Update on Vegas Parking Fees & Valet Being Outsourced
A few weeks ago I covered the announcement by MGM Resorts International that they would start charging for parking at the vast majority of their properties. Circus Circus was spared as was the MGM Signature Towers and the Crystal Shopping Center in Aria.
While we still don’t know how much it will cost for valet, the company has said it will be about $10 for self parking. This money is supposedly going to be used to “enhance the parking experience” including the addition of high tech goodies and an entirely new garage behind the Excalibur.
Some New Info
Well, I have something new to add. A reader who has been a helpful and reliable source in the past has sent me some details of an email that was sent to employees from MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren. I have not personally seen this email, so keep that in mind. Anyway, among the things that were mentioned are:
- The ~$10 parking fee will be implemented in April.
- Mlife Gold, Platinum and NOIR members will be exempt.
- While they expect backlash, the company fully thinks this is the direction that the entire Strip is going in.
My contact also goes on to say that employees are very concerned about the company doing away with free valet parking. Other cutbacks have been noticed as well. Coupons books at hotels like Luxor and Excalibur were eliminated and apparently guests can now only be upgraded one “step” or category.
My Take
Either Murren and team are brilliant in finding new revenue streams that will bolster the company’s bottom line or they will erode support for their brand. Vegas is not a cheap place like it once was and adding fees on top of fees is sure to create a backlash at some point. The question still remains though if the market can absorb more fees and if MGM will effectively lead everyone else or make a mistake and have to step back these changes.
How to Avoid These Fees
In the mean time, most everyone who reads this site should be able to avoid parking charges at MGM Resorts International properties. Hyatt Platinum status gained through the Hyatt credit card will get you Mlife Gold which will apparently be enough to get the fee waived. That is of course not official, so we will just sit back and wait.
Valet Parking Outsourcing Update
Shortly after writing this story news broke that MGM Resorts announced the outsourcing of all of their valet. According to Channel 8 news in Las Vegas, the valet decision “impacts all valet employees at Aria, Vdara, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Delano, MGM Grand LV, The Mirage, New York-New York, and Monte Carlo.” The employees will now work for a new company called SP+ which will match their pay and benefits. The change will happen within the next 60 days. Wow!
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Employees of MGM can add 2 cars not incuding their own for free garage access…So if you know any MGM employees..start schmoozing
My husband and I just spent three nights at the Aria. We were never informed about the new valet fees until our final bill! We are outraged that such costly hotels that are already nichol and diming their guests would even consider valet fees! It not only impacts patrons but also the employees who’ve relied on tips to support their livelihood! It was already noticeable at valet when we picked up our car as there wasn’t the typical lineup of cars. This is a strong message to me that tips are not only half as much, but valet workers aren’t going to be needed as the number of valets are decreased.
Shame on you MGM!!!
In SoCal I we have at least 10 Indian casinos that are just as nice if not nicer then the ones in Vegas with no parking lot charge or the drive, with this new charge it’s just one more reason not to come to Vegas anymore.
Yes, but lets be honest. I’ve been to those casinos and they are great for gambling, but thats it. In the three that I have visited there is no alcohol served. There is no entertainment outside of the casino. Unless you stay at the casino hotel, there is a drive involved. There is no walking to another casino. I view the Indian Casinos as a quick fix until you can get to a destination.
[…] properties. (Self parking at Circus Circus will still be free.) The timeline initially called for parking charges to start in April, but that didn’t happen. Now, MGM Resorts has announced when the new parking program will be […]
I really hate to hear this. We always rent a car when we go to Vegas– it gives us the freedom to go as much as we want. We won’t stop going but we may consider where we gamble.
@Shawn – in your post you said folks are ‘very concerned about the company doing away with free valet parking’ … hold up, MGM properties have free valet parking?? I know self parking is free at most hotels on the strip, and by definition thought valet was paid… I didnt know all these folks JUST worked for tips.
maybe I’m over thinking this but that’s what it sounds like to me- can you clarify our resident Vegas expert!
Both valet and self parking have always been free on the Strip. Now it seems self parking will be $10 and valet will be outsourced, so who knows how much it will cost. My guess is the concern is that valets will make less money considering it will now cost people money. Of course we also learned that they will now be working for another company which is another negative in my opinion. (For the workers.)
[…] Inside Info & Update on Vegas Parking Fees: How Much, When & Which Elites Will Avoid the Cha… by Miles to Memories. Shawn is your man when it comes to anything Vegas. […]
I discovered Reno a few years ago as a delightful alternative to Vegas in the spring, summer and fall (winter too cold!). It feels a lot like Vegas used to be–affordable hotels, smaller scale, more personal service. The Atlantis, Peppermill, Grand Sierra, and to a lesser extent the downtown casinos and Sparks Nugget have been nicely updated with excellent restaurants. Plenty of music venues and the riverwalk is a gem. Every time I hear some new fee in Vegas, Reno feels that much friendlier.
Very soon, Vegas hotels will have negative cost rooms: they’ll pay you money for staying in form of resort credit. However, there’ll be a $60/night resort fee, $50/night parking fee and $50/night in misc service fee. 🙂
People who drive cars should have a cost imposed upon them for the burden they impose on society (pollution, congestion, accidents). I think this is a great move. Uber all the way.
Yes, here’s an idea — a gas tax!
Uber/taxis aren’t reducing pollution, btw.
I’m top tier Hyatt, and I view this as bad for me. I dont always stay at a MGM property, but i’ll still drive over to Bellagio and drop some cash at the casino. I feel now that maybe I should play more at the hotel I’m staying at instead of rewarding MGM for their greed.
This whole thing is a real head scratcher. I guess that MGM has people standing in line to hand them money, because under just about any other circumstance this would be a terrible idea. As to SP+, I have had the severe misfortune to effectively be forced to do business with them for several years. The most charitable thing I can think of to say would be that if someone from SP+ can find their ass with both hands, it’s a really good day.
More inside info, from a friend works valet at Bellagio. They just got news that Luxor will out-source its valet and all those employees won’t be Luxor employees any more (I’m not sure if they’ll still have jobs, but under the umbrella of a different employer, or if they’ll be losing their jobs). Bellagio valet employees are now concerned the same will happen to them soon (but they’ve heard nothing).
Interesting news. Thanks for passing along
Selfishly, I wouldn’t mind if this is true, as long as Platinum/Gold (Hyatt/Mlife) can continue to be obtained easily via the Hyatt CC. As long as I don’t have to pay (!!!), then improved facilities and maybe a bit less competition for spots will be nice. I do wonder how it will be implemented. I just hope that they use some technology to make sure that the flow of traffic in/out of the lots isn’t impacted.
It will be interesting to see if they end up shooting themselves in the foot and losing some business to the Total Rewards casinos or independents, or if those hotels follow suit (pun intended).