IHG loses Venetian and Palazzo at the end of the year after 15 years. That stings.
It turns out that the 7,000+ room property that has just completed a $1.5 billion renovation is affiliating with Hyatt instead.
- We know there will be points-earning and redemption
- And there will be benefits, but details aren’t clear yet. For instance, Rio is fully integrated into World of Hyatt. It’s not clear that Venetian will be for things like breakfast, upgrades, and late check-out. I have asked these questions of Hyatt.
- Venetian Rewards members will also see Hyatt benefits as well. Perhaps this means tier matching between the two. That remains to be shared.
The property will be its own brand for earning Brand Explorer category 1-4 free nights, which is cool. And it’s great to have a much nicer Hyatt option in Las Vegas. Instead of complaining how ghetto Rio is at $42.50 per night, members can complain about how expensive Venetian is.
How valuable this partnership will be likely hinges on the extent to which Venetian and Palazzo fully participate in World of Hyatt. If suite upgrades are offered – and it’s not clear what would constitute a standard suite in a hotel that makes the somewhat stretch of a claim that all rooms are suites – and breakfast and late check-out honored, then that would make the property very attractive indeed.
On the other hand, if it’s merely points-earning and redemption, elite night earning, and low-tier status matching then the use case will be far more limited. Go stay where you wish and can get the best deal on the Strip, check into Rio for elite night credit (but certainly don’t stay there), and you can’t earn elite nights at both Rio and Venetian for the same night anyway…
There were never rooms available under IHG. Either the reward price was way too high. Free nights were non existent and the price for the rooms were way over priced. That is why they had to do a remodel. 100% tourist trap
Gary–have you gotten any indication as to timing of the integration? I have a Vegas trip in early March; would love to get night credits while staying on the strip.
Perhaps I’m just being cynical but I just don’t see all that much alignment between what a big strip hotel is willing to offer and what Hyatt loyalists – especially Globalists – want. As an example just look at the problems with the Rio, which is neither a top tier hotel nor on the strip yet has had lots of problems due to unmet expectations.
Don’t expect integration with Hyatt. Venetian doesn’t need any hotel chain, unlike Rio. Likely points earning and that is about it.
@Tomri – Venetian in an incredible property and definitely not a “tourist trap”. You sound like an average IHG elite that stays all year in Holiday Inn Expresses and it ticked because you can’t use your points at the Venetian. I, on the other hand, while lifetime elite on most major hotel brands (Titanium w Marriott and Diamond with Hilton for example) am also a relatively serious gambler and love what Las Vegas offers me. I’ve stayed and played at the Venetian more times than I can count (their Deep Stack tournaments are incredible for any poker players out there) and can assure people it is one of the nicer properties in Las Vegas.
They never played well with IHG loyalist so don’t expect them to do so for Hyatt. I’m no retired gambler but I have stayed in Vegas many times but could only book award nights at that property by calling into IHG and having them find one off available nights for a ton of points.
Sort of surprised by the people bad mouthing the IHG program with Venetian / Palazzo
To me it means they didn’t understand it.
InterContinental Ambassadors and + have generally been treated well, they have a lounge for light breakfast and evening canapes and cocktails, though granted it has been 23 months since I was last there as a guest.
It’s correct as Gary asserts, not truly suites but rather 70-ish SQ FT of an open room with an extremely large bathroom and steps from the sleeping area to the seating area.
However they do have several true suites in both towers
> “If … late check-out [is] honored, then that would make the property very attractive indeed.”
According to Hyatt’s terms, “late checkout is subject to availability at hotels with a casino” (along with resorts and Destination Residences). So I assume late checkout will not be guaranteed here. Hoping the other benefits will be honored, though.
@ Gary — Venetian and Palazzo were, once upon a time, great properties for IC Royal Ambassadors. However, the last 4-5 years, they have treated RAs as annoyances, so I not would expect Globalists to get many benefits. I would expect points redemption and earning, and access to their lame VIP lounges that gives out free N/A beverages and cookies. Don’t expect access to their real club, free breakfast, or amenitiy fee waivers. It ain’t happening.
@ Those who say IHG point redemptionswere a ripoff there — wasn’t true 4-5 years ago. At one point, about 10-12 years ago, Venetian/Palazzo was the #1 property for IHG points redemptions.
Used 2 free 40k IHG awards here in 2016 which was a tremendous value but obviously things have changed.
Will Sands waive the fraudulent “resort fees” and parking charges for Hyatt elites? Doubt that will happen.
Venetian/Palazzo have great restaurants but the gaming sucks (all H1B dealers and 6:5 BJ) and the pools are pathetic compared to competition. Too much smoke as well.
Rio in Vegas was the best value I ever had at a Hyatt in my 35 years, despite an indifferent breakfast. (lifetime Globalist).