FlyerJ

I doubt the data hack had anything to do with it.

This dud of a product was totally intentional -- not a byproduct of that data breach.

Together, Marriott and MGM chose to give zero benefits*, recognition or reciprocity to Bonvoy Titanium and lower. Together they chose to have Marriott attempt to sell rooms at MGM properties to Bonvoy members at inflated prices. Everything here is by choice.

They gave us loyal Bonvoy members - us valued (ahem) Marriott customers - exactly what they wanted to give us.


* Other than the ability to access a slightly shorter check-in line, and the ability to choose a $15 F+B credit -- which, in Vegas, might get you a bottled water.

FlyerJ

This partnership is a one-way street, only benefiting MGM status members who do not have status with Marriott. If you had elevated status with MGM, you would be able to link your accounts and upgrade your Marriott status. But only if you already had MGM status.

Since you have Marriott status, you get nothing. Hence no ability to link.

CLEguy

Having Marriott Platinum status and above is marketed as receiving suites on arrival.

iknowthings

https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/ter...on.mi#benefits

Doppy

I'll be curious to see if people actually end up getting meaningful upgrades. I was a MGM gold and platinum for years and never got any upgrade across a couple dozen stays or more, maybe a "strip view" at a property where the strip views are not very interesting.
​​​​​​
Did get good FHR upgrades at Bellagio and Nomad though.

CLEguy

*whoosh*

DallasEsq

I don't know whether I agree. The hack was a pretty big deal. It delayed, by several months, the start of this partnership. You also have the issue of a lot of the benefits lasting only through the end of 2024, which makes me think they needed more time after the breach to assess the feasibility of a more integrated partnership. You might be right, but it just seems to me that what has come out looks rushed and half-baked, and that something major caused the delay and benefits that will be reassessed for 2025.

4espresso

I just spoke with two different people at MGM and this appears to be incorrect. While the Marriot T&C's do indeed say that MGM Resorts call centers count as qualifying stays, MGM says that is incorrect. They say the only time they will count is if you have previously been given a rate code by Marriott, an MGM call center will be able to apply it and count it. But otherwise, any rate given by MGM, even just a standard rate, through their call centers or agents, will not count. The second woman I spoke to said they are getting calls about this regularly.

FlyerJ

No. That's incorrect.

Titanium and Platinum are eligible to get an "enhanced room". Subject to availability.

And the fine print stipulates that the 'enhanced room' will be "within the same room type booked by the Member".

So, no, no suites. And technically, since your room will stay within the same room type, I struggle to understand how they can even truthfully call it an "upgrade". It's not.

And to access this benefit, the Bonvoy member needs to book via Marriott -- which, based on everything I've seen, means that you need to pay a substantially higher room rate than if you were to book directly via MGM. So Titaniums or Platinums can maybe get the room that they booked but in a slightly preferential location in the hotel if - but only if - they pay an inflated room rate to Marriott for that room.

Only for Ambassador level, the upgrade "may also" include suites. "May". "Subject to availability".

rylan

Yeah there are to many qualifiers to the 'upgrades' that it can be pretty much anything like a room that is further from a noisy elevator.
As others said, don't expect much if anything from the MGM upgrade. I was gold for years with a variety of stays there and only got a 'real' upgrade one time to an actual spa suite. Otherwise, its been a marginally better view or higher floor.
Now that I dropped to silver from them gutting the program, I don't expect to get anything... and I will still book through MGM since even their normal non-casino rates are better than those offered through Marriott.

FlyerJ

The big problem for Marriott here is that they have vastly over-promised … and absolutely under-delivered.

Had they simply packaged and promoted this MGM partnership as just a way to use Bonvoy points for stays at MGM hotels? Great! I think everyone here would have been thrilled.

But what did they do?

• They branded MGM Hotels under Marriott brands (Luxury Collection, Autograph, Tribute) … but then made all of those hotels exceptions when it comes to Bonvoy participation and benefits. So, why bother with slapping on Marriott brands? It’s meaningless. And, more importantly, it’s frustrating. It dilutes the value and hurts the perception of those brands.
• They now sell MGM hotel rooms through Marriott booking channels. But booking via Marriott is almost universally far more expensive than booking via MGM. Or Expedia. Or Amex FHR. (From what I’ve seen, Marriott’s most restrictive prepaid, noncancellable prices are still higher than flexible, fully cancellable prices through other channels.) Prices that just make us Marriott customers feel like we’re being taken advantage of. And drive us to book elsewhere.
• They pitched (or at least strongly suggested) that there would be benefits for Bonvoy status members. But then delivered barely-better-than-nothing benefits with lots of exceptions and asterisks and fine print. They delivered benefits that are totally inconsistent with (and worse than) almost every other Marriott property.
• And they keep overselling it to us, with ridiculous marketing copy (from their most recent email blast) like:

Huh. What’s my “all-access pass to a world beyond the ordinary”? Oh, yeah, I can book rooms at hotels that weren't previously part of Marriott, but at an inflated price. All access pass to a world beyond the ordinary = a standard King room for a higher price than if I book directly with the same property.

I can use my “elite member status to experience … the pinnacle of WOW”. Gee, that sounds incredible! So what does my elite status get me, as a loyal Bonvoy Titanium? Oh, yeah. I get to use an alternate check-in line in the lobby, and I can get a $15 food credit. And I can request a late check-out but one that’s a totally different late check-out time than other Bonvoy hotels. Is that what we’re calling “the pinnacle of WOW” now? Huh.

As I mentioned previously, this all feels like a marketing fail on par with “New Coke”.

They managed one good thing: lots more Vegas options can be booked with points. Great. Had that been what they announced – and nothing else – I think their customers would have been thrilled.

But instead they pitched benefits to us (and delivered none) and started selling rooms at ridiculous prices (driving Bonvoy members to use non-Marriott booking channels) and diluted the value of the LC, Autograph, Tribute brands by making the totally product inconsistent with other LC, Autograph, Tribute properties.

And they keep over-selling it.

DallasEsq

Trust me, staying at Excalibur (which I did for cheap Hyatt ENCs) is beyond anything you've experienced before.

DJ_Iceman

Well, "wow" can be an exclamation of wonder or of stunned disbelief. Maybe the marketing team was using the word to its full potential...

bosman

I do see the ability to link my Marriott account with my BetMGM account (and, indeed, it is in the My Rewards tab). One can redeem BetMGM Rewards (earned at .2 per $ gambled, I believe) for Marriott Bonvoy points at a 1:1 rate. Unless you're a big online gambler, I can't see how this provides much (any?) benefit for Marriott members. As noted, no such linkage from the base MGM Rewards site.

jimrpa

wrong. Only “enhanced room upgrades, based on availability.” So, instead of the lovely garage view room
you booked, you will be “upgraded” to the lovely view of Las Vegas on the other side of I-15. Oh, and you’ll be charged $32 for even LOOKING at the bottle of water in the room 🙄