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It’s always encouraging to see hotels expanding their hotel offerings with new and unique hotels, especially as travelers are looking for hotels off the beaten path. Using points for stays at far flung destinations is the dream of any points and miles collectors. This week, World of Hyatt announced a new partnership with Asilia Africa within its Mr & Mrs Smith brand, opening the door for luxury safari stays in East Africa.
New World of Hyatt Participating Properties in East Africa
As part of this new addition to the World of Hyatt, 15 properties are (or will be) bookable via Hyatt under the Mr & Mrs Smith brand. These include mostly luxury safari options ranging from tented safari camps to lodges with suites on stilts, varying by property — all located in East Africa.
These hotels are dotted around some of the most astounding landscapes in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, offering intimate stays (given their small, boutique hotel feel) and are very close to the action when going on safari.
Laurie Blair — Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Loyalty at Hyatt — said of this partnership:
“Asilia has shaped what luxury safari travel looks like, blending thoughtful design, warm, genuine hospitality, and a deep love and respect for wild places. We know affluent travelers are increasingly seeking journeys with meaningful, measurable impact. Asilia’s approach combines outstanding safari experiences with long-term investment in the people and ecosystems that are designed to help keep these landscapes viable. That’s why we’re delighted to welcome Asilia to World of Hyatt through Mr & Mrs Smith, connecting members to experiences that inspire adventure, reflection, and connection, while making it even more rewarding.”
Where are Asilia Properties Located?
These hotels are scattered through some of the wildest African landscapes, many of which attract thousands of tourists on a yearly basis.
Mara Naboisho Conservancy, Kenya
Masai Mara Reserve, Kenya
Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
Nyerere National Park, Tanzania
Rubondo Island National Park, Tanzania
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Asilia as Part of Mr & Mrs Smith
Nestled in some of the planet’s most delicate ecosystems, Asilia offers travelers an authentic African safari experience. The name “Asilia” itself means “authentic” in Swahili, perfectly capturing the essence of their mission. Asilia has received a B Corp certification, given to companies that balance the social and environmental impact their business makes.
This partnership between Hyatt and Asilia not only increases the number of guests visiting their camps but also strengthens the commitment that local communities and national parks benefit from responsible tourism practices. By staying at Asilia camps, travelers contribute to a model that supports and uplifts the surrounding areas, making their journey meaningful and memorable.
Asilia stays won't come cheap, whether you're thinking of cash reservations or using your World of Hyatt points. But this is generally the case for luxury safari camps across most of Africa. This is easily explainable when one understands that operating such facilities near or within national parks, or far-flung places that are removed from most urban places, does add some additional operating costs. The same goes for properties that maintain conservation standards, whether required by regulations or self-imposed.
World of Hyatt Member Benefits at Mr & Mrs Smith
It’s worth mentioning that Asilia properties are joining the World of Hyatt program under the Mr & Mrs Smith brand. With that, members can expect a few benefits.
Members can continue earning and redeeming points in these 15 properties like they would at other Hyatt hotels, at a rate of 5 points per dollar spent on room rates, plus 4 bonus points per dollar spent when using their World of Hyatt credit card. Stays at these properties will help them earn credit towards their status. Stays at Asilia properties won’t earn their own Brand Explorer Award badge, as they count under the Mr & Mrs Smith brand instead.
Globalist members will receive room upgrades upon check-in based on availability, but no other loyalty perks, just like at any other Mr & Mrs Smith properties. This includes no waived resort fees or parking fees on award stays, no late check-out or early check-in.
While a complimentary Globalist breakfast is not offered at Mr & Mrs Smith properties, notice that all of these 15 Asilia hotels that are part of this addition offer full board accommodation, including food and drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic). Additionally, many of these properties include limited laundry service, open-vehicle game drives, massages, other on-property activities beyond safari, and round-trip shared transfers to the airstrip that services the location.
Guests also enjoy the Smith Extra benefit at all 15 Asilia properties. As of right now, the listed perk is ‘a souvenir glass animal, handmade in Tanzania or Kenya'.
Bottom Line
For a few years now, Hyatt has been growing its footprint by expanding its partnerships with other independent, boutique-style hotel brands. With this latest addition, new (and exciting, I might add) hotels are now bookable in East Africa, where Hyatt had a very small presence. This makes booking future safari experiences in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda much easier, or at least rewarding, as your bookings can help you earn World of Hyatt points.
- 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
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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