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It’s no secret that the partnership between Hyatt and MGM has been a lucrative one. Maybe not for the hotels, perhaps, but certainly for the travelers who like to earn easy elite status. Thanks to reciprocal benefits between the pair, savvy guests were able to take advantage of perks like waived resort fees, room upgrades, and more, whether they originally had status with Hyatt or MGM.
Well, it looks like that gravy train is about to end since Hyatt and MGM have officially announced the end of their partnership. Let's take a look at the timeline for this loyalty program partnership breakup.
The MGM and Hyatt Partnership
After a partnership that began in 2013, it got better in 2017 when World of Hyatt elite members were able to match to MGM Rewards — and vice versa. Although neither side will match top-tier elite status, they've always given moderate matching capabilities. For example, travelers who have Hyatt Explorist status or above are able to obtain MGM Gold status.
This has been excellent for guests, because MGM Gold is the status that really starts to grant decent perks — including waived resort fees on stays where it might otherwise cost $50+ per night.
And thanks to a mismatch in program expiration terms, it was also possible for guests to match — and then rematch — indefinitely back and forth, with no additional stays required. This meant that if you got either of these statuses just once, you'd be able to maintain both indefinitely.
Of course, the chains seem to have cottoned on. Starting September 30, 2023, MGM and Hyatt are going their separate ways.
What Does This Mean?
Matching your elite status to either Hyatt or MGM has been simple for years; all it takes is a simple online registration. Now, those who've matched over from Hyatt will have a final few months before their MGM Gold status expires. The same goes in reverse.
- World of Hyatt members who tier match to MGM Rewards between February 1, 2023 and July 14, 2023 will enjoy elite status until January 31, 2024.
- MGM Rewards members who tier match to World of Hyatt between March 1, 2023 and July 14, 2023 will have elite status until February 29, 2024.
You'll also be able to earn and redeem rewards with both programs through September 30, 2023. Stays after this — including earlier stays with checkout dates after September 30 — will not be eligible for reciprocal earnings.
While it's nice that the chains are giving us notice, there's no denying that this is a shame. Of course, there have been rumors swirling around about this change for the last several months, but it seemed like they'd been put to rest.
The biggest impact this is going to have is on Hyatt elite members who regularly visit MGM Resorts. Whether they're looking for a cheap way to earn elite status or they're simply wanting to enjoy saving $50 on a $70 stay, this is going to hit hard.
Related: Here's When You Will and Won't Pay Resort Fees on Award Stays
Bottom Line
There isn't a nicer way of saying how badly this sucks. Considering how some travelers have taken advantage of this partnership, it makes sense that World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards are ending their partnership. But that doesn't mean it doesn't sting. Those who've matched into either program will have until 2024 before their statuses expire.
Meanwhile, if you have any upcoming stays with either Hyatt or MGM, be sure to double-check that they're before September 30, 2023. After this, you won't be able to earn reciprocal benefits with the pair.
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I just think of all the people who used cheap stays at MGM properties to qualify for the status challenge from Bilt. People were checking into hotels in Vegas and never even using the rooms. That is what killed the MGM-Hyatt relationship.