Marriott opts out of Choose 2

[OutAndAbout]

According to an Interval International representative as of March 4th, 2016 Marriott has opted out of the Choose 2 program.

Marriott owners can still use Choose 2, but only if the additional week is not a Marriott property.

Choose2
Because 2 is always better than 1
Overview

FAQ

Prior TUG tread​

 

[dioxide45]

Interesting that it came from a rep and there isn't anything in the T&C indicating this. Perhaps this was just a way for the rep to explain away the new increased lack of available inventory on the grid. The specific date does lend some legitimacy to this though. Never can fully trust a reps word, similar to a timeshare sales person. I prefer to see the restrictions in writing.

If this is indeed true, it will be rather disappointing, but perhaps Marriott isn't happy to be having to pay the exchange fee for all the Marriott to Marriott enrolled DC Choose 2s?

Would this limitation just prevent Marriott owners from using Choose 2 in to other Marriott properties, or would it limit any II member from using Choose 2 to go to Marriott properties?

 

[taterhed]

Geez, that's sad.

Sent from my Kindle...pls forgive errors and brevity

 

[BocaBoy]

This is HUGE if it is true. Makes me think I would likely never trade through II again and just use DC points instead. That may be Marriott's real motive, especially if non-Marriott owners can still use Choose 2 to stay at Marriott properties.

 

[enma]

The choose 2 program is pretty useless anyway. Every time I have called about availability nothing is available. I still find regular II trades valuable. I would never stop using II just because no more Marriotts under choose 2 program.
Has anyone else noticed that lately most accomondation certificates exclude lots of Marriotts?

 

[enma]

Interesting that it came from a rep and there isn't anything in the T&C indicating this. Perhaps this was just a way for the rep to explain away the new increased lack of available inventory on the grid. The specific date does lend some legitimacy to this though. Never can fully trust a reps word, similar to a timeshare sales person. I prefer to see the restrictions in writing.

If this is indeed true, it will be rather disappointing, but perhaps Marriott isn't happy to be having to pay the exchange fee for all the Marriott to Marriott enrolled DC Choose 2s?

Would this limitation just prevent Marriott owners from using Choose 2 in to other Marriott properties, or would it limit any II member from using Choose 2 to go to Marriott properties?

So under DC account still no exchange fee for choose 2 confirmations like it was with XYZ? I swear the rep told me there was a fee.

 

[dioxide45]

This is HUGE if it is true. Makes me think I would likely never trade through II again and just use DC points instead. That may be Marriott's real motive, especially if non-Marriott owners can still use Choose 2 to stay at Marriott properties.

The choose 2 program is pretty useless anyway. Every time I have called about availability nothing is available. I still find regular II trades valuable. I would never stop using II just because no more Marriotts under choose 2 program.
Has anyone else noticed that lately most accomondation certificates exclude lots of Marriotts?

Like enma, I am not sure that I would stop using II, I simply get too much value out of them vs what I can do with DC points. In most cases we can't use the XYZ/Choose 2s that we have available to us. Mostly because of timing. So I end up asking others if they have available XYZ/Choose 2s and end up giving ours away. I am not sure if I would use Choose 2 to stay at a non Marriott. I suppose it would give us the chance to try out some other systems and/or properties.

So under DC account still no exchange fee for choose 2 confirmations like it was with XYZ? I swear the rep told me there was a fee.

I haven't confirmed a Choose 2 in our account since II switched from XYZ to Choose 2. So it could have changed. I plan to try later this year, if Marriott doesn't opt out. If they do, I will never know. I may just try to confirm one to see, then back out if the bring up the fee or before they actually confirm.

 

[BocaBoy]

Contrary to some of you, the main value of II trading to me is the XYZ/Choose 2 availability. Without it, I can get much better value from DC points. This may be because I have very high value weeks and get a lot of DC points for them.

 

[SkyBlueWaters]

Can hardly see anything with one of those deposit ACs. They changed the terms with the new year, or right before they rolled out the Elite status for some Marriott properties. Only makes sense that it wouldn't be available under Choose 2. I'm surprised they were letting it book through Choose2 and not the more powerful ACs.

 

[enma]

In a way it makes sense. I don't necessarily like the idea that someone with much lower quality resort could stay at Marriott with the choose 2 program. However, I do wish Marriott owners could stay at Marriotts.

 

[OutAndAbout]

the main value of II trading to me is the XYZ/Choose 2 availability.

XYZ/Choose 2 can provide a good value when traveling off-peak and to BocaBoy's point, a differentiator in using II over Marriott DC.

Since deposited weeks are II's inventory they are II's weeks rather than Marriott's weeks, although as part of the relationship, I can understand how II would make this concession to Marriott.

Since Choose 2's are based on the grid and off-peak, I am surprised that Marriott would focus on restricting Choose 2 exchanges.

 

[SueDonJ]

Has anyone tried to confirm this through the TUG/II contact? I don't do enough II business to know how to ask the question - maybe somebody will volunteer?

Contact info available in this TUG thread: Interval provides direct email for TUG member support

 

[tschwa2]

XYZ/Choose 2 can provide a good value when traveling off-peak and to BocaBoy's point, a differentiator in using II over Marriott DC.

Since deposited weeks are II's inventory they are II's weeks rather than Marriott's weeks, although as part of the relationship, I can understand how II would make this concession to Marriott.

Since Choose 2's are based on the grid and off-peak, I am surprised that Marriott would focus on restricting Choose 2 exchanges.

I can also see II telling Marriott if they want to make both an exchange for each member deposit and a choose 2 available for enrolled DC members then they would have to increase the program fee to cover 2 M to M exchages for each non lockoff and 4 for each lock off.

In general, I think Marriott has the upper hand in the II relationship but loss in Marriott exchange availability paired with the loss in II exchange fee revenue from enrolled DC members may prove too costly to II.

 

[KarenP]

I got one in November

Exchange #: 022171522
Exchange
Transaction Date:
Fri, November 06, 2015


Two-for-One Exchange Specials
XYZ

Unit: 1BED (1 bedroom)
Week: 64

Marriott's Grande Vista Resort
MGR

Unit: THGV (Studio)
Week: 14

Sat, April 02, 2016
Sat, April 09, 2016 Confirmed

 

[dioxide45]

Has anyone tried to confirm this through the TUG/II contact? I don't do enough II business to know how to ask the question - maybe somebody will volunteer?

Contact info available in this TUG thread: Interval provides direct email for TUG member support

I did and did receive a response today confirming this. I am going to reply as I have a couple other questions.

 

[SueDonJ]

I did and did receive a response today confirming this. I am going to reply as I have a couple other questions.

Thank you, appreciate the info.

 

[dioxide45]

Exchange #: 022171522
Exchange
Transaction Date:
Fri, November 06, 2015


Two-for-One Exchange Specials
XYZ

Unit: 1BED (1 bedroom)
Week: 64

Marriott's Grande Vista Resort
MGR

Unit: THGV (Studio)
Week: 14

Sat, April 02, 2016
Sat, April 09, 2016 Confirmed

Yeah, this is before the cutoff and likely before any restriction was thought of. I am not sure yet if this applies to all Marriott inventory for all members. Or if the restriction is only in place for Marriott owners using Choose 2 to confirm in to Marriott properties.

I can understand Marriott or II wanting to restrict people using Choose 2 to effectively get a second week for no exchange fee. It is possible that IIs system can't charge for it even if they wanted to. I recall when I did an XYZ Type 2 a few years ago the rep thought I would have to pay two exchange fees but he said the computer showed no fee. So the fee is programmed in to their system and perhaps it is easier to just place the restriction than to try to change the programming.

It would be interesting to know if this directive came from Marriott or if it is II imposed...

 

[BocaBoy]

Only makes sense that it wouldn't be available under Choose 2. I'm surprised they were letting it book through Choose2 and not the more powerful ACs.

I made a lot of bookings in prior years with the XYZ program, and I always personally thought the XYZ's were more powerful that most AC's. They were extremely valuable in my opinion. It has been probably three years, however, since I last used one because I have used DC points recently when I want to trade.

 

[BocaBoy]

I can also see II telling Marriott if they want to make both an exchange for each member deposit and a choose 2 available for enrolled DC members then they would have to increase the program fee to cover 2 M to M exchages for each non lockoff and 4 for each lock off.

In general, I think Marriott has the upper hand in the II relationship but loss in Marriott exchange availability paired with the loss in II exchange fee revenue from enrolled DC members may prove too costly to II.

It is strange that they are just discovering this now if that is the reason. DC members have gotten free XYZ's since the DC program was introduced over five years ago. Also, if fees are the problem, II and Marriott could agree that all future Choose 2 bookings would incur an exchange fee.

 

[dioxide45]

I made a lot of bookings in prior years with the XYZ program, and I always personally thought the XYZ's were more powerful that most AC's. They were extremely valuable in my opinion. It has been probably three years, however, since I last used one because I have used DC points recently when I want to trade.

I too have always considered XYZs to be more powerful than ACs. The fee to exchange is usually or always cheaper than an AC. While both are grid based, the more recent ACs are very restrictive beyond the grid. This new restriction on Choose 2 will make them about as valuable as the ACs.

 

[jdunn1]

Is the chose 2 Marriott ban only for dc members. I am a Marriott weeks only member. Maybe this change doesn't concern me?

 

[dioxide45]

Is the chose 2 Marriott ban only for dc members. I am a Marriott weeks only member. Maybe this change doesn't concern me?

I sent a follow up email to II to ask this or similar question. I am curious if the restriction only applies to Marriott owners, or if Marriott properties are just plain blocked. The initial answer didn't make it clear. It basically repeated what was mentioned in post #1..

 

[jdunn1]

Thanks. I emailed them too but from work. If I have a response I will let you know tomorrow, too. Hope all is well for you.

-jim

I sent a follow up email to II to ask this or similar question. I am curious if the restriction only applies to Marriott owners, or if Marriott properties are just plain blocked. The initial answer didn't make it clear. It basically repeated what was mentioned in post #1..

 

[taterhed]

Oh boy.... I can see this tsunami coming.

Let's wait for the response from Interval. Then, lets 'flash-mob' them with comments and emails "I'm not depositing my Marriott weeks into II unless you restore XYZ" etc... (yeah, yeah, choose 2 whatever)

If we time it right, we can leave them with a Monday-morning inbox full of angry customer responses!!!

maybe we could turn the tide.......

 

[jme]

If anyone's at Grande Ocean now there's an Interval rep there in house. Name is Katrina......she could answer all questions or either find out. She's great!

I'll be there later this week so I can run by too.