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MGM And Marriott Bonvoy Team Up and Create the “MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy”
When MGM and Hyatt cut ties last week (in devastating news for fans of the Status Match Merry Go Round™), it marked the end of an era. No more will we be able to match back and forth between Hyatt Explorist and MGM Gold.
But announced today and starting October, there will be a new and possibly bigger tie up between Marriott Bonvoy and MGM. It’s called the “MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy” and will encompass 17 MGM resorts – more than Hyatt even had.
This partnership is not limited to Las Vegas and while will include all of the Las Vegas MGM properties (from Cosmopolitan down to Excalibur). Exciting for Atlantic City fans is that Borgata will be a participating property, and it never was part of the MGM tie up with Hyatt.
What We Know Right Now
Per Marriott’s Press Release: “Of the 17 MGM resorts that will join MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy, four properties will also be affiliated with existing Marriott collection brands: Bellagio Resort & Casino will join The Luxury Collection, ARIA Resort & Casino will join Autograph Collection, Park MGM will become part of Tribute Portfolio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will continue its affiliation with Autograph Collection.
Eight MGM resorts in Las Vegas will join MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy: Vdara Hotel & Spa, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, NoMad Las Vegas, The Signature at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Luxor Hotel and Casino, and Excalibur Hotel & Casino.
Five MGM Resorts in other U.S. locations will also join MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy: Borgata (Atlantic City, New Jersey), Beau Rivage (Biloxi, Mississippi), MGM Grand Detroit (Michigan), MGM National Harbor (Maryland), and MGM Springfield (Massachusetts).”
We know that you will, come October, be able to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for MGM stays at these 17 properties. You’ll also be able to earn Marriott Bonvoy points from MGM stays.
We also know that you will be able to exchange MGM points and Marriott Bonvoy points in both directions. This is not unlike the previous Cosmopolitan Identity Rewards benefit to convert into Marriott points (although the rate was not favorable)
What We Don’t Yet Know
On-Site Benefits and Tier Matching
Will Marriott Bonvoy members get full tier benefits at MGM, like free breakfast? Somehow I think this will turn out to be a disappointing no, as casino properties are logistically so much harder to integrate these things with. However, we could be surprised!
The only words we have to go on now are these:
“Marriott Bonvoy members will enjoy benefits at MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy resorts and MGM Rewards members will receive certain benefits at Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of more than 8,500 properties, while members of both programs will also be able to exchange MGM Rewards points for Marriott Bonvoy points and vice versa. Marriott Bonvoy Moments, the program providing members access to unparalleled experiences that fuel personal passions, will be enhanced by MGM’s unmatched culinary, entertainment and sports offerings. More information about linking loyalty accounts, new experiences and other loyalty program benefits will be provided to members of both programs in the coming months.”
I did ask directly if there would be any tier matching and could not get an answer besides that more details will be unveiled as we approach October.
It would be amazing if this turns out to reincarnate the Status Match Merry Go Round™, just with Marriott instead of Hyatt!
But I remain weary, given that MGM knew what was going on 100% and that was why they changed the casino matches from Caesars Diamond to MGM Pearl instead of Gold. Still, we can hope and dream!
There is a press call later today and if I can learn anything further, I’ll update this post so stay tuned.
NOTE: This article now continues with a few more details from the Marriott / MGM Press Call here.
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I bet you remain “wary” unless that was intentional. 😉