Marriott Intl Plans to Spin Off Timeshare Business

Bill Marriott shares his thoughts about Marriott International's plans to split the company's business into two separate publicly traded companies. The new timeshare company will be positioned to expand faster, while Marriott will further advance its long-standing strategy of separating real estate from management and franchise operations.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Hotel
• Marriott Int
• Marriott
• timeshare
• marriott
• vacation
• club

[lesleymny]

Will timeshare owners and guests still have access to Marriott resort facilities where they currently share facilities/amenities?

[marriott]

@lesleymny Nothing changes. You will still have access.

[yepfuchs]

I am quite concerned about this. Is this a first step to divesting the timeshare business? We own because and only because of the Marriott brand. If quality slips we will sell. Very disappointing news as an owner.

[marriott]

@yepfuchs As Bill Marriott states in the video, he is committed to the timeshare business. He's a major shareholder and his name will remain above the door. There is no change in rewards points. Guests will still have access to Marriott resort facilities where they currently share amenities. It will be seamless.

[adammarina]

I am confused as to how it would we to the exchange ?

[marriott]

@adammarina  I'm not sure I fully understand your question. Nothing changes.

marriott 23 seconds ago

[allynswood2]

Marriott has to answer to its timeshare owners who suffer outrageous maintenance fees and no market for resale. Marriott should acquire all of the properties it has sold and relieve it agrieved owners some respite from being ripped off.

[allynswood2]

Will this move continue to allow Marriott to rip off its timeshare owners with outrageous maintenance fees and no market for sales of units they have sold to unsuspecting timeshare purchasers.

Marriott has no commitment to its timeshare owners. It sells units based on enticing purchasers with visions of increasing values and then offers no service to assist owners who want to or need to sell. We need a good blog to share experiences and warn potential buyers not to buy.

[southgate2214]

I smell a rat!! It seems to me that the point system is just a way for them to sell the property's for a second time. How do they sell points to places that have been already sold out!! Hmmmm. Thank- you JW for making most of us feel that we've made a bad investment in Marriot. Our sales rep. assured me we would not ever lose aynthing. And we would never have a problem if we decided to un-load our "investment". Good Luck to ALL...

[TheBarryandcarol]

We also bought because of the Marriott name - and then find we cannot exchange within that brand - we have to pay to join Interval - where the service sucks and the exchanges are poor ..... then Marriott want more money to join their own share scheme - and still have to pay for Interval ... quite frankly this all devalues the whole Marriott brand. Equally we are stuck with ownership we cannot sell - nor readily exchange even within the "family". The customers - as usual - are the losers.

[ncaroldavis]

I am not connected with Marriott at all! We own 3 Marriott Time Shares and have NEVER had any problem with exchanges, service, or any of the things I have been reading here. If you add up all your expenses related to your Marriott Time Shares - points or weeks (we have both) you will find out that you are taking vacation in places you wouldn't have before had you not had the time share. Sure, we could take that money and choose to pay as we go...we would be at a Hampton instead of a lux hotel

[jolie3727]

I agree -the timeshare value is less and service is poor. I bought 2 weeks for points and points were devalued - and Marriott refuses to buy back - said I was on my own. I bought into the Destination Club based on a presentation and the more I learn the worse it is! I tried to get rid of it but I'm stuck! Extremely dissatisfied with the whole program and I'm stuck with high fees - and no way out! Did you see the recent TV piece on fake positive reviews and comments around vacations?

[jolie3727]

I agree with the comments about owners getting the short end of the deal. I ran into a slick salesperson and foolishly bought into the Destination Club and now I can't get rid of it. I have 2 weeks for points and now points are devalued. I called Marriott resales and they said I was on my own to resell - they weren't buying back properties! I think all positive comments are by Marriott - did you see the piece recently about fake positive reviews???

[garciatrixie]

My suggestion: 1) adopt points in place of the week system so we don't waste a whole week for just a couple of days vacation 2) require more points to exchange during peak months 3) bank unused points 3) drop Interval Intl and use RCI instead.

It works with others - it should work with us.

[garciatrixie]

It will be Marriott's loss if they abandon us, the 400,000+ timeshare owners. If we have been effective in spreading the good word about them in the past, then we could likewise be effective in undoing that, and cease patronizing the Marriott chain of hotels as well as using our Marriott credit cards. Therefore, let's use this comment box to post our thoughts so we can come up with what's best for us. I'm sure that our various board of directors are monitoring our comments. Suggestions next.

[acquatone]

We read a Wall Street Journal article entitled DUMPING TIMESHARES by Al Lewis ("Al's Emporium") on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. Very concerned about this action by Marriott. The article states that Marriott wants out of the timeshare business as it has become a losing proposition particularly in a down economy, & the recovery is not producing any more free-spending time-share buyers. Also, more owners are not paying their annual maintenance fees, causing resorts to hike fees. Can you say ROOKED?