posted 07-03-2002 13:03            

quote:

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Originally posted by CraigU:
We are always looking at ways to improve Interval Preferred. We are in the process of enhancing the selection of benefits currently offered. The specifics you mention are not being introduced.

With any program, I suggest you read the fine print. Things aren't always as they appear.

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posted 07-03-2002 18:03            

Thanks Craig.

posted 07-03-2002 18:28            

Resorts that do not have a special internal exchange priority are all handled on a comparable exchange basis. There isn't a "blanket" home resort internal trade policy.

quote:

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Originally posted by Brian Talbot:
Craig-
Several days ago you answered a question regarding whether Mariott owners get trading priority through the II exchange system when requesting another Mariott property....Do owners at NON-Mariott properties get a trading power boost when requesting their own resort for a different week- or is it just likely to happen solely based on the fact that one is trading "apples for apples"?
And following the same line of thinking one step further, does internal trading differ at a standard versus a 5-star property? (As you're undoubtedly aware of, salespeople have often told tourers that they can buy mid or low time and easily trade it back into red time at the resort.) Your comments on trading back into one's own resort thru I.I.?

Thanks Craig.

[This message has been edited by Brian Talbot (edited 07-03-2002).]

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posted 07-04-2002 02:22            

I have two Marriotts. I know Marriott has an internal priority period for deposits to other Marriott owners. When we purchased our Marriott Marbella, we were told by the sales person that there is a 5 day priority among Marriott European resorts prior to the 21 day priortiy for all Marriott owners. It was explained to us that most people who owned in Europe lived there and this gave them an advantage to travel closer to home.

Does this 5 day priority exist w/ II?

Thanks

posted 07-04-2002 04:51            

quote:

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Originally posted by Tori:
Craig,

I have two Marriotts. I know Marriott has an internal priority period for deposits to other Marriott owners. When we purchased our Marriott Marbella, we were told by the sales person that there is a 5 day priority among Marriott European resorts prior to the 21 day priortiy for all Marriott owners. It was explained to us that most people who owned in Europe lived there and this gave them an advantage to travel closer to home.

Does this 5 day priority exist w/ II?

Thanks

Tori

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posted 07-05-2002 20:05            

quote:

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Originally posted by Brian Talbot:
Craig-
Would you tell everyone here where exactly on the II website we can find the briefing on the deposit policy change that went into effect July 1st? I've clicked without luck on just about every link at intervalworld.com- both the ones that required me to log in and the ones for anybody who surfs on by. Thanks Craig.

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posted 07-06-2002 03:56            

quote:

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Originally posted by sdubach:
Craig Help!

I just closed on a 3-bed Marriott Ocean Pointe villa. I locked off 2003, 2-bed 5/17 checkin, guest 5/24 checkin (Memorial Day week).

I can see 44 destinations available for 8/4/02 travel with my 1-bed Vail Streamside fixed week 34. I can only see 15 destinations available with either my 5/17 or 5/24 Ocean Pointe.

What am I doing wrong? I can't imagine that Vail Birch trades better than OP.

Thanks,
Shawn

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Craig,

I am having a similar problem and I want to know if there is something wrong w/ how trade power got assigned that can be fixed or if this is how II trade power works. The details are very long but I wanted to be specific. I have been a Marriott owner for 5 years but due to frustrations w/ II, I have never really used your company. I have been VERY impressed by you, so I have deposited 2 weeks with II to give it another shot. I have deposited a week 52, 2002 1 BD Oceanfront Marriott Kauai Beach Club which was gone the day I deposited it in June 2003 after we determined we were not going to use it. I received a 1 BD bonus week for this deposit. I also have a Marriott Marbella week 19 deposit which was deposited 11 months out. This is a gold season week, but not in the week range of the bonus offer that II sent me this year for my 2003 Marbella week.

I was thinking about using the bonus week for St. Maartin in May which we will all agree is shoulder season. Here are my trade results w/ all 3 weeks (NOTE: this is not a fluke day. I ran this search every day for a week and several times a day at diferent times):

1. Bonus week--no availability

2. Kauai week 52--In searching all available destinations for May 03, I got 18 locations; one of which was St. Maartin. In St. Maartin, my Hawaii week pulled 3 efficiencies.

QUESTION 1: Why wouldn't the bonus week pull the efficiencies?

3. Marbella week 19--In searching all available destinations for May 03, I got 44 locations; one of which was St. Maartin. In St Maartin, my Spain week pulled the 3 efficiencies as well as 2 one BD units at the same resort.

QUESTION 2: Why won't my holiday oceanfront 1 BD Hawaii week pull a 1 BD in shoulder season in St. Maartin that isn't even a 5 star resort??

What is up w/ this trade power? Are you going to tell us that the week 52 in Hawaii for a 5 star resort like Marriott is NOT a powerful requested week? Are you going to tell me that my trade power is reduced to nothing b/c I deposited it 6 months out but BEFORE II's new trade power rules went into effect on July 1? Is this an online problem?

Craig, I really need some answers either on or off this board b/c if II is going to treat my Marriott Hawaii week so poorly, I cannot deposit it with II any more. I think the other Marriott Hawaii owners would be interested in this topic too. I will also be taking this issue up w/ Marriott b/c I was clearly told by Marriott that a one BD week in Hawaii would trade into other 2 BD Marriott resorts which mine is not doing. I know it is not trading b/c I can compare my two weeks. Is this an II online problem that could be avoided by a VC?

Thanks

posted 07-06-2002 04:54            

I do not know what type of bonus week you received. Many are limited to areas listed on the grid, on back, unless the dates are within 60 days. Did you read it? As far as trading power is concerned, different unit sizes and locations have different trading power. That does not mean you would not get confirmed to the units the Marbella week displayed if you traded your Kauai week. I have stressed several times the importance of placing a vacation request. An exchange company is not like a hotel reservation service, we need to manage the process of dynamic available inventory. The time factor would have been a non issue in this case. We are a behind schedule and the program isn't turning over until tomorrow night.

Please phone our membership services department to get your other questions answered.

I realize I'm going to have others come behind and state RCI this or RCI that. The reality is for every person that will say a good or bad thing about either company, another will come behind and refute the claim. Interval International runs a comparable exchange system and we manage the process by looking at ALL the facts, which means many transactions cannot be completed instantly. Our system works well for our members who use it properly. I'm sure you'll find you can be very successful due to the great weeks you've purchased.

Please go back and read my other posts. I believe most points of your post have been addressed.

quote:

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Originally posted by Tori:
Craig,

I am having a similar problem and I want to know if there is something wrong w/ how trade power got assigned that can be fixed or if this is how II trade power works. The details are very long but I wanted to be specific. I have been a Marriott owner for 5 years but due to frustrations w/ II, I have never really used your company. I have been VERY impressed by you, so I have deposited 2 weeks with II to give it another shot. I have deposited a week 52, 2002 1 BD Oceanfront Marriott Kauai Beach Club which was gone the day I deposited it in June 2003 after we determined we were not going to use it. I received a 1 BD bonus week for this deposit. I also have a Marriott Marbella week 19 deposit which was deposited 11 months out. This is a gold season week, but not in the week range of the bonus offer that II sent me this year for my 2003 Marbella week.

I was thinking about using the bonus week for St. Maartin in May which we will all agree is shoulder season. Here are my trade results w/ all 3 weeks (NOTE: this is not a fluke day. I ran this search every day for a week and several times a day at diferent times):

1. Bonus week--no availability

2. Kauai week 52--In searching all available destinations for May 03, I got 18 locations; one of which was St. Maartin. In St. Maartin, my Hawaii week pulled 3 efficiencies.

QUESTION 1: Why wouldn't the bonus week pull the efficiencies?

3. Marbella week 19--In searching all available destinations for May 03, I got 44 locations; one of which was St. Maartin. In St Maartin, my Spain week pulled the 3 efficiencies as well as 2 one BD units at the same resort.

QUESTION 2: Why won't my holiday oceanfront 1 BD Hawaii week pull a 1 BD in shoulder season in St. Maartin that isn't even a 5 star resort??

What is up w/ this trade power? Are you going to tell us that the week 52 in Hawaii for a 5 star resort like Marriott is NOT a powerful requested week? Are you going to tell me that my trade power is reduced to nothing b/c I deposited it 6 months out but BEFORE II's new trade power rules went into effect on July 1? Is this an online problem?

Craig, I really need some answers either on or off this board b/c if II is going to treat my Marriott Hawaii week so poorly, I cannot deposit it with II any more. I think the other Marriott Hawaii owners would be interested in this topic too. I will also be taking this issue up w/ Marriott b/c I was clearly told by Marriott that a one BD week in Hawaii would trade into other 2 BD Marriott resorts which mine is not doing. I know it is not trading b/c I can compare my two weeks. Is this an II online problem that could be avoided by a VC?

Thanks

Tori

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Craig Urbine
Vice President
Member Services
Interval International

posted 07-06-2002 06:05            

quote:

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Originally posted by CraigU:
As I have stated several times, I cannot get involved in individual circumstances.

I do not know what type of bonus week you received. Many are limited to areas listed on the grid, on back, unless the dates are within 60 days. Did you read it? As far as trading power is concerned, different unit sizes and locations have different trading power.

I realize I'm going to have others come behind and state RCI this or RCI that.

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Thanks for the reply. I read the bonus week and May for St. Martin is allowed by the grid and was available to search with using the grid option which is online. I know you can't get involved with individual situations but my real concern was Kauai trade power. As you can imagine, I paid a great deal to purchase the unit as well as the yearly maintenance fees.

I hear what you are saying and I find it comforting that there is some managing of inventory that is beyond what is online which will help me when I place a request. But why is Kauai trade power so pitiful online? It is a 5 star oceanfront unit for week 52 which is the holiday week most resorts charge extra for. I guess this means I will do better using a VC rather than online to use this week so I will take your advice (which I greatly appreciate).

As for the RCI comments, I do have some RCI timeshares. None of my weeks are dual affiliated. I have dealt w/ RCI for several years and do most of my transactions online. Not once has someone at your level ever answered any of my questions or taken the time to give out information as you are doing here. In my book, that personal customer service means a great deal. II gets big points for your participation (esp. b/c you are so prompt and up so early in morning!!)

posted 07-06-2002 09:50            

Under the new II structure (when you deposit making a difference on trade power) is there a difference between the trading power
of my unit using deposit first and request first?

For example...
I'm trying to trade a Memorial week May 03 Marriott Ocean Pointe week for Kauai in Feb/March of 03. As a Marriott owner, am I better off--becasue of higher trading power or ?? to:
1. Depositing my week and putting in a request or
2. Doing a "request first" trade
and why?

Thanks,
Shawn

[This message has been edited by sdubach (edited 07-06-2002).]

posted 07-06-2002 11:06            

I for one appreciate The Interval exchange system for what it is.
I have used Interval a number of years with very good results and do feel it is very much a fair exchange system.

It is not RCI and members need to understand the difference in how Interval functions. Placing a ongoing request is the best way to use the Interval exchange system. Interval online is good for 59 days or less exchanges but thats about it in my experience.

Jeff

quote:

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Originally posted by CraigU:

I realize I'm going to have others come behind and state RCI this or RCI that. The reality is for every person that will say a good or bad thing about either company, another will come behind and refute the claim. Interval International runs a comparable exchange system and we manage the process by looking at ALL the facts, which means many transactions cannot be completed instantly. Our system works well for our members who use it properly.

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posted 07-06-2002 12:42            

quote:

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Originally posted by sdubach:
Craig:
Thanks again for your help.

Under the new II structure (when you deposit making a difference on trade power) is there a difference between the trading power
of my unit using deposit first and request first?

For example...
I'm trying to trade a Memorial week May 03 Marriott Ocean Pointe week for Kauai in Feb/March of 03. As a Marriott owner, am I better off--becasue of higher trading power or ?? to:
1. Depositing my week and putting in a request or
2. Doing a "request first" trade
and why?

Thanks,
Shawn

[This message has been edited by sdubach (edited 07-06-2002).]

[This message has been edited by sdubach (edited 07-06-2002).]

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posted 07-06-2002 15:13            

quote:

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Originally posted by CraigU:
There is no difference in trading power between request first and deposit first. If ALL factors were the same, we would confirm the "deposit first" first.

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If someone is using Request first wouldn't they still be penalized in trade power for not depositing the week?

Im thinking about the new factor of how far inadvance you deposit your week would come into play in this situation?

JEFF

posted 07-08-2002 05:25            

Regarding lock offs, if your resort locks off into two parts that are eligible for exchange, you could place one half with each company.

quote:

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Originally posted by suzanne:
Question for Craig--I purchased a New Orleans week, the closing is in progress. The company handling the sale said it will take approximately 8 to 10 weeks as things move very slow in Lousianna. (Funny it only took them a week to get my money)LOL. The resort trades with both II and RCI, but is predominately II. My question is can I go ahead and join II or do I have to wait until the deed is issued and week is transfered to me by the resort? Also its a 3 bedroom lockout. Can I deposit part of it with II and part of it with RCI? This is first experience with lockout so I don't know for sure how it works. Thank you for your help. I think having you on TUG has been a real help to us all whether we belong to II or not.
Suzanne

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Craig Urbine
Vice President
Member Services
Interval International

posted 07-08-2002 05:29            

As far as trading power is concerned, you would keep whatever they have exactly as it is.

quote:

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Originally posted by cindir4:
Craig,
I am in the process of purchasing a timeshare that will include a banked week. The realtor told me they would transfer the banked week to my account. My question is, can they do this? If they can, what is the best way to do so. I don't want to compete a sale only to find out that isn't true. If they can transfer it, will it have reduced trade power? Thanks in advice for any comments.

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posted 07-08-2002 07:14            

quote:

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Originally posted by JEFF H:
If someone is using Request first wouldn't they still be penalized in trade power for not depositing the week?

Im thinking about the new factor of how far inadvance you deposit your week would come into play in this situation?

JEFF

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posted 07-09-2002 14:31            

quote:

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Originally posted by tatmtr7:
Craig, we too have an accomadtion certificate or bonus week due to expire late October. Because of both health and business we find that we won't be able to use within that time period. Can we find a week and book it for perhaps a month later November or early December?? The airlines allow one to ticket a soon expiring voucher beyond the expiration date of the voucher. I want to thank you for the time you have spent explaining II positions etc. on tug. We have owned timeshares for almost 12 years and find that we continue to learn new information. You have been a great addition to this board. Again thanx.

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posted 07-09-2002 14:36            

Earlier in another thread, you indicated that resort ratings for Sunterra resorts would have to be evaluated and rated under II. GC resorts in RCI would not automatically become 5-star resorts under II.

Does that mean that if I own a Sunterra GC resort that I won't be able to trade into 5-star resort in II until ratings are established for the resort?

Just curious how this will work during the transition.

Thanks,
Ken

posted 07-09-2002 17:03            

quote:

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Originally posted by kendcarr:
Craig,

Earlier in another thread, you indicated that resort ratings for Sunterra resorts would have to be evaluated and rated under II. GC resorts in RCI would not automatically become 5-star resorts under II.

Does that mean that if I own a Sunterra GC resort that I won't be able to trade into 5-star resort in II until ratings are established for the resort?

Just curious how this will work during the transition.

Thanks,
Ken

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posted 07-09-2002 17:46            

I have a bonus week question. If you have 2 bonus weeks, can you book them at the same time at the same resort (ie have 2 rooms) and take your friends on the trip?? I know they are nontransferable but if I am there, can I have two rooms?

Thanks!!

posted 07-09-2002 18:26            

quote:

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Originally posted by Tori:
Hi Craig,

I have a bonus week question. If you have 2 bonus weeks, can you book them at the same time at the same resort (ie have 2 rooms) and take your friends on the trip?? I know they are nontransferable but if I am there, can I have two rooms?

Thanks!!

Tori

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