View Poll Results: Did you receive the 25/50/75/100 unique property bonus?
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 43. You may not vote on this poll
May 12, 2015, 8:05 pm
Last edit by: Markie
Milestone gifts as reported by Flyertalkers.
25 hotels - 5,000 points
50 hotels - 10,000 points
75 hotels - 1 free night anywhere
100 hotels - 1 free night anywhere
500 points for a game. Guess the order of the hotels visited.
Be aware that this is a targeted promotion. Not everyone receives it, and who is selected is a secret guarded by Hyatt.
25 hotels - 5,000 points
50 hotels - 10,000 points
75 hotels - 1 free night anywhere
100 hotels - 1 free night anywhere
500 points for a game. Guess the order of the hotels visited.
Be aware that this is a targeted promotion. Not everyone receives it, and who is selected is a secret guarded by Hyatt.
50 Unique Hotels Visited – 1 Free Night Gift (Targetted) - including poll - Over?
Apr 21, 2013, 6:31 pm
#61
Join Date: May 2007
Location: CA & TPE
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist, Hertz Plat, Centurion, too many airlines
Posts: 618
In case it wasn't clear, Jeff is not the CEO of Hyatt. Jeff is the VP of Hyatt's loyalty program known as Gold Passport. Obviously he doesn't control every aspect of Hyatt's operations.
Jeff is one of the most open, honest, and forthright loyalty program execs around. The fact that he's unwilling or unable to post the criteria used doesn't make me think any less of him or Gold Passport; it just means that the criteria used are sensitive. Perhaps it's people with a high average revenue per night over the last year. Perhaps it's people who tend to stay more in full-service or international properties, or those who tend to hoard their points, or use them in ways that cost Hyatt less. The point is that Hyatt's budget for this surprise was limited, they picked some bucket of people, and they don't want to alienate the people who weren't picked by informing everyone of the specific criteria.
In some ways, the criteria might be embarrassing to Hyatt or the guest if it were revealed. It could be people who are most "profitable" - those who pay published rates for suites, or who tend to spend large amounts on food & beverage, or who book nonrefundable rates and then don't actually show up. Imagine the reaction if Hyatt announced that they were rewarding those who averaged $500 or more in spa profits last year.
Further, revealing the criteria now sets up a de facto expectation in the future. Imagine that this year, Hyatt has a budget of (say) $500K, and each free night they hand out costs them $250. So they make a list of the people who have stayed at 50 properties, sort it by revenue or profit or some other metric, and hand out free nights to the top 2000 people on the list. Those people all have an average revenue of $350/night or above. If Hyatt reveals this, then regardless of what they say, people who average $350/night next year will expect to receive an award and be disappointed if they don't make the cut.
In loyalty programs and in life, I believe the formula for success and happiness is setting your expectations appropriately. This award was not announced or publicized in any way, so there's no way that anyone here should have had any expectation of receiving a milestone award. By delivering an award to some people, some expectations were exceeded. But no one can rightfully claim to be disappointed because nothing was ever promised. I didn't get the UA 50K bonus, and I didn't get a free milestone night. But I still stay at Hyatt and I'm still pleased with Gold Passport because the philosophy here seems to be to constantly delight by under-promising and over-delivering. This is just one example of that, and I'm somewhat surprised that there are those that are dismayed at such a generous surprise gesture.
Jeff is one of the most open, honest, and forthright loyalty program execs around. The fact that he's unwilling or unable to post the criteria used doesn't make me think any less of him or Gold Passport; it just means that the criteria used are sensitive. Perhaps it's people with a high average revenue per night over the last year. Perhaps it's people who tend to stay more in full-service or international properties, or those who tend to hoard their points, or use them in ways that cost Hyatt less. The point is that Hyatt's budget for this surprise was limited, they picked some bucket of people, and they don't want to alienate the people who weren't picked by informing everyone of the specific criteria.
In some ways, the criteria might be embarrassing to Hyatt or the guest if it were revealed. It could be people who are most "profitable" - those who pay published rates for suites, or who tend to spend large amounts on food & beverage, or who book nonrefundable rates and then don't actually show up. Imagine the reaction if Hyatt announced that they were rewarding those who averaged $500 or more in spa profits last year.
Further, revealing the criteria now sets up a de facto expectation in the future. Imagine that this year, Hyatt has a budget of (say) $500K, and each free night they hand out costs them $250. So they make a list of the people who have stayed at 50 properties, sort it by revenue or profit or some other metric, and hand out free nights to the top 2000 people on the list. Those people all have an average revenue of $350/night or above. If Hyatt reveals this, then regardless of what they say, people who average $350/night next year will expect to receive an award and be disappointed if they don't make the cut.
In loyalty programs and in life, I believe the formula for success and happiness is setting your expectations appropriately. This award was not announced or publicized in any way, so there's no way that anyone here should have had any expectation of receiving a milestone award. By delivering an award to some people, some expectations were exceeded. But no one can rightfully claim to be disappointed because nothing was ever promised. I didn't get the UA 50K bonus, and I didn't get a free milestone night. But I still stay at Hyatt and I'm still pleased with Gold Passport because the philosophy here seems to be to constantly delight by under-promising and over-delivering. This is just one example of that, and I'm somewhat surprised that there are those that are dismayed at such a generous surprise gesture.
Apr 21, 2013, 9:12 pm
#63
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP Gold
Posts: 2,732
Hmmm... so by that logic, say Oprah Winfrey were to have one of her free giveaways... it is not announced to the guests, but there are 600 people in the audience. 550 of them get a free car, and 50 get nothing. The 50 who got nothing have no basis for complaint simply because "nothing was ever promised" prior, and is therefore a "generous surprise gesture?" Sorry, that is bogus.
It's fine to discuss badly run programs, where inappropriate expectations are created or not met. It's much less excusable to malign a program or its leaders simply due to jealousy.
Apr 21, 2013, 9:54 pm
#64
Join Date: May 2007
Location: CA & TPE
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist, Hertz Plat, Centurion, too many airlines
Posts: 618
A better analogy would be some audiences getting what they expected (a talk show) and some audiences getting much more as an unexpected surprise (merchandise and trips).
It's fine to discuss badly run programs, where inappropriate expectations are created or not met. It's much less excusable to malign a program or its leaders simply due to jealousy.
It's fine to discuss badly run programs, where inappropriate expectations are created or not met. It's much less excusable to malign a program or its leaders simply due to jealousy.
Apr 22, 2013, 8:19 am
#66
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globlist, Hilton Silver, Amtrak Select Plus, UA Silver
Posts: 2,025
Unless you know what the secret sauce is, don't expect anything! Is another BS promo Jeff is throwing out, just like UA 50.
This is not jealousy, is about openess of the program. Why keep your loyal members guessing? What is next... 50 nights plus secret sauce to be the new criteria for obtaining Diamond? I guess Jeff can do what he wants but this really sucks!!! They should hire the starwood loyaty program VP where things are done "open, honest, and forthright "!
This is not jealousy, is about openess of the program. Why keep your loyal members guessing? What is next... 50 nights plus secret sauce to be the new criteria for obtaining Diamond? I guess Jeff can do what he wants but this really sucks!!! They should hire the starwood loyaty program VP where things are done "open, honest, and forthright "!
Last edited by hotelfanatic; Apr 22, 2013 at 3:09 pm
Apr 22, 2013, 9:35 am
#67
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Stockholm, Sweden + Austin, Tx
Programs: "But, I'm a GLOBALIST guest...."
Posts: 2,848
Unless you know what the secret sauce is, don't expect anything! Is another BS promo Jeff is throwing out, just like UA 50.
This is not jealousy, is about openess of the program. Why keep your loyal members guessing? What is next... 50 nights plus secret sauce is now the criteria for obtaining Diamond? I guess Jeff can do what he wants but this really sucks!!! They should hire the starwood loyaty program VP where things are done "open, honest, and forthright "!
This is not jealousy, is about openess of the program. Why keep your loyal members guessing? What is next... 50 nights plus secret sauce is now the criteria for obtaining Diamond? I guess Jeff can do what he wants but this really sucks!!! They should hire the starwood loyaty program VP where things are done "open, honest, and forthright "!
Pretty upset on that 1 night loss after what amounts for most people to hundreds of nights of stays at Hyatt (assuming most people dont do 1-off stays every time to hit all 50 in 50 nights).
Apr 22, 2013, 9:52 am
#68
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW, USA
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 141
92 unique properties since 2000. Diamond every year since 2008 and got neither the UA promotion or this. Toss in the crappy current promotion and Hyatt can probably figure out why I am keeping my Platinum Starwood status first before I nail down my Diamond. Find the loyalty program that values my loyalty the most and spend my money with them. That's my secret sauce.
Apr 22, 2013, 11:09 am
#69
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
This is not jealousy, is about openess of the program. Why keep your loyal members guessing? What is next... 50 nights plus secret sauce is now the criteria for obtaining Diamond? I guess Jeff can do what he wants but this really sucks!!! They should hire the starwood loyaty program VP where things are done "open, honest, and forthright "!
But it's just like what is happening with the website redesign or the repeated downtime of the booking engine. Simply ignore any negative feedback.
Even if these promotions would be determined by something like a lottery where there are only a limited number of winners. Knowing why you are missing out (or not) makes all the difference in my opinion.
Apr 22, 2013, 12:47 pm
#70
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: AS MVPG, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 983
I think it's pretty obvious that HGP doesn't really care about the negative responses to these "gifts" without criteria.
Don't you remember their "promise" of more to come after the 50K UA bonus gift ? Well, they surely delivered.......more confusion to their loyalty program and purpose.
Don't you remember their "promise" of more to come after the 50K UA bonus gift ? Well, they surely delivered.......more confusion to their loyalty program and purpose.
Apr 22, 2013, 1:12 pm
#71
Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: deep within the Eskimo lair
Programs: TubWorld, Bar Alliance, Borratxo Legendarium
Posts: 16,968
A better analogy would be some audiences getting what they expected (a talk show) and some audiences getting much more as an unexpected surprise (merchandise and trips).
It's fine to discuss badly run programs, where inappropriate expectations are created or not met. It's much less excusable to malign a program or its leaders simply due to jealousy.
It's fine to discuss badly run programs, where inappropriate expectations are created or not met. It's much less excusable to malign a program or its leaders simply due to jealousy.
Apr 22, 2013, 7:33 pm
#73
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: AS MVPG, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 983
A better analogy would be some audiences getting what they expected (a talk show) and some audiences getting much more as an unexpected surprise (merchandise and trips).
It's fine to discuss badly run programs, where inappropriate expectations are created or not met. It's much less excusable to malign a program or its leaders simply due to jealousy.
It's fine to discuss badly run programs, where inappropriate expectations are created or not met. It's much less excusable to malign a program or its leaders simply due to jealousy.
Makes perfect sense.
Agreed on your second statement. But as eagl70 said it so well, "Find the loyalty program that values my loyalty". If you were the leader of a loyalty program, wouldn't it concern you to here statements like this ?
Last edited by soonerfanatic; Apr 22, 2013 at 7:40 pm
Apr 22, 2013, 11:58 pm
#74
Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: deep within the Eskimo lair
Programs: TubWorld, Bar Alliance, Borratxo Legendarium
Posts: 16,968
Except when you all pay the same price, and show up for 50 shows, and each time a bonus is given to the "loyal" you are always left out.
Makes perfect sense.
Agreed on your second statement. But as eagl70 said it so well, "Find the loyalty program that values my loyalty". If you were the leader of a loyalty program, wouldn't it concern you to here statements like this ?
Makes perfect sense.
Agreed on your second statement. But as eagl70 said it so well, "Find the loyalty program that values my loyalty". If you were the leader of a loyalty program, wouldn't it concern you to here statements like this ?
If you don't feel that Hyatt lives up to its published benefits for your loyalty, then by all means, take them to task, or look for another chain who will better "value your loyalty".
But to expect a business to constantly explain to you what their unpublished benefit criteria is? ... well that would kind of ruin the premise of the unpublished benefit now, wouldn't it?
Am I disappointed that we weren't the chosen ones for either of these two surprises? Of course. But Hyatt has treated my loyalty well ... and i'm not going to begrudge those who received, nor the decision to have given, the surprises.
While flyertalk is an amazing resource for sharing tips and experiences, it also leads to feelings of entitlement and an almost crippling need to "make sure we get ours...every single time".
Sometimes these threads are like the equivalent of "but mommy, her piece is bigger... its not faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiirrr".
The end result isn't going to that you get a bigger piece, it's that mommy just isn't going to bake any more cakes.
Apr 23, 2013, 12:10 am
#75
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
And it also has nothing to do with the rest of the GP benefits. I'm quite sure most are still finding them to be very worth while. That makes it all the more painful to see that communicating to customers seems to be so lacking.