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Hyatt made big changes to its loyalty program at the beginning of March 2017, rebranding from Hyatt Gold Passport to World of Hyatt, adding an elite level, changing elite status requirements, and adjusting free nights and upgrades for elite members.
Outside of the new branding, Hyatt’s biggest change was the reshuffle of elite status levels. Adding a new fourth elite tier, removing the option to qualify on stays, and replacing it with the ability to qualify on revenue, now positions the program in favor of members that spend more money.
The new World of Hyatt qualification requirements for 2017.
| Elite Tier | Nights Required | Base Points Required | Meetings Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Discoverist | 10 | 25,000 ($5,000 min spend) | 3 |
| Explorist | 30 | 50,000 ($10,000 min spend) | 10 |
| Globalist | 60 (55 to re-qualify) | 100,000 ($20,000 min spend) | 20 |
Does The World of Hyatt Credit Card Receive Elite Status?
The The World of Hyatt Credit Card receives complimentary Discoverist status for as long as you remain a cardholder. There is no lounge access or breakfast offered for Discoverist members, which puts the benefit of this card on par with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
You earn 2 elite qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent on the card, opening up the possibility of earning Explorist or Globalist status via spend, valid for the following year. Members with Explorist status receive Club Lounge access four times a year, an extra 20% points bonus, and guaranteed room availability up to 72 hours before a paid stay.
The The World of Hyatt Credit Card offers great value, including a free night in a category 1-4 Hyatt each anniversary year you have the card, and a second free night certificate after you spend $15,000 on the card each year.
Earning World of Hyatt Elite Status Through Meetings
With stays no longer qualifying for elite status, members have had to get creative with elite status strategies, and meetings are playing an increasing role. While not applicable to everybody, for anyone involved in training, conferences, general gatherings, or events, Hyatt’s meetings are now one of the fastest and easiest methods of earning elite status.
Besides earning 1 point for every dollar spent on meetings hosted at Hyatt, each meeting counts towards your next elite tier.
You’ll earn:
- Discoverist after 3 meetings
- Explorist after 10 meetings
- Globalist after 20 meetings
Hyatt defines ‘Meetings‘ as “a meeting, conference, gathering, or other event that includes occupation of no fewer than ten (10) paid guest rooms for the same night (or multiple nights),” and rooms can either be billed to a master account or each individual pays, provided all rooms are associated with the room block for the event.
While Hyatt also offers ‘Catered Events’ as an alternative to Meetings that don’t qualify with 10 paid guest rooms, Catered Events do not count towards the individual planner’s qualification for elite status, so you must meet the 10-room minimum to get the elite credits.
If you need to pad your meetings count for top-level Globalist status, booking rooms at the Hyatt Regency Villahermosa south of the border will only set you back $44.60 per night, or a touch under $450 for all 10 rooms.
There is no requirement that members taking advantage of this route be registered meeting or event planners, only that your account number is associated with the reservation block of rooms you book.
Hyatt Globalist via Status Match
World of Hyatt Globalist is the highest elite tier offering some top benefits. Highlights include:
- Unlimited suite upgrades on all stays
- Four confirmed suite upgrades
- Additional suite upgrade awards after hitting 70, 80, 90 and 100 eligible nights in a calendar year (or 10K points)
- Free night in a Category 1-7 hotel (in addition to the free category 1-4 when you stay 5 different properties)
- My Hyatt Concierge
- No resort fees on paid stays
- Guest of Honor benefit
- Two complimentary United Club Passes per year
- Lower re-qualification for next year
In the past with Hyatt Gold Passport, Hyatt ran Diamond status matches on a fairly regular basis, and while we’ve seen a few hacks to status match from M life, as of yet there has been no official status match from Hyatt under the World of Hyatt branding.
Final Thoughts
Hyatt’s Globalist is a solid improvement on the Diamond offering from Hyatt Gold Passport. The additional suite upgrades, points, and free nights all add extra value, although it has become harder to reach top-tier elite with the removal of stays as an option to qualify.
The World of Hyatt Card will earn you complimentary Discoverist status with the chance to reach Explorist or Globalist through spending alone. And if you're involved in planning meetings, conferences, gatherings, or events, attaining elite status via meetings at a Hyatt Property is an achievable target.
Even if you fall one or two meetings short and find yourself needing to book 20 rooms south of the border to get your status over the line, Globalist is one of the most valuable hotel elite statuses available, and well worth chasing if you’re close.
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