Meet the Mahoneys

Bringing Family and Friends Together

Vacations often bring loved ones together just once a year.

But for the Mahoney family from Fort Worth, Texas, their ownership in Marriott Vacation Clubs^® is a way to keep close with their family, friends — and friends who have become family — as often as possible. For them, it’s been a way to connect as generations pass on and new ones come along.

“I try to be the glue for our family,” Kevin Mahoney said. “We don’t just want to see each other at funerals and weddings.”

Now, they don’t have to.

Though their three sons are grown and out of the house, Kevin, 60, and his wife, Stephanie, 55, don’t just go on vacation for themselves. They go knowing that they’ll be enjoying the company of others, thanks to open invitations.

“We tell them we’ve got the space,” Stephanie said. “You just get yourself there.”

THE ROAD TO OWNERSHIP

The Mahoney family’s journey to Marriott Vacation Club began years ago, during Kevin’s frequent business travel, but came to fruition as he was approaching retirement. With less travel came the end of earning the many Marriott Bonvoy^® points from Marriott^® hotels and airline miles that the couple used for dream holidays.

They began considering ownership during a trip to Florida’s Atlantic Coast — and joined the Marriott Vacation Club family at Marriott’s Oceana Palms.

“After retirement, we realized everything else we had accumulated would go away,” Stephanie said. “We thought, ‘If we do this, we’re guaranteed one really nice vacation a year.’”

Since joining Marriott Vacation Club, the Mahoneys have accumulated enough points to achieve the Chairman’s Club Owner benefit level, so the promise of a yearly luxury vacation has blossomed.

And they haven’t wasted a single Point.

OWN IT AND USE IT

“That’s the thing,” Kevin said. “If you’re gonna have it, you have to use it — and we use it.”

And Stephanie loves to watch Kevin use their Club Points most efficiently to put together memorable trips using all the benefits of Marriott Vacation Club.

Kevin has learned how to maximize his Club Points by traveling during shoulder seasons and using them for other experiences like Exclusive Owner Events.

“You have to take advantage of all the different things that are offered,” he said.

As a Titanium Elite member in the Marriott Bonvoy^® program, Kevin had already gotten used to staying at luxury properties in dream destinations.

The Mahoneys have stayed at The Cloudveil, Autograph Collection^®, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, as well as The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, in California.

“The Point value on those is amazing,” Kevin said.

But asking the Mahoneys to pick one of their favorite destinations was like asking them to choose a favorite child.

Through their ownership — and enrollment in the Abound by Marriott Vacations™ — they’ve been to destinations including Marriott’s Timber Lodge^® in South Lake Tahoe, and Marriott’s Grand Chateau^® in Las Vegas.

Marriott Vacation Club Pulse^® properties in San Francisco, New York, and San Diego are also favorites.

Marriott’s Timber Lodge®

Marriott Vacation Club Pulse, San Diego

A dream vacation to Hawai‘i took the couple to three of the islands to visit Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club in O‘ahu, Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club in Kaua‘i, and Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club in Maui during one trip.

“Every place had something different to offer,” Stephanie said of their island-hopping holiday. “We relaxed the most on O‘ahu, but there were so many activities everywhere.”

But they’re still not done exploring. They hope to visit St. Kitts, Costa Rica, and Aruba, all thanks to their ownership.

NEIGHBORS NEAR AND FAR

Seeing places far and wide isn’t the only benefit of ownership for the Mahoneys, though — it’s the connections they’re strengthening with friends and neighbors. One family with whom they vacation regularly on Singer Island lives near them in Fort Worth.

“But we actually spend more time with them on vacation,” Kevin said. “We’re just good travel companions.”

They’ve also made friends during Exclusive Owner Events held throughout the year like the red-carpet Breakers event, featuring a weekend of luxury, a gourmet meal, and a private food tour at The Breakers Palm Beach.

“For me, it’s not just the event itself,” Stephanie said. “It’s the experience of all it; the combination of the whole weekend.”

Enjoying it with friends just enhances the experience.

CONNECTIONS FOR A LIFETIME

When the Mahoneys book a trip, they know they’ll be entertaining guests. Whether it’s their children, their friends, or Kevin’s siblings from New York, they often book a larger unit than they need and just send out open invitations. They know some people think of ownership as a legacy to pass on to their kids, but for them, they’re enjoying sharing it with their loved ones in the present.

“Sure, this will be for our children someday, but for now, it’s nice just being able to bring people together,” Kevin said. “We really kind of like to fill up the rooms. It benefits us and somebody else.”

After losing loved ones, Kevin realized the best gift he could give to his family was time together. And because they’re serving as the hosts, they feel comfortable with the quality of the accommodations no matter where they go — because the quality is always the same.

“Everyone is so appreciative, and we just like being able to bring people together,” he said. “And we know we’re always going to have a good experience.”