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World of Hyatt Explorist status is Hyatt's middle-tier status, between Discoverist and top-tier Globalist status. For many who earn Explorist status, the benefits received make it a worthy achievement to strive for. While it's not Hyatt's elite sweet spot — that award goes to Hyatt Globalist status — Hyatt Explorist is fairly easy to earn and likely worth the investment to those who prefer Hyatt over competitors like Hilton and Marriott.
Here's everything you need to know about World of Hyatt Explorist status, including how Hyatt members can earn it, Hyatt Explorist benefits, and whether it's worth it to earn this level of status with Hyatt.
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How to Earn Hyatt Explorist Elite Status
Qualifying for the World of Hyatt Explorist status level requires staying 30 nights at Hyatt hotels or resorts or earning 50,000 base points every calendar year.
While holding a World of Hyatt credit card isn't necessary to earn elite status, it can help expedite your path to Hyatt Explorist status. More about that below.
Related: Use These Shortcuts To Get World of Hyatt Elite Status Faster
Staying at Hyatt
You can earn one tier-qualifying night for each paid or award night spent at one of the 1,350+ hotels and resorts in the Hyatt portfolio, at a Homes & Hideaways property, or at a Mr & Mrs Smith hotel. World of Hyatt members will earn Hyatt Explorist after 30 nights of qualifying stays. Event planners and travel advisors can also earn elite nights through their clients' spend, with two nights earned for every $5,000 in spend, up to $150,000 in spend each year.
An alternative to spending 30 nights at a Hyatt property is earning 50,000 base points. Hyatt awards five base points per $1 spent at its properties, meaning earning Explorist status would require $10,000 in spending. This isn't the cheapest path to Explorist. Instead, this earning method is meant to reward big spenders.
Via Hyatt credit cards
The World of Hyatt credit card portfolio includes two cards: The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees) and the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees). Both offer complimentary Hyatt Discoverist status, but neither offers free Explorist status (or Hyatt Globalist status) as an automatic, ongoing benefit. Occasionally, these cards may offer higher levels of status or elite night credits as part of a new-cardmember bonus.
With that said, holding a World of Hyatt card can expedite your path to Explorist or Globalist. For instance, the personal World of Hyatt Card offers five qualifying nights annually. Plus, you'll get two additional qualifying night credits for every $5,000 you spend on the World of Hyatt Card.
Hyatt Business Card holders can earn five tier-qualifying night credits for every $10,000 spent in a calendar year.
Thus, you can spend your way to Explorist status via a Hyatt credit card, but it will take a substantial amount of spending.
- Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
- Enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open.
- Get 1 free night each year after your Cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
- Receive 5 tier qualifying night credits towards status after account opening, and each year after that for as long as your account is open
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
- Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
- Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays - 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
- Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Up to 9X points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4X points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5X points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
- 2X points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1X point per $1 everywhere else
- 60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- Up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4 Bonus Points per $1 on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
- 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent in your top three spend categories each quarter.
- 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1 Bonus Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits - spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property and earn $50 statement credits up to two times each anniversary year.
- 5 Tier-Qualifying night credits toward status and Milestone rewards for every $10,000 you spend in a calendar year.
- World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open. Plus, Discoverist status to up to five employees
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Up to 9X total points per $1 spent at Hyatt – 4X points per $1 on qualifying purchases when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5X points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
- 2X points per $1 spent on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1X point per $1 everywhere else
In addition, you'll earn 2X points per $1 spent in your top three spend categories each quarter. Eligible categories include:
- Dining
- Shipping
- Airline tickets when purchased directly with the airline
- Local transit & commuting
- Social media & search engine Advertising
- Car rental agencies
- Gas stations
- Internet, cable & phone services
Related: 5 Reasons to Get the World of Hyatt Credit Card
Hyatt Explorist Benefits and Perks
World of Hyatt Explorist status offers middle-of-the-road benefits but is inherently more valuable than lower-tier Discoverist status. Explorist will make future Hyatt stays more comfortable and rewarding, but falls short when it comes to perks such as a complimentary breakfast.
Here's a look at the main benefits and perks available to Hyatt Explorist members:
Room upgrades
One of the best perks of hotel elite status is the occasional room upgrade. As an Explorist member, you can enjoy complimentary space-available upgrades at check-in to the best available rooms. Unfortunately, that's as high as Hyatt will upgrade you, as suites and rooms with access to Club Lounges aren't available to Explorist status holders via complimentary upgrade.
Note that the complimentary room upgrade perk is not available on hotel stays at Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Me and All Hotels, Hyatt Studios, Destination by Hyatt Residences, or Hyatt Vacation Club hotels and resorts, or at Residences at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley.
Late checkout
Explorist members can enjoy a late 2:00 p.m. checkout at participating properties. However, this is a “sometimes” perk and not an “all the time” perk. Late checkout is subject to availability at resorts, hotels with a casino, and Destination by Hyatt Residence properties. Plus, late checkout is unavailable at Hyatt Residence Club resorts.
Waived resort fees
If you've ever tried to book a stay at a resort, you might have paid one of those pesky resort fees. However, as an Explorist member who books a free night with points or via free night awards, Hyatt will waive applicable fees.
This perk isn't eligible for paid stays, though. Only those with Hyatt Globalist status are entitled to resort fee-free paid hotel stays.
Related: Here's When You Will and Won't Pay Resort Fees on Award Stays
Bonus points on stays
As an Explorist elite status holder, you'll earn 20% bonus points on Hyatt stays. Since the base earning rate is 5 points per $1 spent on a nightly rate, Explorist elite members will earn an extra Hyatt point per dollar spent for a total of 6x points.
Related: How to Earn Hyatt Points: How Many Can I Get?
Club Lounge access
Lounge access isn't a guaranteed benefit of Hyatt Explorist tier status. However, Hyatt elite members can get access to Club Lounges through Hyatt Milestone Rewards.
At 20 qualifying nights, World of Hyatt members get a choice between 2 Club access awards, 2k bonus points on their next stay at select brands, or a $25 FIND experience credit. Then, upon earning Hyatt Explorist status at 30 qualifying nights, members get a Category 1-4 Free Night Award plus a choice between 2 club access awards, 2k bonus points on their next stay at select brands, or a $25 FIND experience credit.
72-hour room availability
When a Hyatt is sold out, Explorists have the ability to book a standard room at the property up to 72 hours from check-in for their own personal use. There are exclusions and reservation requirements from each hotel, but know that the guaranteed rate is often an astronomically high nightly rate. Brands and hotels excluded include Destination by Hyatt Residences, Residences at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, any Hyatt hotel with a casino, and any Hyatt resort.
Comparing Explorist vs. Other Hyatt Elite Status Tiers
World of Hyatt Explorist status offers a balanced array of perks — more than Discoverist but less than Globalist status members can enjoy.
In terms of earning requirements, Explorist is between Discoverist and Globalist, requiring 30 nights or 50,000 base points compared to 10 nights or 25,000 base points or 60 nights and 100,000 base points for World of Hyatt Discoverist and Globalist, respectively.
But concerning the perks on offer at Hyatt properties, Explorist appears closer to Discoverist than it does to Globalist. Explorist members will enjoy similar perks to Discoverist members, with little variation outside guaranteed room availability and a more significant percentage of bonus points. Top-tier Globalist members are offered perks a cut above, such as complimentary club access or breakfast, suite upgrade awards through Milestone Rewards, and space-available upgrades to standard suites.
Simply put, World of Hyatt Explorist is a middle-of-the-road elite status tier, offering perks to match. For the right type of traveler, the perks and the requirements are more than sufficient. But for those who travel more and require more premium offerings or those who rarely travel and don't require several benefits, Hyatt's other tiers might be more rewarding and worth the investment to earn elite status.
World of Hyatt elite benefits: side-by-side
For easy comparison, the benefits available to Hyatt elite members are shown in the table below side-by-side. Note how World of Hyatt Explorist status appears more similar to Discoverist than it does to Globalist.
| General Member (No status) | Discoverist (10 nights or 25,000 base points) | Explorist (30 nights or 50,000 base points) | Globalist (60 nights or 100,000 base points) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earn 5 base points per $1 spent. | Earn 5 base points per $1 spent and 10% bonus points (5.5 points). | Earn 5 base points per $1 spent and 20% bonus points (6 points). | Earn 5 base points per $1 spent and 30% bonus points (6.5 points). |
| Waived resort fees on free night awards. | Waived resort fees on free night awards. | Waived resort fees on free night awards. | Waived resort fees on free night awards and eligible paid nights. |
| Upgrades to preferred rooms within the type booked. | Upgrades to best-available rooms, but not suites or rooms with Club Lounge access. | Upgrades to best-available rooms, including standard suites. | |
| Elite check-in. | Elite check-in. | Elite check-in. | |
| 2 p.m. late checkout (based on availability) | 2 p.m. late checkout (based on availability) | 4 p.m. late checkout. | |
| 72-hour guaranteed availability. | 48-hour guaranteed availability. | ||
| Complimentary Club Lounge access or breakfast. | |||
| Free parking on free nights. | |||
| Priority access to rooms. |
How Much is World of Hyatt Explorist Status Worth?
In AwardWallet estimates, we figure Hyatt Explorist status is worth around $835. However, as with any elite status valuation, the value of Explorist status will depend on how you use the benefits.
So you can tweak this based on your values, here are our estimates of the value of each benefit:
- Room upgrades: $300 — $10 per night x 30 nights
- 2 pm late checkout: $100 — $10 per stay x ~10 stays
- 20% bonus points: $90 — 20 paid nights at an average of $200 per night = $4,000 spending x 1 extra point per dollar x 2.19 cents per point valuation
- 20-night Milestone Reward: $100 — assuming you'll select Two Club Lounge Access Awards at $50 per award
- 30-night Milestone Reward of one Free Night Award (Category 1-4): $150
- 30-night Milestone Reward: $45 — assuming you'll select 2K Next Stay Award = 2,000 x 2.19 cents per point valuation
- Complimentary water bottles: $30 — $1 per night x 30 nights
- Premium internet: $30 — $1 extra value per night x 30 nights
We don't estimate any value for access to elite check-in desks or the 72-hour guaranteed availability.
Is Hyatt Explorist Status Worth It?
If you stay at Hyatt properties regularly, having World of Hyatt elite status is preferable to not having elite status. And if you stay at Hyatt properties enough to earn Explorist but not Globalist status, the perks available should be sufficiently rewarding. However, the decision to go for elite status depends on what perks and rewards you're after.
Pros and cons
The Hyatt Explorist benefits are earning bonus points, receiving a complimentary room upgrade occasionally, waived resort fees on award stays, and collecting Milestone Rewards en route to status are valuable. Plus, continued loyalty means you'll earn lots of Hyatt points from hotel stays that you can turn into a free night or two.
On the other hand, Hyatt Explorist members will miss out on perks, such as free breakfast, that come complimentary with equivalent levels of elite status in competing programs. Moreover, you won't always get a room upgrade, and the Hyatt closest to your destination won't always feature the best price, in cash or points.
And it should go without saying that chasing any elite status tier, such as Explorist, comes with a cost. Weighing your future travel plans and hotel stays is necessary to ensure you can enjoy your hard-earned benefits. Otherwise, there's little merit in spending the time, money, and energy to earn elite status.
Additionally, compared to brands such as Hilton, Marriott, or IHG, Hyatt doesn't have as extensive a portfolio as its competitors. If you can't reasonably stay at Hyatt properties for most of your work or leisure travels, the value proposition of having World of Hyatt Explorist status diminishes. It's worth looking at Hyatt's map of locations and offerings before you go all-in on earning status and comparing your findings to other programs to make the choice best for you.
World of Hyatt Explorist tier status might be a great investment for the benefits — or unnecessary. It truly depends on what perks you value and if Hyatt Explorist status offers the best path to them.
Hyatt Explorist Status FAQ
What are the requirements to achieve Hyatt Explorist Status?
To earn Hyatt Explorist every year calendar year, you'll need to stay 30 nights at Hyatt properties or earn 50,000 base points. Alternatively, event planners can achieve Hyatt Explorist after booking 10 qualifying meetings or events each year.
How many points do I earn per stay as an Explorist member?
As an Explorist member, you'll earn 5 base points per dollar spent and 6 redeemable bonus points per dollar spent on eligible charges incurred for and on your stay.
Can Explorist members receive room upgrades at any Hyatt hotel?
Those with Explorist status are entitled to room upgrades up to the best available room at check-in, excluding suites and rooms with Club Lounge access. However, this perk isn't valid at Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Destination by Hyatt Residences, or Hyatt Vacation Club properties.
What are the benefits of lounge access for Explorist members?
There are no direct Club Lounge access benefits for Explorist members. Through Hyatt's Milestone Rewards program, you can elect 2 Club Access awards at 20 qualifying nights and at 30 qualifying nights.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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