Marriott's 24-day Internal Exchange Priority Revisited

[Dave M]

A Tugger sent me the following Private Message this afternoon (modified slightly):

I have a question on the II 21 days Marriott Owner Preference. I want to make sure I understand this.

On 8/26/05 I requested a trade from (Gold) Aruba Surf Club for Waiohai for either of two specific 2006 weeks. Does that mean that for the first 21 days, if a 2BR opens up at Waiohai, Marriott Owners get first Preference? After 21 days what happens? Where do I stand on that list?

Many thanks.

 

[Dave M]

Here is my response (edited slightly):

The preference is generally 24 days, although it used to be 21. For the first 24 days (shorter during the last 60 days before check-in) after a week is deposited, only Marriott owners will be successful in trading into that Marriott week.

Where you stand if you want that week depends entirely on the strength of the week you deposited in exchange, including demand for your resort, the size of your unit, the demand for the particular week you deposited, how early you deposited and all of the other standard II factors. That strength is then compared to the strength of weeks deposited by other Marriott owners requesting that same week you want. Sometimes, you'll win; sometimes you won't.

After 24 days (or the shorter period), all II owners (not just Marriott owners) have a chance at getting that week, thus diminishing the chance thereafter that a Marriott owner will get it.

Note that you will only be confirmed into that week if II deems your exchange is a "comparable exchange". Thus, even if no other Marriott owner wants the week you are after, you won't get it if it's not a comparable exchange. Obviously, you can exchange into anything that's available - comparable or not - within the 60-day window.

You can find more info on the priority policy in the FAQs at the top of the list of topics for the Marriott forum. Also, a search of the forum using the words priority, exchange and various combinations of other pertinent terms will turn up several useful threads.

Note: Although I have assumed above that someone deposits a week when requesting a Marriott internal exchange, a request-first using a particular week apparently has approximately the same trading strength as a deposit-first for that same week.

 

[GaryDouglas]

I have been told (by a Marriott sales rep) that if you trade through II back into your same resort, you even have a higher priority than other Marriott traders. Is that correct?

 

[Dave M]

That question is pretty well answered by this link from the FAQs at the top of the list of topics for this Marriott forum - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=709