Marriott Vacation Club is a trailblazer in the vacation ownership industry, offering a wide array of luxurious destinations for travelers. With its roots dating back to the 1980s, the club has continually evolved, expanding its reach across the globe.
This article takes a deep dive into the history of Marriott Vacation Club, highlighting key milestones and developments that have shaped its journey to becoming one of the leaders of the timeshare industry.
The Inception: 1984-1989
Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc. was established on April 17, 1984, on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. This marked the beginning of Marriott’s venture into vacation ownership with the acquisition of American Resorts and its 184 villas, which were later transformed into the Marriott’s Monarch at Sea Pines resort. By 1987, Marriott Rewards, originally introduced in 1983, had partnered with Marriott Ownership Resorts, enhancing the vacation experience for owners through a robust loyalty program.
Expansion and Evolution: 1990-1999
In 1990, Marriott expanded its offerings by initiating an exchange partnership with Interval International (ILG, Inc.). This strategic move allowed owners to trade weeks at their home resorts for stays at various other destinations worldwide, broadening the vacation possibilities. Recognizing the need to reflect its evolution from real estate development to vacations, Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc. rebranded as Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI) in 1995.
The late 1990s saw significant geographic expansion for MVCI. The first European property, Marriott’s Marbella Beach Club, opened in Costa del Sol, Spain, in 1996, followed by the debut of Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club in Palm Beach, Aruba, in 1997. In 1999, Marriott introduced The Ritz-Carlton Club, a luxury fractional ownership offering, further diversifying its portfolio.
International Growth: 2000-2010
The new millennium continued to bring growth and innovation. In 2001, MVCI opened its first Asian property, Marriott’s Phuket Beach Club in Phuket, Thailand, and also launched the Grand Residences by Marriott, starting with Marriott Grand Residence Club, Lake Tahoe. The marketing strategy evolved in 2007 when Marriott Vacation Club International began promoting its core timeshare brand simply as Marriott Vacation Club.
In 2010, the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations program was introduced, revolutionizing the ownership model. This program allows owners to redeem Vacation Club Points for stays not only at Marriott Vacation Club resorts but also at Marriott hotels, travel packages, and other resorts through Interval International.
Recent Developments: 2011-Present
In 2016, Marriott Vacation Club introduced a new sub-brand, Marriott Vacation Club Pulse. These properties, located in urban settings, cater to owners seeking shorter stays. Initial locations included New York City, San Diego, South Beach, Washington, DC, and Boston.
As of 2018, Marriott Vacation Club consists of four distinct brands: Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Vacation Club Pulse, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, and Grand Residences by Marriott.
At the end of 2022, Marriott introduced the Abound Program, which allows eligible Marriott owners to book Vistana Signature Network (Westin and Sheraton) resorts using the new vacation currency known as Abound Club Points.
In 2024, Marriott announced the rebranding of Pulse Resorts to the new City Collection, which saw an additional resort known as Marriott Vacation Club, Waikiki. Also, in a move to expand further in to the Asia-Pacific region, a new Marriott Vacation Club resort was announced in Khao Lak, Thailand.
The brand now boasts over 80 resorts worldwide, including notable properties in Spain, France, and Thailand. These strategic expansions have cemented Marriott Vacation Club’s place as a leader in the vacation ownership industry.
Marriott Vacation Club Milestones
1984 — Marriott Vacation Club®—originally known as Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc., a division of Marriott® International—is established on April 17, 1984. Marriott’s Monarch becomes the company’s first resort, one of eight today on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
1986 — Marriott’s Sabal Palms opens at the Orlando World Center Marriott® Resort & Convention Center, introducing the concept of co-locating a timeshare resort with a full-service Marriott® hotel.
1990 — The company begins a partnership with Interval International®, providing more vacation choices and destination options to Owners..
1995 — The company continues to evolve from real estate development and sales to delivering vacation experiences around the world.
1996 — With the opening of Marriott’s Marbella Beach Club in Costa del Sol, Spain, the company expands into Europe.
1997 — A national treasure and 150-year-old icon in Boston is transformed into Marriott’s Custom House—the first branded metropolitan ownership property of its kind. The property’s city-centric experience later provides inspiration for Marriott Vacation Club Pulse.
2001 — Marriott Vacation Club expands into Asia with a new resort in Phuket, Thailand.
2005 — Marriott’s Grand Chateau® opens near the famous Las Vegas Strip.
2006 — The Asia-Pacific regional office opens in Singapore and rolls out a points-based program tailored to the Asian market.
2008 — The company launches its Green Initiative, designed to reduce both its environmental footprint and energy costs. Marriott Vacation Club announces Marriott’s Lakeshore Reserve in Orlando, its first property to share a resort location with The Ritz-Carlton®
2009 — Marriott Vacation Club celebrates 25 years of delivering unforgettable vacation experiences.
2010 — Marriott Vacation Club announces the launch of the points-based Marriott Vacation Club Destinations® Program in North America and the Caribbean, the most significant program innovation in the company’s history.
2011— Marriott International spins off its timeshare business to position it for further growth. The new publicly held company, Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, becomes the world’s first pure-play public timeshare company.
2012 — Marriott Vacation Club offers points-based Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Exchange Program to Owners of its European resorts. Marriott Vacation Club forms a life-saving partnership with Clean the World, a not-for-profit corporation that recycles discarded hotel soap for impoverished communities, preventing hygiene-related illnesses.
2013 — Marriott’s Grand Chateau in Las Vegas celebrates a major development milestone—the completion of a third 37-story tower with 223 villas.
2014 — Marriott Vacation Club celebrates 30 years of delivering unforgettable vacations.
2015 — Marriott Vacation Club moves into Washington, D.C. when it purchases 71 rooms in the iconic The Mayflower Hotel.
2016 — The company debuts Marriott Vacation Club Pulse—an extension to the Marriott Vacation Club brand—in five cities, putting Owners and guests in the heart of a city’s action. Locations include Boston, New York City, Miami’s South Beach, San Diego and Washington, D.C. Marriott Vacation Club® at Surfers Paradise opens in Gold Coast, Australia. Located in the iconic Surfers Paradise Marriott® Resort & Spa, it’s the first Marriott Vacation Club timeshare property in Australia.
2017 — Marriott Vacation Club opens its first resort on Hawaii’s Big Island. Marriott’s Waikoloa Ocean Club is a vacation destination as unique as the Big Island itself. The newest Marriott Vacation Club resort—Marriott’s Bali Nusa Dua Gardens in Bali, Indonesia—opens. The new resort continues the company’s growth strategy of adding new locations to its collection of properties and resorts in Asia and Australia.
2018 — Marriott Vacation Club debuts a fresh new look to showcase its diverse and growing portfolio of 60 Marriott Vacation Club and Marriott Vacation Club Pulse resorts and properties, found in 39 destinations and eight countries around the world, in the U.S., Caribbean, Europe and Asia
2022 — Marriott Vacation Club launches the Abound Program, a replacement to the Destinations Club program, that integrates Vistana Signature Network (Westin and Sheraton) resorts with Marriott Vacation Club.
2024 — Marriott Vacations Worldwide unveils plans for new Marriott Vacation Club resorts in Khao Lak, Thailand and Honolulu, Hawaii. These developments mark the seventh Marriott Vacation Club resort in the Asia Pacific, and a new addition to the City Collection resorts, which was adopted as the new branding for resorts that were previously referred to as Pulse resorts.
Conclusion
Marriott Vacation Club’s history is a testament to its commitment to providing exceptional vacation experiences. From its humble beginnings on Hilton Head Island to becoming a global vacation ownership leader, the journey of Marriott Vacation Club showcases continuous innovation and growth. Today, with a diverse portfolio of luxury resorts and urban properties, Marriott Vacation Club stands as a premier choice for travelers seeking flexible, high-quality vacation options.
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