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Ko'Olina Update

Cruiser Too

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Greetings Marriott TUG'ers :wave:

We returned from two glorious weeks at Ko'Olina.

Our vacation coincided with the annual owners meeting so we attended and learned a lot.
Also spoke one-on-one with the Board President, the Resort Manager, the Owner-Relations Manager and the Director of Operations.

The new building, Hale Oahu, anticipated start-date of construction: 2020 !!!! :wall:

Along with Marriott's spin-off of the timeshare business, a new business direction came into play. In the past, each timeshare was evaluated independently. Thus, if it was financially feasible to build more units at a given timeshare, a green-light was usually given.
Under the new operating procedure, all timeshares are lumped as one and if it's not financially good for the whole lot, a red-light would burn.

Another upgrade, in process, will be a rearrangement of furniture in the studio lock-out. A small table will be added so a couple could have meals together instead of one sitting on the sofa and another on the bed.

A upgrade to the parking-garage's gate-lifting method. Currently you need to use your room key-card which often fails the first 3-4 times.
A new card will be issued where all you need to do is to tap it against the controller.

They mentioned other items but this is all I can remember.

Doug
 
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dualrated2

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Thanks for the update.

Did BQ or anyone else mention the failed attempt at a Chairman's Club exclusive line at the checkin counter? It lasted less than two weeks I believe before Corporate shut it down.
 

Cruiser Too

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Did BQ or anyone else mention the failed attempt at a Chairman's Club exclusive line at the checkin counter? It lasted less than two weeks I believe before Corporate shut it down.

It was up and running while we were there (Sept. 25th - Oct. 10th).
Didn't see anyone using it to check-in or out.

I suppose none of the high-rollers were vacationing ? :shrug:
 

Cruiser Too

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Just recalled other "upgrades" at Ko'Olina since we were there in 2015:

They've added a lot of umbrellas in the pool area.
Folks had complained there were "enough" and voila.. BQ came thru.

When someone suggested fire-pits to watch the setting sun, staff questioned:
  • Who'd want to sit in front of a fire-pit in Hawaii ???
They built it anyway and.... low-and-behold,
it was so popular, they built a 2nd fire-pit by the Naia bar.

They also added live music at the Naia bar during the evening.
 

frank808

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There has been live music at naia bar for at least four years. Though i have only seen it during the summer months. There is live music at longboards year round.
 

frank808

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I think there is a small chance it will be built. Marriott has been saying 4th tower will be built next year since 2011 or so. The latest estimate from BQ (general manager of mko) is now 2020.
There is only one reason marriott will build. Marriott will build if they cannot rofr enough units for destination club or convert existing hotel units. This would align with their asset light strategy.
I believe that the first sign of marriott needing to feed the sales engine is their recent offer allowing conversion of previously non eligible weeks into the club with a points purchase.
I am only speculating here but when sales really slow down i think there will be better offers to enroll weeks into the club. I see uneligble weeks owners as the perfect audience to offer conversions too. We are a big potential base to generate good bottom line dollars for very little cost to marriott.
 

SueDonJ

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Thanks for the update.

Did BQ or anyone else mention the failed attempt at a Chairman's Club exclusive line at the checkin counter? It lasted less than two weeks I believe before Corporate shut it down.

I've never heard of such a thing. Has it been tried/implemented at any other resorts?

Here at Barony this week - at check-in we got a card from the GM with our Welcome Packet acknowledging CC status and including his direct contact info if we need anything. I think that by itself is more than enough onsite, that the usage variances among the status tiers is enough "recognition."
 

Cruiser Too

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I've never heard of such a thing. Has it been tried/implemented at any other resorts?

Haven't been to Marriott-Marbella (we're owners) for awhile.
The last time we were there, circa 2007, there was an owners-only
check-in counter.

They also had a very nice Owners-Only party.
 

Cruiser Too

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I think there is a small chance it will be built. Marriott has been saying 4th tower will be built next year since 2011 or so. The latest estimate from BQ (general manager of mko) is now 2020.

One of the Marriott people mentioned a possible new direction for future Marriott timeshare units.
Instead of building new, they would purchase existing floors, in established facilities.
I recall seeing this practice for a timeshare in Bangkok.
The downside for us is often the lack of kitchen facilities.

I am only speculating here but when sales really slow down i think there will be better offers to enroll weeks into the club. I see uneligble weeks owners as the perfect audience to offer conversions too. We are a big potential base to generate good bottom line dollars for very little cost to marriott.

I would never convert from weeks. A week is 7-days.. period.
With "points" Marriott (and others) can easily tinker with the number of "points" required to stay.

Friends who are "points" people (not Marriott) spend annual family vacations, at the same timeshare, during the same season.
Out of the clear blue skies, a sales-rep called to inquire if they plan to do the same next year.
Upon confirmation, he informed them that they lacked the number of "points" for the following year...
and might they be interested in buying more "points". :D
Ka-Ching goes the cash register !!!!
 
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dualrated2

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It's being reported on another site that BQ announced last night at the luau that he was leaving in July and will be assigned to the new San Diego location.

He has been a breath of fresh air at Ko Olina and I hate to see him leave.
 

Cruiser Too

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It's being reported on another site that BQ announced last night at the luau that he was leaving in July and will be assigned to the new San Diego location. He has been a breath of fresh air at Ko Olina and I hate to see him leave.

SHOOT !!!!:ignore:
He'll be a hard act to follow.

San Diego location ???
Are there Marriott timeshares in the area ???
 

davidvel

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I believe that the first sign of marriott needing to feed the sales engine is their recent offer allowing conversion of previously non eligible weeks into the club with a points purchase.
I am only speculating here but when sales really slow down i think there will be better offers to enroll weeks into the club. I see uneligble weeks owners as the perfect audience to offer conversions too. We are a big potential base to generate good bottom line dollars for very little cost to marriott.

Enrolled weeks inventory cannot be sold as points, so they don't add to the sales engine.
 

frank808

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I meant that any money they get from weeks owners to enroll there weeks into the club would be easy money. They are doing that right now at a very high enrollment fee. I am speculating that there would be a better offer when sales slow down and VAC needs to show profit for wall street. It would be pure profit to get weeks owners to pay the enrollment fee to be in the club. Also the club would get weeks that are not as prevalent if the owner deposits that week for points.
 

JIMinNC

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San Diego location ???
Are there Marriott timeshares in the area ???

Not yet, but Marriott Vacations Worldwide has purchased the Declan Suites hotel in San Diego (it was a Marriott Suites and then a Sheraton Suites in the past) and is renovating it and making it part of the Destination Club System. I think points sales start there in 2016 and it will be available for points reservations in late 2016 or 2017.

This location is in addition to the proposed hotel conversion on the Big Island and the proposed hotel conversion in Miami South Beach.
 

silentg

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Not yet, but Marriott Vacations Worldwide has purchased the Declan Suites hotel in San Diego (it was a Marriott Suites and then a Sheraton Suites in the past) and is renovating it and making it part of the Destination Club System. I think points sales start there in 2016 and it will be available for points reservations in late 2016 or 2017.

This location is in addition to the proposed hotel conversion on the Big Island and the proposed hotel conversion in Miami South Beach.
We are staying at Ko Olina a few nights before we go to Maui! So excited, DH wants to go to Pearl Harbor. I just want to go to Maui! Won't be long til June!
 
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Cruiser Too

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Not yet, but Marriott Vacations Worldwide has purchased the Declan Suites hotel in San Diego (it was a Marriott Suites and then a Sheraton Suites in the past) and is renovating it and making it part of the Destination Club System. I think points sales start there in 2016 and it will be available for points reservations in late 2016 or 2017.

Hmmm... I suppose it's taboo property for us weeks folks ?

This location is in addition to the proposed hotel conversion on the Big Island and the proposed hotel conversion in Miami South Beach.

Hotel conversions usually amounts to no kitchen or mini kitchens... Ala Kauai Beach Club :mad:
 

JIMinNC

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Hmmm... I suppose it's taboo property for us weeks folks ?



Hotel conversions usually amounts to no kitchen or mini kitchens... Ala Kauai Beach Club :mad:

When they launched the new Vacation Club property at the Mayflower in Washington, DC they did deposit some inventory into II, I think. There will be no weeks owners at any of these new locations to deposit into II, so any inventory that makes it's way into II will likely be at Marriott's discretion I suppose.

They have not announced any details on any of these properties, but I would suspect no or minimal kitchen facilities. I think they have said in general comments that they see vacation tastes changing as the baby boomers that they built their business on age, get the kids out of the nest, and desire different kinds of locations, eat out more, etc. They seem to be trying to offer different kinds of locations with more full service hotel characteristics to try to adapt to changing tastes and to attract a new segment of owners who want something other than the traditional condo timeshare. This strategy also has the advantage of being somewhat more capital-efficient which suits their financial and ROI needs now that they are a separate company from Marriott International that needs to please Wall Street.
 

Werner Weiss

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Hmmm... I suppose it's taboo property for us weeks folks ?

No. It should not be "taboo" at all.

Marriott Vacation Club does an excellent job running its exchange program. That's were Trust inventory and weeks inventory (from owners who have elected points) comes together for the benefit of both kinds of owner.

The Marriott Vacation Club at The Mayflower in Washington, DC is an all-Trust property. I only own enrolled weeks. I successfully used my Elected Vacation Club Points (from weeks) to reserve nights there. (This was not an II exchange.)

Hotel conversions usually amounts to no kitchen or mini kitchens... Ala Kauai Beach Club :mad:

Although there have no details released about how the converted rooms will be configured, I thinks it's safe to assume that San Diego will have minimal kitchenettes at best.

The San Diego property was built in 1990 as a high-rise, all-suite downtown hotel with 264 suites. Each 2-room suite is 425 sq. ft., which is only slightly larger than a typical Marriott hotel room. (In comparison, a 2BR villa at Marriott's Cypress Harbour is 1,345 sq. ft.) The designers can be smart about how they convert and furnish the suites, but there's not sufficient room for a real kitchen.

I hope the kitchen facilities will be sufficient to have breakfast in the suite.
 

Cruiser Too

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No. It should not be "taboo" at all.

Marriott Vacation Club does an excellent job running its exchange program. That's were Trust inventory and weeks inventory (from owners who have elected points) comes together for the benefit of both kinds of owner......
The Marriott Vacation Club at The Mayflower in Washington, DC is an all-Trust property. I only own enrolled weeks. I successfully used my Elected Vacation Club Points (from weeks) to reserve nights there. (This was not an II exchange.)

I'm out-of-luck.
I'm a weeks person and exchange via I.I.

Although there have no details released about how the converted rooms will be configured, I thinks it's safe to assume that San Diego will have minimal kitchenettes at best.

Oh well... I'll continue exchanging into Welk's resort at Escondito.
FANTASTIC Resort.
 
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MabelP

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At this point, you are not out of luck for the Mayflower. My sister and husband spent last week there on an II exchange. Had a GREAT time!
 

SueDonJ

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One of the Marriott people mentioned a possible new direction for future Marriott timeshare units.
Instead of building new, they would purchase existing floors, in established facilities.
I recall seeing this practice for a timeshare in Bangkok.
The downside for us is often the lack of kitchen facilities.



I would never convert from weeks. A week is 7-days.. period.
With "points" Marriott (and others) can easily tinker with the number of "points" required to stay.

Friends who are "points" people (not Marriott) spend annual family vacations, at the same timeshare, during the same season.
Out of the clear blue skies, a sales-rep called to inquire if they plan to do the same next year.
Upon confirmation, he informed them that they lacked the number of "points" for the following year...
and might they be interested in buying more "points". :D
Ka-Ching goes the cash register !!!!

I'm out-of-luck.
I'm a weeks person and exchange via I.I.



Oh well... I'll continue exchanging into Welk's resort at Escondito.
FANTASTIC Resort.

It's not true that MVC "can easily tinker with the number of "points" required to stay." They can't do "inflationary" increases in the DC Points chart that are similar, for example, to the increases that occur routinely with Marriott Rewards Points requirements at the hotels. What MVC must do, and has done since the DC inception, is balance out any increase in a Points Chart with a decrease elsewhere in the Points Chart. Using the Easter and Thanksgiving floating holidays as examples, they can manipulate the Points Charts so that those specific higher-demand periods always require more Points than the lower-demand periods consecutive to those dates.

If you use the latest addition of The Mayflower as an example, it doesn't appear at all that Weeks Owners are "out of luck" with new properties. Here's the thread where we talked about the introduction of the Mayflower to the DC portfolio, and the different size units that are included. Reading through it you'll see that almost simultaneously MVW deposited intervals to II that were available immediately to Weeks Owners regardless of whether the Weeks were enrolled in the DC.
 

Cruiser Too

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At this point, you are not out of luck for the Mayflower. My sister and husband spent last week there on an II exchange. Had a GREAT time!

That sounds GREAT !!!
Thanks for chiming in Mabel P.

And... Thank You too, Boston-STRONG Susan !!!
 
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frank808

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For us weeks owners there is availability for exchange through interval international.
 
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