High expectations, disappointing outcome: Here’s how a Mr & Mrs Smith hotel treated a Hyatt elite member

Don't get your hopes up too high.

When TPG discovered that Hyatt was acquiring the Mr & Mrs Smith hotel collection, many Hyatt elite members, including myself, were thrilled about the possible integration with World of Hyatt. Over 700 hotels worldwide are now available for booking and earning points with World of Hyatt. This is particularly significant since Hyatt lost the Small Luxury Hotels of the World partnership to Hilton, creating a gap in its European presence, but now there are numerous Mr & Mrs Smith options available in Europe.

I was eager to try out the new partnership, especially with my World of Hyatt Globalist status, and I found out that World of Hyatt Credit Card holders can now earn up to 9 points per dollar spent on Mr & Mrs Smith stays.

Will a Mr & Mrs Smith property provide me with the same level of service as a standard Hyatt?

Booking a stay at Hotel Kompas in Dubrovnik

I made my reservation for Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik in Croatia through the Hyatt website as usual.

Typically, the standard rate for Hotel Kompas is around 360 euros ($391) or 31,500 Hyatt points per night, which translates to a redemption value of approximately 1.24 cents per point. Unfortunately, this isn't a fantastic value for your Hyatt points, reflecting the general trend we see with redemptions at Mr & Mrs Smith properties. Their pricing is dynamic, and you’ll seldom achieve more than 1.2 cents per point in value. (For context, TPG estimates the value of Hyatt points at 1.7 cents per point as of July 2024.)

Since there is no fixed award chart for redemptions at Mr & Mrs Smith hotels, the points required typically mirror the cash price for booking the hotel.

In my situation, I managed to secure a slightly better paid rate of $375 per night for my stay.

Oddly enough, when I checked in, the hotel concierge informed me that I wouldn’t earn World of Hyatt points for my stay since the hotel wasn’t fully integrated into Hyatt. He seemed somewhat underwhelmed by the Hyatt partnership, implying it was a rather loose connection. Thankfully, I discovered he was mistaken. I did earn Hyatt points, elite night credits, and 4 bonus points per dollar by using my Hyatt credit card to settle the room charges.

During my two-night stay, I accumulated a total of 4,895 World of Hyatt points. This includes a 30% points bonus on Hyatt spending due to my top-tier Globalist status, yielding an extra 1.5 points per dollar spent.

I utilized my World of Hyatt Credit Card to cover the expenses for the stay.

That charge earned me an extra 4 bonus points per dollar, resulting in just over 3,714 World of Hyatt points. In total, I accumulated 8,609 World of Hyatt points for my stay, which TPG estimates to be worth around $146. Not too shabby, especially since the front desk agent at Hotel Kompas initially told me I wouldn’t earn any World of Hyatt points.

Additional World of Hyatt elite perks at Hotel Kompas

Here’s a summary of the additional benefits for World of Hyatt members when staying at Mr & Mrs Smith hotels.

The only clearly defined benefit on property is that Globalists are entitled to room upgrades at check-in (subject to availability). Unfortunately, that didn’t occur for me.

World of Hyatt members will also gain credit toward tier status and Hyatt Milestone Rewards, as well as credit for a Brand Explorer award (which allows guests to earn a free night for every five distinct Hyatt brands they stay at) and room upgrades for Globalist members at check-in (based on availability).

You cannot apply free night award certificates when booking stays at Mr & Mrs Smith hotels. This is somewhat disappointing, especially since those certificates can be utilized at SLH properties under the Hilton Honors program.

Accommodations at Hotel Kompas

As I mentioned, my upgrade at Hotel Kompas was minimal. I received what the hotel refers to as a "Classic Room" with a partial ocean view. From what I gather, this is the standard entry-level room type. The room was cozy, featuring two full-size beds combined to create a king-size bed. It included a decent-sized closet and a small minibar fridge. However, there were no complimentary waters provided for this Hyatt Globalist.

A bottle of wine was provided as a welcome amenity — something I’ve come to expect during my stays at Hyatt hotels. However, I’m uncertain if this was a typical welcome gesture for the hotel since there was no note, just a label that read, "With compliments."

The highlight of the room was the small balcony offering a partial view of Lapad Bay, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. It was a lovely spot to relax.

Facilities at Hotel Kompas

Hotel Kompas features a beautiful outdoor swimming pool with stunning sea views and a cozy sundeck. Additionally, there’s an indoor pool, sauna, and steam room — all complimentary for guests. While some Hyatts offer free spa access exclusively to Globalists, this benefit is available to all guests at this resort.

Additionally, there was a small gym located next to the outdoor swimming pool — accessible to all guests.

Dining Options at Hotel Kompas

All guests at Hotel Kompas enjoyed breakfast included with their stay. Typically, breakfast is one of the standout benefits of having top-tier Hyatt elite status, so there wasn’t any additional advantage for being a Globalist.

The hotel features two dining venues. Sphere, located on the ground floor, offers a buffet breakfast with coffee served by the staff. You can also have eggs prepared to your liking at a chef's station. The breakfast was decent, though nothing extraordinary.

I also dined at Sphere one evening. It's situated near a charming waterfront walking path, featuring live music and attentive service for à la carte meals in the evening. Hotel Kompas offers all-inclusive packages that include either lunch or dinner along with the complimentary breakfast. I enjoyed a delightful pasta and beef dish one night before taking a lovely sunset stroll along the nearby path.

Another dining venue is the Zenith Lobby Bar, located on the hotel's top floor. It provides panoramic views of the water and offers a menu of light snacks. I enjoyed a burger while admiring the ocean scenery. Unfortunately, there were no additional discounts or benefits for having Hyatt status here.

Summary for Hyatt elite members

Mr & Mrs Smith hotels enhance Hyatt's offerings, particularly in regions like Europe where Hyatt's presence is limited. The positive aspect is that you will still earn World of Hyatt elite night credits and bonus points for most reservations. However, do not anticipate the same level of elite status benefits you would receive at fully branded Hyatt locations.

I didn't get an upgrade, and there were no complimentary waters. Additionally, any food and beverage perks I had were also available to all guests, regardless of elite status.

You also shouldn't expect to get the best value for your Hyatt points when using them at these hotels; most point redemptions aren't particularly advantageous.

The hotel was fantastic, and I had a wonderful stay; however, I didn't feel that my Hyatt elite status provided me with any unique advantages. Naturally, some Mr & Mrs Smith locations might take the Hyatt affiliation more seriously than others. I hope that as the partnership develops, these properties will enhance benefits for Hyatt's top-tier customers.

In the meantime, I'll keep enjoying the World of Hyatt points and elite night credits I earn while staying at these boutique hotels.