Today, we have a Reader Question about an offer for a discounted stay at the JW Marriott Singapore that was advertised on social media channels but when inquiring, she received Timeshare offer terms saying it’s only for married individuals.
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The big hotel chains all have their own brand of timeshare arms, which operate under the brand name but independently from the regular property network, though sometimes these hotels can also be booked on a nightly basis.
To market these timeshares, it’s still a common sales method to have in-person sales presentations and get people to agree to them. There are sometimes rather attractive offers to stay cheaply at a premium hotel and get extra perks on top of attending a sales pitch.
One such situation is currently ongoing at the JW Marriott in Singapore, though the Marriott Vacation Club involved is apparently the company’s Australian arm.
Thanks to our reader Christie who sent me the link and a few notes on this:
… I responded to a Facebook ad for a discounted stay at JW Marriott Singapore, where they offered 2 nights for S$299 plus some Bonvoy points or hotel credit. I was aware that this included a sales presentation as it had the MARRIOTT VACATION CLUB label attached to it.
A day after I completed the contact form, I got a reply with all the terms. Unfortunately, the terms say explicitly that you have to be MARRIED plus an income and age requirement. I make plenty of money, but the narrow definition of eligible customers wasn’t outlined in the advertisement and this feels like a data grab. Plus it gives a bad name to the JW Marriott that I wouldn’t expect, it’s a pretty nice hotel otherwise.
Maybe you can warn others about this strange offer. …
I had a look at the link she provided and indeed it looks very simple from the outset:
“Terms and Conditions apply” can mean anything and obviously any offer has terms but if there is a very narrow definition of who can actually use this offer I’d expect it to be outlined in the advertisement.
I wanted to get the full picture so I sent a request as well. Just like the reader I obtained the full offer today and well, she was right in her assessment:
Hi Sebastian
I am contacting you today because you have shown an interest in out Bonvoy Flash Sale to get an 80% discount at the JW Singapore South Beach.
OFFER:
- JW SINGAPORE SOUTH BEACH SINGAPORE: SGD$299.00
- 3 DAYS/2 NIGHTS SGD299.00
- PREMIER ROOM Twin 2aduLts &1child u12/ Premier room double: 2 adults
- PLUS 10,000 MARRIOTT BONVOY POINTS PLUS SGD100 F&B VOUCHER PLUS BREAKFAST DAILY FOR 2 ADULTS
- Friday or Saturday check-in only
- Stay must be completed by 31 March 2025
- This is the total cost – not per person not per night.
- Purchase the package now and get back to us with dates – travel before 31 March 2025.
Qualification:
This Package is designed for married couples (or cohabitating for 2 years) with a joint monthly income in excess of S$8,500 (annual income US$75,000), both aged between 28 – 65 years of age. Couples aged 25 – 27 travelling internationally may also qualify.
Attendance at a sales presentation about Marriott Vacation Club, Asia‐Pacific vacation ownership program lasting approximately 90 – 120 minutes is required during the accommodation period and during those hours made available by MVCI.
**Those who have participated in a Marriott Vacation Club sales presentation within the past 12 months or have an upcoming vacation preview package or other package offered by MVCI or its affiliates are not eligible for this Package**
This offer is Not available any where else – all payments and reservations are to be made through here.
This Package is limited to one per household.
No group bookings allowed.
Group purchases or travel are not permitted.
Additional nights, if available, will need to be booked via www.marriott.com at the best available rate
Offer expires 31 December 2024.
Marriott Vacations Worldwide
Annie
Holiday PlannerMarriott Vacation Club® at Surfers Paradise
T +61-7-2103 xxxx
158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise, Qld 4217
So only married people or those living together for 2+ years are eligible for this? I wonder how they would even verify that. They also say that couples who are international travelers between 25-27 (weird range) can qualify as well.
Both people must attend the sales presentation together which is probably the only term that does make sense as I’m sure every salesperson is tired of the term “I have to ask my wife/husband first bla bla.” But isn’t that even more reason for them to actually prefer singles who have the means to buy in?
This sounds highly dodgy overall if you ask me. Is the disposable income of a single person not enough reason to try and sell something or why are they excluded? I wonder if this is even legal under both Singaporean and especially Australian law governing discrimination based on gender and marital status?
I’m pretty certain you can probably “rent” a local friend for an hour and pretend to be a couple. Even same sex couples should suffice, at least there was nothing in the T&C that governs that part. But is it worth the hassle? Probably not.
Another thing I’d like to highlight here is that the JW Marriott Singapore has nothing more to do with this particular sales presentation other than being the venue where the customers are housed, and there might be an MVC sales office in the building. I have stayed there a few times before, and it’s my favorite hotel in Singapore, but yeah, as the reader already pointed out, maybe this isn’t the best connection. The MVC sales associate is apparently operating out of Australia, as per the signature.
Conclusion
A reader contacted us to chime in on an offer that’s making the rounds on social media networks (likely geo-targeted) for a timeshare sales presentation at the JW Marriott Singapore for the Marriott Vacation Club.
To get new customers to attend, they offer a package of S$299 for two nights in a premium room, 10k Bonvoy points, plus S$100 F&B at the JW. That’s an extremely good deal (a night at this hotel is usually S$400++), and I’m sure many would gladly undergo a timeshare presentation.
The offer details, however, narrow down who can actually attend. Unfortunately, it’s only targeted to local married couples or those living together for 2+ years, as well as international traveling ones between 25 and 27 years of age. This is some of the strangest marketing targets I’ve ever seen.
I tried to approach this offer with an open mind, but it already starts off with some devious exclusion process, so unfortunately, I think the old apprehensions about any kind of timeshare sale process are still true.
