Goodbye Hilton

So for the last 2+ years I have been Hilton Diamond.  It was first a perk of being British Airways Gold Guest List, but due to my travel patterns I now renew it organically.  I’m currently on 54 Hilton nights this year and a bucket load of points.  But why?  Holding top tier in any hotel program is a good thing – upgrades and free breakfasts are just some of the good perks they offer!  And frankly Hilton has been very good to me.  I have had more suite upgrades than I can remember, and generally been well looked after.

But as with everything – I fancy a change! 😀

I’ll still hold Hilton Diamond as long as a retain GGL – and I still have points to burn – I just won’t use them as my primary.

Other Hotel Programs

I also hold – 

Accor Gold – purchased via the Ibis Business program for £69.

Caesars Diamond – expiring soon – got via Founderscard.

Wyndham Diamond – matched from the above.

IHG Spire Elite – matched from Hilton

Bonvoy Platinum – Founderscard.

And now?

Hello World of Hyatt

So why Hyatt when I hold all of the above?!  Put simply all of the above will expire at some point, and I don’t do enough hotel stays to maintain more than one program.  I could have picked IHG, or even Bonvoy.

I have never been an IHG fan.  Yes the Intercontinental brand is lovely (generally!) but that’s about it.  And maintaining Bonvoy is just frankly out of reach to get up to Titanium.

Earlier in the year, when looking for some winter sun I was looking at destinations and hotels.

The best flight combo was a direct Heathrow to Doha, and I used a Gold Upgrade voucher to end up in Club World for a very good price.  So then came the challenge of finding a nice hotel!

The Hilton in Doha is frankly average – it’s nothing amazing, but it is “functional”  But then scrolling down the list the Hyatt popped out at me.

How appealing does that pool look?

So the next challenge was finding the best deal / rate.

In doing some googling, I came across “Hyatt Prive” – basically offering near enough guaranteed upgrades, free breakfast and more!

The best rate on booking.com is currently £637 for my dates – I paid £620 for 4 nights.  A delightful bargain I thought for a property of that standard!

Anyway – back to the Hyatt loyalty scheme.

So it was booked – free breakfast, sea view upgrade – bosh.  But that got me thinking and curious – what was the program like?  Prive rates qualify for stay credits, and points too.

Discoverist

• Stay connected with complimentary premium Internet where available
• Savor free breakfast at participating Hyatt Place hotels (in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India, complimentary breakfast may not be available to all members)
• Quench your thirst with a bottle of water daily

• Enjoy a preferred room based on availability at check-in
• Expedite check-in at a dedicated area reserved for elite members
• Extend your stay until 2:00 PM upon request (subject to availability at some locations)
• Enjoy waived resort fees on free night awards 

Get the most out of your stay at participating SLH hotels when paying an eligible rate or redeeming an award night.

• Complimentary continental breakfast
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Early check-in 12 PM (based on availability at check-in)

• Late checkout 2 PM (based on availability at check-in)
• One category room upgrade (based on availability at check-in)

 

Extra privileges

Explorist

Hotel perks

Get the most out of your stay at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts when paying an eligible rate or redeeming an award night.

• Stay connected with complimentary premium Internet where available
• Savor free breakfast at participating Hyatt Place hotels (in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India, complimentary breakfast may not be available to all members)
• Quench your thirst with a bottle of water daily
• Enjoy an upgraded room based on availability at check-in, excluding suites and rooms with Club lounge access

• Expedite check-in at a dedicated area reserved for elite members
• Extend your stay until 2:00 PM upon request (subject to availability at some locations)
• Enjoy waived resort fees on free night awards

Get the most out of your stay at participating SLH hotels when paying an eligible rate or redeeming an award night.

• Complimentary continental breakfast
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Early check-in 12 PM (based on availability at check-in)

• Late checkout 2 PM (based on availability at check-in)
• One category room upgrade (based on availability at check-in)

 

Extra privileges 

• Save up to 10% with the Member Rate at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts
• Opportunities to fast track to higher elite status in American Airlines AAdvantage® program
• Receive Gold status with M life Rewards, the loyalty program of MGM Resorts International
• Book your stay through an exclusive reservation line

• Ensure a room is available at participating Hyatt hotels up to 72 hours in advance (blackout dates apply)
• Enjoy a Week of Wellbeing at participating Exhale locations with complimentary fitness classes and savings on spa therapies and boutique purchases

And finally the holy grail – top tier!

Globalist

Hotel perks

Get the most out of your stay at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts when paying an eligible rate or redeeming an award night.

• Stay connected with complimentary premium Internet where available
• Savor free breakfast at participating Hyatt Place hotels (in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India, complimentary breakfast may not be available to all members)
• Quench your thirst with a bottle of water daily
• Enjoy an upgraded room based on availability at check-in, up to standard suites
• Expedite check-in at a dedicated area reserved for elite members
• Extend your stay until 4:00 PM upon request (subject to availability at some locations)

• Enjoy complimentary parking on free night awards (available where parking can be charged to your room)
• Relax in the Club lounge with continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres daily. Or, enjoy complimentary full breakfast daily for each registered guest (up to 2 adults and 2 children) at Hyatt hotels and resorts without a Club lounge.
• Receive priority access to available rooms when checking in early
• Enjoy waived resort fees on free night awards and eligible rates

Get the most out of your stay at participating SLH hotels when paying an eligible rate or redeeming an award night.

• Complimentary continental breakfast
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Early check-in 12 PM (based on availability at check-in)

• Late checkout 2 PM (based on availability at check-in)
• One category room upgrade (based on availability at check-in)

 

Extra privileges

• Save up to 10% with the Member Rate at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts
• Opportunities to fast track to higher elite status in American Airlines AAdvantage® program
• Receive Gold status with M life Rewards, the loyalty program of MGM Resorts International
• Book your stay through an exclusive reservation line
• Ensure a room is available at participating Hyatt hotels up to 48 hours in advance (blackout dates apply)

• Share your in-hotel benefits with your Guest of Honor when gifting an eligible award
• Enjoy a Week of Wellbeing at participating Exhale locations with complimentary fitness classes and savings on spa therapies and boutique purchases
• Access complimentary fitness classes at participating Exhale locations on qualifying stays at any Hyatt hotel

Climbing the Ladder

Now Hyatt for whatever reason, don’t make this easy!  But that’s a good thing.  The world and his wife have Hilton Diamond status!  It’s easy to get, particularly in the US where the right credit card and some spend will qualify you.  That is why Hilton upgrades are never great in the US 😉

But Hyatt don’t do that – take the credit card and you get Discoverist – that is it.  Excellent – so less top tier members.

I did my first Hyatt stay this week –

So how am I an Explorist already? 😉  Hyatt don’t currently offer any elite matching.

Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllll…

Click me.

Hyatt have a targeted promotion currently running to those working for large corporate companies – stick your email in the link above to see if you qualify. 

The Challenge

World of Hyatt Explorist status can be yours. Register by November 28, 2019 to receive Explorist status for 90 days. Stay 10 qualifying nights and keep your Explorist status through February 2021.

Here’s how it works:

• Register by November 28, 2019, to receive trial Explorist status for 90 days
• Stay 10 qualifying nights at any Hyatt hotel or resort within 90 days of registration to maintain Explorist status through February 2021
• Stay an additional 10 qualifying nights at any Hyatt hotel or resort within 90 days of registration and earn Globalist status through February 2021. Enjoy even more rewards with Globalist status like 30% Bonus Points, Club lounge access including breakfast, and more

Already a World of Hyatt Explorist member?

Fast track to Globalist status through February 2021 with the Elite Tier offer and enjoy our most elite status faster.

To participate:

• Register by November 28, 2019
• Stay 20 qualifying nights at any Hyatt hotel or resort within 90 days of registration to achieve Globalist status through February 2021

BINGO.

So by Jan 19th I need 20 nights and I’ll be Globalist for another 12 months. #mattressrun

Check the prices at Heathrow and near by.  They are very static and favourable 😉

Hyatt Positives

Pricing – it seems to be a lot more static than Hilton.  

Flexible – the cheapest rates are generally flexible.

IT – the website and app puts others to shame.

Hotel standards – My first stay was at one of their cheapest properties and it was very good in Hayes, West London

Upgrades – I have seen Globalist members get some frankly insane upgrades at top Hyatts round the world – I am looking forward to trying this myself!

• As a Globalist, you’ll also receive unlimited suite upgrades at check-in if they are available, this is outside of the four confirmed upgrades

Yes they don’t have the portfolio that Hilton does – but where they are, it seems they are a step above the rest.

Watch this space…..