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"Exciting" new changes

flyboy0681

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I received a call from MCVI inviting me to do a Webex presentation to explain the exciting new change that was implemented a few days ago. I declined, but am curious if his come-on was legitimate.

Have any new changes been announced that I may have missed?
 
Supposedly you can use Abound points to reserve hotels directly per a recent sales meeting. Haven't seen any formal confirmation yet though.
 
If it’s anything like the hotel bookings available now, I’m not very excited. We have a week booked at customer House for 3175 Abound points. The same week in a 1 bedroom suite at Longwarf would cost >20,000 Abound points.
 
They always claim there is something new and exciting for you to learn about! It’s just a hook to make you think you are going to miss out on something if you don’t subject yourself to their lie session.
 
Lots of "Hello, Hotels" placards and balloons at all the resorts. They are certainly trying to use it to hook people into presentations even though it won't launch until sometime this summer.
 
Lots of "Hello, Hotels" placards and balloons at all the resorts. They are certainly trying to use it to hook people into presentations even though it won't launch until sometime this summer.
Sell the sizzle, before the facts come out and prove there is no sizzle.
 
“Exciting new changes” either usually means loyalty program devaluation or timeshare sales. Take your pick.
Devaluation. In 2009 when Marriott Rewards (nee Honored Guest Awards) announced "exciting" new changes, they created two new categories and got rid of perks.
 
If it’s anything like the hotel bookings available now, I’m not very excited. We have a week booked at customer House for 3175 Abound points. The same week in a 1 bedroom suite at Longwarf would cost >20,000 Abound points.
Can what you said possibly be true, that a week in Longwarf would be 20k points? That would take me ten years to save up, and since banking is limited to one year, I'd never be able to save that much.
 
Can what you said possibly be true, that a week in Longwarf would be 20k points? That would take me ten years to save up, and since banking is limited to one year, I'd never be able to save that much.
Sure it’s true. Here’s the points chart directly from the MVC website. Keep in mind I’m comparing the 1 bedroom suite at Long Warf to a unit at Custom House, but that’s equivalent accommodations in my mind.
Exciting isn’t it?
 

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Supposedly you can use Abound points to reserve hotels directly per a recent sales meeting. Haven't seen any formal confirmation yet though.
I attended a presentation at Crystal Shores last week, and this was a big part of the pitch to buy more points. Some hotels are available now, and the bulk will be added "during the summer."
 
Sure it’s true. Here’s the points chart directly from the MVC website. Keep in mind I’m comparing the 1 bedroom suite at Long Warf to a unit at Custom House, but that’s equivalent accommodations in my mind.
Exciting isn’t it?
Those numbers are hard to take. I know the answer to my question, but I just don't know how they can sell that schedule. If it were 2,000 points per week, yes, but not per day for crying out loud.
 
I attended a presentation at Crystal Shores last week, and this was a big part of the pitch to buy more points. Some hotels are available now, and the bulk will be added "during the summer."
Those "some hotels" that are available now are what has long been available. What Marriott Vacation Club seems to be pitching now is far different than their current hotel offering through what they once called the Explorer Collection. Those were individual negotiated rates between the hotel operators and Marriott Vacations. What we seem to be expecting with the new program is access to all 9000 Marriott hotels with some more standard conversion rate. Either a conversion rate based on cash rates or based on Bonvoy point requirements.
 
Just got a call. Voicemail was about some "Very Important Updates." Has anyone called them back? Are they offering points to waste your time or just wasting your time?
 
Just got a call. Voicemail was about some "Very Important Updates." Has anyone called them back? Are they offering points to waste your time or just wasting your time?
Is this call in anticipation of an upcoming stay? Those calls are always, ultimately, to get you to sign up for a presentation.
 
Those numbers are hard to take. I know the answer to my question, but I just don't know how they can sell that schedule...
We've used the Explorer Hotel Collection exactly once - a three night stay at the JW Chicago for 1225 a night instead of a bit over $500 a night. Completely worth it since the points were in holding and using them at the JW was a much better value than a resort credit or any of my other holding point options.
 
We've used the Explorer Hotel Collection exactly once - a three night stay at the JW Chicago for 1225 a night instead of a bit over $500 a night. Completely worth it since the points were in holding and using them at the JW was a much better value than a resort credit or any of my other holding point options.
Holding points are perfect for this function, especially when the end of year suddenly arrives. A couple of years ago I found myself in the middle of December with a boatload of holding points and used them at Lakeshore Reserve in Orlando. I used the remaining, expiring points for resort credit and used it for some expensive dinners over at the nearby JW resort.
 
I think this program is in response to new owners quickly realizing that it was difficult to find resorts with available points reservations for a lower amount of VC points. The high demand resort weeks need to be reserved 12+ months in advance and require 4000+ points. The hotel option will give MVC sales people the opportunity to claim you can go anywhere at anytime using VC points. Family sizes are also smaller than they were when we bought our weeks, so more young people today don't require 2BR villas (and often don't cook).
 
I think this program is in response to new owners quickly realizing that it was difficult to find resorts with available points reservations for a lower amount of VC points. The high demand resort weeks need to be reserved 12+ months in advance and require 4000+ points. The hotel option will give MVC sales people the opportunity to claim you can go anywhere at anytime using VC points. Family sizes are also smaller than they were when we bought our weeks, so more young people today don't require 2BR villas (and often don't cook).
I'm Executive level and have about 4,000 points per year available and I have problems getting into properties, even at the 12 month point. Add to the mix that I'm retired and can travel during any week. Even finding something in shoulder season can prove problematic. I also feel the program has become stale because there aren't any new properties and don't care for going back to the same places. The product, alas, has matured - just like me :)
 
During our stay at MVC Ko'Olina, we attended a presentation and he asked why we wouldn't purchase more points and I told him it was bc they do not offer any resorts on the Southside of Maui. His response was that this summer we would be able to book the Marriott Wailea Resort with our Abound Points. Of course I just assume that the conversion rate will be horrible to do that. We have 4000 points now and he said anything below that will not be able to book anything without getting on a wait list.
 
We have 4000 points now and he said anything below that will not be able to book anything without getting on a wait list.
Wow, the same playbook that was used when points were introduced to get us off of deeded weeks. "You won't be able to book anything during your season..".
 
During our stay at MVC Ko'Olina, we attended a presentation and he asked why we wouldn't purchase more points and I told him it was bc they do not offer any resorts on the Southside of Maui. His response was that this summer we would be able to book the Marriott Wailea Resort with our Abound Points. Of course I just assume that the conversion rate will be horrible to do that. We have 4000 points now and he said anything below that will not be able to book anything without getting on a wait list.
So you are supposed to shell out tens of thousands of dollars on the hope that a non nonexistent product that you are "buying" will someday come to fruition and have a good exchange value to your? Comedy hour.

You should have said "because I can rent without an upfront payment to you." They really like that one.
 
Those numbers are hard to take. I know the answer to my question, but I just don't know how they can sell that schedule. If it were 2,000 points per week, yes, but not per day for crying out loud.
All they’re selling right now is the sizzle, not the steak. It’s sort of their golden hour when they can sell something and you can’t check out the facts prior to the rescind period expiring.
 
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