In early late August, I remember tweeting Hyatt Gold Passport about wanting to enroll in the Hyatt Diamond Challenge. With an upcoming stay at an MLife resort in Las Vegas, and a planned trip to the Andaz Amsterdam in November, I figured it was the perfect time to enroll.
BUT. I was apprehensive. Why? Usually, with elite status matching programs, you can only match once per the life of your account. Sure, you can create multiple accounts, multiple addresses and somehow scapegoat around the system, however for me, I’m comfortable (and really only want) one account in my name. So, for me, it’s like taking a leap of faith. If I don’t meet the challenge, I’ll have lost the opportunity. If I do meet the challenge, but don’t renew it next year, I’ll have lost the opportunity.
I decided to go for it, and take the plunge. This is my experience:
After tweeting the Hyatt team about wanting to enroll in the challenge, I was asked for proof of stay a competing chain with elite status there. For me, I used my Hilton Gold status, which was complimentary through my American Express Platinum card. After providing my credentials and being verified, I was enrolled in the challenge and was on my way…
So where did I stay?
I didn’t want to stay in the $60 Hyatt House at Dulles Airport for 12 nights, though admittedly, I did stay there some of my nights. I wanted to go to some interesting places, but still preserve a budget of less than $100 per night, which, in the end, I was able to do successfully.
- (1) Night at Hyatt Place Baltimore/BWI Airport
- (2) Nights at Tampa Airport/Westshore Hyatt Place
- (1) Night at Hyatt Fairfax at Fair Lakes
- (1) Night at Hyatt Regency Miami
- (1) Night at Hyatt Place Sterling/Dulles Airport North
- (1) Night at Hyatt Place Chantilly/Dulles Airport South
- (1) Night at Hyatt Place Sterling/Dulles Airport North
- (1) Night at Hyatt Place Sterling/Dulles Airport North
- (1) Night Hyatt Regency Santa Clara
- (1) Night Park Hyatt Washington DC
What did I receive?
- 4 suite upgrades with the challenge itself (I’ll be using one at the Andaz Amsterdam, and a second at the Park Hyatt Milan)
- 4 additional suite upgrades after completing the challenge
Here’s when it makes sense to do the Hyatt Diamond Challenge
- You have an upcoming stay at an MLife resort in Las Vegas
- You see a number of cheap stays at a local Hyatt property, where it is of low cost to do the challenge.
- You have a number of Hyatt stays booked anyways.
- You have a future aspirational trip to a Hyatt where the benefits would outweigh the cost of the challenge (such as with the Park Hyatt Paris)
Note: Stays at MLife hotels do not count towards the Hyatt Diamond challenge. However, you can receive all MLife Platinum perks if you match your status.
Overall, I had a fun time completing my Diamond Challenge and have been very happy with the status so far. It’s very beneficial, and I’ve certainly received more than enough suite upgrades – more than I currently have reservations for!
For more information, read Hyatt’s official guide to the Diamond Challenge.
Jamie Larounis is an avid traveler, blogger and miles/points educator. Traveling well over 100,000 miles a year and staying in hotels for over 100 nights, he leverages miles, points and other deals to fly in first class cabins, and stay in 5-star hotels. The Forward Cabin shares his experiences, musings, reviews, tips, tricks, resources and industry news with you, the fellow traveler.
Are you sure about the MLife properties qualifying for Diamond Status Challenge? I was under the impression that they count for regular stays, but not for the challenge. Please let me know if I’m wrong.
Stays at MLife properties do not count for the challenge. Also, you did receive an additional 4 suite upgrades for a total of 8? It is normally that you get the 4 upgrades with the challenge and that lasts until February of the following year when you will get another 4.
This post is nonsensical. MLife stays don’t count toward the challenge and you don’t get the awards as you describe. You are granted 4 upon “becoming” a diamond member and then another 4 the following February (assuming you complete the challenge).
I attempted the Hyatt Diamond Challenge this month. I stayed at the Delano, but couldn’t get MLife to match the Diamond status during the trial…. So I just had Sappahire with MLife. In the end I walked away from Hyatt. I’m very happy as an SPG Platinum.
Are you going to FTU Amsterdam? If so, will look forward meeting you there!
I don’t think the word scapegoat means what you think it means.