In March 2021, it was announced that the Rio Las Vegas would eventually become a Hyatt. This is a long term project that’s ongoing. In March 2024, there was an exciting update, as the property joined the World of Hyatt loyalty program. There’s now an update, as part of the development has now been branded as a Destination by Hyatt property, following the completion of the first phase of the renovation.
Rio Las Vegas undergoing $340 million renovation
Before we cover the latest updates, let’s go over the background. In 2021 we learned that the 2,500+ room Rio Las Vegas would be renovated and then become a Hyatt property, as part of a $340 million project. This multi-phase project is expected to bring multiple Hyatt full-service offerings to Las Vegas.
Here’s what we know so far about this new Hyatt:
- The 2,500+ room Rio Las Vegas is undergoing a significant redevelopment of current public spaces, including gaming, retail, food and beverage, spa and fitness, and pool recreation deck
- One of the hotel’s existing towers has now completed its renovation, and has become a 1,501-room Destination by Hyatt property, with standard guest rooms averaging 580 square feet; eventually the plan is for this to be branded as a Hyatt Regency
- The remainder of the Rio’s guest rooms are expected to be branded or affiliated with one or more other Hyatt full-service brands after they are renovated, though the details of the branding haven’t yet been announced
The background here is interesting, because in December 2019, Dreamscape purchased the Rio Las Vegas from Caesars. The agreement required the property to continue to be operated as a Caesars property for a couple of years, but the owners are now free to brand it however they’d like.
Suffice it to say that this is a major (and necessary) win for Hyatt. Hyatt used to have a partnership with MGM, though that was terminated in 2023, as MGM instead pursued a partnership with Marriott.
Rio Las Vegas fully belongs to World of Hyatt
While the transformation of the Rio Las Vegas isn’t complete, the property joined World of Hyatt earlier this year, as of March 1, 2024:
- It’s possible to earn World of Hyatt points for stays at the property, at the standard rate (at least 5x points per dollar spent)
- You can redeem World of Hyatt points at the property, and this is a Category 3 hotel, meaning that a free night redemption costs anywhere from 9,000 to 15,000 points per night; one of the nice things is that points bookings automatically confirm into renovated rooms, which aren’t the entry level rooms at this property
- Full World of Hyatt elite perks apply at these properties, for World of Hyatt Globalist, Explorist, and Discoverist members; so you can expect waived destination fees on points bookings (and for Globalists on all bookings), breakfast for Globalists, room upgrades, and more
Rio Las Vegas joins Destination by Hyatt brand
As of November 21, 2024, the Rio Las Vegas has formally been rebranded as a Destination by Hyatt property. This is not only the first Destination by Hyatt property in Nevada, but also the largest property in Hyatt’s portfolio in terms of room count.
This development comes as phase one of the property’s $340 million renovation has been completed, including a full modernization of the 1,501-room Ipanema Tower, featuring a new look inspired by the spirit of Rio de Janeiro, described as “bold, colorful, and unapologetically radiant.”
The hotel has also unveiled six new and distinctly different culinary destinations within the new Canteen Food Hall, along with 220,000 square feet of renovated meeting and convention space, a revamped pool district with four pools, and updated casinos.
Here’s how Mike Waddell, Hyatt’s SVP of Global Franchise Operations, describes this development:
“We are proud to welcome the new Rio Hotel & Casino to our Destination by Hyatt brand portfolio, celebrating Hyatt’s commitment to delivering one-of-a-kind experiences in key markets that matter most to our World of Hyatt members and guests. Rio is an icon reborn, and its legacy and unique character live on. We are excited for our members and guests to discover the experiences that make Rio Las Vegas a standout destination for global travelers.”
The next phase of the resort’s renovation will focus on redesigning the Masquerade Tower rooms and public spaces.
Bottom line
The Rio Las Vegas is in the process of undergoing a massive renovation. In March 2024, the property formally joined World of Hyatt, without actually joining one of Hyatt’s brands. Now as of November 2024, the property’s first tower has completed its renovation, so the hotel has been rebranded as a Destination by Hyatt property.
Work on the property is ongoing. I wouldn’t read too much into the new branding, as the most significant update is simply that the first phase of the property’s renovation is complete.
This isn’t exactly a world class property, but it’s at least nice for World of Hyatt members to have access to a major property in Las Vegas, after the MGM partnership ended.
What do you make of the Rio Las Vegas joining World of Hyatt and becoming a Destination by Hyatt property?
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