Exciting Updates Coming to Hyatt’s Loyalty Program in 2024
With a portfolio of 1,400 hotels and resorts, Hyatt’s loyalty program may seem smaller compared to major players like Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and IHG One Rewards, which boast over 6,000 properties. However, the World of Hyatt’s compact size does not diminish its value. The cash value of Hyatt points surpasses that of its competitors, making it the most rewarding hotel loyalty program for points enthusiasts. (Additionally, its elite status benefits are the most generous.)
When Hyatt teased significant changes to its loyalty program for 2024, many feared potential points devaluation and more difficult elite status requirements. Contrary to those expectations, the World of Hyatt loyalty program is set to improve in the coming year. It will maintain existing elite status qualifications and redemption rates, while also introducing more opportunities to earn Milestone Rewards (bonus rewards for loyal guests), along with a complete overhaul of the Guest of Honor program. Here’s what to expect from the World of Hyatt loyalty program in 2024.
Keeping Elite Status Requirements Intact
The World of Hyatt features four membership tiers, beginning with the basic Member level, which is free to join, followed by three elite tiers: Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist. To achieve elite status, members must stay a specified number of nights at Hyatt hotels or accumulate base points (usually five points per dollar spent) within a calendar year. Each tier offers a range of benefits such as discounted room rates, premium internet, room upgrades, late checkout, Club lounge access, and more. Fortunately, the criteria for attaining elite status will remain unchanged in 2024.
The qualification criteria will continue as follows:
Provided by Hyatt
A refreshed approach to Milestone Rewards
In addition to earning elite status through qualifying nights or base points, World of Hyatt offers Milestone Rewards—such as club access, complimentary night certificates, or suite upgrades—when specific thresholds of nights or points are reached within a calendar year. In 2024, the number of annual Milestone Rewards available will expand, along with an increase in the variety of reward options. A new feature will also allow members to keep their Milestone Rewards or transfer them to another member.
Here’s how it works: Milestone Rewards will activate after members stay 20 qualifying nights or accumulate 35,000 base points each year. After that, additional Milestone Rewards can be earned for every extra 10 qualifying nights, up to a maximum of 150 nights annually.
Certain milestones offer a choice of three rewards, while others include a set reward plus options among three additional rewards. After achieving a milestone, you’ll have 90 days to select your reward. An email will notify you of your accomplishment, and you can choose your award online, via the World of Hyatt app, or by contacting the program’s Global Care Center.
A detailed chart effectively summarizes the new landscape of Milestone Rewards:
Provided by Hyatt
Redefining the sought-after Guest of Honor benefit
World of Hyatt stands out among loyalty programs by historically allowing its Globalist members to share their elite benefits with friends and family when booking award stays from their account (using either points or award night certificates). As a Globalist, I cherished using this Guest of Honor benefit over the past year to arrange trips for my family, enjoying perks like suite upgrades, complimentary breakfasts, and 4 p.m. checkouts at Hyatt Paris Madeleine, Hyatt Centric Fort Lauderdale, and Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas.
Beginning January 1, 2024, the Guest of Honor benefit will transition into a Milestone Award, with the first Guest of Honor Award attainable after 40 nights or 65,000 base points, followed by the second and third awards at 60 nights or 100,000 base points, the fourth at 70 nights, the fifth at 80 nights, and so forth, allowing for up to 10 Guest of Honor Awards per year through Milestone Rewards.
Initially, I was disappointed to learn that the Guest of Honor benefit would no longer be unlimited, as it once was. However, I was excited to discover that this benefit could now apply to both paid stays and award stays for up to seven nights. Previously, utilizing this benefit meant using my own points for others. Now, once obtained, Guest of Honor awards can be gifted to friends and family even when they pay for their own stays.
To facilitate the transition to the new Guest of Honor policy, individuals with Globalist status as of December 31, 2023, will receive five complimentary Guest of Honor Awards in their account in January 2024, valid until February 28, 2025.
Key Insights
While many travel loyalty programs are making changes in 2024, World of Hyatt stands out by maintaining its current elite status requirements and redemption rates. Additionally, Hyatt is improving its Milestone Rewards and Guest of Honor programs. With basic membership being free, there’s no reason not to sign up and start working towards your next complimentary stay.
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