- Joined
- Jul 7, 2009
- Messages
- 1,265
- Reaction score
- 320
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Resorts Owned
- Marriott Grande Vista
We recently returned from our annual visit to our home resort. We attended both the owner's meeting and a sales pitch (though it's not called that).
Regarding the owner's meeting, they give you wine, beer, or soda and serve some apps, while various members of the resort walk around talking one-on-one to you and ask for your questions/issues, etc. We were given a list of resort enhancements when we walked in:
COMPLETED RESORT ENHANCEMENTS
When we went to the concierge desk to pick up our free gift (it was a reusable shopping bag) we were offered the "owner update" or whatever. We said we weren't interested, didn't want to buy points, and hated the hard-sell we got last time. But we were offered a choice of MRPs (sorry, don't remember how many), 1000 points, or $200 in American Express gift cards. We were also told 1) they pay us up front when we sign up, 2) it only lasts 75 minutes now, and 3) they would notify the sales gallery that we weren't interested in buying and did not want a hard sell. So we signed up.
I *hate* it when they make us arrive at 7:30 but our sales person is always 10-15 minutes late. I never know if the clock should start ticking at 7:30 or when we get to his/her office. I was nice and started my timer when we arrived at the office.
Our guy tried gently to get us to buy points (around $14/point now) by showing us how advantageous it was for us to go from Executive to Presidential. When we said no, he showed us how easy it would be to get there by buying a bundle (a week at MGV plus 1000 points). I've found the best way to deal with these people is to admit it's a "yes, that IS a great deal" but that we just didn't want to "at this time". Then he brought in the closer - a woman who offered to freeze the prices on the offers for 18 months by renting us a week's stay at Cypress Harbor (within that 18 months) for $1495 which would be refunded to us if we purchased one of their offers (points or bundle) with just a $100 non-refundable deposit. My DH almost fell for that but I was adamant with my NO so we got to leave. 
It wasn't a hard sell and it only lasted the 75 minutes they said it would (the previous 3 times we attended one of these it was 2 hours MINIMUM).
Regarding the owner's meeting, they give you wine, beer, or soda and serve some apps, while various members of the resort walk around talking one-on-one to you and ask for your questions/issues, etc. We were given a list of resort enhancements when we walked in:
COMPLETED RESORT ENHANCEMENTS
- Villas (West, Main, and Club Villages): Refurbishment, paint exterior, hallway paint, paint villa entry doors, A/C dehumidification project-105 villas, added villa luggage benches (200 total)
- Ice machines in 7 buildings
- Elevator modernization and cab refurbishment - buildings 80, 81, 93, 94, 95
- Pool 91 - furniture and paint
- Pool 97 - equipment, resurfacing, furniture and paint
- Replace gas (29) grills plus (10) charcoal grills
- Pavement/asphalt overlay
- Hallway tile sample Building 100 - 1st floor
- Renovate steam room at Main Pool
- Pool towel folding machine
- Fitness Center - strength and cardio equipment (Matrix)
- Roof replacement - buildings 91 and 92
- A/C replacement - buildings 79 and 86
- Villas (Golf): Refurbishment, paint exterior, hallway paint, paint villa entry doors, fire alarm panel and smoke detectors, add pantry (200 total)
- WiFi upgrade - resort wide
- Ice machines in 3 buildings
- Roof membrane/flat roof - buildings 88, 89, and 90
- Bat remediation
- ADA compliance of kiddie pools - Copa and Main
- Pool 97 - equipment and resurfacing
- Replaced fence at main entrance
- Appliance replacement - buildings 82, 83, and 87
- Pavement/asphalt overlay
When we went to the concierge desk to pick up our free gift (it was a reusable shopping bag) we were offered the "owner update" or whatever. We said we weren't interested, didn't want to buy points, and hated the hard-sell we got last time. But we were offered a choice of MRPs (sorry, don't remember how many), 1000 points, or $200 in American Express gift cards. We were also told 1) they pay us up front when we sign up, 2) it only lasts 75 minutes now, and 3) they would notify the sales gallery that we weren't interested in buying and did not want a hard sell. So we signed up.
I *hate* it when they make us arrive at 7:30 but our sales person is always 10-15 minutes late. I never know if the clock should start ticking at 7:30 or when we get to his/her office. I was nice and started my timer when we arrived at the office.
Our guy tried gently to get us to buy points (around $14/point now) by showing us how advantageous it was for us to go from Executive to Presidential. When we said no, he showed us how easy it would be to get there by buying a bundle (a week at MGV plus 1000 points). I've found the best way to deal with these people is to admit it's a "yes, that IS a great deal" but that we just didn't want to "at this time". Then he brought in the closer - a woman who offered to freeze the prices on the offers for 18 months by renting us a week's stay at Cypress Harbor (within that 18 months) for $1495 which would be refunded to us if we purchased one of their offers (points or bundle) with just a $100 non-refundable deposit. My DH almost fell for that but I was adamant with my NO so we got to leave. It wasn't a hard sell and it only lasted the 75 minutes they said it would (the previous 3 times we attended one of these it was 2 hours MINIMUM).