Advice on whether it is worth shooting for Explorist
Mar 3, 2019, 1:26 pm
#76
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 981
I realize that the question wasn't directed to me, however it should be pointed out that Explorist upgrades are not valid at Hyatt Place properties.
Per the WoH T&C's:
"Best Room Available: Explorists will be offered the best room available at the time of check-in at Hyatt hotels and resorts, excluding suites and Club lounge-access rooms. The best room available will be determined by the applicable hotel or resort in its sole discretion and may vary from stay-to-stay. The “best room” may, but will not necessarily be, of a room type/category higher than that booked by the Member. Not valid at Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, or Hyatt Residence Club hotels and resorts, or M life Rewards destinations."
An upgrade may still be available at a HP hotel's discretion if there are higher-category rooms, but it would not be due to Explorist benefits.
Per the WoH T&C's:
"Best Room Available: Explorists will be offered the best room available at the time of check-in at Hyatt hotels and resorts, excluding suites and Club lounge-access rooms. The best room available will be determined by the applicable hotel or resort in its sole discretion and may vary from stay-to-stay. The “best room” may, but will not necessarily be, of a room type/category higher than that booked by the Member. Not valid at Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, or Hyatt Residence Club hotels and resorts, or M life Rewards destinations."
An upgrade may still be available at a HP hotel's discretion if there are higher-category rooms, but it would not be due to Explorist benefits.
Mar 3, 2019, 2:57 pm
#77
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
I realize that the question wasn't directed to me, however it should be pointed out that Explorist upgrades are not valid at Hyatt Place properties.
Per the WoH T&C's:
"Best Room Available: Explorists will be offered the best room available at the time of check-in at Hyatt hotels and resorts, excluding suites and Club lounge-access rooms. The best room available will be determined by the applicable hotel or resort in its sole discretion and may vary from stay-to-stay. The “best room” may, but will not necessarily be, of a room type/category higher than that booked by the Member. Not valid at Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, or Hyatt Residence Club hotels and resorts, or M life Rewards destinations."
An upgrade may still be available at a HP hotel's discretion if there are higher-category rooms, but it would not be due to Explorist benefits.
Per the WoH T&C's:
"Best Room Available: Explorists will be offered the best room available at the time of check-in at Hyatt hotels and resorts, excluding suites and Club lounge-access rooms. The best room available will be determined by the applicable hotel or resort in its sole discretion and may vary from stay-to-stay. The “best room” may, but will not necessarily be, of a room type/category higher than that booked by the Member. Not valid at Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, or Hyatt Residence Club hotels and resorts, or M life Rewards destinations."
An upgrade may still be available at a HP hotel's discretion if there are higher-category rooms, but it would not be due to Explorist benefits.
Also, at Hyatt Residence Club Sedona, we were upgraded to an one-bedroom condo with fireplace.
Happy to receive the upgrades during the extremely busy holiday season.
Mar 3, 2019, 2:58 pm
#78
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Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
Those are not "suites". You'll receive upgrades subject to availability.
Mar 4, 2019, 11:23 am
#79
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 981
Mar 4, 2019, 12:41 pm
#80
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Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
There are just quite a few factors on the so-called upgrades. There were instances when we received room upgrades top floor and ocean views with two patios. Also we received emails from hotel in-house guest relations and front desk manager arranging room upgrades and dining reservations during holiday season. Sometimes we got nothing...
Mar 4, 2019, 1:02 pm
#81
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 2MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,158
I don't know that moving from 1 bed to 2 beds would be considered an upgrade (it would be a big downgrade for me) unless you're moving to a higher category room. Also, it seems that 2 beds aren't an option for many upgraded room types. If you want 2 beds, I suggest you reserve them, or make your preference clearly known to the property before arrival.
Mar 4, 2019, 3:22 pm
#82
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 981
I don't know that moving from 1 bed to 2 beds would be considered an upgrade (it would be a big downgrade for me) unless you're moving to a higher category room. Also, it seems that 2 beds aren't an option for many upgraded room types. If you want 2 beds, I suggest you reserve them, or make your preference clearly known to the property before arrival.
Mar 4, 2019, 3:36 pm
#83
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 2MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,158
Unfortunately, I am using award nights and they were sold out of the two queens as a standard room for one of the nights. So I just booked what they had. I just looked at the rates for the HP and it seems like they only have Kings left, either with a Space Needle view or not. I guess maybe they will give us a Space Needle view?
Mar 4, 2019, 8:27 pm
#84
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 981
I realize this is getting off-topic here, but this is your 5 night stay sometime this month, right ? If you have an extra 15K points, I'd strongly suggest looking at one of the 3 properties downtown (GH, HR, or Olive 8). I've stayed in a lot of HPs and don't mind them for a night or two, but for 5 nights, I'd look at the alternatives, assuming you have the points and can find availability.
Mar 5, 2019, 6:31 am
#85
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 2MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,158
Trouble is, we have a 6 year old and a 3 year old, so a biggish room and breakfasts are a must. And since I don't have lounge passes yet I have to stay at the HHs and HPs to make sure my wife has one less thing to stress about.:-). If that Explorist challenge included passes, I would have been all over that haha.
Mar 5, 2019, 10:38 am
#86
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 981
I guess I can rearrange my reservations and only have one night of King, and go with 2 queens every other night and cross my fingers that they have availability that night. Maybe I will get lucky and someone that had a long-term reservation through the night in question cancels before I get there and the two queens opens up.
Mar 5, 2019, 8:16 pm
#87
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Trouble is, we have a 6 year old and a 3 year old, so a biggish room and breakfasts are a must. And since I don't have lounge passes yet I have to stay at the HHs and HPs to make sure my wife has one less thing to stress about.:-). If that Explorist challenge included passes, I would have been all over that haha.
However, without the inclusion of any lounge access benefit for the Explorist status, Explorist status is arguably useless in terms of customers’ benefits; and so to attract/retain customers using Explorist status, Hyatt will likely have to sweeten the pot for consumers at least at times if it wants to make Explorist much of a hook into getting and keeping customers when demand for hotel services takes a dive.
Mar 7, 2019, 1:51 pm
#88
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 981
Status matches and/or challenges did include club/lounge access awards, but Hyatt seems to have had that on the chopping block and then chopped hard at it.
However, without the inclusion of any lounge access benefit for the Explorist status, Explorist status is arguably useless in terms of customers’ benefits; and so to attract/retain customers using Explorist status, Hyatt will likely have to sweeten the pot for consumers at least at times if it wants to make Explorist much of a hook into getting and keeping customers when demand for hotel services takes a dive.