Survey from Marriott's

Did you folks receive an email requesting about 35 minutes to fill out a survey from Marriott's? Based on the questions, they appear to be looking at making some changes to the reservations systems (the reservation window), looking at how to set up an internal exchange system (into low and high demand areas), check-in dates, and offering a Points System...

jlee2070 said:

Did you folks receive an email requesting about 35 minutes to fill out a survey from Marriott's? Based on the questions, they appear to be looking at making some changes to the reservations systems (the reservation window), looking at how to set up an internal exchange system (into low and high demand areas), check-in dates, and offering a Points System...

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I have not received an email like that, but would be interested in seeing the survey questions.

A couple of years ago I received a fairly extensive survey regarding the Marriott VISA and possible changes to that program. They did make substantial changes to the VISA after that, but I don't remember how long it took them. Maybe it was 12-18 months after I completed the survey.

See copy of questions/e-mail

This appears to reopen the discussion we had last year regarding whether Marriott will be instituing a new internal reservation system early in 2009. I think everyone would like to see a copy of the e-mail and/or questions asked. Thanks for any information.

Unfortunately, I am unable to capture the questions. The email had an ID embedded in the link and when I click the link after I completed the survey, it now just says I completed it already...

Many of the questions surrounded around:

* Changing reservations windows from 12 months to 9 months to 6 months.

* There was a series of questions around changing from your current season to a different season.

* A bunch of question exchanging to high and low demand resorts and season and giving up or gaining days in the exchange (respectively).

* Changing for points (not Rewards Point) and then if you are in favor of Marriott creating and selling a Points Systems.

* Varying reservation periods such as 7 days or less down to 2 days.

* And all sorts of combinations of the above.

For doing the survey, I'm supposedly entered into a drawing for $500...

The email had the following:
"At Marriott Vacation Club International, our goal is to ensure that we are exceeding the expectations of our current and future Owners.

That's why I'm asking you to take 25 minutes to complete an online survey being conducted by LRA Worldwide on our behalf at the link below. The survey seeks your opinion about how we can improve our product offerings to better suit your needs. We want to understand what you and your family value in a vacation experience.

Once you complete the survey, you will be entered into a drawing for $500. "

This is very interesting information. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Steve

Sounds similar to what Hilton and probably many other points systems are doing.

With HGVC: home reservations are at 12 months, club reservations (not your home resort) are at 276 days (9 months). If you reserve outside your season ie: go from higher to lower season you can stay more nights. In the club reservation window you can reserve as few as 2 nights.

DRI's points system is similar to Hiltons but, home you can reserve resorts other than your home resort at 10 months and you can reserve as few as 2 nights at some (not all) of their resorts.

I'm fine with the system as it is but, I'll be fine with the system no matter what they choose to do. I'm content staying at my home resort and those resorts have been easy enough to get the week I want in the season I own.

I would love to see internal exchanges made easier than having to wait for someone to reserve the exact week I want and then deposit that week. Points systems favor those who can plan in advance for their vacations and right now we're able to do that. At the 9 month mark, it wouldn't matter if someone had deposited the exact week I wanted. If it wasn't reserved by home resort owners then it would be made available to all Marriott owners.

One way or the other I'm sure I'll be fine.

I would love to know how Tuggers will reply to the survey. My guess is that answers would be all over the board.

Charles

I do like ability to trade year out...

Having ability to trade to another resort a year out does help with obtaining frequent flyer seats.

FF seats would be gone 9-months out.

...just a thought.

I also received this survey. I have not had 25 minutes to complete it. I probably will take the time this weekend

I would have to agree with the FF situation, if you try to book at 6months out, you may not get seats.

I still have my survey request in my inbox. The date received was 02/18/08. The email says that he link expires in 30 days.

Wow, 2/18/08... I just got mine a couple days ago...

Hahaha, maybe i was an afterthought or they went for a 2nd group because the original list had low participation...

jlee2070 said:

Unfortunately, I am unable to capture the questions. The email had an ID embedded in the link and when I click the link after I completed the survey, it now just says I completed it already...

Many of the questions surrounded around:

* Changing reservations windows from 12 months to 9 months to 6 months.

* There was a series of questions around changing from your current season to a different season.

* A bunch of question exchanging to high and low demand resorts and season and giving up or gaining days in the exchange (respectively).

* Changing for points (not Rewards Point) and then if you are in favor of Marriott creating and selling a Points Systems.

* Varying reservation periods such as 7 days or less down to 2 days.

* And all sorts of combinations of the above.

For doing the survey, I'm supposedly entered into a drawing for $500...

The email had the following:
"At Marriott Vacation Club International, our goal is to ensure that we are exceeding the expectations of our current and future Owners.

That's why I'm asking you to take 25 minutes to complete an online survey being conducted by LRA Worldwide on our behalf at the link below. The survey seeks your opinion about how we can improve our product offerings to better suit your needs. We want to understand what you and your family value in a vacation experience.

Once you complete the survey, you will be entered into a drawing for $500. "

Click to expand...

I did the survey this afternoon...It was pretty lengthy and redundant. I would say that changes are coming but who knows what or when. There were specific questions about trading with II in the survey, which I was surprised to see.

I just got the survey today. It asked a lot of questions to try and determine what my preferences are in a points vs weeks system. By the way the questions were worded, it seems that Marriott is strongly considering moving to a points program with different resorts worth different number of points. With the number of varying factors that they proposed, they may end up with something like the DVC system or something else involving points. For example, weeks at high demand resorts worth more points than weeks at low demand resorts. The range that they gave was if exchanging a high demand resort, your week might be worth up to 12 nights at a lower demand resort and if exchanging a low demand resort, your week might be worth as little as 2 nights at a high demand resort.

The questions were designed to determine the range that the survey taker was comfortable with. It was also designed to determine what was more important to the survey taker, the maximum booking time, flexibility in resorts, flexibility in season, flexibility in number of bedrooms or flexibility in # of nights. Also, whether the survey taker prefers weeks to the whole points concept.

There was also a separate section to determine whether the survey taker would be interested in a program, which for a yearly fee, would get you membership in II, a 20% discount on meal purchases (maybe other purchases too), and elite status in Marriott Rewards.

I am not a MVCI owner, but I did take a tour a year and a half ago.

How Are the Choosing Who Receives the Survey?

Are these surveys aimed at non-owners, owners (1 week, multiple weeks, retail purchasers, resale), sales contacts? Just wondering. I'm a multiple week MVCI owner and I haven't seen a survey.

I received the survey last week, however, as I started it, it appeared to be a marketing survey so I tossed it! Just called MVCI and they will check and re-send it as I'm very interested in participating. Own 4 weeks and want to make my opinions known!

Ingrid

I haven't seen the survey and we own 3 Marriott weeks. I am very interested to see what happens with the internal trading system. I cannot say whether or not I would want a points system, because as I understand it right now, I have a "lower demand resort" in Manor club, and I believe I can exchange into the high demand resorts right now with it for an entire week. Maybe resale price might come into effect. They might feel that the lower the resale price, then the lower the points values. If this is the case, then I would not want a points system, because I might get 1 week for my 2 weeks, and right now with II I can get 5 weeks (with lockout and AC's) for my 2. Doesn't seem like a good trade there!

Although, if you could get a points system that is mixed between Worldmark and DVC as well as intermixing with the Marriott rewards program, we might have a winner due to flexibility.

Who knows. Will be interesting to see what the come up with.

Changing to a points system?

Several posters have mentioned here and elsewhere a possible change to a points based system. I confess that while I haven't totally thought it through it would seem to me that a point system might not be as good as what we have now. The problem with points is that they can change the system at anytime they choose. To present owners, it's like moving the goal posts in the middle of the game. This seems to have happened with MRP.

Your two gold or silver weeks may only be worth one plat week. Your one plat week may not get you a reservation everywhere. What happens to flexchange? What will happen to the resale market? Will buyers receive a deed? Will ownership rights terminate at some date in the future?

A lot of questions would have to be answered. Change always benefits some while others lose.

Marriott Survey

I have not received the survey, though wish I would. I'm probably on their Black list since I've complained so much about their "new" rental policy.

With regard to a possible Marriott internal exchange program, I asked my Marriott Advisor about this a couple days ago and here is her reply:

"Marriott Owner Services actually researched this recently ( a team of people focused on this for almost two years looking at all aspects of the exchange process and the need to have or not have Interval as our partner for the exchange process) and the conclusion is at this time and for a while, is that Marriott will not be moving to an internal exchange process we will continue the process of facilitating an exchange with Interval at this time and for sometime. Marriott will take a look at it again far down the road. "

Had this come from a salesman I'd credit it accordingly, but I hope the Advisor has more credibility.

Marriott's a big company. They should think outside the box, but they can't. I know exactly what could be done, and done quite easily. But, it's not in the box they are in.