Originally Posted by
PTahCha
IIRC, this was a carried-over benefit from the old program, where mid-tier members can get a certificate for club access, bonus points for dining at the hotel restaurant, and maybe a third option. Now that these "certificates" are electronic, with no alternatives available for redemption.
Hyatt used to have those paper Platinum (Extra) awards that had lounge access as one of the things that could be selected. They were mailed out for hitting certain milestone number of stays as a Platinum. [Diamonds didn't need them for lounge access.]
The milestone lounge access awards are rather valuable for mid-tier status folk who have multi-night stays since the lounge access awards are good for multiple nights while the cost to use points to get lounge access with the rooms has a per-night charge in points.