MARRIOTT / CORONAVIRUS [MERGED]

[Gemini Chica]

This is why travel insurance exists.

Travelex doesn’t cover European owners and I do have travel insurance but someone has just informed me it needs to be specific for timeshares which I didn’t know .


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[Safti]

I have been on hold with Marriott Vacation Club for nearly 2 hours. I have a timeshare stay upcoming next week. As of yesterday they continue giving the party line "we are monitoring the situation". I have no idea what to do.

 

[Safti]

I, for one, would like to know that I can at least deposit into II even if it is less than the usual two weeks required.

 

[Gemini Chica]

I have been on hold with Marriott Vacation Club for nearly 2 hours. I have a timeshare stay upcoming next week. As of yesterday they continue giving the party line "we are monitoring the situation". I have no idea what to do.

2 hours? I hope you get sorted out. Keep us updated.


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[Safti]

Got through to MVC. They will deposit into interval without any penalty for the usual inside the two week period.

 

[Safti]

Also, it will be good for two years

 

[Safti]

MVC is so messed up. Finally I got through after 2 hours. The agent said that they just got an internal memo 2 hours ago indicating that they were waiving penalties for deeded legacy weeks and would deposit into interval. The agent said "just a minute, I will get II on the phone and we can have a 3 way conversation". Two minutes later, II comes on the phone, the MVC agent is nowhere to be found (she obviously dropped the call) and the II agent said "oh no, we can't do that, we are not accepting any late deposits". So messed up.

 

[hangloose]

Dear Marriott Vacation Club Owner,

As a valued member of the Marriott Vacation Club family, we wanted to provide you with an update on our ongoing efforts to keep our resorts around the globe comfortable and safe environments for our Owners, guests and associates. Simply put, there is no higher priority for our organization.

We have been actively monitoring and reacting to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation since its emergence in the Asia Pacific region late last year. As the situation began to develop, we quickly took steps to stand-up our dedicated and tested emergency preparedness and response teams, and subsequently charged each of those teams with preserving the safety and well-being of our Owners, guests, and associates.

I am pleased to report that we have continued to welcome Owners and guests to each of our resorts without disruption since earlier this year. Our resorts and associates look forward to welcoming you and your family on your next vacation, and rest-assured that we will continue to evolve our on-site response to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

On that note, our corporate and site leadership teams continue to closely monitor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) statements and advisories regarding COVID-19. We continue to follow both WHO, CDC and local/state health department guidance, as well as any guidance which may be issued by local/state health departments regarding recommended hygiene standards. We are also working closely with our industry and vendor partners to adopt best practices around cleaning processes.

You should also know that the daily health and safety measures that are already in place at our resorts are designed to address a broad spectrum of viruses, including COVID-19. Those health and safety measures extend from handwashing hygiene and cleaning product specifications to villa and common-area cleaning procedures.

However, in response to the spread of COVID-19, our resorts and properties have increased the cleaning protocols for high-frequency guest touchpoints as well as the following public areas, where applicable:

• Public restrooms
• Lobbies
• Fitness centers and locker rooms
• Activities and Kids Clubs
• Shuttle buses
• Other key guest areas

Our associates are also expected to follow the WHO and CDC recommendations for everyday preventative actions to help prevent the spread of diseases, and we encourage all Owners and guests to do the same both at home and while at our resorts.

Traveling is a fundamental part of our lives and vacations are an important part of finding balance in a fast-paced world while we reconnect with family and friends. Vacations are circled on our calendars long in advance of lazy days by the beach, hitting the slopes, exploring new urban destinations, and simply spending quality time with loved ones.

Our resorts are open, our pool decks are set, and our associates look forward to welcoming you and your family on your next vacation.

Thank you for being part of the Marriott Vacation Club family, and I look forward to seeing you at our resorts as I vacation with my family throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Steve Weisz
President & Chief Executive Officer

 

[hangloose]

Off to Hawaii soon. Unless the airline prevents us from going, we'll be there. We'll just take some extra precaution around travel in and out of the airports and around the resort areas.

For those looking for last minute travel to Hawaii, flights are super cheap.

 

[Dean]

They sent out an appropriate email tonight as well as having info listed on their website.

Allow changes within the year according to availability?


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They do that now subject to the current rules for direct reservation, for exchanges you would refer to II.

Where would that inventory come from? It would come from the same place as the inventory still for sale in the Marriott system. Where did the inventory come from when they created the DC program and started selling points? Where does it come from when MVC sells inventory for $299 teaser vacations to obtain new buyers?

I can't see this happening, any flexibility given that was extra would be shouldered by the rest of the membership.

I expect the 59 day rule to go away to allow changes. I expect limited period owners to be offered the opportunity to reserve available inventory outside of their ownership period. As an owner, I expect contingency plans at every resort posted resort website indicating what they are doing AT THAT RESORT. I do not expect to receive 4 calls in one day to schedule my appointment for an owner update, when the caller cannot tell me anything about what's going on in the area re: COVID-19, let alone what the resort is doing to combat it's spread. In reality, if the MVCI and managers of individual resorts posted links on the resort website to local information on what's happening in their community, as well as what their resort is doing, that would show owner-centered service and be meaningful. As an owner (or renter), I would be better equipped to make decisions about travel - especially if I am traveling with older family members or persons with chronic conditions. In addition, I would be better able evaluate my own risk/benefit ratio as I weigh go/not to go decision. While a general message is posted, it does not make sense to have the same message for a resort in Aruba as in Italy. Essentially, that's what happens when a general message is posted on a general website. Lastly, even on the general hotel site, where "cancellations" are being allowed out of routine policy is only for Asia, Italy, and Saudi Arabia. What about high incident communities in the U.S.?

Maybe, I wouldn't be surprised if they did but they didn't with the Hurricanes previously. Not only that they prioritized to owners who were supposed to stay at other resorts and canceled exchanges at a resort that was open for HHI. This is a moving target with changes by the hour at times and no precedent for this situation.

 

[BostonKingB]

I've actually been annoyed with the volume of emails I've been receiving about COVID. Literally every organization I'm involved with has their own email. A banner on the website directing me to a page with more info is enough for me.

 

[pspercy]

over 1 billion mentions in the media, 60 deaths a day

Good updated map from Johns Hopkins Univ.

https://coronavirus-map.com/interactive-map/

 

[ilene13]

We have a trip to China booked with DP for September. American Airlines cancelled our flights last night. I called MVC this morning. They said that there is a long wait, so I had them call me back. They called back in 45 minutes. We are Chairman’s Club. The representative was terrific. We used 29,000 DP for this trip. The representative told me all of our options. The good news is that if we cancel only 75 points will expire this year. I’m waiting to hear from the cruise representative, even though it’s a 23 day trip with only 5 days in a boat,

 

[capjak]

We were on Maui for 2 weeks and we are ending 8 nights here on Kauai this weekend. No issues thus far, no panic, no quarantine, no one wearing masks, restaurants are full so book early if you go.

 

[TravelAmore]

Exactly, and thanks. I guess some don’t realize travel insurance is available...

Be sure to check the language governing your travel insurance policy. Many policies do not cover endemics or pandemics. And, for many vendors unless you’ve purchased a “Cancel for any reason” policy, a more expensive travel policy, your trip cancellations may not be covered.

Glad to see a better, more detailed Marriott communication was sent to some owners today. I have not yet received the message - wouldn’t be surprised if the distribution is handled in batches, so maybe tomorrow or on Saturday when I take off to MCV.


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[bazzap]

I don't see anything in the announcement about timeshares. It's only about hotels.

I asked at one of our home resorts and

Travelex doesn’t cover European owners and I do have travel insurance but someone has just informed me it needs to be specific for timeshares which I didn’t know .


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There is no comparable timeshare insurance in Europe, which I or anyone else has been able to find as yet.
Some while ago now I asked both MVC and Travelex, but they could not help.
I also asked TATOC, the UK Timeshare Organisation, who suggested two possible companies to try but neither offered similar cover.
I will keep searching and I am sure many of us would welcome anyone’s experience and suggestions with possible insurance providers.
Meanwhile it is disappointing that MVC as a self claimed global company does not have an insurance option for non US residents

 

[jmhpsu93]

I've actually been annoyed with the volume of emails I've been receiving about COVID. Literally every organization I'm involved with has their own email. A banner on the website directing me to a page with more info is enough for me.

This is a fair statement. I mean, I got one from a winery that I belong to and my local running shoe store. Kinda overkill in that they don't really impact me.

I'm still underwhelmed by the MVC response (note that I'm completely unaffected by this, so this isn't just me being salty about something that happened to me.). And I totally get that most of their ability to rebalance demand would be shouldered by owners and they probably can't even do it legally anyway. They do, however, have the ability to leverage their MVC-owned weeks and the skim from enrolled weeks (their cash rental pool).

The impact of this is that you have lots of members not knowing what is going to happen next (evidenced by the questions popping up on here from very experienced MVC users) and an extremely limited ability to have questions asked (TUG, while awesome, only relays policy as our SMEs understand it but doesn't make it) or make adjustments or cancellations (because the web site provides no functionality and they have understaffed their CS line for months).

In a time of extreme change and worry, you want to see those in charge seem competent, empathetic, and transparent. I didn't get that from the email (which sounded like "nothing to worry about, WE'RE open for business").

 

[Gemini Chica]

Totally agree Barry there are many European owners, its really something that's necessary.

 

[Dean]

I asked at one of our home resorts and

There is no comparable timeshare insurance in Europe, which I or anyone else has been able to find as yet.
Some while ago now I asked both MVC and Travelex, but they could not help.
I also asked TATOC, the UK Timeshare Organisation, who suggested two possible companies to try but neither offered similar cover.
I will keep searching and I am sure many of us would welcome anyone’s experience and suggestions with possible insurance providers.
Meanwhile it is disappointing that MVC as a self claimed global company does not have an insurance option for non US residents

The problem is they don't self insure, they contract it out. So if there isn't anything you can get, there likely isn't anything available for them to offer to you either. Both MVC and Disney use Travelex, they could ask Travelex to provide an option which I'd think is unlikely unless they're contemplating some type of service there anyway. I assume you've looked at Berkshire Hathaway, Expatriate Group and Globelink and found them not applicable. There must be a reason the usual companies don't offer coverage there, are you aware of the specific reasons?

 

[bazzap]

The problem is they don't self insure, they contract it out. So if there isn't anything you can get, there likely isn't anything available for them to offer to you either. Both MVC and Disney use Travelex, they could ask Travelex to provide an option which I'd think is unlikely unless they're contemplating some type of service there anyway. I assume you've looked at Berkshire Hathaway, Expatriate Group and Globelink and found them not applicable. There must be a reason the usual companies don't offer coverage there, are you aware of the specific reasons?

Thank you, I heard of those companies but never in a European context. I will check them out.

 

[Dean]

Thank you, I heard of those companies but never in a European context. I will check them out.

Sure, let us know what you find out as it may help others. As a rule I'm negative to travel insurance other than special situations but I know some don't want to take the risks and that there are situations where it makes more sense than others such as preexisting medical conditions, known personal/family risks and larger trips. I get it for MVC simply because of the economy of scale but I don't do it for anything else.

 

[NboroGirl]

I got this email from MVC yesterday:

Dear Marriott Vacation Club Owner,

As a valued member of the Marriott Vacation Club family, we wanted to provide you with an update on our ongoing efforts to keep our resorts around the globe comfortable and safe environments for our Owners, guests and associates. Simply put, there is no higher priority for our organization.

We have been actively monitoring and reacting to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation since its emergence in the Asia Pacific region late last year. As the situation began to develop, we quickly took steps to stand-up our dedicated and tested emergency preparedness and response teams, and subsequently charged each of those teams with preserving the safety and well-being of our Owners, guests, and associates.

I am pleased to report that we have continued to welcome Owners and guests to each of our resorts without disruption since earlier this year. Our resorts and associates look forward to welcoming you and your family on your next vacation, and rest-assured that we will continue to evolve our on-site response to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

On that note, our corporate and site leadership teams continue to closely monitor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) statements and advisories regarding COVID-19. We continue to follow both WHO, CDC and local/state health department guidance, as well as any guidance which may be issued by local/state health departments regarding recommended hygiene standards. We are also working closely with our industry and vendor partners to adopt best practices around cleaning processes.

You should also know that the daily health and safety measures that are already in place at our resorts are designed to address a broad spectrum of viruses, including COVID-19. Those health and safety measures extend from handwashing hygiene and cleaning product specifications to villa and common-area cleaning procedures.

However, in response to the spread of COVID-19, our resorts and properties have increased the cleaning protocols for high-frequency guest touchpoints as well as the following public areas, where applicable:

• Public restrooms
• Lobbies
• Fitness centers and locker rooms
• Activities and Kids Clubs
• Shuttle buses
• Other key guest areas

Our associates are also expected to follow the WHO and CDC recommendations for everyday preventative actions to help prevent the spread of diseases, and we encourage all Owners and guests to do the same both at home and while at our resorts.

Traveling is a fundamental part of our lives and vacations are an important part of finding balance in a fast-paced world while we reconnect with family and friends. Vacations are circled on our calendars long in advance of lazy days by the beach, hitting the slopes, exploring new urban destinations, and simply spending quality time with loved ones.

Our resorts are open, our pool decks are set, and our associates look forward to welcoming you and your family on your next vacation.

Thank you for being part of the Marriott Vacation Club family, and I look forward to seeing you at our resorts as I vacation with my family throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Steve Weisz
President & Chief Executive Officer

 

[Steve Fatula]

Marriott told me cancels within 60 days via points still go into holding account, but, you can use up to 120 days out for what it's worth to anyone.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

We have reservations for May 2020 to visit both Kauai and The Big Island. My wife is immune suppressed, which is definitely an underlying medical condition. Right now at least we are still planning to go.

Neither of those islands are particularly crowded, and we can watch where we go. Of course May is a ways off, and things are changing quickly.

 

[gln60]

Marriott told me cancels within 60 days via points still go into holding account, but, you can use up to 120 days out for what it's worth to anyone.

Do you mean you must use the points within 120 days of cancellation...or you can use the points in the holding account to make ANOTHER reservation 120 days in advance of the new reservation?