Marriott Destination Points...They have done it!!!!!! {Merged}

[pfrank4127]

Is that right? I thought you convert to points you have to reserve your week with points every year.

Yes it is true. You yearly choose either to elect for points or to use your deeded week.


Does anything change after I enroll my week(s) with the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Exchange Program?

None of your existing options change after you enroll your week(s) with the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Exchange Program, except you will now have the convenience of paying consolidated Club Dues instead of à la carte fees. If you wish to continue using your week(s) as you have always done, you may. You never have to elect Vacation Club Points unless you want to. When you do elect Vacation Club Points, you will be able to redeem them for a vacation at another Marriott Vacation Club resort directly without exchanging through Interval International. You also will be able to check-in any day of the week, select the villa size that best accommodates your travel party and determine the length of your stay. You are no longer locked into 1-week vacations. Vacation Club Points can also be used for exciting travel adventures through the Explorer Collection.

 

[saturn28]

I did a quick, informal, unsolicited walkthrough with a sales rep at a local Marriott resort today.

One major concern I brought up was that my Platinum Manor Club 'redeems' for 2375 points, which seems VERY low compared to places I have exchanged into the past few years (like Newport Coast, where a comparable Platinum week requires 4725 points, nearly DOUBLE my Manor Club's points).

The way it was explained to me is IF I wanted to take my Platinum Manor Club week and request a straight 7-night exchange to another Marriott resort, I do NOT even have to 'redeem' it for my 2375 points (basically, the points chart is meaninless...now how would I have figured that out by myself? ); rather, I would simply inform my VOA that I wanted to request an exchange of my Manor week for say a Newport Coast week. The VOA would then process the exchange request, similar to what II does now. I asked for the specific language in some document that specifies this,,,he could not provide it, but will be getting back to me in a few days. -> The only time/reason I would bank my week for the 2375 points is if I were wanting to make use of the various 'enhancements' of the new program, such as reserve a Fri-Mon stay...

Cost to purchase is $9.20/point (normal price is $10/pt), and annual maintenance fee for the points is $0.40/point, subject to change.

There are one-time bonus points offered for enrollment and purchase of additional points - I forget the exact # but it was about 1500pts purchased gets you a one-time bonus of 1600-1800 pts.

That was all the time the rep had for me LOL. I guess I just sounded plain too skeptical and he had a client waiting.

Once a weeks owner decides to enroll in the points program, their week will no longer be available to weeks owners that don't join the points program. If they decide to not use points but make a weeks reservation, they have to go through Marriott to use II. That means even though they are depositing a week with Interval, it has to be done through Marriott. Therefore, it is no longer available to the weeks owner that didn't join the points program. There week will now only be available to points owners.

This is how Marriott intends to eventually restrict the weeks owner that decided not to enroll in the points program.

 

[OWMBGV]

The Marriott site indicated that I would get 3,225 points for my OceanWatch Platinum Gardenview. Does anyone else have any MOW examples?

Thanks.

Silver GV 1,225.

 

[wuv pooh]

Not really: let's look at Newport Coast: MF's 1100-1200? Waiohai MF's 1475

My Christmas Waiohai 4225 points does not get me Christmas NCV at 4725 points.
My New Year's week 5175 WILL get me New Year's NCV 4950

All summer weeks at NCV are MORE than my allotted Christmas week Waiohai!
June 24-June 30 4725
July 1-7 5675 (understandable 4th July week - won't ever actually get this with points unless you have Premier Plus is my guess)
July 8-Aug 11 4725

So my Christmas week pulls less than any summer week (!) at both Waiohai and NCV
And my New Year's week will possibly give me an extra day or two in the summer. Whoopie!!
Again, I don't see this gaining anything over the current extra I could get trading with an AC. And I have far less chance of trades to other HI resorts for equal 2 bedroom as I see it, as they are valued higher (to be fair, they pay more in MF's, I believe)

If I'm one of the biggest winners (which I still disagree with - as I think the only winners will be Premier Plus at 13000 points or more) I'm not looking that great. IMHO I should be able to get two weeks in Orlando right now with an AC for just one of my weeks (per your other example). So, again, I'm not seeing better benefits, and if I'm in the best position, then the system must be REALLY bad for everyone else.

Any flexibility comes at a great loss of point value - so I wouldn't give up a few days just to have a different start day in the week. I'd rather get my current value out of my MF's, not lose it!! If I felt that that additional $169 allowed me to change the start days at my home resort a bit or trade to other prime weeks at my home resort, it would be worth it to me. As it is, that doesn't seem to be the case.

You are thinking old system, welcome to the Matrix

Do the same thing, but only use Sun-Thu points. Then you will see the great value to you. If you are stuck in a weeks mentality then points will never be a benefit to you. In the weeks system any trade you make will always be to your detriment. In the Matrix you have a fighting chance

 

[kedler]

'

If you plan to buy resale, put into the contract that the current owner must join the new system prior to your closing on it.

Under that scenario I would think those benefits would then transfer to the new buyer.


.


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If you become an "Exchange Member" and then sell your week the disclosure guide says that:

"Exchange Members. If a purchaser of a Exchange Member’s Interest does not pay the then-current enrollment fee and enroll in the Program, such purchaser will not be entitled to be a Member and will not be permitted to access the Program in any manner.d

I read this paragraph as meaning that the Seller has to be in the Exchange Program and the Buyer must pay the current enrollment fee or be locked out of the Program forever (or at least until the Buyer buys points from Marriott in which case they can make an exception).

The converse is that if we don't "opt in" to the Program and then go to sell our weeks we are limited to selling to those that do not want anything to do with the Points program.

 

[urple2]

Is there a way to get "THE WORD OUT" to all MVC owners???

I would think getting some details out to timesharing today magazine wouldn't be a bad start.

Also posting on the interval message board will help getting people to think what they are doing... Let see if they delete my post.

 

[bw3]

convert to points......no way

I own several platinum weeks and have no interest in converting. If they are threatening to limit my options if I do not cower to their vision, maybe it is time we fire Marriott. Only then will they take owners seriously.

 

[Ann in CA]

Well, my first negative impression last night is still my impression. In 1998, our first time share was a Shell deeded week. When my husband couldn't get away for a whole week we bought into Shell's "new, exciting points program" for an extra $10,000, and have regretted it ever since. The cost in points keeps rising, but a deeded week always would have traded for another deeded week. Along the way, we also exchanged to a Marriott, and liked Marriotts better.

Then came TUG where we learned we'd made even more mistakes by buying from the developers. So now that we're more educated, I went round and round with the sales rep at Desert Ridge last week, and he tried to tell me that I was more educated than most owners, but also more misinformed. Hah! All my potential objections are coming true.

We were going to pick up a resale, but held off until the details came out. Now I am sorry we didn't just do it, and not worry about what Marriott might do. Don't think there is a chance we will give Marriott any more of our business now by adding anything. I will really miss getting some great online exchanges if the II offerings really dry up.

 

[scrapngen]

I'm seeing 13K to get to Premier Plus level.

Sorry, you're right - saw that 12,999 as 12000 (yikes! marketing works if you are just skimming for info.) I will stop propagating that error.

 

[timeos2]

Thats not good for owners

Here are a couple of interesting negative provisions in the enrollment contract that I read on vacationclub.com:

(Owner) will not exercise any vote Owner may have in the owners" association ("Resort Association") operating the resort in which Owner's Timeshare Interest is located ("Resort") in a manner that is, in MVCEC's reasonable discretion, detrimental to the Program, including, without limitation, voting to limit or terminate the Resort's participation in the Program.
. . . .

Upon renewal of membership, any and all claims against MVCEC are deemed waived at that time, and MVCEC is released from all liability, if any, arising out of participation in the Program which occurred prior to the renewal of same;
. . . . .

Now THOSE are some worrisome things to agree to simply to join an exchange program! You are saying you will NOT VOTE to remove Marriott as an option for exchange at the resort. Nothing wrong with that IF you agree but why agree now what you'll think 5 years from now? And would they ever try to use that as a way to say you cannot vote to end Marriott management at the resort? A much more likely desire - the exchange part is harmless - but that may be yet another way they are trying to lock in lucrative fees far above industry norms.

I'd have to say no to membership on that provision alone.

 

[tiel]

Tidbits

Just spoke Marriott advisor on the phone. Was told:

Today was a "soft" launch, so not everything is working online. Tomorrow is the real launch, and everything online is supposed to be functional.

Notifications to owners will made via email, where possible, but not all owners will be notified at the same time. The emails will be sent to "X" owners/day. Advisors are on mandatory OT for the next 2 weeks, at this point.

New "points specialists" have been in training for the last 6 months, and should be available at most of the resorts to answer questions and "sell" the new system. If you enroll in the new system, you will be assigned a points specialist who will assist you with your vacation arrangements, regardless of whether you want to book your home resort, deposit/exchange with II, exchange internally, convert to club points and bank/spend, or trade for Rewards points.

If you enroll in the Club, you will still need your existing II account to handle any weeks you have already deposited there and remain unredeemed. So, for some period of time, you may have two II accounts. The one you already have, and a new one that will be created for you as a result of enrolling in the Club. Any "new" activity would be processed through the new II account.

If you enroll and your current II membership is paid for more than 1 year into the future, you will receive an AC in your existing account. If it is prepaid for additional years, you may receive additional ACs that would be deposited in your old (existing) II account, over the life of your prepaid membership. The example given was, if your II membership is paid 4 years out, you would get an AC after the enrollment process is completed (including the paperwork that has to be done), and another AC at the end of year 3 of the old II membership. Don't know if they look at your II account as of today (JUN 20) to determine if you are eligible for the AC, or if they just check it whenever you enroll in the Club.

Here are the points for our weeks (all 2 bdrm L/Os except for MOW):

MOW (silver, OS) 1600
Shadow Ridge (platinum) 3075
Surf Club (gold, OS) 3075
Grande Vista (platinum) 2775
Mountainside (platinum) 5350

That's all I got! Good luck to all in trying to figure out what this new world means to you....

 

[wuv pooh]

I own several platinum weeks and have no interest in converting. If they are threatening to limit my options if I do not cower to their vision, maybe it is time we fire Marriott. Only then will they take owners seriously.

Then don't. No one is threatening you with anything. You can do everything you do today. If you do not buy the vision then your future opportunities to exchange into other Marriott resorts will be limited to exchanges with others who share your view if Marriotts vision prevails. Otherwise, everything is exactly the same for you - Use, exchange for MR points, rent, or trade via II.

 

[qlaval]

.... Can point reservations be rented????? I haven't figured that out yet...

5c. purchase or use of a membership in MVCEC for commercial purposes or for any purpose other than the personal vacation use of the Owner or Owner’s authorized guests as described in the Exchange Procedures is expressly prohibited...

 

[wuv pooh]

Now THOSE are some worrisome things to agree to simply to join an exchange program! You are saying you will NOT VOTE to remove Marriott as an option for exchange at the resort. Nothing wrong with that IF you agree but why agree now what you'll think 5 years from now? And would they ever try to use that as a way to say you cannot vote to end Marriott management at the resort? A much more likely desire - the exchange part is harmless - but that may be yet another way they are trying to lock in lucrative fees far above industry norms.

I'd have to say no to membership on that provision alone.

You are misreading John. You have to join annually as an exchange member. Trust members seem to give up their right, but they don't have deeds anyway.

For provision #1 if you want the resort to withdraw from Marriott then you should not join and use your deeded week to vote for change.

Provision #2 is already a provision of the II contract that everyone has agreed to. Not sure if this is the same at RCI, but I would expect it.

 

[KathyPet]

I guess I dodged the bullet here. I just received my closing instructions from St. Kitts on Friday for the resale unit we are buying and I have to sign and return with my cashier's check. I have been really worried about this new points program and whether resale purchasers would be able to join. Well since the cut off is 6/20 I can't join but then St. Kitts owners are not eligible to join anyway so I can breath a sigh of relief and know that the fact that no St. Kitts owners or Marriott itself can offer this program to new purchasers which means my purchase will not be devalued.

 

[Pit]

5c. purchase or use of a membership in MVCEC for commercial purposes or for any purpose other than the personal vacation use of the Owner or Owner’s authorized guests as described in the Exchange Procedures is expressly prohibited...

In other words, if your renter is your "authorized guest" then no problem.

 

[wsrobinson]

Is that right? I thought you convert to points you have to reserve your week with points every year.

No, that is not right. You convert to points and you can do anything you could do previously with your week PLUS convert your week to points and use the points in Marriott's new system.

 

[kedler]

They are charging separate fees for resale vs developer. For me one developer week the cost is $595, and two resales are $1995. if I do all three the cost is $2590.

The total you would pay is:

"If you enroll two or more weeks that have been purchased from multiple parties (Marriott and a third party), the total cost of enrollment is $1,995."

 

[scrapngen]

Renting not allowed if points member...

5c. purchase or use of a membership in MVCEC for commercial purposes or for any purpose other than the personal vacation use of the Owner or Owner’s authorized guests as described in the Exchange Procedures is expressly prohibited...

Thanks for finding that. Makes sense that they'd lock that up.

But what does that mean for the legacy owner with a deed who joins the new program?? Can they no longer rent their deeded unit if they don't exercise the points that year and reserve their deeded week simply because they signed up??? Which leads to the additional question of voting rights. Even if you don't exercise your week into points, do you still forfeit your right to vote????

Because there are plenty of people who use the option to rent their weeks some years. Will they no longer be able to unless they stay away from the new system?

 

[scrapngen]

In other words, if your renter is your "authorized guest" then no problem.

Don't think that flies under II's prohibition to rent now, as a rental is considered different than a "guest certificate" and many are warned here on TUG not to rent a unit that was reserved through II. I would think it would be similar??

 

[DanCali]

Points owners can do the same, and can do so in any daily increments that they desire. Also, I believe the points inventory opens each tuesday for the following week, a couple of days earlier than the thurs or fri that weeks inventory opens.

Where is this written?

Couldn't this look weeks owners out completely or just leave them with end of season reservations (e.g. December)?

 

[wuv pooh]

Where is this written?

Couldn't this look weeks owners out completely or just leave them with end of season reservations (e.g. December)?

It is in the Exchange Procedures disclosure on page 23 that comes up if you want to enroll your week. It is a chart, which I cannot format, but it shows the difference between Tuesday and Friday for reservations. If the inventory is mixed, then it will make a big difference. If the inventory is separate then I think it is just spreading out the calls.

the following is a summary of the Call-in Calendar:
If you are reserving:
And your desired Check-in is:
The first day to check availability is:
7 or more nights and are calling for a Priority 1 Reservation
Wednesday – Tuesday
Tuesday
13 months prior to check-in
7 or more nights and are calling for a Priority 2 Reservation
Wednesday – Tuesday
Friday
12 months prior to check-in
1 or more night(s) and are calling for a Priority 3 Reservation
Wednesday – Tuesday
Tuesday
10 months prior to check-in
1 or more night(s) and are calling for Open Reservation Time
Wednesday – Tuesday
Tuesday
60 days prior to check-in

 

[EducatedConsumer]

In other words, if your renter is your "authorized guest" then no problem.

To me, the "commercial relationship (revenue generating)" between the renter and unit owner could not be defended under the aegis of an "authorized guest."

It'll take just one "authorized guest" AKA "renter" to trip and fall in their villa and sue the unit owner and Marriott. I'd give Marriott no mare than a second when defending themselves to testify that rental arrangements are specifically prohibited; that would not lend a lot of credibility to the Defendant.

Granted, the scenario above has a low probability of occurring, I’m left to wonder why anyone (unit owner) would go there.

And people wonder why the IRS' Audit Department is so busy.

 

[qlaval]

 

[ondeadlin]

Then don't. No one is threatening you with anything. You can do everything you do today. If you do not buy the vision then your future opportunities to exchange into other Marriott resorts will be limited to exchanges with others who share your view if Marriotts vision prevails. Otherwise, everything is exactly the same for you - Use, exchange for MR points, rent, or trade via II.

This is unnecessarily confrontational and snarky IMO. One of the best things about TUG is the tone - please keep that in mind.