Premium Suite definition
Oct 30, 2018, 7:57 am
#16
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Park Executive jet-lag premium suite: non-suite room with a bed and a three-person sofa with a dark “courtyard” view of HVAC system and boring brick walls.
Hyatt will have hotels playing games like this with suite classification and re-definition and they will probably let most such shenanigans take place and remain in place in practice.
Hyatt will have hotels playing games like this with suite classification and re-definition and they will probably let most such shenanigans take place and remain in place in practice.
Last edited by GUWonder; Oct 31, 2018 at 6:28 am
Oct 31, 2018, 1:13 am
#17
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
I appreciate and respect that there is a lack of trust for some due to the changes associated with the WoH. ... However, at a minimum there will be new options available to secure a suite at booking where that is currently not possible because all standard suites are sold out.
As a result of these changes, I fully expect more and more properties to downgrade the "standard suite" to a junior suite level and re-designate the old standard suite as a "premium suite". Ultimately, this will be a net negative for the program.
Oct 31, 2018, 10:10 am
#18
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EXP & AAirpass, Hyatt Courtesy Card, SPG Platinum
Posts: 991
This was specifically in reference to using points/status benefits to confirm a premium suite at booking without a cash payment. Pretty much any hotel will gladly have you pay the cash difference for a premium suite.
The SPG program doesn’t exist anymore and from what little I could find on Marriott.com and FT point suite upgrades are completely at the discretion of a property and don’t need to be offered at all. Hyatt will offer this benefit systemwide without a mimimum stay requirement, with the exception of a quite limited number of hotels who will continue to opt out.
The SPG program doesn’t exist anymore and from what little I could find on Marriott.com and FT point suite upgrades are completely at the discretion of a property and don’t need to be offered at all. Hyatt will offer this benefit systemwide without a mimimum stay requirement, with the exception of a quite limited number of hotels who will continue to opt out.
Some hotels, for example many Starwoods, allow you to confirm particular suite upgrades in advance either by paying more points for an award stay (but you must call to do this) or by paying an upgrade fee in money (usually obtained by communicating directly with the hotel). In either case, the upgrade would be confirmed in advance, usually at the time of reservation.
Nov 1, 2018, 9:53 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: MR-Amb, Hyatt-Globalist, AA-EXP
Posts: 1,744
I spent some time this morning looking into a few properties, and I successfully booked a full points premium suite at two properties and was quoted a cash and points rate for the same premium suite (obviously a terrible deal unless you are short on points).
However, I was unable to find any property that allowed the 9,000 point upgrade to a premium suite, even on nights where the premium suite was available on full points. I was able to use 6,000 points to upgrade to a standard suite, so it wasn't the result of my rate or anything. I didn't think those awards were going to be capacity controlled, so my guess is the system just isn't all the way upgraded yet.
I also inquired about the Park Hyatt New York since someone mentioned it upthread. They did not have any premium suites available for 60,000 points, but were still offering their modified cash and points suite awards of 30K plus $400/night for the 1 Bedroom Suite and 30K plus $600/night for the City View Suite. These aren't the best deals, but I was hoping they would stay around, because both are a much better deal than using 60K points or cash and points at 30K plus half the standard rate for the premium suites. As an aside, the standard suite was available for 48K points for single nights now.
However, I was unable to find any property that allowed the 9,000 point upgrade to a premium suite, even on nights where the premium suite was available on full points. I was able to use 6,000 points to upgrade to a standard suite, so it wasn't the result of my rate or anything. I didn't think those awards were going to be capacity controlled, so my guess is the system just isn't all the way upgraded yet.
I also inquired about the Park Hyatt New York since someone mentioned it upthread. They did not have any premium suites available for 60,000 points, but were still offering their modified cash and points suite awards of 30K plus $400/night for the 1 Bedroom Suite and 30K plus $600/night for the City View Suite. These aren't the best deals, but I was hoping they would stay around, because both are a much better deal than using 60K points or cash and points at 30K plus half the standard rate for the premium suites. As an aside, the standard suite was available for 48K points for single nights now.
Nov 1, 2018, 11:17 am
#20
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What’s an online searchable example — hotel and date specific — of Hyatt premium suites that are available using points only that came available with the WOH program change scheduled for today?
Nov 1, 2018, 11:23 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 544
I successfully upgraded a cash booking from a basic room to a premium suite for the 9000 points upcharge today. The only minor wrinkle was that I had to give up my member rate and rebook at the standard rate. All in all, it cost me about $50 extra per night, plus the 9k points per night. But well worth it for the suite!
Nov 1, 2018, 11:39 am
#22
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 343
Unless they didn't implement it as stated, you have to call to book premium suites.
Nov 1, 2018, 11:56 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: MR-Amb, Hyatt-Globalist, AA-EXP
Posts: 1,744
Nov 1, 2018, 12:03 pm
#24
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 343
Nov 1, 2018, 2:23 pm
#26
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Frustrating some kind of award redemptions and increasing breakage of awards/points is part of Hyatt’s profit-maximizing approach at the retail customers’ expense. Hyatt may care less about hotel guests than it cares about maximizing its profits and keeping hotel owners happy enough so as to retain them and minimize flag changes that don’t suit Hyatt.
Nov 1, 2018, 3:10 pm
#27
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: STL
Programs: AA PLT, *Wood PLT, HHonors Gold
Posts: 157
Data point:
I called the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen for reservations from Nov 30 to Dec 3 2018. I inquired about the various levels. Here were the costs quoted
King Room with Club Access: 3,000 pts plus $240 (not including taxes/fees)
Grand Suite King (includes club access): 6,000 pts plus $260 (not including taxes/fees) This is the standard suite
Plunge Pool Suite (includes club access): 9,000 pts plus $320 (not including taxes/fees) This is the premium suite
The actual cash difference between the GSK and Plunge Pool Suite is around $60 for the full cash price per night, so this is not a good deal. Thought it strange that the $ amount is higher as you move up in category, because the terms/conditions don't make that distinction. But I am far less in tune with Hyatt.
I called the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen for reservations from Nov 30 to Dec 3 2018. I inquired about the various levels. Here were the costs quoted
King Room with Club Access: 3,000 pts plus $240 (not including taxes/fees)
Grand Suite King (includes club access): 6,000 pts plus $260 (not including taxes/fees) This is the standard suite
Plunge Pool Suite (includes club access): 9,000 pts plus $320 (not including taxes/fees) This is the premium suite
The actual cash difference between the GSK and Plunge Pool Suite is around $60 for the full cash price per night, so this is not a good deal. Thought it strange that the $ amount is higher as you move up in category, because the terms/conditions don't make that distinction. But I am far less in tune with Hyatt.
Nov 1, 2018, 3:15 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,037
Data point:
I called the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen for reservations from Nov 30 to Dec 3 2018. I inquired about the various levels. Here were the costs quoted
King Room with Club Access: 3,000 pts plus $240 (not including taxes/fees)
Grand Suite King (includes club access): 6,000 pts plus $260 (not including taxes/fees) This is the standard suite
Plunge Pool Suite (includes club access): 9,000 pts plus $320 (not including taxes/fees) This is the premium suite
The actual cash difference between the GSK and Plunge Pool Suite is around $60 for the full cash price per night, so this is not a good deal. Thought it strange that the $ amount is higher as you move up in category, because the terms/conditions don't make that distinction. But I am far less in tune with Hyatt.
I called the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen for reservations from Nov 30 to Dec 3 2018. I inquired about the various levels. Here were the costs quoted
King Room with Club Access: 3,000 pts plus $240 (not including taxes/fees)
Grand Suite King (includes club access): 6,000 pts plus $260 (not including taxes/fees) This is the standard suite
Plunge Pool Suite (includes club access): 9,000 pts plus $320 (not including taxes/fees) This is the premium suite
The actual cash difference between the GSK and Plunge Pool Suite is around $60 for the full cash price per night, so this is not a good deal. Thought it strange that the $ amount is higher as you move up in category, because the terms/conditions don't make that distinction. But I am far less in tune with Hyatt.
But the 6k and 9k levels do kinda sound like the new structure . . .
Nov 1, 2018, 4:49 pm
#29
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 343
Frustrating some kind of award redemptions and increasing breakage of awards/points is part of Hyatt’s profit-maximizing approach at the retail customers’ expense. Hyatt may care less about hotel guests than it cares about maximizing its profits and keeping hotel owners happy enough so as to retain them and minimize flag changes that don’t suit Hyatt.
Nov 3, 2018, 4:22 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,434
Wrote to Grand Hyatt Tokyo reservation desk over a week ago. Never got a response.
Have called Hyatt global reservations for three nights straight. They told me they couldn't book a premium suite.
Finally contacted the GHT rooms manager directly. She told me that Grand Hyatt Tokyo was exempt from the premium suite upgrades, and she regretted that WoH was not able to communicate this, though she never seemed to regret not informing me when I reached out to the hotel itself well before any of that...
Anyway, it seems that premium suite awards will have an even bigger exemption list than the standard ones do.
Have called Hyatt global reservations for three nights straight. They told me they couldn't book a premium suite.
Finally contacted the GHT rooms manager directly. She told me that Grand Hyatt Tokyo was exempt from the premium suite upgrades, and she regretted that WoH was not able to communicate this, though she never seemed to regret not informing me when I reached out to the hotel itself well before any of that...
Anyway, it seems that premium suite awards will have an even bigger exemption list than the standard ones do.