It is actualy much more than that... Marriott takes the lost value and can rent ot out for profit.
Take a very simple example. Assume for a second only two resorts and both all 2BR. Both resorts are float 1-52. Now each owner gets 5000 points, but it costs 6000 points to trade into their season.
Suppose only two owners trade to theother resort so they can get only 5 nights as follows:
Owner 1 trades from resort A to resort B for 5 nights using 5000 points.
Owner 2 trades from resort B to resort A for 5 nights using 5000 points.
All the other owners stay at their home resort.
So now there are 2 nights at each resort that go unused. Guess who benefits from this? Marriott can come in and rent those units probably at 75 days out or so.
Now assume 2 owners turn into 20,000...
Thank you!
I think this is a very apt way of explaining the dismay here with regard to the "skimming" and the concern that points awarded don't equate to the value of the week owned. ie. the comparisons between amount of points awarded vs. amount of points needed to reserve.
I think most of the people using the point charts and disparity are aware that they will still be able to reserve their week as a week -even if the points are not "enough" - by not opting points in a given year and that they can reserve their week "same as always' if they don't join. At least, I am. I certainly would also think that many other TUGGERs who have been around far longer than I, and are also viewing these disparities negatively also understand this. The problem that is addressed with the comparison is that their week does not get them an "equivalent week" at another resort with points -
therefore the system is not same for same with points making all values clear. Instead, it is Your value is automatically less 7% or more when you choose to exchange.
Then there are two other problems whether or not they join! 1) They'll have to compete with more people for the same reservations at home resort due to the new points tiered system, thus lessening their chances for the better weeks if they don't use their points or choose not to join, or don't have enough points for the better tiers. Yes, they can spend even MORE money to buy more points - but not with what they currently have, except to borrow, thus affecting the next year. 2) It seems that most of the phone calls and initial reading of the documents seems to support the belief that Marriott can and will take inventory from II for their points reservations. Thus everyone's ability to trade weeks in II will be affected. - this goes to those who say you can still take your week and deposit it w/II and use the Marriott 24 day preference period to trade with other weeks deposited. While people are aguing that II must keep points and weeks separate, I have seen that contradicted even by phone calls to Marriott and II. So my hunch is that II will have fewer Marriott weeks avail. for trade, and that if Marriott wants a week that pops up in II, it will be gone before ever offered to a week trade.
I see this as very similar to the Marriott Rewards devaluation that occurred before we purchased. Basically, the MR points allocated to my week don't reflect the comparable "value" of that week in two differing ways. My MF's are higher than the MR's. AND I cannot use the MR's to get anything comparable to the week I gave up. Therefore, I would be foolish to ever trade my HI week for Marriott Reward Points.
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I will, however, agree that I and others with fixed weeks are in a better position than many others, as I bought fixed weeks where I want to go. But floating week owners can lose in either system, the way I see it.
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The people who gain here are those with 13000 points or more and those who pay a number of fees every year for lock-off's/trades/etc. For them, it would be pretty easy to see that the newer system would be better and potentially
much better than what they have now. I guess also those who can't utilize the current system for whatever reason. Kind of like those who know they don't get equal MR's to their MF's but still see it as a good deal because they can utilize it differently.
I do think everyone should worry about how easy it is for the points/fees to change! And the voting rights. And any other fine print you sign off on by this contract.
Okay, now it makes sense. Whew.
