Originally Posted by lighthouse206

Here's an idea - DON'T DO IT. If you can't stay w/Hyatt enough to get status (legitimately) then do something else..

Hyatt now does have a policy of checking rooms every day. That doesn't mean they actually do it. However, you'll note that DND cards are being replaced with "Room Occupied" cards in order to wean people away from expecting they won't come in or try to check on you. If it appears you've left, they will check you out and you take that risk

The bottom line is what you are doing is a form of fraud. You are lying to the hotel (you want them to think you are there when in fact you aren't) in order to gain a future financial benefit in the form of elite status perks which have substantial monetary value. Of course, if you want to simply be upfront with them, tell them what you are doing, and see if they care (they might not - especially if they are a franchise and not booked) then that's an option.

Originally Posted by lighthouse206

You guys are confusing theft for fraud. They are related but there are differences.

Anytime you lie to a seller to get something of monetary value from that seller that they would NOT give to you if they knew the truth you are engaging in a form of fraud.

Its like a mileage run where you bought the cheapo ticket and figured out how to NOT be on the plane but still get the miles and (extremely valuable) status. That’s fraud too, even though you paid for the ticket. You are cheating the airline out of something valuable.

Bottom line is this kind of behavior is damaging to those of us who play by the rules.

Originally Posted by joe_miami

Were you "playing by the rules" last year when you left those 1-star ratings for that new Hyatt in NOLA that you hadn't even stayed at because you were mad the restaurant hadn't opened yet?