Update at SDO

[buzglyd]

We’re at SDO enjoying the rain in March. We went ahead and did the update. Our offer was 30,000 Bonvoy points or $200 Visa card. We took the cash since we’re going to dinner at Buck and Rider and it will cost at least that.

Salesperson was trying to convince me I HAD to buy Abound points in order to access all the Marriott properties. I told her I already elected me 2025 Star Options into Abound and would be able to reserve whatever I wanted. She got a little hot under the collar and said I could ONLY reserve Vistana properties. Then what would be the point of Electing?

Anyway, she told me I had to buy a minimum of 1000 points to have a “hybrid” ownership. I like the last appointment of the day because once they realize you’re not a buyer, you get booted quickly.

 

[Eric B]

She got a little hot under the collar and said I could ONLY reserve Vistana properties.

Holy crud! I must have gotten away with murder having used my Vistana-elected points to reserve at Fisherman's Cove in St Thomas and Los Suenos in Costa Rica! It also seemed as though I could have reserved the Ritz-Carlton in St Thomas if I hadn't decided it was cheaper to go through ThirdHome. You should probably run back first thing tomorrow morning and beg them to sell to you to get the improved access! (Intentional sarcasm in case anyone misses it....)

 

[buzglyd]

Holy crud! I must have gotten away with murder having used my Vistana-elected points to reserve at Fisherman's Cove in St Thomas and Los Suenos in Costa Rica! It also seemed as though I could have reserved the Ritz-Carlton in St Thomas if I hadn't decided it was cheaper to go through ThirdHome. You should probably run back first thing tomorrow morning and beg them to sell to you to get the improved access! (Intentional sarcasm in case anyone misses it....)

Clearly I have missed out on an amazing opportunity!

 

[lorenmd]

just did an update at sheraton mountain vista. she told us we could convert our SO to club points but club points don't see the same things as trust points. she said in order to see the full inventory of marriott and not just a small amount we had to buy at least 1000 trust points. she said different bucket of inventory for converted SO to club and those who own some trust. we took our $300 gift cards and said thanks but no thanks.

 

[VacationForever]

just did an update at sheraton mountain vista. she told us we could convert our SO to club points but club points don't see the same things as trust points. she said in order to see the full inventory of marriott and not just a small amount we had to buy at least 1000 trust points. she said different bucket of inventory for converted SO to club and those who own some trust. we took our $300 gift cards and said thanks but no thanks.

Another big fat lie.

 

[The Colorado Kid]

just did an update at sheraton mountain vista. she told us we could convert our SO to club points but club points don't see the same things as trust points. she said in order to see the full inventory of marriott and not just a small amount we had to buy at least 1000 trust points. she said different bucket of inventory for converted SO to club and those who own some trust. we took our $300 gift cards and said thanks but no thanks.

$300 nice! Actual gift cards to use anywhere?

 

[lorenmd]

$300 nice! Actual gift cards to use anywhere?

yes gift cards. we're at westin desert willows this weekend and they called and gave us the same offer to come to an owner's update. i am tempted for another $300

 

[buzglyd]

Dang, we just got $200. I’m gonna march back into that office and demand another C note!

Buck and Rider was excellent by the way if you’re looking for a place to eat in Scottsdale.

 

[KACTravels]

We just had our update at SDO (checked out SDO and checking into WKR today, so we had time to kill). We opted for offer $200 in gift cards. I didn't understand what they were trying to sell us for the 1,000 Points to have access to Trust Inventory, therefore increasing our availability. We have already "invested" to 5* originally and now Chairman's Level with our portfolio, so if we elect to put some into Marriott Exchange, why would we buy more to have access to this supposed increased inventory??? Can anyone explain it to me? He made it sound like everyone would eventually need/want to have some "Trust" Points in order to maximize their availability.

 

[VacationForever]

Total BS. This line has been used by MVC salespeople for many years.

 

[grrrah]

I know they still call them updates, but we need to stop that and start calling them sales pitches.

We just had our update at SDO (checked out SDO and checking into WKR today, so we had time to kill). We opted for offer $200 in gift cards. I didn't understand what they were trying to sell us for the 1,000 Points to have access to Trust Inventory, therefore increasing our availability. We have already "invested" to 5* originally and now Chairman's Level with our portfolio, so if we elect to put some into Marriott Exchange, why would we buy more to have access to this supposed increased inventory??? Can anyone explain it to me? He made it sound like everyone would eventually need/want to have some "Trust" Points in order to maximize their availability.

Their trust is MVC's point based timeshare system, similar to Westin Flex or Sheraton Flex. Abound is their exchange system similar to VSN staroptions. Technically their trust doesn't have to be shared in their exchange program but it is! (just like flex doesn't have to provide exchanges in VSN) In practice their Trust inventory is added to their exchange program partially at 13 months and remaining at 12 months (VSN does it in theory at 8 months). NO NEED TO PURCHASE ANYTHING to have access as several members here with and without trust access have compared and see the same availability.

Many of the popular resorts are primarily deeded weeks. To make their Trust program more enticing, they need access to our deeded weeks in the exchange program, and also need their program to be more enticing for our VSN weeks, so they have always made their trust inventory to all in the exchange program. I suppose they could move access to a later time like at 10 or 8 months, but they aren't.

 

[Red elephant]

I know they still call them updates, but we need to stop that and start calling them sales pitches.



Their trust is MVC's point based timeshare system, similar to Westin Flex or Sheraton Flex. Abound is their exchange system similar to VSN staroptions. Technically their trust doesn't have to be shared in their exchange program but it is! (just like flex doesn't have to provide exchanges in VSN) In practice their Trust inventory is added to their exchange program partially at 13 months and remaining at 12 months (VSN does it in theory at 8 months). NO NEED TO PURCHASE ANYTHING to have access as several members here with and without trust access have compared and see the same availability.

Many of the popular resorts are primarily deeded weeks. To make their Trust program more enticing, they need access to our deeded weeks in the exchange program, and also need their program to be more enticing for our VSN weeks, so they have always made their trust inventory to all in the exchange program. I suppose they could move access to a later time like at 10 or 8 months, but they aren't.

Do you think they even have the capability with all their IT problems?

 

[The Colorado Kid]

Do you think they even have the capability with all their IT problems?

@Red elephant Of course that's a rhetorical question