New levels ocean pt tour

[Wanderlustgrl]

I was shown a chart yesterday with 2 new levels being added above chairmain. It was 30k pts and 50k pts. Saying it launched May 1st but could by in today only at a discount.

When I questioned that new levels have been promised before her response was “this time it’s official. Why would we tell you something is coming in 2 days while you would still be in your rescission period. If it doesn’t happen you can just cancel”

I found that statement interesting. Has anyone heard of this change?

Was also told external weeks will no longer be able to enroll by buying pts or weeks, resale pts won’t count towards levels in the near future (but did say that they do now) new levels can pay maint with points and get priority room choices and upgrades if available.

 

[dioxide45]

It must be happening. Someone else reported similar from another owner update. Perhaps if they put out new levels they will finally update the single PDF that outlines the benefits at each level. The only other one they have has bad information related to banking for Chairman's Club.

 

[Wanderlustgrl]

Yes they said with the new ceo and coo coming from diamond that they are not the marriott we once knew. No longer giving everything to owners without a purchase. They are now sales driven. Also told we can no longer by encores since we did 3 without a purchase

 

[dougp26364]

Well find out tomorrow.

One way or another, it’s not going to affect me. There is no way at the price per point we’d be in the market for another 15,000 points. At 30,000 points we’d have to always look towards the most expensive weeks on the market. I’m sure not spending points on the extras where value is approximately 30 cents per point.

These levels will reward the most affluent of MVC owners. It will be meaningless to the majority.

 

[Wanderlustgrl]

Why wouldn’t they just enhance the other levels? I can’t imagine there are that many owners at 30k let alone 50k

 

[Pamplemousse]

I was shown a chart yesterday with 2 new levels being added above chairmain. It was 30k pts and 50k pts. Saying it launched May 1st but could by in today only at a discount.

When I questioned that new levels have been promised before her response was “this time it’s official. Why would we tell you something is coming in 2 days while you would still be in your rescission period. If it doesn’t happen you can just cancel”

I found that statement interesting. Has anyone heard of this change?

Was also told external weeks will no longer be able to enroll by buying pts or weeks, resale pts won’t count towards levels in the near future (but did say that they do now) new levels can pay maint with points and get priority room choices and upgrades if available.

Did they tell you what the benefits were at these 2 new levels?

 

[dougp26364]

Why wouldn’t they just enhance the other levels? I can’t imagine there are that many owners at 30k let alone 50k

I would think less than 5%. Probably 1% or 2%.

I would also think that this group would tend to be in the mega renters, renting either for profit or to cover MF’s. With how MVC is “cracking down” on rentals I wouldn’t want to be caught holding the bag on a ton of points I couldn’t personally use.

30,000 or 50,000 would be an exclusive group sealing to have the best views in the best locations. There’s enough competition for those views that they’ll need to give the mega owners a head start on the highest priced view categories. That will tick off the regular owners, the group that owns the bulk of the MF’s

 

[DanCali]

I was shown a chart yesterday with 2 new levels being added above chairmain. It was 30k pts and 50k pts. Saying it launched May 1st but could by in today only at a discount.

I find the whole thing not realistic.

First, the current benefit levels have cutoffs at 4000, 7000, 10,000 and 15,000 points. Buying the 5000 points to go from Presidential to Chairman involves a ~$80K cash outlay (that's ignoring doing it via "smarter" ways like enrolling resale weeks, hybrid deals etc) and a commitment for an additional $4K in annual MFs. So are they going to now change to increments of 15,000 and 20,000 points where the pitch is to spend $250K-$300K upfront (and $12K-$16K in incremental MFs) to move up in level. And in exchange for what? Maybe getting a 2pm checkout "based on availability," or maybe getting a slightly better view? If the alleged new benefit levels and cutoffs were 20,000/25,000 points I may have more inclination to believe it.

My guess - tomorrow will come and go and nothing will change with benefit levels.

When I questioned that new levels have been promised before her response was “this time it’s official. Why would we tell you something is coming in 2 days while you would still be in your rescission period. If it doesn’t happen you can just cancel”

I found that statement interesting. Has anyone heard of this change?

Was also told external weeks will no longer be able to enroll by buying pts or weeks, resale pts won’t count towards levels in the near future (but did say that they do now) new levels can pay maint with points and get priority room choices and upgrades if available.

For what it's worth, at our last presentation (not many months ago) we were not told about this, but we were actually offered to enroll a resale week if we spent a lot of money to buy other stuff we didn't want/need. So I think they just tell you what they think you need to hear.

Yes they said with the new ceo and coo coming from diamond that they are not the marriott we once knew. No longer giving everything to owners without a purchase. They are now sales driven. Also told we can no longer by encores since we did 3 without a purchase

I would also politely have reminded them about all the formerly 5-Star Elite Vistana owners who paid up and got left holding the bag when Marriott just eliminated their benefits overnight. If they did it once, what's to say they won't do it again? Especially if they are now seemingly suggesting that they will take away things that were already grandfathered.

 

[Dean]

My contact says big corporate meeting today and changes coming. Once he has details, he'll let me know. 30K & 50K seem like a big stretch with Chairman's Club currently at 15K. I could see 20K & 25K to 30K maybe even 25K & 35K. As others have said, I'm sure the number of members currently at or close to the levels discussed is very small and likely not enough to justify the effort to pursue them from a sales standpoint differently they they already are. If the carrot is too far away there isn't any incentive to buy. As for benefits, I doubt there will be much change in current option for the current levels. They could enhance election windows, banking windows, length of time banked points are valid, add additional fluff options, extend reservations windows, give early access and reduce costs for cash type options by lower points. Some of these would be helpful for me but I'd already qualify anyway unless they add a new purchase requirement like Bluegreen did for Diamond.

 

[MikeM132]

Did they tell you what the benefits were at these 2 new levels?

From another thread...perhaps Charmin toilet paper.

 

[Wanderlustgrl]

Did they tell you what the benefits were at these 2 new levels?

Longer banking windows, booking windows, enhanced upgrades, being able to pay maintenance with points, which we used to own with Wyndham and how many people who got scammed with that pitch there. When we started downsizing, that was the first to go.

 

[dioxide45]

I could see new benefit levels, but nothing near 30K or 50K. Why do they need to do anything for people that already own that many points. The goal would be to sell people on more points. Who is going do dump the cash needed to go from 15K to 30K? Or even 15K to 50K? probably not. 20K and 25K might be more realistic levels.

We need photos of the chart. I be they wouldn't let the OP take a photo.

 

[Wanderlustgrl]

I could see new benefit levels, but nothing near 30K or 50K. Why do they need to do anything for people that already own that many points. The goal would be to sell people on more points. Who is going do dump the cash needed to go from 15K to 30K? Or even 15K to 50K? probably not. 20K and 25K might be more realistic levels.

We need photos of the chart. I be they wouldn't let the OP take a photo.

They did not because they said they weren’t supposed to be talking about it until May 1 anyway but we’re trying to give us a heads up. We have already sold or given back many weeks as we have started to downgrade our portfolio, so I was curious why there was such a big push anyway they must know we are not in the market to buy anything.

I did reach out to our original sales rep in Orlando who has always been very honest and helpful and she did confirm that they are adding levels and had heard similar numbers, but has not seen anything in writing: she did say that there was a big meeting this afternoon and would probably have something more concrete and would send it to me tomorrow if I wanted to see it. She also agreed that the jump seemed very big and wishes they would do more in the middle range of owners.

 

[Jim Mc]

While I believe that things are changing, I find it hard to believe that Marriott Vacation Club would violate SEC rules by divulging information like this prior to a general press release.

Will there/should there be changes in the current levels that drive sales, yes. Adding a level that is 30k to 50k for 1% of the owners does not make since. If you are looking to drive sales, you want to make the "masses" want to buy more. This means getting the lower levels to get to Presidential / Chairman level.

Question for those out there: What incentives would entice you to purchase points to move form Presidential to Chairman, as the difference currently is "nothing".

 

[dioxide45]

While I believe that things are changing, I find it hard to believe that Marriott Vacation Club would violate SEC rules by divulging information like this prior to a general press release.

I don't think something like this would fall under SEC purview. Would it?

 

[Jim Mc]

I don't think something like this would fall under SEC purview. Would it?

You are probably right, does anyone out here know?

 

[Wanderlustgrl]

While I believe that things are changing, I find it hard to believe that Marriott Vacation Club would violate SEC rules by divulging information like this prior to a general press release.

Will there/should there be changes in the current levels that drive sales, yes. Adding a level that is 30k to 50k for 1% of the owners does not make since. If you are looking to drive sales, you want to make the "masses" want to buy more. This means getting the lower levels to get to Presidential / Chairman level.

Question for those out there: What incentives would entice you to purchase points to move form Presidential to Chairman, as the difference currently is "nothing".

Exactly. Seems like a big jump. Guess the new management jumped in and made changes without learning the owner base. Or maybe there are more of the top tier owners then I think. At one point we had 26,000 including our weeks and it felt ridiculous at some point and the maintenance was to much

 

[RookWDW]

Seems like an odd change while also trying to crack down on renters - unless they will change that stance and allow renters or perhaps allow renting only for these new categories. In either case - it makes me feel owning legacy weeks will become even more valuable vs a point system under new management that is even more aggressive on sale tactics.

 

[jwalk03]

You are probably right, does anyone out here know?

I do not believe this would qualify as material investor information that would require SEC compliance. That mainly covers financials, mergers & acquisitions, management changes, legal/regulatory stuff, etc. It would be a pretty big stretch to claim new benefit levels would qualify as material.

 

[daviator]

I was shown a chart yesterday with 2 new levels being added above chairmain. It was 30k pts and 50k pts. Saying it launched May 1st but could by in today only at a discount.

When I questioned that new levels have been promised before her response was “this time it’s official. Why would we tell you something is coming in 2 days while you would still be in your rescission period. If it doesn’t happen you can just cancel”

I found that statement interesting. Has anyone heard of this change?

Was also told external weeks will no longer be able to enroll by buying pts or weeks, resale pts won’t count towards levels in the near future (but did say that they do now) new levels can pay maint with points and get priority room choices and upgrades if available.

Last week, in my presentation, they claimed one of the new levels was 25,000. So they are lying or making things up. I'll not believe it until they actualy announce something.

The salesman wasn't very happy with me when I said I'd been lied to so many times over the past 25 years that I'd have to be crazy to spend money based on a rumor that you won't put in writing.

 

[Wanderlustgrl]

Last week, in my presentation, they claimed one of the new levels was 25,000. So they are lying or making things up. I'll not believe it until they actualy announce something.

The salesman wasn't very happy with me when I said I'd been lied to so many times over the past 25 years that I'd have to be crazy to spend money based on a rumor that you won't put in writing.

Were you in florida too. Would think if they lie they would all have the same one atleast. Or update the sales people at the same time. Non seem to know what’s going on. And the company allows it

 

[daviator]

Were you in florida too. Would think if they lie they would all have the same one atleast. Or update the sales people at the same time. Non seem to know what’s going on. And the company allows it

No I was at Westin Desert Willow in California. But the salesperson claimed to be looking at a chart of the new levels – which she "wasn't allowed" to show me – so if there really WAS such a chart, it wouldn't be different in Florida than in California. So I think it's lies, as usual, though the frequency and specificity of this rumor makes me think that there is a chance it's true.

Here's the thing: I already had MVC take away the elite benefits I valued most when they rolled out Abound changes a few years back. So I would NOT spend money to get benefits which they would probably take away again after a few years. I wouldn't buy more unless I needed more vacation time.

 

[DanCali]

Here are a couple of additional rumors from January and earlier this month posted on FB claiming just one additional level at 30k points, or that tier cutoffs will be moving around.

Until I see an official announcement (which is possible, I guess), I'd treat it all as part of a "buy now, you'll find out later" sales pitch...

 

[Dean]

Here are a couple of additional rumors from January and earlier this month posted on FB claiming just one additional level at 30k points, or that tier cutoffs will be moving around.

Until I see an official announcement (which is possible, I guess), I'd treat it all as part of a "buy now, you'll find out later" sales pitch...


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I still can't see them going from 15K to 30K but I could see them increasing Chairman's Club to 20K (grandfathering current owners) and then going to 30K as an additional level. We should know more by tomorrow.

 

[davidvel]

Longer banking windows, booking windows, enhanced upgrades, being able to pay maintenance with points, which we used to own with Wyndham and how many people who got scammed with that pitch there. When we started downsizing, that was the first to go.

To everyone: have they ever explained how you "pay MF with your points?" I mean every sideshow usage usually prides about 20-30 cents value and MF are over 85 cents, not counting upfront cost.

I intuitively know you can't create gold out of water, and if somehow you could you would pay more for the water and everything else to make the gold, but how do they explain it? The mechanics. Or does anyone know the theory?

It seems analogous to people who are inclined to pay a 3% service fee with a credit card purchase to receive 2% in cash back. Or people that say I'm going to buy this thing I may not really need, because I can write it off on my taxes.