Marriott's Vac Club Reservation System - prejudiced against owners

I just finished a second frustrating experience trying to reserve my Platinum week for 2013 at Marriott Mountainside in Park City UT. This same situation faced me last year reserving for 2012. First, it took the computer I was using about 3 minutes to get into Marriott's system at 7 am mountain time on 2/1. OK, a lot of people logging in at the same time - Marriott should improve their system to handle this load don't you think? Then, by the time I was in, about 4 minutes after the system was "open", only a Sunday arrival was available. That is, all the Friday and Saturday inventory was sold in less than 5 minutes!! There are more than 180 suites in this building - so 120 were gone in less than 5 minutes? Not really as I found out. I called later that day and finnaly got through to a human. As the conversation went along I was told that Marriott holds back some suites to sell as "hotel" rooms to outside guests - i.e. non owners. That means that Friday and Saturday suites are available - but not to owners!!! How can they do that? I asked to speak to a supervisor but after 15 minutes of hold time I just hung up. I will call again during the coming week - but do not expect any resolution. Yesterday I responded to the survey seeking feedback on my "experience" making the reservation. I vented in that survey and asked to get a call back. Again, I do not expect a satisfactory resolution. I never have believed the new point system was anything but a money making angle for Marriott and now I discover they sell suites to the general public at the expense of the people who bought units. What do you make of this? Is it written anywhere in the sale contracts that they have the right to sell units like this? My contract for Mountainside Park City was signed in Feb 2000 before the building was completely finished and I don't recall seeing this anywhere.

Still a problem. I called today the first minute the vacation advisors phone line opened and was told there was not availability for Feb 7, 2026. Today we the first 13-month release date for the Marriott Aruba Surf Club where we have owned two weeks for 10+ years. Weeks owners are now "legacy" owners, and yes, "inventory is held for Destination/Abound and Bonvoy bookings. This is pure BS. We used the think the world of Marriott, but the evolution of weeks ownership has significantly degraded value, and our opinion of the Marriott brand in general.

From Jeff R's comments on this forum of a year ago:

... "Weeks owners are now "legacy" owners, and yes, "inventory is held for Destination/Abound and Bonvoy bookings".

Has anyone received an official word on this from Marriott HQ?

Hello, You're right that a delay in the system during peak booking times is frustrating. Marriott should ideally invest in technology to handle high traffic more effectively, especially for popular properties. The practice of holding back suites for general public bookings, while frustrating for owners, is not uncommon in the hospitality industry. However, it's understandable that you'd feel overlooked as an owner when inventory is made available to non-owners. Regarding the sale of units to the general public, this should ideally be outlined in the purchase agreement or the terms of ownership. If you don’t recall seeing this information, it may be worth reviewing your contract or reaching out to a legal expert who specializes in timeshare agreements.

It has been very difficult to make reservations. We would literally be on the computer at the exact time reservations opened the year before, 8am on the dot - and all the spots are gone for the dates we want during peak week. These are also platinum.

So what I don't understand here - is Marriott taking some of the inventory for themselves for these weeks? Is that why there is so little availability? I just always assumed it was because all the timeshare owners are trying to book the same peak week, and that's why it is gone in seconds. How can inventory be made for non-owners? How does that make sense? I'm close to resorting to automated software for reservations or selling the timeshares. That seems to be the only two options at this point.

I have been told that from online agents at Marriott or Interval how I can't rent my own space - I am guaranteed a space in my home spots and can't rent in my time frame because the whole season was booked before I was allowed to post my request. Also, when I am told there are NO rooms available, I go to Orbitz or other such discount sites and get the room for less money than renting an additional day from Marriott AND it is being rented out not by someone with their own unit but from MARRIOTT!!!

If you decide to sell, save yourself frustration and money. Do not do it through Marriott! I owned three weeks at a wonderful Marriott timeshare resort in Hilton Head SC. Decided to sell 2 weeks since we now own a home in Myrtle Beach, SC and hardly used our HH weeks. Used Marriott to sell- was- 'sold' on that idea while at the resort. It took nearly a year but the upshot is I had to pay Marriott for the privilege of selling my weeks. Yes I got some money from the sale but Marriott got more from me. If I had it to do again I'd have posted my two Gold weeks on Redweek and sold that way. Would likely have gotten as much money & would not have had to pay Marriott!

I was told that “Concomitant Week” reservations are the problem. I am a Marriott Aruba Surf Club platinum multi-week owner. Which means I have 2 spring break guaranteed oceanfront weeks and that I can book 13 months in advance (12 months for single week owners). So when I book 13 months in advance at 9am on the first booking date, I am told the Saturday and Sunday check in dates are booked already. How could that be, I asked. Was told that multi-week owners who booked concomitant weeks had first priority. Many owners have multiple weeks and go for an extended time (2,3,4 weeks in a row). Since they can book 13 mo prior to their first checkin date, they have already booked the spring break week in advance of the 13 mo window for that spring break week.