Hyatt announced today that they have entered into a partnership with a company that is going to renovate Rio Las Vegas into several full-service brand Hyatt hotels. The first project will be turning a 1,500-room tower into a Hyatt Regency with more to follow. This could be great news for Hyatt enthusiasts who like to visit Las Vegas given that it means full Globalist benefits.
The full press release hints at excitement while staying light on details. All we know for sure so far is that:
- Rio Las Vegas will be renovated into more than one full-service Hyatt brand
- Hyatt’s existing relationship with MGM will not be impacted
- The first of multiple projects will be renovating one tower at Rio into a Hyatt Regency
Since Hyatt was explicit that this project will be bringing full-service Hyatt brands (<-plural) to Las Vegas, my guess is that we may see an Andaz, Hyatt Centric, or possibly even a Park Hyatt Las Vegas. The latter sounds nice, though I question whether they can command the room to maintain a Park Hyatt atmosphere that far off the strip. We’ll see.
Given that Rio is currently an all-suite property, I hope that bodes well for the rooms (the press release boats an average room size of 580 square feet). Although I typically stay at MGM properties in Las Vegas, I’d be inclined to check this out down the road. That is in no small part because we’d be talking about full Globalist benefits — like free breakfast, free club lounge access, free parking, and late checkout. Rio is a place I always thought I might stay “one of these days” (at least years ago) but it just never felt convenient enough. With the added benefits, that might change my mind — particularly if room rates are competitive with MGM and Caesars (which obviously remains to be seen).
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My guess the other brands will be a Hyatt Place or Hyatt House.
That would have been my guess if they hadn’t specified that these will be full service Hyatts. Those are limited service brands.
They already have a Hyatt Place.
If Hyatt doesn’t carve out an exception to its rules, we’re probably going to have the first decent hotel in Las Vegas where there’s no resort fee on award stays.
You can play the Wyndham status match game and get Caesars diamond to avoid the resort fees too.
When Rio says “all-suite” what they mean is “larger than regular Vegas rooms” and that’s it. There’s no walls, dividers, etc. We’ve stayed at Rio 4-5 times in the past 3 years as a Diamond member and every time were apparently upgraded rooms, so I’d hate to see what the lower rooms are like.
I first stayed at the Rio when there was a single tower, — one of the three wings of what is now the main building — when people would happily stand in line for two hours for the Carnival World Buffet, and when Telly Savalas was the brand spokesman. In those days, no one went to Vegas for Christmas (except us), and the casinos never decorated for the holidays, let alone have a Christmas Tree, but the Rio did.
We’ve watched the changes, good and bad over the years, but the Rio will always have a sentimental draw for us. By all means go! At a minimum, have drinks or dinner in the Voodoo Lounge/Restaurant. The views are amazing <wink>.
The location isn’t bad. Want better odds or lower minimums? Walk across the street to the Gold Coast. Want to mix and mingle with all the pretty people? Cross the street again and check out the venues at The Palms. There is a free shuttle to the strip, stopping at Harrah’s. The Rio has a lot to offer, although sadly no longer at $19/night!
Caesars Diamond members can often get $10/night at Rios, but for the same price I’d rather stay at Bally’s (also leaving Caesars) or Harrah’s.
You’ve must not have stayed in a long while. The free shuttle was disbanded a few years ago, bummer.
It’s not financially feasible to turn this off-strip property into an Andaz or Park Hyatt.
The Rio was sold by Caesars in 2019 and Caesars has at least a 2 year management deal. I just looked at it and a room is $29 .
I imagine Hyatt is planning to charge more than Rio has commanded. I’m not saying they’ll get it, but on the other hand they aren’t going to charge $29 for a Regency.
Keep in mind that Luxor is also often $29 and next door the Four Seasons at Mandalay Bay charges a lot more than $29. I imagine that Hyatt is planning to up Rio’s game a bit. Again, I admit that it’s a questionable proposition (obviously Rio and Palms expected better when they opened), but I’m down for a $29 PH night if they guess wrong :-).
Hope this won’t end the MGM partnership.
I’d be really surprised if it’s an Andaz or PH. I’m thinking a big chunk of the 2nd tower will be turned into HRC, and several of the floors some mid tier brand, or maybe an all inclusive Ziva/Zilara?
There hasn’t been any kind of maintenance done on the Rio in more than a decade. Right now this property should be a category 1 Hyatt. If you want to stay in that area, I’d stay across the street at the Palms.
I would assume that’s why they’re renovating it and not opening it immediately as a Hyatt.