New points program (Europe)

[JonP]

We have just returned from two weeks at Son Antem (Mallorca) and the rep who has looked after us for a number of years mentioned the much discussed points system. I appreciate there has been other threads but as this was reported in Europe I thought a separate thread would be sensible.

The rep had recently attended a European corporate meeting where they were advised that within the next 18 months Marriott will be introducing a points system. However what was interesting is that this is reportedly going to be an entirely ‘new product’ and sold separately to the existing ‘weeks system’. Little was known of how or if the two systems will work together.

This follows the model used in the Far East as Phuket has two systems running; one with as the original week’s program and the other a points program. I understand that while it is a single resort, the resort code is separate for each system.

 

[BocaBum99]

The only way Marriott can introduce a point system is through a new product. They can't really muck with what Marriott owners currently own.

If and when Marriott launches such a product, they will provide current owners an opportunity to convert their weeks into the new product. All points companies do something similar.

 

[ocdb8r]

The only way Marriott can introduce a point system is through a new product.

Not necessarily, they could institue something like the Starwood system which runs alongside your "weeks" ownership. Although I agree, it appears from the most recent posts that they are looking at a plan where they will actually sell both points and weeks. It will be interesting to see how it pans out.

Did we ever get some solid details of how the point system in Asia is set up? I'd be curious to see how they have allocated point values among the different resorts and seasons. Anyone have a point chart? Were weeks owners offered the option of switching? Do points owners still have use of II?

 

[kjd]

precautions

What precautions are there to ensure that point owners don't have an advantage over unit owners when doing a trade into another Marriott TS? If you institute a dual system for all owners someone may lose.

 

[BocaBum99]

Not necessarily, they could institue something like the Starwood system which runs alongside your "weeks" ownership.

If it runs "alongside your weeks ownership" it is still a different product. You must be referring to optional vs. mandatory inclusion in the SVO POint system. There is no way to make current Marriott owners "mandatory" into the point system. Marriott must get the owner to agree to participate.

If you own at an SVO optional resort, you can choose to keep it as a week or put it into the point system. If it's mandatory, it was created as a (new) point product from the start. No matter how you slice it, it's a different product.

 

[BocaBum99]

What precautions are there to ensure that point owners don't have an advantage over unit owners when doing a trade into another Marriott TS? If you institute a dual system for all owners someone may lose.

My guess is that the "points inventory" is different than the "weeks inventory." In other words, the availability is dictated by how many owners agree to participate in the point system.

It could be that all new units that Marriott sells is only accessible via a point system. But, the inventory really does need to be managed separately.

In my experience is working with several point systems, they all have separate inventory for points vs. weeks. Most of the dire predictions made about what will happen to fix/floating week inventory never seems to materialize. Probably because there is always an upgrade fee or new pruchase required to participate in the points program. So, inventory is not always available to points owners unless the developer gets aggressive in buy backs or conversions into the point system.

 

[ocdb8r]

If it runs "alongside your weeks ownership" it is still a different product. You must be referring to optional vs. mandatory inclusion in the SVO POint system. There is no way to make current Marriott owners "mandatory" into the point system. Marriott must get the owner to agree to participate.

If you own at an SVO optional resort, you can choose to keep it as a week or put it into the point system. If it's mandatory, it was created as a (new) point product from the start. No matter how you slice it, it's a different product.

I never disputed Marriott would have to get owner agreement for participation, I was only referring to whether Marriott would in fact be selling "points" as a product. Mandatory or optional in the SVN system, time is never sold as "points" by Starwood like Bluegreen, Worldmark, or Disney do. You always purchase a week with Starwood. Starwood can (and has) indiscriminately change the point values of any week as it sees fit. No contract includes a point guarantee in SVN (or event that SVN will continue to exist). Basically the point system just serves as an alternative exchange method. In that sense, I would not call SVN points a “product.”

 

[JonP]

If and when Marriott launches such a product, they will provide current owners an opportunity to convert their weeks into the new product. All points companies do something similar.

I did ask if existing owners would be offered the opportunity to convert but the rep reiterated that this was a ‘new product’ and weeks would remain as they are.

This can be interpreted different ways but how it affects existing owners is unknown. One thing is for certain, there are major changes to the existing MVCI system on the way.