Ugh, this is unfortunate for World of Hyatt members…
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?
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