I know that Starwood does this, but I am not sure about Hilton. I know that Marriott does not.

Somebody recently commented that HGP was a pure program in terms of points, as there is no affinity card. So I still wonder what persentage of total Diamonds are comped, and how this recent airline program could affect that.

Of course, I understand the logic behind the comps, and I want Hyatt to be financially strong. I would hope to hear that the impact of the comped status is minimal.

Julia is an excellent resource for Hyatt customer service, but I would be amazed if she was allowed to share an inter-Hyatt metric like what you are looking for.

I have a feeling that if you took a straw poll of the 'Diamonds' that post on this forum that roughly 50% started out by being comped to their status. It would also be interesting to find out how many of those comps went on to earn Diamond after they tested the water.

Well, I think I can speak with some authority on this as I was comped last year because of my status in another hotel program, which I now only use to unload all of my points that I had earned with them over the years.

Hyatt has made a believer out of me and I choose between them and Marriott, as I have received excellent service from both -- this includes Gold Passport and Marriott Rewards staff, as well as front desk and individual hotel staff, as well.

Service at the other chain's rewards program is atrocious, although I have had reasonably good experiences the few times I have used their hotels this year for point redemptions.

I am not at all concerned about this supposed dilution of benefits. First, some of you have noted that it makes Hyatt more financially strong, and I am all for that.

Second, others have correctly stated that one must still stay 4 times during the period to obtain Daimond status for the entire next year, whereas there was no restriction on me who was comped from another hotel program, so there is some threshold, albeit a small one. Third, I believe others have reported that this comping is usually a 1 year thing as Hyatt apparently makes you actualize your Diamond status via the regular methods for the following year.

Fourth, I have received some suite upgrades, although this is not a stated benefit that one should come to expect, so what is the downside to the comping? Nothing IMHO.

I will still get my amenity, I will still get my comp breakfast, I will still get my FFN choice -- if I am early enough to book it -- and I do like the fact that status generally has nothing to do with your being able to book a FFN, unlike some other hotel programs. That is a strength of both Marriott and Starwood, as well, and as I usually plan my leisure trips in advance, this has no bearing upon me.


So, the only downside I see is that I may not get the preferred room "upgrade" that I would have wished, but from what I have seen, many of Hyatts properties are quite nice in any event, and even a standard room should at least be more than adequate.

Finally, I heard all the bellyaching about Hilton "gifting" its Gold status to many people, but I have yet to see demonstrative proof that that business decision resulted in dilution of benefits to frequent travellers. Indeed, some of you have commented negatively about the Regency Clubs being open to the entire family of someone who booked a club room. Well, I can only conceive that if more of the rooms were being occupied by travelers paying top $$, then perhaps, the RC clubs would not be so generous in relaxing the rules, a bit.

Finally, I think it very nice that PL stays can count towards status so long as charges are made to the bill. If one really wants to get rid of a diminuition in status, then Hyatt should more accurately withdraw such benefits from those who utilize such stays to obtain status -- not those of you who are worried about providing those who are top tier in their FF mile programs an easy way to see and enjoy the perks of Hyatt -- after all, these people travel a great deal, and they often need a place to stay, so it makes economic sense for Hyatt to do this.

I am not advocating Hyatt abandon PL stays towards status, I am just stating that among the two, I have much less of a problem with their rooms being filled with business travelers paying top $$ and making the company stronger, than an individual who has come by their status on a PL stay and who contributes far less to the economic well being of the franchise, as between the two categories of guests.

And yes, I recently employed PL and obtained credit for the stay, but I would forego that so long as I still had my reward stays count towards my stay count for the subsequent year! Hyatt, don't uct that out!

NJ - great post, and I echo almost all of your sentiments. If the program is diluted, I think the impact is minimal if at all noticeable.

I just received the same offer in the mail today, and I guess I'm a bit perplexed by the excitement in the above posts. I am probably missing something (and my apologies in advance if I have done so), but what useful benefits does HGP Diamond offer other than 30% bonus points and a free breakfast? These can be had at the mid-tier levels of other programs.

Are there suite upgrades (6CC & Starwood)? Special elite member awards (Marriott & Hilton)? Concierge service (Starwood)? Free phone calls and room type guarantees (Marriott)? Free pay TV movies (6CC)?

With apologies to the late Clara Peller, where's the beef?

I think the key to what NJUPINTHEAIR said is that Hyatt is able to maintain a consistent level of service--probably because they've made the benefits of each level of Gold Passport simple, easy, and efficient for each Hyatt to deliver. Some other programs hand out elite status like candy and it offends current members because the current members are already having to fight, beg, and scramble in order to get the benefits they expect. And, whilst I'm not speaking from personal experience (yet), I get the sense that Hyatt members feel like their loyalty is well rewareded--because the recognition is sufficient and consistent, and because the attitude is one of "we actually want ALL of our best customers to be rewarded" instead of "I'm sorry, we've run out of ways to reward you tonight because there are too many other people to reward."

In that line, as long as the current level of recognition and rewards can be maintained for existing customers at Hyatt, it doesn't hurt to bring a few more on board to try to make a little more money. Where that becomes a problem is with companies like Starwood, where the latter attitude is in place, and the so-called dilution of elite levels results in (or is at least perceived as) one more person I have to flight with to be recognised.

So, with that, I look forward to taking my Hyatt diamond membership for a test drive. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by TravelScholar (edited 08-29-2003).]

This thread does a nice job of answering your question:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum60/HTML/001836.html

I would like to add some further thoughts and explanations. First, the other hotel chain I was referring to was not Starwood, but Hilton.

I just have not stayed at many Starwoods for a very logical reason: I was a committed Hilton and Marriott frequent guest before Starwood came out with its relatively new program some years ago, and I already had built up a good deal of points in each of these programs. I do not travel as much as some of you so to add a third program to me when I already had two which in their own right covered many bases in almost all areas just was not feasible.

Had I had it to do over again, at that time I would have selected Marriott and Starwood and have bounced Hilton. Of course, now my choice would be Hyatt and Marriott, but that is not because I think Starwood's is a bad program.

Quite the contrary, I think it is an excellent choice, and when I finally jettison all the Hilton points I have earned over the years, then I will start staying at Starwood, but for now, it is by design a program I try to avoid just because I cannot maintain my status in all programs!

As for the statement that Hyatt has capacity controls, well, I see it as sort of a mix, because it is true that you would have to pony up 60% more points to stay on a sold out award night -- and this "rule buster" option is available to Marriott people at a 50% premium, as well, I think, Hilton does not let you do that in any event -- unless you are Diamond, period. Yes, that certainly is a strength of Starwood, and I really like that, but as I have stated above, I just can't afford to split myself between too many programs and maintain elite statues in them, were I to add Starwood properties into the mix.

However, kudos to Marriott, in that they let YOU search for award availability yourself, and if you scan their availability on a frequent basis -- as I do for this an low fares on airlines and at hotels, etc., I have been able to string together award nights as the weeks and months progress so that I am able to get a valued award for standard points -- therefore, Marriott, like Starwod and to a lesser extent Hyatt will give you the room at usually no premium if available. Hilton will not do this, period, unless you are Diamond.

On the other hand, and if I am wrong please correct me, Starwood will not have a room for you at all on certain nights if it is sold out -- e.g. Mardi Gras -- I think that on the flip side, it is nice to know that if you really, really, want that award room, then you can get it for a premium at either Hyatt or Marriott.

And, as I have said above, one can still get a standard award at the N.O Hyatt for the Saturday night before Mardi Gras next year, although the Hyatt and all other premium and non-premiun properties are either sold out of their award and pay rooms for that night, or they just won't let you stay for just one nite.

So, I think that if you had built up a great deal of loyalty in Starwood, you should stay with it, but if you can afford to reach for status at another chain, well then Hyatt may be the one for you.

One final thought. I don't know if Starwood counts an award stay as contributing towards your obtaining status for next year's program, but Hyatt does do this so long as you spend $1.00 towards that free room stay. That is also quite a benefit for those who do not stay at hotels as often as some of you others do.

So, the question you must ask yourself, for we certainly are not saying to abandon Starwood, is whether you think it might be possible for you to maintain top tier status in both programs.

If you think you may be able to do so, or if you wish to experience the "Hyatt Touch" when it appears that certain elite perks will no longer be available to you on some of your stays at Starwood properties next year, I encourage you to do so.

Finally, we here on Hyatt have been waiting for an announcement finalizing Hyatt's management takeover of Le Meridien. Although the news reports have it that L/M is to be maintained as a separate company, I at least, find it inconceivable that we GP members will not be able to earn points as these properties, as well, in the future, as well as recognition of status.

If the above pans out, there will be many more properties in the Hyatt system to redeem and earn free nights at, and some of these are in extremely temptin locations, like the French Carribbean islands of Guadaloupe and St. Martin, Tahiti in the Pacific, as well as New Caledonia, and the Hotel Eden in Rome, to name a few.

With Starwood starting to unload some of their premier Italian properties over debt concerns, this should be factored into your calculus, as well.

We here think that you should give Hyatt a spin, as we don't think you will be disappointed!

I agree with the above, and in spite of some recent issues that I'm working through with Hyatt consumer affairs regarding some of their fabulous http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif Bay Area properties, I'm still a believer in Gold Passport.

As I've posted before, I also see very little in the way of dilution of benefits and welcome others to join us at Hyatt.

I do have one thought, however, and I disagree with my friend Rob here... I'd like to see more Award inventory available for Diamonds -- my only gripe with Hyatt is that sometimes it's really hard to find space at Paris, Kauai, Park Chicago, and a few other properties -- it is a BIG plus for Starwoods' program imho. I wish they would do something about that. One thing I'd love is if they'd let you combine a FFN + points to get a Passport Plus award (for example, an FFN + 9K points). I've had this done on an exception basis, but it could be a formal benefit. Julia, what do you think?

Seeing that I am Diamond, I wouldn't necessarily object to that idea, but in all honesty, coming from one who is not Diamond in Hilton -- and the issues that ensue on sold out nights -- I much prefer the more egalitarian format of Hyatt, Marriott and Starwood, and Hyattwhich each respectively will make rooms available -- via either additional points required for the former 2, or the first come first served aspect of the latter 2. Inasmuch as Hyatt covers both situations, I like it egalitarian spirit, and it goes without saying that the one program that makes no allowance for this situation is the one that I am totally soured on and that is Hilton.

I got my offer in the mail today, courtesy of my US CP status. Also a Hilton Diamond, but they didn't mention that. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I'm currently doing zero company travel - I'm on the road all week and my hotel stays come out of my own pocket.

Priceline is my friend. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I'm currently staying at a Fairfield Inn (Marriott chain) with a nice enough room, free breakfast, swimming pool, etc. $23/night.

Is there a lower end of the Hyatt food chain? Like Fairfield for Marriott or Hampton for Hilton.? I could probably get in the four stays needed in case I get back on the road next year. Besides, I need to keep my spend up a little on Diner's Club, and PL won't take that.

I'm UA 1K but haven't received anything from Hyatt. I wonder if it's only for US residents?

I actually became acquainted with Hyatt on a Priceline stay. I was so impressed with Hyatt on that stay that I switched my business stays from Starwood (where I was top-tier for three years) to Hyatt. As a result, Hyatt now gets between 10-12K per year in room revenue when I travel on business.

When I do travel on business, price isn't too much of a concern. As long as there is a Hyatt in town, I'm there. When I travel on leisure (on my own dime), I am somewhat price conscience and will go through the least expensive channels to secure a Hyatt -including the "not-so-blind" channel of Priceline through BiddingForTravel.com. After all, I think most will agree that Hyatt rates are generally pricey, and if I can book cheaper when travelling on my dime, I will.

I enjoy the benefits I receive as a Diamond whether on a corporate rate or a Priceline rate. Do I feel guilty when I get Diamond benefits on a Priceline rate? Not at all, because Hyatt makes up for it when I travel on business. Also, when staying on a Priceline rate, I tend to spend more at the hotel (e.g., restaurant, room service) than I otherwise would have.

Because Hyatt treats me so well regardless of whether I am on a corporate rate or a Priceline rate is the reason I only think of Hyatt when I travel 30 miles out of my way to stay with Hyatt as opposed to the Marriott next door, the reason I booked a company function at a Hyatt, the reason I convinced collegues of mine to switch their business to Hyatt, and the reason why I switched my brother's plan for our big family gathering over Christmas at a Westin in Florida to the Hyatt.

If Hyatt were to discriminate their treatment of me as a Diamond depending on the rate I pay, I would not feel so compelled to be loyal to them. Hyatt is one of the few hotel companies that does not do this, and for this, I love them so.




[This message has been edited by 777 (edited 09-02-2003).]

So far it doesn't look like this offer was extended to AA Platinums. Wonder why?

I imagine people will either use it a few times, which means there will be little competition for Diamond perks, or they will use it a lot, which means they will "properly" re-qualify and therefore would not be "dilluting" the program anymore then anyone else who does the required stays per year. And Hyatt will get a good deal of extra revenue from those folks, as well.