MGM has announced some big changes to its Mlife rewards program as of February 1, 2022, when the program will be rebranded as MGM Rewards. Readers more focused on hotel loyalty programs than gambling will be excited to see that MGM is planning to waive resort fees for those with Gold status or higher. As long as Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members can continue to match to Mlife / MGM Rewards Gold, that should make for very cheap Hyatt mattress runs in Las Vegas (and improved uses of Fine Hotels & Resorts credits).
Tier benefits refreshed for MGM Rewards
MGM has kept its same 5 membership tiers, but they have significantly enhanced benefits. While still perhaps not quite as intriguing as Caesars or Wynn, I find the improvements exciting since I actually prefer staying at MGM properties when I go to Las Vegas – both for Hyatt points / elite credit and because they have the properties / casinos that I like.
New benefit highlights include:
- Pearl or higher: complimentary tickets to MGM Rewards concerts
- Gold or higher: waived resort fees, access to exclusive tier appreciation events and experiences
- Platinum or higher: Tier Achievement Travel Credit to Las Vegas (Platinum+), , advanced suite upgrades for up to three nights (Platinum+), and 4 p.m. late check-out (based on availability; Platinum+)
Really, the star of the show here as far as I am concerned is waived resort fees. Those can really add up on a Las Vegas stay.
For instance, just last week when I was making some Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings to use up my Platinum card credits for 2021, I booked a couple of nights at Delano Las Vegas. The nightly rate was $109, but with tax and resort fee, that came out to more like $160 per night thanks to a resort fee that came to around $45 with tax.
Not paying that resort fee will save me $90 over each of the two-night stays that I booked (I booked a couple) and it means that my Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings each came out to $240 for a two-night stay (assuming that this benefit applies on FHR bookings — see the yellow callout box above). After the Platinum card credit, I’ll pay a net $40 for two nights with a $60 breakfast credit each morning and a $100 resort credit that can be used at a bunch of the restaurants at Mandalay Bay. To be clear, those are Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits, not Mlife benefits — this just illustrates how much better of a deal those stays will be without the resort fees.
During my searches, I also saw nights where Bellagio came out to around $200 with taxes, so that would be close to net zero for a single-night stay if you’re not paying the resort fee.
I am referencing no resort fee because World of Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members can currently match to Mlife Gold. Thanks to the status match-go-round it has been possible to keep that match alive back and forth for years.
While a waived resort fee will be nice for those of us burning Fine Hotels & Resorts credits, it will also come in handy for very cheap Hyatt mattress runs. A number of times in the past I have booked a cheap stay at Excalibur even when staying elsewhere just to earn cheap Hyatt elite nights.
For example, just now I looked at my Mlife account for offers and found that I had an offer for up to 3 complimentary nights at Excalibur. While I don’t think complimentary nights are technically supposed to count for Hyatt elite status, in the past I’ve had them post when mixed with paid nights (clearly YMMV and I haven’t done this in a few years). If that worked, a stay like this would make for a nice little mattress run:
In addition to the benefits listed above, MGM is also trumpeting the fact that gaming and non-gaming customers will all be able to earn and redeem points in the new system. My take on that is that those who spend money will be recognized for their contributions to MGM’s coffers whether the money is flowing in from gambling or not. That makes sense to me given the rise in recent years of luxury Las Vegas Strip properties without a casino. It makes sense to also reward those who come to Las Vegas primarily for luxury resorts and entertainment or now professional sports.
Bottom line
Overall, I’m pretty excited to see MGM add the ability to get resort fees waived for elite. This has been something very valuable about the Wyndham and Caesars partnership, but I have still preferred to stay at MGM properties both because I like earning elite credit and I just prefer some of the MGM properties (though in fairness I haven’t stayed at many Caesars properties). This will really enhance both my planned Fine Hotels & Resorts reservations and the ability to mattress run cheap nights at the lower-end properties. I would much rather see resort fees go away altogether, but I am happy to see a path to having them eliminated.
I did a mix of 3 free comps nights and 1 paid night at Mirage (through my Mlife account) in October 2021, and I only got 1 elite night credit. Then a recent stay at MGM in January 2022 (through my Mlife account), I had a mix of 2 free comp nights and 2 paid nights, and I received 4 elite night credits. It appears hit and miss now. In the past, I would have always gotten elite credit for all 4 nights.
I’ve booked a comp night with myvegas redemption code in April. Assuming that I maintain the Gold status, will the resort fee not charged? The booking is direct through mlife. My guess is that the fee will be waived but want to hear from others.
Where do you go to see the hotel rate by the month at MGM hotels. (Per your screen shot) When I go to MGM website, it makes me choose my check in and check out date. No option to see rates by the month.
I am a platinum member and did not pay any resort fees from Sept-Oct 2021 and I’ve stayed at about 4 MGM properties during that window.
Thanks Anon,
Did you have to request that they be removed?
Or were they proactively removed / omitted in recognition of your status?
Also: do you know of any additional benefits under the new plan to being an MLife member and also having the MLife Credit Card? Thank you
Hi…I am a very long-time MLife member who has been Gold for the last several years. Sadly, with Covid, etc., I now only have about 48,000 points, so i understand that in 2022 I will fall to Pearl status.
I now live in Las Vegas but will still be staying at MGM properties and eating, playing, etc.through the year with family from o o state when they visit. I will REALLY miss the free valet parking of the Gold status, and in the really hot months I may have to forego visiting my favorite MGM casinos because I can’t walk in that heat & I can’t see being charged for valet parking (and then also tipping the attendants) when I am also spending money in their business as an active member.
Nick, can you suggest anywhere for me to write to suggest free or reduced rate valet based on time-in-membership, local status (since I am playing in an MGM casino and not in one of the smaller local places), etc.?
Thanks for any information
I do like the waived resort fees. Main reason to book to begin with. My thing though is because of the point system change it may take forever to get to gold status.
Agreed…very hard to get to 75,000
hey Nick, could ya’ll bring back a sorting with ‘most recent’? to me that way, it’ll be more useful & easy to follow. TIA
I’d like the opposite– “oldest first”. What happened to these options? TIA.
Good question. I didn’t know it was gone. Looking into it.
I am pearl right now and can be I’m 20,000 away from gold. If I turn gold now will I get the waived resorts fee moving forward. Seeing as how I would keep my status for a year at least right?
I have platinum card and I don’t pay anything. I actually get $300 to $500 resorts credit and free play. I also get free parking.
$300 to $500 resort credit isn’t from AMEX Platinum, which I am. As a NOIR member, which I assume you’d have to also be to get freeplay or food & beverage credit of that amount, along with limo transport to and from airport. Otherwise, you’re getting it from a host and your average spend is over $5000.00 per day since you’ve been a member. Did you just want 2 brag?
Before commenting know facts. Beng was referring to platinum status with mlife. Not Noir. I got $350 free play and $300 resort credit in December as a gold member. Comps based on play not card status. Only 3k short of platinum which I will achieve in 2 weeks since they extended earning period to Jan 31. Will be nice to get extra $200 dining credit and $600 for travel as a perk this year. And I don’t spend near 5k a day gambling.
Looking at a hypothetical booking Feb 1 onward shows the resort fees being added, even though I’m Gold. The system obviously isn’t set up yet to remove those. The question is, if you book ahead and arrive, say, Feb 1, will they insist you pay the resort fees because the computer still says they’re there?
Yes resort fees are charged for any reservation booked before 02/01/22. Better to wait until February to book
My only concern is whether my current 4 nights comp’d will still be offered after 2/1 or not? I’ve booked a bunch of stays for 2022 already, but if better offers arise after 2/1 then I’ll cancel and make new ones. We shall see…so far this us the only article to mention new perks.
I would have expected that you’d still get resort fees comped starting on 2/1 even if the reservation was made sooner. Where are you seeing otherwise Eve?
I booked stays this week for later in the year and Aria, Bellagio, Vdara, Signature still show resort fees for comp 4 night stays. I just looked again and it’s still showing resort fees for reservations after 2/1 all locations for paid rooms.
That is exactly what I am curious about. I am NOT canceling my comped rooms yet. Just In case they get rid of comped rooms altogether.
Hopefully we will get resort fees waived on comped rooms. I guess we will see.
Nick,
FYI – I’m a Diamond Plus with Royal Caribbean cruises. M-Life status status matches me to Platinum.
Good to know!
Does Gold Status still get free valet parking still? It’s a huge perk for me, at least.
Yes. No changed on that benefit so far
Thanks Eve for confirming that!
Yeah, that’s a huge bummer!
I had several FHR MGM stays in 2021 and have a few upcoming. Some data points:
Interesting. If I may clarify, did the points post to Hyatt automatically, or did you have to make a request to get them added manually?
My nights credited always show automatically on Hyatt after a stay, unless I’m using Comp’d nights I get zero nights credit on Hyatt. But, I still get points for my spend, if any. It does take about a week longer for the credit to appear than when I stay at a Hyatt resort.
Half my 2021 Hyatt Globalist Nights stayed are from MGM resort stays.
Thanks 9th Island. Which resorts did you see the automatic crediting at, please?
It’s happened at all MGM Resorts I’ve stayed at. Since I initially added my Hyatt # to my mlife I check periodically 2 make sure they have it and they do. Mandalay, Delano, Vdara, Luxor, Park MGM, Nomad and Bellagio. I haven’t stayed at NY NY/Excalibur or The Mirage.
In the past, I’ve automatically received Hyatt elite night credit and points for stays at Excalibur, Luxor, Delano (booked via FHR and Chase Luxury Hotels Collection and also once booked Mandalay Bay through MGM and “upgraded” at check-in to Delano), and Bellagio (booked via FHR). I did have a stay that had a couple of complimentary nights and one paid night credit back in 2019, but it could have been a fluke.
https://frequentmiler.com/mgm-free-nights-earn-hyatt-elite-credit/
All that said, I haven’t stayed on a prepaid FHR rate before. Based on the fact that other people have gotten, for example, Hyatt and Marriott points and elite nights at FHR properties (meaning non-Vegas properties, just Hyatt and Marriott hotels and resorts), I assumed the same would be true here. You ordinarily wouldn’t receive stay credit and benefits on a room booked via Expedia, but I’ve now seen enough reports of FHR stays coming through as being booked via Expedia that it looks like you may not get automatic Hyatt credit for these stays as they may appear third-party-booked. I’ll be curious to see moving forward…
Nick.
If you book 2 rooms at the Excalibur at the same time would you get multiple Hyatt night credit?
Can someone summarize the value of an MLife match to someone who’s severely allergic to Las Vegas?
FYI, people that spent in order to achieve status either through resort spend or gambling are getting shafted in this. It’s now a “black box” calculation method for how you earn tier credits by slot play. I am sure some of us will figure it out over time. Also, resort spend got slaughtered. You used to be able to spend $4,000 a year(or less and earn some through gambling). Many people who went for a couple weekends were able to acheive Platinum relatively easily, probably why this is being rolled out in the first place.
Yeah, it definitely stinks for those who earned status that way.
Hey Nick-any data points on whether MGM properties like Excalibur allow online check-in? E.g. – could one do a “mattress run” ,for example, at Excalibur -for the $21 mid-week nightly rate -and just pay for the stay online without physically being there – so as to earn elite Hyatt nights? I believe this won’t work at most Hyatt properties – but if anyone knows, would appreciate info. Thanks!
In theory it’ll work since you can use the app for check in and digital keys are available. However, the part I’m not sure about is if they know you never entered the room. I had a comp’d stay at excalibur and we didn’t actually stay but did check in online. It never showed up on my Hyatt stays. I had a comp’d stay at Vdara where I didn’t get credited for nights and my spend for incidentals was also zero and it still showed on my Hyatt past stays with 0 points.
Is it because at a Vdara when you checked in you gave them your Hyatt number to add to the reservation, but for the Excalibur stay you didn’t actually go and thus never had a chance to give them your Hyatt number at check-in?
No, my Hyatt number is connected to my mlife and has been since I added it in 2018. I stayed at MGM Resorts enough in 2021 to become a NOIR member. I definitely think it’s because we didn’t actually enter the room with the key. It’s the only difference in this stay than several other stays, including Vdara. I stayed over 10 times in 2021.
Even though my Hyatt number is connected to my mlife profile, I’ve almost always mentioned it to the desk agent and it appears that they had to do something on their end to make sure that the stay got credited there. My number was in the system, but it sounds like it does require the agent to do something to activate Hyatt earnings.
In terms of the online check-in thing, I don’t have any Excalibur-specific DP, but it has worked for some people sometimes before. The problem is that you never know when it won’t work, so in my opinion it isn’t worth sinking the money into a reservation when you don’t have much control over the outcome.
Significant downgrade for slot players.
NO resort fees is awesome! I’m a Hyatt Globalist and this will be great for mattress runs if I’m short on getting Globalist again.
Dont get too excited yet. Curious if they will waive resort fees on comped rooms or if you have to pay full price.
I guess we will see
Any reason to match from globalist now vs. wait until after transition? I’m over Vegas, but for cheap mattress runs I could probably stomach it.
Can you do Mlife (Hyatt) status match online or only in casino?
Mlife desk from my understanding
Mlife or front desk can take your Hyatt #
You do the Hyatt to Mlife status match online: https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/en/rewards/other-partnerships.html
mlife status from matching will go away after this month; then, we need to redo a hyatt match to mlife in Feb, correct?
Just to clarify one more time. If Hyatt Globalist, then you match to MLife Gold, then book direct with the MGM website to receive waived resort fees. When you enter your Hyatt number, do you still get free breakfast as an MGM Gold?
Also, I attempted to book two nights on April 11-13 at the Excalibur (as an MGM Gold) just now. It is still showing the resort fees for the stay. I suppose those fees won’t be waived until after 2/1/22, so no reason to pre-book now.
Anyway, see the waived resort fees on bookings after 2/1/22?
No free breakfast for anybody at MGM (unless you book a rate that includes breakfast). There are no “Hyatt” elite benefits at MGM. Just the ability to earn points / elite credit.
So what you do is yes you first match from Hyatt to Mlife Gold. Then you book via the MGM website and enter your MGM number.
When you check in (keep in mind that there is usually a dedicated line for Gold and higher to check in that is much much shorter or sometimes empty even when the regular line is a mile long), you tell the desk agent that you’d like to add your Hyatt number to your profile to make sure you earn Hyatt points. The first time you do this, they’ll enter your Hyatt number and then your Hyatt number will be linked to your MGM profile and you probably won’t have to give it to anyone else again, but you’ll need to make sure that the stay is set up to credit Hyatt properly. I don’t know the behind-the-desk mechanics of this, but it has sounded in the past to me like the agent needs to click something to like “activate” the double dip. I usually check at both check-in and check-out to make sure that they have my Hyatt account attached to the reservation as I’ve occasionally had a check-out agent say that the check-in agent didn’t set it up correctly (though I’ve also just checked in and left at Excalibur and not returned after double checking at check-in that the Hyatt info was attached and I was fine).
I don’t think we’ll see the resort fees waived until after 2/1, but I imagine that the resort fee will be waived even on an existing reservation. I think you could reserve now and the resort fee will still be waived based on your status. The advantage of booking now is just to lock in whatever the “now” rate is.
Looks like we should do a Frequent Miler “meet up” at the Excalibur in Las Vegas from February 21-23. Rooms at roughly $13 per night.
If you just booked these nights, to achieve 60 Hyatt nights annually, then the cost is $780 plus flights back and forth (unless you live in the area) to receive a Category 1-4 night, 4 suite upgrades, Category 1-7 night, Hyatt Concierge, plus $100 gift card/5,000 points. If done correctly (ie. Spirit with no bags and no advanced seat assignment), then this could cost a total of $1500 for well over $1500 in value. Now I see why @Nick Reyes was looking at December…trying to hedge the mattress run for nights 51-60 before the year is up. Nice move.
It’s interesting to see your headline vs. another BA blogger with the headline “M life “Thanks You For Your Loyalty” With A Massive Devaluation. “
I m much more a Caesar’s guy so I haven’t done a compare and contrast of your viewpoints. Just a little surprised at such different slants.
Yeah, it’s a matter of perspective. As someone whose main focus on casino loyalty programs is getting status by not gambling / spending money, this is an improvement to me since I’ll save $45 a night when I go to Vegas, which adds up to a nice little win without sitting at a table.
On the other hand, if you were earning lots of tier credits based on spend, I guess that’s going to not be as good. Maybe I should re-approach the opening paragraph to make that distinction clear.
Gold member ?….how many are Gold Members…get serious. The “bulk” of your $$ makers are average people who support you totally when it’s offseason. You’ve cut our heads off and really don’t care. Well neither do I !! Ciao MGM !!
Lol
Will MLife match any other hotel chains? I have Marriott Titanium, IHG Platinum, Caesars Diamond, and Wyndham Diamond.
Not as a blanket thing all the time apart from Hyatt Explorist/Globalist. There have been times when you could match from Caesars Diamond to Mlife Gold, but I’m not aware of a current opportunity.
Still debating whether I should take a trip to Vegas to status match my Caesars Diamond to M Life gold. I don’t do Vegas much , but when I do it’ll be nice to have the perks (the waived resort fees, $100 dinner, etc)
To clarify, booking direct via MGM (gold status via Hyatt status match) instead of Hyatt.com, will appropriately credit the nights to Hyatt? Sounds like a really low-cost way to requalify.
Yes, you just need to get your Hyatt number associated with your Mlife (soon to be “MGM Rewards” account and be sure that they have it attached to the reservation (I always double-check at both check-in and check out).
Nick,
Is there a way to check on my MLife profile to ensure that my Hyatt number is linked?
Also, when should I “re-match:” my globalist to my Mlife? I’m assuming my current Gold status will drop off in Feb.
Thanks
Remember you have to annually reconnect your Mlife with Hyatt, but not the other way around. Mlife keeps your Hyatt connected. January/February is the time I usually contact Hyatt to make sure they’ve got my mlife number on file.
Unless you want to bring up your Hyatt status via the Mlife match, what would be the point of connecting it in this direction? I may be missing something here. 🙂
You’d get credit with Hyatt for MGM stays, but it sounds like that’s going away Feb 1, 2021 unless you assign your points to MGM.
But to your point, it’s less valuable in that direction and even less as of Feb 1.
I recently stayed at the Bellagio and can confirm that my FHR booking was considered as third party booking, so I am pretty sure that waived resort fees won’t work for Mlife Gold members.
Anyway, booking directly for Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members with matched Mlife Gold status with be very beneficial.
I had to call recently about my FHR booking and it was definitely considered 3rd party.
Interesting. When you say “considered as third party booking”, what was different than booking direct on the MGM side?
I made a reservation through FHR last week and attached my Mlife number to it and got an email directly from Mlife saying they were looking forward to welcoming me back and highlighting Gold tier benefits, etc.
I’ll have to see if I can dig up old statements to see whether I got MGM points in the past — though if you didn’t recently then what I got or didn’t get a couple of years ago likely isn’t relevant.
FHR is currently a third party booking and I get AMEX points for that stay and FHR benefits apply. Free breakfast, late checkout etc
But not Hyatt nights/points?
Not when booking with FHR you don’t get Hyatt credit/points. Amex doesn’t connect to Hyatt. However, AMEX PLATINUM automatically gives me Gold MGM status too just like Hyatt Globalist does.
This is apparently a newish (pandemic years) development. My Amex FHR MGM bookings in the past (at Delano and Bellagio) always received Hyatt elite night credit, but apparently isn’t that way anymore.
Yes, in 2019 I received Hyatt points when I used FHR 2 book Delano. I didn’t get qualifying night credits and I do enjoy receiving milestone awards; free nights, free suites, $100gc etc. However, in 2019 I did earn Hyatt points when using FHR. However, it looked like I initially recived mlife points which elevated me to Platinum tier from this trip, and a platinum card issued. However, l mlife turned around at year end, which was just after this Delano stay and they said I was gold and never made platinum. It was so weird, even after spealing directly to delano’s mlife desk. Now it makes more sense, as to why that happened and the timing.
I’m confused—can you book through Hyatt, use Mlife gold benefits, and still get Hyatt elite night credits?
You can check this post for more information.
https://frequentmiler.com/mgm-free-nights-earn-hyatt-elite-credit/
You can book through Mlife, get Mlife benefits, and get Hyatt elite night credit. That’s how it has been for years.
What if Im trying to use the annual free award night that I get for having the World of Hyatt credit card? What would be the best way to use the award night + get mgm gold benefits (no resort fee)?
Your plan won’t work. The World of Hyatt credit card “free night” (categories 1-4) only works at Hyatt properties, not MGM properties.
That is not correct. It also works at MGM properties and I have done this numerous times including most recently in September at the MGM Grand. You still have to pay resort fees though (at least prior to 02/01/22).
Agreed – HPN-HRL is not correct. MGM and Hyatt have a partnership so you can book MGM properties as award stays through Hyatt.
MGM Grand, Park MGM, and NY-NY are all Hyatt Category 4 (15K points per night)
Luxor and Excalibur are Hyatt Category 3 (12K points per night)
You can use your free night certificate to book those properties, but I wouldn’t expect a waived resort fee when booking through Hyatt.
DOC reported that only direct bookings qualify for waived resort fees. 🙁 I was thinking the same thing as you until I saw that
I’ll be surprised if FHR bookings don’t get full Mlife benefits, but we’ll see I guess. Otherwise, I always book direct with Mlife as it is the cheapest way to book MGM properties outside of FHR.
wonder if any folks got resort fees waived at caesar’s properties with FHR booking?
Caesars have no properties on the FHR
There are a couple on The Hotel Collection though and we’ve had reports of people getting hotel points and elite perks on The Hotel Collection bookings at other chains, so I wonder whether anyone has a DP on a Caesars property via The Hotel Collection?
To confirm booking direct with MGM/MLife will still qualify you to receive Hyatt elite night credit as long as you have your Hyatt number on file at check-in? I’ve always booked MLife properties via Hyatt.
I’ve only ever booked them via Mlife (or FHR) and I’ve gotten Hyatt elite credit. I’ve never booked through Hyatt as it is always far cheaper to book through Mlife if you have an account.
I’ve seen recent reports of people not getting Hyatt credit when booking through FHR, but my stays in 2019 booked through FHR and Chase Luxury Hotel collection received Hyatt elite credit. It’s possible that changed.
Yes, as long as your Hyatt number was put on file before you check out.
I read on D.O.C that 3rd party bookings don’t count. It’s in the fine print, they say.
Yes, I’m sure that bookings made via Expedia, Travelocity, Chase Ultimate Rewards etc, won’t get benefits.
Bookings through FHR typically don’t count as 3rd party bookings. For instance, if you book a Hyatt or a Marriott through FHR, you do get elite credit and elite benefits and hotel points. I just went back through old statements and it looks like I did get tier credits for my last FHR booking, but that was in 2019 and things could have changed.
Again, FHR bookings tend to be treated differently than other third party bookings by many programs, which is why I assumed you would still get MGM Rewards benefits. That said, it’s possible you won’t.
Not an MGM property, but when I booked Palazzo in 2021 from FHR, I emailed about the benefits. The hotel replied “Expedia has prepaid your room and tax.” So Amex/FHR used Expedia for my booking.
Nothing credited to my Grazie account even I added my account number to the FHR booking page.
That’s really interesting. You’re at least the second or third person to mention Expedia for a Vegas FHR booking, but I’ve never had anyone mention Expedia before on an FHR booking in Vegas or elsewhere. Clearly something has changed.
When I called to add a person to an FHR booking, the Bellagio gave me the number to Expedia and said they had to do it. In the end I got someone on the FHR side to do it, but the Bellagio said it was booked through Expedia.
Joe, what’s expedia’s # to call for adding another guest? btw, were you the guest, if so, were u able to check in? my family member booked a stay at bellagio later this yr, and i will likely check in. TIA
I still called FHR in the end, but Bellagio gave me an Expedia number. I’m not going until May so I haven’t checked in. FHR made me the main person to check in and I got new emails from Amex, very easy.
hey Joe, may i have the FHR phone # for Bellagio so that my fam member can call. TIA
877-882-0563
FHR / Conrad at Resorts World Las Vegas used Expedia for my stay in October.
Appreciate all these more recent data points.
While my 2019 and earlier stays were treated like Nick’s, I’m persuaded that something has changed since–most likely an Amex outsourcing to Expedia.
AMEX TRAVEL is managed by EXPEDIA. When you call AMEX TRAVEL and press the option for Platinum Card Members, you’re talking to Expedia employees. You learn real quick the difference when you have a travel issue and get less than AMEX Platinum customer service. Also, they use the Philippines for customer service…it’s so much fun when you have a travel issue and are on vacation.
I guess the thing here is that there has always been a distinction in Amex Travel vs FHR bookings. By that I mean that if you booked via Amex Travel, you wouldn’t get hotel elite benefits or credit or points, but if you booked through FHR you would (been the case for years and years). I know that FHR is part of Amex Travel, but it has been operated separately or differently for years.
It seems that distinction is no longer the case though. That’ll be interesting for sure.