We are just two days away from the end of the Hyatt Gold Passport program and the new World of Hyatt program. Hyatt has made great efforts to get the word out lately as to what the new World of Hyatt is all about and it is not just about elite status. Here is what you can expect as to what the new World of Hyatt is planning on being.
The New World of Hyatt
Link: New World of Hyatt
I first wrote about this back in October when it slipped out, but we are now just days away from the new World of Hyatt. It is more than just a name change and is bringing about a whole new elite level system as well as focusing on experiences also. Here is what the new elite system for World of Hyatt will look like and how you will be slotted into it.
The New World of Hyatt – Elite Status
The new World of Hyatt adds an additional elite level to take it from 2 elite levels to 3 (and also the base member, just for signing up for the program). Here is what the new elite levels look like.
The new Elite Levels and Qualifying Details
As was written before, gone are “stays” for the purpose of elite qualifying standards. The qualifying methods are now done with nights, base points, or meetings/events. To achieve the highest level, Globalist, a customer will need to have 60 qualifying nights (that still does not include award nights but does include Points+Cash nights as before) instead of 25 stays or 50 nights under the current Gold Passport for Diamond level.
How Will Current Gold Passport Elites Transfer to World of Hyatt Status?
By now, you should have received an e-mail about your elite level with Hyatt and how it will transfer to the new World of Hyatt program. In case you had not yet, here is a chart showing how it will translate to the new World of Hyatt status levels.
To sum that up, if you have not qualified for status again and you are a Platinum member, you will drop to the base level of the program – Member. But, if you hold the Hyatt credit card, the United Club Card or the Presidential Plus card, you will change from Platinum to Discoverist on March 1. That is the entry elite level that will require you to earn 10 nights in a year for that status, unless you hold those credit cards.
If you are a Diamond member that did not requalify last year, you will drop to Explorist, the new mid-tier elite level. If you did requalify for Diamond status, you will receive the Globalist status.
So, Hyatt credit card holder? You will now become a Discoverist elite member. Hyatt Diamond member that did not requalify? Explorist. Hyatt Diamond member with current qualifications met? Globalist member. Make sense? 🙂
With the new program, you can earn Explorist status by putting $50,000 in spending on your Hyatt credit card but that is a lot of spend to put on a card that is within a single loyalty program. If you put that spend on something like the SPG card, it would give you much more flexibility on what you can do with those points.
Globalist Requalifcation Note
Apparently, some people (including bloggers) were confused about the 60 nights for qualifying for Globalist level going forward. Hyatt had said that it would require 55 nights to renew your Globalist status but that is only after you have earned it. No Diamond member that is transitioned to Globalist status has earned that status yet so you will need to collect 60 nights this year to earn Globalist status for next year. After that, you can renew it with 55 nights.
Elite Level Benefits
Discoverist Level
As the entry level for elite status, here is what Discoverist members can expect to receive as benefits with the new World of Hyatt program:
- Achieve rewards faster with 10% Bonus Points when choosing to earn points on eligible charges.
- Enjoy a preferred room based on availability at check-in (preferred rooms are of the same type or category as reserved by the member, but may have a preferable view, location, or configuration)
- Expedite check-in at a dedicated area reserved for elite members
- Keep hydrated with a bottle of water daily
- Stay connected with complimentary premium Internet where available
- Extend your stay until 2:00 pm upon request (subject to availability at some locations)
- Waived resort fees on free night awards
- Book your stay through an exclusive reservation line
- Receive Pearl status with M life Rewards, the loyalty program for MGM Resorts International
All Hyatt credit card holders will have this elite level.
Explorist Level
This is the new mid-tier elite level and this is what you can expect to receive as benefits with this level:
- Achieve rewards faster with 20% Bonus Points when choosing to earn points on eligible charges
- Receive 4 Club lounge access awards redeemable at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts at the time of reservation. Enjoy continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres daily in a Club lounge. (valid for one year from issuance when paying an eligible rate or when redeeming points for a free night award)
- Enjoy an upgrade at check-in, excluding suites and rooms with Club lounge access
- Expedite check-in at a dedicated area reserved for elite members
- Keep hydrated with a bottle of water daily
- Stay connected with complimentary premium Internet where available
- Extend your stay until 2:00 pm upon request (subject to availability at some locations)
- Waived resort fees on free night awards
- Ensure a room is available at participating Hyatt hotels when making a paid reservation at least 72 hours prior to arrival (blackout dates apply)
- Book your stay through an exclusive reservation line
- Receive Gold status with M life Rewards, the loyalty program for MGM Resorts International
All expiring Diamond members will receive Explorist level for this year.
Globalist Level
This is the new top tier within the World of Hyatt program. Here is what you can expect to receive as benefits with this level:
- Achieve rewards faster with 30% Bonus Points when choosing to earn points on eligible charges.
- Enjoy an upgrade at check-in, up to standard suites
- Relax in the Club lounge with continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres daily. Or, enjoy complimentary full breakfast daily for each registered guest (up to 2 adults and 2 children) at Hyatt hotels and resorts without a Club lounge
- Receive priority access to available rooms when checking in early
- Expedite check-in at a dedicated area reserved for elite members
- Keep hydrated with a bottle of water daily
- Stay connected with complimentary premium Internet where available
- Extend your stay until 4:00 pm upon request (subject to availability at some locations)
- Waived resort fees on free night awards and eligible rates
- Enjoy complimentary parking with your free night award (available where parking can be charged to the guest’s room)
- Ensure a room is available at participating Hyatt hotels when making a paid reservation at least 48 hours prior to arrival (blackout dates apply)
- Book your stay through an exclusive reservation line
- Share your in-hotel benefits with your Guest of Honor when transferring an eligible award
- Enjoy two complimentary one-time-use United ClubSM passes annually
- Receive Gold status with M life Rewards, the loyalty program for MGM Resorts International
All Diamonds who requalified in 2016 will receive Globalist status for 2017.
More Rewards
There will be additional awards that can be earned through the new World of Hyatt program. Here is what they are.
Important Note on Globalist Free Night
Even though that it says the Category 1 – 7 free night for Globalist members is only good for 120 days, this first certificate that will be received in a few days for new Globalist members is actually good for 1 year from the time of issue! So, you do not have to race to get that night used in the first 4 months.
New World of Hyatt – Platform to Build and Engage Community
Link: New World of Hyatt Understanding
As I mentioned, Hyatt is positioning the World of Hyatt program to be more than just an elite program but also to drive it as more of a community program for its members.
Here is what they say, “It’s about engaging more deeply with our community and understanding that community better. It’s an expression of who we are and what we stand for, as well as an opportunity to extend what we do with our guests, colleagues and partners beyond just hotel stays.“
Here is two ways that they are planning on providing experiences for members and how they plan to start this:
Building Meaningful Experiences
World of Hyatt is building personalized experiences to promote understanding through travel. These experiences are designed to bring the World of Hyatt community together to learn, connect and celebrate the world. Collaborating with AFAR, a company that was founded on the notion that travel brings about understanding, allows World of Hyatt a way to engage guests beyond traditional hotel stays.
World of Hyatt and AFAR are preparing an immersive once in a lifetime excursion to Tokyo. The three-day experiential itinerary will provide unparalleled access to the city in a way that will create unforgettable memories and relationships. More details will be announced soon.
Putting Empathy Into Action
There is interest from the World of Hyatt community to “pay it forward.” To this end, World of Hyatt is collaborating with non-profits, Learning AFAR and No Barriers USA, to support a program designed to inspire transformational learning. Students who might not otherwise have the chance will be given a life-changing experience designed to help them better understand themselves and the world around them.
World of Hyatt is supporting Chicago Public School students to participate in an immersive 4-6 month curriculum that teaches students how to overcome obstacles, live a life of purpose and give back to the world, culminating in a 10-day excursion to Costa Rica. Students will explore the country’s unique culture to foster personal growth and leadership skills, enabling them to see what is possible in their lives and how they can contribute their best to the world. Upon return, students have the opportunity to demonstrate leadership as they share their learnings from this transformative expedition with their school and community.
It is nice to see a hospitality program offer ways to become involved in local, immersive experiences as well as being able to see it provide opportunity for others. I will be looking forward to seeing how this develops and how these details are promoted in the coming months.
