Presentation Incentives, is it possible to push for better?

[Gemini Chica]

As mentioned in my Pulse post we got a presentation offer but unless a decent cash incentive it doesn't catch our attention.

If you hold out or push them is it possible to get more or whats on the table is all they will offer?

This is what they have offered for NYC Pulse:

As a “thank you” for attending together, you will receive your choice of one of the following gifts:

· $100 American Express Gift Card

· 27,500 Marriott Rewards Points (pre gift only) by picking up your gift at time of check-in at the Marriott Vacation Club Podium in the lobby

· 300 Destinations Plus Points (valid for two years)

· $175 Experience Dollars (attached is the list of our preferred dining partners that accept these certificates). (pre gift only) by picking up your gift at time of check-in at the Marriott Vacation Club Podium in the lobby

 

[TravelTime]

This seems like it is worth close to $300 - $400. Probably a bit hard to get more, although might be possible, who knows. I assume of you are attending presentations for incentives, that is the wrong reason.

Usually, $350 - $400 is my minimum offer to attend a presentation unless I want to attend one already. For some odd reason. Every now and then, I might actually want to attend one (scratching my head as to why?). On vacation it takes a lot to motivate me to give up my time so even this may not motivate me since I might not use the promotional items they give me.

 

[Gemini Chica]

This seems like it is worth close to $300 - $400. Probably a bit hard to get more, although might be possible, who knows. I assume of you are attending presentations for incentives, that is the wrong reason.

Usually, $350 - $400 is my minimum offer to attend a presentation unless I want to attend one already. For some odd reason. Every now and then, I might actually want to attend one (scratching my head as to why?). I earn this much in my business so that is why I use this as a minimum benchmark. But on vacation it takes a lot to motivate me to give up my time so even this may not motivate me since I might not use the promotional items they give me.

Sorry wasn’t clear it was a choice of one of the above! Will edit now!



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[TravelTime]

Sorry wasn’t clear it was a choice of one of the above! Will edit now!



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Yes, it seemed like a lot. I once got a $400 discount off my hotel bill and a room upgrade to a full ocean view 1 bedroom suite from a partial ocean view studio. That was the best ever upgrade that was worth my time. Plus it was at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, where I was interested in seeing Montecristo Estates anyway. The salespeople there were low pressure, in my opinion. I did not buy anything but I enjoyed the tour.

Given that it is one of the above, I think I would not go to this presentation unless you are interested in the resort for some other reason.

 

[dioxide45]

I assume of you are attending presentations for incentives, that is the wrong reason.

What??? This is the ONLY reason!

 

[dioxide45]

As mentioned in my Pulse post we got a presentation offer but unless a decent cash incentive it doesn't catch our attention.

If you hold out or push them is it possible to get more or whats on the table is all they will offer?

This is what they have offered for NYC Pulse:

As a “thank you” for attending together, you will receive your choice of one of the following gifts:

· $100 American Express Gift Card

· 27,500 Marriott Rewards Points (pre gift only) by picking up your gift at time of check-in at the Marriott Vacation Club Podium in the lobby

· 300 Destinations Plus Points (valid for two years)

· $175 Experience Dollars (attached is the list of our preferred dining partners that accept these certificates). (pre gift only) by picking up your gift at time of check-in at the Marriott Vacation Club Podium in the lobby

This is actually not too bad. The MR points is higher than most which are at 20K. The DC points are worth about $150-$200. Depending on how much volume they have going through their sales operation while you are staying, they may call and try to offer you more to attend, but if they have a full slate, they may not. It all comes down to how many people they have churning through the door. If they need more they may up the ante, if they are already booked up, the offer may stay the same.

 

[Gemini Chica]

This is actually not too bad. The MR points is higher than most which are at 20K. The DC points are worth about $150-$200. Depending on how much volume they have going through their sales operation while you are staying, they may call and try to offer you more to attend, but if they have a full slate, they may not. It all comes down to how many people they have churning through the door. If they need more they may up the ante, if they are already booked up, the offer may stay the same.

I emailed back saying cash incentive to spend on holidays is what interests us and in a busy city 100$ wouldn’t be worth it to us


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[TravelTime]

What??? This is the ONLY reason!

I meant this is not motivating enough if it is only of a choice of one of the items. I would need more of a reason. I do not think incentives is the only reason to go. Some of us are actually interested in the tour of the property and learning about the program if we have never been there. Some people like the updates even if they have been there.

 

[TravelTime]

I am bummed. This is my second time this month staying at MVC and I have not even been invited to a presentation! I would probably go for 40K MR points. Might be a bit less than my benchmark in dollar value but could equate to a free night in a cat 5 or almost a free night in a cat 7.

 

[Superchief]

When I was at the Ritz Club in Vail, one of their sales people told me that MVC will be cutting back drastically on the incentives offered to attend sales presentations on site. This is due to the high cost to MVC with very low conversion rates. She said they will be moving toward other sales and marketing tactics that are more targeted and less costly. It will be interesting to see whether this is true.

 

[TravelTime]

When I was at the Ritz Club in Vail, one of their sales people told me that MVC will be cutting back drastically on the incentives offered to attend sales presentations on site. This is due to the high cost to MVC with very low conversion rates. She said they will be moving toward other sales and marketing tactics that are more targeted and less costly. It will be interesting to see whether this is true.

Interesting. What will they do instead? Lower sale prices? Better sales incentives if you purchase direct?

 

[dioxide45]

When I was at the Ritz Club in Vail, one of their sales people told me that MVC will be cutting back drastically on the incentives offered to attend sales presentations on site. This is due to the high cost to MVC with very low conversion rates. She said they will be moving toward other sales and marketing tactics that are more targeted and less costly. It will be interesting to see whether this is true.

We heard this same thing years ago at Oceana Palms. I say, if it were possible someone would have tried it already. The fact remains, few people go on vacation to spend time sitting in front of a salesperson. They need to incentivise people to give up their precious vacation time.

 

[caribbeanqueen]

It's funny, I spoke with a Marriott representative at Aruba airport because a friend is possibly interested in buying a timeshare so I stopped just to get some info. For the 6 nights stay in Aruba or Hawaii if you go to the 90 minute presentation during your stay, it is now $99.00 deposit and 700.00 on your CC when you book. This would be for a garden view regular hotel room. When I did this about 4 years ago I got it for $199.00!
4 days/3 nights in Las Vegas, San Diego, Myrtle Beach or Williamsburg is $199.00.
$299.00 for HH, Florida timeshares, Arizona, California, Colorado and DC.
Seems things are going up.

 

[Superchief]

We heard this same thing years ago at Oceana Palms. I say, if it were possible someone would have tried it already. The fact remains, few people go on vacation to spend time sitting in front of a salesperson. They need to incentivise people to give up their precious vacation time.

I think they may be more selective regarding who is invited for the onsite presentations, and will also try new methods to reach those who aren't currently MVC owners. They have probably learned that those of us who are already Chairman or other high levels have very little need for more points, and are too knowledgeable to fall for their 'promises'. They may also avoid TUG members

 

[bazzap]

I think they may be more selective regarding who is invited for the onsite presentations, and will also try new methods to reach those who aren't currently MVC owners. They have probably learned that those of us who are already Chairman or other high levels have very little need for more points, and are too knowledgeable to fall for their 'promises'. They may also avoid TUG members

I guess it varies widely be resort though?
With Phuket Beach Club, for the very first time we received a “pre-warm welcome arrival” email recently, followed up by a phone call today offering a bonus incentive for booking a Sales presentation prior to arrival plus a choice of regular incentives for attending the 60 minute presentation.
In the past, they have just encouraged you to attend at check in time whilst collecting your VIP discount card.

 

[JIMinNC]

When I was at the Ritz Club in Vail, one of their sales people told me that MVC will be cutting back drastically on the incentives offered to attend sales presentations on site. This is due to the high cost to MVC with very low conversion rates. She said they will be moving toward other sales and marketing tactics that are more targeted and less costly. It will be interesting to see whether this is true.

We heard this same thing years ago at Oceana Palms. I say, if it were possible someone would have tried it already. The fact remains, few people go on vacation to spend time sitting in front of a salesperson. They need to incentivise people to give up their precious vacation time.

They discuss sales prospecting often in their quarterly earnings conference calls. Based on those comments, it seems they are putting more emphasis on their call transfer programs from the Marriott hotels reservation center and an upcoming (2019) initiative that will create the digital equivalent of a warm call transfer, to be implemented on Marriott.com. They are also working to set up more prospect-generating concierge desks at Marriott-branded hotels near their sales centers. Their emphasis is in boosting their sales percentage to first time buyers versus existing owners. Based on the questions they seem to always get from Wall Street analysts, that is something the analysts keep looking for - increased % of sales to first-time buyers. As I recall, right now about 60% of their sales come from existing owners and they want the ratio to be closer to 50-50. Based on that, it would not surprise me if they are indeed putting more and better incentives toward prospecting at hotels and through the call center/marriott.com versus onsite owner incentives at MVC resorts.

 

[bazzap]

They discuss sales prospecting often in their quarterly earnings conference calls. Based on those comments, it seems they are putting more emphasis on their call transfer programs from the Marriott hotels reservation center and an upcoming (2019) initiative that will create the digital equivalent of a warm call transfer, to be implemented on Marriott.com. They are also working to set up more prospect-generating concierge desks at Marriott-branded hotels near their sales centers. Their emphasis is in boosting their sales percentage to first time buyers versus existing owners. Based on the questions they seem to always get from Wall Street analysts, that is something the analysts keep looking for - increased % of sales to first-time buyers. As I recall, right now about 60% of their sales come from existing owners and they want the ratio to be closer to 50-50. Based on that, it would not surprise me if they are indeed putting more and better incentives toward prospecting at hotels and through the call center/marriott.com versus onsite owner incentives at MVC resorts.

I am sure that both MVC themselves and the analysts would like to see increased % of sales to first-time buyers, so MVC may well do as you suggest.
There is a very good reason though why the majority of their sales come from existing owners and it is not just because they are the ones who have been targetted most historically. It is because they have been the easiest to successfully sell to (especially with weeks anyway)
With points and potentially a lower entry price that does change the game.

 

[TXTortoise]

Latest offer, currently at the Boston Custom House, is $200 AMEX gift card or 35K MRPs.