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We talked briefly the other day about the refreshed MGM Rewards program — currently known as M Life (until January 31).
One of the new perks is waived resort fees — for MGM Rewards members who hold at least Gold tier status. (The only statuses higher are Platinum and Noir.)
But here’s the rub: if you want to take advantage of the waived resort fees, you must book your reservation directly through MGM Resorts. No online travel agencies, no Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, no Vegas.com, etc. MGM Resorts only or bust.
And another topic that stirred some interest in that post’s Comments section was myVEGAS.
myVEGAS is a social gaming app from PLAYSTUDIOS that has partnered with MGM Resorts International properties through their playAWARDS platform. This rewards program allows players to collect loyalty points to be used at MGM properties for benefits such as complimentary drinks and meal courses, discounted rooms, and more.
(myVEGAS is something we’ll talk more about in the coming weeks.)
When you redeem myVEGAS points for a free stay at an MGM property, only the room rate and its tax are comped. You’re on the hook for resort fees and associated taxes.
And you also complete the booking on MGM Resorts’ website.
So that led reader AAmom to ask a great question:
I am going to Vegas with MyVegas redemption. Do you think they will waive the resort fees for these comp nights as these are booked directly through Mlife? I am a Gold member.
MGM confirmed to us through a representative that “this would be considered a direct booking so resorts fees would be waived” on myVEGAS stays. (I hope AAmom is going on February 1 or later!)
So that’s some good news for myVEGAS players who hold at least MGM Rewards / M Life Gold status. Though I can’t imagine many Noir or Platinum members are concerned about resort fees. Or myVEGAS.
Quick Aside
I had a chance to read up more about the MGM Rewards changes.
MGM absolutely decimated the program’s points-earning structure. MGM Rewards also warns that it may not grant as many Express Comps to players “who generate high level amounts of table gaming activity.” So, head over to Caesars properties or downtown to Freemont for gambling while staying at MGM resorts?
So that’s rather disappointing.
Miles to Memories’ Mark Ostermann wrote a pretty strongly-worded post detailing the changes. (Spoiler alert: I don’t think he’s happy with them.)
Final Approach
MGM Rewards (soon to be formerly known as M Life) members who hold Gold, Platinum, or Noir status will no longer pay resort fees on booking made directly through MGM Resorts. And that includes myVEGAS complimentary stays.
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Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Wait what? You can’t book on Hyatt for waived resort fees?
If only.
So I have the status match from World of Hyatt Globalist to MGM Rewards Gold. If I book a room direct with MGM after Feb 1st I will get waived resort fees but will I also get Hyatt stay credit towards my 2022 Hyatt Globalist status?
I thought Hyatt required me to book directly through Hyatt website in order to get stay credit? Can you clarify if I book direct with MGM that I would get Hyatt stay credit also? Thanks
I believe you can get stay credit if you book through MGM. Ben at OMAAT has a pretty good post about Hyatt and MGM benefits.
We have gotten Hyatt credit for all of our stays booked through Mgm, as long as our Hyatt number is given at check in. Mgm allow you to triple dip: mlife credit (now mgm rewards), Hyatt credit, and 600 southwest air points per paid stay. We have happily triple dipped for years and now no resort fees, pretty happy with the changes.
… and yes, as long as it is a paid night at an mgm property, it has also counted towards our explorist or globalist status.
I’m in the minority who aren’t unhappy with the Mlife program changes. Yes, I’ll drop from Platinum to Gold, but the Platinum benefits above Gold were very weak in the old program (a “free cruise” that was based on your gaming anyway, plus a Platinum Experience on check-in–e.g. admission to the Shark Reef, NYNY Roller Coaster, Secret Garden or BGFA). To me the new Gold benefits are better than the old Platinum benefits, specifically the waived resort fees and $100 annual dining credit. And the new Platinum benefits are enticing, especially the suite upgrades.
Not sure table game players jumping over to Caesars is a great idea since Caesars has always been stingy with table gaming and El Dorado is actively gutting the Caesars Rewards program. I haven’t been downtown in years but hear they are tightening up too, and it’s not too convenient when staying on the South Strip. Maybe Orleans instead?
Thanks for the perspective, Kurt!
Thanks for the confirmation! We stay only one night but have two rooms at Bellagio and Mandalay Bay comped with myVegas points. Good to hear that the resorts fees will be waived so that we play at the pool of Mandalay Bay and sleep at Bellagio property.
I, too, love Bellagio — but my daughter loves Mandalay Beach 🙂 . Have a great time!
Hi Chris, do we have any way to confirm this? Thanks.
I was at Park MGM with MyVegas comp nights, and the front desk agent refused to waive my resort fees. I tried another agent at the VIP check in when checked out and she declined as well, saying the booking needs to be made directly with MGM, and they considered MyVegas as a third party. I got my other nights’ resort fees waived with no problem, which I booked on Mlife website.
That was per a representative of the team handling MGM Resorts. This person said they checked with powers that be and confirmed resort fees should be waived for MyVegas comp nights booked through MGM’s website. And no one from MGM contacted us to say our post was inaccurate. So it’s possible that we were given incorrect information from a high-level executive. Or that the employees were given wrong info.
I was at Park Mgm 2/6/22 – 2/8/22 on a MyVegas comp and the front desk waived the fees for my Gold. Were you there earlier dates? I understand there was some confusion the first few days of February. The Facebook group I am in has had dozens of members get them waived as well. I expect they will streamline the process over the next few months.
Hi Chris, long time reader first time poster. I would like to add another data point to the discussion.
Just finished a stay at Park MGM from 3/4-3/6. I’m a platinum member with MGM rewards and the front desk agent refused to waive my resort fees. He called the manager on duty who also reiterated that they do not waive resort fees for MyVegas bookings since they are not considered a “direct booking”. After some back and forth the agent reluctantly waived my resort fee for the first night as a gesture of good will. He told me if I receive a direct written confirmation from MGM Rewards (email) then he would gladly waive the resort fee for the second night.
I emailed MGM rewards immediately after on 3/4 and have yet to hear back.
Thanks, Shaun. You completed your brooking through an official MGM Resorts website, correct?
Yes, I was logged in on the MGM resort’s website in order to book using the MyVegas award. Still waiting to hear back from MGM rewards. Might reach out via phone in a few days.
Okay, thanks. Please keep us posted!
Heard back from MGM Rewards and they confirmed that resort fee is waived! Called Park MGM to have my charges reversed. However, the manager on duty was still in denial and states that he is only doing so because I have the email or otherwise he would have not waived the resort fee(wth?!). My suggestion is for everyone to have a written confirmation ready to present for stays Park MGM through MyVegas.
Thanks for the update, Shaun! Park MGM seems to be a property people are having problems with.
Another Park MGM comment. I was at Park MGM on a one night Myvegas comp March 15 and the desk agents stated that Myvegas is a third party website. They would not accept my reasoning that once a Myvegas comp is redeemed one has to necessarily click through to the direct MGM website to actually book the comped room.
The manager was called and I was given a “one time” exception but was told if I come back with another Myvegas comp then I have to pay resort fees despite being Gold.
Similar problem was noted also at the Mandalay bay on a Myvegas one night comp but the manager was called who allowed the resort fee to be waived.
I suggest getting a written confirmation from MGM rewards to mitigate this issue going forward. Once enough of us are doing it the hotel managements will get the hint.
Luxor claimed at check in the myvegas comp room was not an mgm booking. I had an email printed and the agent showed it to the manager and about five minutes later he came back silent and started typing and then after he handed me the keys I confirmed he waived the resort fees since my card was only authorized at $50 for the deposit.
Ew. That’s passive aggressive. Thanks for the data point.
NY NY claimed at the front desk that he was “trained” in February that myvegas was not a direct booking. I had to show the email and then he was able to waive the resort fee.
What’s interesting is I am a Platinum member 200K+ points. My room comps are the same basic standard regular rooms and I still pay resort fees.
Just came back from Aria and was told the same thing as some of you. That although the booking is through MGM, MyVegas is considered a third party booking in their system so resort fee charge is valid. She was nice enough to waive it but did say it was a one time courtesy. It would be nice to get the answer to if they intend to waive fees for gold members once and for all so we can plan accordingly