Ugh, this is unfortunate for World of Hyatt members…
In this post:
Hyatt & MGM partnership ending September 30, 2023
Since 2013, Hyatt and MGM have had a useful Las Vegas partnership. Hyatt’s own footprint in Las Vegas was small, so this was a great way to give World of Hyatt members access to the city. With this partnership, World of Hyatt members could earn and redeem points at MGM Rewards properties in Las Vegas, and could even use reciprocal status matching. This is a partnership that I know many people found to be valuable.
Well, after roughly a decade, this collaboration will be coming to an end. The World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards alliance will be ending as of September 30, 2023:
- World of Hyatt members will no longer be able to make new reservations at participating MGM Rewards destinations in Las Vegas through Hyatt channels as of September 30, 2023
- All existing reservations, plus any reservations made prior to September 30, 2023, will be honored; however, World of Hyatt points and elite qualifying nights will not be earned for stays with check-out dates after September 30, 2023
- MGM Rewards members will no longer be able to earn MGM Rewards tier credits for money spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts for check-out dates after September 30, 2023
As far as reciprocal status matching goes:
- MGM Rewards members who have tier matched into World of Hyatt between March 1, 2023 and July 14, 2023, will retain their World of Hyatt tier status through February 29, 2024
- World of Hyatt members who have tier matched into MGM Rewards between February 1, 2023 and July 14, 2023 will retain their MGM Rewards tier status through January 31, 2024
What’s the motive for this strategy shift?
I’d be curious to know what’s going on behind the scenes here that caused this. Admittedly some partnerships just fizzle out, because one or both parties decide it’s not profitable anymore. I totally get the logic behind this partnership initially, so I wonder what changed?
- Does MGM no longer think it needs World of Hyatt members to fill rooms? Did MGM determine that World of Hyatt guests just weren’t profitable?
- Was this partnership just too costly for Hyatt for some reason, in terms of members earning and redeeming points? Were too many people earning lots of elite nights (virtually?) at Las Vegas properties, given the mattress running opportunities?
The one thing that I can think of is that the Rio Las Vegas is being turned into a 2,500-room Hyatt (unless something changed recently — I don’t really keep up with Las Vegas that much). Furthermore, the Cosmopolitan has been sold to MGM, even though that’s a Marriott Bonvoy property. Those are both pretty major developments, and I could see how they might shift this partnership’s utility:
- Did Hyatt opening its own property in Las Vegas cause MGM Rewards to no longer want to partner with the program?
- Could we see a closer collaboration between Marriott Bonvoy and MGM Rewards? After all, Marriott Bonvoy is a much bigger program
I’m curious to see how this develops…
Bottom line
The World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards partnership will be discontinued as of September 30, 2023. That means it will no longer be possible for World of Hyatt members to earn or redeem points at MGM properties. I’m curious to see what’s next for loyalty collaborations in Las Vegas, between Hyatt opening its own mega-property in Las Vegas, and MGM having purchased the Cosmopolitan.
What do you make of Hyatt & MGM cutting ties?
You know years ago Hyatt had a footprint in Atlantic City at Ocean Casino as one of its portfolio resorts and that lasted around maybe 2 years. At the time I stayed there and realized as a Hyatt member I wonder how MGM (Borgata) felt about this since it wasn’t common for Hyatt to associate with another casino and they had an agreement with MGM! I bet that didn’t make MGM happy at the time.
This sucks. I just completed over 100 free nights at MGM Las Vegas properties , this year. I guess the ride is over!!!!
LOL! My comment(s) were actually meant for and aimed at the type of people your accusing me of being! In my experience, alot of the "Hyatt Fanboys" on this site talk down to people like me who stay at Marriotts & IHG's often. I was poking fun at THOSE snobs and giving them a taste of their own medicine since they always talk down to Bonvoy members and the like. I'm still laughing my rear off about it too!
As someone who is in Vegas once or twice a year and is globalist this has pros and cons. Pro is I'm not (as) loyal to MGM anymore so will likely reunite with my old favorite, The Palazzo. Free valet parking and waived resort fees for the last year was too good to be true, saved $100/night at Aria and Vdara, usually the only properties I'd frequent. I guess I'm not surprised it's ending, but...
As someone who is in Vegas once or twice a year and is globalist this has pros and cons. Pro is I'm not (as) loyal to MGM anymore so will likely reunite with my old favorite, The Palazzo. Free valet parking and waived resort fees for the last year was too good to be true, saved $100/night at Aria and Vdara, usually the only properties I'd frequent. I guess I'm not surprised it's ending, but would have preferred to just change the benefits (such as min $$ for Hyatt night credit - pushing people into higher end resorts with more expensive restaurants etc.), although people probably would have bitched about that even more. I do suspect this was because so many people were getting super cheap night credits which isn't profitable for either end. Too bad they couldn't just close that loophole.
I want to cry. While it wasn't profitable for MGM of Hyatt, it sure was for me. Some of the offers were too good to be true.
4 free nights at the Park or the MGM Grand. A 5th night for $10-$20 usually. Granted those hotels are average at best and the offers were usually Sunday night till Friday morning. But the offers usually came with $25 in free play and a $50 room...
I want to cry. While it wasn't profitable for MGM of Hyatt, it sure was for me. Some of the offers were too good to be true.
4 free nights at the Park or the MGM Grand. A 5th night for $10-$20 usually. Granted those hotels are average at best and the offers were usually Sunday night till Friday morning. But the offers usually came with $25 in free play and a $50 room credit that could be used at any MGM associated restaurant. Add on the waived resort fees and free parking, it was almost criminal not to take advantage of the deal.
It just took some discipline not to gamble away the savings. I'm gonna miss those free Hyatt credit nights. C'est la vie. All good things must end eventually.... I'm also going to have to find another way to get cheap segment credits on Alaska now.
Is there any way to possibly keep MGM Rewards status by creating a cruise line account, getting lifetime cruise line status by matching from MGM, and using the cruise line status in future years to keep bumping up the MGM status?
Nope you have to earn the cruise line status. They don’t status match from MGM.
Well this is terrible. It sucks for those chasing globalist and those that just don’t want to get screwed by fees when going to Vegas.
There is going to be ALOT less "Globalists" after this change. Bahahahahahaha! Have fun actually staying in Hyatt Places and Old AF Regencys!
Goodness, you're enjoying this a bit too much... not sure whether to feel sorry for you or be scared of you...
Kool + snazzy comment Trey. You must be one of those Hyatt whiners. Like I said: Have fun actually staying at basic and old properties!
I saw your original comment. I’ve stayed in plenty of “basic” and “old” properties. I live in the Midwest, we have plenty of them. And they did the job. In some cases they were even a lifesaver.
But hey, continue to be arrogant and condescending, I’m sure that’s won you many friends.
LOL! Trey, my comment(s) were actually meant for and aimed at the type of people your accusing me of being like! In my experience, a lot of the "Hyatt Fanboys" on this site talk down to people like me who stay at Marriotts & IHG's often. I was poking fun at THOSE snobs and giving them a taste of their own medicine since they always talk down to Bonvoy members and the like. I'm still...
LOL! Trey, my comment(s) were actually meant for and aimed at the type of people your accusing me of being like! In my experience, a lot of the "Hyatt Fanboys" on this site talk down to people like me who stay at Marriotts & IHG's often. I was poking fun at THOSE snobs and giving them a taste of their own medicine since they always talk down to Bonvoy members and the like. I'm still laughing my rear off about it too! Lord know I've stayed at many humble properties as well.
I swear I logged in to Hyatt and I saw my Explorist would expire in Feb 2024.
So I matched just now MGM > Hyatt
Now it says I expire Feb 2025. Will Hyatt honor this? I took a screenshot.
MATCH BEFORE THE LINK GOES AWAY
Log into your MGM first
Then go here if you can figure out where to put the dot HTML:
https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/mgm-rewards/preferred-partners/hyatt-hotels
You have a ton of travel hackers getting cheap Excalibur/Luxor/Circus Circus rooms to do cheap mattress runs for Globalist. No resort fees charged if you've matched status to Explorist (there was a way to hack the Bilt promo for this if you matched in person) or Globalist or have it already. This kills RevPAR and since a mattress runner isn't going to spend money in the casino anywhere it's not really helping MGM's bottom line...
You have a ton of travel hackers getting cheap Excalibur/Luxor/Circus Circus rooms to do cheap mattress runs for Globalist. No resort fees charged if you've matched status to Explorist (there was a way to hack the Bilt promo for this if you matched in person) or Globalist or have it already. This kills RevPAR and since a mattress runner isn't going to spend money in the casino anywhere it's not really helping MGM's bottom line much.
I always thought this partnership was on borrowed time once MGM waived resort fees for Gold+ and made it super attractive to get, just like how Caesars Diamond/Wyndham Diamond status matching eventually got pared back. There are just too many Hyatt junkies who would run over their grandma to requalify for Globalist (and general travel hackers) for this to be sustainable, plus all the casino status match deals are getting nice red arrows and maps with detailed directions on how to exploit them... and are all getting shut down for this exact reason. MGM Gold is one of the major onramps to getting free cruises and casino status matches, incidentally...
Hyatt junkies that would run over their grandma? Wtf, projection much?
No i would concur with this sentiment as a fellow globalist. Sorry grandma
There has been no construction done to the Rio. It is open but if you look up recent YouTube reviews it has been abandoned by management. Not a penny in maintenance or upkeep in years.
Caesars still runs it but doesn't care
Such a bummer, you already can’t book MGM through Hyatt app, so it looks like it’s implemented. Such a bummer I should’ve booked last week when I was looking.
The best part about this was waiving of resort fees.
Hyatt are building a new hotel on the Strip (Dream Las Vegas) albeit dogged with delays a symptom of building new properties in Vegas. I wager this is another motive for the separation
The Dream is going to be SMALL and expensive compared to what all these Hyatt whiners are used to paying. Oh, plus they will have to actually pay a resort fee for once. Also I guarantee that 1 small hotel on the horizon is not the reason why a deal with a dozen+ properties and tens of thousands of rooms got canned.
anyone know if virtual check in/out was allowed?
Most of the MGM properties allowed virtual check in and check out. But I believe the fine print indicated that you had to visit the front desk to get resort fees waived. It might have also been the same if you wanted Hyatt credit for the nights. Not sure how strictly the front desk visit was enforced.
Absolutely - I have 35 MGM nights this year.
Check in while still in Los Angeles, Drive to LV, use my phone as a key...
Check out from my phone from the car on my way home
Devastating. They were always good for a mattress run.
This is the way.
Does this mean the status matching will end on July 14th?
I think this is most likely Hyatt's decision. They want to filter out the fake Globalist members.
Yup!
Wow, that's a sizeable loss. Can't wait to hear what caused this.
It 1000% was that people were doing mattress runs to earn Globalist and in doing that is causing the ranks to swell (and not with actual big spenders). Then to a minor degree that empty rooms don't increase revenue for the casinos, they weren't even getting the resort fees (which is most of Vegas properties profit).
Booked a Bellagio stay a few months ago in October thinking one day this was probably going to end. Glad I did it. Always wanted to stay there and it was only other 10K for the entire stay above the Park MGM. Probably going to be my last personal trip to Vegas. Friend of mine lives there will be moving at the end of the year, so my reasons to visit will be gone.
What recent news that I’ve seen out there regarding the Rio has said nothing one way or the other about Hyatt …. Personally I’ll be surprised if it ends up a Hyatt. I hope this is not the case.
I have little interest in staying at MGM properties once the hyatt relationship ends and certain the tier matching globalist to Mgm gold.
After seeing more and more people abuse "virtual" stay at MGM to "fake" their Globalist status, I'm not surprised by this move made by Hyatt.
Now we’ll just have to content with all the BILT WoH globalist lites with all the MGM Mattress runners going bye bye.
I matched MGM Gold to Hyatt Explorist a few weeks back and i currently have status through February 28, 2025. Does this mean that come September when the partnership ends, my status will expire in 2024 instead of 2025?
That's my question too. I matched to Hyatt Explorist on March 1, and my Hyatt account says my status is value through Feb 28, 2025.
*valid
I earned Globalist status through MGM and I mean earn as I reach the 20 k spend for the most part through mgm rooms etc . As a Canadian this is really the only meaningful way to earn Hyatt points which are super valuable . Will hit 20 k in a couple of weeks so one more year globalist and will always have my mgm status. I have been loyal to Hyatt because of this...
I earned Globalist status through MGM and I mean earn as I reach the 20 k spend for the most part through mgm rooms etc . As a Canadian this is really the only meaningful way to earn Hyatt points which are super valuable . Will hit 20 k in a couple of weeks so one more year globalist and will always have my mgm status. I have been loyal to Hyatt because of this but now it doesn’t matter . Other issue is that I’m over 700k for lifetime globalist so 2 more years and would have been lifetime globalist . This sucks big time .
I personally think the partnership was too 1-sided. Getting matched to MGM was a huge benefit and hard to get on its own
Agreed. If they would have changed the relationship, people would have wined even more. Better to just cut losses, and I'm 1000% positive that BOTH companies lost money/revenue/profit through this partnership.
1. MGM was unhappy with the partnership before Hyatt acquired Dream (which includes a Las Vegas property)
2. Rio alone wasn't gong to end the deal, but it did focus more attention on the World of Hyatt deal at MGM.
3. The partnership has already been successively devalued, no longer tier matching as generously and eliminating some double dipping.
The partnership is a decade old. MGM's strategy changed, they had moving from gaming to filling...
1. MGM was unhappy with the partnership before Hyatt acquired Dream (which includes a Las Vegas property)
2. Rio alone wasn't gong to end the deal, but it did focus more attention on the World of Hyatt deal at MGM.
3. The partnership has already been successively devalued, no longer tier matching as generously and eliminating some double dipping.
The partnership is a decade old. MGM's strategy changed, they had moving from gaming to filling rooms with all kinds of leisure travelers (making a mainstream chain partnership perfect) and now more back to gaming.
The good news is that between the Rio project and the Dream project we'll get a pretty good presence from Hyatt in Vegas. More competition is good!
I have a tiny datapoint on this... I do a pretty high spend yearly at MGM properties on rooms / food.. but zero at gambling. Last year after my spend points got matched from my MGM account to Hyatt. When MGM then did their match of status this year early in February I got bumped to Noir status (highest). Feels like a bit of a loophole as Noir is invite only, especially since I didn't...
I have a tiny datapoint on this... I do a pretty high spend yearly at MGM properties on rooms / food.. but zero at gambling. Last year after my spend points got matched from my MGM account to Hyatt. When MGM then did their match of status this year early in February I got bumped to Noir status (highest). Feels like a bit of a loophole as Noir is invite only, especially since I didn't get all of the Noir benefits as my gaming spend was nothing. My status last year on MGM was gold... due to other casino status match. My status on Hyatt was explorist.
With MGM buying Cosmopolitan last year, they already have a Marriott resort.
Doesn't Hyatt also own Dream Hotels?
There is one being built on south end of the strip and all construction was stopped completely...something about no money. I'm not sure if that plays into this decision...
So how I'm gonna get my explorist now?
For all those commenting about Rio - it's true that it is a third-world dump.
I see no construction there. No remodel. In fact 2 weeks ago an NVE transformer blew up, the infrastructure was so old. Stay away. I had comp nights and I was scared to walk inside.
Dream & Rio are both WAYYYYY down the horizon. I highly doubt people will choose to stay at a Hyatt Place WAYYY off The Strip until then. Spend will shift to Hilton, Marriott, and the Casinos until then.
small point of clarification here: the Rio is not on the Las Vegas Strip.
that said, i am bummed this partnership is ending. but i was more bummed that top tier MGM patrons couldn't match to Globalist.
THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT! Just shows how many fools were doing "virtual mattress runs" and not even staying in Vegas. Rio is not centrally located or neat anything of note. Have fun being on an island in the middle of a neighborhood in a desolate desert with absolutely nothing within walking distance!!!
What a shame for the properties of Luxor and Excalibur, which seemed to be extremely popular for a certain segment of Hyatt elites.
I chuckled so hard at this statement! YES!!! So many snooty "Globalists" that probably have $2k in spend a year from staying at dumps like these. The herd will be thinned out after this year!!!
Only to be replaced by the glut of BILT Globalists ….
The BILT Globalists probably actually stayed at properties, and 20 qualifying nights in three months' time is arguably less forgiving than 60 in 12 months' time.
Well, on the plus side, the Hyatt Place Las Vegas is one of the few (only?) Las Vegas properties of *any* brand that doesn't charge the robbery fees...I mean "resort" fees.
There are only two Hyatt place in Vegas, one is near Virgin which is a Curio with hilton, FAR off strip, not walking distance, the other Hyatt place is at Silverton, way south of the strip, mid way to south point. Sure neither charge resort fee, but if you check their room rates, they are constantly in the range of $150-$200/night even midweek off season in January, using points are not ideal neither since both...
There are only two Hyatt place in Vegas, one is near Virgin which is a Curio with hilton, FAR off strip, not walking distance, the other Hyatt place is at Silverton, way south of the strip, mid way to south point. Sure neither charge resort fee, but if you check their room rates, they are constantly in the range of $150-$200/night even midweek off season in January, using points are not ideal neither since both are cat 3 properties. There are actually a casino royale on the center strip which is a best western with no resort fee, but same thing like Hyatt place, high regular rate in the $150 range
Thank You ORDinHKG for educating these fools! NO ONE will ever stay at these Hyatts over something closer to the strip. Even if Your there for a convention, much more convenient properties around the city. Hyatt is effectively DEAD IN THE WATER in LV until the Dream gets funding again (good luck in this environment) or the Rio actually starts construction (thinking it also has to do with securing funding at a rate everyone can swallow). Bye FAKE Globalists!!!
Huge news! Hyatt is the ONLY reason I stay at MGM properties! Amazed at the lack of warning. Did I miss the Hyatt email announcements?
I got the email from Hyatt about 15 mins ago
Matt, why would You expect notice? So Hyatt could give You amd thousands of others more chances to do virtual mattress runs and tie up their inventory and elite ranks with quackery? No thanks. I actually appreciate this no notice change for once.