Marriott Abound

[kozykritter]

Your post is wrong on so many levels and you do not seem to like the analogy with VSN, probably because it is too obvious that it is an exchange system, just like Abound. I hope you will be happy with whatever they have sold you and find peace as well.

Agree to disagree.

 

[sharr7]

Schrödinger's Maui Weeks: Owning a week that has so much value to the owner to use or rent that trading into an exchange is ridiculous, while simultaneously is about to be ruined by all the upcoming Abound exchanges that may allow points reservations between 8-12 months within that system.

 

[Eric B]

Your post is wrong on so many levels and you do not seem to like the analogy with VSN, probably because it is too obvious that it is an exchange system, just like Abound. I hope you will be happy with whatever they have sold you and find peace as well.

You are technically correct wrt what the VSN is. It's defined in the VSN rules as follows:

Network means the Vistana Signature Network , the service name given to the variety of exchange and reservation services and vacation and travel benefits currently offered and the restrictions currently imposed by Network Operator for Network Resorts. The Network is an exchange program offered by Network Operator, an exchange company. Network Members reserve the use of the Units through the Network, which may or may not include access to an External Exchange Program, as set forth in the applicable Network Documents. The Network is not a legal entity or association of any kind. Note that the Network was formerly known as Starwood Vacation Network and may be referred to by such former name in various documents and agreements. Also note that the Network was formerly known by the acronym SVN and may be referred to by such former acronym in various documents and agreements.

There is also the External Exchange Program (Interval International) for which there is an entire section dedicated in the VSN rules, Section V.

The miscellaneous Section includes a paragraph on Special Exchange Programs that reads as follows:

9.5 Special Exchange Programs. Network Operator reserves the right, from time to time, to enter into special exchange relationships with any entity other than an External Exchange Company pursuant to which Network Members will have access to selected non-Network resorts and non-Network owners will have access to Network accommodations after the Home Resort Reservation Period. Any special exchange programs will be governed by reservation rules and regulations similar to those governing an External Exchange Program.

Given the indications that Abound will have access to Network accommodations during the Home Resort Reservation Period, I would expect that it will be included as an additional External Exchange Program rather than a Special Exchange Program, but we'll see - they could modify that paragraph instead and include it there.

Bottom line is that we are in violent agreement on the VSN being an exchange system while II is and Abound will as be also exchange systems, but governed by a different portion of the VSN rules than the VSN itself is. The devil is in the details, of course, and we don't have any of those at all other than rumor and myth from sales and the rather opaque statements by Marriott.

I'm looking forward to seeing what changes are finally instituted and made public in order to figure out how things will work. If you think about it, the ability to book a floating week, if that is the type of ownership one has, is also a type of exchange system - my Lagunamar certificates are keyed to a specific week in a specific unit for inventory control reasons but I have absolutely no expectation of ever using the unit I own the right to use in the week I own the right to use it and fully expect that the usage will be exchanged every year for a different set of dates in a different unit. I won't pretend that my exchange of my floating unit/week there within the Home Resort Reservation Period isn't governed by anything other than the VSN Rules, though there may be nuances in the resort rules. That's why I keep referring to the VSN Rules - they're worth knowing about.

 

[SueDonJ]

For whatever peace of mind it might bring, and understanding that for some there won't be peace of mind until they see Abound in action for a period of time ...

It's not as though the governing documents of Marriott Weeks don't stipulate similar rights for owners to get access to the Weeks which were sold prior to the DC inception in 2010, and it's not as though there weren't many, many, MANY owners who anticipated that Marriott would play fast and loose with inventory such that those rights would be trod all over, and/or, that the new existence of another exchange company implemented and managed by Marriott would practically guarantee the same thing.

It hasn't happened. There is no inventory manipulation happening that has Marriott Weeks owners convinced that Marriott should be taken to court, and will lose, for breach of contract due to inventory manipulation that's in direct violation of contracts.

This isn't to say that it won't happen with the Vistana integration, only to say that there's really no track record at all for anyone to assume that it will.

Of course it makes sense for Vistana owners to keep a close eye after you're all able to start playing in the sandbox, but some of you sound as though you expect nothing except the absolute worst from Marriott! As a Marriott Weeks owner who has lived through the DC implementation - and other significant changes earlier than the DC - I just don't understand the rabid distrust of Marriott. I suppose I understand disliking Marriott - I probably would dislike Vistana if it had been Vistana absorbing Marriott and not the other way around. But distrust? Why? What warrants it?

For existing Vistana owners what appears will be on the table with Abound is the same as what was on the table for Marriott owners when the DC was introduced - i.e. the ability to enroll those ownerships into what is effectively just another exchange company albeit an internal one that uses points as currency. For some Marriott owners it increased the value of their ownerships, for others it offered no value, in both cases depending on the individual ownerships. And it's worth noting that here on TUG, some of the most outspoken opponents of the DC prior to and at its introduction eventually let go of their initial distrust of the unknown and happily enrolled their Weeks/bought Points. Keep an open mind.

 

[timsi]

Your ownership is defined as floating within a season and Lagunamar is your home resort. Based on all the Vistana rules and literature, if you chose a week at Lagunamar within your season, it is not an exchange, it is a home reservation. The week number on the deed/certificate is for inventory purposes only

 

[kozykritter]

For whatever peace of mind it might bring, and understanding that for some there won't be peace of mind until they see Abound in action for a period of time ...

It's not as though the governing documents of Marriott Weeks don't stipulate similar rights for owners to get access to the Weeks which were sold prior to the DC inception in 2010, and it's not as though there weren't many, many, MANY owners who anticipated that Marriott would play fast and loose with inventory such that those rights would be trod all over, and/or, that the new existence of another exchange company implemented and managed by Marriott would practically guarantee the same thing.

It hasn't happened. There is no inventory manipulation happening that has Marriott Weeks owners convinced that Marriott should be taken to court, and will lose, for breach of contract due to inventory manipulation that's in direct violation of contracts.

This isn't to say that it won't happen with the Vistana integration, only to say that there's really no track record at all for anyone to assume that it will.

Of course it makes sense for Vistana owners to keep a close eye after you're all able to start playing in the sandbox, but some of you sound as though you expect nothing except the absolute worst from Marriott! As a Marriott Weeks owner who has lived through the DC implementation - and other significant changes earlier than the DC - I just don't understand the rabid distrust of Marriott. I suppose I understand disliking Marriott - I probably would dislike Vistana if it had been Vistana absorbing Marriott and not the other way around. But distrust? Why? What warrants it?

For existing Vistana owners what appears will be on the table with Abound is the same as what was on the table for Marriott owners when the DC was introduced - i.e. the ability to enroll those ownerships into what is effectively just another exchange company albeit an internal one that uses points as currency. For some Marriott owners it increased the value of their ownerships, for others it offered no value, in both cases depending on the individual ownerships. And it's worth noting that here on TUG, some of the most outspoken opponents of the DC prior to and at its introduction eventually let go of their initial distrust of the unknown and happily enrolled their Weeks/bought Points. Keep an open mind.

A great perspective on things! Thanks for sharing. For my personal situation I see it all as upside for my Vistana ownership and the way that I travel yet that that might not be the case for everyone.

A potential source of distrust might be this is not the first time that something Starwood/Vistana related has been absorbed and changed by Marriott into something many people felt was much worse than what they had. The experience of seeing the much beloved SPG loyalty program get dismantled and poured into a loyalty program that felt like a giant cold machine and not anywhere near as customer focused as SPG left some people feeling sad and angry. Then once they merged SPG members in, Marriott went and watered down all the elite levels leaving SPG elites with fewer benefits than equivalent levels in the old program. And then of course there's been the constant devaluation of Bonvoy points... Right after the merger Marriott bragged that so many properties actually cost fewer points than before the merger and isn't that wonderful but yet 6 months later they raised all of those properties back up to the same levels or even higher. Sure, if you put your logic hat on you can recognize all of the expanded opportunities that came for an SPG member being merged in to a much bigger system with so many more properties. But emotionally many of us felt like we were told one thing and then within a year they pulled the rug out from under us. It's only natural now when they see Marriott about to integrate the last remaining part of Starwood that people would have trepidation and distrust after the previous experience. Even though I can recognize all the opportunities and recently actually bought a small amount of MVC points, every time Marriott chomps down on another piece of the former Starwood system, it still hurts a little as a reminder of what we lost along the way.

 

[dsmrp]

Your ownership is defined as floating within a season and Lagunamar is your home resort. Based on all the Vistana rules and literature, if you chose a week at Lagunamar within your season, it is not an exchange, it is a home reservation. The week number on the deed/certificate is for inventory purposes only

There are some sections in some Vistana resorts which were sold long ago as fixed weeks and have an 18 months priority to reserve/confirm. I myself have a Fixed week-Fixed unit. I agree with @kozykritter, @DavidnRobin and @alexadeparis that if an XYZ resort owner makes a conscious decision to opt for DC/Abound points, the owner's week becomes available to Abound members to reserve, and is out of the home preference period & pool for other XYZ owners to reserve. This is the same as when the owner decides to deposit their unit week in II for exchange; their week is no longer available to other XYZ owners. It is only when an XYZ owner in the VSN network exchange does nothing before 8 months, does their 'week' become available to non-resort owners in the VSN or other XYZ owners during the 8-12 month preference period.

I think the 13 month reservation preference for some DC elite levels is what's causing consternation.
I think the 13 months was originally designed for Marriott resort owners with 2 or more weeks, at the same resort, (@SueDonJ, plz help me out here...) Technically some Vistana unit-weeks are able to be released more than 12 months ahead of check-in, but the majority are only reservable as early as 12 months. So while elite Abound/DC members could make reservations 13 months in advance, I don't see it occurring very often for Vistana resorts, as long as MVC/MVW retains the current Vistana reservation windows. I'm not sure MVC can change the Vistana reservation periods even if they wanted to.

 

[kozykritter]

There are some sections in some Vistana resorts which were sold long ago as fixed weeks and have an 18 months priority to reserve/confirm. I myself have a Fixed week-Fixed unit. I agree with @kozykritter, @DavidnRobin and @alexadeparis that if an XYZ resort owner makes a conscious decision to opt for DC/Abound points, the owner's week becomes available to Abound members to reserve, and is out of the home preference period & pool for other XYZ owners to reserve. This is the same as when the owner decides to deposit their unit week in II for exchange; their week is no longer available to other XYZ owners. It is only when an XYZ owner in the VSN network exchange does nothing before 8 months, does their 'week' become available to non-resort owners in the VSN or other XYZ owners during the 8-12 month preference period.

I think the 13 month reservation preference for some DC elite levels is what's causing consternation.
I think the 13 months was originally designed for Marriott resort owners with 2 or more weeks, at the same resort, (@SueDonJ, plz help me out here...) Technically some Vistana unit-weeks are able to be released more than 12 months ahead of check-in, but the majority are only reservable as early as 12 months. So while elite Abound/DC members could make reservations 13 months in advance, I don't see it occurring very often for Vistana resorts, as long as MVC/MVW retains the current Vistana reservation windows. I'm not sure MVC can change the Vistana reservation periods even if they wanted to.

The letter from Brian Miller, head of MVW, told MVC owners that through Abound they could book Vistana at 12 months and MVC properties at 13 months. I'm going to believe that 12 month limit since it came straight from the horse's mouth in a communication designed specifically for owners and made the time limit distinctions between the two booking windows very clear. Hopefully that will bring some comfort to people.

 

[Eric B]

It is only when an XYZ owner in the VSN network exchange does nothing before 8 months, does their 'week' become available to non-resort owners in the VSN or other XYZ owners during the 8-12 month preference period.

If you go through the Sightings forum, you can find instances where availability is present in II during the 8-12 month preference period. I cited one instance of a Lagunamar week starting in March 2023 that was posted in that forum in the first half of May 2022. It wasn't a typical event week or anything, so I doubt that it was a fixed week ownership that resulted in the availability; I posted about that earlier in this thread. No idea if this was happening prior to the merger, but it seems to me that it's allowed by the VSN rules, which I quoted earlier, that allow the Network Operator to bulk bank for external exchanges as early as the opening of the 12-month Home Reservation Period. I don't believe it was an abnormality though I haven't done a thorough look and don't plan to because I believe it to be within the rules for the Network Operator to do that.

 

[DavidnRobin]

The letter from Brian Miller, head of MVW, told MVC owners that through Abound they could book Vistana at 12 months and MVC properties at 13 months. I'm going to believe that 12 month limit since it came straight from the horse's mouth in a communication designed specifically for owners and made the time limit distinctions between the two booking windows very clear. Hopefully that will bring some comfort to people.

iirc
Up to 12 months - not at 12 months

a small but important nuance


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SueDonJ]

There are some sections in some Vistana resorts which were sold long ago as fixed weeks and have an 18 months priority to reserve/confirm. I myself have a Fixed week-Fixed unit. I agree with @kozykritter, @DavidnRobin and @alexadeparis that if an XYZ resort owner makes a conscious decision to opt for DC/Abound points, the owner's week becomes available to Abound members to reserve, and is out of the home preference period & pool for other XYZ owners to reserve. This is the same as when the owner decides to deposit their unit week in II for exchange; their week is no longer available to other XYZ owners. It is only when an XYZ owner in the VSN network exchange does nothing before 8 months, does their 'week' become available to non-resort owners in the VSN or other XYZ owners during the 8-12 month preference period.

I think the 13 month reservation preference for some DC elite levels is what's causing consternation.
I think the 13 months was originally designed for Marriott resort owners with 2 or more weeks, at the same resort, (@SueDonJ, plz help me out here...) Technically some Vistana unit-weeks are able to be released more than 12 months ahead of check-in, but the majority are only reservable as early as 12 months. So while elite Abound/DC members could make reservations 13 months in advance, I don't see it occurring very often for Vistana resorts, as long as MVC/MVW retains the current Vistana reservation windows. I'm not sure MVC can change the Vistana reservation periods even if they wanted to.

Marriott's two systems, Weeks and DC (soon-to-be-Abound) Points, have separate reservation rules and Reservation Window/Inventory Release dates.

For Weeks: Each resort has its own Seasonal Calendar and its own check-in days of the week. Examples: Platinum season at a resort at Hilton Head Island is generally only the summer months while Platinum Season at the Hawaii resorts is generally all year long, and, most of the resorts at Hilton Head Island allow Weeks check-in days on Fri-Sat-Sun while the Aruba resorts allow Thurs-Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon check-in days. Owners of multiple Weeks can use the 13-mos Reservation Window to book any combination of multiple Weeks, or multiple lock-off components from multiple Weeks, when booking consecutive/concurrent stays, with the Release/Call-In date being 13-mos in advance of the first allowable check-in day of the first reservation desired. Owners who are booking a single Week can use the 12-mos Reservation Window, again with the Release Date being 12-mos in advance of the first allowable check-in date of the desired reservation. (It's not as confusing as it sounds, and, there's a tool on the website where you select Weeks usage then input the resort and the date you want to check-in after which it tells you the Call-In Day for each Reservation Window.)

For Points: Reservation Windows are determined by a DC Member's status, which is determined by the total number of Points which the owner has purchased and/or the total number of Points for which the owner can exchange enrolled Weeks. The top line of this "Benefits At A Glance" chart shows the number of Points required for each status tier, and, the second line shows the Reservation Windows depending on the number of nights of a desired stay. Again, the tool on the website makes it very easy to know the exact Release Date.

Weeks and Points inventory is not released on the same day, so the 13-months Release Date for Weeks usage is not the same as the 13-months Release Date for Points. Some Marriott owners know which days of the week each is released but I find just using the tool and not having to remember all the details is so much easier.

**********************
But when all is said and done, regardless of which DC/Abound Reservation Windows you're eligible, like every other exchange company ALL reservations are based on availability. If there are vagaries which should prevent Marriott from releasing inventory for reservation confirmations, I would expect that Marriott won't release it. And as has been said by so many others, nothing can be made available via the exchange company until and unless the owners (including Marriott for any intervals it owns, or any inventory machinations it's entitled to make) elect to exchange for DC/Abound Points. When that election is made with an enrolled Marriott Week it cannot be reverted back for any other usage, and I'd say it's practically a guarantee that the same will be true with Vistana elections.

***********************
Just want to say I don't want to be cluttering your thread/forum with unwanted info, and I know that my book-writing style isn't everyone's cup of tea. Know that I'm happy to sit and silently watch if that's what any of you need me to do - just say the word.

 

[Venter]

I think we all agree that some kind of exchange company is being used. The difference is in how they exchange.
VSN exchanges leftovers for leftovers at 8 months. Abound exchanges rights to use at a home resorts for rights to use at other resorts at 12 months for Vistana resorts and 13 months for Marriott resorts.

 

[jabberwocky]

Maybe, but corporations are supposed to maximize their profits so they may also keep a little bit more of the high demand weeks for themselves.

Those transactions you are talking about are also initiated by "owners with priority" (whatever that means) when they exchange in VSN. Abound = VSN , no difference in practical terms. VSN is supposed to abide by the rules and respect the home priority period and Abound not?

VSN is not Abound and they are not equal. They are two different systems.

If you opt to take Abound points with your home week, then Marriott can book that home week for another Abound user. Owners in VSN can only use their StarOptions at the 8-month mark and at that point they then give up their home week rights unless they are using banked SO, in which case their home week rights were given up when banking.

I don’t see what the big deal is here. To argue that a home week owner should get 12 or 13 month priority in Abound while not giving other Abound users have fair access to that week would unfairly advantage Vistana home resort owners who would then have less competition for those weeks. As long as the overall percent deposited into Abound is equally applied for all weeks of the season, it should not be a problem and is fair IMO.

 

[timsi]

would unfairly advantage Vistana home resort owners who would then have less competition for those weeks.

This is how home priority is supposed to work. First owners, then exchangers.

 

[vacationtime1]

VSN is not Abound and they are not equal. They are two different systems.

If you opt to take Abound points with your home week, then Marriott can book that home week for another Abound user. Owners in VSN can only use their StarOptions at the 8-month mark and at that point they then give up their home week rights unless they are using banked SO, in which case their home week rights were given up when banking.

I don’t see what the big deal is here. To argue that a home week owner should get 12 or 13 month priority in Abound while not giving other Abound users have fair access to that week would unfairly advantage Vistana home resort owners who would then have less competition for those weeks. As long as the overall percent deposited into Abound is equally applied for all weeks of the season, it should not be a problem and is fair IMO.

I agree completely.

The problem for us VSN members will come at the 8 month mark. There will be slightly less inventory because some owners will have elected DC points. But there will be tons more competition for the good weeks; we will be competing with every DC points owner.

 

[jabberwocky]

This is how home priority is supposed to work. First owners, then exchangers.

If I convert my week to Abound points I am in essence transferring my ownership rights to the Abound pool.

Owners should get better room assignments over exchangers. But transferring ownership booking rights to another party means they should get full use of those owner rights - otherwise you would get lower booking rights at Marriotts.

I much prefer this approach relative to HGVC Max where you can only use the other system at 6 months. It does give more options to actually book high demand weeks in the Marriott system (although personally I don’t see myself using it all that often).

 

[byeloe]

we will be competing with every DC points owner

not for the VSN 8 month inventory

 

[timsi]

If I convert my week to Abound points I am in essence transferring my ownership rights to the Abound pool.

Owners should get better room assignments over exchangers. But transferring ownership booking rights to another party means they should get full use of those owner rights - otherwise you would get lower booking rights at Marriotts.

I much prefer this approach relative to HGVC Max where you can only use the other system at 6 months. It does give more options to actually book high demand weeks in the Marriott system (although personally I don’t see myself using it all that often).

When you book in VSN you transfer ownership rights to VSN (just as in Abound) but without breaking the home priority rule.

I agree with you about HGVC, they seem to respect the existing rules and not create irreconcilable conflicts.

 

[vacationtime1]

not for the VSN 8 month inventory

Please persuade me I am wrong; this is my biggest concern about the takeover merger.

We know that Marriott trades its DC inventory back and forth with II inventory to fulfill reservations. Why wouldn't they continue to do this? As long as the VSN basket is full (i.e. there are enough weeks to cover StarOption requests), they could help themselves to the prime weeks without violating anyone's rights.

 

[sharr7]

iirc
Up to 12 months - not at 12 months

a small but important nuance


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Agree that people are so focused on 12 months to the day - I would expect in Abound there may be some 12 month inventory but more inventory appearing throughout the 12-8 month window as people elect for Abound points. I guess it depends on time of year and election deadlines etc.

Regardless, I think from 12-8 months, MVW's ability to "abuse" their powers is limited to owners that elect to convert to Abound. They can't just take weeks and make them available in Abound, it has to be initiated by the owner. Once elected, could they turn that into prime-only weeks? Perhaps but reports seem to be they don't do that - at least not to the point where it's a problem or an owner frustration.

I'm still a bit wary about what happens at 8 months - when everything in VSN becomes a "points" reservation. Do Vistana weeks stay in the VSN like always or do they become available to Abound? Perhaps both simultaneously? Will they run the black box that tells them expected interest from both programs and make the appropriate number available to each?

I have to think big picture the company WANTS to have everyone own points and have those points be in the same points system. Points are so much easier to control and re- or de-value than fractional ownership. There's a reason DP and Flex have been pushed for years. And why would they want to operate 2 systems indefinitely for their single program? But it's obviously not going to happen in 5, probably 10 years - so how long does it take - 20? 30? It's certainly a long game. What does that look like in VSN though? Maybe things that were regularly available at 6-7 months dry up quicker but are available in Abound? That's more my concern than exclusivity of home resort at 12 months, when they're already on record as saying those have to be traded to Abound to be available. But then I'm not a Hawaii owner so I value different things.

 

[kozykritter]

Marriott's two systems, Weeks and DC (soon-to-be-Abound) Points, have separate reservation rules and Reservation Window/Inventory Release dates.

For Weeks: Each resort has its own Seasonal Calendar and its own check-in days of the week. Examples: Platinum season at a resort at Hilton Head Island is generally only the summer months while Platinum Season at the Hawaii resorts is generally all year long, and, most of the resorts at Hilton Head Island allow Weeks check-in days on Fri-Sat-Sun while the Aruba resorts allow Thurs-Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon check-in days. Owners of multiple Weeks can use the 13-mos Reservation Window to book any combination of multiple Weeks, or multiple lock-off components from multiple Weeks, when booking consecutive/concurrent stays, with the Release/Call-In date being 13-mos in advance of the first allowable check-in day of the first reservation desired. Owners who are booking a single Week can use the 12-mos Reservation Window, again with the Release Date being 12-mos in advance of the first allowable check-in date of the desired reservation. (It's not as confusing as it sounds, and, there's a tool on the website where you select Weeks usage then input the resort and the date you want to check-in after which it tells you the Call-In Day for each Reservation Window.)

For Points: Reservation Windows are determined by a DC Member's status, which is determined by the total number of Points which the owner has purchased and/or the total number of Points for which the owner can exchange enrolled Weeks. The top line of this "Benefits At A Glance" chart shows the number of Points required for each status tier, and, the second line shows the Reservation Windows depending on the number of nights of a desired stay. Again, the tool on the website makes it very easy to know the exact Release Date.

Weeks and Points inventory is not released on the same day, so the 13-months Release Date for Weeks usage is not the same as the 13-months Release Date for Points. Some Marriott owners know which days of the week each is released but I find just using the tool and not having to remember all the details is so much easier.

**********************
But when all is said and done, regardless of which DC/Abound Reservation Windows you're eligible, like every other exchange company ALL reservations are based on availability. If there are vagaries which should prevent Marriott from releasing inventory for reservation confirmations, I would expect that Marriott won't release it. And as has been said by so many others, nothing can be made available via the exchange company until and unless the owners (including Marriott for any intervals it owns, or any inventory machinations it's entitled to make) elect to exchange for DC/Abound Points. When that election is made with an enrolled Marriott Week it cannot be reverted back for any other usage, and I'd say it's practically a guarantee that the same will be true with Vistana elections.

***********************
Just want to say I don't want to be cluttering your thread/forum with unwanted info, and I know that my book-writing style isn't everyone's cup of tea. Know that I'm happy to sit and silently watch if that's what any of you need me to do - just say the word.

Considering many of us are soon to become more intimate with the MVC system to some degree, I for one see the value in you sharing this information at just the right time. Thank you!

 

[kozykritter]

I agree completely.

The problem for us VSN members will come at the 8 month mark. There will be slightly less inventory because some owners will have elected DC points. But there will be tons more competition for the good weeks; we will be competing with every DC points owner.

I think I missed something or I misread what you meant. Has it been formally announced that DC owners will be able to book VSN inventory at 8 months? As far as I've read with Brian Miller's letter and the other general information released, Abound will contain the Vistana weeks whose owners elected to receive DC points in return. They haven't said anything officially about adding other Vistana inventory like unsold, take backs, FoFR, etc, have they?

 

[dioxide45]

Realize that Vistana/MVW can change the VSN rules at any time with or without notice. They could easily add a provision for Abound.

 

[timsi]

Realize that Vistana/MVW can change the VSN rules at any time with or without notice. They could easily add a provision for Abound.

Don't they also have to do it for every resort? And just because they can change the rules, it does not mean they should not comply with them as they exist today.

Changing the rules may not be as easy as it sounds when it comes to such dramatic shifts. Because there is a new points chart in Abound, certain resorts have lost up to 30% of their trading power in Abound (vs VSN) If those owners cannot find the usual inventory in VSN, they will be severely impacted if they trade through Abound for the same units. Once Marriott changes the rules, the idea that Abound is just another "option" with nothing to loose goes down the drain if it requires such a big legal and operational effort. I am not sure if this does not expose Marriott for more litigation risk since many owners will claim, and be able to prove easily , that this is not what they signed up for.

 

[dioxide45]

I keep seeing the words "litigation risk", is anyone here willing to put up for the effort?