Marriott and MGM Resorts delay partnership launch to 2024
Marriott Bonvoy members are going to need to wait a few more months before they can start earning and burning points at their favorite MGM Resorts property.
MGM Resorts rattled the hotel loyalty orbit over the summer by announcing it was ending a partnership with Hyatt in favor of launching a broader deal with Marriott International. While Marriott and MGM were expected to launch their extensive partnership spanning loyalty, online betting and even hotel branding this month, the specific start date wasn’t clear.
That was thrown even further into jeopardy while MGM faced an unprecedented cyberattack last month. The companies issued a joint statement Monday morning indicating the partnership will now launch sometime in early 2024.
“Marriott International and MGM Resorts International are creating an extraordinary experience for our loyalty members with the introduction of MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy,” the statement from Marriott and MGM said. “Our two companies are excited to deliver world-class offerings and benefits for our guests. We look forward to debuting MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy by early 2024.”
A not-so-surprising delay
While neither company commented on a specific reason for the delay, the need to push the tethering back by a few months isn't exactly a shock. MGM’s cybersecurity threat is only part of the equation.
MGM’s cybersecurity issues entailed entire IT systems shutting down for days at the company’s megaresorts while investigations looking into the scope of the attack took place. Some customer personal data was accessed, and those customers were notified. MGM Resorts estimated the entire ordeal cost the company $100 million, per a regulatory filing earlier this month.
However, the cybersecurity attack also ate into valuable time that would be necessary to close the partnership between MGM and Marriott. While MGM and Hyatt were more of a loyalty tie-up, the Marriott link-up is expected to be a significantly deeper relationship with connections to the BetMGM online gaming and betting platform, as well as what essentially amounts to the creation of a new brand — the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy — along with select MGM Resorts properties going into other Marriott brands like the Luxury Collection, the Autograph Collection and the Tribute Portfolio.
It's not exactly the creation of an entirely new brand since the MGM Collection is going to be an umbrella for existing properties like New York-New York Hotel & Casino, the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Luxor Hotel & Casino and Maryland’s MGM National Harbor. But it takes time to integrate properties onto any kind of new platform, even a soft brand like the MGM Collection.
Bellagio Las Vegas will belong to Marriott’s Luxury Collection under the new partnership, while Aria Resort & Casino and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will be included in the Autograph Collection. Park MGM Las Vegas will join the Tribute Portfolio.
Recent brand launches from Hilton and Hyatt had executives touting the wonders of creating something new in less than a year, so it’s not a surprise Marriott and MGM need a little more time.
What to expect from MGM and Marriott’s delayed partnership
Once the partnership does kick off, we anticipate the partnership between Marriott and MGM will drive higher room rates in Las Vegas since the idea is Marriott Bonvoy brings in customers who will likely pay more at a resort.
"This agreement will enhance our profitability by driving lower customer acquisition costs and with a better mix of higher [average daily room rates] and on-property spend," MGM Resorts CEO William Hornbuckle said on an investor call earlier this year.
Given the tighter relationship expected from MGM and Marriott compared to MGM and Hyatt, we’re hoping for more seamless loyalty earning compared to the prior partnership where it could take weeks for points and elite night credits to appear in an account. Others think this presents an opportunity for MGM to expand beyond resorts with casinos attached.
We’ll wait until early next year to find out just what it all means.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.