Every traveler should sign-up for a free Basic Hyatt account due to the tremendous value of their points. Most of the Hyatt hotels can be booked with the least number of points (3000-50,000) compared to other hotel chains like Hilton, Marriott, and IHG. While Hyatt has an off-peak and peak schedule, it maintains a fixed chart for point redemptions. Hyatt points are easy to earn due to their affiliation with the Chase UR points program. This post contains no affiliate links and I am posting my own experience of earning points and staying at the Hyatt group of hotels (Hyatt Regency Jaipur Mansarovar in Rajasthan, India pictured above the post).
Hyatt Benefits for all Members Irrespective of Tier Status
You don’t have to sign up for any credit cards to enjoy the benefits of Hyatt’s basic membership (https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/en/enroll.html).
Award Booking Waived Resort & Destination Fees
Resort & destination fees for the award stay (using points) are waived for every tier of Hyatt membership (excluding Hyatt Residence Club & M life resorts).
Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) around the world
Hyatt’s partnership with Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) around the world is unique and I love exploring them during my overseas trips.
SLH hotels booked through Hyatt (cash or points) will include complimentary breakfast for two, free Wi-Fi, room upgrades, early check-in, and 2 pm late checkout (last three based on availability). These benefits apply to your booking regardless of your Hyatt tier status (no extra benefits of being a Globalist).
Brand Explorer Award
After completing a stay at each of the five unique Hyatt-branded hotels, your account is rewarded with a free category 1-4 hotel certificate (valid for 1 year from the date of issuance). 5-brand free night awards are valid for one year from the date of issuance and are not subject to blackout dates. This benefit keeps repeating for the duration of your free Hyatt membership regardless of tier status.
World of Hyatt Elite Status Tiers
| Hyatt Benefits | Basic Member | Discoverist | Explorist | Globalist | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required Number Of Nights | None | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70, 80 & 90 | 100 | 110, 120, 130, & 140 | 150 |
| Free breakfast | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Complimentary parking on award stays | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Suite Upgrade Certificates | None | None | None | None | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Standard Room Free Night Award | None | None | None | Category 1-4 x1 (valid for 12 months) | Category 1-7 x1 (valid for 6 months) | Category 1-7 x1 (valid for 6 months) | Category 1-8 x1 (valid for 6 months) | ||||
| All-inclusive Collection Eligibility | None | None | None | None | Category A-F (select properties via concierge only) | Category A-F (select properties via concierge only) | Category A-F online & concierge | ||||
| Bonus Points | 2000 (valid for 6 months). | 2000 (valid for 6 months). | 5000 | 5000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | |||
| Miraval Extra Night Award (valid for 6 months) | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Club lounge Access Awards | None | None | 2 | 2 | Unlimited access | Unlimited access | Unlimited access | Unlimited access | Unlimited access | ||
| FIND Experience Credit | $25 | $25 | $150 | $150 | $300 | ||||||
| Waived Resort & Destination fees | On Award Stays | On Award Stays | On Award Stays | On Award Stays | On Award Stays | On Award Stays | On Award Stays and eligible Paid Stays. | On Award Stays and eligible Paid Stays. | On Award Stays and eligible Paid Stays. | On Award Stays and eligible Paid Stays. | On Award Stays and eligible Paid Stays. |
| Early Check-in | No | No | No | No (Except in Hyatt Place) | No (Except in Hyatt Place) | No (Except in Hyatt Place) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Guest of Honor Award | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Guaranteed Late Checkout | No | 2 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 4 p.m. | 4 p.m. | 4 p.m. | 4 p.m. | 4 p.m. |
| Guaranteed Room Availability | No | No | No | 72 hours | 72 hours | 72 hours | 48 hours | 48 hours | 48 hours | 48 hours | 48 hours |
| Room upgrade upon arrival | No | No | Upgrade excludes suites. | Upgrade to standard suites. | Upgrade to standard suites. | Upgrade to standard suites. | Upgrade to standard suites. | Upgrade to standard suites. | |||
| Elite Bonus Points | 10% | 10% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | |
| Exclusive Globalist Reservation Line | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated My Hyatt Concierge | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Some of the Useful Hyatt Globalist Benefits
You can earn Globalist status after staying 60 nights per year at Hyatt hotels booked through hyatt.com. Bookings at Hyatt hotels via 3rd parties (e.g., Booking.com or credit card portals) may not be recognized.
You can also earn Globalist status through Hyatt credit card spending or by earning 100,000 base points. I typically maintain my Globalist status by mixing both hotel stays and Hyatt credit card spending.
Club lounge Access and Complimentary Breakfast
Irrespective of the stay paid for with either cash or points, Hyatt Globalists can enjoy a complimentary full breakfast for up to two adults and two children. Sometimes breakfast is served in club lounges, or you can go to the main
Complimentary Parking on Award Stays
Complimentary self-parking is a very straightforward benefit for the Globalists and works in most Hyatt hotels. Complimentary valet parking for Globalists only works if the service is directly managed by the Hyatt hotel and can be billed to the guest room. This benefit is not applicable to Hyatt Residence Club resorts or SLH hotels. This benefit is exclusive to bookings paid entirely with points and cash bookings (including Cash + Points) are not eligible for free parking.
Waived Resort & Destination Fees for Paid Bookings
Resort & destination fees for paid bookings (not using points) are waived only for the Globalists (excluding Hyatt Residence Club properties and M life resorts).
While the original booking details still show resort fees, they are automatically deducted at the time of check-out. It is worth keeping an eye out for these fees, so you can call customer service if they are not credited for some reason.
See below for an example booking when logged in as a Globalist.
Standard Room Free Night Award (category 1-7)
Similar to the category 1-4 certificate from the Hyatt personal credit card, this certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of issuance and must be redeemed for a reservation with a checkout date before the award expiration date.
Standard Room Award Ineligible Properties
Hyatt Windward Pointe, Hyatt Beach House, Residences at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Hyatt Sierra Lodge, Hyatt Siesta Key Beach, Ventana Campground, and Any Destination by Hyatt Residence property.
Hyatt Points Advance Reservation
The Points Advance feature is incredibly useful to book a Hyatt reservation for a future date with insufficient miles in your account. You must call the Hyatt Concierge or the Globalist line to make the booking. Members must have the required number of points in their account 8 days prior to the booking date.
Suite Upgrade Certificates
These certificates allow you to confirm a “standard suite” for up to seven consecutive nights after booking any standard room in Hyatt brand hotels.
Suite upgrade awards are valid through the end of the year as they were earned plus 14 months.
You must call either Hyatt Customer Service or email the Globalist concierge to use the suite certificates.
Certificates can be used on both paid stays and award booking stays (including Points + Cash reservations).
Certificates cannot be used on stays booked with free night certificates.
Suite certificates are not applicable to SLH hotels and there are other “ineligible” Hyatt properties which are listed below.
Suite Award Ineligible Properties:
Early Check-in & Late Checkout
I was able to check into several hotels between 8 AM-12 PM when my overseas flight landed early in the morning (based on the room availability).
The 4 PM late checkout always works in most Hyatt hotels but is subject to availability in Destination Residences, Hyatt Residence Club resorts, and hotels with a casino.
48-hour Guaranteed Room Availability
Globalists will be guaranteed a room at Hyatt hotels when the hotel is otherwise entirely sold out (including all suites). This standard rate reservation should be booked directly with Hyatt at least 48 hours prior to arrival (local time for the applicable hotel).
Chase Hyatt Credit Cards
Chase offers two Hyatt credit cards (personal & business). Both automatically offer Discoverist status and can be used to spend money to reach higher tier status. Chase’s personal credit card is a lifetime keeper card due to the free annual night certificate. I recommend big spenders use the personal Hyatt card for the initial $15,000 spent to earn the second free night certificate. The rest of the spending can go on the Hyatt business card to earn Globalist status faster. See the comparison between both cards in the table below.
| Category | Chase World Of Hyatt Personal Card | Chase World Of Hyatt Business Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee: | $99 | $199 |
| Automatic Hyatt Status | Discoverist | Discoverist |
| Discoverist Status Gifting | None | 5 |
| Annual Hyatt Credit | None | Up to $100 back, with 2 $50 statement credits for spending $50 |
| Annual Hyatt Free Night | 1 free category 1-4 night | None |
| Bonus Hyatt Free Night | 1 free category 1-4 night for spending $15,000 | None |
| Hyatt elite night credits for spending | 4 credits for every $10,000 spent | 5 credits for every $10,000 spent |
| Annual amount to spend for Globalist status | 140K (4 credits for every 10K spend) | 120K (5 credits for every 10K spend) |
| Hyatt elite night credits for having the card | 5 per year | None |
| Hyatt points rebates for spending | None | 10% rebate on redeemed points for the rest of the calendar year after spending $50,000, capped at 20,000 rebated points |
| Statement Credits | None | Spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property and earn $50 in statement credits up to two times each anniversary year |
| Hyatt Leverage Program | N/A | Automatic enrollment. NO need to meet the 50 night threshold to maintain the program. |
| Points earned on everyday spending: | 1 per dollar | 1 per dollar |
| Points earned on gym/fitness: | 2 per dollar | 2 per dollar |
| Points earned on Hyatt stays | 4 per dollar | 4 per dollar |
| Points earned on Dining | 2 per dollar | 2 per dollar if among top 2 or 3 quarterly categories |
| Points earned on Airline tickets | 2 per dollar | 2 per dollar if among top 2 or 3 quarterly categories |
| Points earned on local transit and commuting | 2 per dollar | 2 per dollar if among top 2 or 3 quarterly categories |
| Points earned on Car rentals | 1 per dollar | 2 per dollar if among top 2 or 3 quarterly categories |
| Rental car collision damage waiver | Primary overseas Secondary within US | Primary in both US and overseas. |
| Trip Cancellation/ Interruption Insurance | $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip. | $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip. |
| Purchase Protection | Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account. | Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account. |
| Extended warranty protection | Extends the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less. | Extends the U.S. manufacturer's warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less. |
| Trip Delay Reimbursement | Up to $500 per ticket for travel delays more than 12 hours. | None |
| Travel Accident Insurance | When you pay for your air, bus, train or cruise transportation with your card, you are eligible to receive accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $500,000. | None |
| Lost Luggage Reimbursement | $3,000 per passenger. | None |
| Baggage Delay Insurance | Delays over six hours are reimbursed up to $100 a day for five days. | None |
| Points earned on Gas stations: | 1 per dollar | 2 per dollar if among top 2 or 3 quarterly categories |
| Points earned on Internet, cable and phone services: | 1 per dollar | 2 per dollar if among top 2 or 3 quarterly categories |
| Points earned on Shipping: | 1 per dollar | 2 per dollar if among top 2 or 3 quarterly categories |
Summary
Hyatt Hotel Group is smaller in footprint compared to other hotel chains, but no other loyalty program offers so many benefits for its higher tier members. I highly recommend that all travelers sign up for the free Hyatt membership and eventually decide on a credit card for added benefits.