MGM’s relationship with Hyatt ends September 30. They were partners for 10 years, and MGM had recently groused about not seeing as much value as they could they could achieve from the partnership.
Now we know what they were working on as a replacement: Marriott Bonvoy members will earn and redeem points at 17 MGM resorts starting in October, and bookings of MGM properties will be available through Marriott channels by end of year.
- For Marriott, this is the ability to sell hotels and earn revenue in a market where they aren’t nearly as strong.
- For MGM this is access to Marriott’s customers.
- MGM’s members may stay at Marriott properties over competitors outside of Vegas.
Marriott and MGM have had marketing relationship at Cosmopolitan Las Vegas only.
The two companies say that “Members of both programs will also be able to exchange MGM Rewards points for Marriott Bonvoy points and vice versa.” Marriott members will be able to earn points with BetMGM online gambling and sports betting, with details forthcoming. Details on any elite reciprocity haven’t been shared at this point.
Interestingly as MGM looks to Marriott’s large member base, they’re integrating gambling more explicitly. Some analysts see the move as MGM extending into the traditional lodging space, but their revamp of MGM Rewards elite levels makes clear that their focus is squarely on gambling and rewarding gambling activity rather than using benefits to lure and reward vacationing families.
This news only confirms that Marriott isn’t a hotel company any longer. It’s just a booking and hotel marketing platform.
That aside, I wonder how MGM will handle resort or destination fees for guests booking through Marriott booking channels given the Marriott resort fee settlement.
I also imagine there will be few, if any, elite status benefits for ambassadors, titaniums, etc. given the current lack of benefits for Bonvoy elites at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Ok, after the World of Hyatt announcement, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. This announcement from Marriott Bonvoy is the other shoe that dropped. It will be fun to follow what happens with points, status, etc.
This sounds like a sub-brand of existing brands, like the all-inclusive portfolio that uses existing brand names:
“Of the 17 MGM resorts that will join MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy, four properties will also be affiliated with existing Marriott collection brands: Bellagio will join The Luxury Collection, Aria will join Autograph Collection, Park MGM will become part of Tribute Portfolio and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will continue its affiliation with Autograph Collection.”
https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/mgm-marriott-sign-strategic-licensing-agreement-2873080/
Marriott is WAY stronger than Hyatt is in Vegas; a bunch of properties near the convention center, timeshares, and the usual collection of stuff around the city, up to and including a JW Marriott. Hyatt has two Hyatt Places and a bunch of stuff that is currently vaporware like Dream Vegas (late 2024) and that Rio rebuild (God only knows when that will happen).
Very obviously a case where Marriott’s customer base for marketing blows away Hyatt’s.
It was actually Hyatt that dumped Mgm. People were getting Globalist for free via Excalibur fake stays. Mgm would not share backend data to determine if people were actually staying. This makrs sense with Marriott which is worthless. So you get zero elite benefits now with marriott and mgm. Just slapping a licensing deal. So worthless pretty much.
@J smith: Cite?
Agree the value going forward is questionable. It looks on its face to be a pure earn and burn play.
One thing is for certain when we look at the Marriott relationship with Cosmo the pricing is out of control with 700 to 1000 dollars a night guest rooms and 106k points for a single night!
That said @ Cosmo you received welcome amenity points @ check in and a true upgrade to suite
as an elite member
Private check in and a 2PM check out.If that happened at all MGM properties
I might consider paying a resort fee again.Depending.Better yet hopefully they rematch status with Bonvoy allowing resort fee free and free parking as Gold MGM or higher
The Las Vegas dumpster fire continues. Bonvoyed!
@Dan regarding the ghost mattress runs, you can get some hints here: https://thepointsguy.com/news/hyatt-mgm-elite-nights-las-vegas/. The low rates at Excalibur help folks get elite qualifying nights for $30/night.
I also wouldn’t expect to get ANY points on spending at restaurants at MGM hotels as that’s currently the exemption for the Cosmopolitan within Bonvoy. The FAQs just published on the Marriott announcement website make it clear that this is merely a live swing deal that gives MGM access to Marriott’s booking channels and Bonvoy members access to earn and redeem points at MGM. There is no language about benefits.
I would be very upset if I was the owner of an existing Marriott property in Las Vegas.
The Q is whether those existing properties will do anything to compete against MGM, like no resort fees, switching to all-inclusive or providing better elite recognition.
@EdwardW: I know all about the ghost stays at Excalibur/Luxor. What I’d like cite on is the claim that MGM refused to share back-end data.
@Dan
The new Thompson Palm Spring (Hyatt) opens May 1,2024.
@Gene: Great point.
Think it’s funny that the famously Mormon Marriotts are getting into bed with casinos.
This likely explains why MGM hasn’t ported the Cosmopolitan over to its platform, while the Hyatt deal was still in swing.
Was a pain to carry different gambling “loyalty cards” and not get earn in my preferred program. (MGM)
But Cosmo has the better restaurants and bars.. so Bonvoy! Ugh
Here’s to hoping for MGM-Marriott status matching
Without an ability to status match this is a bust. At least with Hyatt the weekend redemptions are not too bad.
Hey Dan. No of course I have no cite. People would be fired over that. So I guess I’m just gossip monger. Conversely. I’ve been with hyatt for a bit. And if you have a long time concierge. Well I asked. And they basically said they were getting screwed and mgm wouldn’t provide whether people actually opened Excalibur doors or not. Ie backside details.so Hyatt dumped them. And now there’s a new partnership that I don’t know. But was intomated was gonna be worthless. In name only. No matches no nothing
I haven’t stay at Cosmo in a couple years (maybe pre-pandemic?) but when I did I always got great suite upgrades and was only a Titanium back then. I wasn’t staying peak times though.