Purchasing second-hand prevents status?

[ccomp23]

Could you explain a little more? Sorry I’m not following. Your Bonvoy status makes a difference as an Owner?

I can say that MVC status and Bonvoy status does not affect the ability to book or unit assignments. Bonvoy status may affect the cost of booking before 12 months out if one owns under 4000 points but the points premium goes away once one reaches SELECT status.

 

[Pamplemousse]

I can say that MVC status and Bonvoy status does not affect the ability to book or unit assignments. Bonvoy status may affect the cost of booking before 12 months out if one owns under 4000 points but the points premium goes away once one reaches SELECT status.

Do you mean Abound?
Both ridiculous names.

 

[davidvel]

Absolutely — that’s what I think we are all unclear on. I was told by a sales associate that Owner level has limited access to Westin properties — only 20% capacity is going to be availability. However, if you become Select or higher, you will have full access/capacity to the available properties. She explained that’s why at 12 months I could not find availability as an owner at any Westins, but stated that at Select or higher I would be able to book the Westins at 12 months. In fact, she showed me on her personal MVC account how the Harbourside was available to her 1 year from yesterday, but when I looked on my account it was not available. It was either a trick they use with a fake system, or this is truly a legit difference. This is one of the main reasons we want to move up to Select, and is the reason why my original post asked about whether buying resale get you the MVC status.

I'm not sure what else we can tell you. No one that I know of has ever heard or read anything that makes the following true:

I was told by a sales associate that Owner level has limited access to Westin properties — only 20% capacity is going to be availabl[e]. However, if you become Select or higher, you will have full access/capacity to the available properties.

If it were true, it would be selling point and most certainly reflected in the various owner level charts.

 

[ccomp23]

I'm not sure what else we can tell you. No one that I know of has ever heard or read anything that makes the following true:

I was told by a sales associate that Owner level has limited access to Westin properties — only 20% capacity is going to be availabl[e]. However, if you become Select or higher, you will have full access/capacity to the available properties.

If it were true, it would be selling point and most certainly reflected in the various owner level charts.

Respectfully, several other people have helped answer and had things to tell me. Thank you!

 

[tschwa2]

This is fascinating! Thanks for doing this. It would make sense the salesperson is also an owner with Westin and was able to book when MVC can’t. But yes— it doesn’t seem to make a difference that you have a higher level MVC status. I appreciate your help

Salespeople have also been known to use some kind of inventory beta site that isn't actual inventory for them or anyone else to make it look like there is availability that isn't there. I think the chance of your salesperson actually being a Select or above in Abound like most things you were told has a 50% or higher chance of being a lie.

 

[echino]

I am MVC owner and Westin owner at the Chairmans Club status level. When searching with Abound points for 1 night at Harborside at Atlantis, there are 4 single nights available in April 2026, and zero availability in May 2026, with "Outside Booking Window" message:

 

[JIMinNC]

Respectfully, these are all properties within MVC. And if MVC Select gets you a greater access to them I would think MVC folks on this forum would be able to speak in to this. We’ve been using Westin and Sheratons through MVC for over 2 years now. It would be great to know if MVC status impacts our ability to get these.

I would think that if owner level had any impact on the ability to book Westin properties, it would be touted as one of MVC's benefits. As you can see from the ownership level benefits chart below, there is no mention of that.

 

[Dean]

Could you explain a little more? Sorry I’m not following. Your Bonvoy status makes a difference as an Owner?

The question I responded to was whether one's MVC status (Owner Benefit Level) affected access for reservations. I broadened my response to say that neither the MVC Premier status NOR the Bonvoy status had any affect on either access to reservations or unit assignments. I apologize if that was not clear. For MVC weeks reservations owning multiple units AND reserving them concurrently or consecutively does provide potential added access. For Abound points everyone has the same access but those ate the base (Owner) level have a higher cost.

 

[Pamplemousse]

That is part of why it feels like her account she pulled up on the screen was fake. That would make sense. But she said it was because she was a higher status was MVC.

Hopefully you will be logged in and ready to book a bit before 9 on Tuesday 5/13 to book 5/6.
Let us know. I may do some hunting myself just out of curiosity.

 

[davidvel]

I would think that if owner level had any impact on the ability to book Westin properties, it would be touted as one of MVC's benefits. As you can see from the ownership level benefits chart below, there is no mention of that.


View attachment 110158

Jim, I don't think you had the right one :

 

[TolmiePeak]

I started out as an owner in 2023 and now I'm presidential and I see the same properties as I did as an owner. Only difference is I can book a single night at 13 months whereas I could only book a single night 10 months out.

Exactly. And people are led to believe that presidential has value.

 

[capjak]

I just did a search, I own both Westin and MVC and am Chairman level.

There are 7 nights available in May. for example may 06 checkin. Inventory changes

 

[Pamplemousse]

I just did a search, I own both Westin and MVC and am Chairman level.

There are 7 nights available in May. for example may 06 checkin. Inventory changes

I see it too- own just MVC.
1 BRs for 7 nights with check in 5/1 through 5/7 and 5/8 has 7 nights in 1, 2 or 3 BR units.
I wonder is Harborside follows MVC ‘when can I book’ dates and not Westin. It doesn’t say Westin on the site.
@ccomp23 have a look

 

[claraj]

I also see it now.

@ccomp23 do you see availability now for Harborside?

 

[echino]

Yes, Harborside availability changed:

 

[ccomp23]

Thank you all!

 

[jmhpsu93]

Just a footnote that this inventory is now gone minus a few onesie twosies...so act quickly!