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  • Underwhelming at Best: Marriott and MGM Finally Reveal Details of Partnership

    Underwhelming at Best: Marriott and MGM Finally Reveal Details of Partnership

    After months of delays largely owing to the hacking of MGM’s IT infrastructure last year, Marriott and MGM have finally revealed the details of their new partnership, which will allow members of both loyalty programs to earn and redeem points, receive elite benefits, and transfer points between the two programs. Sounds great, right? Well, not so fast. When you look closer, you’ll see that this partnership is a shell of the old Hyatt-MGM partnership, which ended last year.

    First of all, Marriott members do not receive any status match to MGM’s program, which means they still have to pay resort fees, unless they are Marriott Ambassadors. Resort fees are one of the biggest rip-offs in Las Vegas, and Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members used to be able to avoid them by matching to MGM Gold. Oftentimes, the resort fee far exceeds the actual rate of the room itself, so being able to dodge these as a Hyatt Globalist was huge. This also created interesting “virtual” mattress running opportunities by remotely checking into Excalibur or Luxor for a sub-$20 nightly rate, though MGM caught on and shut down remote check-ins for Hyatt members.

    In addition to the lack of waived resort fees, the lack of a status match to MGM also means Bonvoy members (except Ambassadors) will have to pay for parking unless they have MGM status via another means. Maybe this finally gives the MGM Rewards Mastercard by FNBO, which doesn’t carry an annual fee, some tiny amount of value proposition for a very specific subset of readers who frequent Vegas? Self parking at MGM’s Vegas properties, once complimentary, now runs as much as $23 a day – which could, much like the resort fee, very well cost more than your room itself.

    A mid-week room rate at Excalibur; the resort fee is almost double the room rate, and self parking ($18/day during the week) costs almost as much as the room itself… talk about getting nickeled and dimed!

    Second, the benefits for Marriott elites staying at MGM hotels are pretty underwhelming. Silver and Gold members get almost nothing, except a small bonus on points and a welcome gift of 500 points (for Gold members), which is worth less than a cup of coffee (especially a cup of coffee in Vegas, where in-room coffee makers aren’t the norm). Platinum and Titanium members get a bit more, such as priority check-in, late check-out, and room upgrades, but these are subject to availability and not guaranteed. Only Ambassadors get one suite upgrade per year, early check-in, and free self-parking. The kicker: these benefits are only valid until December 31, 2024, which suggests that this partnership is not nearly as stable or long-term as suggested when it was first announced in 2023.

    Third, the points transfer ratio between the two programs is not very favorable. You lose 20% of your points every time you transfer, whether it’s from Marriott to MGM or vice versa. That means you need 12,500 Marriott points to get 10,000 MGM points, or 12,500 MGM points to get 10,000 Marriott points. That’s a pretty steep price to pay, especially when you consider that MGM points are just not very valuable to begin with. You need 25,000 MGM points for a free night at a standard MGM hotel, or 75,000 MGM points for a free night at a premium MGM hotel, such as Bellagio or Aria. That’s equivalent to 31,250 or 93,750 Marriott points, respectively. You’re better off saving your Marriott points for other redemptions and just paying cash rates, which are often very cheap in Las Vegas – it’s a loss leader for these resorts to offer insanely cheap room rates to get you in the door and spending money on their casino floor.

    The only potential benefit of this partnership is the ability to earn elite night credits with Marriott by staying at MGM hotels. This could be useful for mattress running, especially at the cheaper MGM hotels, such as Excalibur or Luxor. However, this is only possible if you book through Marriott channels, and not through MGM directly (a stark contrast to the former Hyatt partnership, where you could book directly with MGM and add your World of Hyatt number at check-in). This means you have to compare the rates and availability, and make sure you’re not paying more or getting less by booking through Marriott. Also, you have to hope that MGM will allow mobile check-in via their app, which they stopped doing for Hyatt bookings once the end of the partnership was announced.

    This much-hyped partnership is a huge disappointment for Marriott and MGM loyalists, especially compared to the previous Hyatt-MGM partnership. It offers very little value, very few benefits, and very limited options. It seems like a half-hearted attempt to attract more customers, without giving them any real incentives or rewards. Unless you’re a Marriott Ambassador or an MGM Noir, we’ve all gotten Bonvoyed by this deal.

  • Marriott and MGM Resorts Partnership Delayed Until 2024

    Marriott and MGM Resorts Partnership Delayed Until 2024

    Marriott Bonvoy members have been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to start earning and redeeming points at MGM Resorts properties. The hype around this partnership escalated when MGM Resorts made the significant move to sever its ties with Hyatt in favor of embracing a broader, more extensive collaboration with Marriott International. The possibilities seemed endless, spanning not only the realm of hotel loyalty but also branching out into online betting and hotel branding. This announcement angered Hyatt loyalists, who had previously used Vegas as an all-you-can-eat buffet of cheap elite nights.

    A specific launch date remained shrouded in uncertainty. While October 1st had been casually tossed around as a potential start date, the situation took a sudden turn when MGM Resorts faced an unprecedented cyberattack last month. The fallout from this event cast doubts on the partnership’s commencement. Now, we have official word from both companies that Marriott and MGM Resorts have decided to postpone the launch to sometime in early 2024.

    In a joint statement, the companies expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership and the vision they have for their collaboration. “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 read. “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.”

    Despite the anticipation surrounding this partnership, neither company has commented on the specific reasons for the delay. However, considering the recent cyberattack on MGM Resorts, it’s not entirely surprising that the launch has been pushed back by a few months. Cybersecurity concerns are no small matter, and both companies likely want to ensure the utmost security and readiness before introducing their collaboration to the world.

    As we wait for the dust to settle and the partnership to take shape, many details about the specifics of this collaboration remain to be announced. While the delay may be a tad disappointing for Marriott Bonvoy members eager to explore the offerings at MGM Resorts properties, great things are worth the wait. Let’s hope the extra time gives the companies the opportunity to refine and enhance the offerings they plan to bring to the table.

  • Vegas in Turmoil: MGM Cyberattack Unleashes Chaos on the Strip

    Vegas in Turmoil: MGM Cyberattack Unleashes Chaos on the Strip

    In a city where chaos often feels like the norm, the recent cyberattack on MGM Resorts has taken the chaos in Vegas to a whole new level. As the outages drag into their fourth day, it’s not just the cyber angle that’s causing concern; it’s the mayhem unfolding on the ground that’s truly disrupting the Vegas experience for many.

    Behind the scenes, the roots of this chaos trace back to a crafty social engineering attack against MGM’s helpdesk. The attacker, armed with little more than publicly-available employee info from LinkedIn, managed to socially engineer their way into the company’s systems. While most headlines are fixated on the cyber aspect, the real-world repercussions are nothing short of dramatic.

    First and foremost, the MGM app has gone dark. This means that making changes to existing reservations or creating new ones has become an exercise in frustration. Checking in? Well, don’t expect the convenience of digital keys either. Those shiny digital keycards are worthless now, and it’s not currently possible to get a new or replacement MGM Rewards player’s card, either.

    The chaos doesn’t stop there. Credit card processing has been hit or miss, with a surprising number of restaurants and retail outlets accepting cash only. It’s a stark reminder of how reliant we’ve become on digital transactions. If you’ve ever handed over your credit card details to MGM or possess an MGM Rewards credit card, it’s advisable to keep a close eye on your statements in the coming days and weeks. Those pesky hackers might confirm your card’s validity with tiny charges of one to a few cents.

    While the chaos is consistent across all MGM properties, there are some inconsistencies too, adding an extra layer of confusion. Some guests are finding it impossible to check in if they haven’t already done so. Others can’t get their keycards to work or obtain new ones, leading to long lines and security escorts back to their rooms.

    Now, let’s take a quick look at the unconfirmed reports flooding in from the (unofficial) MGM Rewards Facebook group. At Mandalay Bay/Delano, handwritten lists of guests checking in are reminiscent of a bygone era. People are being assigned to occupied rooms, creating all sorts of awkward encounters. The shortage of physical keycards with digital keys out of commission is limiting guests to just one per room. On the casino floor, only about a third of the slot machines are operational, and player’s cards might as well be playing cards.

    Meanwhile, the Bellagio is taking credit cards manually, and room charges within the Bellagio itself seem to be functioning smoothly. However, cross-charging between properties is a different story altogether.

    Allegedly, MGM has also called in corporate staff from headquarters to come out to resort properties and help manage the chaos. While this is the right move, it remains to be seen if this will be enough to help stem the bleeding as a result of this cyberattack.

    Of course, MGM has made headlines recently as a result of their breakup with Hyatt and new partnership with Marriott Bonvoy. Many details of the new partnership remain unknown, and I imagine finalizing those details isn’t exactly something that’s top-of-mind at MGM HQ right now.

    As the chaos in Vegas rages on, the true extent of the impact remains uncertain. For now, those in Sin City are left to navigate a world where technology has taken a back seat, and old-fashioned methods are making a comeback. In a place known for its extravagance and digital dazzle, it’s a stark reminder of just how fragile our digital world can be when faced with a well-executed cyberattack. Vegas, it seems, is dealing with a different kind of high-stakes game this time.