hailstorm

That depends on what level you want to compare it to.

But I think that there are far fewer Intercontinental hotels than Hyatt hotels.

Cygnet

Don't count on getting more than 2 free Cat 1-4 nights with this. This is not a new "benefit" that resets each year.

From the T&C: "Qualifying stays for a 5-Brand Free Night Award are measured over the life of a Member’s Program membership ..." and "5-Brand Free Night Awards are valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance."

What this means is, the 5-brand award can only be earned at most, twice in a lifetime. Currently 12 Hyatt brands, so staying at 5 different ones gives you 1 award, and if you stay at another different 5 of the remaining 7, you get another reward. That's it.

So, in effect, this is a stay promo, with a qualifying period that runs starting from 1 March 2017 until forever, and you can only get a max of 2 awards out of it, unless someday they add 3 more brands.

zombietooth

^This sums me up completely.

My average stay length in Tokyo is 14 days. I don't like changing properties, even though the Park Hyatt and Hyatt Regency are only 500m apart. I check-in to one and stay there for the duration.

Since my average overseas trip is two weeks, which would cost me $140- in airport parking fees, minimum, I always check-in to a HP for the PSFS (Park-Stay-Fly) rate which averages $150- and can park my car free for two weeks. Although, the two I use at my home airports know me and have let me park as long as a month for no additional charge. So, yeah, I get about 10 nights at HP per year, but almost never sleep there.

The rest of my stays are shorter business trips of 3-6 days, usually at Grand or HRs.

I'll make the new Glob requirements easily, but am upset about the loss of the benefits you mention.

--And, I really hate the stupid names.

I have just switched my last two business trips of the year to Marriott and Hilton, for a total of 20 nights that Hyatt loses, and I am only Gold at Marriott.
So, yeah, I don't like this slap in the face.

mnredfox

For those who have stated the issue with this criteria is lack of Hyatt's footprint.....BINGO.

That's why Hyatt is foolish to try to force the high stay requirements on folks.

I predicting a mass exit of current Diamonds come 2018. Those that made it will say "who cares", but Hyatt should when it affects their bottom line.

Kacee

I don't stay at many HP/HH, but am not sure your assumptions about underlying profitability are accurate.

There's a reason the limited service properties are proliferating. With dramatically lower costs, they can generate very nice profits notwithstanding the lower room rates. And it's not all that uncommon for HP rates to bump right against full service rates (hello, Waikiki).

Bottom line: Just because you (or I) are avergaing $225 per night at a HR/GH, doesn't mean you (or I) are more profitable than the road warrior who's logging most of his nights at HPs for $129/night.

59Impala

+++1 - exactly. I understand Hyatt's move. And never understood the 25 stay qualification method. I knew this will go away some day. I get my nights (mostly leisure) with nights, for this year 56 nights. I rarely go above 15 stays....

JackE

A lot of the ejected Diamonds are going to move a lot of their stays to competitors. I for one will be using up a rather large stash of points and then put Hyatt pretty much behind me.

Can't say you can blame me.

Cygnet

From the T&C: "Hyatt, through a third-party vendor, allows Members to purchase Bonus Points for themselves or to give directly to other Members. Program membership is required to purchase or receive Bonus Points. Points purchased or claimed through Hyatt’s vendor are Bonus Points pursuant to these Terms and do not count toward Member’s qualification for elite status in the Program."

However, incidental non-stay charges do count for base points, depending on property. @:-) So, if you happen to work near a Hyatt, and buy your coffee every day from there, that might count towards status. Ditto, if you buy breakfast or lunch. I suppose, in some imaginary scenario, someone working across the street from an urban Hyatt who pays to park their car there, and buys coffee every day, and lunch once in awhile, could theoretically rack up elite status if the prices were high enough. Or, maybe via frequent mani-pedi's at the spa. Or, maybe an expensive bridal shower spa day. Of course, all of that is if the outlet is owned/operated by the hotel, and if a "participating outlet".

So, if you're getting married, have your big blowout bridal shower/hen and/or bachelor party at a Hyatt, gain Globalist status, then use it on your honeymoon along with your free night and enjoy the Regency Club. To Hyatt, you're more loyal than the guy who spent 25 nights at a Hyatt Place in Timbuktu.

shorthauldad

I stayed at the IC O2 a couple of weeks ago.

The check-in conversation went like this:

Agent: I see you are Spire Ambassador member.
Me: Yes
Agent: Thank you for your loyalty. We are able to offer you Club access at a discounted rate of Ł75 (~$92).
Me: <stunned silence>
Me (recovering after a few seconds): Err ... no, thank you!
Me: Do I have to pay for breakfast on the rate I've booked?
Agent: Yes, it's Ł21 plus service charge.
Me: <second stunned silence>

hailstorm

BAGoldBoy

My plan exactly. Have been Diamond since 1992 but since 2009 it's pretty much been on my dime. I have requalified for this year but can get status at other hotel chains through Amex Plat or BA GGL so I'm moving on.

swiss_global

While this might be the reason in the US, where Hyatt has a good foodprint including relatively cheap Hyatt Place properties, this is clearly wrong elsewhere.

With my 35 stays/40 nights, I also spend roughly $12000 (because Hyatt nights outside the US are rather $300/night). So the revenue I generate is roughly the same as your's with 60 nights ... But I'm very far away from the 55/60 nights ...

schriste

Let's not beat around the bush. Even with nights, there will be those that stay only at PH, and those "scum" that do 60 nights at HP. Let's Eliminate both stays and nights and make it simple... something that everyone can understand... revenue only.

GUWonder

I'd call this the hotel's way to groom the event and meeting planner/host crowd. One paid stay for a day or a weekend could be enough to get Hyatt top-tier under the new Hyatt program. Some of those who have never stepped foot in a Hyatt before planning their wedding will end up as a top-tier member in the new Hyatt "loyalty" program. Creative event planners of the world should be very excited by this new cash-to-play program. Frequent travelers, on the other hand, mainly get the short end of the stick from Hyatt's new cash-to-play program. Not that this will end all the ways to game this game.

austin_modern

The HP crowd now needs double.

And yes this change is a step towards revenue. Save some whining for when that happens cause we all know it's coming. And before anyone says it - ALL frequent guest or flyer programs are there for people who spend revenue. That's what businesses like Hyatt care about.

And Hyatt has surely modeled these changes - FT represents a small community of their overall market.

In the end, we'll all move on with life; I suspect many who claim they will burn and go will still be posting here in a year as globalists. This thread will be interesting to read in 2017.