Las Vegas Strip-adjacent casino resort Rio Hotel & Casino has joined Hyatt Hotels’ Destination by Hyatt guest reward program. Destination Hyatt members can now earn and spend reward points while staying at Rio Las Vegas. Points accrued at other Hyatt properties can be spent at Rio and vice versa.
Chicago-based Hyatt is one of the largest hotel chains in the world. It previously partnered with Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International, but that deal ended earlier this year.
Rio has been undergoing extensive changes to the property in recent months. The $340 million overhaul by owners Dreamscape Companies is aiming to improve the resort’s reputation after years of underinvestment from its previous owners, Caesars Entertainment.
“Rio’s Destination by Hyatt brand affiliation marks an exciting new chapter for our resort through our progressive evolution,” said Rio CEO and President Patrick Miller in a press release.
“We’ve not only reenergized the resort’s design and experience, but we’ve proudly honored its legacy as a quintessential Las Vegas icon, providing World of Hyatt members and global travelers with even more ways to immerse themselves in our destination’s fun, energetic and eclectic atmosphere.”
The New Partnership
The deal between Rio and Hyatt has been in the cards for several years. However, it reportedly took Hyatt some time to wrap up its previous deal with MGM.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation owns more than 1,350 hotels across nearly 70 countries. The new partnership with Rio sees it add a casino resort partner to its existing two nongaming properties in Las Vegas, Hyatt Place Las Vegas and Hyatt Place at Silverton.
As well as Rio being a new venue to earn and spend rewards points, members will also get advance access to Hyatt sales, which will now include suites at the Rio.
“We are proud to welcome the new Rio Hotel & Casino to our Destination by Hyatt brand portfolio, celebrating Hyatt’s commitment to delivering one-of-a-kind experiences in key markets that matter most to our World of Hyatt members and guests,” said Mike Waddell, SVP, Global Franchise Operations, Hyatt.
“Rio is an icon reborn, and its legacy and unique character live on. We are excited for our members and guests to discover the experiences that make Rio Las Vegas a standout destination for global travelers.”
Rio’s Redevelopment
Rio Las Vegas opened in 1990, and by 2000 it had expanded considerably. In 1999, Caesars Entertainment, then Harrah’s, purchased the Rio for $766 million. Although at first successful, eventually the property began to fall into disrepair, as Caesars focused on its more profitable Las Vegas Strip resorts.
20 years later, in 2019, Caesars took a loss on its initial purchase price and sold the Rio to its current owners, Dreamscape, for $516 million. Caesars continued to operate the casino on a lease agreement, which was extended because of the pandemic, before Dreamscape took over in 2023.
Since then, Dreamscape has poured $350 million into renovating the entire property. That included a new food hall, a new 220,000 square foot meeting and convention space, completely refreshed pool areas, and new restaurants and bars. It has also included some staff layoffs, as executive and management structures were rearranged to fit the new operator.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
