Hyatt and Wyndham elites: It's time to match to MGM Rewards and Caesars Rewards
Editor's Note
Having elite status in Las Vegas can help you save money on parking and even resort fees.
Luckily, several hotel loyalty programs partner with popular casino loyalty programs for reciprocal status matches. So, you may be able to easily get — and keep — elite status with one or more casino loyalty programs. In this guide, I'll discuss the following two status match partnerships:
- World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards.
- Wyndham Rewards and Caesars Rewards.
These two hotel loyalty programs offer a different elite status benefit year than their partner casino loyalty programs. So, once you have status, you can match your status back and forth on a so-called status merry-go-round. By doing so, you can keep low- or mid-tier status in both programs forever — or at least until the programs change or terminate their partnership.
But, you must remember to match your status every year. And you'll need to get the timing right or else you'll find yourself thrown off the status merry-go-round. Here's what you need to know.
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World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards
By using the World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards status merry-go-round, you can maintain as high as World of Hyatt Explorist and MGM Rewards Gold status. Best of all, you can do the status matches online once you have Hyatt or MGM status.
Match Hyatt status to MGM each February
If you have World of Hyatt elite status, you'll want to match to MGM Rewards each February. Of course, you could wait to match shortly before your next trip to Las Vegas — but you must initiate your match before your Hyatt status resets at the end of each year.
Hyatt status levels match to MGM Rewards as follows:
- Discoverist: MGM Rewards Pearl.
- Explorist and Globalist: MGM Rewards Gold.
Check out our guide to matching your World of Hyatt status to MGM Rewards for more information. And go here to do the match.
Related: Hyatt members, listen up: Use this simple tip to avoid resort fees at 13 Las Vegas casinos
Match MGM status to Hyatt each January
Once you have MGM Rewards status, you'll need to match back to World of Hyatt each January if you don't earn Hyatt status organically. After all, your Hyatt status resets at the end of each year and your MGM Rewards status resets at the end of each January. You can use this difference in elite status benefit periods to maintain status in both programs.
MGM Rewards tiers match to Hyatt elite status as follows:
- Pearl: World of Hyatt Discoverist.
- Gold, Platinum and Noir: World of Hyatt Explorist.
Go here to do the match on MGM Rewards' website each January.
Earning Hyatt or MGM status initially
If you don't have World of Hyatt status or MGM Rewards status yet, here are some ways you can snag status with one of these programs and hop on the status merry-go-round:
- Sign up for the World of Hyatt Credit Card or World of Hyatt Business Credit Card and get World of Hyatt Discoverist status as a cardholder perk.
- Match another casino loyalty program to MGM Rewards, which is running a generous tier match promotion through June 30 (open to new and existing MGM Rewards members, but requires visiting a participating MGM Rewards desk in person with a valid competitor loyalty card and government-issued photo identification).
- Earn World of Hyatt elite status through qualifying nights or base points.
- Earn MGM Rewards status through tier credits.
Of course, the perks will be best if you're able to snag at least Hyatt Explorist or MGM Gold. And MGM Gold status just got better with the new MGM Rewards program. After all, MGM Rewards Gold now provides waived resort fees when you book directly with MGM Resorts International.
But, even if you maintain Hyatt Discoverist and MGM Pearl, you'll still get plenty of perks when staying with MGM and Hyatt. In particular, you'll avoid the worst rooms when staying with Hyatt and you'll get complimentary self-parking at MGM Resorts in Las Vegas.
Related: A classic getaway: Revisiting the Las Vegas of my childhood to love it even more
Wyndham Rewards and Caesars Rewards
With the Wyndham Rewards and Caesars Rewards status merry-go-round, you can maintain as high as top-tier Wyndham Diamond and mid-tier Caesars Diamond statuses. As with Hyatt and MGM, you can match statuses between Wyndham Rewards and Caesars Rewards online once you have either Wyndham or Caesars status.
However, as of February 2022, Caesars isn't allowing members to use Wyndham status obtained via a match from Caesars (or any other program) to match back to Caesars. But, you can still match Wyndham status earned via stays or Wyndham credit cards to Caesars. So, although the status merry-go-round has changed, it's still possible to maintain status in both programs.
Match earned Wyndham status to Caesars each February
If you have earned Wyndham Rewards status, you'll want to match to Caesars each February once your Caesars status has dropped to Gold.
Wyndham Rewards statuses match to Caesars Rewards tiers as follows:
- Platinum: Caesars Rewards Platinum.
- Diamond: Caesars Rewards Diamond.
Go here to do the match on the Caesars Rewards website.
Related: How I leveraged Wyndham's partnership with Caesars to extend expiring hotel points
Match Caesars status to Wyndham each January
Once you have Caesars Rewards status, you'll want to match back to Wyndham each January. After all, your Wyndham status resets at the end of the year each and your Caesars Rewards status resets at the end of each January. So, January is the time to match.
Caesars Rewards tiers match to Wyndham status as follows:
- Platinum: Wyndham Rewards Platinum.
- Diamond and Seven Seas: Wyndham Rewards Diamond.
Go here to do the match on Wyndham's website each January.
Earning Wyndham or Caesars status
If you don't have Wyndham status or Caesars status yet, here are some ways you can snag elite status with these programs:
- Sign up for select Wyndham credit cards.
- Wyndham Platinum status is a benefit of the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card.
- Wyndham Diamond status is a benefit of the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card.
- Match another casino loyalty program to Caesars Rewards, which is currently running a Diamond tier upgrade promotion through Dec. 31 (only open to new Caesars Rewards members; you must present your valid eligible loyalty card from select competitors at any Caesars Rewards Center; you'll need to earn 100 tier credits by Dec. 31 to get all of the Caesars Diamond perks).
- Earn Wyndham Platinum or Diamond elite status through nights.
- Earn Caesars Rewards Diamond or Seven Seas status through tier credits.
The information for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Many travelers will find that the easiest way to get Wyndham status is by signing up for one of the Wyndham credit cards. For the purposes of matching to Caesars Rewards, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card is your best option since it gives Wyndham Diamond status as a cardholder perk.
But, if you already have MGM Rewards Gold status, visiting a Caesars Rewards destination to match in person may be a better option. However, note that the Diamond tier upgrade promotion technically requires you to be a new Caesars member. So, although some existing Caesars Rewards members have reported success with this promotion, it may only work if you aren't already a Caesars Rewards member.
Related: 17 ways to earn Wyndham Rewards points for your next redemption
Bottom line
Especially since you can earn Wyndham Diamond status by holding the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card, Wyndham Diamond is an excellent stepping stone into elite status with all four programs discussed in this guide. After all, you can match Wyndham Diamond to Caesars Diamond online. Then, visit an MGM Rewards destination participating in the tier match promotion by June 30 and match your Caesars Diamond status to MGM Gold status. Then, you can match MGM Gold status to Hyatt Explorist status online.
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- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
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- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
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Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees