Hyatt recently introduced the World of Hyatt to replace their Hyatt Gold Passport program. In short, they’ve gone from just Platinum and Diamond members to Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist tiers, each with new benefits.
Last year, I was a Hyatt Diamond, which is their top tier. Under the World of Hyatt program, that translates into a Globalist, so I wanted to compare my first stay as a Globalist, what benefits I received, and what I would have received as a Hyatt Diamond.
I’m at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee writing this, so let’s see how things stack up…
Check-In and Welcome Amenity
Under the Gold Passport program, I would have received a 1,000 point welcome amenity or a food/beverage amenity. Under the World of Hyatt program, I received nothing. In fact, I wasn’t even acknowledged as having any status until I mentioned something. The agent at the front desk did provide a key to the Regency Club…but that turned out to be a fail in and of itself. Keep reading.
Room Upgrade
Under the Gold Passport program, I would have received the best room, excluding suites, and also access to the club lounge. Under the new program, I was not offered a suite (I don’t know if any were available, so I won’t harp on this one), but, interestingly enough, I was offered an “upgrade” to the floor which the Regency Club was located on… but, here’s the kicker: the club lounge was closed for my entire stay. So, where’s the upgrade in that?
Club Lounge
As I mentioned, the Club Lounge was closed for my entire stay. Under the Gold Passport program, I would have received 2,500 points because of this. Under the World of Hyatt program, I receive nothing.
…but, I did receive a free bottle of water in my room. [note the sarcasm]
The Overall Experience
As a new Globalist, I honestly feel worse than when I was a Diamond. If the new program is meant to enhance things and provide more perks, great. But…on my first stay…I actually saw far less perks. Adding up the points I should have received under the old program, I’m 3,500 points in the hole. The only thing different this time around is that I received a bottle of water… So…I’m confused. For now, looks like the World of Hyatt program is a fail for me. I’m comparing apples here – I’m comparing what this stay would have looked like a week ago compared to what was offered now, and the differences are huge. Comparing two stays, I feel like Hyatt doesn’t appreciate my business.
How They Can Improve
- Keep the welcome amenity. Seriously, it doesn’t cost the hotels that much to give someone 1,000 points for their business.
- If the club lounge is closed, continue to award the 2,500 bonus points. There’s no reason not to.
- If a suite isn’t available, give 1,000 points points. Actually, I’m all in favor of hotels awarding a welcome amenity (1,000 points OR a suite upgrade). Or, maybe offer a suite as a standard thing, and when one isn’t available, compensate with 1,000 points.
Come on Hyatt… if this new program is supposed to be an improvement, I’m not seeing it…or at least not here in Milwaukee…
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.
But of course, Hyatt would say the new programme is not about cost cutting – except it clearly is!
Oh dear
I became a discovering because I am diamond M life and was able to status match
I wonder what’s In store.
Yep a bottle of WATER – what brand was it ?
and this is why, Hotel Loyalty is basically BS. (unless as part of OPM and business travel, where you are not paying… and NOT going out of your way…) Especially for One Night Stays. Point in fact, I used FHR for Hotel 1000 in Seattle recently. 1 Night Stay. $225 room rate. $100 FHR credit, can use for anything. $70 FHR breakfast credit, since I arrived late, said I could use it for lunch. Triple upgrade. 4pm check-out. Staying at a interesting property (albeit a solid 4* to 4.5* , but far exceeding any Hyatt Regency). $225 room rate, $170 in credits. What’s the point of hotel loyalty? The lounges (in the USA) suck. The suites in most of the “regular” Hyatt properties are like revisiting your favourite hotels from the 1980s. It’s chasing a “dream” that is far less rewarding.. and far more trouble. Programs like the Citi 4th night free or FHR buy 2 get 1. Heck, you can use Citi 4th night free with some buy 3 get 1 and actually ONLY pay for two nights (not FHR, of course). I’m so over hotel loyalty.. and airline loyalty mostly. But, at least with airlines you have operational issues that are taken care of far better by Elite services (usually).
Can u use the $100 credit to pay Parking or it’s for food only ?
Hyatt is trash at this point. Their hotels were never that great, but the program made up for it. Now there’s really nothing going for them. Good luck finding one of their hotels that’s not a Place or a House outside of a major city.
Not good to hear that. Since the lounge was closed I hope you still got the free breakfast benefit.
This is great. Whiners will finally leave and thin hyatt globalist ranks, leaving it open for true investors in Hyatt.