Dawn Gilbertson

The Arizona Republic

MGM Resorts, which last year became the first Las Vegas hotel chain to charge for parking, is increasing its parking fees.

The company, whose hotels dominate the Las Vegas Strip and include MGM Grand, New York-New York, Bellagio and Mirage, among others, said the new rates take effect Wednesday. The increase comes less than a year after parking fees began and is on top of a boost in the chain's nightly resort fees in March.

MGM's self-parking and valet parking fees — which apply to overnight guests as well as visitors stopping by to gamble, eat, shop, see a show or just look around — are going up for anyone who parks for more than two hours.

Most rates are going up $2 or $3 but some drivers will see hefty increases. Bellagio, Aria and Vdara, among the chain's priciest resorts, are boosting the overnight valet rate from $18 to $25, a 39% increase. Short-term valet parking at those resorts (up to four hours) is going from $13 to $20, a 54% increase. Self-parking for more than four hours at Aria and Bellagio is going up 50%, to $15 from $10. Vdara does not offer self-parking.

Spokesman Gordon Absher said the increases are being implemented for a "variety of a business-related reasons'' and are based on analysis of the market since parking fees began. Caesars Entertainment and other chains followed MGM's lead and starting charging for parking.

The new MGM Resorts parking rates

For self-parking, the first hour is free. After that, charges are imposed in increments of 1-2 hours, 2-4 hours and 4-24 hours. For valet parking, the lower rate is for up to 4 hours. The higher rate is for 4-24 hours.

Circus Circus: Self-parking is free; $10-$15 for valet parking.

Excalibur, Luxor, Monte Carlo: $5-$10 for self-parking; $10-$15 for valet parking.

Mandalay Bay, MGM, New York-New York, Mirage and Delano: $7-$12 for self-parking; $15-$20 for valet parking.

Aria, Bellagio: $7-$15 for self-parking; $20-$25 for valet parking.

Vdara: No self-parking; $20-$25 for valet parking.

Guests staying at MGM Resort hotels have in-and-out parking privileges at their hotel and other MGM hotels. So a guest valet parking at Mirage can valet at other MGM hotels during their stay, while those who self-park get self-parking at sister properties.