I’ve been fairly impressed with Hyatt Gold Passport’s online media efforts lately. They had a blog for a while, but sometime last year they relaunched Keyed into Hyatt, which has since offered some really stellar content surrounding their different properties and corporate activities. I mean, it’s no View from the Wing, but it’s one of the better corporate blogs I’ve seen. They’re now doing something similar to promote the relationship between Hyatt Gold Passport and MGM’s M life casino rewards program with the Make Vegas Yours digital hub.
“Blog” isn’t quite the right word to describe this endeavor, but it’s among the best I can come up with. There is a lot of content already there — not just written articles but also pictures, videos, etc. It’s organized by topic, such as “Activities” or “Food & Drink.” And when you choose an option the various kinds of media spread out like tiles.
You can even earn free nights, points, show tickets, and more by adding to the collection with your own digital moments. Just include the hashtag #MakeVegasYours for a chance to win, and be sure to follow @HyattTweets for more details. For example, check out the contest closing today at noon CST.
Tweet your favorite thing to do in Las Vegas w/ #MVYentry by noonCST tomorrow for a chance to win a $100 @mlife gift card. #MakeVegasYours
— Hyatt Tweets (@HyattTweets) July 16, 2014
I could call it an encyclopedia of all things Vegas, but let’s give it some more time to grow first. There is potential as more content is added and the relationship between Hyatt and MGM continues. Let’s also not forget this is still a marketing endeavor. One article on “Top 10 Surprising(ly Random) Things to Do in Vegas” is not surprisingly and not randomly full of activities offered at various MGM hotel casinos. But given that these properties make up roughly half the strip and I already spend most of my time at them when I visit, they were bound to pop up.
That’s partly why I think Hyatt’s partnership with MGM is one of the best relationships in recent years to marry a conventional hotel loyalty program with Las Vegas. It’s a city where many major chains either don’t have a lot of properties or site them in off-Strip locations that get fewer tourists. A few smaller partnerships like that between IHG Rewards and the Venetian/Palazzo duo don’t offer a lot of options if you feel priced out or don’t like the property. But Hyatt partners with a dozen MGM hotels that span everything from Excalibur to Bellagio.
Starwood recently announced something similar this year with Caesars Entertainment, the other big resort operator on the Strip. However, there are a few important differences. Both programs allow you to earn qualifying nights and rewards points with your preferred hotel loyalty program (Starwood Preferred Guest or Hyatt Gold Passport) when you stay at a participating Las Vegas hotel. Starwood also partners with several resorts outside of Las Vegas. But SPG puts a cap of 10 qualifying nights earned via Caesars, while Hyatt would let you earn all 25 stays or 50 nights from MGM if you wanted.
That means you could renew your Diamond status for about $500 if you booked a lot of one-night $20 rooms at Excalibur (though don’t forget resort fees and taxes). A single Diamond suite upgrade can easily be worth that much.
Hyatt and MGM also offer reciprocal elite status. Anyone with Platinum Gold Passport status gets Gold M life status, which includes some benefits like shorter lines to nightclubs and buffets. Don’t forget you can get Platinum Gold Passport status just by carrying a Hyatt credit card. If you earn Diamond status, then you’ll be matched to Platinum M life status, which includes additional discounts and line passes. I’ve learned in the past year that Vegas is a lot more fun without lines!
