I completed my first year as Hyatt Lifetime and I thought this is a good opportunity to share some observations. In short, if you can get to Lifetime: do it!
In the past 12 months I stayed at various Hyatt properties and with the exception of Park Hyatt Sydney I have always received a suite. In cases where I used upgrades to a suite or paid for a suite I almost always received further upgrades up to Diplomat or Ambassador Suite.Most spectacular upgrade: Park Hyatt New York from a base room to an Ambassador Suite followed by Grand Hyatt Berlin from a base room to their Daimler Suite. Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf put me in their Presidential Suite when I was confirmed in a base suite. I was upgraded to Diplomat Suites at Park Hyatt Shanghai, Park Hyatt Tokyo, and Park Hyatt Vendome.
All hotels have been very accommodating with early check-ins and I receive welcome amenities at almost every Hyatt I stay. Park Hyatt Zurich welcomed me back as Lifetime member with a pretty expensive bottle of champagne and Park Hyatt Vendome also picked one of my favorite brands for my most recent stay.
Grand Hyatt Hong Kong gets a special mention for their efforts - they saw me last year more than any other property and they are doing a wonderful job.
I continue to requalify for Globalist via spend and have 8 upgrade certificates to use every year. Hyatt is very appreciative of the loyality and business I have given them over the past 12 years and I am very pleased to see that they continue to make an effort to show me every time how much they care how much thought goes into making my stays most comfortable and delightful.
So if your footprint of travel matches the Hyatt footprint, it is worth the long run to get to Lifetime. I don't think there is any better published status out there.