TravelTime
TUG Member
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2018
- Messages
- 8,093
- Reaction score
- 6,460
- Points
- 499
- Location
- California
- Resorts Owned
- All Resale: MVC DPs, Marriott Ko Olina, Marriott Marbella, WKOVR-N, Four Seasons Aviara
While I agree completely with your explanation of Marriott's motives and correct identification of their preferred stakeholders (shareholders always receive priority over their customers), I can easily explain why there may be resentment against Marriott or--in this forum--Hyatt. When the developers attempt to change the system from what was originally sold to buyers and thereby reduce the value of the original purchase equation, there is plenty of room for resentment. Hyatt owners don't resent Marriott, but there is a lot of mistrust that's been created over the past year or so since Hyatt introduced the Hyatt Points Program. It's a blatant ripoff of the points buyers and potentially affects the fixed week owners although, thankfully, the Points Program has been so wildly unsuccessful that the small population of Points owners have not been able to substantially affect the legacy owners from securing what they already own.
Ultimately, of course, corporations must walk the tightrope between keeping their customers happy while generating attractive earnings for their shareholders. When customers feel the corporation is juicing earnings on their backs by reducing the value of the product and/or too aggressively increasing pricing, that's when resentment builds.
Every Hyatt owner's sentiment is personal and individual to them, but my own snese from reading these Boards is that Hyatt legacy owners are very cautious right now with Hyatt management. Resentment is too strong a word for it. Watchful would be more accurate.
Yes, I did not mean Marriott specifically. It was inclusive of all the reputable American timeshare companies. I own Marriott and Westin so I tend to read those posts the most. I might be an optimist but I believe Marriott and other high quality hotel brands are trying to balance customer satisfaction with shareholder value. The thing is that sometimes I read emotionally charged accusations against Marriott, Hyatt and Vistana. I do not believe they are trying to rip us off. I expect things will change and evolve but since I bought resale at great prices, I am okay with that. I have factored in my initial investment and maintenance fees and assume MFs will go up and benefits associated with various levels will change. All the travel companies are constantly changing the number of points it takes to book. At least MVC, DVC and probably the others do not change the number of points at existing resorts.
Sometimes they even improve things for existing owners with grandfathering. Hyatt recently upgraded many Key West week owners to Platinum status, giving them more points. That seems like a huge win for the existing owners.
I think the MFs are a bargain for the room size, views and quality I can get compared to hotels. I still stay at hotels sometimes and pay cash. It is more expensive per night than my MFs for just a small hotel room.
Thank you TUG for showing us how to buy resale. I feel worse for people who bought retail because they lose 75% of their upfront fee as soon as the sign and leave. But even many who have bought timeshares retail seem happy if they know how to use their programs.