World Of Hyatt & MGM Rewards Las Vegas Partnership: How It Works

World Of Hyatt & MGM Rewards Las Vegas Partnership: How It Works

22
In the interest of full disclosure, OMAAT earns a referral bonus for anyone that’s approved through some of the below links. These are the best publicly available offers (terms apply) that we have found for each product or service. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, hotel chain, or product manufacturer/service provider, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Please check out our advertiser policy for further details about our partners, and thanks for your support!

World of Hyatt does a great job with its partnerships, which potentially give members a lot more ways to both earn and redeem points. For example, Hyatt has partnerships with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Lindblad Expeditions, American Airlines, and others.

I’d argue World of Hyatt’s most valuable partnership is with MGM Rewards in Las Vegas. This partnership dates back to 2013 — not only was this the first hotel loyalty collaboration of its kind in Las Vegas, but to this day I still find it to be the best. MGM’s loyalty program has been rebranded as of February 2022, so I wanted to take an updated look at how the partnership works.

World of Hyatt members get perks at MGM hotels

World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards have a phenomenal collaboration that allows World of Hyatt members to earn and redeem points for over a dozen additional hotels in Las Vegas. Not only that, but there are status matching opportunities, so that you can get even more value for your hotel stays.

Let’s look at the details of how this works — what hotels participate, how can you earn and redeem points, and what are status benefits like?

Which MGM hotels participate in the Hyatt partnership?

The following MGM properties in Las Vegas participate in the Hyatt partnership, allowing you to earn and redeem points:

  • ARIA
  • Bellagio
  • Delano
  • Excalibur
  • Luxor
  • Mandalay Bay
  • MGM Grand
  • Monte Carlo
  • New York New York
  • NoMad
  • Park MGM
  • The Mirage
  • The Signature at MGM Grand
  • Vdara
NoMad Las Vegas

Earn World of Hyatt points at MGM properties

The World of Hyatt points earning rates at MGM properties are excellent, and match what you’d earn when staying at a Hyatt property:

There are a few other things to be aware of if trying to earn World of Hyatt points at MGM properties:

  • In order to earn points you need to book either directly through MGM or through Hyatt; third-party bookings (including through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts) generally aren’t eligible to earn points
  • At check-in inform the front desk agent of your desire to earn World of Hyatt points, and provide both your World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards numbers (yes, you need to provide both, though membership in both programs is free and easy)
  • While the World of Hyatt Credit Card (review) and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (review) offer 4x World of Hyatt points for Hyatt stays, this doesn’t extend to MGM properties, so you’ll want to use another card for your hotel spending
  • You can also earn World of Hyatt points for spending on incidentals at MGM properties, up to $5,000 per stay; if you’re staying at an MGM property you can generally charge incidentals to your room from any participating MGM property, which is a great way to rack up more World of Hyatt points
Luxor Las Vegas

Redeem World of Hyatt points at MGM properties

You can redeem World of Hyatt points and free night certificates for stays at MGM properties. Each hotel falls into one of Hyatt’s standard award tiers, which are as follows (this includes peak and off-peak award pricing, which kicks in for stays as of March 2022):

All MGM properties are somewhere between Category 3 (typically 12,000 points per night) and Category 6 (typically 25,000 points per night).

Personally I value World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents each, so I’d always recommend comparing cash costs and points costs when redeeming, because it may not always represent a good deal. This is especially true for midweek stays, when hotel rates in Las Vegas are often quite low.

There are a few more things to be aware of if redeeming World of Hyatt points for MGM stays:

  • While World of Hyatt waives resort fees for all members when redeeming points at Hyatt properties, this doesn’t apply when redeeming points at MGM properties (as I’ll discuss below, you can potentially get waived resort fees on paid stays, though)
  • You can’t redeem points for suites or premium rooms at MGM properties, and also can’t use confirmed suite upgrade awards to secure a suite upgrade
  • Some blackout dates do apply for award redemptions, unlike for stays at Hyatt hotels
Mandalay Bay & Delano Las Vegas

Earn World of Hyatt elite nights at MGM properties

Regardless of whether you’re paying cash or redeeming points, World of Hyatt members can earn elite nights for MGM stays where their World of Hyatt account is linked. Elite nights earned this way count toward status, and also toward the Milestone Rewards program.

MGM Grand Las Vegas

Get a status match with MGM Rewards

World of Hyatt members can status match to MGM Rewards so that they can receive extra perks for stays at MGM properties. Here’s how status maps over between programs:

  • World of Hyatt members receive MGM Rewards Sapphire membership
  • World of Hyatt Discoverist members receive MGM Rewards Pearl status
  • World of Hyatt Explorist & Globalist members receive MGM Rewards Gold status

World of Hyatt members can match status as often as they’d like — you need to reapply at the end of the membership year, but that’s an easy enough process.

You can request an MGM Rewards status match here, and can read about MGM Rewards elite benefits here.

These elite perks are in lieu of the standard World of Hyatt elite perks you’d receive, since MGM Rewards perks are what’s recognized at MGM properties. In terms of benefits, don’t get too excited here. For example, perks for MGM Rewards Gold members include the following:

  • Access to a priority check-in queue
  • Room upgrades subject to availability, excluding suites
  • Priority reservations for restaurants and entertainment
  • Room discounts
  • Waived resort fees
Bellagio Las Vegas

Get waived resort fees at MGM properties

I wanted to specifically highlight what I consider to be the most exciting MGM Rewards Gold perk, which is waived resort fees. Resort fees are one of the most annoying practices in the hotel industry, as they’re essentially an add-on junk fee.

The great thing is that MGM Rewards Gold members and above, including those who earned the status through a World of Hyatt status match (Explorist and Globalist members), receive waived resort fees. This is an awesome opportunity, since some MGM properties in Las Vegas cost under $30 per night without the resort fee.

The resort fees do still show during the booking process, though it’s my understanding that they should be removed once on property. Since the new program just went live, I haven’t seen any data points yet on how exactly that works in practice.

Bottom line

The collaboration between Hyatt and MGM in Las Vegas remains the most comprehensive hotel partnership of its kind that we’ve seen on the Strip. World of Hyatt members can earn and redeem points at similar rates to Hyatt stays, and there are also some reciprocal elite perks. Most exciting of all, MGM Rewards Gold members and above no longer have to pay resort fees.

Historically when I’ve gone to Las Vegas, this collaboration has made me choose to always stay at MGM properties. In fairness, it has been a few years, and Las Vegas is one place I particularly don’t have much interest in returning to in this era.

Have you ever leveraged the Hyatt & MGM partnership in Las Vegas? If so, what was your experience like?

Conversations (22)
The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.
Type your response here.

If you'd like to participate in the discussion, please adhere to our commenting guidelines. Anyone can comment, and your email address will not be published. Register to save your unique username and earn special OMAAT reputation perks!

  1. JOe Banich Guest

    If you do not book the reservation directly with the hotel, they do not waive the resort fee. I know this from my past two stays.

  2. Tony Garrity Guest

    This is an excellent and informative article. I actually printed it up so I can show it at the front desk at the Signature las Vegas when I check in so that there is no argument about waived resort fees . Well done TG

  3. Deb Guest

    Can you status match from MGM to Hyatt as well?

  4. mark Guest

    can you do a mattress run with out being here using online check-in?

  5. James22 New Member

    Was an MGM Gold yesterday, Sapphire today. Went to the link Lucky provided above and re-did my Status Match. Got message it would take up to 24 hours but MGM Gold showed immediately.

  6. DonnyBrasco Guest

    so is the reciprocity both ways? does MGM Gold get matched to a hyatt tier? this is never addressed in article.

    1. Grant Guest

      WOH Explorist, matched to MGM Rewards Gold, booked a March 2022 stay at a Las Vegas MGM resort through casino VIP Services (for casino rate based on prior play). This was my first 2022 Las Vegas stay (with resort fee waiver in effect for MGM Rewards Gold status & higher). Stayed at the same resort in 2021 as well so WOH # is “in the system”. At Invited Guest check-in (use for much shorter line/wait...

      WOH Explorist, matched to MGM Rewards Gold, booked a March 2022 stay at a Las Vegas MGM resort through casino VIP Services (for casino rate based on prior play). This was my first 2022 Las Vegas stay (with resort fee waiver in effect for MGM Rewards Gold status & higher). Stayed at the same resort in 2021 as well so WOH # is “in the system”. At Invited Guest check-in (use for much shorter line/wait time) was told as a Gold the $45?/night resort fee would be waived at check-out (and it was, I checked out in person, would recommend). This is a HUGE savings for someone who travels to Las Vegas even a couple times a year. The added bonus of earning Hyatt points is also nice. Used (free as a Gold) self-parking out of habit as valet was very limited “during Covid” but match may get you free or discounted valet as well, need to investigate further. Thank you for posting Ben. Even if you are not a gambler, the unbelievable variety of restaurants in Las Vegas makes each of my trips worthwhile. On this trip alone, based on recommendations, I was able to try Zuma Sushi and Bang Bar (Cosmo), a 4-page dim sum menu at Ping Pang Pong (Gold Coast), and the BEST steak of my life at Andiamo (The D, Downtown). Enjoy all.

  7. Jason Guest

    I'm Hyatt Globalist but MGM only matched me to Sapphire.

    1. JS Guest

      @Jason - thanks for the post - yet another example of where clarification is needed. There seems to be lots of false information floating around regarding the Hyatt-MGM reciprocal status levels.

    2. Chet New Member

      Thanks. I noticed that I was listed at MGM as Sapphire as well even though I am a Globalist with Hyatt.. I went back to the Hyatt website and set the link again. The message stated that I would be upgraded within 24 hours. We shall see. I suspect they are upgrading the website, and you may need to redo the link.

    3. Chet New Member

      Follow up to last post. I waited five minutes after redoing the link, and then I checked the MGM website. I am now Gold with MGM.

  8. JS Guest

    Lucky - still lots of loose ends and unanswered questions (gold status and waived resort fees, Hyatt points vs. MGM tier credits, etc.). Can you please reach out to MGM to get clarification and answer some of the questions from readers that have appeared in this post as well as the previous post on this topic? It's very confusing and either you are mistating facts or MGM is putting out false information. Please clarify!!

  9. LSP New Member

    TPG is reporting based on an interview with an MGM VP that Gold status as a result of Hyatt match will get waived resort fees, will not get some other perks like a celebration dinner.

    1. UA-NYC Diamond

      I have Gold via Hyatt Globalist, and in the (just updated) MGM app, shows Resort Fee Waived as well as the $100 dining credit.

    2. JoePro Guest

      Did you try a dummy booking? I tried booking in the app, and still shows resort fees.
      Clicking on the "waived resort fee" benefit results in an explanation that resort fees for eligible guests will be waived on check-in.

    3. Hoppy Guest

      Read the fine print. It says that people who achieved Gold via third party program or partnership do NOT get the $100 dining credit. Only those who earn it through achieving Mlife points get the dining credit.

  10. SG Guest

    "You should see the resort fee removed when booking through MGM’s website with your eligible account"

    I have MGM Gold via Explorist status match. Booking on MGM website, still indicates resort fees.

    1. Steve Guest

      I believe resort fees only get removed at check in, at least for now.

  11. Carrie Guest

    Several people have mentioned on your previous post and on Twitter that MGM gold cards that were acquired from status matching will not have resort fees waived.

    Have you reached out to anyone at MGM to confirm this?

  12. Webby Guest

    If you ask to earn Hyatt points does that mean you don't earn MGM tier credit during your stay?

  13. Quinn Guest

    Is this only for MGM in Las Vegas or will it work at other MGM properties in the US?

  14. Scott Guest

    My biggest problem is that they’ve designed the points crediting to maximize breakage. Missing stay requests are frequent and can only be done 30 days after checkout, then MGM advises it may take another 30 days to credit. Many will forget or give up. They need to streamline this.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Grant Guest

WOH Explorist, matched to MGM Rewards Gold, booked a March 2022 stay at a Las Vegas MGM resort through casino VIP Services (for casino rate based on prior play). This was my first 2022 Las Vegas stay (with resort fee waiver in effect for MGM Rewards Gold status & higher). Stayed at the same resort in 2021 as well so WOH # is “in the system”. At Invited Guest check-in (use for much shorter line/wait time) was told as a Gold the $45?/night resort fee would be waived at check-out (and it was, I checked out in person, would recommend). This is a HUGE savings for someone who travels to Las Vegas even a couple times a year. The added bonus of earning Hyatt points is also nice. Used (free as a Gold) self-parking out of habit as valet was very limited “during Covid” but match may get you free or discounted valet as well, need to investigate further. Thank you for posting Ben. Even if you are not a gambler, the unbelievable variety of restaurants in Las Vegas makes each of my trips worthwhile. On this trip alone, based on recommendations, I was able to try Zuma Sushi and Bang Bar (Cosmo), a 4-page dim sum menu at Ping Pang Pong (Gold Coast), and the BEST steak of my life at Andiamo (The D, Downtown). Enjoy all.

1
Hoppy Guest

Read the fine print. It says that people who achieved Gold via third party program or partnership do NOT get the $100 dining credit. Only those who earn it through achieving Mlife points get the dining credit.

1
James22 New Member

Was an MGM Gold yesterday, Sapphire today. Went to the link Lucky provided above and re-did my Status Match. Got message it would take up to 24 hours but MGM Gold showed immediately.

1
Meet Ben Schlappig, OMAAT Founder
5,163,247 Miles Traveled

32,614,600 Words Written

35,045 Posts Published

Keep Exploring OMAAT