AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
Mere days after breaking off its partnership with World of Hyatt, MGM Rewards has already found a new friend: Marriott Bonvoy.
The new partnership between Marriott and MGM will include 17 MGM resorts (more than 40,000 hotel rooms), and Marriott Bonvoy members will be able to book MGM properties via Marriott starting in October 2023. The two brands also teased status matches and other benefits yet to come. Here's what we know about this new partnership so far.
New Partnership Between Marriott and MGM — What We Know
We know that Marriott is MGM's new partner after ending a longstanding partnership with World of Hyatt on July 14, 2023. That date was Friday. And today is the first business day after the end of the partnership, so seeing a new announcement isn't all that surprising.
We also know that a new “MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy” will launch in October as part of a “long-term strategic licensing agreement,” according to the press release we received via email.
Number of properties covered by the partnership
17 MGM resorts will join the so-called “MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy” — with four of those joining existing Marriott brands. Bellagio Resort & Casino will join The Luxury Collection, ARIA Resort & Casino will join Autograph Collection, Park MGM will join the Tribute Portfolio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will continue its existing affiliation with Autograph Collection.
Another 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
- Excalibur Hotel & Casino.
In addition, five MGM Resorts outside Las Vegas will join this collection as well:
- Borgata (Atlantic City, New Jersey)
- Beau Rivage (Biloxi, Mississippi)
- MGM Grand Detroit (Michigan)
- MGM National Harbor (Maryland)
- MGM Springfield (Massachusetts)
Reciprocal elite benefits
Starting in October 2023, Marriott Bonvoy members will be able to book “several” MGM properties through the Marriott Bonvoy website and mobile app. The remaining properties should be available through Marriott channels by the end of 2023.
Additionally, MGM Rewards members will be able to link their loyalty accounts to Marriott Bonvoy to “receive select member benefits.” Conversely, Marriott Bonvoy members will be able to earn and redeem points on stays within the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy. The press release also promised that members will be able to exchange points from one program into the other — in both directions.
Lastly, Marriott Bonvoy and BetMGM signed a partnership agreement as well. BetMGM is MGM's online gaming and sports betting interface, and Bonvoy members will be able to earn Marriott points on certain BetMGM activities in the U.S. and Canada. BetMGM members also will be able to exchange their rewards points for Marriott Bonvoy points.
Related: All Hotel Elite Status Match & Fast Track Opportunities
New Partnership Between Marriott and MGM — What We Don't Know
Today's announcement shares that this partnership kicks off in just a few months, but there's no specific date yet. And while we know what Marriott brand some MGM properties will align with, most remain a mystery. Will they align with a brand, and, if so, which one?
We know that members will be able to link accounts, but will there be a status match? If so, how will it work? Moreover, how will elite benefits be recognized when you book through one program but stay at hotels from another program?
And how will the points transfers work? What will the ratios be?
Moreover, we're keenly interested in seeing the redemption rates for MGM properties once those go live on Marriott's website. Speaking of, we also don't know exactly which hotels will be available at the start and which are on the “coming by the end of the year” list.
Bottom Line
It's interesting — yet not entirely surprising — to see MGM announce a new partnership with Marriott on the first business day after its Hyatt partnership ended. Marriott says this new partnership will increase its global number of rooms by 2.4%, which is a pretty big deal considering how big Marriott already is.
There's a lot of interesting information in this announcement, and Bonvoy members who like to go to Las Vegas or Atlantic City should be especially happy. However, numerous questions remain. The biggest one is probably this: Will the partnership make travelers as happy as the now-defunct partnership with World of Hyatt? Only time will tell.
For more details and the brands' own spin on the announcements, you can check out what Marriott and MGM have to say about it.
What do you make of this new partnership? Let us know in the comments below.
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Well…that settles it…now I have absolutely ZERO interest in Vegas, whatsoever!!!
BONVOY-age!!!!! 😉