From the day J. Willard Marriott and wife Alice first opened a nine-seat root beer stand on May 20, 1927, consistent quality and customer-focused innovation have been hallmarks of the company that bears the Marriott family name.
Prior to its entrance into the timeshare arena, Marriott studied the industry very carefully. In listening closely to the shared experiences of existing owners, it became clear that the timeshare concept had great potential, but in practice was often poorly executed.
By applying its integrity and customer care to the timeshare industry, Marriott demonstrated that a respected hospitality company could be successful in this area without diminishing its brand image. As a natural extension of Marriott’s core lodging business, its vacation ownership offering became an endorser product that actually enhanced owners’ and guests’ perception of the company and created unprecedented customer loyalty.
Today, as the industry’s recognized worldwide leader and standard for quality, Marriott Vacation Club International is more focused than ever on providing memorable vacation and leisure experiences for its owners and their families.
Milestones
1984
Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc. (MORI) is established with the acquisition of American Resorts and its 184 villas on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Leveraging the company’s hospitality, development and management expertise, Marriott becomes the first major branded hospitality company to enter the timeshare industry and remains so for nearly a decade.
Marriott makes its first major innovations to traditional timeshare by introducing the floating time and floating unit concepts. For the first time, owners have the flexibility to stay at their home resort during different times within an overall season instead of a fixed week and unit each year.
Marriott’s Honored Guest Awards—the precursor to today’s award-winning Marriott Rewards program—is introduced as an additional usage option. Now Marriott vacation owners are eligible to trade their weeks for points that are redeemable for worldwide hotels and travel through Marriott.
1986
MORI continues to transform the industry with the opening of Marriott’s Sabal Palms in Orlando, Florida, adjacent to the popular Orlando World Center Marriott. Creating a compatible campus, the vacation ownership resort represents the first-ever of its kind built from the ground up on shared grounds with a full-service hotel. This unprecedented arrangement not only benefits owners but also becomes a model for future industry developments. Following the resort’s immediate success, planning begins for a second resort on the property, Marriott’s Royal Palms, which begins construction the next year.
1990
Expansion into the international market begins with the opening of Marriott’s Paradise Island Beach Club in Nassau, Bahamas. Marriott begins an exchange partnership with Interval International allowing owners to trade weeks at their home resort for access to other resort destinations worldwide.
1992
Still the only major branded vacation ownership company, Marriott is by now well established as the leader and innovator in the industry and continues to pioneer the way for future branded hospitality and vacation companies.
1993
MORI now has over 50,000 owners and more than 19 resorts in three countries, representing the most diverse and comprehensive collection of vacation ownership destination properties. As the company continues to expand its diverse portfolio, Marriott owners enjoy the growing choices for priority exchanges to other quality Marriott resorts, now through Interval International.
1994
Responding to the popularity of its first mountain ownership resort in Colorado, Marriott opens its Mountain Valley Lodge in Breckenridge and Marriott’s Summit Watch in Park City, Utah.
Marriott’s Manor Club at Ford’s Colony provides elegant quarters for owners to experience Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, adding a unique and historic family destination to the company’s steadily-growing resort portfolio.
1995
Marriott continues to innovate traditional timeshare by introducing the concept of floating check-in. Beginning at Marriott’s Grande Ocean on Hilton Head Island, owners now enjoy the choice each year of checking in and out on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, providing an even greater degree of flexibility.
MORI begins doing business as Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI). The move reflects the company’s evolution from a real estate development and sales focus to overall vacation experiences.
1996
Marriott pioneers the first successful integrated property with the opening of Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club, in conjunction with the Kauai Marriott Resort.
Sales begin at Marriott Vacation Club International’s first European resort, Marriott’s Marbella Beach Resort in Spain.
The Faldo Golf Institute by Marriott is introduced in conjunction with PGA champion Nick Faldo. The first location opens on-site at Marriott’s Grande Vista in Orlando, Fla., providing personalized and professional golf instruction for vacation owners and guests.
1997
In an unprecedented arrangement, Marriott Vacation Club International is entrusted with a national treasure, Boston’s 150 year-old Custom House. Following a meticulous multi-million-dollar renovation, the city’s historic architectural icon reopens as Marriott’s Custom House, becoming the first-ever branded metropolitan ownership property of its kind.
Marriott continues to expand its balanced resort portfolio of diverse vacation destinations with the exotic island addition of Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino in desirable Palm Beach.
MVCI welcomes its 100,000th owner family.
1999
Similar to its successful segmentation of the lodging industry pioneered in the 1980’s, Marriott segments the vacation ownership industry with the introduction of two new brands.
The Ritz-Carlton Club is introduced to satisfy the need for a luxury private membership product to be used much like a second home with members purchasing fractions of the year in exclusive destinations around the world. The first two resorts are announced in Aspen Highlands, Colorado and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
2000
MVCI expands its spa offerings for owners with dedicated full-service spas on two coasts at Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas in Newport Beach, Calif. and Marriott’s Barony Beach on Hilton Head Island, S.C.
2001
Marriott Grand Residence Club is created for those who desire the benefits of a second home with the amenities and services of a fine hotel. The first property breaks ground in South Lake Tahoe alongside Marriott’s Timber Lodge. Together, the two properties represent Marriott International’s first presence in the Lake Tahoe area.
Marriott Vacation Club International announces its first resort in Asia — Marriott’s Phuket Beach Club in Thailand.
Marriott Vacation Club International welcomes its 200,000th owner family and achieves over $4 billion in cumulative contract sales since 1984.
2002
Marriott is the Official Lodging Supplier of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. Vacation owners at Marriott’s MountainSide in Park City enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience as firsthand spectators of the snowboarding and giant slalom events.
International expansion continues with the announcement of vacation and fractional ownership properties in Paris and London respectively.
2003
The new year is kicked off with the opening of two more resorts in Hawaii, Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club and Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club, bringing MVCI’s presence to four on the islands.
In May, MVCI is named the country’s Best Sales Organization at the inaugural American Business Awards. Hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars” by the New York Post (September 22, 2002), The American Business Awards’ StevieTM is the first national, all-encompassing business awards program honoring great performances in the workplace.
European expansion plans progress, as MVCI opens Marriott’s Village d’Ile-de-France at the Disneyland Resort Paris. Marriott Grand Residence Club introduces its second property for the brand, 47 Park Street, by Marriott Grand Residence Club in London’s posh Mayfair district.
A first for the division and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, a private residential golf community is developed in Jupiter, Fla. offering two whole ownership real estate options, fractional ownership Club Homes, golf memberships for the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, and spa/social memberships for the enjoyment of The Ritz-Carlton Spa and community clubhouse.
2004
MVCI celebrates 20 years in the vacation ownership industry with the announcement of several new resorts.
In January MVCI makes its first venture into Arizona with the opening of Marriott’s Canyon Villas at Desert Ridge in Phoenix. The property is part of a 5,700-acre master planned community, including the 950-room JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.
Summer brings two openings for MVCI: the first MVCI resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Marriott’s OceanWatch Villas at Grande Dunes – and the second property in Aruba, Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club.
MVCI begins sales in Las Vegas for Marriott’s Grand Chateau in July.
During the month of August, MVCI reaches $1 billion in contract sales – six months ahead of last year’s record.
2004 concludes with the ninth consecutive year of an average of 20-plus percent growth and record breaking annual contract sales of 1.46 billion.
2005
In May, MVCI breaks ground on its 46th timeshare resort, Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove. It is the first MVCI resort located in the U.S.V.I.
MVCI announces the opening of Marriott’s SurfWatch in June. This marks MVCI’s eighth resort on Hilton Head Island.
July brings an evolution of the Marriott Grand Residence Club brand. Now known as Grand Residences by Marriott, it focuses on providing innovative second home options through fractional real estate offerings and select whole ownership opportunities. Designed for regional second home destinations, Grand Residences by Marriott is dedicated to providing carefree property ownership through Marriott management expertise.
In late September, Marriott’s Grand Chateau opens in Las Vegas – the first MVCI resort in Nevada.
The Ritz-Carlton Club adds two urban destinations in November with the announcement of The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, San Francisco, as well as The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, South Beach.
Year end 2005 brought MVCI a new industry record of over $1.5 billion in contract sales.
2006
In March, The Ritz-Carlton Club, Lake Tahoe is announced as part of a mixed-use property. March also brought the announcement of The Ritz-Carlton Club, Kapalua Bay, a part of the larger development, Kapalua Bay, in West Maui.
MVCI announces the start of sales in June for its 45th resort, Marriott’s St. Kitts Beach Club. The resort will be located on property with the AAA Four Diamond – St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino.
In June, MVCI is named “Best Sales Organization” for a second time by the American Business Awards. Hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars,” The American Business Awards’ Stevie is the first national, all-encompassing business awards program honoring positive contributions in the workplace.
In July, MVCI announces the opening of the Asia Pacific Regional office in Singapore and the roll-out of a points-based program tailored to Asian customers. Marriott’s Grand Chateau, Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club and Marriott’s Phuket Beach Club will offer inventory in the points-based program.
Marriott Grand Residence Club evolves to reflect the new brand name Grand Residences by Marriott in October.
In October, the division announces development plans for Kauai Lagoons on the island of Kauai. Marking the first collaboration between Marriott Vacation Club International and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC, the collection will include Ritz-Carlton managed, private ownership condominiums and townhomes; bungalows and condominiums managed by Grand Residences by Marriott; Ritz-Carlton Club deeded, fractional ownership residences; Marriott Vacation Club timeshare villas; and estate home lots.
Marriott Vacation Club International concludes the year with over 330,000 owners and achieves over $10 billion in cumulative contract sales since 1984.
2007
MVCI begins referring to core timeshare brand as Marriott Vacation Club.
In January, Marriott Vacation Club announces the opening of its first resort in the West Indies on the island of St. Kitts – Marriott’s St. Kitts Beach Club.
In late February, Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove opens on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands – Marriott Vacation Club’s first timeshare resort on St. Thomas.
MVC announces the start of sales in June for Marriott’s Crystal Shores on Marco Island.
In July, MVCI is named the country’s “Best Customer Service Organization” by the American Business Awards. Hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars,” The American Business Awards’ Stevie is the first national, all-encompassing business awards program honoring positive contributions in the workplace.
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