In 2017, Hyatt Said Farewell to Hyatt Gold Passport, and Said Hello to World of Hyatt!
May 2017
By: Merriah Harkins and Liza Weeks
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As of March 1, 2017, Hyatt revamped its loyalty program. Goodbye Hyatt Gold Passport, hello World of Hyatt. Ok, so what does that even mean for you?
Yes some major changes took place, but a few key things remain the same. The log-in to your Hyatt account is same, as is your travel communication preferences, any existing reservations you have with Hyatt and your past activity history won’t change. But that’s about all that hasn’t changed.
Now, let’s look into what’s different:
Instead of having a three-tiered loyalty program like Gold Passport’s Member, Platinum and Diamond Elite statuses, World of Hyatt has four tiers: Member, Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist.
Members no longer have the option to qualify for Elite status based on the number of stays - which is a bummer! With World of Hyatt qualification is based on either the number of nights spent with Hyatt or the number of points earned.
Five points are earned for every dollar spent (including your hotel stay, dining and spa services), plus any additional bonuses based on your current Elite status with the World of Hyatt program and any current promotions or partner bonuses.
This new structure favors big spenders. Those who previously achieved the Gold Passport, top-tier Diamond status by completing 25 stays (me for example), will have to put in some major time and money with Hyatt to reach the new World of Hyatt, top-tier Globalist level. It requires 60 nights or 100,000 points, which equates to $20,000 spent and a whole lot of nights with Hyatt.
Ok, let’s break down the new tiers:
Member: Anyone can be a member and it is free to join. And if you join now through June 30, 2017, you will earn double points on all eligible stays worldwide starting with your second stay.
Members enjoy 10% off with the Member Discount Rate at participating Hyatt properties.
Members earn five base points, which count toward Elite status, for every US dollar spent with Hyatt. In addition, base points can be earned for qualifying activity at participating M life Rewards destinations.
Members can earn bonus points by participating in promotions, hosting a meeting or event at a qualifying Hyatt property (one bonus point per dollar spent with a maximum of 50,000 bonus points) or by renting a car with Avis (500 bonus points).
Members can redeem their points for free nights in standard rooms, room upgrades, free nights at participating M life Rewards destinations, dining, spa services and more.
Members may also share points and free-night awards with other members of World of Hyatt, convert points for airline and car rental awards and combine Points + Cash for stays, which is often the best value for your points.
Members also receive complimentary internet and resort fees are waived on free-night awards.
Discoverist: Discoverist status is achieved after 10 qualifying nights are completed, 25,000 base points are earned (equivalent to $5,000 spent) or three qualifying meetings or events held at participating Hyatt properties in a calendar year.
This is also the level you will achieve if you have the Chase Hyatt Visa card and are in good standing.
Discoverists enjoy the same benefits as Members, plus premium internet, a bottle of water daily, upgrades to a preferred room at check-in when available, use of an expedited check-in area that is reserved for Elite members, 2 p.m. check-out when requested and available, and 10% bonus points on all eligible purchases. Discoverists also have the option to book stays through an exclusive reservation line.
Explorist: Explorist status is achieved after 30 qualifying nights are completed, 50,000 base points are earned (equivalent to spending $10,000 with Hyatt) or 10 qualifying meetings or events held in a calendar year.
You can also receive Explorist status after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases on the Chase Hyatt Visa card a calendar year.
Explorists enjoy all the benefits of the lower tiers plus four Club Lounge access awards annually (which includes continental breakfast and evening hors d'oeuvres) and 20% bonus points on all eligible purchases. They may also ensure a room is available up to 72 hours in advance.
Globalist: As we mentioned earlier, Globalist status is achieved after 60 qualifying nights are completed, 100,000 base points are earned (equivalent to spending $20,000 with Hyatt) or 20 qualifying meetings or events held at a participating property in a calendar year.
And if you achieve Globalist in 2017, in future years your target will be 55 nights (versus 60) or 100,000 base points.
In addition to the benefits the lower tiers receive, Globalists will also enjoy room upgrades up to standard suites, extended check-out until 4 p.m. upon request and availability, complimentary parking on free-night awards (available at locations where parking can be charged to the room), Club Lounge access with complimentary continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres or a complimentary full breakfast every day for each registered guest in hotels without a Club Lounge, and two United Club one-time passes annually.
Globalist members may also ensure a room is available up to 48 hours in advance and share in-hotel benefits with their Guest of Honor when transferring an eligible award - to use the Guest of Honor program you must book the stay through a Hyatt reservation agent.
Stay at five different brands in the Hyatt portfolio and receive a free-night award at a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort, valid one year from issuance. You may earn up to two free nights each year using this perk.
Stay 30 qualifying nights or earn 50,000 base points in a calendar year and earn a free night in a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort, valid 120 days from issuance.
Stay 60 qualifying nights or earn 100,000 base points in a calendar year:
- Earn a free-night award in a Category 1-7 Hyatt hotel or resort, valid 120 days from issuance
- Four suite upgrades to use when making your reservation, valid for one year from issuance
- Access to My Hyatt Concierge agent
- Maintain Globalist status after 55 (versus 60) nights each subsequent year
Stay 70, 80, 90 or 100 nights in a calendar year and choose between 10,000 bonus points or a suite upgrade award.
Earn 1,000,000 base points over the course of your program membership and receive Globalist status for life.
You can also now share your Hyatt points with other World of Hyatt members!
And make sure you know the partners of Hyatt you can earn and redeem World of Hyatt points with!
Check out the World of Hyatt’s full terms and conditions here.
The Wrap-Up:
If you had previously attained Elite status with Hyatt through stays rather than nights, this new program makes achieving the highest Elite tier more challenging. However, if you are loyal to Hyatt and spend a good chunk of change with the company, you’re in luck! And the addition of the middle tier will help those that attained Platinum status with Gold Passport but couldn't quite make it to Diamond, enjoy some extra perks.
And with more ways to achieve free-night awards, everyone wins!
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