Hyatt MGM Partnership Ending & Tier Match Update
Back in 2013 MGM and Hyatt’s then Gold Passport program announced a partnership. In the first version of this partnership you could earn points across programs for stays, but there weren’t any reciprocal benefits. Then in 2017 they added the real kicker which was a reciprocal status match. It was a huge gamechanger.
One of the most popular ways people have used this partnership is to earn Hyatt nights at cheap MGM casinos and this play only got better in recent years. A couple of years ago with the launch of MGM Rewards, members with Gold status get waived resort fees. This means that Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members can match to MGM Rewards Gold and enjoy waived resort fees. This prompted a lot of people to book midweek stays at hotels like Luxor and Excalibur for very cheap MGM nights. But alas that will all end.
End of Hyatt MGM Partnership
According to the MGM Resorts website, the partnership between MGM and Hyatt will be ending on September 30, 2023. Why is this happening? Well, here is what MGM has to say about it. “After careful consideration, MGM Resorts and World of Hyatt have decided to end their strategic relationship effective September 30, 2023.“
Update. Here is the message I was sent from a PR rep acting on behalf of the companies: “Through our relationship, we have each learned a great deal and have enjoyed how our members embraced both programs. We recognize our guests’ and members’ desire for strategic relationships that enrich their travel experiences, and will continue to evolve our programs to best care for that need.”
Hyatt MGM Partnership End – What Does It Mean?
With the axing of this long partnership, some things will change for status and points earnings. Here are a few key things you should know taken from the MGM Resorts website discussing the news.
- Bookings with a checkout day after September 30, 2023 will not receive points in the other program
- World of Hyatt points bookings made prior to September 30, 2023 will be honored, however you won’t be able to redeem Hyatt points at MGM hotels after that
- If you are tier matched to MGM from Hyatt you will keep your current status until January 31, 2024
- Hyatt stays with a checkout after September 30, 2023 will no longer receive MGM tier credits
Tier Match Ending Sooner?
While going through the terms, I noticed some interesting language regarding the tier match. If you have matched your Hyatt status to MGM Rewards already then you keep your existing status until January 31, 2024. However in the terms they say, “World of Hyatt members who have tier matched between February 1, 2023 and July 14, 2023 will retain their MGM Rewards tier match status through January 31, 2024.”
This seems to indicate that the match may be ending on July 14, 2023 which is in just 3 days. If you haven’t already matched your Hyatt status to MGM then you might want to do that now. Based on the terms the tier match will end on July 14 or at least there is a strong possibility it will.
Is This A Big Surprise?
The end of this partnership comes as a bit of a shock, but probably shouldn’t be a big surprise. Hyatt is looking to become a bigger player in the Vegas market with the Rio redevelopment and Dream Hotel being built on the Strip. Dream currently has construction halted due to funding issues, however a few years from now Hyatt will have their own properties in Vegas resort areas. Perhaps they don’t need MGM as much as before.
And while we don’t know the exact terms of their partnership, one has to think all of the gaming going on had to change the bottom line calculations for these companies. This partnership is mature and with that people have learned over time how to take advantage of it to its fullest. Hyatt is also a much bigger company now with a footprint many times larger than 10 years ago. Or maybe they just don’t like each other anymore.
Hyatt MGM Partnership Ending – Bottom Line
Hyatt and MGM are ending their partnership at the end of September. As of that day you will no longer be able to match status or earn points between the brands. This brings to an end one of the more popular and lucrative status matches around. Not only will we lose cheap Hyatt nights, but also free parking, no resort fees and more.
What do you think of this news? Will this be a big deal to you? Let me know in the comments!
HT: Jeb from MtM Diamond
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I had Hyatt Explorist that expired in Feb. 2024.
So I decided to do MGM > Hyatt match anyway even though I already had Explorist.
I did it today. Now it shows that my Hyatt “Explorist through Feb 28, 2025”
Hope this helps somebody. I don’t understand it. But that’s what happened. Try it before July 14, 2023. Post back if it works.
MGM got tired of being taken advantage of by travel bloggers and their readers.
Im surprised it didnt end sooner
Taken advantage of? That’s rich. People saving $50 a night in resort fees probably still spent it at the property. And possibly stayed at MGM instead of a Caesars property to boot.
The only reason I have a Hyatt account is because of this partnership. If it’s ending, there goes my incentive to stay at Hyatts or stay involved with their loyalty program.
Trying to understand the change. Have hyatt points reservations booked in October. Will they not be honored? And if they are will I still get the resorts fee waived as matched to gold?
If you booked with Hyatt points at MGM for October you should be fine as it will be honored. As long as you have matched to MGM Gold your status will stay in place through the end of January. So you should get your benefits and they’ll take the points if the booking is already completed.
I need someone to hold me. This ruined my day
I shouldn’t laugh, but I had to, or else I would cry.
Well that just stinks! That gave me Explorist, and I won’t go back to MGM. I never went to MGM before, so now I won’t anymore.