In a move that other hotels have previously made, Hyatt is now changing their hotel cancellation policy. However, with this change, they have managed to make their elites, Globalist and Explorist levels, even more valuable.
Hyatt Just Made Their Elite Levels More Valuable
Link: Hyatt Cancellation Policy Change
Other hotels have made more stringent cancellation policies this year and Hyatt has now jumped on that bandwagon as well. Instead of a general 24 hour cancellation policy (with certain exceptions based on room type, hotel, and season), they have moved to make it a 48 hour cancellation rule (again, varied by hotel based on certain exclusions).
This new cancellation policy will apply for reservations made from January 1, 2018. Here is the release from Hyatt about this change:
“Effective for reservations made or changed on or after January 1, 2018, Hyatt will implement a revised minimum cancellation policy that allows hotels to manage guestroom availability more effectively, including offering rooms and upgrades to rooms that would have otherwise gone unoccupied.
This new default cancellation policy requires guests to cancel their reservations at least 48 hours in advance to avoid a cancellation fee. Because each Hyatt hotel may continue to set its own cancellation policy based on local market dynamics and expectations, we always encourage guests to check the cancellation policy at the time of booking. It will continue to be transparently communicated at the time of booking and in guest emails.”
How Did Hyatt Make Their Elite Levels More Valuable?
With this new cancellation change, Hyatt also had this to say (bolding mine):
“While this change is designed to improve room availability, we recognize that flexibility is important and will offer relaxed criteria for our most frequent guests. Beginning with reservations made or changed on January 1, 2018, World of Hyatt Explorist, Globalist or Lifetime Globalist members will be able to cancel up to 24 hours before arrival when the hotel’s cancellation policy is 48 hours.
This relaxed criteria will apply to all hotels excluding Hyatt Residence Club resorts, Miraval resorts and M life resort destinations and excludes pre-paid and non-refundable rates. It will also not apply when a hotel’s cancellation policy exceeds 48 hours.”
Good idea to make it easier for their elite members! However, I have a feeling this will cause a bit of confusion for those that are Discoverist or stay a similar number of nights per year at Hyatts. Those people likely are familiar with the 24 hour cancellation timeframe and may miss it with the new change.
However, I am glad, as a current Globalist, that we get a pass on that 48 hour timing since many of my stays do end up changing up a bit and I always appreciate the flexibility.
Takeaway
Am I fan of giving more value to elite members by adding restrictions? No, but like the new JetBlue rules, it just goes to show how having elite status can help us keep things as we are familiar with them. I am glad that Hyatt allowed us to remain immune from this change but I would like to see them add value to their elite levels without stripping away things that we are used to having already. 🙂
Featured image courtesy of Shutterstock
Not sure that’s how I would describe it
By eliminating what was normal for every traveler and restricting it to elites, it did give travelers who change plans often more value with elite status. Not a fan of it, just how it is.
Only an idiot would use this article title, or a Hyatt employee, or a clickbait scammer…
Thanks for adding such a valuable piece of information to this discussion. The truth is that such a move has done nothing but increase value for frequent travelers with elite status. Not happy with it, just the way it is. It is bad for the traveler with Discoverist or no status but it makes one more reason to secure status above that if you have to cancel within 48 hours.
BTW, if you feel confident in your contribution, try using your real e-mail address and name next time. Acting like you did is just internet cowardice.