Hyatt’s now-defunct partnership with MGM Rewards not only provided the majority of the hotel chain’s footprint in Sin City, but was also was the destination of choice for many World of Hyatt members looking to manufacture low cost elite nights towards Hyatt Globalist status. The combination of bottom-barrel midweek rates and waived resort fees made the otherwise lackluster Excalibur an appealing destination for those discerning mattress runners.
Because of this, today’s announcement that the Rio Las Vegas is now a part of World of Hyatt was met with more jubilation than one might expect. For years, the Rio has been more synonymous with “stained sheets and torn carpet” than “Las Vegas Luxury,” but Hyatt is dumping $350 million into a renovation of the property in the hope that this could change.
That renovation, which was originally scheduled for completion in 2023, is only partially finished, with the first phase expected to be completed this Fall. In the meantime, cheap elite nights are back.
What’s Happened
- Rio Las Vegas is now a part of World of Hyatt under the Destination by Hyatt brand and is available for both redeeming and earning Hyatt points (and elite nights)
- The property is a Hyatt Category 3, with pricing varying between 9,000 and 15,000 points.
- From April 1-June 30th World of Hyatt members will get 500 bonus points per night at the Rio, as part of Hyatt’s bonus for new properties.
Quick Thoughts
Currently, the Rio is selling both renovated and unrenovated rooms types. The lowest cash rate books into the unrenovated rooms, while award bookings automatically get a (much nicer) renovated room. The difference in cash price between the two on midweek stays seems to be ~$30-40.
Earlier today, Hyatt was selling unrenovated rooms midweek for around $60-65, including the $40 resort fee. Globalist members (or folks on Guest of Honor stays) would get the resort fee waived, taking the midweek cost down to around $20-30, which could potentially make it quite attractive for mattress runs.
That said, Hyatt is selling these rooms for significantly less than the Rio is through direct booking. When I went back to doublecheck the Hyatt rates just now, I got errors on both the app and the desktop site and couldn’t get a selection of available rooms pulled up. Hopefully that’s just a site glitch and not an indication that the initial prices through Hyatt were an error.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the Rio, and it’s a shame how run down the property has become. Hopefully, Hyatt’s significant financial commitment to this renovation means better things are ahead for the property…although, if that’s the case, my guess is that those $25 elite nights won’t last forever.
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[…] been a a lot of renewed interest in the Rio Las Vegas due to a combination of it joining World of Hyatt and having rock-bottom midweek rates, making it a fine choice for a mattress run. That said, folks seem less interested in actually […]
[…] been a a lot of renewed interest in the Rio Las Vegas due to a combination of it joining World of Hyatt and having rock-bottom midweek rates, making it a fine choice for a mattress run. That said, folks seem less interested in actually […]
[…] been a a lot of renewed interest in the Rio Las Vegas due to a combination of it joining World of Hyatt and having rock-bottom midweek rates, making it a fine choice for a mattress run. That said, folks seem less interested in actually […]
Any love for Discoverists (especially for the resort fee)? I have a business trip to LV this summer, and would consider the Rio. (I also have a soft spot for the property. I used to stay there when there was a single tower and their spokesperson was Telly Savalas!)
However, $75 is the cheapest rate with resort fee, and that’s only for a couple of the nights that I need. The conference hotel has a rate of $89 with the resort fee waived, and so the convenience far outweighs buying qualifying nights at $75/ea.
Be careful on the date: “Please note that this hotel is not currently participating in World of Hyatt and guests will not be able to earn points or tier-qualifying night credits, redeem points, or enjoy in-hotel benefits at this time.”
Note I saw nothing of this while booking – it was in the email about the booking.
I’m 99.99% sure that this is just left over from when it was previously on the WOH platform but not participating in the program. Hyatt has announced publicly that it is participating, it says that it is online before you book and currently Globalists in-house are receiving upgrades, waived resort fees, free breakfast and 4pm checkout.
I’m not getting an option to do online checkin on the Hyatt app. Fail?
Check your spam folder…they send it via e-mail, but not sure whether or not that translates to full mobile check-in.
Hi Tim, thanks for the reply. No email at all beyond the original confirmation. Seems odd.
When are you scheduled to arrive? Tomorrow?
today
Just got the email Tim, exactly 3 hours before check in time.
You were able to complete virtual mattress run from the email?
“an appealing destination for those discerning mattress runners”
quote of the week
Rio status match? https://www.riolasvegas.com/rio-rewards/offer-match-rules
Rio Rewards info and tier benefits: https://www.riolasvegas.com/rio-rewards
@Tim, resort fee will still be waived on award stays booked through Hyatt, right (even for non-Globalists)?
Yes, it’s waived.
The resort fees are showing when I go to checkout as a globalist. Do they refund it at check in? Or do we not get waived resort fees on cash bookings here?
They will be waived at check-in.
I’m no longer a globalist, and can’t imagine myself paying resort fees on Rio
I’d love to hear why you have a soft spot for this place. Even in its heyday we avoided it at all costs. There were always better cheap options in Vegas…
I’ve run into similar errors searching for other Hyatt properties today, so I don’t think it’s specific to Rio.
It doesnt show that the Rio has digital check in and digital key, unlike other hyatt vegas properties.
The Excalibur and Luxor were great for ghost stays as they allowed online checkin and never had any problems getting the credits for the nights. Too early to tell if this will work for Rio
I would assume that ghost stays would work at this Hyatt property like they do at any other Hyatt managed property—they don’t work (typically) at other Hyatt properties. I’d love to be wrong.
Can anyone confirm whether online check-in is available on the Hyatt app for the Rio? Since the partnership is so new, I’d guess not.
It’s not, but they are sending check-in invitations via e-mail…not sure if that will allow for a true “ghost” stay.