG ever posting they won something in a Starwood/Vistana contest.

While it ain't no grand prize, here is something;

Claiming this prize might be another story. They send an email with a link. They ask for your address (mailing). After entering and verifying, then I get this but I did get another email that looks like it actually might have gone through.

 

[CPNY]

While it ain't no grand prize, here is something;
View attachment 71651

Claiming this prize might be another story. They send an email with a link. They ask for your address (mailing). After entering and verifying, then I get this but I did get another email that looks like it actually might have gone through.
View attachment 71652

Lucky you!

 

[buzglyd]

While it ain't no grand prize, here is something;
View attachment 71651

Claiming this prize might be another story. They send an email with a link. They ask for your address (mailing). After entering and verifying, then I get this but I did get another email that looks like it actually might have gone through.
View attachment 71652

I like how it says an email is coming SHORTY!

 

[fasha39]

Clicking on the links posted above, entering my info I get "ineligible email domain" error message

 

[dioxide45]

Clicking on the links posted above, entering my info I get "ineligible email domain" error message

YOu need to login and click on the Vistana logo in the upper left then click on the link for the sweepstakes.

 

[dioxide45]

While it ain't no grand prize, here is something;
View attachment 71651

Claiming this prize might be another story. They send an email with a link. They ask for your address (mailing). After entering and verifying, then I get this but I did get another email that looks like it actually might have gone through.
View attachment 71652

Won another 1,000 Bonvoy points as the clock passed midnight Easern Time.

 

[CPNY]

Won another 1,000 Bonvoy points as the clock passed midnight Easern Time.

Day one I had 16 entries after I played. Yesterday I went in and I only had 15 entries. Today I logged in and played again and I have 16 entries again. I’d assume they would keep adding up each day played but I guess not.

 

[daviator]

Day one I had 16 entries after I played. Yesterday I went in and I only had 15 entries. Today I logged in and played again and I have 16 entries again. I’d assume they would keep adding up each day played but I guess not.

I noticed the same thing. Apparently the daily play doesn't carry over from day to day.

 

[dioxide45]

If noticed the same. The total entries doesn't seem to accumulate with each win of a new entry. The odd thing is, I beleive this contest is 3rd party hosted, so it isn't like we could blame MVC IT.

 

[CPNY]

If noticed the same. The total entries doesn't seem to accumulate with each win of a new entry. The odd thing is, I beleive this contest is 3rd party hosted, so it isn't like we could blame MVC IT.

I think the initial consultation with the vendor went like this:

Marriott: ok so we want you to develop a contest because people are getting upset at the abound rollout. Since we know people like free junk like beach towels and useless bonvoy points this should help smooth things over.

IT company: sure we can do that….

Marriott: but here is the thing. We want people to think that it’s coming from us and not a third party.

IT vendor: got it, so you only want half of the owners to receive it and have it not work for the other half. Done and done.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I've been playing through the Vistana portal. Seems to work. I have 16 entries which are accumulating - won nada so far.

 

[iowaguy09]

I've been playing through the Vistana portal. Seems to work. I have 16 entries which are accumulating - won nada so far.

Same here.

 

[kozykritter]

My method is to log on to Vistana and then click the link in the VSE email to play the game. Then I sign out of Vistana, sign into MVC and click the link in the MVC email to play again. Dual owner benefit, I guess Today I was an instant winner on both...meaning 3 extra entries from VSE and 2 extra entries from MVC. They were instantly added to my entry tally.

 

[dioxide45]

My method is to log on to Vistana and then click the link in the VSE email to play the game. Then I sign out of Vistana, sign into MVC and click the link in the MVC email to play again. Dual owner benefit, I guess Today I was an instant winner on both...meaning 3 extra entries from VSE and 2 extra entries from MVC. They were instantly added to my entry tally.

Another pro tip, if there are other owners (spouse) and they have their own web profiles, they too can do the sweepstakes too. Dual ownerships, two owners means everything times four!

 

[grrrah]

woo hoo. I just won!

3 additional sweepstakes entries! I'm rich!

 

[dioxide45]

woo hoo. I just won!

3 additional sweepstakes entries! I'm rich!

You could be if those translate into a grand prize win!

 

[Eric B]

Another pro tip, if there are other owners (spouse) and they have their own web profiles, they too can do the sweepstakes too. Dual ownerships, two owners means everything times four!

Additional pro tip - if they made you establish new log on ids for ownerships on Vistana that they couldn't combine yet, you can enter for each one. For my Aventuras and my resale WLR that couldn't be added to my current log on that makes times 3! No additional Club Dues, either, since the WLR is not enrolled - I only had to set up a separate one for Aventuras since my wife is a joint owner on that one. Guess I have to do the entries for her, too!

 

[iowaguy09]

Additional pro tip - if they made you establish new log on ids for ownerships on Vistana that they couldn't combine yet, you can enter for each one. For my Aventuras and my resale WLR that couldn't be added to my current log on that makes times 3! No additional Club Dues, either, since the WLR is not enrolled - I only had to set up a separate one for Aventuras since my wife is a joint owner on that one. Guess I have to do the entries for her, too!

Thank you for the pro tip! Just played using the extra Vistana user account I had to set up, so now it’s double the fun through April 9, and I just won 1 free extra entry via the instant game.

 

[CPNY]

Finally I was an instant winner….. 3 additional sweepstakes entries….. I’d rather the beach towel lol

 

[dioxide45]

Finally I was an instant winner….. 3 additional sweepstakes entries….. I’d rather the beach towel lol

Yeah, I won the same thing. The number did go up incrementally. I will check later to see if it stays the same.

 

[CPNY]

Yeah, I won the same thing. The number did go up incrementally. I will check later to see if it stays the same.

I logged in at 17 and it went up to 20

 

[DanCali]

By the way, the official rules say prizes will be reported on W2 or 1099.

So that 2-year Platinum Interval membership that they value at $278, may actually cost you ~$100

The grand prize 1-week resort certificate valued at $5000, would result in a pretty big tax bill. Make sure to use it on some expensive resort!

 

[timsi]

I think this is their attempt at smoothing things over for a horrible launch

Or maybe it is an attempt to say the site works all the time, and now they have the "proof" that thousands of owners logged in multiple times. Who knows but the IT department should focus on the big backlog of issues they have to fix.