Is Hyatt Globalist status really worth it?

Before earning Hyatt Globalist status for the first time in 2021, I thought the hype surrounding this elite hotel status was exaggerated. But once I achieved it and experienced the perks firsthand, I realized that requalifying for it each year became a top priority for me.

In this guide, I'll walk you through everything that makes Hyatt Globalist status so rewarding, and why you may want to pursue it for yourself.

What exactly is Hyatt Globalist status?

Hyatt Globalist status represents the pinnacle of Hyatt elite status. I'll dive into the details of how to earn it later in this guide, but for now, understand that it generally requires 60 elite-qualifying nights or 100,000 base points within a calendar year.

The primary reason to earn any hotel elite status, including Hyatt Globalist, is the exclusive perks it offers. In the next section, we’ll explore the benefits you'll enjoy with Globalist status.

What are the benefits of Hyatt Globalist status?

In late 2023, Hyatt introduced significant updates to its loyalty program, separating certain perks from Globalist status and incorporating them into the Hyatt Milestone Rewards program. This shift means that Hyatt Globalist members now receive some perks directly through their status, while others are unlocked via Milestone Rewards as they continue to requalify each year.

Here’s a breakdown of the benefits you’ll receive if you hit 60 qualifying nights or 100,000 base points to achieve Globalist status.

Bonus Points

All World of Hyatt members earn 2.5 base points for every dollar spent on eligible rates and incidental charges at Hyatt Studios properties. At other Hyatt hotels and resorts, they earn 5 base points per dollar spent. Globalist members, however, receive a 30% bonus on base points, earning 3.25 points per dollar at Hyatt Studios and 6.5 points per dollar at other Hyatt hotels and resorts.

Hyatt members can also earn bonus points by reaching select Milestone Rewards levels.

Room Upgrades

Hyatt Globalist members are entitled to a complimentary upgrade to the "best room available" at check-in (including standard suites and rooms with club lounge access) at most Hyatt properties (excluding Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Studios, Destination by Hyatt Residences, and Hyatt Vacation Club hotels and resorts). The upgraded room is determined by the hotel and may not be a higher category than the one you originally booked.

Hyatt members can select a Suite Upgrade Award as a milestone reward upon reaching 40 qualifying nights or 65,000 base points. Two Suite Upgrade Awards are granted at the 50 qualifying nights or 80,000 base points milestone, and again at the 60 qualifying nights or 100,000 base points level. These awards allow members to confirm a standard suite at the time of booking (or after booking) for stays of seven nights or fewer, provided an eligible rate is booked.

Late Checkout

Hyatt Globalist members are eligible for a 4 p.m. late checkout upon request at most Hyatt properties. However, this perk is not available at Hyatt Vacation Club properties, and it may be subject to availability at hotels with casinos, Hyatt resorts, and Destination by Hyatt Residences properties.

Priority Room Access

Hyatt Globalist members are prioritized for the first available room in the category they booked (or a higher category, based on the "best room available" perk) if their original category is unavailable upon check-in at most Hyatt hotels and resorts (excluding Hyatt Vacation Club properties). This benefit can be accessed as early as 9 a.m. on the check-in day.

Club Lounge Access or Breakfast

Globalist members enjoy access to the club lounge at participating hotels and resorts with an operational lounge. Additionally, members can choose two club lounge access awards at milestone levels: one when reaching 20 qualifying nights or 35,000 base points, and another at 30 qualifying nights or 50,000 base points. This is especially useful for gaining lounge access prior to reaching full Globalist status.

At hotels without a club lounge, Hyatt Globalist members are treated to a daily complimentary full breakfast for up to two adults and two children registered to the room. A full breakfast includes one entrée or access to a standard breakfast buffet, plus juice and coffee. Where free breakfast is offered to all guests, Globalist members will receive the same standard breakfast.

There are a few exceptions to the Globalist breakfast benefit. For instance, at Hyatt Regency Bethesda in Maryland, Globalist members receive only a continental breakfast for up to two adults and two children registered in the room.

At Caption by Hyatt properties, Globalist members are entitled to one elevated coffee and one small plate per registered guest (up to two adults and two children). Globalist members do not receive breakfast at Hyatt Vacation Club properties, Hyatt Regency Madrid Residences, Grand Hyatt Kuwait Residences, The Laurel Inn, Ventana Campground, and most Destination by Hyatt Residences locations.

Waived Resort, Destination, and Facility Fees

Hyatt Globalist members are exempt from paying resort, destination, and facility fees when booking an eligible rate. Additionally, all Hyatt members are not charged these fees when using free night awards (including redeeming Hyatt points). Please note that this benefit does not cover other fees such as taxes and service charges.

Guest of Honor

Hyatt members receive a Guest of Honor award as a Milestone Reward upon reaching 40 qualifying nights or 65,000 base points. They earn two Guest of Honor awards when they hit 60 qualifying nights or 100,000 base points.

Guest of Honor awards allow you to extend the perks of Globalist status to someone else on an eligible paid or award stay of up to seven nights. Since you'll earn a Guest of Honor award at 40 qualifying nights or 65,000 base points, you can enjoy Globalist benefits on a stay even before achieving Globalist status yourself.

Free Parking on Free Night Awards

Globalist members receive complimentary parking when staying on free night awards (including Hyatt points redemptions), as long as parking fees can be billed to their guest room. Both valet and self-parking are covered if available, though stays at Hyatt Vacation Club properties are not eligible for this benefit.

My Hyatt Concierge

As a Milestone Rewards benefit, you’ll gain access to My Hyatt Concierge once you reach 60 qualifying nights or 100,000 base points. This reward provides a dedicated My Hyatt Concierge agent and exclusive phone line for personalized assistance.

My Hyatt Concierge agents assist with a range of services, including applying Suite Upgrade Awards and resolving issues with stays that haven’t credited correctly. While I find email responses quick and helpful, I’ve also had excellent service calling the dedicated My Hyatt Concierge phone line and speaking with whichever agent is available.

How to Achieve Hyatt Globalist Status

Hyatt members have two ways to earn Globalist status:

• Complete 60 elite-qualifying nights within a calendar year
• Earn 100,000 base points within a calendar year

Once you fulfill the requirements, you'll retain Hyatt Globalist status until the end of February two years later. For example, if you earn Globalist status in 2024, you'll maintain it through the end of February 2026.

No Hyatt credit cards directly offer Globalist status as a perk, and purchases on these cards earn bonus points (not base points). However, Hyatt does occasionally offer double elite-qualifying night promotions, and you can earn elite-qualifying nights via Hyatt credit cards as follows:

• World of Hyatt Credit Card: Earn five elite-qualifying night credits toward your next tier status each year, plus two additional credits for every $5,000 spent on the card.
• World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: Receive five elite-qualifying night credits toward your next tier status for every $10,000 spent on the card.

While it’s possible to earn Hyatt Globalist status through Hyatt credit card purchases, most members prefer to accumulate the majority of their elite night credits through actual stays, supplementing with a few credits from card spending each year.

Once Hyatt loyalists achieve lifetime status, they can enjoy Globalist status and some Milestone Rewards benefits without having to meet the standard qualifications. However, lifetime Globalist status is granted only to members who have accumulated 1,000,000 lifetime base points.

Why I Value Hyatt Globalist Status

Hyatt Globalist status is my top choice for hotel elite status. I make it a priority to maintain my Globalist status every year by earning the 60 elite night credits required. With my World of Hyatt Credit Card, I get five elite night credits annually, and I spend $15,000 on my Hyatt card each year to earn a Category 1-4 free night award along with six additional elite night credits. This leaves me with 49 elite night credits that I need to earn through stays and by gifting Guest of Honor awards.

I often find excellent value at Category 1 Hyatt hotels near airports in the U.S. and abroad. While Hyatt Globalist status doesn’t offer many perks at places like Hyatt Place near U.S. airports (beyond 4 p.m. late checkout and priority room access), I’ve saved money using the free parking benefit on award nights in cities like Denver and Sofia, Bulgaria.

I often take advantage of the 4 p.m. late checkout benefit, which allows me to work from the hotel before catching an evening flight. I also appreciate the convenience of knowing breakfast is included without having to read the fine print (unlike the complicated Marriott elite breakfast benefits). Additionally, I enjoy being able to use a Suite Upgrade Award right when I book a stay, even if it’s months ahead of time.

But perhaps what I value most is the peace of mind that comes with knowing My Hyatt Concierge team is there to resolve any issues. Whether it’s a quick call to the concierge line for urgent matters or an email to my assigned concierge for non-urgent needs, I’ve always received prompt and satisfactory responses. Compared to my experiences with other hotel loyalty programs, resolving issues with Hyatt as a Globalist has been incredibly easy.

The Bottom Line

Hyatt Globalist status is highly valuable, though it requires a significant amount of nights or spending. If I could choose only one hotel elite status, Hyatt Globalist would be my pick. The benefits are unmatched by other programs, and I take comfort in knowing that any issues during my stay will likely be resolved quickly by the My Hyatt Concierge team.

It’s also great that I can get excellent value when redeeming Hyatt points, thanks to the Hyatt award chart. Plus, I don’t face any challenges earning Hyatt points since I can easily transfer Chase points to Hyatt. Of course, these advantages hold true whether or not you have Hyatt Globalist status.