Last updated on September 9th, 2024 at 02:56 pm
No, we don’t know when the delayed Marriott-MGM partnership is going to launch. However, the two companies recently released more information about the program. So let’s talk about these Marriott-MGM benefits, which I think are a bit disappointing.
As a recap, last summer, MGM and Marriott announced a 20-year licensing deal that would see most (but not all) MGM properties across the U.S. join Marriott Bonvoy. The new relationship was supposed to go into effect in October, but that didn’t happen. Mind you, there was no indication it was going to happen even before MGM’s massive data breach. Since then, not much has changed, which meant that all we knew was which properties would fall under which brands. Of course, we have a bit more information to dig into now.
Marriott-MGM Benefits Revealed
I’m going to cover the Marriott-MGM benefits in two different segments because, unfortunately, the benefits between the two programs are more fragmented than I’d like to see. And while I’ll note differences from benefits you get at standard Marriott properties, I’m only discussing on-property benefits – not program benefits.
Marriott Bonvoy Members
First up, I’m going to cover the benefits Marriott Bonvoy members will receive, as this is probably the most complicated of the two.
- Silver Elite
- Earn Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible spend, including room rate, in-room dining, and mini-bar purchases
- 10% bonus points
- At Marriott properties, you’d also get priority late checkout
- Gold Elite
- Silver benefits plus…
- 25% bonus points
- 500 bonus points welcome gift
- At Marriott properties, you’d also get bonus points as a welcome amenity and guaranteed 2 pm late checkout
- Platinum Elite
- Gold benefits plus…
- 50% bonus points
- 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per stay or $15 food & beverage credit per night (normally, you’d get your choice of points, breakfast, or an amenity)
- Enhanced Room Upgrade (based on availability)
- Priority Check-In Line
- 2 pm Late Checkout (usually 4 pm)
- Titanium Elite
- Platinum benefits plus…
- 75% bonus points
- Ambassador Elite
- Titanium benefits plus…
- Waived resort fees thru December 31, 2024
- Complimentary 1 pm early check-in (based on availability) thru December 31, 2024
- One suite upgrade per year (based on availability, 3 nights max) thru December 31, 2024
- Complimentary self-parking during your stay thru December 31, 2024
- Expedited valet and taxi service thru December 31, 2024
- Guaranteed reservations within 24 hours thru December 31, 2024
- 15% retail discount at participating retailers thru December 31, 2024
- Fine dining priority reservations thru December 31, 2024
- Dedicated line at participating restaurants, buffets, and cashiers cages thru December 31, 2024
- VIP Access to select night clubs thru December 31, 2024
- Priority access at pool cabanas, spas, and salon reservations thru December 31, 2024
- Discounts at select shows thru December 31, 2024
That’s right, nearly all of the benefits that Ambassadors get above everyone else are only good through the end of this year, even though the program has no start date yet. Will that change? We’ll have to see, I guess.
You’ll also notice that Titanium Elites don’t really get any better benefits than Platinums, except for extra bonus points. Further, you don’t get the same late checkout benefit or welcome amenity at MGM properties.
Of course, those familiar with MGM Rewards will note that the Marriott Bonvoy side of Marriott-MGM benefits is devoid of benefits that MGM Rewards members receive. For example, MGM Rewards Pearl members receives complimentary self-parking, while Gold members don’t pay resort fees and receive complimentary valet parking. Hell, much of the temporary Ambassador benefits are standard MGM Platinum and Noir benefits.
MGM Rewards Members
Things are far simpler for MGM Rewards members when we discuss Marriott-MGM benefits. Why? Because giving you a list of specific benefits you’ll receive as a MGM Rewards member at Marriott properties, they just give you a status match. Yep, MGM Rewards members can match their status to Marriott Bonvoy, but not Bonvoy members. Whatever.
- MGM Gold -> Marriott Bonvoy Silver
- MGM Platinum -> Marriott Bonvoy Gold
- MGM Noir -> Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
The hell kind of match is that? MGM Gold is only the equivalent Bonvoy Silver? That’s ridiculous when you consider that you need to earn 75,000 tier points, which is the equivalent of spending $18,750 or losing $9,375 when gambling to attain MGM Gold. The MGM Platinum match is even more ridiculous, since Bonvoy Gold is pretty meaningless, too, while Platinum requires you earn a whopping 200,000 tier points to attain. And, of course, Noir is an invite-only status.
Oh, and by the way, it’s worth noting that these Marriott-MGM benefits are temporary, too. Like the Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador benefits, all of these status matches are, at least as of this writing, only valid for 2024, even though you can’t even match your status yet.
Points Transfer
The one benefit members of both programs get to enjoy is the ability to transfer points between the respective programs. However, like everything else we’ve been discussing around Marriott-MGM benefits, we have no details on when or how this works. No transfer ratios, and no availability dates. Go figure.
Marriott-MGM Benefits, Final Thoughts
It’s nice to finally get additional details about our upcoming Marriott-MGM benefits, but the benefits that we have learned about are pretty crappy, in my opinion. Further, they’re not even equitable! MGM Rewards memebers really get nothing in the long run – at least not unless things change in the future – and Marriott members get short-changed on their standard benefits. But what’s the most perplexing part about all this to me is that they announced all of these time-sensitive benefits now, but they still have no idea when they’ll be made available. UGH.
Not that any of this matters to me, though, as I have no plans to go to Vegas!