HUGE increase in points needed to stay at TSs

[GrayFal]

Originally Posted by katiemack

Wow! I feel your pain....this is the downside to points, the manipulative factor.

agreed - a week is a week.....with points - what once was a week at one resort can now be 5 days at a newer, higher point resort - a la Wyndham/FSP.

And the wording in the announcement - is so condescending - why not just say "of course we aren't going to GIVE u more points...it will just cost u more to get the same thing"

[GrayFal]

I am not sure who this poster is - but seems like a Marriott insider....

Originally Posted by TJCNewYork

Dear MVCI TUGers


In response to MVCI owner requests, Marriott Vacation Club and Marriott Rewards working to achieve a tighter brand integration. For example, as of June 30, 2008 last year, Marriott Rewards began counting MVCI nights towards qualifying for the next level of Marriott Rewards Elite status. Whether you stayed at your home resort or on exchange through Interval International AND presented your Marriott Rewards ID at check-in/check-out, the nights were counted and reflected in your online Marriott Rewards Account Activity.


Today, a decision was made to achieve another milestone, integration of Marriott Vacation Club properties into Marriott Rewards Categories. Here is the announcement posted on Marriott Rewards Insiders, May 11, 2009 by an Insiders staff member:


Marriot Vacation Clubs Resorts to move to Hotel Categories

Greetings, Marriott Rewards Insiders!

On July 16, Marriott Vacation Club resorts will move to hotel categories. This means that the number of points required to stay at a Marriott Vacation Club will change: the points required will be increasing.

As your Marriott Rewards liaison, my number one priority is to give all Marriott Rewards members and Insiders the straight facts.

A complete list of the Marriott Vacation Club resorts and the new category levels will be published on Marriott.com later tonight. Watch the program news section of Marriott Rewards (https://www.marriott.com/rewards/learn/prgnews.mi) for more information.

This move does not change Marriott Vacation Club's participation in No Blackout Dates. If you own a Marriott Vacation Club timeshare, this change does not impact the number of points you receive in trade for your week.

Please note, the changes don't take effect until July 16th. We will honor any reservations booked before July 16th at the current point amount.

Thanks all,

Andrew


Marriott Rewards Insiders is an online travel community hosted by Marriott for Marriott Rewards members. While there is no cost to join Marriott Rewards Insiders, you will need a Marriott Rewards member ID in order to register and login before viewing or posting. Here is the URL:

Welcome to the Insiders Home Page

Be sure to check-out ongoing discussion among several MVCI owners under the discussion thread titled, MVCI Plea for Help.

Regards

TJCNewYork

The emphasis above is mine....talk about putting a positive spin on a negative announcement.

[GrayFal]

Originally Posted by TJCNewYork

Ray,

At the moment, TUGers and Marriott Insiders have the inside scoop. Consider yourself 'in the know' and several steps ahead of MVCI Sales. The number of points required to redeem a villa for a week is about 3x Trade for Points. Take a deep breath:

• Marriott Rewards FAQ for Marriott Vacation Club
• New Category Levels for Marriott Vacation Club Resort Properties

Remember, I'm only the messenger.

TJCNewYork

BTW, this is from this thread Marriot Vacation Clubs Resorts to move to Hotel Categories - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums OY

[ArtsieAng]

Very interesting thread going on Marriott Insiders, which includes poster TJCNewYork......


Welcome to the Insiders Home Page


MVC Plea for Help
submitted: May 4, 2009 4:55 PM

Below is an email I sent to David Babich, Chief Customer Officer of MVC. I apologize for the length, but I want to express my concens and suggest potential solutions. I am anxious to hear other MVC owners feedback to these suggestions, and will let you know when I receive a response.


Dear David,

As a long-term, multiple week MVC owner and a lifetime Marriott Rewards platinum member, I hope you will consider my concerns and suggestions for restoring the value of Marriott timeshare ownership. The recent and previous Marriott Reward point devaluations have greatly disappointed MVC owners who purchased their timeshares with the good faith that Marriott would continue to provide fair value for their investment.

I purchased my first timeshare at Royal Palms in January, 1990, and currently own five weeks across the country. At that time, the 110,000 point exchange opportunity meant that I could stay 7 nights in any Marriott resort worldwide if I decided not to use my two bedroom unit at Marriott World Center. Now, I am lucky to get a 7 night stay in a low market Courtyard for my points. My costs to own have increased more than 5% per year, but the value of my purchase has been greatly diminished. Additionally, I have been greatly disappointed in my exchange experiences with Interval International. It seems that the only high quality properties participating in their program are other MVC resorts. It has been my experience that other quality resorts have no availability. Therefore, they add no value to the exchange process.
These are my suggestions regarding how to restore the value of MVC ownership so that owners will again feel comfortable in recommending it to friends.

1. Either increase the number of points, or provide other bonuses when members deposit their weeks for points. If contracts restrict your flexibility to increase the points allocated, then offer other bonuses (dinner for 2 awards, free weekly breakfast vouchers, free night certificates) that will provide fair value for the exchange. If you do not take action in this area, Marriott will see significant decreases in the units they will have available to rent to non-owners.

2. Offer the opportunity to exchange with other MVC owners without having to go through Interval. Provide ownership benefits (villa location, etc. ) to owners who exchange with other owners. Provide a forum for owners to communicate with other owners regarding longer-term exchange opportunities. I currently ‘exchange’ with other owners I know, but our opportunities are limited. Many owners would be happy to only exchange to other MVC properties.

3. Add a MVC forum to the Marriott Rewards Insiders chat room. This will provide an excellent opportunity for MVC owners to learn from the experiences of others. MVC issues are frequent topics today, but there is no specific forum to cover our issues. The MVC website is not conducive to exchange of ideas and suggestions.

If something isn’t done in the near future, you will see the growth of MVC come to a standstill. Current owners will not recommend ownership to others, and many will sell out. I am anxious to learn your plans to address these issues.




Re: MVC Plea for Help
submitted: May 11, 2009 5:57 AM


LesliePamel:

"I praised Marriott for the first 22 years, now I found myself strongly critisizing them - especially when I meet people who are on an inspection tour! The truth frightens them, and they no longer believe what the sales rep has told them."


Re: Pleas for Help
TJCNewYork:
submitted: May 11, 2009 5:57 AM

LesliePamel: "I praised Marriott for the first 22 years, now I found myself strongly critisizing them - especially when I meet people who are on an inspection tour! The truth frightens them, and they no longer believe what the sales rep has told them."

About 5% of the respondents to the TUGBBS poll might agree with your comment. But, by a factor of 11, 55%+ of respondents claim they are happy with Marriott ownership. As high as that percentile might seem, Marriott Vacation Club knows that 55% is NOT good enough. Striking a parallel with the Freddie Awards, MVCI really needs to be in the 90 percentile.


My hunch is that tighter brand integration between Marriott Vacation Club and Marriott Rewards can and will get them the 90 percentile rating. Using Superchief's suggestions as a starting point:

MVCI owner inclusion in programs such as Elite Rollover Nights and Double Nights,

Equitable (Fair Value) exchange when MVCI owners opt to Trade for Points

MVCI owner Bonus Awards tied to maintenance fee increases
MVCI owner Arrival Gift points
Flexible/mid-week check-in/check-out
Owner only 5 night and 7 night hotel package options

MVCI owner advocacy


What else should our list include?

[Glitter Brunello]

I keep using my Marriott points card b/c it's the # I have memorized. Must stop using it. This is the second time in a short while Marriott devalued points

I never thought the points trade in was worthwhile (at least not for me), even before they did this, but I know many owners found value in it. Does make you wonder what Marriott is planning to do to keep selling direct...

[Carolinian]

Originally Posted by katiemack

Wow! I feel your pain....this is the downside to points, the manipulative factor.

Joining a points program opens you up to those who run the points scheme moving the goalposts. That one of the reasons I will stick with a weeks-based system, thank you.

[ArtsieAng]

Originally Posted by Carolinian

Joining a points program opens you up to those who run the points scheme moving the goalposts. That one of the reasons I will stick with a weeks-based system, thank you.

Yup.....A points system definitely has it's benefits, but it has a major flaw, as well. The value of your points are at the mercy of the company, the times, etc. What you bought even 5 years ago is most likely worth much less today. Who knows what it will be worth in 5 years down the road?

A week will always ensure you a week's vacation.

[4ARedOctober]

Amazing....I feel for you who are caught up in this. That is why I also never liked the points systems.....at the whim of those in control and that is not the owners.

Originally Posted by ArtsieAng

Yup.....A points system definitely has it's benefits, but it has a major flaw, as well. The value of your points are at the mercy of the company, the times, etc. What you bought even 5 years ago is most likely worth much less today. Who knows what it will be worth in 5 years down the road?

A week will always ensure you a week's vacation.

[iconnections]

Originally Posted by 4ARedOctober

Amazing....I feel for you who are caught up in this. That is why I also never liked the points systems.....at the whim of those in control and that is not the owners.

I agree nor a floating system either because it is a hassle often to get the desired week and certainly with the Marriott if you are only a one week owner.

All this has nothing to do with a regular exchange, I hope? It only has to do when you exchange your week for points? Right???

Here is an interesting letter asking Marriott to restore the points to at least one week stay again somewhere else.

MVC Plea for Help
submitted: May 4, 2009 4:55 PM

Below is an email I sent to David Babich, Chief Customer Officer of MVC. I apologize for the length, but I want to express my concens and suggest potential solutions. I am anxious to hear other MVC owners feedback to these suggestions, and will let you know when I receive a response.



Dear David,
As a long-term, multiple week MVC owner and a lifetime Marriott Rewards platinum member, I hope you will consider my concerns and suggestions for restoring the value of Marriott timeshare ownership. The recent and previous Marriott Reward point devaluations have greatly disappointed MVC owners who purchased their timeshares with the good faith that Marriott would continue to provide fair value for their investment.
I purchased my first timeshare at Royal Palms in January, 1990, and currently own five weeks across the country. At that time, the 110,000 point exchange opportunity meant that I could stay 7 nights in any Marriott resort worldwide if I decided not to use my two bedroom unit at Marriott World Center. Now, I am lucky to get a 7 night stay in a low market Courtyard for my points. My costs to own have increased more than 5% per year, but the value of my purchase has been greatly diminished. Additionally, I have been greatly disappointed in my exchange experiences with Interval International. It seems that the only high quality properties participating in their program are other MVC resorts. It has been my experience that other quality resorts have no availability. Therefore, they add no value to the exchange process. These are my suggestions regarding how to restore the value of MVC ownership so that owners will again feel comfortable in recommending it to friends.
1. Either increase the number of points, or provide other bonuses when members deposit their weeks for points. If contracts restrict your flexibility to increase the points allocated, then offer other bonuses (dinner for 2 awards, free weekly breakfast vouchers, free night certificates) that will provide fair value for the exchange. If you do not take action in this area, Marriott will see significant decreases in the units they will have available to rent to non-owners.
2. Offer the opportunity to exchange with other MVC owners without having to go through Interval. Provide ownership benefits (villa location, etc. ) to owners who exchange with other owners. Provide a forum for owners to communicate with other owners regarding longer-term exchange opportunities. I currently ‘exchange’ with other owners I know, but our opportunities are limited. Many owners would be happy to only exchange to other MVC properties.
3. Add a MVC forum to the Marriott Rewards Insiders chat room. This will provide an excellent opportunity for MVC owners to learn from the experiences of others. MVC issues are frequent topics today, but there is no specific forum to cover our issues. The MVC website is not conducive to exchange of ideas and suggestions.
If something isn’t done in the near future, you will see the growth of MVC come to a standstill. Current owners will not recommend ownership to others, and many will sell out. I am anxious to learn your plans to address these issues.

[ArtsieAng]

iconnections

All this has nothing to do with a regular exchange, I hope? It only has to do when you exchange your week for points? Right???

Correct....This has nothing to do with a regular week exchange. Nothing has changed regarding exchanging your week through II.

It will have a huge impact on those who trade their week for points, tho.....I have often times traded one of my weeks for points, and then used those points for a travel package, or hotel stay. I sure won't be doing that in the future. Nevermind using points for a timeshare stay.