Hyatt MGM Rewards (Formerly M life) Partnership & Should You Book Your MGM Stay Through Hyatt Or MGM?

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The partnership between Hyatt and MGM is one of the most exciting partnerships in the hotel’s loyalty program. This collaboration allows World of Hyatt members to earn and redeem points, including matching tier status and elite night credits. 

To earn World of Hyatt points and elite night credits through an MGM stay, World of Hyatt members need to book directly through MGM or through Hyatt. This raises an excellent question about whether you should book your MGM stay with Hyatt or directly with MGM?

Should You Book An MGM Stay Through Hyatt Or MGM?
MGM Grand
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    MGM Rewards Replaces M life Rewards

    UPDATE: The following article post is expired. MGM and Hyatt’s partnership ends on September 30, 2023, and Marriott is the new MGM partnership that launches in October 2023
    Starting February 1, 2022, MGM resorts’ new loyalty program name MGM Rewards replaces the previous M life Rewards loyalty name. With the name change, the elite tiers and benefits will also change. 
    One exciting news about the MGM Rewards elite benefits changes is that resort fees will be waived for MGM Rewards Gold status members and above when they book directly with MGM channels
    You can match the World of Hyatt Explorist and Globalist elite status to receive MGM Rewards Gold elite status without fulfilling the tier credits requirements. This definitely opens up a few opportunities for Hyatt elite status members to maximize paid stays at MGM Rewards destinations, such as Las Vegas, to achieve elite qualifying nights with much cheaper room rates because of no resort fees. More below on Maximizing the New MGM Rewards For the World of Hyatt Elite Status.

    New MGM Rewards Elite Tiers & Benefits

    MGM Rewards Sapphire Status
    • Up to 19,999 Tier Credits
    • Earn MGM Rewards Points when you play, dine and stay at all MGM Rewards Destinations.
    • Discounts to select shows (subject to availability)
    • Guaranteed lowest room rates for MGM Rewards Members when booking direct
    MGM Rewards Pearl Status
    • 20,000 Tier Credits
    • Enjoy all the perks of Sapphire membership
    • Invitations to Member-Only events, tournaments, or promotions
    • Complimentary self-parking at participating MGM Rewards Destinations (subject to availability)
    • Complimentary tickets to select exclusive MGM Rewards concerts in Las Vegas
    MGM Rewards Gold Status
    • 75,000 Tier Credits
    • Enjoy all the perks of Pearl membership
    • Resort fee waived, for up to two rooms, when booking direct
    • $100 Tier achievement celebration dining experience for qualifying members
    • Complimentary enhanced room upgrades at check-in, based on availability (room view, high floor, etc.)
    MGM Rewards Platinum Status
    • 200,000 Tier Credits
    • Enjoy all the perks of a Gold membership
    • Up to $600 air travel credit to Las Vegas once per year for qualifying Platinum members
    • $200 Tier achievement celebration dining experience for qualifying members
    • Annual complimentary cruise for qualifying members on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises
    MGM Rewards Noir Status
    • By Invitation only
    • Experience everything above mentioned members do
    • Up to $1,200 air travel credit to Las Vegas once per year for qualifying Noir members
    • $500 Tier achievement celebration dining experience for qualifying members
    • Complimentary transportation service to and from the nearest airport with the hotel stay

    Do you receive the $100 celebration dining credit if you are an MGM Gold Elite member via status match?

    Unfortunately, not. 
    The $100 celebration dining credit is unavailable to MGM Rewards Gold elite members gained via the Hyattt’s status match or any other casino rewards program’s status match. You must fulfill the qualifying tier credits mentioned above to receive the $100 tier achievement celebration dining experience benefit. 

    How to Get Resort Fees Waived at MGM Las Vegas?

    To get resort fees waived at MGM Resorts International, including MGM properties in Las Vegas:
    • You must be an MGM Rewards Gold elite member or above to receive the waived resort fees benefit. 
      • You can gain MGM Rewards Gold elite status if you have an elite status level with Hyatt, such as Explorist or Globalist. More below. 
    • You must book directly with MGM, not Hyatt.

    How Does The Waived Resort Fees Benefit Work For MGM Rewards Elite Members?

    It is vital to remember that to receive the waived resort fees with your MGM Rewards Gold or above status, you must book directly with MGM.
    At this time, you will still notice the resort fees are still added to your reservation, but when you begin your stay at an MGM property, here’s how you get resort fees waived based on your MGM elite status:
    • At check-in, let the front desk know that you are Gold or above. They will verify your MGM Rewards elite status and remove the resort fees accordingly.
    • If you do a mobile check-in, you can either stop by or call the front desk during your stay and tell them that you are Gold or above. They will verify your MGM Rewards elite status and remove the resort fees accordingly.
    • You can also mention you are Gold or above at check-out. The front desk will verify your MGM Rewards elite status and remove the resort fees accordingly.

    Hyatt & MGM Resorts International Relationship

    UPDATE: The following article post is expired. MGM and Hyatt’s partnership ends on September 30, 2023, and Marriott is the new MGM partnership that launches in October 2023

    The partnership between Hyatt and MGM offers members reciprocal rewards and benefits. If you have elite status with Hyatt, you can match that status to MGM Rewards (formerly M life Rewards) status to unlock more elite perks when staying at an MGM property and vice versa. 
    In addition, you can earn and redeem World of Hyatt points for MGM hotels and resorts participating in this exclusive partnership. 

    Which MGM Properties Participate in this Partnership?

    UPDATE: The following article post is expired. MGM and Hyatt’s partnership ends on September 30, 2023, and Marriott is the new MGM partnership that launches in October 2023

    The MGM property must participate in Hyatt’s partnership to earn and redeem Hyatt points. 
    You may find those MGM hotels and resorts in Las Vegas below:
    • Bellagio
    • ARIA
    • Vdara
    • MGM Grand
    • The Signature at MGM Grand
    • Mandalay Bay
    • Delano Las Vegas
    • The Mirage
    • Monte Carlo
    • New York New York
    • Luxor
    • Excalibur

    Redeeming World of Hyatt Points at MGM Properties

    UPDATE: The following article post is expired. MGM and Hyatt’s partnership ends on September 30, 2023, and Marriott is the new MGM partnership that launches in October 2023

    All MGM properties have categories assigned to them by Hyatt. Therefore, you can redeem World of Hyatt points, including using your Hyatt Free Night Award certificate(s) for stays at MGM properties based on Hyatt’s award chart. 
    The lowest redemption for an MGM property starts at 9,000 points per night (Category 3) off-peak and can go up to a more luxury MGM resort at 21,000 points per night (Category 6) off-peak. 

    Earning World of Hyatt Points at MGM Properties

    UPDATE: The following article post is expired. MGM and Hyatt’s partnership ends on September 30, 2023, and Marriott is the new MGM partnership that launches in October 2023

    • World of Hyatt members can earn 5 Base Points per eligible dollar spent at MGM properties, including incidental charges up to $5,000 per stay. 
    • Discoverist earns a 10% bonus, Explorist earns a 20% bonus, and Globalist earns a 30% bonus of points in addition to the 5 base points per eligible dollar spent at MGM properties.
    To earn World of Hyatt points at MGM properties:
    • You must book directly either through MGM or Hyatt.
    • You must be a member of both World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards programs, and both programs are free to join. 
    • Upon check-in at an MGM property, you must inform the front desk agent that you wish to earn World of Hyatt points and provide your loyalty program numbers. 
    • Unfortunately, Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card or Chase World of Hyatt Business Credit Card does not earn 4 bonus points per dollar spent at MGM properties like Hyatt hotels and resorts. You’ll only get 1 point per dollar spent using a Hyatt credit card. Therefore, you can use another credit card that gives you better hotel/travel spending earnings, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card or the Citi Premier Credit Card.

    Earning World of Hyatt Elite Night Credits at MGM Properties

    UPDATE: The following article post is expired. MGM and Hyatt’s partnership ends on September 30, 2023, and Marriott is the new MGM partnership that launches in October 2023

    World of Hyatt members can earn elite night-tier credits through stays at MGM properties, and the benefit works the same as you were to stay at worldwide Hyatt hotels and resorts. With that said, you can earn World of Hyatt elite night credits on paid and award stays at MGM properties, and those qualifying elite nights will be counted toward your World of Hyatt status and Hyatt Milestone Reward.

    Hyatt & MGM Rewards (Formerly M life) Status Match

    UPDATE: The following article post is expired. MGM and Hyatt’s partnership ends on September 30, 2023, and Marriott is the new MGM partnership that launches in October 2023

    Hyatt allows reciprocal status matches between the World of Hyatt program and MGM Rewards (formerly M life). 
    • World of Hyatt Members can receive MGM Rewards Sapphire elite. 
    • World of Hyatt Discoverist members can receive MGM Rewards Pearl elite. 
    • World of Hyatt Explorist & Globalist members can receive MGM Rewards Gold elite. 
    The process to match your status between both programs is very simple, and the approval of the request is instant. 

    Maximizing Status Match to Keep World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards Elite Status Every Year

    UPDATE: The following article post is expired. MGM and Hyatt’s partnership ends on September 30, 2023, and Marriott is the new MGM partnership that launches in October 2023

    If you time things right, you can keep your World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards elite status yearly. This is because Hyatt’s elite status expires at the end of February, and MGM Rewards’ elite status expires at the end of January. Here’s how:
    If you are currently a World of Hyatt Explorist or Globalist member:
    • In February 2023, match your Hyatt Explorist or Globalist to get MGM Rewards Gold elite status. You get MGM Rewards Gold immediately, and your MGM Gold status is good until January 31, 2024.
    • In March 2023, your Hyatt elite status expires. At that time, you can match MGM Rewards Gold elite status back to get the Hyatt Explorist status. 
    • Repeat this trick, and you can keep elite status on both programs each year.
    • How to request the status match between MGM Rewards and Hyatt
    If you are currently an MGM Gold Reward member:
    • In March 2023, if your Hyatt status drops from Globalist or Explorist, you can match MGM Rewards Gold elite status to receive Hyatt Explorist status. 
    • In February 2024, you can match Hyatt Explorist status to get the MGM Rewards Gold status. Your MGM Rewards Gold status level is good until January 31, 2024. 
    • Repeat this trick, and you can keep elite status on both programs each year.
    • How to request the status match between MGM Rewards and Hyatt
    It’s worth noting that the highest Hyatt elite status you can receive from MGM Rewards Gold’s status match is the World of Hyatt’s Explorist elite status, and Explorist is just one level down from Hyatt Globalist. While the mid-tier Explorist benefits are less fantastic than Globalist benefits, you can earn more bonus points, request a 2pm late check-out, receive complimentary room upgrades, etc. 

    Should You Book An MGM Stay Through Hyatt Or MGM?

    UPDATE: The following article post is expired. MGM and Hyatt’s partnership ends on September 30, 2023, and Marriott is the new MGM partnership that launches in October 2023

    As mentioned above, if you want to earn World of Hyatt points with your future MGM stays, you must book directly through Hyatt or MGM. You also need to be a member of both programs and present both of your loyalty program numbers at MGM’s check-in desk to earn Hyatt points and Hyatt elite night credits. 
    If you frequent Las Vegas, you know how low the room rate can be. There are, however, steep resort fees added to the room rate. While Globalist receives waived resort fees at Hyatt hotels and resorts, that benefit does not extend to MGM properties. Therefore, it does not benefit anything if you book an MGM stay directly with Hyatt to take advantage of your Globalist benefits. However, thanks to 2022’s loyalty name and elite benefits changes in the MGM rewards program, you can match your Globalist status to get MGM Rewards Gold elite status, including waived resort fees benefit. 
    Booking direct with Hyatt is a straightforward process and can be done on Hyatt’s website, but in my experience, you are better off booking your MGM stay directly through MGM for a paid stay:
    • You will receive more discounts and perks using promotions offered by MGM Resorts International, and those promotional offers are not available when booking through Hyatt. 
    • When you are an MGM Rewards Gold elite member, you will receive waived resort fees on bookings directly with MGM only. This means that any bookings with Hyatt, such as cash bookings, points redemption bookings, and points + cash redemption bookings, are not eligible for the waived resort fees benefit. 
    MGM Resorts International has many offers available, ranging from room discounts to food and beverages credit during your stay. Those offers are eligible to earn World of Hyatt points and elite nights. 

    Maximizing the New MGM Rewards For the World of Hyatt Elite Status

    UPDATE: The following article post is expired. MGM and Hyatt’s partnership ends on September 30, 2023, and Marriott is the new MGM partnership that launches in October 2023

    The World of Hyatt elite members can benefit from the new MGM Rewards elite benefits changes in 2022. Here’s how: 

    Having the World of Hyatt Explorist or Globalist elite status

    First and foremost, you must have at least an Explorist elite status with the World of Hyatt program. This is because Hyatt’s Explorist and Globalist members can request a status match with MGM to receive the MGM Rewards Gold elite status, including the waived resort fees benefit. 

    Matching your World of Hyatt elite status with MGM Rewards

    Thanks to the Hyatt and MGM partnership, World of Hyatt Explorist & Globalist members can receive MGM Rewards Gold by performing a status match request here
    See the above section on How to Maximize Status Match to Keep World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards Elite Status Every Year.

    Doing cheap stays to maintain or attain Globalist status and Hyatt milestone rewards.

    MGM Rewards Gold elite members will not have to pay resort fees on a paid stay with MGM hotels and resorts. 
    If you frequent MGM Las Vegas, you understand that the room rates there can be cheap during weekdays, but resort fees are always so steep that they drive up the room’s total cost. Therefore, when resort fees are waived for MGM Rewards Gold elite members, you will have the most inexpensive way to do a vacation stay or mattress run with MGM Resorts International in the future. This will allow you to attain or maintain World of Hyatt’s Globalist status and achieve a Hyatt Milestone Reward at a more affordable cost. But remember that you must book directly with MGM, not Hyatt, to receive the waived resort fees benefit. 
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