Just a few weeks ago, Hyatt announced a new partnership with The Venetian Resort Las Vegas that would allow travelers with Hyatt points – or Chase Ultimate Rewards, which transfer to Hyatt – to book both The Venetian and Palazzo, earn those valuable points on paid stays, and even enjoy elite benefits.
Unfortunately, after going live, it appears the whole thing is a bit of a dud. You can now book these properties with your Hyatt points … but you shouldn't.
Like Hyatt's integration of Mr. & Mrs. Smith earlier this year, award nights at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas are being dynamically priced. With the point price being loosely tied to the cash rate, your World of Hyatt points won't go very far here.
For instance, you could book a Luxury King Suite for around $460 per night, with all the taxes and fees included.
If you opted to use points instead, that same room would cost you more than 50,000 points per night. Ouch!
Considering that's more than enough points to book Hyatt's best properties like the Park Hyatt Kyoto and Alila Villas Uluwatu, that routinely go for $1,000 or more per night, using points here is a poor deal.
What's more, World of Hyatt elites won't get many of the benefits they're accustomed to at other Hyatt properties when staying at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. Free breakfast, waived parking fees on award stays, and even complimentary bottled water are all off limits for elites here.
However, benefits like early check-in, late checkout, and complimentary upgrades will be honored. But those are all limited to availability, making it easy for The Venetian and Palazzo hotels to get out of offering any real benefits.
All said, what we thought was going to be a big and much-needed win for Hyatt, turned out to be a big disappointment. Booking paid stays here to earn Hyatt points is one of the few positives, but even that has a catch. After comparing the price of booking both hotels through Hyatt with the cost when booking direct, it looks like you'll generally pay more to go through Hyatt, so buyer beware.
If you're unfamiliar, The Venetian Resort takes its design inspiration from Venice, Italy, and even features canals throughout the property … complete with gondola rides.
The hotels' suites are spacious, ornately furnished rooms that include a separate lounge area and massive bathrooms, equipped with a walk-in shower and whirlpool soaking tub.
This is just the latest big change on the Las Vegas Strip as top-notch properties play musical chairs with the big hotel chains.
Hyatt ended its partnership with MGM last year, allowing Marriott to swoop in, and left the hotel chain without a single hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Earlier this year, Hyatt added the Rio Hotel & Casino to its ranks … but that property is a ways away from the Strip and isn't up to par with other top Vegas casinos.
More recently, The Delano – the no-gambling property attached to the Mandalay Bay campus – was also gobbled up by Marriott and rebranded as “W Las Vegas.”
In the future, World of Hyatt also plans to offer elite Venetian Rewards members benefits within the World of Hyatt program. It remains to be seen what benefits Venetian Rewards members will receive.
Bottom Line
The Venetian and Palazzo hotels are now bookable through the World of Hyatt program, however, dynamic pricing makes redeeming Hyatt points at these properties a relatively poor value.
Additionally, Hyatt elites will receive some on-property perks like a chance at getting a room upgrade, early check-in, and late check-out – but critically, the list of benefits does not include free breakfast or waived parking fees on award stays.