We recently learned that Hyatt and MGM will be ending their long partnership later this year. However, at the time, we had no idea why. Well, it didn’t take long to get answers, as we known know that MGM Resorts is Joining Marriott Bonvoy.
At the time of the announcement, there were many speculations as to why Hyatt and MGM were calling it quits. One of the theories was, of course, Hyatt wanting to forge stronger ties with Marriott, especially since they purchased the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which is already a part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Personally, this theory wasn’t my top one, but I guess I was completely wrong!
MGM Resorts Joins Marriott Bonvoy
Announced just yesterday, MGM Resorts is joining Marriott Bonvoy immediately after the Hyatt partnership ends, with the new relationship going into effect in October 2023. While MGM Rewards will continue to exist on its own, like the Hyatt partnership, MGM Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy members will enjoy status matches and reciprocal benefits. Details of this arrangement, however, are still being fleshed out and will be announced at a later day. What we do know, though, is that MGM’s U.S. properties are joining Marriott Bonvoy for the next 20 years.
Of course, different properties will fall under different brands, including an all-new MGM Collection brand under Marriott Bonvoy:
- Autograph Collection: Aria Resort & Casino and Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
- The Luxury Collection: Bellagio Resort & Casino
- Tribute Portfolio: Park MGM Resort & Casino
- MGM Collection:
- Vdara Hotel & Spa
- MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
- NoMad Las Vegas
- The Signature at MGM Grand
- Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
- New York New York Hotel & Casino
- Luxor Hotel & Casino
- Excalibur Hotel & Casino
- Borgata (Atlantic City)
- Beau Rivage (Biloxi)
- MGM Grand Detroit
- MGM Grand National Harbor (Maryland)
- MGM Springfield (Massachusetts)
The brand and property split is interesting to me, especially since I always thought NoMad was an upper-tier property that should fit in one of the other three brands listed in this post. Further, the MGM Grand, Vdara, and Mandalay are all worlds better than the New York New York, Luxor, and Excalibur, so that’s an unusual grouping to me, too.
Then again, as MGM Resorts is joining Marriott Bonvoy, I can’t see these properties being dumped into any other brands. The three non-MGM Collection Brands here are the only ones that allow deviation from Marriott’s brand standards, though I would’ve thought that the NoMad should have.
Final Thoughts
That MGM Resorts is joining Marriott Bonvoy is a pleasant surprise. I’m sure that means that I should be able to maintain some sort of elite status with MGM Rewards moving forward, especially since I have Marriott Lifetime Platinum status. That means that I shouldn’t have to worry about paying for parking at MGM properties, though we’ll have to wait a bit more to see what the reciprocal benefits will really mean. That said, I still would have preferred to have a way to keep my Hyatt status. But, oh well! This arrangement is better than nothing.
It’s worth noting that the Delano Las Vegas is missing from the list of properties joining Marriott. Boo.