"Hello HOTELS" Speculation Thread [MERGED]

[rthib]

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?

 

[dioxide45]

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.

 

[ljmiii]

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.

 

[flyboy0681]

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.

 

[Superchief]

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).

 

[flyboy0681]

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

 

[cindyandjp]

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.

 

[flyboy0681]

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..".

 

[davidvel]

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? Comedy hour.

You should have said "because I can rent without an upfront payment to you." They really like that one.

 

[dougp26364]

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.

 

[goodbadugly]

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?

They have made it so difficult to use our points at high demand locations that they know we have to dump them on "deals" like this or cruises and tours. The "mob" could learn from these guys!!!

 

[dougp26364]

They have made it so difficult to use our points at high demand locations that they know we have to dump them on "deals" like this or cruises and tours. The "mob" could learn from these guys!!!

So far I haven’t had an issue using our points for resort stays. That could be due to the fact we visit different locations and aren’t locked into needing high demand dates in high demand locations. We spend a fare amount if our vacation time during shoulder season. It also helps that we’re able to book dates 12 and 13 months in advance as our jobs have generally allowed good flexibility in using our paid time off.

The only times we’ve had to dump points have been when there were issues with health or an interruption in travel such as that caused by the pandemic.

 

[rthib]

Is this call in anticipation of an upcoming stay? Those calls are always, ultimately, to get you to sign up for a presentation.

No, Next stay I have is December. And just did a tour and got points last month

 

[bazzap]

So today they were heavily promoting this option and they had displays all around the sales gallery.
We will see what the reality is fairly soon.
They did say that it would be limited to 1,000 hotels in the first year, starting this Summer, which does seem a little more realistic than other suggestions that all ~9,000 hotels would be available immediately.
Access will be available by app, so no phone calls necessary.
Pricing will be dynamic, so subject to change.
Apparently though, we will be able to cancel and rebook for lower Points if there is a reduction over time.
Points requirements should range from 125-225 per night for a Studio (Hotel room) up to 350 for a 2 Bed with a maximum 500.
Only time will tell if this is what is officially announced, but for non US resident Owners it could be a welcome additional option.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[dioxide45]

Yeah, they have all the same placards around all the Marriott, Westin and Sheraton vacation club resorts here in the USA too. All the marketing and sales staff is wearing "Hello, Hotels" buttons too. Of course I had to ask how I could get one. In any case, I will wait to see all the real details when they officially roll this out. I suspect will either be some kind of direct Club Point to $$ conversion or Club Point to Bonvoy Point conversion based on current rates if you were to just book through Marriott.com. I don't see Marriott Vacations trying to negotiate individually with all the different hotel owners and operators.

There are a few other threads on this subject.

"Exciting" new changes

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?

tugbbs.com

Using Bonvoy Points at Marriott Hotels (NOT MVC)

I know there were some comments in various threads, but just got this email after talking to a "concierge" about a sales meeting: Please join us for our 90 minute owner’s updated presentation! Here is just a sample of the items we will cover during the presentation: Extended reservation...

tugbbs.com

 

[frank808]

For $100 to $400 a night that would be a nice use of points. 80 cents a point x 125=$100 to 500 points at $400 a night for a nice marriott or westin would be a value I could live with.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

 

[jwalk03]

Seems different sales people are giving wildly different “valuations” for how the hotel booking option will work.

This tells me one thing, and one thing only…. They are lying and just making stuff up that sounds good to try and make a sale! (Like always!!)

Someone on a Facebook group says they were told it will be 100 abound points for $200 in hotel cost! (Yeah right!!; that one doesn’t even pass the laugh test.)

 

[bazzap]

Yeah, they have all the same placards around all the Marriott, Westin and Sheraton vacation club resorts here in the USA too. All the marketing and sales staff is wearing "Hello, Hotels" buttons too. Of course I had to ask how I could get one. In any case, I will wait to see all the real details when they officially roll this out. I suspect will either be some kind of direct Club Point to $$ conversion or Club Point to Bonvoy Point conversion based on current rates if you were to just book through Marriott.com. I don't see Marriott Vacations trying to negotiate individually with all the different hotel owners and operators.

There are a few other threads on this subject.

"Exciting" new changes

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?

tugbbs.com

Using Bonvoy Points at Marriott Hotels (NOT MVC)

I know there were some comments in various threads, but just got this email after talking to a "concierge" about a sales meeting: Please join us for our 90 minute owner’s updated presentation! Here is just a sample of the items we will cover during the presentation: Extended reservation...

tugbbs.com

For sure we need to wait and see what is officially announced.
They did show a demo website with initially included hotels and for those of us with enrolled weeks with MFs starting significantly lower than 80 cents per point hopefully the value may be quite worthwhile?


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[dougp26364]

Marriott has had some hotels available on their website. If you want to get an idea of just how bad the “value” is currently, take a peek. IMO, either they’re going to have to change current rates of exchange or, more likely, you’ll be trading you Abound Points at a 30% value.

I learned to wait until I see the baby rather make a decision with the start of labor pains. I still remember salesmen telling me Hyatt would be rolled into Abound along with Vistana, Sheraton and Westin. Then having them tell me Hyatt would be added as soon as they got the paperwork straightened out. Most now say it will never happen while a few salesmen continue to sell the idea it will happen at some point in the future.

Don’t buy now. Wait until we see the TRUE exchange rate. If I were a betting man, I’d bet the best you’ll get is 49 cent per point. That would make a $500 night cost a little over 1,000 points. Truthfully I believe the exchange rate will be closer to 1,515 points per $500/night hotel room. Of course that’s just my negative thinking side coming out.

I hope I’m wrong and the salesman are right, but if their lips are moving…….

 

[bizaro86]

I think it's a certainty that it'll be way lower than the trust MF - they have to recoup the money by renting trust inventory and it's got lots of off season weeks that don't rent well. I think $0.50 per point is as good as it'll get, and it could be lower or even much lower.

 

[RetirementPlans2028]

We are watching this closely because the more research we do, the more it seems that for the places we go, we can probably do better with nice hotels or rentals without the advance planning and commitment required for the buy option. It seems that we missed the window where buying was less expensive than renting these things, but we have not completely given up. Our worry here is that they will roll out attractive conversion rate for new purchasers that they somehow take away after we have committed.

 

[Hindsite]

Our worry here is that they will roll out attractive conversion rate for new purchasers that they somehow take away after we have committed.

It will be a discretionary benefit of ownership so don't buy based on any rate that gets launched as it can be changed or completely removed at any time.

Some of the prices I've seen for MVC weeks direct from MVC are much lower than I've seen for a long time, so now seems to be a decent time to buy direct, if you've worked out that is a suitable route for you.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I agree with @dougp26364 I will wait and see some DPs before I invest more. The good news is that I have 1 enrolled Abound deed. We were going to sell it because the MFs are high, but will wait to see if the hotels have good value. I suspect not because Bonvoy points have been deeply devalued.

A big problem with Abound is it is all or nothing to deposit whereas with SOs I can use half the lockoff as home week and half as SOs or rental. We have a WKV SO trader and an SDO which we would enroll if the price was right.

 

[chris5]

I'll believe the enhanced program when I see it. But I seriously doubt even with this so-called enhanced program that Club Points will get you a better deal than using cash or Bonvoy points for hotel stays at the upscale hotels. Every presentation we've attended the last few years has some sort of enhanced program hyped by the salesperson and it generally does not come to any fruition. This was also the case when we did a presentation last week at Marbella. We were told that Marriott was going to restructure the Club Points exchanges into the hotels, but when I pointed out this does not appear to be the case for hotels already listed in the program for Rome Italy (with dates in 2026) and that I would be a fool to exchange Club Points when cash or Bonvoy points would be a far better deal by a huge metric mile! Why would I exchange 2900 per night of Club Points for 2 nights at the Pantheon Iconic Rome AC Hotel when the cost for this would be 763 EU or 375K Bonvoy Points? BTW, the dynamic pricing for some of these hotels is already in effect on the Marriott website for using Bonvoy Points or cash. I get wide variations in pricing depending on dates of booking, or when I try to actually book online.

I've only used Club Points once for a hotel stay at the Grand Bohemian in Asheville NC and that was because the points were bonus points given to us that I forgot about -- and it was really a bad deal too to use them there.

 

[goodbadugly]

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.

I think they are now running out of the "sizzle"!