A few weeks back we learned that MGM Resorts is launching an all new loyalty program. I wanted to recap the basics of the new program, given that it’s “live” as of today, February 1, 2022.
Let me state upfront that I’m not a huge Las Vegas fan, so this isn’t the topic I’m most passionate about. However, on balance I’d say that these changes are bad news for those who are actually loyal to MGM, while I’d say they’re good news for World of Hyatt members, thanks to Hyatt’s partnership with MGM. Let’s go over the basic details of the new program.
In this post:
MGM Rewards replaces M life Rewards
The first major change with MGM’s new loyalty program is the name — the program is now named MGM Rewards, replacing the previous M life Rewards branding. Frankly I appreciate how straightforward the name is, as there’s not much effort required to remember the name of the program.
MGM Rewards elite tiers & benefits
MGM Rewards continues to have five elite tiers, though they feature refreshed perks, as follows:
- Those with fewer than 20,000 Tier Credits receive MGM Rewards Sapphire status, which offers the ability to earn points, discounts at select shows, and the guaranteed lowest room rates when booking direct
- Those with 20,000-74,999 Tier Credits receive MGM Rewards Pearl status, which offers invitations to member-only experiences, complimentary self-parking at participating destinations, and complimentary tickets to select concerts
- Those with 75,000-199,999 Tier Credits receive MGM Rewards Gold status, which offers waived resort fees when booking direct, a $100 Tier achievement celebration dining experience, and complimentary enhanced room upgrades
- Those with 200,000+ Tier Credits receive MGM Rewards Platinum status, which offers up to $600 in air travel credits to Las Vegas once per year, a $200 Tier achievement celebration dining experience, and an annual complimentary cruise on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises
- MGM Rewards has invitation-only Noir status, which offers up to $1,200 in air travel credits to Las Vegas once per year, a $500 Tier achievement celebration dining experience, and complimentary transportation to & from the airport with each stay
Of all these changes, personally I think the most exciting development is that resort fees are now waived for Gold members and above. This can make a huge difference, given that virtually all hotels in Las Vegas have resort fees, and in many cases they’re steep.
MGM Rewards greatly cuts points earning potential
Here’s the bad news. For those looking to earn rewards with MGM’s loyalty program, previously you earned 25 Tier Credits per dollar spent on hotel stays, dining, entertainment, and spas. With the new program you earn just four Tier Credits per dollar spent on those purchases, which is an absolutely massive devaluation.
Clearly the aim is to heavily incentivize gambling, because that’ll be the easiest way for members to earn Tier Credits. The good news is that this shouldn’t impact World of Hyatt members, who choose to earn World of Hyatt points for their Las Vegas hotel stays.
How Hyatt loyalists can benefit from this
As I said above, I’m not a big Vegas person, but there is one aspect of this that most piques my interest. Hyatt & MGM have a partnership, which includes status matching. World of Hyatt Globalist & Explorist members receive Gold status with MGM, and that continues to be the case with the new program. Gold members receive waived resort fees.
Weekday rates at Excalibur are regularly ~$21 per night, plus a $35 resort fee.
With the new program, Gold members no longer have to pay that fee, so you can actually stay at a hotel for ~$21 per night. But it gets better than that — thanks to the Hyatt & MGM partnership, you can earn World of Hyatt elite nights and points for these stays.
Going to Las Vegas is now truly the cheapest way to maintain Globalist status. Practically speaking, the catch is that:
- Weekday rates are way lower than weekend rates, so you’ll only get this kind of pricing if you’re staying for a couple of nights at a time
- This could be a useful mattress run opportunity for Las Vegas locals, but for others the value of this won’t be that huge
This isn’t a case of checking in once for two months and paying $1,200 to maintain Globalist, but it’s still an intriguing opportunity…
Bottom line
MGM’s loyalty program has been refreshed as of today (February 1, 2022), with the introduction of MGM Rewards. Elite benefits have been adjusted, and perhaps most exciting is that Gold members and above receive waived resort fees when booking direct. Thanks to the partnership between Hyatt & MGM, World of Hyatt elite members should benefit from these changes.
The bad news is that for those actually loyal to MGM, earning elite status through non-gambling means is significantly more difficult.
What do you make of these MGM Rewards changes?
They seem to be exploring new credit card offerings now after their newly announced partnership with Marriott.
https://www.whichcardtoget.com/blog/mgm-considers-diverse-credit-card-offerings-seeks-public-input
I have stayed at 3 different locations in Vegas and 2 more properties. Each time I was told my tier credits would accumulate 7 to 10 days after check out!! When you check out you’re supposed to get four times the tier credit per the new M life rewards program! This use to be 25 tier credits per dollar that they changed to 4. These credits never got applied in any of the three properties...
I have stayed at 3 different locations in Vegas and 2 more properties. Each time I was told my tier credits would accumulate 7 to 10 days after check out!! When you check out you’re supposed to get four times the tier credit per the new M life rewards program! This use to be 25 tier credits per dollar that they changed to 4. These credits never got applied in any of the three properties with one being Vegas! As an mlife MasterCard and gold card- they are supposed to accumulate to seven times the M life property money spent! And mlife MasterCard gives you three times to your credits you spend on each $1 on property -those were applied. The four times tier credits were never applied ever! And mlife has some problems now with her tier credits and obviously applying credits to your account since they changed it to one dollar per 25 tier points per dollar they used to accommodate to 4. It’s becoming a total nightmare! They owe me close to 4000 tier credits not applied on my last 3 stays in 2022! It sucks when people aren’t trained and are incompetent in jobs now a days! On one of the properties in Biloxi Mississippi I was there as a finalist with entries to win a truck! I went to the rewards desk the night the truck was being drawn and asked because I saw an email saying that the truck drawing was happening the following day! The girl at the Rewards desk told me to be at the drawing location at 9 AM the following day! I was given the wrong information in Biloxi as the drawing was taking place at 9 PM that night -one hour after I asked the girl! I confirm this with the girl who was actually at the location doing the drawing and told me there was no drawing the next day and this is it! Regardless I did not win the truck but the whole process of being deceived and being given all false information by somebody who’s suppose to know what’s going on! Getting very disappointed with mlife all around! I have been going to Vegas three times a year for close to 25 years! Never had a problem in the past until now! New mlife program sucks! Majored in math! Know I’m being cheated!
MGM rewards is terrible. The old MLife program was much better. The new points system makes it difficult to attain higher tiers. I’ve been platinum for years but won’t be able to make it again. You need to spend 2-3 times the amount it used to take to reach the next higher tier. Avoid mgm properties and their credit card. Better deals out their.
This absolutely sucks! I have been a MGM Rewards member since the beginning and have made Gold every year. You have to spend $3000 for the 25/$1 to stay Gold. How do they expect to keep us coming back with only 4/$1??? I'm automatically Pearl with the credit card and can do VIP check in with it so what is the point of trying for Gold? Sounds like they want to lose customers.
Does the Mlife credit card keep you at pearl status or does it still reset every year?
I have received a reward from playing Mlife on my iPad. I need to find the Redemption link on MGMRewards site to book my show time. I am unable to find that link. Does anyone know where to find the Redemption Link on the MGMRewards site?
I wonder if gambling will earn way more points than before. I only play table games, which is very subjective.
No, quite the opposite (at least for slots). I earned less than half the points with the 2 x's multiplier, spending the same out of pocket as I had spent previously to maintain my status.
So how does MGM status match to WOH?
Really the only thing worth doing if you go to Vegas about once a year and you rent a car is to get the mgm credit card since it has no annual fee and gives you pearl so that you don't have to pay for parking at mgm properties.
I am not sure if you are correct about earning Hyatt credits and a waived resort fee. If you book directly through MGM you cannot change your number to Hyatt until check in. When you check out will they still waive the resort fee as they will now see a Hyatt number in the account.
I would like confirmation on this from MGM
Thinking this is accurate.
Looks like if you book through Hyatt, no waived resort fee.
If you book through MGM, thinking you won't get elite night credits.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but this seems like a too good to be true situation.
The article: "previously you earned 25 Tier Credits per dollar spent on hotel stays, dining, entertainment, and spas. With the new program you earn just four Tier Credits per dollar spent on those purchases,"
Half the people in the comments section: "you didn't mention that it used to be 25 per dollar, now its 4."
Yes, it’s now added.
@Ben: it would be more transparent to add a remark at the end of the article when you change something, like „An earlier version of this article did not contain the comparison between the earning rates“
when does mlife status reset?
It's usually every September pre pandemic
I am a pearl status Mlife member with a MGM master card who just recently got back from Vegas .
It appears that now , it’s a calendar year but rolls over to the next year being a qualifying year .
e.g. I am about 32k tier points away from earning Gold status . If I earn them between now and Dec 31st 2022 with either mgm stays and/or spends on my MGM...
I am a pearl status Mlife member with a MGM master card who just recently got back from Vegas .
It appears that now , it’s a calendar year but rolls over to the next year being a qualifying year .
e.g. I am about 32k tier points away from earning Gold status . If I earn them between now and Dec 31st 2022 with either mgm stays and/or spends on my MGM credit card , in 2023 I will qualify for Gold status .
Additionally, with credit card spend it’s 1 to 3 tier credits and mgm rewards earned for every dollar charged .
For example , my recent stay $1,700 was charged to my card . This will be $1,700 x 3 of additional pending 5,100 tier credits .
There was also a promotion that if $800 was charged to the room for good and entertainment, the members would receive an additional $200 worth of mgm rewards points.
Does booking through Hyatt count as "booking direct"? Park MGM is eligible for free night vouchers from Hyatt, so if I booked through Hyatt and used a free night award, would my resort fee get waived as well as an MGM gold member?
I have what maybe a sweet offer from MGM. It is for 4 complimentary nights at one of their hotels in Vegas. I would not be caught dead at this particular hotel/casino, but I could stomach visiting it and just checking in if I am going to get credit for 4 hyatt nights towards status. I presume I would not have to actually stay there or check out. The offer has to be booked directly...
I have what maybe a sweet offer from MGM. It is for 4 complimentary nights at one of their hotels in Vegas. I would not be caught dead at this particular hotel/casino, but I could stomach visiting it and just checking in if I am going to get credit for 4 hyatt nights towards status. I presume I would not have to actually stay there or check out. The offer has to be booked directly through MGM. Anyone know how I ensure that I get the nights credited to my Hyatt account and not toward the MGM rewards program?
Comped room nights booked through MGM are not considered Elite Qualifying Nights for World of Hyatt. You do however earn Hyatt points for all charges billed to your resort room.
So how does it work? I book with my MGM Gold number but then give them my Globalist # at Check-in?
I'm on the phone with MGM right now and they say no waived resort fees for MGM Gold's who obtained status via match from Hyatt even on paid stays.
When I challenged this they went back three times to supervisors who all reiterated this is the rule.
Hopefully MGM will clarify this one way or the other since when booking the resort fee isn't being waived and MGM claims that only Golds who have earned...
I'm on the phone with MGM right now and they say no waived resort fees for MGM Gold's who obtained status via match from Hyatt even on paid stays.
When I challenged this they went back three times to supervisors who all reiterated this is the rule.
Hopefully MGM will clarify this one way or the other since when booking the resort fee isn't being waived and MGM claims that only Golds who have earned their status via the MGM program will have the charges removed at checkout.
So how does MGM status match to WOH?
So if I book now for late February 2022 at a MLife property I won’t be charged any resort fees as a globalist?
Does anyone know if there will be a similar devaluation to the Mlife Rewards Mastercard? It was formerly 1 point per $1 for most day to day purchases and 3 points per $1 when used at MGM properties for MGM stuff?
Great for Hyatt loyalists!
Boo hoo to the Marriott schlubs who loved their Cosmo stays. Happy it will soon be in the MGM fold!
Absolutely incorrect. This is a massive devaluation. Previously, you earned 25 points per dollar spend on hotel, dining, etc. It's been cut all the way back to 4! I think you weren't exactly aware of how the previous program worked.
Did you read the article?
He very clearly states this.
Absolutely the worst! And to make these changes during a pandemic -travel has been limited -plus state lockdowns -surges-etc And then they wipe out all your reward points from MLife then lower your tier status because you havent been able to get here in 2021.
Just disappointing and disgraceful
How much for a loyalty program it’s obvious MGM doesn’t really care about its customers
I am surprised no one mentioned FHR stays. One of the main reasons I never utilized my FHR credit in LV is the resort fee. If you are globalist (and thus MGM gold), and book a FHR stay, are resort fees waived?
I just saw on Twitter that Gary Leff confirmed that FHR bookings (the one exception) will have resort fees waived as well.
The one exception when not booking “direct” that is.
@Ben, one important point that you forgot to mention is that now when it comes to room spending, previously on hotel, dining, entertainment, and spa charges, you would earn 25 tier credits per dollar spent. And now, you earn 4. I think this is super important to bring up as it represents a huge devaluation.
milestomemories.com/m-life-devaluation/
Yes, benefits under the new program are better. But, it's probably worth making a distinction about how one attains tier status. Under the old program, dining and hotel charges earned 25 tier credits. Under the new program, dining and hotel charges earn only 4 tier credits. So, if one is earning tier status DIRECTLY, it's much more difficult. If one receives tier status from a reciprocal agreement with (say) Hyatt, great.
Often, during non-peak times, M Life will offer comp. nights. I wonder if those comp. nights will count towards Hyatt status . . . If they do and you can check in online, that would be the ultimate virtual mattress run.
Do you need to book through Hyatt to recieve the elite night credit? And if you do does MGM recongize your MGM status even when you book through Hyatt? I am curious how the waived resort fee gets applied.
You could book through MGM or Hyatt previously. I am a Hyatt Globalist and a local so I would put family up there and booking through MLife with my reciprocal gold status always got the best rate and the points always credited to Hyatt. I even managed to get Hyatt points for restaurant spend when I booked through FHR.
Lucky- CORRECTION: the prior message had typos any data points on whether MGM properties like Excalibur allow online check-in? E.g. - could one do a “mattress run” ,for example, at Excalibur -for the $21 mid-week nightly rate -and just pay for the stay online without physically being there - so as to earn elite Hyatt nights?
If anyone knows, would appreciate info. Thanks!
Lucky- CORRECTION: any data points on whether MGM properties like Excalibur allow online check-in? E.g. - could one do a “mattress run” ,for example, at Excalibur -for the $21 mid-week nightly rate -and just pay for the stay online without physically being there - so as to earn elite Hyatt nights?
Lucky- any data points on whether MGM properties like Excalibur allow online check-in? E.g. - could when do a mattress run resemble at the 20 minute dollar nightly rate and just pay for the stay without physically being there?
They do allow online check-in and you verify your id through the MGM Resorts app.
Love the waived resort fees! I matched Hyatt -> MGM Gold -> Caesars Diamond last year. Enjoyed some incredibly cheap nights at Caesars resorts because of the waived resort fees and ended up not using MGM at all. Look forward to getting back to MGM for my next visit now (especially since my lack of chucking money away into slots means I won't ever maintain diamond with Caesars otherwise).
Match to Wyndham Diamond before 2/1.
And match back to Ceasars Diamond after 2/1. That's is how you get lifetime Diamonds.