Marriott Going to Point Syst

Now here is a new one ---- I took a "tour" today at Grande Vista. The salesman said that I needed to purchase points if I wanted to have priority to use my points (from converting my deeded weeks). Let me be clear. He said that the only way to have priority to use my points from converting deeded weeks is if you also have purchased points. Up until now everyone said that when you convert your weeks to points you have the same priority as other points owners. Anyone have any insight on this?

There is so much b..... going on. The salesman will sell you anything to close a deal. The rules seem clear. To reserve in advance (13 months), you need to have 2 weeks/deeds or more than 6'500 points in the DC system.

What he is referring to is the "trust weeks" I suspect, that supposely on points can tap into it. But even in this case, when you have converted from deeded weeks to points in your account how is Marriott going to do the difference between points coming from deeds and from purchase points?

I tell you a lot of salesman tactics to sell anything... but $10 expensive points!

Can we all agree that Marriott simply botched this up? Not just the whole DC program, but the way that they marketed it and communicated it to their existing customers. Their sales people have done a good job of confusing people and seem confused themselves.

I can't tell you how disappointed I am in Marriott. They were one of my favorite brands and a company that I would brag to others about. We'll see if it affects their business. If it does then they'll have to do something to regain their loyal customer base.

I used the practice part on the website to see how it would work on using the points from one of my two bedroom weeks at the Grand Vista to book a two bedroom right back at the Grande Vista. I just picked a dull week in Oct. I would have had to come up with about 300 more points. The sales person said holiday weeks require more points so so weeks would require less but do not know which weeks they are. He told me not to go to the points system just to trade through Interval. He said only about 6% had made the switch. FYI

Just to make sure some positive is thrown in.... I received my third and final request for a points exchange this week. Traded 1 Platinum and 1 Bronze week on HHI for points for 2011. Requested 3 villas for 5 days (due to family reunion in Atlanta days 6 and 7). As an owner of only 5300 points when traded,(plus the enrollment incentive of 800) had to wait until 10 months prior to make request, due to my level as an owner. Now I have three villas 2 OS and one GV at Ocean Watch in Myrtle for next July (Platinum). Sun-Thurs. May be the only time this works for me, but I got what I needed for 2011.... You could even say that I worked the system for a great trade.

Hi, Does anyone know what happens if you convert to the points system and then sell your unit on the resale market? Does the buyer get to participate in the points system? According to the rules, if you buy on the resale market after the program was announced, you are stuck with not being able to convert to the points system and not being able to get Marriott's Rewards Points.

I suspect that during the deed transfer the use of future weeks/points will be affected and the Maintenance fee of that year will be deducted from the selling price. Now the question is how much, because fees are usually decided later in the process? I think that if you have borrowed 2012, it will get more difficult to sell your week. Anyway, prices in the resale are very low so I do not know what you hold but it is maybe better to way to sell. I think owners that were not really using their weeks really have decided to sell instead of join this program. Also, Marriott is not doing anything officially for resale weeks bought after 6/2010 so will only have the choice to use it or trade with II (still excellent option at this point). However, if you are an owner like me with enrolled weeks, I do not want to pay $199 fees for DC and the II fees for the non-enrolled weeks.

Marriott introduced the new point system in July. It is now mid-January and they still do not have a booklet that is available to owners that will explains how the new program actually works. As a result owners are left to get information orally, some of which is accurate and some of which isn't. The problem is trying to figure out which is which. While I like a lot of the benefits of the new program, this has to be one of the worst introductions of a new program in the history of business. Business schools will be able to use this as an example of what not to do for years. If anyone has tried to get answers to how the inventory is set up and managed for both deeded owners and point purchasers you will know what I mean. Just when you think you may actually understand it, the explaintation changes. As a deeded owner I want this new plan to be successful. But I fail to see how it will be successful as long as Marriott refuses to provide owners with something in writing that addesses how this program actually works.

I totally agree with j227. We should all want the new program to be successful so that Marriott is successful and so that we will continue to enjoy these great timeshares. However, the explanation and implementation of the new program is an abomination. I signed up for it since I own multiple weeks at high value properties, but every time I call Marriott to trade for or use points they screw it up. They have incorrectly tallied my points balance several times; they have mysteriously not found all the weeks I own until I press them to look further; they have not yet given us a way to manage (or even see) our points balance online; they require us to call in to make any deposits or redemptions, and then be put on hold for long wait times, and then have the joy of speaking to an obviously frazzled, irritated representative. Finally, when I was put on a wait list for a points redemption and the reservation finally did come through, they double booked it (i.e., two separate reservations and points withdrawals).

One more thing, the II inventory for Marriott to Marriott trades has dried up significantly, obviously a result of the new program. When they tell us that deeded week owners can function as we always have in the past, they are totally misleading us.

This is certainly not the great Marriott that we have all experienced for many years.

Not sure I agree that the II inventory for M to M trades has dried up. Marriott properties that have not fully sold-out have released their unsold unit weeks to the Destinations program. However, the only way sold-out or nearly-sold-out weeks get into the Destinations program is through deeded owners joining and then converting their week(s) to points. My impression from monitoring this forum is that the response rate for the Destinations program is not great and therefore the II inventory from sold-out to nearly-sold-out properties can not be significantly effecting II inventory.

One additional comment is that any new development in the future will strictly be in the Destinations program. Since the economy for developing and selling timeshares is so weak this is not a concern in the near term. At some point however the only way to trade into the future development will be through the Destinations program. That stinks that deeded weeks will not have any real access to any new properties unless they join.

I have heard from a sales manager in Orlando's Lakeshore Reserve, that DP inventory may still be released to the II week inventory to manage their inventory. For poor season weeks in Marriott inventory that could mean release many months in advance and for all other DPs it could be releases two to four months out for II's shortstay exchange program. Bottom-line is Marriott has a need to fill the units and not allow weeks or points to go to waste (unused). So expect to see "excess" inventory appear in either DP or II weeks for exchange, but perhaps much less of the "high demand" inventory.

It is really hard to get a handle on what is actually happening (or will happen) to the II inventory. One thing for sure is that Marriott is not real likely to put unsold development inventory into II as in the past.

On a positive note, this past Nov/Dec, Marriott did make available for usage some properties in the DP program at a 50% points discount. Obviously, this was to get rid of unused seasonal inventory. However, if this becomes a common situation in the future, the DP owners will definitely benefit (if, of course, you do not mind going to places in the off season).

We have been multiple week owners with Marriott since 1997 and have been very happy and satisfied with our investment... Or should I say we were, it is up for question as of late.

We decided to participate in the Vacation Club system to allow us more options in the long term of our ownership. I will go on record right in the beginning as saying in our opinion the new system is not good, balanced or very owner friendly. This is our opinion.

We did purchase a small amount (the minimum of 1,000 at the time) to put us into the "premier plus" level. We own 5 deeded properties and we were only 475 points away from that level but the minimum we could purchase was the 1,000.

We were trying to look at the long term of the ownership that we had invested in and thought this was the best option for us at this time based on our future travel needs.

We have tried several times over the last several months to use the points we were "given" as part of our purchase/enrollment and what we have purchased. Yesterday we made our first reservation using the new Vacation Club points system.

In our opinion we are not very happy with the results that we have but feel we were in a position that we had to make some sort of reservation because of the expiration situation. So, here is the summary of our transaction, personal experience and our opinion.

We had: * 1,100 points that are the incentive points - (they expire by December 31, 2011) a use or lose situation * 1,000 points that we purchased - use is 2011, these can be banked until December 2012 if banked by June 2011 * 1,000 points that could be drawn on from the 2012 year use

Here is what we did: We reserved 5 nights in an ocean side, 2 bedrooms at the Oceana Palms on Singer Island, FL. This reservation cost 425/night (because we chose the Sunday through Thursday stay) total of 2125 points.

Of these points only 850 could come from the "incentive" points because they have to be used first and only in whole night increments. Those points could not be combined with the "titled points" to make the balance of the third night. We have 250 of these points left that will expire in December now.

This is why our opinion is that this is a poor transaction/system: * Seven days of one of our platinum deeded weeks ranges from 2150 to 2775 (2125 was for only five days and none of which included a weekend). This seems like there is far too much of the "breakage" in Marriott's favor. We should be able to at least get an equal for an equal.

* We could not get where we actually wanted to go or the view that we actually wanted (I know it is always based on availability), that doesn't mean we have to like it. :-) (There is inventory based on Marriott's website - just not points inventory)

* We now have 250 points that are going to expire and there are very few places that 250 points even equal one night stay

* We were told that the "incentive points" were given to us anyway and it shouldn't matter. To that our opinion is; no, we paid for those points by paying for more "titled points" and by enrolling in the new program. There is nothing that was free or given to us, everything has a price.

We used all of the 2011 points (that is good... I guess) but we also had to tap into our 2012 year points (that seems bad since we only need 25 and they could have used the incentive ones). So, clearly they can and do track all the points, where they came from and when they expire AND they will not necessarily pool them. There are some cases where they will but it is for a single night stay.

In the long run we will use our deeded weeks for stays or exchanges and the points that we purchased to augment those stays. That is what our plan is anyway. But our opinion is that is a not a well done new system.

PS: It took at least two phone calls to get this done. The wait time to talk to someone to make the reservation was over 25 minutes each time.

That's incredible that the points, incentive based in this case, are only usable in whole night increments. What's the point of a points based program--no pun intended--other than loss of value to the owner in this instances (250 stranded points). I've read all the literature available to download on the Marriott site and have never came across this condition.

Thanks for giving an example of how this new program is working. Marriott has to address: the way points expire the little value a small # of points has the long wait time to get answers.

I keep reading all of this with very few positve remarks. There have been very few get aways. So when is someone going to take action against Marriott? I have been an owner for 10+ years and decided to buy an additional 2 bedroom at my home resort from a owner last spring just to trade with II. Good luck with that. I now think the change of check-in days from 1 to up to 4 days is all part of the points process to break-up weeks. A lot of what I was promised on my first purchase is now going to zero. I guess it is all business now for them. If action is started please let me know.

lichael: I am a little bit suprised about your 250 points situation. I used the 800 points with a deed week enrolled to points and I did not experienced the same issue. With the VOA, we started from the 800 points added the 3725 points of my GV weekand then start booking from there.... at the end I finished with 2'450 points still left (to be used or banked by June 2011). No comment about 800 points need to be for a full night or two, etc. I will recommend you call back and complaint heavily (there need to show you where is this rule written).

On the other comments about DC and inventory availability, I fully agree that it is possible that last minute deals will become more a norm, especially with all the unsold inventory that Marriott had in their hands and now should be part of the trust/DC program. We will see.

Hi davidn247, I think you are right that I should complain. Believe me I did try to figure out if there were any loop holes. Like doing a five night stay broken up into three different reservations. The computer system would block the nights allowed for the "incentive" points check in (referred to as exchange points by Marriott, and the purchased ones are referred to as trust points). So that stopped being able to split it up that way.

I do think there must be some sort of over ride that can be done but I haven't gotten anyone willing to do that yet.

One of the things they told me when I was trying to arrange this stay was that the resort had a lot of say in what they would or would not accept and allow for points usage and check in.

There must be some sort of remuneration from corporate to the resort for these points that we as owners are not being informed of.

I am not sure how that is going to play out but it does remind me of the days when you tried to make a reservation using reward points and there were so many black out dates that it was very difficult to get a reservation on a weekend or holiday.

I am not an attorney but if there is one in the forum that is going to start a case in regards to this situation I am interested in knowing more about what we can do as owners.

So far not too positive of an experience for us with the new point system.

davidn247 you have 3725 for a GV week? Is that a 3 bedroom? Our week is a 2 bedroom platinum and is only rated at 2775. This is also an interesting bit of information.

We also reserved Ocean Point at Singer Island for a week in July 2011 and it was 1950 points . We were able to use the all 1400 bonus points and 550 points of 2011 that we had purchased. If we don't want to use the balance of 950 this year then by June30 we have to bank them . I don't understand why you were not allowed to use all the bonus points and use your 2011 purchased points for the difference. Seems like some one made a BOO BOO. I would check into this .

lichel: I have been reading about your situation and decided to ask my advisor about what occurred. Several pages back on this blog, many were worried that points owners would knock out deeded owners and have preference. Well your situation is how it works in reverse. Oceana Palms is both a Trust and Exchange resort, i.e. many owners have deeded weeks and their is still new inventory to be sold, but is now sold as points.

The simplest answer to the issue of what points and what incentive points could and can be used is one of where the inventory to fill the request comes from. Chances are you received 800 incentive points for enrolling your deeded weeks and the 300 incentive points for buying the 1000 points. (Correct me if I am wrong) so the rub is that the 800 incentive points can only be used for Exchanged weeks, those who own there and opted for points in 2011. The 300 incentive points can only be used for Trust inventory as can your 1000 purchased points.

This still doesnt make sense really, since during my usage of my Plus Points, all 800 were applied first to my reservation at Myrtle Beach, ie. 425 per night, 2125 total. There was no "only can use 425 (full night increment) Plus points for this reservation. I just called and confirmed this again, the 100 points I have left for 2011 are my points, not plus points. So I would concur with some of the others who have advised to challenge how your points were allocated.

This is going to be one of the more irritating things about the new system while trying to protect both kinds of owners and trapping some of the ones who own both ways in the middle. They are going to have to flex with this sooner or later....