A Defection to Hyatt: Experiences & a Guide for ex-Starwood/Marriott travelers
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,170
It's crazy how bad Marriott has become. When they first announced the SPG merger (and Hyatt promptly offered a status match) I jumped to Hyatt, but then had a bit of buyers remorse when (it appeared) Marriott was going to be so generous with SPG people... my how times have changed. So glad Hyatt ISN'T matching - the last thing we need is a flood of fake Globalists...
#17
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: HYATT Globalist Alaska 100k
Posts: 121
Didn't they start this at the time of WOH inception?
I thought Milestone rewards do have something similar to Brand Explorer - stay at 5 different brands and get a cat4 cert and probably stay 10 for another.
Even if Milestone doesn't start until March they will go back and start counting from January IIRC. So if OP did 5 different brands to get a cert from Brand Explorer in 2019 already, he should also get another from Milestone. My understanding is this is a new program/promo that has nothing to do with Brand Explorer promo, which should end on 2/28 with inception of this Phase Two WOH (or Milestone) although it was never announced. No?
#18
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,358
You may recall that Hyatt was in contention for acquiring Starwood. I was really rooting for them, as I felt those two matched up much better in terms of both style and substance than did Marriott. It would also have been better for competition.
My impression is that Hyatt staff are in general better-trained and more focused on guest satisfaction than the other brands. (And I'm not just saying that because I used to work for Hyatt!)
My impression is that Hyatt staff are in general better-trained and more focused on guest satisfaction than the other brands. (And I'm not just saying that because I used to work for Hyatt!)
#19
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: MR-Amb, Hyatt-Globalist, AA-EXP
Posts: 1,744
Lots of great commentary here. As someone that splits my loyalty between the two, Hyatt nails confirmed suite upgrades and breakfast. But my upgrade experience has been worse with Hyatt when not using a DSU compared to marriott. And when im thinking about a vacation, I typically find several Marriott properties that fit what im looking for, but I feel like I have to make an extra effort to vacation with Hyatt. I think I could spend years trying to stay at all of Marriott's top end properties, whereas I think I've been to all of Hyatts (outside of the Asian properties) at last once and many more than once.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,170
Marriott by way of contrast is an ongoing dumpster fire. I just can’t stand the inconsistency. And the opacity is a big F. U. to consumers.
#21
Moderator, SkyTeam and Germany
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: FRA/STR/NUE
Programs: BA, LH, KL, EY, IHG, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Radisson
Posts: 5,946
Joining the club here - just switched some upcoming reservations over from Marriott to Hyatt. Let's see what I'll be thinking of Hyatt after the first year and how the situation over at Marriott will develop. I'm LTP at Marriott (long time loyal to spg) and have Exp at Hyatt.
I like the web booking at Hyatt, compared to a really inconvenient process at Marriott (only showing very limited rates). The Hyatt app however is not good for bookings, hotel and room info is very basic compared with the full website.
I like the web booking at Hyatt, compared to a really inconvenient process at Marriott (only showing very limited rates). The Hyatt app however is not good for bookings, hotel and room info is very basic compared with the full website.
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Buffalo, but live from suitcase
Programs: Delta, AA, Marriott
Posts: 240
Interesting post. I am/was Ritz platinum. I still get 3 upgrades per year to club floor at the Ritz and always at other properties. I get a suite 50% of the time. (not if you use web checkin). Suite 80% at "my marriotts" that know me. How often do yo get a suite at hyatt?
#23
Moderator, SkyTeam and Germany
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: FRA/STR/NUE
Programs: BA, LH, KL, EY, IHG, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Radisson
Posts: 5,946
Sure the potential suite upgrade at Marriott is a big plus point - but as a "low" Plat I don't usually get suite upgrades. Those would be especially valuable for holidays with multi-night stays, but suite upgrades do not happen for such stays for me. So for quite some time I have booked such holiday stays where a suite matters with Interconti where I did get a reliable one cat Amb upgrade into a suite by booking one category below. And I'll see how that works out at Hyatt with the 9k points suite upgrade which can be arranged in advance.
#24
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London and Madrid
Programs: BA Gold, UA 2MM, Hyatt Globalist, Columbia Record & Tape Club Triple Diamond VIP
Posts: 580
Not really
At this point, more than half of all hotel rooms in major US cities are controlled by the four biggest chains.
As as airlines did post consolidation, hotel chains are moving toward managing loyalty through corporate contracts.
Im a Globalist, and I happen to like Hyatt. But my company’s rate includes premium internet and breakfast as most hotels, which puts my status in perspective.
[QUOTE=UA-NYC;30783951]
As as airlines did post consolidation, hotel chains are moving toward managing loyalty through corporate contracts.
Im a Globalist, and I happen to like Hyatt. But my company’s rate includes premium internet and breakfast as most hotels, which puts my status in perspective.
[QUOTE=UA-NYC;30783951]
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Buffalo, but live from suitcase
Programs: Delta, AA, Marriott
Posts: 240
[QUOTE=embarcadero1;30785760]
At this point, more than half of all hotel rooms in major US cities are controlled by the four biggest chains.
As as airlines did post consolidation, hotel chains are moving toward managing loyalty through corporate contracts.
Im a Globalist, and I happen to like Hyatt. But my company’s rate includes premium internet and breakfast as most hotels, which puts my status in perspective.
[QUOTE=UA-NYC;30783951]
As as airlines did post consolidation, hotel chains are moving toward managing loyalty through corporate contracts.
Im a Globalist, and I happen to like Hyatt. But my company’s rate includes premium internet and breakfast as most hotels, which puts my status in perspective.
[QUOTE=UA-NYC;30783951]
unless you are watching movies, does it really matter premium vs reg wifi (from a guy who gets the premium free)
#26
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 37
Couple of other anecdotes: I stayed at the grand Hyatt baha Mar over new years when the hotel was completely sold out. I wasn't able to secure a suite upgrade in advance so I had resigned myself to a regular room. When I checked in, they had upgraded me to a residence suite that overlooked the fountains and that had a balcony that had a perfect view of the new years fireworks... I had a similar experience at the Hyatt in Huntington Beach (no suite upgrades available in advance but was given a very large suite upon check-in)
Long story short, I've been more than happy with world of Hyatt and they've certainly inspired increasing loyalty from me over the last couple of years. I've shifted most of my spend to WOH and I'm questioning if it's worth it for me to continue maintaining platinum elite status at bonvoy. The only issue is that I have 2m points to burn at bonvoy so will likely need to stay at the hotels...
#27
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: MR-Amb, Hyatt-Globalist, AA-EXP
Posts: 1,744
I (along with many others on this forum) have had the complete opposite experience as to what you have described. As someone who maintains both platinum on spg / bonvoy and globalist on Hyatt, I find that I am upgraded on Hyatt about 75% of the time and less than 25% of the time on Bonvoy. Over my last 5 stays on Bonvoy (since the IT merger), I have not been upgraded a single time. I have been upgraded on 5 of my last 6 stays at Hyatt properties.
Couple of other anecdotes: I stayed at the grand Hyatt baha Mar over new years when the hotel was completely sold out. I wasn't able to secure a suite upgrade in advance so I had resigned myself to a regular room. When I checked in, they had upgraded me to a residence suite that overlooked the fountains and that had a balcony that had a perfect view of the new years fireworks... I had a similar experience at the Hyatt in Huntington Beach (no suite upgrades available in advance but was given a very large suite upon check-in)
Long story short, I've been more than happy with world of Hyatt and they've certainly inspired increasing loyalty from me over the last couple of years. I've shifted most of my spend to WOH and I'm questioning if it's worth it for me to continue maintaining platinum elite status at bonvoy. The only issue is that I have 2m points to burn at bonvoy so will likely need to stay at the hotels...
Couple of other anecdotes: I stayed at the grand Hyatt baha Mar over new years when the hotel was completely sold out. I wasn't able to secure a suite upgrade in advance so I had resigned myself to a regular room. When I checked in, they had upgraded me to a residence suite that overlooked the fountains and that had a balcony that had a perfect view of the new years fireworks... I had a similar experience at the Hyatt in Huntington Beach (no suite upgrades available in advance but was given a very large suite upon check-in)
Long story short, I've been more than happy with world of Hyatt and they've certainly inspired increasing loyalty from me over the last couple of years. I've shifted most of my spend to WOH and I'm questioning if it's worth it for me to continue maintaining platinum elite status at bonvoy. The only issue is that I have 2m points to burn at bonvoy so will likely need to stay at the hotels...
What is your current bonvoy status? It looks like platinum, which is not an apples to apples comparison to globalist. As a current bonvoy ambassador and previous titanium, on my last few stays, I was in a suite at the ritz boston, am currently in a luxury suite at the st. regis deer valley over president's day weekend, and in between had a junior suite at the chatwal. With hyatt on my last few stays, I had to pay $$ to upgrade to a real suite at PH NYC, had to argue for an upgrade at the driskill and had a high floor at the hyatt cambridge. Both are solid programs and much better than my brief experience with Hilton and IHG, but my upgrade percentage is about the same and with marriott, i'm usually able to stay at a nicer place.
#28
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London and Madrid
Programs: BA Gold, UA 2MM, Hyatt Globalist, Columbia Record & Tape Club Triple Diamond VIP
Posts: 580
Yes, it does, or at least it used to. I do a lot of video conferencing.
Now that Hyatt has Chromecast in many hotels, I can watch Netflix on a big screen.
Now that Hyatt has Chromecast in many hotels, I can watch Netflix on a big screen.
#29
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 37
What is your current bonvoy status? It looks like platinum, which is not an apples to apples comparison to globalist. As a current bonvoy ambassador and previous titanium, on my last few stays, I was in a suite at the ritz boston, am currently in a luxury suite at the st. regis deer valley over president's day weekend, and in between had a junior suite at the chatwal. With hyatt on my last few stays, I had to pay $$ to upgrade to a real suite at PH NYC, had to argue for an upgrade at the driskill and had a high floor at the hyatt cambridge. Both are solid programs and much better than my brief experience with Hilton and IHG, but my upgrade percentage is about the same and with marriott, i'm usually able to stay at a nicer place.
#30
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
And as with the US3 airlines’ loyalty programs, so with the big US hotels’ loyalty programs: the cuts from one operator signal cuts to come from the others too.
Last edited by GUWonder; Feb 17, 2019 at 11:01 am