Wow, lots of opinions here. Now I will add mine.
1)I don't think Marriott will do anything more than offering MR points for those that purchase developer. If you look at DVC, there is no difference between resale and developer sales. I think they will need to keep it this way if they are actually going to keep the values high.
2) In order for a points program to work as DVC has, the points have to remain the same with only minor tweaking in the seasons if necessary. Granted, when they add on new resorts, the new resorts seem to have a higher value in most cases, but if you look at Animal Kingdom villas, the standard view rooms are the same # of points as the standard view rooms at Boardwalk. The points values at Bay lake towers are high because they know that more people are going to want them. I think this is reasonable in this case. However, I believe Marriott should have a max cap on the number of points they will have on resorts. If Hawaii is going to be 58K points for Oceanview 2bd, then I do not believe any other new resort should be higher than this.
3) Seasons- I think they should mimic Disney's 5 season plan. Everyone knows that platinum isn't always red time. Example- April or Oct in Williamsburg aren't very good traders, but yet are platinum. This is difficult to implement because all plat owners get the same number of points but could use less to stay in Oct.
4) Maintenance fees- I am of the belief that maintenance fees should not come into play when determining the number of points available for that week. My MMC is lower in cost to run because it is in a lower cost area. That is the way it is. I shouldn't receive lower points because I bought in a lower cost area. It should be based on supply and demand. I also do not believe that those in lower seasons should be given a discount on the MF's if a points based system is implemented. You chose to buy a lower season and your discount was in the price you paid initially. There are costs involved in running your resort, and that is what the MF's are for. You still have the right to use your week in the way you originally purchased- as a week in that season- you do not have to join the points program and can continue using II for your exchanges in Flextime.
5) Point values- unfortunately, it is commonly known that some resorts do not have the same trade values as others. Let's face it, the most highly requested resorts should have a higher point value. Hawaii and the caribbean should have a higher value than Williamsburg. Although I do have to say I am disappointed with this and may not choose the points program for my MMC and MSE weeks because of this. The other problem is that the platinum season is so long in some instances, that the June-Aug timeframe may be incredibly difficult to get all over, but the rest of the time is not, so this needs to be taken into consideration in places like HH and Myrtle beach. Sorry, but true- but this is also why I recommend the 5 season model since there are slower times in Hawaii as well even though it shows plat all year.
6) Home resort priority- I think with any points program you need to keep the home resort priority without charging for it. PERIOD. Charging you for something you have if you just kept your week is insulting. Now, if you want to charge me to have priority on resort in which I do not own, this I could accept, but probably wouldn't take advantage of.
7) Reservation timeframes- DVC uses 11months at your home resort and 7 months every where else. I like this format, but as others have said, makes getting FF miles difficult. I think I would like to see a 13 month timeframe for home resort and 10 or 11 months for anywhere else to be able to take advantage of the FF miles.
8) Fees- charging me to use a points program is ridiculous. If you want to enhance the current program that is great- just do not charge me anything for it. Frankly, I won't pay a dime to enroll in a new points program. The fees of $159 are a little outrageous too. If this fee were to include my membership into II, then it might be worth it, but not per week. I think Worldmark includes the II membership in their fees, so I think that would be a nice enhancement, without breaking the bank. Although, $159 is still very high. Right now we pay that to II for an international exchange, granted we still have to pay for our membership, but we would still have to if they didn't include it in the $159 fee anyway.
9) Flextime - I believe that Marriott should also have their own version of Flextime in points. I know Worldmark has reduced values for units booked within 60 days. I think Marriott should do the same. If it is 28K points to book Williamsburg in Oct, but there are still weeks left, then maybe they drop the value to half so it is like being able to get 2 weeks for your 1 just by using flextime. Or maybe if your value is only 14K because you own a lower season, you could still take advantage of flextime and get a larger unit, or a better season.
Of course, we all know this is all speculation. We will not know what Marriott will do until they announce the new program. I am sure they are still trying to tweak it, but who knows, they might have it right around the corner and try to get it done by early 2009 for reservations starting in 2010.
I would hope that this enhancement they are trying to do is exactly that, and not another money maker on their loyal customers. Although, if you don't like it, you can always stick with the way it has always been before. Weeks and exchanges through II, but will we still keep our priority?
Just my 2 cents.
