Points inventory isn't so great

[dougp26364]

Since I converted our MGC week to points it's given me the opportunity to search onine to see what is, and more importantly, what is not available for reservations. I"m a little disappointed in DC points.

Of course the sales reps will make it sound like the greatest thing since sliced bread but, what I'm finding is, the difficult exchanges are still difficulat reservaions using points and the easy exchanges are typically easy reservations using points. To be honest, the only difference I see is I can usually do better making the easy exchanges in the weeks system vs points.

The only advantage I see with points is the flexablity. Right now I need that flexability and, I'm sure they'll be sometime in the future when I need it as well. I also have become accustomed to using points with or DRI and HGVC ownership and enjoy the flexablity of different check in/out days or shorter stays at drive to destinations. I'm also learning the different systems have resorts in different locations that allow me to mix/match reservations so that I can stay in different locations within driving distance of each other during the same vacation. California, Arizona and Colorado offer a lot of choices of different towns with different experiences, all within driving distance of each other but sometimes a little to far to make comfortable day trips.

So I am finding value but, as a way to get the difficult reservations that are hard to find online, it looks like it's going to still be the same old make a request and wait game as with weeks.

 

[jennifer 4]

I converted to points because I wanted to make sure that I was able to get
the dates, view, and location I wanted for Maui. I was pleasantly surprised
to be able to get ocean view one bedroom for mid Jan. 2013. I have to wait
until March to book the next reservation since it will be for fewer than seven days.

This reservation actually went more smoothly than I thought it would. Just
out of curiosity, what resort and month were you trying to book?

 

[CashEddie]

Since I converted our MGC week to points it's given me the opportunity to search onine to see what is, and more importantly, what is not available for reservations. I"m a little disappointed in DC points.

Of course the sales reps will make it sound like the greatest thing since sliced bread but, what I'm finding is, the difficult exchanges are still difficulat reservaions using points and the easy exchanges are typically easy reservations using points. To be honest, the only difference I see is I can usually do better making the easy exchanges in the weeks system vs points.

The only advantage I see with points is the flexablity. Right now I need that flexability and, I'm sure they'll be sometime in the future when I need it as well. I also have become accustomed to using points with or DRI and HGVC ownership and enjoy the flexablity of different check in/out days or shorter stays at drive to destinations. I'm also learning the different systems have resorts in different locations that allow me to mix/match reservations so that I can stay in different locations within driving distance of each other during the same vacation. California, Arizona and Colorado offer a lot of choices of different towns with different experiences, all within driving distance of each other but sometimes a little to far to make comfortable day trips.

So I am finding value but, as a way to get the difficult reservations that are hard to find online, it looks like it's going to still be the same old make a request and wait game as with weeks.

I don't find this surprising since the system is relatively new. At the end of the day, it's an internal exchange system with most of its legacy inventory outside of the system. Honestly, I think Marriott has a uphill battle to get the system to a robust state where all owners will get value out of it. They have to do something to address the post 06/20 resales because there is always going to be a need for folks to sale their timeshares and as those legacy weeks get transferred to new owners, they loose the DC benefit which makes them less desirable to resale purchasers that want to part of the system.

I think Marriott took a big gamble on the DC program thinking that most legacy owners would sign up. I don't think they have hit their target numbers. The other side of the DC equation is the sale of trust points which that inventory is tied to legacy resorts they had unsold weeks and the "19 new resorts" they are suppose to be build in the next 2 years. I just don't see the new resorts happening anytime soon or ever.

 

[dougp26364]

I converted to points because I wanted to make sure that I was able to get
the dates, view, and location I wanted for Maui. I was pleasantly surprised
to be able to get ocean view one bedroom for mid Jan. 2013. I have to wait
until March to book the next reservation since it will be for fewer than seven days.

This reservation actually went more smoothly than I thought it would. Just
out of curiosity, what resort and month were you trying to book?

I haven't found mid January to be difficult with reservations/excahnges for Hawaii. In fact, I've found January to be rather easy for Hawaii. We've been to Hawaii twice in January now and neither exchange/reservation was all that difficult IMHO. Not as easy as HHI in January or Branson in March but, not so tough I'd list it as a difficult reservation/exchange. It's one I expect to be filled without anxiety or anticipation.

You have to keep in mind that I have two other points based reservations systems to compare too. Hilton has become tougher for Hawaii because of where they build and how they sell (build heavy in Orlando/Las Vegas and sell the idea of reserving in Hawaii) yet, January still isn't a tough reservation. DRI almost always has availability with the resorts they manage on Maui or Kaui. IN fact, I can't think of a time when I haven't seen inventory with DRI so long as I'm planning 6 months or further out.

Crystal Shores and Oceana Palms in prime time seasons still aren't there. Newport Coast during the summer still isn't there. Resorts considered tough exchanges in high season still seem to be as tough with points as they are with weeks in the Marriott system. Note I'm not saying impossible, just that, for now, one system doesn't seem to have a clear cut advantage over the other as far as basic access in. Flexiblity goes out the window when there's no inventory to choose from. You can't choose a view when there are no views available.

What I had hoped for was what's been sold by the salesmen, easier access into resorts heavy on trust inventory. In theory getting Crystal Shores or Oceana Palms, with all their trust inventory, should be as easy as falling off a turnip truck. I'm not finding that to be the case. I still have difficulty finding any inventory, even in hurricane season at Crystal Shores (haven't checked Oceana Palms for Sept/Oct yet).

Some would say that our Canyon Villa's reservation for Feb. or next year would have been a tough exchange but, we've been there and done that in the weeks system. In fact, I've even seen prime Scottsdale weeks hit I.I. online, which means there are weeks that aren't being matched by ongoing exchanges. A measure of which I consider to show weak demand. So I don't consider that reservation to have been a tough exchange.

It's all in perspective and I realize that but, other than the flexablity, I'm not sure I'd advise someone to join the DC just to gain access to either very difficult exchanges thinking reservations with points will be easier or, gaining access to trust inventory because the sales reps say that's the easiest/only way to get in.

As to the reservation process, that went very smoothly. Choose from availabilty, click and confirm. It's that simple. However, it's that simple in the weeks exchange program as well.

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening...

Doug,

I am going to respectfully disagree...

So far on DC, points..

Feb 2011, ski week at mountainside
June 2011 Oceanfront 3 bedroom Kauai Lagoons
July 2011 HiltonHead Surf watch 2 and 3 bedroom
Jan 2012 Mountainside
March 2012 Summitt Watch
June 2012 3 bedroom Frenchmans cove
Aug 2012 Grande Ocean HHI

all plat snags except june at FC....

a few short Lakeshore stays too....

just sayin....

 

[Toppermom]

We are using DC points to utilize multiple weeks at Marriott Legends Edge this summer. We are taking our adult children and their children for a family vacation. We were able to reserve 5 units for the week of July 1-8 using DC points. Got 3 of the units 13 months out and the other 2 a couple of weeks later. This is something that was next to impossible to accomplish trying to trade weeks for weeks. We are pleased so far.

Also have a 6 night stay at Kauai Lagoons 2 BR OF for time adjacent to our time in Maui.

Just my experience....

 

[dougp26364]

good evening...

Doug,

I am going to respectfully disagree...

So far on DC, points..

Feb 2011, ski week at mountainside
June 2011 Oceanfront 3 bedroom Kauai Lagoons
July 2011 HiltonHead Surf watch 2 and 3 bedroom
Jan 2012 Mountainside
March 2012 Summitt Watch
June 2012 3 bedroom Frenchmans cove
Aug 2012 Grande Ocean HHI

all plat snags except june at FC....

a few short Lakeshore stays too....

just sayin....

I have found good inventory in pockets. Utah and HHI are examples. Overall, the rarely sighted resorts are just are rarely sighted in points as in week no matter what the sales people might be saying.

Fortunately for us, two of the area's we've targeted, Scottsdale and Park City have had very strong inventory. Vail in the summer seems to be pretty easy but, it was always easy to see in the weeks system as well.

I was hoping I'd see something a little more rare but, it ain't happenin'.......yet. The lack of inventory at trust heavy resorts like Crystal Shores and Oceana Palms has really surprised me. I honestly thought those two would show up more often IF (and that's a big if) the legacy/trust buckets were truely melded into the equivelent of one bucket. Maybe not huh?

It's not that the system doesn't work or can't work but, it's still pretty glitchy. Of course, we're still in our infancy and it might take a while. But for those looking to buy in to get into some of the very difficult exchanges they might like to know it's not so easy as the salesmen try to lead you to believe.

 

[SMB1]

I have found good inventory in pockets. Utah and HHI are examples. Overall, the rarely sighted resorts are just are rarely sighted in points as in week no matter what the sales people might be saying.

Fortunately for us, two of the area's we've targeted, Scottsdale and Park City have had very strong inventory. Vail in the summer seems to be pretty easy but, it was always easy to see in the weeks system as well.

I was hoping I'd see something a little more rare but, it ain't happenin'.......yet. The lack of inventory at trust heavy resorts like Crystal Shores and Oceana Palms has really surprised me. I honestly thought those two would show up more often IF (and that's a big if) the legacy/trust buckets were truely melded into the equivelent of one bucket. Maybe not huh?

It's not that the system doesn't work or can't work but, it's still pretty glitchy. Of course, we're still in our infancy and it might take a while. But for those looking to buy in to get into some of the very difficult exchanges they might like to know it's not so easy as the salesmen try to lead you to believe.

I don't know. I got KoOlina July 2011, OceanWatch early August 2012, and Mountainsaide President's week 2013 with points. All 10 -13 months out. These are all very difficult trades with weeks.

Not seeing Marco Island (I haven't looked) doesn't seem like enough of a sample to say the inventory isn't good with points. I know many aren't happy with the skim and the amount of points they are allotted for their units but most people that Ican see here who have decided to give the points thing a try have been very happy.

 

[m61376]

Doug- Interesting post, and I'm venturing to guess that it will be an uphill battle. Marriott was touting the 20% mark of legacy owner enrollment as being their goal and banking on that to be sufficient inventory. I think the real issue is whether the differing point costs between weeks is enough to balance out the demand. In other words, will enough people flock to the off season weeks because they cost less to reserve, or will the demand for the peak weeks still be excessive. If you still have 75% of the owners vying for 40% of the weeks, you still have a problem in making reservations. And with more and more people buying/using points over time, it can get worse, if the demand isn't balanced out, because you can have more and more owners wanting those peak weeks.

On one hand, Marriott anticipates that higher point costs would encourage some people to book lower cost time slots. However, when they were selling week intervals and rights to reserve in certain time slots, in resort after resort the first to sell out were the more expensive Plat. Plus and then Plat. weeks. What does that tell you? To me, it indicates that the average Marriott buyer is perhaps wealthier than the average person, and is more accustomed to getting what they want even if they have to pay a higher price for it.The same people who bought Christmas and New Year's or President's week in Aruba, the other Caribbean resorts, ski weeks and Hawaii, for example, paid a lot of money for those weeks; now these same people (or their equivalents) will be willing to pay a lot for enough points to book these weeks, and they are being sold the dream that the points are even better because now they can easily choose Christmas or New Year's in Aruba on year, Hawaii the next, and perhaps go skiing the following year, etc..

Personally, I think that there is a strong possibility that reservations might get worse rather than better, as more people actually buy points with the expectation of easily booking those very high demand weeks. I think, like Puck has found, that prime weeks may be relatively easily bookable, but the really coveted peak weeks may become even more difficult to access over time.

That said, one of the big benefits that I can see is the access to booking larger units, since owners aren't locking off many of the deposits. Of course, that enhanced access does have a price. I really foresee the potential for Greg's point rental website to get a lot of action to fill the void for the cost of the added flexibility. I think a lot of people would be willing to ante up $500-1000 to rent points so as to ensure a good view or the week they want for a Hawaii reservation, for example. I think that's a great option and can be very helpful for people who intend to generally continue to use or trade in weeks, so they don't get sucked into the point exchange vortex to borrow or bank from/for the following year.

The way the program is designed, with point allocations and costs all over the place rather than the few categories that other big systems have chosen pushes owners to continually exchange, since most will either be short points or have an excess that will otherwise be wasted. Very few owners have either the savvy or the luck like you did Doug to figure out 100% use of the points they had for a single year, and that excess or shortage is the biggest impetus to keep on converting (part of Marriott's master plan, I suspect). That's why I don't think the importance of point rental can be overstated; it allows one to break the exchange cycle if they wish without feeling that they got shafted (by having leftover points or couldn't get that extra day or two (because they were short on points).

Another benefit not mentioned much here is that sometimes we need an extra unit and even Tuggers have posted from time to time that they've rented a villa. I know people who regret not buying a 3BR as families mature. The LR sofabed is nice, but it doesn't work for every family, esp. once in-laws are involved. There are many places where it would be cheaper to rent points to book a lock-out, for example, than renting one on Marriott.com, even with the owner's discounts. I know that added flexibility is a prime impetus pushing me to join.

 

[tschwa2]

Before the inventory came online and you had to request by calling, the reports were that desired inventory was not always immediately available. When requests were put in the exchange would come through in a few days or weeks. Presumably this was so the inventory could get moved from the trust inventory to the exchange inventory. I know there was talk of a single bucket but who knows. If there is no penalty to cancel request what you want to check and see if and how long it takes to match. Then cancel if you don't really want it.

 

[dougp26364]

I don't know. I got KoOlina July 2011, OceanWatch early August 2012, and Mountainsaide President's week 2013 with points. All 10 -13 months out. These are all very difficult trades with weeks.

Not seeing Marco Island (I haven't looked) doesn't seem like enough of a sample to say the inventory isn't good with points. I know many aren't happy with the skim and the amount of points they are allotted for their units but most people that Ican see here who have decided to give the points thing a try have been very happy.

I guess what got me to post this is I'm finding more misses than hits when I'm doing random searches. I haven't kept track of every miss/hit but, there have been a LOT more misses than hits.

Like I said, I can find really good availability in Utah, Scottsdale, HHI and Newport Coast during the spring/fall but, other than that there have been a LOT of no availabilty messages.

I haven't searched all area's and will continue my random searches but, for now, I see to many "no availability" messages after a search.

 

[puckmanfl]

good morning....

think we are being a bit harsh on DC points here...

not only did I snag a bunch of great platinum ressies.... I got time/date certainty... the ability to cancel and change (which I did), the ability to do the 'puck trick". I also obtained concurrent units (next to impossible with II). Did all this with no extra fees (except the skim). This is well worth the skim!!!

The skim on my 4000 pts weeks is 250 pts. i can snag t hose on greg's siute for $125... The II exchange fee is $109...

I love DC points...

 

[dougp26364]

Before the inventory came online and you had to request by calling, the reports were that desired inventory was not always immediately available. When requests were put in the exchange would come through in a few days or weeks. Presumably this was so the inventory could get moved from the trust inventory to the exchange inventory. I know there was talk of a single bucket but who knows. If there is no penalty to cancel request what you want to check and see if and how long it takes to match. Then cancel if you don't really want it.

I think this is still the case and the sales reps line that points are now points (no more buckets) is premature. I suspect my legacy points aren't seeing trust inventory because they are legacy points. The pockets of inventory I'm finding surprise me because Mountainside, Summitwatch and Canyon Villa's would likely be a majority of legacy points. Trust based resorts like Oceana Palms and Crystal Shore weeks, even in hurricane season, are nowhere to be found, even though there should be (in theory at least) plenty of trust based inventory to choose from.

 

[dougp26364]

good morning....

think we are being a bit harsh on DC points here...

not only did I snag a bunch of great platinum ressies.... I got time/date certainty... the ability to cancel and change (which I did), the ability to do the 'puck trick". I also obtained concurrent units (next to impossible with II). Did all this with no extra fees (except the skim). This is well worth the skim!!!

The skim on my 4000 pts weeks is 250 pts. i can snag t hose on greg's siute for $125... The II exchange fee is $109...

I love DC points...

Not trying to be harsh. I'm just reporting and others are theorizing on the effect of the DC and how this thing is working. We can't believe the salesroom stories. We must go by what we see/experience and then base hypothesis on those results.

Like I said, I see pockets of really good inventory in places I don't expect and nothing in places I would expect. Sold out, or nearly sold out resorts showing strong inventory while newer resorts that I'm pretty certain aren't sold out show no inventory (or very little. I haven't checked every possible week) suprises me.

What this thread seems to be telling me is that owners of high value weeks joined and converted to points, thus freeing up inventory. Trust inventory doesn't seem to be available with online reservations even though sales reps said the distinction between buckets has been eliminated. The low value weeks on HHI show no availability but, Grand Ocean showed pretty good availablity.

In the begining, the thought was that high point value weeks owners would join and convert. They'd see the high points value of their week compared to the relatively low values in other seasons/resorts and decide to stretch their ownership value. I believe we may be seeing this theory in practice now.

My MGC week gets me 4,625 points, which is moderately high in DC points value. In the past, I'd have never deposited the entire 3 bedroom unit for exchange. I suspect most 3 bedroom MGC owners would lock-off for exchange to maximize value. Now that 3 bedroom unit, which might never have been available in the weeks exchange program, is available in the DC reservations program. Thus, what was once unlikely becomes likely. Just like getting good ski weeks that are hard to come by in the weeks exchange program. The rub is what was once considered an easy exchange might not be an easy reservation in the DC because owners of those low point weeks see no value to them in the DC, thus, why join and convert? This could make it discouraging for high points weeks owners who think they can stretch their ownership value by resreving low points requiring weeks if those owners don't join and convert.

On the other hand, easy exchanges into resorts like Harbor Club at Harbor Town, a resort that has very low point value in the DC, comes up not available for every week I search, but, Grand Ocean, a tougher exchange in the weeks program, shows good availability.

What we are learning is to define what's likely and what's not likely in the DC. IMHO, it appears that we're seeing a flip in ideology for what's easy and what's not available. High demand weeks that have high points values appear at first blush to be easier to get from the legacy pool. Trust weeks may require a request/wait method to obtain. Low value weeks may be in short supply until Marriott can re-aquire such weeks through ROFR or foreclosure.

I'm begining to think that the high value weeks will be more easily sighted. The line between legacy/trust weeks continues to exist. Legacy/trust or trust/legacy reservations will more likely require a request and wait method to obtain the desired reservation. Reserving down from high value to low value points weeks will also require a request/wait method to obtain the desired results. The trust manager is still going to be required to move inventory between the two worlds of points/weeks and, this could also have an effect on weeks owners wanting to make exchanges but the trust manager snagging those weeks for points reservations. Most/all of this has been theorized but, now I'm starting to see what I believe to be evidence the theory is closer to truth than fiction.

Again, this is just conjecture based on what I'm currently seeing. Everyone's mileage may vary.

 

[Big Matt]

I think it's the same issue with Interval. You aren't going to see high demand points in prime seasons very long. They will get snapped up right away.

 

[ilene13]

good morning....

think we are being a bit harsh on DC points here...

not only did I snag a bunch of great platinum ressies.... I got time/date certainty... the ability to cancel and change (which I did), the ability to do the 'puck trick". I also obtained concurrent units (next to impossible with II). Did all this with no extra fees (except the skim). This is well worth the skim!!!

The skim on my 4000 pts weeks is 250 pts. i can snag t hose on greg's siute for $125... The II exchange fee is $109...

I love DC points...

Your skim isn't bad but the Aruba Ocean Club's is ridiculous. For each of my 1 bedroom platinum units I would get 2900 points but to use it platinum season (when I go) you need 4075-4525 points. That is ridiculous. We did not join because the DC program will not save us any money.

 

[SueDonJ]

I think this is still the case and the sales reps line that points are now points (no more buckets) is premature. I suspect my legacy points aren't seeing trust inventory because they are legacy points. The pockets of inventory I'm finding surprise me because Mountainside, Summitwatch and Canyon Villa's would likely be a majority of legacy points. Trust based resorts like Oceana Palms and Crystal Shore weeks, even in hurricane season, are nowhere to be found, even though there should be (in theory at least) plenty of trust based inventory to choose from.

I don't think the sales reps' lines about DC inventory being a single source is "premature" - I think it's flat-out wrong and if we're waiting for it to happen, we're going to be waiting for a long, long time. Marriott cannot merge the inventory "buckets" completely unless/until they amend a good portion of the DC governing docs and then get regulatory approval for those amendments. If they do so, they'll be changing their entire new business model - does anybody really think they're going to scrap what took years to develop at this early date?!

What should happen, eventually, as the new business matures, is that Marriott will get a better handle on how intervals are requested by users and thus will be able to move intervals among the buckets in advance of expected use. We're seeing more of that now than we did in the first months following the DC roll-out, but this thing is still young and I'd guess we're not seeing the full practical integration that we may see five years from now.

I think what you're seeing is what I expect to be seeing - a majority of the Trust intervals should remain in the Trust bucket to satisfy Trust Points users. Marriott can move those intervals when Trust Points are used by owners for something other than Trust intervals, and they can move a few more with the expectation that other Trust Points users will also want something other than Trust intervals, but I wouldn't expect the majority of the Trust intervals to be dumped into the DC Exchange Company for first-come-first-serve among all DC Points users. What would happen if a Trust Points owner came along and there was no inventory left to which s/he was legally entitled? Marriott has to satisfy inventory control audits - no way they're going to jeopardize their entire business so that Legacy Points owners can get instant access to all Trust intervals.

Whatever they're doing, it's obvious from Puck's and others' experiences that Legacy owners are not completely shut out of Trust intervals. Some have been available immediately when the reservation windows open but not most, some have become available within weeks of the open windows, and some have required wait-listing. But after all, for Legacy owners the DC is nothing more and nothing less than an exchange company. It's no different from any other that is completely dependent upon availability and inventory controls.

 

[dmharris]

Doug, a couple weeks ago, a sales rep at Oceana Palms told me they only sold 1/4th of the units as trust the rest are being sold as points. He also said a large portion of owners stay there and do not exchange. I believe owners at Crystal Shores do little exchanging as well, based on a sample size of two owners I know who've never exhanged, so this could be wrong. Thus the absence of weeks to trade for those two resorts.

 

[GregT]

Doug,

Let's test this with some Waitlist requests? I think the Waitlist plays a very important part in securing reservations, versus simply relying on what's available online at any given point of time.

I've noticed that some level of inventory usually appears around 12.5 months prior to check-in, and that most things appear available. By 11.5 months prior to check-in, it is much more "broken". This is different from what I'm accustomed to with HGVC and Worldmark where usually entire chunks disappear versus smaller time increments.

An example is Mountainside, which I'm kind of watching for SDKath. Weekends are booked 12.5 months out (because Premier Plus can book single days) and in February, there is some availability on random Mondays-Thursdays, but weekends appear gone. Worldmark has the same phenomenon where weekends at Big Bear/Tahoe disappear --- but at 90 days out when you no longer have to book a minimum of 7 days. Marriott's benefit to Premier Plus of booking single days 12-13 months out may really break the ability to get long continuous reservations.

I believe that, with respect to the shoulder/lower season stuff, if we put in a Waitlist Request, it will match relatively quickly because Marriott will go get it from II or whatever other cookie jars they have. But Marriott has made the structure decision to not stock these weeks in DClub since they can go get them from II when needed.

I'm happy to run some Waitlist Request experiments, just please make a few suggestions and I'll look for them. I'm running a waitlist experiment now on Aruba Ocean Club -- I matched a Studio for Feb 2 - Feb 9 in II and now looking in DClub for a 1BR OV for the same dates to create a 2BR unit. There were 1BR OV's in late January -- but they are gone now, so I'm curious to see how long it will take Marriott to match this. I may not keep the Aruba ressie at all, I'm just curious.

Thanks!

Greg

 

[ilene13]

Doug,

Let's test this with some Waitlist requests? I think the Waitlist plays a very important part in securing reservations, versus simply relying on what's available online at any given point of time.

I've noticed that some level of inventory usually appears around 12.5 months prior to check-in, and that most things appear available. By 11.5 months prior to check-in, it is much more "broken". This is different from what I'm accustomed to with HGVC and Worldmark where usually entire chunks disappear versus smaller time increments.

An example is Mountainside, which I'm kind of watching for SDKath. Weekends are booked 12.5 months out (because Premier Plus can book single days) and in February, there is some availability on random Mondays-Thursdays, but weekends appear gone. Worldmark has the same phenomenon where weekends at Big Bear/Tahoe disappear --- but at 90 days out when you no longer have to book a minimum of 7 days. Marriott's benefit to Premier Plus of booking single days 12-13 months out may really break the ability to get long continuous reservations.

I believe that, with respect to the shoulder/lower season stuff, if we put in a Waitlist Request, it will match relatively quickly because Marriott will go get it from II or whatever other cookie jars they have. But Marriott has made the structure decision to not stock these weeks in DClub since they can go get them from II when needed.

I'm happy to run some Waitlist Request experiments, just please make a few suggestions and I'll look for them. I'm running a waitlist experiment now on Aruba Ocean Club -- I matched a Studio for Feb 2 - Feb 9 in II and now looking in DClub for a 1BR OV for the same dates to create a 2BR unit. There were 1BR OV's in late January -- but they are gone now, so I'm curious to see how long it will take Marriott to match this. I may not keep the Aruba ressie at all, I'm just curious.

Thanks!

Greg

Greg--just a heads up the 1 bedroom units at the Aruba Ocean Club are NOT the suite part of a 2 bedroom unit. They are not connected to the studios.
Ilene

 

[dougp26364]

Doug, a couple weeks ago, a sales rep at Oceana Palms told me they only sold 1/4th of the units as trust the rest are being sold as points. He also said a large portion of owners stay there and do not exchange. I believe owners at Crystal Shores do little exchanging as well, based on a sample size of two owners I know who've never exhanged, so this could be wrong. Thus the absence of weeks to trade for those two resorts.

You mean 1/4 was sold as weeks? Being sold as trust and being sold as points are one in the same. The trust is points. Marriott has never sold points other than trust interval ownerships, which are represented as points.

 

[dioxide45]

Greg--just a heads up the 1 bedroom units at the Aruba Ocean Club are NOT the suite part of a 2 bedroom unit. They are not connected to the studios.
Ilene

Is this only for the certain views? Does the Ocean Club not have 2BR lock off units that would lock off in to a 1BR and a studio?

 

[dougp26364]

Doug,

Let's test this with some Waitlist requests? I think the Waitlist plays a very important part in securing reservations, versus simply relying on what's available online at any given point of time.

I've noticed that some level of inventory usually appears around 12.5 months prior to check-in, and that most things appear available. By 11.5 months prior to check-in, it is much more "broken". This is different from what I'm accustomed to with HGVC and Worldmark where usually entire chunks disappear versus smaller time increments.

An example is Mountainside, which I'm kind of watching for SDKath. Weekends are booked 12.5 months out (because Premier Plus can book single days) and in February, there is some availability on random Mondays-Thursdays, but weekends appear gone. Worldmark has the same phenomenon where weekends at Big Bear/Tahoe disappear --- but at 90 days out when you no longer have to book a minimum of 7 days. Marriott's benefit to Premier Plus of booking single days 12-13 months out may really break the ability to get long continuous reservations.

I believe that, with respect to the shoulder/lower season stuff, if we put in a Waitlist Request, it will match relatively quickly because Marriott will go get it from II or whatever other cookie jars they have. But Marriott has made the structure decision to not stock these weeks in DClub since they can go get them from II when needed.

I'm happy to run some Waitlist Request experiments, just please make a few suggestions and I'll look for them. I'm running a waitlist experiment now on Aruba Ocean Club -- I matched a Studio for Feb 2 - Feb 9 in II and now looking in DClub for a 1BR OV for the same dates to create a 2BR unit. There were 1BR OV's in late January -- but they are gone now, so I'm curious to see how long it will take Marriott to match this. I may not keep the Aruba ressie at all, I'm just curious.

Thanks!

Greg

Right now I don't have any suggestions for wait listing or have any real desire to test the waters just for the sake of testing the waters. I don't want to tie up inventory or keep Marriott unnecessarly busy just to satisfy my curiousity. I don't mind running searches to see what's available online but, to waitlist something I don't want goes a little far for an experiment for me.

I do believe that Interval is the highered exchange manager and I can see similarity to how I've had to make exchanges in the weeks program with Interval to the DC. The exception being that what might be harder to see for instant exchanges with Interval might be easier to see in the DC if you're a legacy week owner looking for legacy week inventory converted to points. After so many years of making exchanges, this is a more radical concept to grasp.

I can see the issue of broken weeks with premier plus owners being able to break up weeks by reserving weekends at resorts, leaving only mid-week stays by the time premier owners or standard owners can reserve. That may turn into a large issue with Marriott over time but, I believe I've read on TUG that the governing documents only allow only some much of a percent of owners to be Premier Plus or Premier. I didn't understand that possible wording before but, perhaps it was put in to avoid to many weeks being broken before standard or premier owners have a chance to reserve.

This system definately works differently than any other points based reservations system out there. IMHO, it's more complicated that it really needed to be. My opinion remains that Marriott has done an exceptionally poor job cutting a new road when existing super highways already existed. They've attempted to re-invent the wheel when they really didn't need too.

My goal is simply to look at this from my points of view and figure out how to use it when necessary. Right now, Thursday to Thursday exchanges are a necessary evil for me and could be for the next couple of years. Short stay vacations typically are only good for us in spring/summer/fall months and only in drive to destinations, which limits us to Breckenridge, Vail and Branson. I have a great deal of access into Breckenridge and Branson through our personal ownerships and clubs. I'll be looking at mostly week long stays but, since I'm looking, I check flexible check in/out days just to see what's available if a Thursday check in isn't.

 

[Luckybee]

Is this only for the certain views? Does the Ocean Club not have 2BR lock off units that would lock off in to a 1BR and a studio?

Actually there are both. I think what Ilene is refering to is that there are a number of stand alone 1 bdrm units that dont adjoin the studios. If one is trading for a 1 bdrm and a studio, other than by request , I dont think there is anyway to be assured that one would get the full 2bdrm. (I just looked at my old doc's which were during constuction which indicate there were to be 125 1bdrms and 93 2bdrms which are all lockoffs)...If Im not mistaken, having heard this somewhere before , this is the only M property where there are more 1bdrms than there are 2.

 

[ilene13]

Is this only for the certain views? Does the Ocean Club not have 2BR lock off units that would lock off in to a 1BR and a studio?

There are 2BR lockoffs but as an owner of a one bedroom unit I am never given the one bedroom part of a 2 br unit. There are more 1 BR units than 2 BR's. That is why we bought 1 BR's basing our decision on knowing how Marriott books units. We bought OC in 1999 and we had already owned other Marriott units for over 10 years. So they do lock off that way. The only way an exchange can get the 2 units is with 2 parts of a lockoff--the free standing one BR units can not be combined that way.