Comparing the World of Hyatt card with the World of Hyatt Business card: Two excellent hotel earners

Since its launch in 2018, the World of Hyatt Credit Card has been one of the most comprehensive hotel credit cards available.

This card provides a broad range of perks even for occasional travelers, including an annual free night certificate for Category 1-4 hotels and automatic entry-level Discoverist elite status. Thus, when Hyatt introduced the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, I was eager to see how it would stack up against its personal version.

While one card serves personal use and the other is for business, there are notable differences between these two Hyatt offerings. For some individuals seeking to achieve higher elite status without frequent hotel stays, it may be beneficial to hold both the World of Hyatt card and the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card.

Let’s take a closer look at these two cards from Hyatt and Chase — and see if adding either (or both) to your collection is worthwhile.

Comparing the World of Hyatt and World of Hyatt Business cards

First, let’s examine how these two Hyatt cards — the World of Hyatt card and the World of Hyatt Business credit card — stack up against each other.

Welcome offers of the World of Hyatt vs. World of Hyatt Business cards

The two Hyatt cards differ significantly in terms of their welcome bonuses.

Additionally, since Chase is the issuer of both cards, they fall under the issuer's 5/24 rule, meaning you might not get approved if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards across all banks in the past 24 months.

Let’s begin with the personal World of Hyatt credit card, which features a lower annual fee of $95. You’ll earn five free nights at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort after spending $4,000 within the first three months of opening your account.

In contrast, the World of Hyatt Business credit card comes with a higher annual fee of $199. You’ll receive 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Winner: The personal Hyatt card, as it requires less spending and potentially offers much greater value.

Comparing benefits of the World of Hyatt and World of Hyatt Business cards

Let’s start by exploring the shared benefits of these two cards.

Both the World of Hyatt card and the World of Hyatt Business card grant automatic entry-level Hyatt Discoverist status. While the perks are somewhat limited, you’ll enjoy benefits such as 2 p.m. late checkout, a complimentary daily bottle of water, and upgrades to preferred rooms within the same category. Additionally, both cards provide the following advantages:

• No foreign transaction fees
• Complimentary roadside dispatch
• Extended warranty coverage
• Purchase protection
• Insurance for trip cancellations and travel interruptions
• Travel and emergency assistance services

Specifically, one of the standout benefits of the World of Hyatt credit card is the annual free night certificate valid at a Category 1-4 Hyatt property, awarded each year on your account anniversary. This benefit alone can significantly exceed the card's $95 annual fee. Additionally, you can earn a second free night after spending $15,000 within a calendar year.

In contrast to offering free night awards, the World of Hyatt Business credit card emphasizes benefits that can be shared among multiple individuals, aligning with Hyatt's strategy to appeal to both the primary cardholder and potential employees.

Firstly, you can gift up to five Discoverist statuses to anyone; they don’t need to be employees. Gaining status for five people with a single card is quite a competitive advantage. Furthermore, there are no fees for employee business cards (though keep in mind these cards do not provide status).

After you spend $50,000 or more on the card in a calendar year, you’ll receive 10% of your redeemed points back for the rest of that year (up to 20,000 points annually). Additionally, each anniversary year, you can earn up to $100 in Hyatt credits when you spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property (awarded as $50 in statement credits, up to two times).

Winner: It's a tie, depending on your preferences for a card — however, the personal card and its free night(s) may provide an advantage for many users.

Earning points with the World of Hyatt and World of Hyatt Business cards

Firstly, both the World of Hyatt card and the World of Hyatt Business card share similar earning rates. You'll earn 4 points for every dollar spent with Hyatt, 2 points per dollar on gym and fitness memberships, and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Nonetheless, there are some key differences. The World of Hyatt card provides the following additional bonuses:

• 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting
• 2 points per dollar at restaurants
• 2 points per dollar on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline

On the other hand, the World of Hyatt Business card features what Hyatt and Chase refer to as an "adaptive accelerator." In simple terms, your bonus categories will adjust according to your spending patterns.

Business cardholders will earn 2 points per dollar in their top three spending categories each calendar quarter. These categories include:

• Dining
• Airline tickets purchased directly from the airline
• Car rental agencies
• Local transit and commuting
• Gas stations
• Internet services
• Cable and phone services
• Social media and search engine advertising
• Shipping

Overall, the World of Hyatt Business card and the personal World of Hyatt card share five bonus categories (though only four on the business card after December 2024). The business card also has six exclusive bonus categories that differ from the personal card. A major advantage of the business card is the flexibility to earn bonuses based on specific expenses each quarter.

Winner: It’s another tie, depending on which earning categories you value most.

Redeeming points with the World of Hyatt and World of Hyatt Business cards

Since both Hyatt credit cards belong to the World of Hyatt program, their redemption options remain identical.

According to TPG credit cards writer Ryan Wilcox, one of the most effective ways to utilize Hyatt points is by redeeming them for free hotel nights. Standard room redemptions begin at 5,000 points per night at Category 1 hotels and can go up to 40,000 points per night at Category 8 hotels. Premium suites can reach up to 60,000 points per night at Category 7 hotels.

However, keep in mind that with Hyatt's transition to peak and off-peak pricing, Category 1 properties may occasionally dip to as low as 3,500 points per night, while Category 8 properties can sometimes rise to as much as 45,000 points per night.

Winner: It's a tie, as both cards offer the same redemption options for points.

Which card should I choose: the World of Hyatt or World of Hyatt Business?

Owning both the World of Hyatt card and the World of Hyatt Business credit card can enhance your benefits. Night credits accumulated from both cards can elevate your status within the World of Hyatt program and help you earn Milestone Rewards, including bonus points and suite upgrades, among other advantages.

That said, there’s a case to be made for preferring the free nights and five automatic nights offered by the World of Hyatt card, alongside the benefits of gifting Discoverist status and accruing elite nights faster through spending with the World of Hyatt Business card.

Nonetheless, many users will likely prefer the personal Hyatt card due to its lower annual fee, the free Category 1-4 certificate upon renewal, and the chance to earn an additional free night certificate after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.

Final Thoughts

Hyatt continues to expand its presence and offers one of the most rewarding hotel loyalty programs. If you're aiming for the prestigious World of Hyatt Globalist status, the elite night credits earned through both the World of Hyatt card and the World of Hyatt Business card can significantly speed up your journey and make a case for holding both cards.

Now is the perfect time to evaluate whether one (or both) of these cards fit your needs. Meanwhile, we remain optimistic and eagerly await the introduction of a premium Hyatt card to complement the existing offerings.

For further details, check out our comprehensive reviews of the World of Hyatt card and the World of Hyatt business card.