Historically the major chains have had a limited presence in Las Vegas, the biggest hotel market in the world. Planet Hollywood used to be a Sheraton, there’s a fairly mediocre Westin that isn’t on ‘the Strip’. IHG managed to link up with the Venetian as an Intercontinental hotel, and Mariott nabbed Cosmopolitan.
The big breakthrough came for Hyatt over the summer when it inked a deal with MGM M Life. You can now earn and redeem Hyatt Gold Passport points and get reciprocal elite status recognition at participating MGM M Life properties. That was a huge coup that brought in properties like Bellagio, MGM Grand, and Mandalay Bay along with several more.
In a copycat industry (Starwood introduced Crossover Rewards with Delta, then Marriott introduced RewardsPlus with United), now as announced on Milepoint this morning, Starwood has entered a deal with Caesars hotels.
Coming soon you’ll be able to link your SPG and Total Rewards accounts so that starting January 9, 2014, you can redeem Starpoints for stays at over 15 participating Caesars Entertainment hotels in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe and more. Plus, you’ll earn Starpoints and SPG elite qualifying nights credits at Caesars Entertainment hotels (in addition to Reward Credits earned as a Total Rewards member).
This is also a win for Caesars Total Rewards members, of which the program claims there are 45 million. (I’m skeptical and suspect that ‘member’ must mean ‘on the mailing list somehow‘).
I’d expect that the award chart and other details should become available within a few hours.
Oddly enough, fourteen years ago Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide owned Caesars.
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You can’t compare the Palazzo in Vegas to the MGM, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay or any other Strip hotel. The suites there are fantastic. It’s part of IHG so you can use your annual free day that you get with their credit card, or use 50k points. The Venetian is also IHG and almost as nice, but Trip Advisor rates Palazzo as Number 1, and I would agree.
Of course this kicks in right as CES winds down. Oh well. Guess it’s the Westin for me.
And, why is it “Oddly enough” that fourteen years ago Starwood owned Caesars? Properties change hands (ownership and management) all the time.
I need a room in Vegas on the 10th! Any chance they are going to prebook for stays that start after the 9th? Love my SPG status!
FYI,
The Palazzo is a partner with IHG.
Speaking of Planet Hollywood, back in the day when it was a Starwood property, and rates were $69, this hotel was a ‘find’. I stayed at this property yearly until the mid-2000’s, when it left *wood.
Last week, I got a great rate from LMTClub.com. $33 per night for 4 nights. I was pretty happy until I saw that my room still looked like it was in 2005. The place can use some $$$ for a refresh. Still, a large room + a 12 x 12 = 144 sq ft bathroom was a good buy. That’s 3.65 meters x 3.65 meters. 😉
As a 100 night Starwood member, Hyatt Diamond and an IC RA this makes me happy. I hope there are extended benefits like the Hyatt deal. I’m in Vegas 4-5 times/year and also have a lot of events in Atlantic City.
As someone who lives in NJ, this is great news.