(9/6 - Still can't send a confirmation) The Vistana/Marriott Reservation System is a disaster.

[dioxide45]

They're automatically there in my Bonvoy account

Perhaps you took some steps at some point in time like @DavidnRobin did to associate your Bonvoy/Marriott Rewards/SPG number to your ownership?

 

[VacationForever]

When I bought my first Starwood timeshare in 1996, it said that it automatically turned my SPG to gold. It was 15 years of no gold before I called Starwood help desk and they then added my Marriott number to the account.

 

[jabberwocky]

Perhaps you took some steps at some point in time like @DavidnRobin did to associate your Bonvoy/Marriott Rewards/SPG number to your ownership?

Shortly after the merger Vistana still had my old SPG number on our account. The VIP check-in was able to go into the underlying system to update it to my Marriott Bonvoy number (we had previously merged my SPG into Bonvoy - but it wasn't automatically communicated to Vistana). This was not just a change for the current reservation but in our underlying Vistana account.

Since then I've had no issues with the Bonvoy account being credited or our Vistana reservations showing up in the app.

 

[CPNY]

Why did you say any of these when none of this is happening? You have fear and there is no data to back it.

Oh I’m going by the many many reports of zero inventory at 12 months. Inventory is showing but when owners are going to book it they are getting messages that say “your villa is not available try again”. So where is the inventory going?

 

[VacationForever]

Oh I’m going by the many many reports of zero inventory at 12 months. Inventory is showing but when owners are going to book it they are getting messages that say “your villa is not available try again”. So where is the inventory going?

Their online system is having problem. If you call the agents, they are able to book for you.

 

[djyamyam]

Perhaps you took some steps at some point in time like @DavidnRobin did to associate your Bonvoy/Marriott Rewards/SPG number to your ownership?

Yes. As @DavidnRobin referenced, there were emails from Starwood telling you to link your SPG and Marriott Rewards accounts. This looks like it was back in 2018. See screenshots below

 

[dioxide45]

Yes. As @DavidnRobin referenced, there were emails from Starwood telling you to link your SPG and Marriott Rewards accounts. This looks like it was back in 2018. See screenshots below

View attachment 53783

View attachment 53782

The second image was to link your SPG account to Marriott Rewards so any points and nights would transition over to the combined Bonvoy program. This applied to all SPG members, not just timeshare owners. Some resale owners have had success getting Vistana Owner Services to add their SPG/Bonvoy number to their Vistana profile while others were told it couldn't be done for resale ownerships. I have never called to try. We just always add our number at checkin.

We have two upcoming Vistana stays, one at WDW and another at WKV. I see the WDW reservation in our Bonvoy account but not the WKV. Looking back at my emails, I received an email with the Bonvoy confirmation number for WDW that was sent when they were converting these over. I suspect I went in to my Bonvoy account and manually added the Bonvoy number to it. I never received an email with the Bonvoy confirmation for WKV.

 

[jw0]

Thank you everyone for pointing out this issue. I would have felt terrible if my renter had difficulties checking in. This gives me time to try to sort this out.
I called the resort (Sheraton Broadway Plantation) and someone at the front desk will try to help. She had me forward the vistana email to her, so hopefully that's another way to sort it out.

 

[grgs]

Their online system is having problem. If you call the agents, they are able to book for you.

Apparently not in my case. I called in this morning to see if I could get the Westin Cancun reservation I wanted. I gave the rep the "Result ID" number I had and he said he saw the availability. But when he went to book it, the reservation wouldn't go through--same issues as on my end. He said he then checked a "different system," and in fact the resort is all booked up.

 

[rog2867]

I just looked at the system. I see no issues making reservations that are available.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I just looked at the system. I see no issues making reservations that are available.

There were big problems before, which was the purpose of this thread.

I always have big problems with booking my deeded weeks. But that is another complaint for another thread.

 

[grgs]

It worked as expected for me now. The dates I wanted came up, and I was able to click through and make the reservation! This message is posted:

 

[dsmrp]

I just looked the other day at Colorado resorts and several date July ranges showed up. Now, there is nothing available. I can't believe they all got reserved in 1.5 days.

 

[kozykritter]

I just looked the other day at Colorado resorts and several date July ranges showed up. Now, there is nothing available. I can't believe they all got reserved in 1.5 days.

If it was Westin Riverfront, believe it! Only 68 units there and any summer availability can get snapped up in moments.

 

[dsmrp]

If it was Westin Riverfront, believe it! Only 68 units there and any summer availability can get snapped up in moments.

No it was Mountain Vista/Beaver creek.
I should have grabbed the time, but it would have been close to the 60 day check-in mark, and I was afraid of having my options restricted if I had to make a change or cancel.

 

[kozykritter]

No it was Mountain Vista/Beaver creek.
I should have grabbed the time, but it would have been close to the 60 day check-in mark, and I was afraid of having my options restricted if I had to make a change or cancel.

You may have dodged a bullet as they are predicting another super hot summer there and SMV has no air conditioning. The Westin does, though.

 

[Nick66]

I tried to book ocean view at WKORVN on Saturday evening exactly when availability opened up 8 months in the future. I got the message saying your unit is no longer available. I did another search, ocean view was available so I tried again, and got the same message. On my next search, only island view showed up and I was successful at booking that. This all happened within 2 minutes of the reservation window opening for star option reservations.

 

[DeniseM]

I talked to an owner who was checking-in to her home resort on Saturday, and they had her July renter's name and Bonvoy number on her confirmation. I'm hearing these kinds of stories every day. The transfer of reservations to the front desks is still a mess. And to make it worse, the front desks often act like it's not their problem.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I talked to an owner who was checking to her home resort on Saturday and they had her July renter's name and Bonvoy number on her confirmation. I'm hearing these kinds of stories every day. The transfer of reservations to the front desks is still a mess.

I am so worried about our SBP rentals. This is insane.

 

[VacationForever]

I talked to an owner who was checking to her home resort on Saturday and they had her July renter's name and Bonvoy number on her confirmation. I'm hearing these kinds of stories every day. The transfer of reservations to the front desks is still a mess.

It kind of happened to me on the Marriott end as well. I rented out my weeks in March and added her name to the reservations. All subsequent emails on my other reservations were emailed to me but in her name.

 

[jabberwocky]

So what is the best practice now for adding a guest name to a reservation? Is it even worth adding a guest name on the Vistana website?

I tried to add a guest name through the Bonvoy system to test it out, but it says I have to call Vistana? Could I just call Marriott reservations and have them do it (I’m titanium elite so they answer the phone probably a lot faster than Vistana would)?

 

[CPNY]

After reading most of these replies, it’s no wonder that most of us vistana owners don’t like/trust Marriott Vacation Worldwide.

 

[DeniseM]

The only way to do it, at this time, is to add the guest on the Villa Finder, (or call) and then follow up to make sure everything is correct.

 

[dioxide45]

The only way to do it, at this time, is to add the guest on the Villa Finder, (or call) and then follow up to make sure everything is correct.

If you have the Bonvoy confirmation, it may be possible to go to Marriott.com and lookup the confirmation and change the guest name.

 

[DeniseM]

But the Marriott confirmations are very hit and miss - mostly miss. I even called owner services and requested one for my own home resort reservation, and they said "sure, no problem" and then sent me a Westin confirmation. I believe they "thought" they sent me a Marriott confirmation, but it didn't go out.