MGM Preps Vegas Visitors For Changes At The Mirage

Before the end of the year, Hard Rock International will complete its purchase of The Mirage from MGM Resorts. It may not be immediately apparent to customers and visitors.

At the Nevada casino and resort, only a few things will alter. Nonetheless, the most significant change will impact the customers of MGM Rewards.

Here are the changes and non-changes for customers and visitors in Las Vegas.

What to expect after The Mirage sale

Once Hard Rock assumes control, the future of the property will no longer be influenced by MGM Resorts.

For instance, MGM Resorts announced, “There are no immediate intentions to alter the volcano show.” Nevertheless, all indications suggest the imminent shutdown of the volcano in front of the celebrated casino (as seen above). Hard Rock has frequently conveyed its intentions to substitute the volcano with a guitar-shaped hotel tower.

Hard Rock president Joe Lupo stated in a letter to the employees that the following staples would continue to operate the following year:

• LOVE by The Beatles
• Steakhouse Heritage
• Kitchen of California Pizza

Hard Rock plans to invest up to $1.5 billion in renovations, according to Bloomberg. These upgrades will not only include a guitar-shaped hotel tower at the front of the property, but also a new music venue at The Mirage.

The present operator is getting MGM customers ready for The Mirage’s change in ownership. The company conveyed the following in an email to MGM Rewards members:

We express our gratitude for your ongoing loyalty and want to inform you that The Mirage may soon change ownership. A potential sale to Hard Rock International could result in MGM Resorts International no longer owning and operating the facility. The deal is anticipated to complete by December 31, 2022. Even after the transfer of ownership, Hard Rock plans to continue operating under the name of The Mirage without significant changes to the business operations.

The name remains the same for now

The property will continue to operate under the name The Mirage due to a three-year lease held by Hard Rock on the name. It is probable that the company will retain the name until the property assumes a completely new identity.

Mirage hotel reservations

After the sale of The Mirage, all existing hotel reservations, including those made using MGM Rewards comps, will continue to be honored. Although these reservations will still be visible on the MGM app, guests will not be able to utilize the app once the sale concludes. This signifies that digital keys, and app-based check-in and check-out will no longer be accessible post the takeover by Hard Rock.

If you have any concerns about your hotel reservations following the closure of the sale, please contact The Mirage at 1-800-777-6533. Remember to call prior to the sale’s finalization, as MGM Resorts will no longer be able to assist.

Guests can cancel a future reservation and get a refund on deposits before the deal is finalized. But once the deal is closed, Hard Rock will handle cancellations. MGM might have the capacity to move guests to other properties along the Vegas Strip.

The following casinos in Las Vegas are home to hotels operated by MGM:

• Aria
• Bellagio
• Excalibur
• Luxor
• Bay of Mandalay
• Grand MGM
• New York, New York
• MGM Park

Despite MGM operating The Cosmopolitan, the hotel has not been incorporated into the MGM Rewards system yet.

MGM parking

The parking policy of MGM will continue to be in effect until the sale of The Mirage is finalized. After assuming control, it is probable that Hard Rock will modify this policy.

BetMGM Sportsbook

The turnover includes one exception: BetMGM will still run the sportsbook at the Mirage post-sale. Therefore, sports bettors in Las Vegas can continue using the BetMGM app and earning BetMGM points and benefits from their bets.

Mirage loyalty rewards become Unity rewards

After the conclusion of the deal, The Mirage will cease to be a part of the MGM loyalty program. In the same vein, following the closure of the sale, MGM Rewards members will be unable to utilize their benefits at The Mirage.

Eventually, the rewards program for The Mirage/Hard Rock will transition into Unity by Hard Rock rewards. This new program will connect all Hard Rock hotels, casinos, and cafes.

Hard Rock’s Unity program offers four tier levels, each with its own unique set of benefits.

• Everyone: Star
• Tier credits range: 4,000-14,999 (Legend)
• Icon Level: Over 15,000 tier credits
• X: Exclusively by invitation

In addition, casinos offer extra benefits via their rewards program. Once Unity arrives in Las Vegas, premium members are expected to enjoy advantages such as parking and resort fee waivers. Further details will be provided after the completion of the sale.

Soon, guests at The Mirage will have the ability to accumulate and utilize rewards at 10 Hard Rock casinos across the US and Caribbean. The company also manages three US hotels not associated with casinos and an additional five in Mexico. In total, the initiative involves 150 locations.

The process of integrating the new rewards program at Tropicana with other Bally’s Corp. casinos across the country could take some time. Specifically, this transition to connect with properties outside of Nevada may not be instantaneous.

On Dec. 13, 2021, Hard Rock International purchased The Mirage from MGM Resorts for $1.075 billion.