MGM proves elite can happen in a casino too

Best Elite Program — Hotels, Americas · MGM Rewards

While Caesars dominated most of the Americas hotel categories, MGM Rewards walked away with one particularly interesting trophy.

Best Elite Program.

That makes 2025 a remarkable year for casino loyalty.

Caesars wins Program of the Year.

MGM wins Elite.

The old line separating hotel loyalty and casino loyalty is officially difficult to locate.

MGM’s tiers operate across a universe that includes hotel stays, gaming, restaurants, entertainment and resort spending.

That creates a fundamentally different elite proposition from the traditional hotel model.

Your relationship isn’t confined to nights.

The resort is the ecosystem.

For a loyalty program, that’s powerful.

A guest might arrive for the hotel room and interact with the program at dinner, a show, gaming and elsewhere before getting back to the elevator.

More touchpoints.

More opportunities to recognize status.

More opportunities to irritate an elite member if you don’t.

Freddie voters said MGM handled the equation best.

Vegas built a better mousetrap.

Presumably there is a resort fee attached.