Marriott and MGM Resorts announce long-term loyalty partnership
Hyatt’s loss is Marriott’s gain when it comes to Sin City.
On Monday morning, Marriott and MGM Resorts International announced a 20-year licensing and loyalty marketing agreement across 17 MGM-branded casino resorts in the U.S. The announcement comes less than a week after Hyatt and MGM announced their strategic partnership will end in September.
The Marriott and MGM tie-up begins in October with the creation of a new platform — the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy — for some of the more than 40,000 MGM-affiliated hotel rooms across Las Vegas and other U.S. cities. Bookings for these 17 resorts will be accessible via Marriott’s website and the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app, as well as MGM Resorts’ booking channels.
“This is a very robust relationship. It's not just a traditional franchise agreement,” Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano told TPG during a press conference Monday. “I think that's really illustrated by the creation of the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy. This is a relationship that allows us to take full advantage of the breadth of the entertainment, culinary and sports offerings that MGM enjoys and, in turn, allows MGM and its loyalty members to take full advantage of the breadth of our global portfolio.”
Marriott already has a relationship with MGM Resorts via The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which is currently part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. This deal widely expands that partnership.
“This historic, long-term agreement brings together two of the most trusted and iconic brands in hospitality and entertainment,” MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle said in a statement ahead of the press event. “We’ve seen first-hand the strong demand from Marriott International customers through our existing relationship at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and this new agreement will enable us to further optimize our overall profitability. We’re thrilled to now scale the relationship and offer Marriott Bonvoy members greater distribution access to our award-winning resorts – as well as exclusive event and entertainment opportunities - in Las Vegas and across the U.S.”
Loyalty benefits
Similar to how MGM and Hyatt’s partnership works through September, the Marriott deal will enable members of MGM Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy to link accounts and receive “select benefits.” Further details of how the loyalty tiers from each program will link were not immediately available.
Capuano and Hornbuckle indicated that members on both loyalty platforms would get details of how the linkage will go ahead of the partnership going live in October.
“Members of both programs will be able to exchange MGM Rewards points, Bonvoy points and vice versa,” Capuano added. “Specifics about linking those accounts, points transfer, experiences, lounge access and other benefits will be communicated to consumers later this fall.”
Marriott also becomes a partner with MGM’s BetMGM online gaming and sports betting platform thanks to the new deal. This agreement means Marriott Bonvoy members will be able to earn Bonvoy points on certain BetMGM transactions and be able to participate in exclusive games and offers.
New options and challenges to overcome
The 17 MGM resorts across the U.S. linking up with Marriott will go into a mix of Marriott’s existing brands as well as the new MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy.
Bellagio Resort & Casino will join the Luxury Collection while Aria Resort & Casino will join the Cosmopolitan in the Autograph Collection. Park MGM will join the Tribute Portfolio.
The eight MGM resorts in Las Vegas joining the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy include 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.
An additional five MGM properties elsewhere in the U.S. — Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi; MGM Grand Detroit; MGM National Harbor in Maryland; and MGM Springfield in Massachusetts — will also join the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy.
One area worth watching is whether the Marriott and MGM partnership will improve the lag time of seeing elite nights and loyalty credits appear that many guests experienced with the Hyatt and MGM partnership.
The Marriott deal seems to bring these resorts much closer into the mix than what was seen with Hyatt, so that challenge may already have found a solution.
“We’re going to spend a lot of energy around the linking of our two companies in the product,” Hornbuckle said during the press conference. “We bring the excitement, the opportunity and experiences — whether it’s Formula One or any and all of the entertainment that Las Vegas has known for decades — …that is something unique and special that you can't really experience anyplace else. We're excited for that.”
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- 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.
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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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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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.