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

[wuv pooh]

I feel sure there are more like you than me, and I don't doubt in the long run that my access to inventory will become very limited thanks to many converting to points, but I will not convert and pay the extortion. one other thing you fail t factor in is the owners who hqave prime seasons, prime fixed weeks, people who use their home week almost every year who will not convert. If they don't put their weeks into points pool, you can own one million points and NVEVER trade for one of those prime weeks. Most who convert will have weak trading weeks and see this as a way to get access to better inventory. If the best inventory remains with the weeks owners, you can buy every point Marriott has for sale and rarely end up staying in prime weeks.

By the way, you refuse to address the cost of stolen points in the exchange expense comparison. II charges $89 a year, Marriott charges charges $76 more per year per year . II charges $149 for an exchange, so on the surface II costs $73 more for an exchange. When you factor in the points Marriott steals every time you deposit your week, it can easily be points which you pay $200 for annually or more. Take the $200 in point theft minus the $73 more II seems to chare, and you are $127 cheaper exchanging through II. Then you bring up lock-off fees with II as though marriott doesn't skim additional points there too, but we know that they do. Add up the points you will pay for a week in a 2 bed room and compare it to the amount of points Marriott charges for a studio and a one bed room and you will see that yes you do pay a fee to Mariott to stay in lock-offs, and it is often (if not always) more than II charges for the same thing. So yes you can exchange through II and lock-off weeks through II cheaper than using Marriott points when you factor in the annual Marriot fee and the cost of the points Marriott charges to exchange and lock off. The difference is that II is honest and upfront about what they charge members to exchange and lock-off, Marriott on the other hand skims and steals points from every transaction hiding the true cost of using points for exchanges and lock-offs.That is what TUG is here for, we point out marriott's hidden point charges to all who are willing read and listen.

You still don't understand the system. I will join. I will have the same exact options that you do, except that my WEEKS exchange through II will be cheaper. I can lock off my two weeks and make 4 Marriott to Marriott WEEKS exchanges through II for $165. It currently costs me $675 to do that in the current system.

I will never experience a devaluation unless I choose to use points. I will only use points if it is to my advantage to do so. I have already created a spreasheet by resort that allows me to capture the full value of my current weeks through the POINTS system by trading a combination of cash nights and Sun-Thu stays. If the inventory is there that is where my future business will go. If the inventory is not there I will continue to trade WEEKS in II like I always have. I will have some risk in the first year, but the extra 800 points and the Marriott owned inventory will make a good exchange more likely for me in year 1 than the old system without having to wait to see the result.

That does not mean that I like the new system. I would rather stay with the current one, but being a realist to me means following the system, not raging against the machine.

 

[tombo]

A timeshare isn't a car. It's a timeshare. I expect different things from a purchase of a car than a purchase of timeshare, because the market-driven forces lead me to those different expectations.

Developer-direct purchasers of Marriott timeshares are aware of, have been subject to, an extreme devaluation on the resale market for practically the life of their ownerships. Here on TUG they've been pointing out for years that the contracts simply do not support any expectation of a return on investment dollars. It appears that with the advent of the Points system that non-support will now affect external resale purchasers, as sellers, as well. I don't mean this in any way insulting or sarcastic, but "welcome to the real world."

Each of us has to decide from the day we purchase throughout our ownership if our timeshare usage as it exists when we use it is worth the costs we've paid, knowing that usage and costs can and will change. What's right for one may not be right for another, what matters most for one may not matter most for another. On this particular issue of resale devaluation, it's obvious that you and I will never come to a meeting of the minds. I understand your point of view but it's not one I share with respect to my ownership.

I am not questioning whether you feel what you paid for your timeshare gave you a good value. I am asking you if you really feel good about giving your business and hard earned dollars (at least mine are hard earned) to a company that shows their appreciation for past purchases from them by specifically trying to destroy the value of the product they sold you? Can you name one other company that you do business with that operates in such a manner? Can you really justify anything they do as a way to make profit? Was Bernie Madoff a good businessman since he made a lot of money for years even though he did it at his customer's expense? Was Enron a great company? Does anything done in any fashion to make a profit no matter who loses constitute an acceptable way to do business.

To forgive anything and everything Marriott does, even when it negativelly affects the value of what you own, and the money you can get for the product they sold you is something that is uncomprehensible to me. I do business with companies I trust and who treat me well. Cheat me once shame on them, cheat me twice shame on me. To me the way Marriott treats it's former customers is not the real world, it is the Twilight Zone.

 

[tombo]

You still don't understand the system. I will join. I will have the same exact options that you do, except that my WEEKS exchange through II will be cheaper. I can lock off my two weeks and make 4 Marriott to Marriott WEEKS exchanges through II for $165. It currently costs me $675 to do that in the current system.

I will never experience a devaluation unless I choose to use points. I will only use points if it is to my advantage to do so. I have already created a spreasheet by resort that allows me to capture the full value of my current weeks through the POINTS system by trading a combination of cash nights and Sun-Thu stays. If the inventory is there that is where my future business will go. If the inventory is not there I will continue to trade WEEKS in II like I always have. I will have some risk in the first year, but the extra 800 points and the Marriott owned inventory will make a good exchange more likely for me in year 1 than the old system without having to wait to see the result.

That does not mean that I like the new system. I would rather stay with the current one, but being a realist to me means following the system, not raging against the machine.

My hat is off to you. If you can make the new system work to your advantage, that is fantastic. Don't forget to factor in the points skimmed into your spreadsheet, and if you do that and it still works that is great..

I will cut my nose off to spite my face if I feel wronged. If I lose access to inventory and if my week become worthless, I will let that happen before i pay them a dollar of extortion. They will not profit on me after devaluing what I own, forcing me to buy points to continue to make like for like trades, charge me $1995 to convert to points, then charge anyone I sell my week to at least that much to retain what I already paid for. Jst because they can hurt my value and my access to inventory doesn't mean that I will pay them money because they have me over a barrel. They might make billions on the points program, but it won't be from any money I paid them.

 

[wuv pooh]

Rights you dont have ? You have the right to vote your opinion. Marriott is telling you that if you join you must give up that right. If you dont see anything wrong with that then there isnt anything Marriott could do that you would think is wrong.

You seem to be Marriott's dream customer and no matter what they do you will go along with it. And your enititled to that opinion. That is unless Marriott tells you your not.

It is kind of like being a Republican in the District of Columbia. You can vote, but does it matter? The true vote is with your feet. Anyway, I am not giving up my right to vote. I am giving up my right to vote against the interests of the the point system and any attempt to disaffiliate my resorts from Marriott while I am a member of the points system.

That seems reasonable to me. If I want to vote against the interest of the points system then I will revoke my enrollment and vote as I choose. You are saying you should be allowed to enjoy the benefits of the exchange company while at the same time voting against it.

People are so silly on this thread. Everything that is not related to the specific occupancy under the real estate deed of your condiminium is already at the whim of Marriott - points, rentals, exchanges, lock offs, fees, you name it. You gave up those rights long ago, whether you know it or not. If you believed your salesmen then shame on you. They can never take your occupancy right away from you, which is why they cannot compel you to join the new system. If you vote out Marriott as the management company you will still have the right to occupy it under the new management company, but everything else will change. I cannot see any scenario where I would keep my condo interest if Marriott was not the management company so it does not matter to me. I will use the system to my benefit and sell if it is no longer a benefit. Everything else is just bluster to me. It sounds good, but there is no good outcome that I can see.

 

[SueDonJ]

I am not questioning whether you feel what you paid for your timeshare gave you a good value. I am asking you if you really feel good about giving your business and hard earned dollars (at least mine are hard earned) to a company that shows their appreciation for past purchases from them by specifically trying to destroy the value of the product they sold you? Can you name one other company that you do business with that operates in such a manner? Can you really justify anything they do as a way to make profit? Was Bernie Madoff a good businessman since he made a lot of money for years even though he did it at his customer's expense? Was Enron a great company? Does anything done in any fashion to make a profit no matter who loses constitute an acceptable way to do business.

To forgive anything and everything Marriott does, even when it negativelly affects the value of what you own, and the money you can get for the product they sold you is something that is uncomprehensible to me. I do business with companies I trust and who treat me well. Cheat me once shame on them, cheat me twice shame on me. To me the way Marriott treats it's frmer customers is not the real world, it is the Twilight Zone.

But we see this all so differently! I don't expect any company, including Marriott, to put their emphasis on protecting my individual ownership beyond what they're required if by doing so they will be foregoing an opportunity to enhance their business. If they're giving me what they're contractually obligated to give me, then they're upholding their end of our business relationship. If they offer me a product, the responsibility for making that product's terms&conditions available to me lies with them. If I choose to accept the product, the responsibility for understanding the implications of those t&c's lies with me.

I don't figure that I have to "forgive" anything Marriott does as long as I'm getting USAGE value from my Marriott timeshare, because that's what the contracts DO stipulate, that the value in a Marriott timeshare purchase is in its usage. I knew up front what my costs were and how the purchase should have worked for me as a Weeks owner, and the way I see it, I got the usage that I expected based on the terms of the existing contract, which I knew could be subject to some change.

Now with the change of an Enrolled Points option, I know what my costs will be and I have a general idea of how to read the fine print to determine if the usage value will be better for me with the option or if I stay with the Weeks system. I'm leaning towards Enrolled Points. That doesn't mean everyone should - "what's right for one may not be right for another."

Marriott isn't my friend or my doting grandfather who should protect me. They're a service provider. It's that simple to me.

 

[wuv pooh]

My hat is off to you. If you can make the new system work to your advantage, that is fantastic. Don't forget to factor in the points skimmed into your spreadsheet, and if you do that and it still works that is great..

I will cut my nose off to spite my face if I feel wronged. If I lose access to inventory and if my week become worthless, I will let that happen before i pay them a dollar of extortion. They will not profit on me after devaluing what I own, forcing me to buy points to continue to make like for like trades, charge me $1995 to convert to points, then charge anyone I sell my week to at least that much to retain what I already paid for. Jst because they can hurt my value and my access to inventory doesn't mean that I will pay them money because they have me over a barrel. They might make billions on the points program, but it won't be from any money I paid them.

I actually admire your dedication to principles. Once the smoke clears maybe you will think differently. I do not see it as right or wrong but just different. I was a big loser when DVC left II, I am a big loser under this change because I gamed the system for great trades. However, I also realize that they gravy train does not go on forever. I have earned back the value of my weeks so I have no regrets going forward.

As far as the new system, by my calculations I can realize from 60% to 101% of the value I used to get under the old system. Using straight points for 7 days is always a loser, but using Sun-Thur stays with cash weekend stays that earn MR points can bump me up to over full value depending on the rental rates and my Platinum status. The actual result will depend on whether I can reserve the inventory at 10 months and whether I can get cash reservations. Time will tell, but I have nothing to lose by continuing with the game. Sometime in the near future I am also betting that they create a form of points flexchange that will really open up some interesting opportunities.

I wish you well in your decision.

 

[brianfox]

Two really interesting questions

While trying to explain the proposed point system to my wife, two important questions came up, and I don't think they have been addressed yet.


1) Can a person get a week through points, then exchange it in II?
People who don't already own Marriott can only buy points going forward. I can't believe they will be restricted to just a handful of Marriott resorts to use - after all, they probably are forced to pay the "Club Dues" which includes an Interval membership as well. What is a point-owner supposed to do with an Interval account, other than Getaways? So, what if someone (maybe a point-only owner) wants a desirable non-Marriott resort through II? The way I see it, they can either cash in enough points for a strong Marriott trading week and exchange it through II, or cash in only a few points for a poor Marriot trader and attempt to exchange during Flex. If Flex will still offer a decent pool of properties in the near future (and if the trader is willing to constantly check the available properties), wouldn't it be a good play to cash in the points you get for your single decent week and use them to reserve several weeks at cheaper units, then deposit them?

Looking at another scenario, let's say you own a 2BR DSV II. In the past, you might have split the unit and exchanged the Studio during Flex for another 1BR or 2BR, and still had your original 1BR to trade for something else. Under points, couldn't you split your current unit (for free), take points for the Studio and cash them in for, say, a Willow Ridge studio (much cheaper), then exchange the Willow Ridge in II during Flex? You understand what I'm getting at.

If Marriott allows your point-earned week to be exchanged, then it sounds like there is potential to "game" the Points system. EDIT: By "gaming" I mean finding a way to pretty consistently trade-up beyond your unit value.


2) Where are the MF the new Point-only owners going toward?
Disney is and has been a point-only club. Clearly, the points are used for maintenance of the resorts. However, Marriott has been week based for the longest time. I imagine the vast majority of all Marriott weeks are already owned, and MF are already being paid for those. So as new point-only members come on-line, what is their MF paying for? And as I understand it, new points are not purchased against a "home resort" (unlike Disney), so how are property taxes paid? And will only week-owners face Special Assessments, or will point-owners need to share that burden?

 

[camachinist]

What email??? But then I never received the Gift of Time email either.

LOL, I just got another one.

They must be reading my skepticism by telepathic means

 

[winger]

The $165-$199 annual dues include ...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.

I am a little confused.

So, if I enrolled, say next year, I decide to NOT turn redeem/turn in my deeded week for Destination Club points; rather, I request a week at another Marriott using Interval International. In this instance, the II Marriott-to-Marriott fee would be covered by the Destination Club annual fee ($165-199), correct?

 

[winger]

...

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?

Of course, that is how it works.

Case in point. I only get 110,000 MRP's if I choose to turn in my Manor Club week every year. That NEVER changes, regardless what happens on the redemption side (pts required for hotel stays, travel package, etc.) or to my resort's annual maintenance fee.

 

[brianfox]

I am a little confused.

So, if I enrolled, say next year, I decide to NOT turn redeem/turn in my deeded week for Destination Club points; rather, I request a week at another Marriott using Interval International. In this instance, the II Marriott-to-Marriott fee would be covered by the Destination Club annual fee ($165-199), correct?

I don't think so. Other than the II membership fee, I think any non-point based transaction made through Interval would be paid by you as usual.

I think the $169 just covers transactions that would normally be done though Marriott (i.e. split-fees and point redemption). The fact that point redemption possibly results in Marriott doing an II exchange under the covers is not something you would pay for. By that, I mean you take points for your week, and decide to cash in those points for a different Marriott. If they have no inventory, they will do an exchange request on your behalf, which you would not pay for.

 

[wuv pooh]

I don't think so. Other than the II membership fee, I think any non-point based transaction made through Interval would be paid by you as usual.

I think the $169 just covers transactions that would normally be done though Marriott (i.e. split-fees and point redemption). The fact that point redemption possibly results in Marriott doing an II exchange under the covers is not something you would pay for. By that, I mean you take points for your week, and decide to cash in those points for a different Marriott. If they have no inventory, they will do an exchange request on your behalf, which you would not pay for.

No this is incorrect and one of the best benefits of enrolling. Your fee will pay for II Marriott to Marriott internal WEEKS exchanges. It will not pay if you choose a resort outside of Marriott. From the webpage under enrolled owners (vs. point or weeks owners):

Exchange Types: Internal vs. External
There are two types of exchanges, and Interval International is your source for both:

Internal Exchange

Exchange your week at your home resort for another week at your home resort that’s in a different season or year or exchange during your same week, but travel to another Marriott Vacation Club Resort.
Enrolled Owners’ fees for internal exchanges are included in their Club Dues.

External Exchange

What: Exchange your week at your home resort for another week at a non-Marriott Vacation Club Resort. Interval International can help you choose from over 2,500 affiliated resorts located in destinations throughout the world. Go to IntervalWorld.com to request your exchange.
Fee: $139* to request travel within your country of residence; $154* to request travel outside your country of residence. *Please note: This is the fee if exchange is placed via IntervalWorld.com. Please note that Owners who place their exchange requests via a telephone call to Interval International will be charged an additional $10. Fees are listed in U.S. dollars, are subject to change, and vary by country of residence.

 

[RandR]

I'm a few hundred posts behind so forgive me is this was covered by someone. I think that you of the biggest loses is to the trust that many owners will have in Marriott. There were many Marriott loyalists who now feel betrayed. The question is where will it stop? How will they change the program in the future?

Some people have figured out that if you stay Sun - Thurs you get a better bang for your buck. Well, don't you think many people will figure that out and then the demand will be way up? Or Marriott can just realign how the points are assigned to different days of the week. As long as the points for the whole week do not change they are fine.

Example: Fri - Sat - 300 pts/night
Sun - Thursday - 150 pts/night
Total points per week - 1350

Reallocated week: Fri - Sat - 225 pts/night
Sun - Thurs - 180 pts/night
Total points per week - 1350

Completely legal but they will have blown up a loophole. Who knows....Marriott may have even set it up this way to start to draw legacy owners in. A conspiracy theory of course but most would not have thought Marriott would have put out a program like this to begin with.

Some will say to just join and if they change again I can just leave....but it will cost me $1495 which is a lot to bite off if they make further changes in a year or two.

 

[brianfox]

I'm a few hundred posts behind so forgive me is this was covered by someone. I think that you of the biggest loses is to the trust that many owners will have in Marriott. There were many Marriott loyalists who now feel betrayed. The question is where will it stop? How will they change the program in the future?

Some people have figured out that if you stay Sun - Thurs you get a better bang for your buck. Well, don't you think many people will figure that out and then the demand will be way up? Or Marriott can just realign how the points are assigned to different days of the week. As long as the points for the whole week do not change they are fine.

Example: Fri - Sat - 300 pts/night
Sun - Thursday - 150 pts/night
Total points per week - 1350

Reallocated week: Fri - Sat - 225 pts/night
Sun - Thurs - 180 pts/night
Total points per week - 1350

Completely legal but they will have blown up a loophole. Who knows....Marriott may have even set it up this way to start to draw legacy owners in. A conspiracy theory of course but most would not have thought Marriott would have put out a program like this to begin with.

Some will say to just join and if they change again I can just leave....but it will cost me $1495 which is a lot to bite off if they make further changes in a year or two.

As long as they leave the total points for a week alone, I don't have see any problem with making Sun-Thu "cheaper". I think that's Marriott's way of making sure entire weeks are fully utilized. In your example, they believe that the average person is twice as likely to only want Sat-Sun as they are to want Sun-Thu. If every day cost the same number of points, then there would be a glut of Sun-Thu available. Then the people who want entire weeks will be out of luck. Disney also places a higher value on more popular days of the week. Seems essential to make things work.

 

[CapriciousC]

I can see no reason not to enroll unless you are an occupy only owner of a fixed week, a weeks owner who maintains an II account but only does something once every few years and is happy if they can reserve any week in season, a resale owner who does not want to pay $1,995, or if the $700 fee is something you cannot afford.

For us, the main reason not to enroll is that I don't want to pay $700 up front AND an annual fee if I can't exchange into the European resorts. With the exception of Hawaii, most of the US resorts don't really appeal to us. We actually only stay at Waiohai maybe once every three years - the other years we exchange for Marriott or II resorts overseas. Several years ago we exchanged for a resort in Uruguay that was lovely - we can't do something like that with the new program.

 

[RandR]

As long as they leave the total points for a week alone, I don't have see any problem with making Sun-Thu "cheaper". I think that's Marriott's way of making sure entire weeks are fully utilized. In your example, they believe that the average person is twice as likely to only want Sat-Sun as they are to want Sun-Thu. If every day cost the same number of points, then there would be a glut of Sun-Thu available. Then the people who want entire weeks will be out of luck. Disney also places a higher value on more popular days of the week. Seems essential to make things work.

I completely agree. But, some on TUG have said that one way to game the system will be to just stay during Sun - Thurs. This way you can stretch out your points more. Since right now there is a big difference between the two, that makes since. What I am saying is that Marriott can easily reduce that loophole by making the point values closer together. Still cheaper to stay Sun - Thurs but you can't game the system anymore.

 

[rsackett]

I'm a few hundred posts behind so forgive me is this was covered by someone. I think that you of the biggest loses is to the trust that many owners will have in Marriott. There were many Marriott loyalists who now feel betrayed. The question is where will it stop? How will they change the program in the future?

Some people have figured out that if you stay Sun - Thurs you get a better bang for your buck. Well, don't you think many people will figure that out and then the demand will be way up? Or Marriott can just realign how the points are assigned to different days of the week. As long as the points for the whole week do not change they are fine.

Example: Fri - Sat - 300 pts/night
Sun - Thursday - 150 pts/night
Total points per week - 1350

Reallocated week: Fri - Sat - 225 pts/night
Sun - Thurs - 180 pts/night
Total points per week - 1350

Completely legal but they will have blown up a loophole. Who knows....Marriott may have even set it up this way to start to draw legacy owners in. A conspiracy theory of course but most would not have thought Marriott would have put out a program like this to begin with.

Some will say to just join and if they change again I can just leave....but it will cost me $1495 which is a lot to bite off if they make further changes in a year or two.

DVC made just such a change last year. many owners were unhappy about the change, but it was needed to make sure all nights are used. I am sure that in the future Marriott will make adjustment like this as they are needed.

Ray

 

[wuv pooh]

Completely legal but they will have blown up a loophole. Who knows....Marriott may have even set it up this way to start to draw legacy owners in. A conspiracy theory of course but most would not have thought Marriott would have put out a program like this to begin with.

It is not a conspiracy theory, you should expect it. Marriott will have to balance the points with the actual demand. So expect the values to change on a regular basis.

To me it looks like the weekends are way too expensive vs. the week, but I do not know the actual demand. Or maybe it is easier for Marriott to rent weekend days for cash so they want as much breakage as possible to be on the weekend vs. weekdays. Since Marriott can try to rent the breakage it is hard to know how things will change. I would not make too many decisions on the point charts staying the same after 2012.

 

[brianfox]

I completely agree. But, some on TUG have said that one way to game the system will be to just stay during Sun - Thurs. This way you can stretch out your points more. Since right now there is a big difference between the two, that makes since. What I am saying is that Marriott can easily reduce that loophole by making the point values closer together. Still cheaper to stay Sun - Thurs but you can't game the system anymore.

But take Disney as an example - people can vow to only stay Sun-Thurs in that system, and it's is doing just fine. I don't see it as gaming anything.

For every person who only stays Sun-Thurs, there is an equal number of people who can only stay the weekend (probably more, in fact).

EDIT: I didn't see the other two posts regarding the DVC change. That proves my point - the point cost will be balanced as time goes on to make sure all days are used.

 

[wuv pooh]

For us, the main reason not to enroll is that I don't want to pay $700 up front AND an annual fee if I can't exchange into the European resorts. With the exception of Hawaii, most of the US resorts don't really appeal to us. We actually only stay at Waiohai maybe once every three years - the other years we exchange for Marriott or II resorts overseas. Several years ago we exchanged for a resort in Uruguay that was lovely - we can't do something like that with the new program.

You WILL be able to trade for European resorts exactly the same as today if you enroll. Your annual fee will pay for WEEKS trades to Marriott European resorts that are not available in the POINTS program. If you want to go to Europe you will reserve your week, deposit with II, and trade for no additional charge beyond your annual program fee. Since it is not possible to exchange points for the European resorts today all owners will have to use II WEEKS.

 

[brianfox]

DVC made just such a change last year. many owners were unhappy about the change, but it was needed to make sure all nights are used. I am sure that in the future Marriott will make adjustment like this as they are needed.

Ray

Did DVC keep the cost of a total week the same, and just redistribute the daily points? If so, that sounds reasonable.

 

[SueDonJ]

Hey Tombo, it turns out that there IS one thing that I'm less than thrilled with, but it took somebody else putting it into words for my brain to catch up.

It still doesn't mean that I expect Marriott to do something about leaving owners less than thrilled, though, or that it sways my decision to enroll.

 

[jerseygirl]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but as a Starwood/Hilton/Hyatt owner, I'm fascinated by the changes. It doesn't seem that getting 5 days (Sun - Thursday) when you used to get 7 is "gaming the system." I realize that some may have never been able to get a particular week due to trading power issues. If that same population can now get 5 days, maybe it is a good deal for them. But, I can't see how it's a good deal or "gaming the system" for those who used to get 7 days. Does "gaming the system" mean making the best of a bad situation or am I just missing something?

 

[timeos2]

I completely agree. But, some on TUG have said that one way to game the system will be to just stay during Sun - Thurs. This way you can stretch out your points more. Since right now there is a big difference between the two, that makes since. What I am saying is that Marriott can easily reduce that loophole by making the point values closer together. Still cheaper to stay Sun - Thurs but you can't game the system anymore.

That is not a loophole but a very standard part of nearly every points system. Those early week days simply aren't as desirable for travelers so they tend to be discounted in points compared to Fri-Sun.

A loophole is something usually unexpected that is discovered to be available. Say that for some reason if you deposit exactly 1286 points and request 6 days at a resort that usually is 4000 points for 7 days you can get it. That would be a loophole, unplanned in the system and most likely plugged once discovered.

 

[Stefa]

You WILL be able to trade for European resorts exactly the same as today if you enroll. Your annual fee will pay for WEEKS trades to Marriott European resorts that are not available in the POINTS program. If you want to go to Europe you will reserve your week, deposit with II, and trade for no additional charge beyond your annual program fee. Since it is not possible to exchange points for the European resorts today all owners will have to use II WEEKS.

Do enrolled weeks owners who want to trade internally have the option of browsing what is available?

Do you have to commit to an internal or external trade? If I deposie a week and request an internal trade can I change my mind and exchange into a non-Marriott?

How do they manage inventory? How would these trades work? Can you trade up in size or season? How is trade power determined?

Or would trading be the same as it has been only without the fee for an exchange into another Marriott?