OsakaWino

As I posted before (you may have missed it), the Plat Extra cert was not good for upgrades outside the US, so this new upgrade is certainly a BIG step up for anyone living outside the US, or for international travel. The Plat Extra certs were also not valid for 12 months, and they could not be used for as long as 7 nights.

A few Hyatts at which I think the upgrade would be quite nice: GH Tokyo, GH HK, Churchill London, HR Mainz, HR HK TST, GH Seoul, GH Fukuoka, GH Taipei, PH Melbourne, GH Melbourne, GH Kauai, HR Naha, GH Kuala Lumpur, GH Macau, GH Singapore ... I'm sure there are many more out there, but those are just a few that are in my limited range of vision.

Obviously these upgrades will not be of value to everyone, but nor are the DSUs.

I think they will do well for me for a year or 2, so I think I'll shoot for getting 30 nights in 2017 (a sharp decrease from my 42 this year and 40-45 each of the past 5 years).

If someone cannot obtain value from the 4 Club upgrades, I see no reason whatsoever in going out of the way to earn Explore status.

skj

Not all Hyatt Regency-branded properties have clubs. 2 without clubs where I stay frequently are Austin and Houston. Breakfast in their restaurants is a big step up over a club's offering, in my opinion.

rfrost

Agreed. HR Toronto also lacks a club, and, IIRC, so does HR Sarasota.

Julie17

It would be interesting to know what percentage of Hyatt Regencys have clubs. I've stayed at the following properties that have no club:

HR Valencia
HR Orange County
HR Coral Gables
HR Atlanta NW Suites
Lost Pines (has club but only open seasonally)

GUWonder

Most Hyatt properties in the US don't have clubs/lounges. Even a substantial chunk of Hyatt Regency properties in the US haven't had Regency Club lounges for years (if ever).

The last Park Hyatt lounge in the Americas that I visited was at the Park Hyatt LA -- a Hyatt which is no more.

The 4 club upgrade benefit does sound like a bit of an improvement for the non-Diamonds who do 30-49 nights a year. But for Diamonds doing 25-59 nights per year, your chances to use the club lounge as a program benefit have just dropped. There's a lesson in there.

craigthemif

No way to generalise. There are HRs without a lounge. There are GHs without a lounge (IIRC Cannes). There are PHs with a lounge (Hamburg for example) as well as Centrics (Montevideo for example).

BOSOGG

I hope you are right, but WoH states: "Receive 4 Club lounge access awards".
There is no mention, that I have found, of upgrade to Club rooms.

notquiteaff

This is from the T&C:

"Explorist Club Upgrade Awards are only valid for standard Club lounge-access rooms, as defined by the applicable hotel or resort. There are a limited number of Club lounge-access rooms available at each hotel or resort and they are subject to availability. Explorist Club Upgrade Awards cannot be redeemed for premium Club lounge-access rooms (i.e. any Club View, Deluxe Club, Club Suite, or similar room categories)"

Could they give you club access if a regular club room is available and still stick you in a broom closet? Maybe. But I don't think that is the intention. Rather, if there is a regular club room, you can get it, but if there is there only a premium club room, you get bupkiss (not regular room with club access).

Kacee

One more reason few will aspire to "Explorist." Just not seeing any value there compared to Marriott/Hilton.

canyonleo

Probably the main reason (if one is to judge benefits of E as opposed to benefits dropped for Diamond-to-E). I mean, if you're a 40-50 stay Diamond, and you're compare is basically Diamond vs. E, what does E give you... four RC access passes that might be gamed by properties? Nothing else. And, to preempt anyone from saying "wait until we get there, one shouldn't assume properties will game this", we all know gaming room type inventory by properties at time of attempted booking is a real issue.

OsakaWino

You underestimate the power of inertia.

If I can get guaranteed Club upgrade with Hyatt Explo vs, possible club upgrade with HHilton Gold, I'm very tempted to stick with Hyatt. Just a personal and probably unusual, pref, but for us eve lounge is very valuable, while breakfast is of limited value.

skj

"Explorist Club Upgrade Awards are only valid for standard Club lounge-access rooms, as defined by the applicable hotel or resort. There are a limited number of Club lounge-access rooms available at each hotel or resort and they are subject to availability. Explorist Club Upgrade Awards cannot be redeemed for premium Club lounge-access rooms (i.e. any Club View, Deluxe Club, Club Suite, or similar room categories)"

I wonder how this will work at properties that don't have a separate category of Club rooms, like GH Kauai. Will they now relabel some rooms as Club rooms to create a small number so availability can be limited ?

canyonleo

You underestimate the power of "If"
Granted, I think (given my experience) one might do better in the regard at GH Taipei, GH HK, HR TST, etc... than in general in U.S., looking at the properties that have frequent posts about gaming inventory.

notquiteaff

And how valuable is lounge access in the US? It's been a while since I was in a domestic Hyatt lounge, but I recall the cheap evening nibbles and paid Mai Tais at the Waikiki property.

canyonleo

Lounge access can be very valuable...

Although I've shifted all my Hyatt Maui stays from HR to Andaz, having lounge access allowed my wife and kid to go get their own breakfast while I hit a remote beach for early morning free diving. Or, when I'm on a business trip, wife and kid can grab lounge breakfast while I'm at the office/event (where one would need a car to get to any better breakfast). Or, grabbing some drinks mid-day to avoid purchase at a store. Or, use of the computer/printer when I need to print something (like a boarding pass, or business papers).