The new agreement includes 17 properties in MGM’s stable, representing a dozen properties in Las Vegas and five properties in cities across the U.S. Starting in October, the hospitality giant’s 180 million Marriott Bonvoy members will be able to earn and redeem points for stays at a slew of MGM properties in the U.S., while the 40 million members of MGM Rewards can link accounts with Marriott Bonvoy and receive select member benefits. This type of reciprocal arrangement is far less common in the hotel industry. Travelers might think of the Marriott-MGM agreement as a “codesharing” arrangement of sorts, similar to the agreements that allow airlines to sell seats on each other’s flights. Marriott also just happens to be a hotel company, hotel franchisor and manager.” It’s the Marriott Bonvoy platform and its 180 million members. “It’s not Marriott’s 31 - now maybe 32 - different hotel brands.
“Marriott Bonvoy is the brand,” Bellisario says.
When he says “bigger is better,” he’s talking about the company’s loyalty program. But Bellisario is not talking about Marriott’s revenues or its 8,000 properties containing 1.4 million rooms in 139 countries and territories.
