MGM & Marriott Bonvoy: Unpacking the Casino Hotel Partnership
The ‘MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy' is a significant partnership between MGM Resorts International and Marriott, encompassing 17 US hotels, primarily in Las Vegas, with a combined 40,000 rooms. This collaboration allows guests to book these properties, including 12 under the ‘MGM Collection' brand like MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, and others integrated into Marriott's existing luxury brands such as Bellagio (The Luxury Collection) and ARIA (Autograph Collection), directly via marriott.com using cash or Bonvoy points. This alliance superseded a previous MGM/World of Hyatt agreement, which had offered benefits like resort fee waivers for top-tier Hyatt members.
For Marriott Bonvoy members, booking through Marriott provides several advantages: earning Bonvoy points, accruing elite night credit, and potential room upgrades. The partnership also facilitates a status match program, enabling MGM Rewards members to elevate their Marriott Bonvoy status, for example, matching MGM Gold to Bonvoy Gold Elite or MGM NOIR to Bonvoy Ambassador Elite. This offers a pathway for MGM loyalists to gain Marriott elite perks.
However, the partnership comes with notable considerations. A primary concern is that Marriott Bonvoy elite members do not receive waivers for ‘resort fees,' which can be substantial, especially in Las Vegas, sometimes exceeding the room rate itself. Guests must book directly via Marriott to avail Bonvoy benefits; otherwise, they risk missing out. While booking with points is an option, the non-waivable resort fees can diminish the perceived value of ‘free' nights. Furthermore, MGM continues to offer direct bookings, and sometimes their special deals might be more cost-effective than Marriott's pricing, even if it means foregoing Bonvoy benefits. There is also no reciprocal status match from Marriott Bonvoy into MGM Rewards. Therefore, Bonvoy members must weigh the value of points, elite nights, and potential upgrades against potentially lower direct booking prices from MGM.
(Source: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/10/10/mgm-collection-with-marriott-bonvoy/)
