World of Hyatt Announces New Member Perks

World of Hyatt loyalists will be able to enjoy a couple of new perks beginning on Jan. 1.

 

Award Nights to Count Toward Elite Status

First, Hyatt members who stay on a mix of paid and award nights will be able to count both toward elite status qualification. At the moment, only paid and Points + Cash nights count. As a reminder, Hyatt guests have to stay a certain number of nights to reach certain status levels or earn base points or book meetings.

• Discoverist – 10 nights / 25,000 base points / three meetings
• Explorist – 30 nights / 50,000 base points / 10 meetings
• Globalist – 60 nights / 100,000 base points / 20 meetings

Counting award nights toward elite status eligibility is a step in the right direction for Hyatt, which obliterated its loyalty program and changed from the Gold Passport to the World of Hyatt last year.

No doubt, it will become easier for members who book some paid nights and some award nights to qualify for elite status.

 

Free Night Award Certificates’ Validity Extended

Also effective Jan. 1, free night award certificates will be valid for 180 days since the day of being issued. The validity of those certificates is doubling from 90 days to 180 days, which again gives members more time and chances to redeem them.

To clarify, the award nights will count toward elite status only. They will not count toward the free night certificate requirement, which will still require a number of paid nights. The certificates can be earned by either staying a certain number of nights or reaching a certain number of base points.

• 30 qualifying nights / 50,000 base points – Category 1-4 free night certificate
• 60 qualifying nights / 100,000 base points – Category 1-7 free night certificate

The free nights earned with The Hyatt Credit Card will continue to be valid for one year from the issue date.

 

In Conclusion

As rare as it is these days, both of these changes actually will benefit guests. Members who booked Points + Cash stays with the sole purpose of earning elite nights will be able to book completely free nights without sacrificing status eligibility. And the extension of the free night certificates is a positive change as well, benefitting those who need just a bit more time redeeming them for a free night.

 

Do these new World of Hyatt perks benefit you directly?