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

[Numismatist]

I just asked that question of a sales rep and she had to get a supervisor. Apparently if you opt in to the points program, when you sell... the points option goes away. I was told this is true for resort purchase or resale purchases on any future resale. They indicated that existing owners have a deeded week and that doesn't go away. The potential new future owner would have to then opt in to the points program... if they are allowed to, and at a price to be determined then. The current conversion price is stated as a "promotion" price.

It will be interesting to see if you buy new (points), are those sellable at a later date? Let's see how the sales reps spin that if they have no future marketability.

That means that a potential buyer of my timeshare will be factoring in the cost of joining the points programs as well. There goes any price I might have gotten...:annoyed:

 

[DanaTom]

I just asked that question of a sales rep and she had to get a supervisor. Apparently if you opt in to the points program, when you sell... the points option goes away. I was told this is true for resort purchase or resale purchases on any future resale. They indicated that existing owners have a deeded week and that doesn't go away. The potential new future owner would have to then opt in to the points program... if they are allowed to, and at a price to be determined then. The current conversion price is stated as a "promotion" price.

It will be interesting to see if you buy new (points), are those sellable at a later date? Let's see how the sales reps spin that if they have no future marketability.

one more thing... based upon resale owner restrictions (if you aren't on MVC system by 06/20/10, you are not entitled to current promotion), I wonder if they will not allow resale to join in the future???

 

[timeos2]

I have to go with the points being assigned fairly. It appears to be so

Yup.....That's exactly what they've done......According to John, the fair amount of points for each week to have been alloted would have been approx. 4320, not 4075.

I have not, and don't plan to, go out & try to add up and average the values at the resorts to attempt to verify what Marriott did. There are enough (for me) cases previously posted here where an owner has done the math and is satisfied that at that one resort it is in balance - I've seen at least a dozen examples - so I'll have a bit of faith that in fact they did the math, double checked it and arrived at the proper figures. If in fact they are attempting to skim (or whatever you care to all it) then the whole thing qualifies as a scam and deserves to crash and burn. Whatever you think of Marriott that isn't something I'd expect from them. I do believe they are an ethical organization, looking to make money of course, but not by intentionally cheating people.

So I will place my trust in the fact that the base points, the assignment to the seasons and values are in fact the best possible and do represent what Marriott feels are the proper values. The remainder of the system has to stand on it's own merits and things may not be as rosy there. I plan to summarize my overall opinion soon simply as my personal take on the final product revealed.

 

[DanaTom]

That means that a potential buyer of my timeshare will be factoring in the cost of joining the points programs as well. There goes any price I might have gotten...:annoyed:

just means you only have the deeded week to offer, and trades through II... looks like it will reduce ability to trade into MVC locations as some existing and ALL future new sales will go into points.

 

[timeos2]

Keep it low and it OK

I just asked that question of a sales rep and she had to get a supervisor. Apparently if you opt in to the points program, when you sell... the points option goes away. I was told this is true for resort purchase or resale purchases on any future resale. They indicated that existing owners have a deeded week and that doesn't go away. The potential new future owner would have to then opt in to the points program... if they are allowed to, and at a price to be determined then. The current conversion price is stated as a "promotion" price.

It will be interesting to see if you buy new (points), are those sellable at a later date? Let's see how the sales reps spin that if they have no future marketability.

At least a few other systems - DRI for example - do not allow transfer at resale. To me a reason NOT to buy (unless I am willing to throw away that buy in cost as sunk expense over XX years). Low enough and it doesn't matter. Anything $1000 or less can be throw away IMO if I get at least 5 years out of it. Above $1K it starts to be a problem for me if it has no end value.

 

[floyddl]

one more thing... based upon resale owner restrictions (if you aren't on MVC system by 06/20/10, you are not entitled to current promotion), I wonder if they will not allow resale to join in the future???

That's a good point but I don't think not being allowed into the program would deter a resale buyer looking at saving a lot of money vs. Marriott developer pricing. I could be wrong.

 

[Numismatist]

I'm at Frenchman's Cove which is still in the process of being built. I'm wondering if it will become more popular in the coming years as it is finished and more people know about it. If so, it's value would go up; yet I have to accept the points I'm being given now while it is less popular/known.

Once I join, I'm locked in to the points they say it's worth right now instead of potentially more at a later date?

 

[DanaTom]

At least a few other systems - DRI for example - do not allow transfer at resale. To me a reason NOT to buy (unless I am willing to throw away that buy in cost as sunk expense over XX years). Low enough and it doesn't matter. Anything $1000 or less can be throw away IMO if I get at least 5 years out of it. Above $1K it starts to be a problem for me if it has no end value.

John, I agree with you... so, I'm still on the fence on if I will join. I have a resale deed, so I need to determine if the $1500 is worth it to have a little more flexibility, albeit for a lower valued unit. Because that $1500 is gone the minute I convert. Not that anything you buy through the developer retains much of it's value anyhow.

This entire process seems to suggest MVC wants more control of it's timeshares. I wonder if the MFs will soon be up with Starwood's?

 

[SueDonJ]

The whole thing you were excited about was getting credit for a 3 bed room unit when you trade rather than 2 bed rooms exchanges like in the past. Are you getting enough to book a 2 bed room similar week/resort and a one bed room week/ resort with your 3 bed room using points? Nope. 5750 points won't even get you a 2 bed room at a lot of resorts.

Now Marriott gives your 3 bed room unit 5750 points (the same number of points as a 2 bed room unit) and it seems like points will work out good for you? How can getting less than enough points than are required for a week stay in a good 2 bed room be an improvement over what you had before? you could trade for almost any 2 bed room unit using your 3 bed room before. Now many 2 bed room units are beyond your purchasing power using your 3 bed room's annual points allocation. Please do tell how this is an improvement as for example what weeks can you trade for now using points that were out of reach before.

My 5750 points for a Plat OS 3BR at SurfWatch gets me during the same weeks of my season a Plat 2BR OS at OceanWatch (good example of a similar area/location newer resort) for anywhere between 3175 and 4725 points depending on which week. The 4725 is the highest-demand July 4th holiday, it's 3175 for the earliest/latest weeks in the season, the remaining weeks in the season require 4175. All of those would give me back points which could be banked for the following year or used in the same year for off-season stays of any number of nights. If I didn't enroll in Points, my 3BR SW deposit wouldn't get me anything more than the 2BR at OceanWatch (which would possibly be a gardenview as an exchanger,) considering that this year the SW week is not eligible for an AC if deposited.

Look Tombo, I posted in another thread that I understand what you mean by "skimming" and I'm not thrilled with it either. But the way I figure, it's offset by the impact that this will have on inventory in the Weeks system.

I also posted throughout those months of speculation that I expected points inflation to occur between resorts, I expected that whatever Marriott did they certainly would not be concerned about resale values and would negatively impact them if they could, I expected that the inventory in II would be negatively impacted at least to the extent that Starwood was able to do so. None of those are a surprise. All of them will exist from this point forward regardless of the system you choose.

What IS a surprise is the relatively low enrollment and annual fees (for direct purchases) even considering that Club Dues will probably increase at the rate of m/f. I LOVE the flexibility of the Points system - it's another thing that I posted repeatedly. I said if it was rolled out as an overlay exchange system offering a marriage of DVC's system with Marriott's resorts then "I'd be over the moon." Well, that's what it's rolled out to be - why wouldn't I be happy? Everything that I like about DVC is here: home resort reservations procedures and m/f (although not for new owners who can only buy Points,) flexibility with more or less than 7 night stays, banking and borrowing, instant reservation confirmations ...

I'm still looking at it, haven't committed yet. There are some contract things that I want to be aware of, and certainly the inconsistencies that seem to be happening with SW's point values need to be fixed. (It isn't that 2- and 3-BR units are supposed to be assigned the same values, btw, it's that the system appears to be incorrectly doing that now. They're aware of the problem and looking into it.) But it simply comes down to, Points might work better for me on a consistent basis than Weeks have in the past or will in the future, especially with the Premier Plus advantage.

What works or doesn't work for you may not be the same for somebody else. I'm not implying that you may not understand things enough to see or not see the advantages/disadvantages in your choice. I sure wish I wasn't reading that implication in your words.

 

[ArtsieAng]

timeos2

I have not, and don't plan to, go out & try to add up and average the values at the resorts to attempt to verify what Marriott did. There are enough (for me) cases previously posted here where an owner has done the math and is satisfied that at that one resort it is in balance - I've seen at least a dozen examples

Hmmmmm, If I look at the points conversion thread, I see just the opposite. Not sure where you are seeing a "dozen," that are saying the numbers work out to your scenario? However, I will take another look.

 

[eileenpat]

Outrages fees

I just got off the phone with Marriott and cannot believe the fees that are charging to enroll in the point system! If you bought resale your fee is exceptionally higher then if you bought thru them! Do they really think that in this economy people are going to layout $2000.00 to enroll in the program?

We own Platinum at Ocean Pointe, Ko Olina and Ocean Watch. Ocean Watch was resale. To enroll it is $1995.00 and this will be THE ONLY TIME WE WILL BE ABLE TO ENROLL OUR RESALE WEEK!

By the way, I had 2 people on the line and they were contradicting one another with respect to how the program will work! I am not sure that Marriott has it down yet! It was all "...oh this will be wonderful..." sales pitch stuff. I only see this as a money scheme and do not see the mathematical logic in the way the inventory will be distributed.

 

[tiel]

HELP!!!!!!!

Just got off the phone with a supposed "points specialist", and my head is spinning! She's got me confused beyond belief, and I'm hoping someone will be able to clear things up for me.

The questions I posed to her was: if I enroll in the MVCDestination program, what will the maintenance fees be for my units in the following situations: If I do NOT convert a week to Club points in a given year, will my MFs for that year be like they always have been...whatever is determined by the BOD? If I do convert a week to Club points, what will the MF be based on then?

What I was trying to find out is WHEN or IF the $400/1000pts MF calculation comes into play after you enroll in the program if you are a legacy owner.

I was told that, regardless of whether I convert a week to Club points or not, my MFs will be based on MY "beneficial interest" as compared to the total of all "beneficial interests" in the "pot" (Club). She went on to say, in all likelihood, I will end up with LOWER MFs than in the past.

HUH???? Now, I don't understand that AT ALL!

Has anyone else heard anything remotely like this? Does anyone know what the real answer to my question is? :annoyed: Plan to call back to speak to a different rep, but thought someone out there might be able to help also.

 

[potchak]

So this is my first post to this thread, and I have to admit, I got through the first 9 pages, and then page 19, so I might have missed some of these questions, but these are the questions I am curious about the answers:

1) Is this new points program a new contractual service? If not, what is to stop Marriott from ending the program after we paid anywhere from $600-2000 for the priviledge of points?

2) Are the points fixed for future year for what we get as well as the exchange? I heard they could increase them up to 10% per year, but is this a reallocation based on year, or could they just up what it costs to exchange, but not what we get?

3) What are the fees for the other exchange options besides internal exchanges which are included in the yearly fee? Example: explorer's collection, external exchanges through II?

4) Where is the initial points inventory coming from? How can they guarantee we can get what we want in sold out resorts? I read another post that they said the sold out resorts are going to have limited inventory until the program gets moving, why would this entice me to use the program? With low inventory in sold out resorts, how can they guarantee the flexibility that they are touting?

5) When can I make my reservations? The chart they provided in one of their pdf's is not clear to me since it says for premier 13 months and 12 months. Which is it? Does everyone have the same priority for 1+ nights besides premier plus members?

6) Can you purchase just for that year additional points to make up the any differential to make a reservation?

7) Can the bonus points be combined with Vacation points to extend vacations?

8) Flexchange options- do they have any? Are they less points for internal Marriott or Interval exchanges?

9) How is Marriott handling internal resales now? For the ones that were on the list already, how will they be handled?

10) How is the additional wear and tear on the resorts going to be paid for if our maintenance fees are supposed to calculated the same way as before? I do not want to see my maintenance fees skyrocketing to cover the additional wear and tear? Is Marriott paying each HOA for the MF's for that week and then selling the points? Kind of curious as to how this is supposed to work. Also, how are special assesments supposed to be handled in the future.

Just a few questions I had on this new program.

The way I look at the variance between the average and what they are giving people for their week is their administration fee for the new points program beside the annual fee of course.

DH and I are still debating right now, but he is leaning towards selling all our units because he is not happy with the new program. I don't know, we will wait it out and see if they put a deadline on the rates and plus points... So far, it doesn't sound like many people here are pleased with the new program.

 

[5infam]

Need Some Help Figuring This Out...

OK - I own at DVC, so I get how that points program works, and I like it - it is what I bought. Here in Marriott world, I bought a week in Maui (MOC) at the old converted hotel rooms, in a 1BDR, mount./garden view. I bought it with the expectation that I would have no trouble going through II to trade back into my home resort (I have priority because I own there), and then every other year I would get 2 weeks in Maui. This is what I have been doing with my timeshare.

Because I bought resale, I will have to pay $1,495 to enroll in the points program (I understand it is an option and I don't have to enroll). Plus, I will have to pay Marriott an annual fee of $165, which supposedly covers my II fees and any other costs. In doing so, if I want to trade in my week for points, I will get 3,100 points to be used in the points program as I can (this is where people are saying I have the flexibility). Here are my issues/questions with how this works, so maybe people can help me out here (and yes, I read all the posts to this point, but there are so many I am loosing track and am trying to focus on what is best for me, which may also help other readers).

1. The 3,100 points I get will not get me a week at my home resort when I travel most, which is the summer, or other school holidays. My current deeded week allows for availability for me in weeks 1 to 50. In the points system, this varies in points - 3,100; 3,550 and 3,725 for the same time frame I get now - with the 3,550 and 3,725 point option for summer weeks and school holidays (President's, Spring Break and Thanksgiving). This is not really a question, but more a statement that the points program has a strike against it for me, unless I am not getting it.

2. In DVC, they sell points at a specific Home Resort, which is tied to a number of weeks available etc. They can not oversell a resort, and once it is sold out, that is it. I get home resort priority in booking, and my maintenance fees are specific to my home resort. In the Marriott Points program, they now only sell points to new timeshare buyers. So am I to understand that the points for all open resorts and new resorts are now pooled together in one big group? If so, how are maintenance fees allocated, and what about one-time assessments due to a hurricane or needed maintenance, etc.? How do they know when a resort is sold out - or is that concept no longer relevant?

3. Also regarding the DVC example in #2 above - is there no Home Resort priority in the points program?

4. According to what I have seen here, my $165 annual points fee covers my Marriott to Marriott trades, but also my II membership. It has also been stated that there is an additional fee if I want to trade outside of Marriott...Does anyone know how much that fee is?

5. As of now, I get an AC every year I trade into II. I assume my AC is now gone if I trade into points, but what if I trade through Marriott/II for an outside Marriott resort? To get the AC would I have to have a separate II account - and if so, doesn't that devalue further my Marriott points membership?

6. Resale - I have thought long and hard about selling my week and just renting or doing something else. I was going to sell, then the economy tanked and my resale value went down about 30%, so i figured I would wait and sell in a few years if I still felt the way I do now. Anyway, if I don't join the points program, as it stands now, i will not be able to do so in the future (after the deadline later this year), nor will the person I sell to be able to join in. Is that correct?

7. Resale Pt. 2 - In comparing enrolling or not enrolling in the points program as it pertains to resales - I would think that down the road, a resale where the owner enrolled would be more valuable and would sell for more than a resale where the seller did not enroll. I know this is a "crystal ball" type questions, but what do you all think about that one?

8. Room allocation - Do we have a firm written commitment yet as to there being a single pool for weeks and point owners to draw from, or are they separate pools? To me, this is the biggest issue I see in the whole thing!!!

I am just trying to make some sense of this, so any firm answers to any of these would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[scrapngen]

My 5750 points for a Plat OS 3BR at SurfWatch gets me during the same weeks of my season a Plat 2BR OS at OceanWatch (good example of a similar area/location newer resort) for anywhere between 3175 and 4725 points depending on which week. The 4725 is the highest-demand July 4th holiday, it's 3175 for the earliest/latest weeks in the season, the remaining weeks in the season require 4175. All of those would give me back points which could be banked for the following year or used in the same year for off-season stays of any number of nights. If I didn't enroll in Points, my 3BR SW deposit wouldn't get me anything more than the 2BR at OceanWatch (which would possibly be a gardenview as an exchanger,) considering that this year the SW week is not eligible for an AC if deposited.

Look Tombo, I posted in another thread that I understand what you mean by "skimming" and I'm not thrilled with it either. But the way I figure, it's offset by the impact that this will have on inventory in the Weeks system.

I also posted throughout those months of speculation that I expected points inflation to occur between resorts, I expected that whatever Marriott did they certainly would not be concerned about resale values and would negatively impact them if they could, I expected that the inventory in II would be negatively impacted at least to the extent that Starwood was able to do so. None of those are a surprise. All of them will exist from this point forward regardless of the system you choose.

What IS a surprise is the relatively low enrollment and annual fees (for direct purchases) even considering that Club Dues will probably increase at the rate of m/f. I LOVE the flexibility of the Points system - it's another thing that I posted repeatedly. I said if it was rolled out as an overlay exchange system offering a marriage of DVC's system with Marriott's resorts then "I'd be over the moon." Well, that's what it's rolled out to be - why wouldn't I be happy? Everything that I like about DVC is here: home resort reservations procedures and m/f (although not for new owners who can only buy Points,) flexibility with more or less than 7 night stays, banking and borrowing, instant reservation confirmations ...

I'm still looking at it, haven't committed yet. There are some contract things that I want to be aware of, and certainly the inconsistencies that seem to be happening with SW's point values need to be fixed. (It isn't that 2- and 3-BR units are supposed to be assigned the same values, btw, it's that the system appears to be incorrectly doing that now. They're aware of the problem and looking into it.) But it simply comes down to, Points might work better for me on a consistent basis than Weeks have in the past or will in the future, especially with the Premier Plus advantage.

What works or doesn't work for you may not be the same for somebody else. I'm not implying that you may not understand things enough to see or not see the advantages/disadvantages in your choice. I sure wish I wasn't reading that implication in your words.

Sue, I totally see how you'd love this. The Premier Plus benefits are pretty sweet! Added to fee structure change which also sounds like you'll come out ahead and I agree that the only thing you need to look at is the contract specifics and language. You fit the owner profile that I see (and have posted) winning in this new game.

While I am leaning negatively on the whole thing, I hope I haven't said anything negative towards those like you who will probably choose to join.
If I had picked up a resale before this date and it put me over the 13000 points, I'd be happy, too, and looking forward to working with the flexibility of the new system.

I was very hopeful/excited about the use of points, but I no longer see it that way for me...My high powered weeks won't get me equivalent trades - only down trades and I can already do that, and the flexibility gained with Premier level isn't much different than my current 13 month rule.

 

[jjking42]

No way

My legends edge platinum only get 2250 points
the chart show 5 seasons to book back in
2950,2675,2675,2675,1225

I think I will keep booking platinum summer weeks and use them or rent them.

I am not interested in converting to points only to be able to book back in to silver season

I wonder if Marriot is planning on resale prices falling so they can pick up cheap inventory with ROFR and then resell it as points. This would give them inventory to sell with costs much cheaper than building new resorts.

 

[SueDonJ]

Sue, I totally see how you'd love this. The Premier Plus benefits are pretty sweet! Added to fee structure change which also sounds like you'll come out ahead and I agree that the only thing you need to look at is the contract specifics and language. You fit the owner profile that I see (and have posted) winning in this new game.

While I am leaning negatively on the whole thing, I hope I haven't said anything negative towards those like you who will probably choose to join.
If I had picked up a resale before this date and it put me over the 13000 points, I'd be happy, too, and looking forward to working with the flexibility of the new system.

I was very hopeful/excited about the use of points, but I no longer see it that way for me...My high powered weeks won't get me equivalent trades - only down trades and I can already do that, and the flexibility gained with Premier level isn't much different than my current 13 month rule.

Thanks gen, I haven't seen anything from you that seems to imply a lack of understanding on the part of other folks who might be in favor of this.

It's totally understandable if someone says, "In my shoes it doesn't make sense to enroll." What I'm having trouble understanding are the posts from folks who don't make any allowances for wearing someone else's shoes, or the posts from folks who are implying that no one can possibly find value in enrolling in Points. I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise, though - TUG has always had a divided population based on the differences between usage value and cost value. Now we're just adding point costs to the mix.

 

[tombo]

No way

My legends edge platinum only get 2250 points
the chart show 5 seasons to book back in
2950,2675,2675,2675,1225

.

John another example of an owner that is getting less points than the lowest number of points required for his season. He can't even purchase any week in his season next year if he saves hi points this year.You said this doesn't happen. many Tuggers have shown you where it does. here is another one.

 

[AceValenta]

John another example of an owner that is getting less points than the lowest number of points required for his season. He can't even purchase any week in his season next year if he saves hi points this year.You said this doesn't happen. many Tuggers have shown you where it does. here is another one.

From The FAQ Page:

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.

If you are a WEEKS Owner, you now will have 4 options:
1. Book your Week, as usual, and stay for your week.
2. Book your Week, as usual, and Trade through II.
3. Trade for Marriott Rewards Points
4. Trade for Destination Points and book at another resort.

You will always have your week, what you decide to do with it is your option. If you don't want to trade for Destination Points you don't have too. You can just book your week, the way you usually do. You will have your usual check in days.

You don't use the Destination Points unless you want to go to another resort. It has nothing to do with booking your resort week according to this FAQ.

I think the reason for the difference in points from what you receive and what Marriott receives to prevent an over glut of bookings for your week. If it requires more points for the Prime Weeks, then people will be less likely to fight for them. Thus, leaving the prime week members that reserved them through their week's program, not the Destinations Points.

 

[tombo]

My 5750 points for a Plat OS 3BR at SurfWatch gets me during the same weeks of my season a Plat 2BR OS at OceanWatch (good example of a similar area/location newer resort) for anywhere between 3175 and 4725 points depending on which week. The 4725 is the highest-demand July 4th holiday, it's 3175 for the earliest/latest weeks in the season, the remaining weeks in the season require 4175. All of those would give me back points which could be banked for the following year or used in the same year for off-season stays of any number of nights. If I didn't enroll in Points, my 3BR SW deposit wouldn't get me anything more than the 2BR at OceanWatch (which would possibly be a gardenview as an exchanger,) considering that this year the SW week is not eligible for an AC if deposited.

Look Tombo, I posted in another thread that I understand what you mean by "skimming" and I'm not thrilled with it either. But the way I figure, it's offset by the impact that this will have on inventory in the Weeks system.



What IS a surprise is the relatively low enrollment and annual fees (for direct purchases) even considering that Club Dues will probably increase at the rate of m/f. I LOVE the flexibility of the Points system - it's another thing that I posted repeatedly. I said if it was rolled out as an overlay exchange system offering a marriage of DVC's system with Marriott's resorts then "I'd be over the moon." Well, that's what it's rolled out to be - why wouldn't I be happy? Everything that I like about DVC is here: home resort reservations procedures and m/f (although not for new owners who can only buy Points,) flexibility with more or less than 7 night stays, banking and borrowing, instant reservation confirmations ...

I'm still looking at it, haven't committed yet. There are some contract things that I want to be aware of, and certainly the inconsistencies that seem to be happening with SW's point values need to be fixed. (It isn't that 2- and 3-BR units are supposed to be assigned the same values, btw, it's that the system appears to be incorrectly doing that now.

What works or doesn't work for you may not be the same for somebody else. I'm not implying that you may not understand things enough to see or not see the advantages/disadvantages in your choice.

I too am very surprised that the conversion costs for owners who bought from marriott are so cheap, but as a resale owner not surprised we got a bad deal there.

I just assume the typical Marriott response of we are looking into it and that doesn't sound right to me really means that your 3 bed room points will remain the same as those for a 2 bed room and unless it is in writing it is doubtful that you will receive more points. If it was a glitch or an error it could have been easily fixed in a short period of time (JMO), but maybe Marriott will change it.

I was figuring that getting the same points for a 3 bed room as a 2 bed room gets would leave you in the same boat as before with regards to exchanging, but if it works for you, good. You are one of the few. I am resale and subject to the expensive conversion, my points allocation will not get me any of the trades I have receievd in the past, and will not even get me my own week thanks to Marriott "skimming points", and I do not want to have Marriott have a blank check each year deciding what my week is worth,i don't like them dreaming up new ways to make my week less valuable if I decide to sell it, and I can't stomach the fact that i don't have enough points each year to even reserve a week in my season using my points.

If it works like DVC, good for you, but DVC never started out with weeks and then swapped all owners to points, they were points all along. With some first class points members and some second class weeks owners all fighting each other and marriott for the prime inventory i can't imagine it working anything like the DVC system works.

Good luck and of course if the new system is best for you I would expect you to convert. When they totally revamp the whole system surelly there has to be a couple of owners who benefit and you might be one of them. good for you. On the other hand it is not best for me and I am not hapy about what marriott has done to myself and many other owners.

 

[kbreth]

II membership paid through 2013

Sorry if this question has been answered before, its hard to keep up with the long thread.

I am on vacation at oceanwatch and don't have the time to go to the sales presentation (2 kids with one of them taking a nap ). I tried to get a packet or something to read in the room but of course everyone is busy and part of the website is unavailable to view what my resort weeks are worth for trading .

Silver Barony Beach OV

Waiohai platinum Island view.

Also I paid for 5 year membership for II on July 3, 2008 till 2013. What happens to the $201.60 credit left if I join the new points program?

Also how long can you bank points? (to use to go to Hawaii in 2 or 3 years)

As far as I see it I'll have no other choice but to join since the good weeks will only be available to points members. We usually travel in summer due to kids school schedule. Next year we're thinking of going to Orlando & then the beach afterwards and would like to go back to Hawaii in 2012 or 2013 but I probably won't have enough points to have a 2nd week anywhere(after using my home resort)

Still confused.

 

[PamK]

The $165-$199 annual dues include lockoff fees, turn to Marriott Rewards points, exchange to timeshares using an internal trade and Interval's annual fee. It does not include Interval exchange fees. There was some confusion over this fact and I had it clarified today with Marriott.

 

[BocaBum99]

John, I get this, but is there any reason why the total points do not seem to match? For my Harbour Lake Gold:

There are currently 20 weeks x 1,950 = 39,000 total points

in the new system there are 8 x 1,725 and 12 x 2,225 = 40,400 total points

Shouldn't everyone have received 2,020 points = 40,400/20

If everyone converted they could not exchange the points given for the points required for the season. What happened to those points? Is that a skim or a required cost of flexibility for some reason?

I also note that 2 former platinum weeks have been demoted to gold status so that will change things slightly.

I think John was thinking with his gut instead of with his head. Given all the data I have seen, it appears that Marriott is indeed shorting owners on their points. This example is the typical one.

Until I see a mass of owners expressing point values that are greater than what it costs to get that same week, I'll just have to conclude that John couldn't be more wrong.

 

[wa.mama]

For a multiple week owner the cost of enrollment might make sense over the long run. Our family owns 10 weeks, so the $199/year "club dues" is much less expensive than locking off, exchanging, etc.

BUT we're not falling for it. Reasons? We bought to use, not to trade. Marriott wants our weeks, which are almost exclusively platinum plus, but in exchange they want us to pay for their access to our weeks. In addition, I am peeved that they are offering the SAME number of points for my Waiohai platinum plus as they are for a regular floating week. Here are the points on offer for some of our units:

koolina floating IV - 4025
waiohai floating IV - 4225
waiohai fixed wk 51 IV - 4225
timberlodge fixed week 7- 5300

In addition, the number of destination points we potentially have would give us the platinum plus benefits of booking 13 months in advance. So? Is that something we don't already have? We'd also be honored with the privilege of booking shorter intervals of 1-2 nights using a premium number of destination points. So? Easier to use regular Marriott award points for that. Exchanging domestically may give us more time at an off-season low demand resort, but exchanging internationally requires more points than our plat plus weeks generate. Plus, I'd be giving up my AC's, which we faithfully garner with our Ko Olina trader.

I'm curious to see who signs up.

 

[taffy19]

This is exactly how I feel.

Marriott would have skimmed 1,575 from the points for each of my weeks -- that's $630 in MF-value that Marriott will pocket if I ever enrolled and redeemed my property for points, for each week.

If someone's week is worth 4,500 points accordingly to Marriott, but Marriott skims 900 points from that week and only gives 3,600 points, that's $360 in hidden profit to Marriott on the exchange.

I'm using MF-value because someone, somewhere will buy points from Marriott to use in this system, and they'll pay $400 for every 1,000 points.

Isn't the up-front of $695 and annual fee of $199 enough? Did they have to skim too?

They must have done a financial calculation and figured out that they're better off skimming from 5% of the existing owners who join then getting direct cash in up-front payments/annual fees if 25% of the existing owners joined. Very callous and damaging to their brand with their formally loyal owners.

My letter to Marriott:

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124262

Thank you for this post as you have made me decide not to enroll in the new system. I saw the light.