Hyatt Gold Passport - Hyatt Gold Passport Welcome Back

The last time I was feeling positive about my relationship with Hyatt Gold Passport was 2005 The good folks up in Chicago @ Gold Passport have really done a fantastic job making a number of improvements
What is our community thinking as they race for elite member renewal and
the "Next Big Thing" free nights? :)

Perhaps it could, except the Freddies have been cancelled.

Perhaps it could, except the Freddies have been cancelled.

Thanks for the heads up

Perhaps it could, except the Freddies have been cancelled.

What? Why?:confused:

There's a thread in ORP with the full story from Randy.

Agree, two thumbs up (^^) for Hyatt's actual program enhancements this year. And this current FFN is just icing on the cake. I love the Hyatt GP program.

It really pains me to venture over into the FT HH Forum and see all those people just wanting a morsal (anything at all) from Hilton, yet never getting it. And then Hilton has the gall to go and devalue their program by ~25% a couple months from now. I have no idea how those people can keep staying with Hilton, they really must be gluttons for punishment!!!

Agree, two thumbs up (^^) for Hyatt's actual program enhancements this year. And this current FFN is just icing on the cake. I love the Hyatt GP program.

It really pains me to venture over into the FT HH Forum and see all those people just wanting a morsal (anything at all) from Hilton, yet never getting it. And then Hilton has the gall to go and devalue their program by ~25% a couple months from now. I have no idea how those people can keep staying with Hilton, they really must be gluttons for punishment!!!

Great Post thanks for your thoughts and the spot on comments about the Hilton H situation.My guess its the 3000 plus properties and the credit card earning option.There are folks that stay for other reasons besides
value.Hiltons best attribute is clearly their 100% satisfaction guarantee with ones stay

Hyatt GP is my favourite hotel loyalty program - I very much like the new enhancement that were introduced this year. Many more stays to come...

Had switched stays over from SPG this year, and thanks to 2x have re-qualled thru 2/11. Pleased on all levels - most stays that were at domestic Westin/Sheraton are now at HR's - product compares quite favorably. Really appreciate that there are no CC spenders to take reward rooms.

There also seem to be reasonable redemption rates, and the ability to redeem for suites and HVC properties is great for my family. The 4 GSU's/yr. really cemented my loyalty. Now, if only Diamonds could get 4 certs for free parking...:D

Great Post thanks for your thoughts and the spot on comments about the Hilton H situation.My guess its the 3000 plus properties and the credit card earning option.There are folks that stay for other reasons besides
value.Hiltons best attribute is clearly their 100% satisfaction guarantee with ones stay

Hilton is the only game in town where I spend most of my business nights so I'll be staying with them - however, with FFN, and that out of the blue free night contest win earlier this year (redeemed at the Park Hyatt Zurich - nice ^) - I'll be part of the Hyatt world too

Its funny at one point I thought Gold Passport went into Auto Pilot for eternity.
Things are looking really good again at Gold Passport strong promotions and better benefits.Even in this awful economy some hotel renovations proceeded which allowed me to leave Hilton properties in favor of Hyatts that had become rundown.
If there is one thing I would like to see the Gold Passport folks do is find a way to enforce hotels to honor a 4 PM late check out for Diamonds the way SPG does.I just cancelled some Hyatt bookings just because I knew that I could guarantee a late check out.The hassle of having to store my luggage as I try to finish up a business meeting that morning.It is not worth the disruption.

... If there is one thing I would like to see the Gold Passport folks do is find a way to enforce hotels to honor a 4 PM late check out for Diamonds the way SPG does.
While SPG ( http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/legal/spg_terms.html#7) offers for their Gold & Platinum members (4.B.9.c ) 4 p.m. late check-out worldwide on request (subject to availability at resorts and conference locations) and (Royal) Ambassador members (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/pc/1/en/c/2/content/dec/pc/0/en/ptc.html#ambassador) have similar benefit at ICs, I am not aware of any guaranteed benefit (http://goldpassport.hyatt.com/gp/en/benefits/membership.jsp) for late check-out within GP.

It looks like you ask for further program enhancements.

While SPG ( http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/legal/spg_terms.html#7) offers for their Gold & Platinum members (4.B.9.c ) 4 p.m. late check-out worldwide on request (subject to availability at resorts and conference locations) and (Royal) Ambassador members (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/pc/1/en/c/2/content/dec/pc/0/en/ptc.html#ambassador) have similar benefit at ICs, I am not aware of any guaranteed benefit (http://goldpassport.hyatt.com/gp/en/benefits/membership.jsp) for late check-out within GP.

It looks like you ask for further program enhancements.

With Royal Ambassador for InterContinental Hotels the major difference is that you don't even ask for late check out you leave when you want up till 4 PM ^
One can show up as early as 8 AM if your suite isn't ready they put in a guest room until later.
One doesn't even have to check out. Take the bill and go

I was down on GP for awhile over the past years
When I cut back my business with Hyatt some years ago it was over Guest and Brand Assurance. The folks in Hyatt Consumer Affairs at the time were struggling to take care of hotel issues and resolve cases fairly. That wasn't the Hyatt I knew and stayed with for over twenty years. Today some improvement has been seen more recently
The great news? The program is rebounding by leaps and bounds

At SPG I was surprised to learn four years ago by the powers that be after being invited to their Advisory Board at the time that late check out is a reasonably assured guarantee in most SPG hotels.
For both Platinum’s and surprisingly Gold’s
With the exception of the below.

Subject to availability at resort and conference center hotels

(I took that right out of the T&C off the SPG website)

https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/account/member_benefits/platinum_preferred.html

In fact the one thing I do at SPG Hotels is just remind them that I will be checking out under the late check out benefit. While there may be some rare hotels that say no it is ones earned benefit
The one thing I know longer do is say may I have late check out?
Once they assume you do not know the rules (and many working in the hotels don't) they will then say sorry all we can offer is 1 PM or for that matter 12 noon

If there is one thing that surprises me as that after 15 years of being in programs and knowing quite a bit on the topic how much I continue to learn or have to educate myself all over again regarding the T&C :o

Regarding your comments about asking for GP further improvements.
I have been vocal for years publicly and privately about seeing change at GP.Finally the right management folks have brought new life to the program.
I pleaded for these changes and others for years simply because I believe GP has always been an underdog that could challenge the bigger programs. For years it was referred to as the "Little Program that Could"

It looks like GP is well on its way! If all goes well I will be doing more business with them again like the good old days. I am already approaching 45 stays
And maybe these are the good or better days presently for members. The value and recognition are back
As my post staes Welcome Back as cliché as that may be :)
Cheers