The next generation of Saudi Arabian hotels is coming, marked by the opening of the Kingdom’s multi-billion-dollar giga-projects. Marriott is showing what is possible at these spare-no-expense properties: Asking for the highest room rates in the country.
Marriott to Bet on Gaming With MGM Resorts Loyalty Program Tie-Up
25.08.2023 - 13:13 / skift.com / Anthony Capuano / Sean Oneill / Alan Woinski
Marriott International has signed a licensing deal with MGM Resorts to let Marriott Bonvoy loyalty members earn points when staying at 17 MGM resorts, starting in October. Bookings at 40,000 of MGM’s rooms mainly in Las Vegas will be available through Marriott’s site and app by year-end.
“We look forward to increasing our global room distribution by 2.4% as we grow our presence on the Las Vegas Strip and in other compelling destinations across the U.S.,” said Anthony Capuano, president and CEO of Marriott International.
The move represents Marriott’s first effort at tapping the gaming resort sector, though it’s not officially adding a new brand as MGM remains the operator of the resorts. Until now, Las Vegas has been a tough market for Marriott to crack because of the dominance of gaming resorts. Marriott and MGM have had a co-marketing partnership only at The Cosmopolitan on The Strip.
“MGM is the leader in high-end casino resorts in the U.S. and dominates the Las Vegas Strip in hotel rooms so it is a natural fit with Marriott,” said Alan Woinski, editor of Daily Lodging Report.
Members of MGM’s loyalty program, which claims more than 40 million members, will be able to link accounts with Marriott’s loyalty program and get as-yet-unspecified “select member benefits” at more than 8,500 properties.
Members of Marriott Bonvoy, which has more than 180 million members, will be able to earn and redeem points for stays at the 17 MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy properties.
“Members of both programs will also be able to exchange MGM Rewards points for Marriott Bonvoy points and vice versa,” the companies said.
MGM Resorts is ending in September a smaller deal with Hyatt, where spending in MGM’s rewards program could help members of Hyatt’s loyalty program advance to a higher tier status. Hyatt didn’t offer booking at MGM properties, and the rewards weren’t as generous.
The Marriott brand was founded by J. Willard Marriott Senior, who was a Mormon, a religious faith disapproving of gambling. For decades, the Marriott empire stayed away from the gambling sector.
Times change. The deal announced on Monday includes a gaming component. Marriott International also has a deal with BetMGM, MGM Resorts International’s online gaming and sports betting joint venture, where Marriott Bonvoy members will have chances to earn loyalty points on certain BetMGM transactions by taking part in games and other offers on the BetMGM site and app. Details to come later this year.
“The announcement confirms a long-time view of mine that the casino resort and traditional hotel industries would eventually become ‘an item’,” Woinski said.
A crossover, such as a merger or some large joint venture, between lodging and gaming
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
skift.com
08.09.2023 / 17:23
Hilton vs. Marriott: Things We Learned From the Business Wars Podcast
We learned a lot about hotel sector history by listening to Hilton vs. Marriott — the latest season from , a show from Wondery, Amazon’s podcast studio.
skift.com
30.08.2023 / 11:17
Hyatt's Junk Fee Efforts Stymied by Third Parties
Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, August 30. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
skift.com
29.08.2023 / 21:29
Hyatt Now Discloses Resort Fee Up-Front, but Hotel 'Junk Fee' Issues Remain
Hyatt, Marriott, and MGM Resorts have been hit with lawsuits since 2019 over how they disclose mandatory resort fees. The companies have since changed how they disclose resort fees on their websites and apps.
skift.com
25.08.2023 / 14:45
Marriott’s New Extended Stay Offering
Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, November 11. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
skift.com
25.08.2023 / 14:43
Why Marriott Thinks It Could Fare Better Than in Previous Recessions
Marriott International forecast that its fourth quarter would surpass 2019 in revenue per available room, a a closely watched number, underscoring the resilience of travel spending despite economic worries.
skift.com
25.08.2023 / 14:38
New Marriott Apartment Brand Bets on Blended Travel's Growth
Marriott International is debuting an extended-stay brand offering serviced apartment stays in the U.S. and Canada. The Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy product will play in the premium and luxury segments, syncing with Marriott’s overall portfolio — which is in the upper half of lodging categories.
skift.com
25.08.2023 / 14:30
Marriott's Edition Hotels Face Challenge of Scaling Up Uniqueness
Marriott International’s Edition brand, co-created with hotel impresario Ian Schrager, may finally be clicking with developers after a decade-long slow burn. The Tampa Edition that opened in September marked the 15th property in the series. Top executives expect to double that footprint within five years.
skift.com
25.08.2023 / 14:24
Marriott and Curator Hotel's Insider Tips on Hosting Blended Travelers
Skift unveiled the 2023 edition of its annual Megatrends this week and in the mix, as you’d expect, is the phenomenon of the blended traveler.
skift.com
25.08.2023 / 14:24
Marriott and Curator Execs Speak on Hotel Agility as Travelers Evolve
Doing local in a more memorable way is becoming increasingly important for hotels. Marriott International VP of Design Aliya Khan and Curator Hotel & Resort Collection President Jennifer Barnwell discuss the rising demand for more lifestyle, capturing experiences through design and balancing renovations with changing consumer expectations.
skift.com
25.08.2023 / 14:21
Marriott’s CEO Is Tired of U.S. Visa Wait Times
Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, January 13, and there’s no reason to be superstitious. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
skift.com
25.08.2023 / 14:19
Marriott CEO Calls on U.S. to End the Visa Delays Damaging Tourism
The top boss of Marriott International used an on-stage interview on Thursday as a platform to call on the U.S. federal government to do more to cut the wait times for interviews for first-time visitor visa applicants, which he said was leading to lost revenue because of reduced U.S. inbound tourism.