How to Maximize the Hyatt-MGM Partnership

If you have elite status with Hyatt, and plan on going to Las Vegas, you’ll be happy to know that Hyatt has a partnership with MGM that offers status matching between both loyalty programs. Likewise, if you’re an MGM elite and have a Hyatt stay coming up, take advantage of the status matching to get your perks. Although it’s most famous for the MGM Grand, MGM owns 29 hotels across the U.S., China and Japan, so this partnership can be quite useful.

In February 2022, MGM’s loyalty program was renamed from M Life to MGM Rewards, so if you’re seeing a different program name at MGM, that’s why. Here’s what you need to know about the Hyatt MGM partnership and how to maximize its benefits.

Because of Hyatt and MGM's loyalty partnership, if you’ve got elite status with Hyatt, you can match that status with MGM. The reverse is also true: If you’ve got elite status with MGM Rewards, you can match with Hyatt.

MGM’s loyalty program, MGM Rewards, is free to join. In addition to earning rewards for slot, table play, dining, entertainment and other spending at MGM resorts, members get perks like hotel discounts, the ability to skip the line at participating buffets, complimentary self-parking, priority check-in and priority access for valet and taxi service. In other words, it definitely pays to be an MGM Rewards member.

Hyatt’s World of Hyatt loyalty program is also free to join and as a Hyatt elite, you receive plenty of perks like free breakfast, bonus points on hotel stays, waived resort fees, free updates and more.

Matching your status is a simple process but won't happen automatically. Here’s how statuses in both programs match to one another.

Once you’ve status matched, you can repeat the process in reverse to potentially keep up your status with each program year over year. This is because each program is on a different calendar, with a month of overlap. While MGM Rewards status expires on Jan. 31 of each year, Hyatt status expires on the last day of February.

Let’s say you currently hold Explorist status with Hyatt. In order to keep status in both programs, you could:

1. Match your Hyatt Explorist status to MGM Rewards Gold today.

2. When your MGM Rewards status expires on Jan. 31, use your Hyatt Explorist status to re-match back up to MGM Rewards Gold. Make sure to do this before the last day of February.

3. When your Explorist status expires on the last day of February, use your recently-earned MGM Rewards Gold status to re-match back up to Explorist.

4. Repeat as needed.

Hyatt to MGM status match

Log into your Hyatt account and head to this page. Once you click the “Opt In” button, you’ll arrive at the MGM Rewards site, where you can either sign up for the program or log in to your existing account. From there, you can complete the matching process with another couple of clicks.

Note: If you hold the World of Hyatt Credit Card or the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, you receive automatic Discoverist status, which you can easily leverage to match to MGM Pearl.

MGM to Hyatt to status match

Head over to the MGM Rewards website and login. Once you’re there, visit the status match page and click the “opt in” button. You will then need to sign in to your Hyatt account or set up a new one to complete the status match.

» Learn more: World of Hyatt elite status: The complete guide

1. Earn Hyatt points at MGM properties in Las Vegas and elsewhere

If you’re staying at an MGM property, you can charge all of your eligible purchases to your room, no matter which MGM hotel you’re staying at. This means that World of Hyatt members can earn Hyatt points all over town.

MGM properties in Las Vegas include:

• Bellagio.

• ARIA.

• Vdara at ARIA.

• MGM Grand.

• The Signature at MGM Grand.

• Mandalay Bay.

• Delano Las Vegas.

• Park MGM.

• NoMad Las Vegas.

• The Mirage.

• New York-New York.

• Luxor.

• Excalibur.

MGM also has hotels in Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York and Ohio. Internationally, MGM owns one property Macau, five in China and two in Japan.

For World of Hyatt members, any purchases made at MGM hotels will earn 5x World of Hyatt base points. Considering that eligible purchases include meals and souvenirs, this can add up to a lot of points. In addition, you can also earn Hyatt elite night credits when staying at MGM hotels.

If you prefer, you can elect to earn MGM Rewards Tier credits instead of base points when staying at Hyatt properties. So, no matter which program is your favorite, it’s a win-win.

» Learn more: Sin City on a budget: How to save on your next trip to Vegas

2. Book rooms at a big discount if paying in cash

As a member of MGM Rewards, you have access to discounted hotel rates on the MGM Rewards site. These discounts can be hefty. A recent search for a room at the NoMad returned a nightly rate of $190.48 on the Hyatt site, compared to a $148.65 rate on the MGM Rewards site. That’s a 22% discount. Not bad for a few clicks. Just make sure to log into your MGM Rewards account to see the deals.

The benefit also works in reverse. You can book MGM Rewards hotels through the Hyatt website.

3. Use Hyatt points to stay at MGM’s 29 properties

Just as you could use your Hyatt points to book an award stay at a Hyatt property, you can also use your Hyatt points to book a stay at one of MGM’s 29 hotels. To book a stay with points, head over to the Hyatt website and input your search as you normally would and you will see MGM properties in your search result.

For example, a search on the Hyatt website for a weekend in Las Vegas shows Hyatt and MGM properties in cash and points rates.

» Learn more: The ultimate guide for using World of Hyatt points in Las Vegas

The loyalty partnership between Hyatt and MGM is a valuable asset for anyone headed to Las Vegas or any other MGM locations. Reciprocal status matching means that members of both World of Hyatt and MGM Rewards can enjoy perks and benefits from each program. As a World of Hyatt member, you can earn Hyatt points at MGM properties, plus you can get rooms at a hefty discount while earning Hyatt points and stay credit.

If you have World of Hyatt Credit Card or the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, you already have Discoverist status, so you can easily match to MRM Rewards Pearl. Members really hit the jackpot with this Hyatt-MGM relationship.