Want to earn free Hyatt stays at resorts and hotels around the world?
The World of Hyatt program, which was updated in 2018, offers a great value for frequent and infrequent travelers with valuable elite status perks, a great redemption program, and reciprocity with two other hotel brands.
This definitive guide covers everything you should know about joining World of Hyatt and getting the best value, including how your benefits will work and how to earn the most Hyatt points.
Everything You Need to Know About World of Hyatt
Ready to get started with World of Hyatt to begin earning free Hyatt stays? The World of Hyatt program can seem a bit overwhelming but it has an intuitive redemption process and easy-to-understand benefits. Here’s everything you should know.
World of Hyatt Program Basics
Before you begin earning World of Hyatt points, it’s a good idea to get an understanding of the program’s basics. Want to know where you can earn and redeem points? Not sure how elite status at Hyatt works? Here’s an in-depth look at the basics.
What Is World of Hyatt?
World of Hyatt is the hotel loyalty program for Hyatt Hotels. This program allows you to earn and redeem points at Hyatt hotel brands and partner properties around the world. The World of Hyatt program features four membership tiers including basic membership and three elite tiers that come with exclusive perks and benefits like late checkout, the ability to earn extra free night stays, free room upgrades, and more.
World of Hyatt points are one of the most valuable hotel loyalty points, even though they aren’t as easy to earn as some programs. Hyatt does have a fairly small portfolio of hotels at less than 800 but they make up for it with some of the best resorts in the world and a partnership with M life Rewards and Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH).
Don’t overlook World of Hyatt just because it doesn’t have the portfolio of Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. Here’s how the program works and why it’s worth considering.
How to Join World of Hyatt
World of Hyatt is completely free to join and the sign-up process takes just minutes. To sign up and start earning World of Hyatt points, you’ll need to create your free account at Hyatt. You don’t need to provide much more than your name, email address, and physical address to get started.
It’s that easy to start earning World of Hyatt points. As soon as you sign up, you’ll get your unique World of Hyatt membership number and access to an account to search for Hyatt properties and find other opportunities to earn Hyatt points.
World of Hyatt Brand Overview
Hyatt doesn’t have nearly as many properties as the two giants in the hotel loyalty market: Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. The good news? Hyatt has made great strides in preventing their small global footprint from affecting the value of their rewards program. Hyatt has partnered with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) to add hundreds of properties to World of Hyatt plus MGM Resorts International. These additions have expanded World of Hyatt’s presence tremendously. Hyatt also acquired Two Roads Hospitality in 2018 to take over management of nearly 85 properties in new four brands which have been added to World of Hyatt.
What does this mean for you? Don’t be fooled by the small number of “Hyatt” hotels around the world; the World of Hyatt program is larger than it seems.
Here’s a look of the Hyatt brands in the program broken down by general category — including the independent collections acquired through Two Roads Hospitality.
Luxury
Footprint: 47 hotels in 27+ countries
Park Hyatt is World of Hyatt’s top-tier luxury brand. Park Hyatts are found in the world’s top destinations with the most in-demand services, features, and amenities. If you want the best, Park Hyatt can deliver with refined experiences in top cultural destinations around the world. Park Hyatt properties frequently top lists of the best hotels in the world. Despite its small footprint, you’ll also notice Park Hyatt has hotels in many destinations that are overlooked by other luxury brands such as the Changbaishan ski resort in China.
Park Hyatt is most comparable to the St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton brands that now belong to Marriott Bonvoy and the Ritz-Carlton brand of Hilton Honors.
Premium
Grand Hyatt
Footprint: 56 hotels in 25 countries
Grand Hyatt Hotels are known for their dramatic and beautiful architecture, luxurious suites, and modern technology. Most Grand Hyatt properties feature club lounges as well as full-service spas and fine dining options. Most Grand Hyatt hotels are in major cities and resort destinations.
Hyatt Regency
Footprint: 201 hotels in 41 countries
Hyatt Regency is perhaps Hyatt’s best-known brand with a contemporary design, meeting facilities, and great restaurants. Hyatt Regency is a full-service property and many have club lounges for elite guests with hors d’oeuvres and other perks. It’s aimed at leisure and business travelers with several restaurant options. While many Hyatt Regency properties are located in city centers, you can also find them in resort destinations and suburbs.
Hyatt
Footprint: 17 hotels in 4 countries
While Hyatt Hotels may be the World of Hyatt’s namesake brand, it’s also one of the smallest Hyatt brands. Hyatt Hotels are usually located in business districts and prime areas of major cities. At Hyatt, you can bet on a comfortable room, a working area, and good bar and restaurant options — but usually not much in the way of personality. A notable exception is the unique Hyatt Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi with its 18-degree leaning design.
Lifestyle
Andaz
Footprint: 31 hotels in 16 countries
Andaz is Hyatt’s luxury lifestyle brand, delivering simple luxuries and unique surprises. At Andaz, you can expect a free mini bar in your room with non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. Most Andaz properties also offer a wine happy hour. In recent years, Andaz has been named as one of the best new hotels in the world and one of the best lifestyle hotels.
Hyatt Centric
Footprint: 33 hotels in 14 countries
As the name implies, Hyatt Centric properties are generally located in the city center close to all the action. Staff at these hotels are trained to recommend the best local experiences, restaurants, and activities. Hyatt Centric properties are all pet friendly and have “the Corner,” an area with local magazines and books to learn more about the area. The brand has also partnered with Sofar Sounds to deliver intimate concerts and local artists at Hyatt Centric properties.
Miraval
Footprint: 2 properties in the U.S.
Miraval is one of the latest additions to Hyatt. This luxury wellness resort brand currently has two locations in Austin and Arizona. While Miraval isn’t all-inclusive like Hyatt Ziva and Zilara, it does offer a range of inclusive amenities and included activities. Miraval properties offer fine dining, on-site activities, and more. A unique schedule is provided every day with activities like meditation, fitness classes, horseback riding, and more. Some activities are included with your paid stay but others are paid. You get a $175 resort credit that can be used to offset activities.
Unbound Collection by Hyatt
Footprint: 19 hotels in 11 countries
The Unbound Collection is a group of boutique hotels, mostly in the United States. If you want an experience that goes beyond the typical hotel stay, the Unbound Collection is a good choice with many historic properties like the Driskill in Texas, a Romanesque-style property built in 1886 and designed as the South’s finest hotel. This brand is most comparable to the Curio Collection by Hilton.
Modern Essentials
Hyatt Place
Footprint: 363 hotels in 23 countries, mostly in the U.S.
Hyatt Place is designed for business travelers with casual hospitality service and amenities like free Wi-Fi, a 24/7 Gallery Menu, Coffee to Cocktails Bars, and free Kitchen Skillet breakfast. Business travelers will find a no-frills experience with the features they need like a pull-out couch and full-sized desk.
Hyatt House
Footprint: 90 hotels in the U.S., China, and India
Hyatt House is an extended stay brand featuring suites designed like homes with living rooms and full-sized, fully-equipped kitchens. This select service brand caters to middle- and upper-income guests who want spacious suites and the comforts of home. Many Hyatt House properties are located near airports, in urban areas, and close to college campuses. You can expect on-property laundry facilities, free breakfast, and common outdoor spaces at Hyatt House.
All Inclusive Resorts
Hyatt Ziva
Footprint: 5 properties in Mexico and the Caribbean
Hyatt Ziva is Hyatt’s all-inclusive brand open to all ages. These family-friendly resorts offer unlimited entertainment, drinks, and food as part of your stay.
Hyatt Zilara
Footprint: 3 properties in Mexico and the Caribbean
Hyatt Zilara is the adults-only all-inclusive brand from Hyatt. These properties are just like Ziva resorts except no kids are allowed. You can enjoy amazing amenities like swim-up suites, watersports, and oceanside cabanas.
Independent Collections
* Note that with these brands, you need to book directly through Hyatt or the brand to earn points and you must provide your World of Hyatt number. These properties count as “Hyatt purchases” with the World of Hyatt credit card. You can also use Hyatt points at all of these brands.
Joie de Vivre
Footprint: 18 hotels in the U.S.
Joie de Vivre hotels are now part of World of Hyatt. Each Joie de Vivre hotel is inspired by its community. At Joie de Vivre, you can expect top-notch cuisine and drinks with thoughtful meeting spaces and a pet-friendly environment with water bowls, treats, and organic pet beds.
Alila
Footprint: 16 hotels in 7 countries, mostly in Asia
Alila Hotels joined World of Hyatt in June 2019 thanks to the acquisition of Two Worlds Hospitality by Hyatt. Note that three Alila Hotels do not participate in World of Hyatt: Alila Purnama, Alila Jakarta, and Alila Yangshuo.
Alila Hotels combine luxury service with innovative design. Alila properties focus on delivering an authentic experience at your destination by recreating local cuisine and offering wellness experiences and customized activities.
Hyatt has already announced plans to introduce the Alila brand into Europe with a luxury resort destination called Alila La Gruyère in Switzerland which will offer a high-end golf experience overlooking a beautiful lake.
Thompson Hotels
Footprint: 10 hotels in U.S., Canada, and Mexico
At Thompson Hotels, you can expect a tailored, luxury experience. Each property offers a one-of-a-kind experience that’s designed to mold into the neighborhood.
Thompson Hotels joined the World of Hyatt program in 2019 when it was acquired by Hyatt, which manages the brand as part of its independent collections. Thompson Hotels properties have been integrated into World of Hyatt in stages.
Destination Hotels
Footprint: 8 hotels in the U.S.
Destination Hotels will join World of Hyatt between August and September 2019. Destination Hotels is a small collection of upscale, luxury hotels, residences, and resorts that are designed to reflect the best of each destination. At this brand, you can enjoy the experience of a private residence with a personalized vacation.
Vacation Ownership
Hyatt Residence Club
Footprint: 16 properties in the U.S.
Hyatt Residence Club is Hyatt’s timeshare program similar to Hilton Grand Vacations. As with any timeshare, you don’t own the property; you’re buying a period of time during which you can vacation at the property. Hyatt Residence Club offers points-based ownership in condominium-style properties in resort settings. Units range from 1 to 3 bedrooms with fully equipped kitchens, master suites, living and dining areas, in-unit washer/dryers, and private balconies or lanais.
Maximizing World of Hyatt Benefits
World of Hyatt isn’t just about earning and redeeming Hyatt points; the program also comes with perks for elite status members. Here’s how to get the most value from your World of Hyatt membership.
World of Hyatt Elite Status Levels
The World of Hyatt program has four status levels: a base level and three elite levels. You can also qualify for Lifetime Globalist. Hyatt elite status tiers include:
- Member (base status)
- Discoverist
- Explorist
- Globalist
- Lifetime Globalist
The Member status is the free, base level of World of Hyatt. If you are ever going to stay at a Hyatt property, you should at least have Member status in the World of Hyatt because even a base membership comes with perks like free internet and complimentary breakfast at Hyatt Place properties.
Progressing to elite status tiers can be very rewarding, however. Once you achieve elite status, you not only earn bonus points on your Hyatt status but valuable benefits like waived resort fees on all stays, complimentary parking on award stays, and complimentary breakfast and hors d’oeuvres at Hyatt Club lounges.
World of Hyatt Elite Status Benefits
As a World of Hyatt member, you can enjoy a huge range of benefits when you stay at Hyatt properties — and even enjoy some perks like matched elite status with M Life Rewards at MGM hotels in Las Vegas. To maximize your World of Hyatt benefits, you need to understand what benefits you receive at your elite status and how to use them.
Note that World of Hyatt benefits can be broken down into a few categories: perks you can enjoy at Hyatt hotels, benefits you can receive at SLH hotels that participate in World of Hyatt, and what Hyatt calls “extra privileges.” Here’s how these perks work.
Elite Status Bonus Points
Tiers: Discoverist, Explorist, Globalist
As a World of Hyatt member, you will always earn 5x base points on stays at Hyatt, MGM Resorts International, and participating SLH properties. Once you reach elite status, you earn bonus points on top of your base points:
- Discoverist: 10% bonus (5.5x points total)
- Explorist: 20% bonus (6x points)
- Globalist: 30% bonus (6.5x points)
While base points, elite status bonus points, and other bonus points are all the same when it comes to redemption options, note that only base points are used to qualify for elite status.
Complimentary Internet
Tiers: standard at Member; premium when available at Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist
In 2015, Hyatt announced it would offer free Wi-Fi worldwide in guest rooms and public areas for an unlimited number of devices — without requiring World of Hyatt membership or direct booking. This free internet isn’t the fastest, though, and you may have trouble streaming a TV show during your stay.
Once you reach elite status, you can get free premium Wi-Fi for faster speeds and more reliable connections.
Waived Resort Fees
Tiers: Member, Discoverist, and Explorist on free award nights; Globalist for free award nights and paid stays
One of the biggest perks of the World of Hyatt program is it waives resort fees on award stays for all members but Globalist members even get these costly fees waived on paid stays. Resort fees are becoming more common around the world and they can add up. On average, resort fees are about $21 per day but they can be even higher in some regions like Las Vegas, Hawaii, New York, and Florida. In the future, resort fees may be waived as the Federal Trade Commission came close recently to banning this practice known as “drip” pricing. For now, you can at least turn to hotel loyalty programs that waive fees.
World of Hyatt and Hilton Honors both waive resort fees on free award stays but Marriott Bonvoy — the largest hotel loyalty program in the world thanks to the recent SPG merger — does not.
This perk can save you a lot, especially on lengthy resort stays where fees tend to be higher. A five-night stay at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa in Hawaii, for example, comes with a $35 daily resort fee. When you use Hyatt points to book your stay — or you reach Globalist status — you’re saving $175.
Elite Check-in Area
Tiers: Discoverist, Explorist, Globalist
Hate waiting in line to check in to your hotel after a long flight? With elite status in World of Hyatt, you can enjoy a dedicated check-in area for elite members for a faster, easier check-in process and personalized service.
Late Check-Out
Tiers: Discoverist, Explorist, Globalist
When you aren’t ready to drag yourself out of bed and check out at 11 am, having elite status can pay off. At participating locations, you can request free late check-out as an elite World of Hyatt member. At Discoverist and Explorist, you can request late 2 pm checkout. Globalist members get 4 pm check-out.
Complimentary Room Upgrades
Tiers: Discoverist, Explorist, Globalist
Room upgrades through the World of Hyatt can be a bit confusing as, like most hotel loyalty programs, there’s fine print and the types of upgrades you get depend on your elite status. All room upgrades are based on availability when you check in, however.
At Discoverist, your complimentary upgrade is restricted to the same type of room you booked. It also won’t apply to Hyatt House and Hyatt Place hotels. You can get a preferred room in the same category, though, which may have a better view or more convenient location.
Once you qualify for Explorist, you’re eligible for upgrades to the best available room excluding suites. These upgrades don’t apply to Hyatt Residence Club, Hyatt House, Hyatt Place, and M life resorts.
As a Globalist, you can be upgraded to the best room available up to standard suites.
You can get free room upgrade certificates through the improved World of Hyatt milestone program starting at Discoverist. We’ll go into that in more detail below.
Milestone Bonuses
Tiers: Discoverist, Explorist, Globalist
As an Explorist, you aren’t eligible for free upgrades to club rooms but you do get four complimentary upgrade certificates. In March 2019, Hyatt updated its program. You can earn 2 free club upgrades once you reach 20 night stays or 35,000 points as a Discoverist and another two certificates once you reach 30 nights or 50,000 points and become an Explorist.
There’s a new milestone bonus added once your reach Explorist level. Hit 40 nights or 65,000 base points and choose between 5,000 bonus points, a $100 Hyatt gift card, or 10,000 points off a FIND experience of your choice.
Globalist members, meanwhile, can earn guaranteed suite night upgrades. You earn the first 2 suite upgrades at 80,000 base points or 50 nights and the other 2 at 100,000 base points or 60 nights.
When you reach 70, 80, 90, and 100 nights, you can choose between 10,000 bonus points or another Suite Upgrade Award.
These upgrade certificates apply for a single stay of up to one week and they automatically appear in your World of Hyatt account. You need to call World of Hyatt to use your upgrade certificate and you must have a reservation already with an eligible rate that’s paid, Points + Cash, or an award stay.
Club Lounge Access
Tiers: Explorist*, Globalist
When available, Globalist members have access to Club lounges at Hyatt properties. When the property doesn’t have a Club, you instead get free full breakfast for every registered guest at the property’s restaurant.
Priority Access to Available Rooms/Early Check-in
Tiers: Globalist
There’s nothing like an early flight then being stuck waiting for check-in time. As a Globalist member, you have priority access to available rooms to check in as early as possible. You can typically arrive quite early and still check in right away.
Complimentary Parking
Tiers: Globalist
A nice perk of Globalist elite status is free parking on award stays at Hyatt properties that have paid parking that’s charged to the room. At some properties, parking fees can be high — even up to $25 or more per day.
Complimentary United Club Passes
Tiers: Globalist
If you frequently fly United or on a Star Alliance airline, this perk may be beneficial. Once you reach Globalist elite status, you will receive two complimentary United Club passes that can be used when you are traveling on United or a Star Alliance carrier. Day passes to United Club usually cost $59 but you can get them cheaper.
Guaranteed Availability
Tiers: Explorist, Globalist
Do you ever make last-minute travel plans only to discover the hotel of your choice is sold out? As a World of Hyatt Explorist or Globalist member, you can enjoy guaranteed availability as long as you book a stay with 48 hours (Globalist) to 72 hours (Explorist) of check-in. Other hotel loyalty programs offer the same benefit with fine print and Hyatt is no exception. There are black-out dates and it won’t apply to times of “extraordinary demand.” That means you can’t use this benefit to book a hotel at Times Square on New Year’s Eve, for example. The benefit doesn’t come free, either; rates are usually very high.
Free Night at Category 1-4 Hotel
Tiers: Explorist
Once you reach the requirements for Explorist status, you’ll get a certificate good for a free night in one of Hyatt’s Category 1-4 hotels. This certificate isn’t as flexible as the one you can earn as a World of Hyatt card holder because it needs to be used within 120 days, but it’s still worth around $200 or more.
Free Night at Category 1-7 Hotel
Tiers: Globalist
Once you reach Globalist status, you get an extra certificate that’s good for a free stay at a Category 1 to 7 hotel — including some of Hyatt’s best Park Hyatt properties around the world. Conservatively, this perk is worth $300 to $400 but you can get an even better value.
Matched Status at M life Rewards
Tiers: Member, Discoverist, Explorist, Globalist
As long as you opt in here, your World of Hyatt status will be matched at M life Rewards. This can mean room upgrades, VIP access to nightclubs, and free valet parking at M life Rewards properties in Las Vegas — a major perk if you frequently travel to Vegas and tend to stay on the Strip.
SLH Perks
Tiers: Member, Discoverist, Explorist, Globalist
When you stay at participating Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties that are now part of World of Hyatt, you can enjoy a range of benefits that are essentially the same regardless of your elite status in World of Hyatt.
How to Earn World of Hyatt Elite Status
Ready to earn Hyatt elite status and start enjoying these valuable benefits during your Hyatt stays? Unlike Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt really makes you work for its elite status tiers and only offers the lowest elite level to members who have the World of Hyatt credit card. Here’s how to earn World of Hyatt elite status with a look at the Hyatt membership tiers.
Hyatt Discoverist:
This is the lowest elite tier in World of Hyatt and the easiest to reach. To qualify for Discoverist status, you must meet one of these requirements:
- 10 night stays
- 25,000 base points ($5,000 spent at Hyatt)
- Be a World of Hyatt credit cardholder
This is the only elite level of the World of Hyatt program you can reach automatically.
Hyatt Explorist:
To become an Explorist member of World of Hyatt, you must meet one of these requirements:
- 30 night stays (or 25 night stays if you have the World of Hyatt card)
- 50,000 base points ($10,000 in spending)
- Spending $65,000+ in a year with the World of Hyatt credit card
You can reach Explorist status just by using the World of Hyatt card which gives you 5 elite night credits automatically plus 2 more night credits for every $5,000 you spend. Still, this obviously isn’t the best way to reach Explorist status.
Hyatt Globalist:
Hyatt Globalist status is the top tier of the World of Hyatt program. To become a Globalist member, you must meet one of these requirements:
- 60 night stays (or 55 night stays if you have the World of Hyatt card)
- 100,000 base points ($20,000 in spending at Hyatt)
Hyatt Lifetime Globalist:
World of Hyatt allows you to earn its highest elite status for life, much like Hilton Honors, but it won’t be easy. There’s only one metric for achieving lifetime Globalist status: you must earn 1 million Hyatt base points over the life of your World of Hyatt account. That’s $200,000 in Hyatt spending.
Lifetime Globalist status comes with a unique perk you won’t get with lifetime elite membership at other hotel loyalty programs. You’ll earn all of the perks each year as a Lifetime Globalist Hyatt member. Your year-to-date activity won’t even matter!
While standard Globalist membership includes 4 suite upgrade awards and a free Category 1-7 certificate for members who stay 60 nights in a year (or earn 100,000 base points), you can get these perks no matter how often you stay at Hyatt. If you continue staying at Hyatt, however, you can earn even more perks. Once you reach 50 qualifying nights, you get another 2 suite upgrade awards. At 60 qualifying nights, you get two more suite upgrade awards AND a second Category 1-7 certificate.
How to Earn World of Hyatt Points
While the World of Hyatt program isn’t as generous as others when it comes to ways to earn Hyatt points, you still shouldn’t have any trouble accruing plenty of points with even a moderate amount of travel. As with any hotel loyalty program, you’ll earn most of your points by staying at Hyatt properties. Here are the ways you can earn World of Hyatt points and your earning potential.
Want an in-depth look at ways to earn Hyatt points? Check out our comprehensive guide to earning World of Hyatt points.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
One area in which World of Hyatt falls a bit short is its line-up of co-branded credit cards. That’s because Hyatt doesn’t have a line-up; it has just one credit card that directly earns World of Hyatt points.
Fortunately, the Hyatt credit card is a solid option that makes it easier to earn World of Hyatt points in a hurry.
The World of Hyatt credit card from Chase earns up to 4x Hyatt bonus points on spending. When you use your World of Hyatt card, you can earn:
- 4x Hyatt points on Hyatt purchases (including at World of Hyatt partners like MGM Resorts and SLH)
- 2x Hyatt points on fitness club and gym memberships, airline tickets purchased through an airline, local transit and commuting costs, and cafes and restaurants
- 1x Hyatt points on everything else
The points you earn on Hyatt stays are stacked with other points you can earn including the 5x base points just for being a World of Hyatt member, elite status bonuses, and promotional bonus points.
You won’t just be earning World of Hyatt points on everyday purchases. When you’re approved for the World of Hyatt credit card and meet the minimum spending threshold, you can qualify for a welcome offer that may be worth up to 50,000 points. Because Hyatt points have a value of 1.7 cents each on average, this welcome offer can be worth up to $850 or more!
Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards
If you don’t want to sign up for the World of Hyatt credit card — or when another card will give you a better return — you can still earn World of Hyatt points indirectly. Because Chase is a Hyatt partner, Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to World of Hyatt with an instant transfer.
You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points into Hyatt points at a 1:1 ratio. Chase Ultimate Rewards have about the same value as World of Hyatt points so you shouldn’t lose any value.
Earning Points from Hyatt Stays
In the World of Hyatt program, you’ll earn most points through Hyatt stays. Like other hotel loyalty programs, there are two types of points you can earn in the Hyatt program: base points and bonus points.
The most important thing to remember? You earn World of Hyatt points at Hyatt brands PLUS partner SLH and MGM Resorts International properties!
Here’s what you should know about earning Hyatt points on Hyatt stays. You can also see a more in-depth guide to earning Hyatt points on stays here.
Base Points
At Hyatt properties and partner brands — including M life Rewards properties in Las Vegas and Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties — you’ll earn 5x base points on your stay. Base points are the same no matter your World of Hyatt status.
You can also earn 10x base points on FIND experiences.
Base points work like any other Hyatt points except for one important distinction: these points count toward earning elite status. Only base points count when you’re working toward Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist membership.
Elite Status Bonuses
With elite status comes elite status bonus points on Hyatt stays. These bonus points are awarded as a percentage of the base points you earn on your stay:
- Discoverist: 10% bonus (0.5x extra points)
- Explorist: 20% bonus (1x extra points)
- Globalist: 30% bonus (1.5x extra points)
That means a $200 Hyatt stay will earn you 1,000 Hyatt base points plus 100 to 300 elite bonus points.
Hyatt Promotions
Before you book a Hyatt stay, it’s always a good idea to check for current Hyatt promotions. Hyatt is always offering at least a few promotions that can give you bonus points, resort credits, extra free nights, and other perks.
When you see a Hyatt promotion you like, make sure you register or you may not qualify for the bonus.
Chase Offers
All Chase credit cards can access Chase Offers, a program that allows you to sign up for limited-time and targeted offers. These offers usually give you statement credits when you use your linked Chase card at a partner property as long as you have signed up for the offer and meet the requirements in the fine print.
Because Chase is partnered with Hyatt, you may see Hyatt Chase Offers — usually offering a specific amount cash back as a statement credit when you use your linked Chase card. You may even see a Hyatt offer for your World of Hyatt card, in which case you can earn cash back AND bonus Hyatt points on your stay!
Other Ways to Earn World of Hyatt Points
World of Hyatt doesn’t offer as many ways to earn points as other hotel loyalty programs. Still, you’ll find a handful of other options for earning World of Hyatt points.
- Book FIND experiences and get 10x Hyatt base points.
- Earn World of Hyatt points when you fly on American Airlines. You’ll get 1x Hyatt bonus points per $1 on American Airlines plus AAdvantage miles.
- Hold meetings or events at Hyatt. You’ll get 1x Hyatt points plus earn elite status credits.
- Book a rental car with Avis and get 500 Hyatt points when you use Discount number K817700.
- Pool points with friends. You can transfer or receive Hyatt points from other World of Hyatt members with no fees.
- Buy Hyatt points. This isn’t a good idea except when you’re just a little shy of an award stay. You can buy Hyatt points at $24 per 1,000 points.
How to Use World of Hyatt Points
Ready to put all of your Hyatt points to use? Here’s how to redeem World of Hyatt points and get the best value.
Redeem World of Hyatt Points for Reward Stays
As a general rule, you will get the highest value for Hyatt points when they are used for free Hyatt stays. Want to get the best value? Here’s how to maximize your World of Hyatt points when you redeem Hyatt reward points for free stays. You can also read our more in-depth guide to earning World of Hyatt free nights.
How Many Points Do You Need for a Free Night?
You can always check how many Hyatt points you need for a free night by checking the World of Hyatt rewards chart. Every Hyatt property and all participating M life Rewards and Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties have an assigned category that determines how many points are needed.
For a standard room award, free nights start at 5,000 points per night and go up to 30,000 for category 7 hotels. There are just a handful of category 8 hotels that require 40,000 points a night.
You will need more points for Club rooms (7,000 to 39,000), standard suites (8,000 to 48,000), and premium suites (10,000 to 60,000).
How to Book a Free Night Reward
Booking a Hyatt free night is easy. For most reward stays, you can book online but some stays — including stays at Miraval Resorts and suite rewards — require calling World of Hyatt customer service to make a reservation.
Online
To book a free stay online, log into your World of Hyatt account and search for a property. Make sure the “Use Points” option is checked. You will be able to view properties at your destination with available reward rooms and how many Hyatt points you will need. Hyatt points are deducted from your account once the reservation is made.
By Phone
If you want to book by phone, or you’re trying to book a reward stay that can’t be completed online, you can call Hyatt at (800) 228-3360. This will be necessary for booking suite rewards and Miraval stays. Once your reservation is made, it will appear in your World of Hyatt account online.
Standard Room Award
In most cases, you’ll probably use your Hyatt points to book free standard room awards which usually give the best value. Standard rooms are the easiest to book as they can always be booked online and they’re available at all properties.
Upgraded Room Award
Want more space or lounge access? You can directly book an upgraded room through the World of Hyatt. There are three basic types of upgraded rooms:
- Regency/Grand Club rooms which are usually available at Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt properties and come with club access
- Standard suites which offer more space
- Premium suites which come with executive lounge access and upgraded amenities
Cash + Points Reward Nights
If you don’t have quite enough World of Hyatt points to cover an award stay, you can use a combination of cash and points with the Points + Cash option. You can check the World of Hyatt awards chart for Points + Cash stays to see how many points you need. Just keep in mind all Points + Cash stays require 50% of the standard number of points and 50% of the hotel’s standard night rate.
Book at Partner Hotels
Hyatt definitely isn’t a large brand. There’s less than 850 Hyatt hotels in the world compared to more than 5,500 in the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy programs. With that said, Hyatt has taken steps to reduce the impact of their smaller footprint by partnering with two other brands where you can earn and use Hyatt points and even enjoy elite status benefts. Hyatt also recently acquired Two Roads Hospitality to bring four smaller brands to the Hyatt portfolio.
If you don’t see a Hyatt property at your destination, there may be a partner property with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), a boutique collection of great resorts and unique hotels located in in-demand locations. Hyatt has been phasing SLH properties into the World of Hyatt program in stages. As of summer 2019, there are already more than 200 SLH hotels where you can earn and redeem World of Hyatt points.
When you search for hotels to use Hyatt points, you’ll see qualifying SLH properties which are marked as “Exclusive to World of Hyatt Members” and “Member-Only Hotel.” Just note that some SLH properties, particularly the luxury resorts in high-demand areas have minimum stay requirements that also apply to award stays.
If you’re visiting Las Vegas, you can also redeem World of Hyatt points at M life Rewards properties owned by MGM Resorts International. Participating hotels include MGM Grand, ARIA, Bellagio, New York New York, Excalibur, Luxor, and several others.
There’s one thing to keep in mind when booking an award stay at M life Rewards properties. At Hyatt properties, the resort fees are waived on award stays but this isn’t true with M life Rewards properties.
To make matters worse, Las Vegas is notorious for its high resort fees. On the Strip, all resort fees are $32 and higher. MGM Resorts, which owns M life Rewards properties, even raised resort fees at all of its properties recently. At MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, you will still pay resort fees of $32 to $40+ per night on award stays.
As with regular Hyatt hotels, all SLH and M life Rewards properties have an assigned category that determines the number of points you need to book a free stay.
Transfer World of Hyatt Points to Partners
While you likely won’t get a very good value, you do have the option of transferring Hyatt points to World of Hyatt airline partners.
Most Hyatt transfers are at a ratio of 2.5 Hyatt points to 1 mile but there are some exceptions like 5,000 Hyatt points to 2,000 AAdvantage miles. Hyatt offers 24 airline partners like American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Emirates Skywards, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and more.
Other Ways to Use World of Hyatt Points
Don’t want to redeem Hyatt points for hotel stays or airfare? There are still options for using your points.
- Redeem World of Hyatt points for experiences. FIND, Hyatt’s wellness experience platform, doesn’t just let you earn Hyatt points; you can also redeem your points for unique experiences at dozens of destinations.
- Use Hyatt points for on-property spa and dining credits. While you won’t get a good value, it’s still nice to have the option to use Hyatt points for dining and spa visits at Hyatt properties.
- Redeem World of Hyatt points for Hyatt meeting credits. Planning a meeting at a Hyatt property? You can use points toward the meeting cost — but you won’t get a great value.
- Use points for Avis rentals. For 6,000 points a day, you can get an intermediate-sized Avis rental car. The value of this option varies but it’s almost always lower than average for Hyatt points.
How Does World of Hyatt Compare to Other Hotel Loyalty Programs?
It’s smart to assess your options before deciding which hotel loyalty program will work for you. While you can certainly belong to every loyalty program, you’ll want to focus your efforts on a single program to earn free stays and elite status benefits. Choosing a loyalty program requires considering many factors such as:
- The types of destinations you usually visit
- The types of hotels you prefer, such as extended stay, suburban locations, city center hotels, resorts, or full-service hotels
- How often you travel
To help you decide if the World of Hyatt program has what you’re looking for, here’s how it compares to the three other giants in the industry.
World of Hyatt vs Hilton Honors
World of Hyatt can’t compare to Hilton Honors in terms of global footprint or flexibility but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have some advantages. World of Hatt has some amazing luxury resorts and hotels like the Park Hyatt Sydney, which is considered one of the best hotels in all of Australia.
Despite its small size, World of Hyatt also has a generous and easy-to-understand award chart. While Hilton Honors uses dynamic pricing that makes it hard to determine how many points you will need for a free stay, you’ll always know how many points you need per night at Hyatt properties.
World of Hyatt points are among the most valuable in the industry, although they are a bit harder to earn than Hilton Honors points.
Here are some important distinctions to consider when comparing these two loyalty programs:
- Hilton Honors makes it easier to earn elite status and achieve the highest elite status. You can even achieve the top Hilton elite status with a co-branded Hilton Honors credit card while World of Hyatt’s credit card only offers the lowest-tier elite status.
- Hilton Honors has more flexibility in how you earn and redeem points than Hyatt.
- Hilton Honors offers a free 5th night stay on award stays (just like Marriott Bonvoy) but World of Hyatt does not.
- World of Hyatt has a better milestone program that allows you to earn room upgrade certificates and free stays once you reach a threshold number of paid or award stays.
- While smaller, you may find World of Hyatt has more unique destinations and properties in its portfolio than Hilton Honors.
World of Hyatt vs Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy is similar to Hilton Honors in terms of size, co-branded credit cards, and elite status benefits. Like World of Hyatt, however, Marriott Bonvoy doesn’t offer any avenues for achieving automatic top-tier elite status.
Marriott Bonvoy doesn’t waive resort fees on award stays like World of Hyatt, a potentially costly problem if you tend to stay in resorts or cities known for high resort fees like Las Vegas and New York City. Another area in which World of Hyatt comes out ahead? Its award chart. World of Hyatt doesn’t have peak and off-peak pricing like Marriott Bonvoy will soon have in 2019. Hyatt offers plenty of opportunities to earn free night stay certificates and guaranteed room upgrades as milestone bonuses for frequent guests, too, a perk Marriott Bonvoy doesn’t offer.
If you’re most interested in a program with a very wide reach — or you prefer luxury hotels and resorts over budget-friendly options — Marriott Bonvoy is a good choice. World of Hyatt comes out ahead in terms of unique locations, an easier-to-understand and achieve elite status system, and a superior award chart.
World of Hyatt vs IHG Rewards Club
IHG Rewards Club and World of Hyatt are two of the smaller hotel loyalty programs. While Intercontinental Hotels Group has a lot to offer with its large global footprint, especially if you stay in areas without a large hotel footprint like suburbs and rural areas, World of Hyatt still tends to come out ahead thanks to its more generous elite status perks and award chart.
Hyatt has one of the most valuable top-tier elite statuses aside from Marriott Bonvoy that comes with suite upgrades, lounge access, and bonus points. It also has a generous award chart with free stays starting at just 5,000 and maxing out at 40,000 for Category 8 hotels — which aren’t very common in its portfolio.
Still, IHG has some unique perks. If you’re looking for a good mix of affordable hotels and luxury properties, IHG can be a great choice. IHG brands are known for their consistency and luxury amenities that don’t cost a fortune. In areas where you won’t find luxury hotels from other brands, you’re almost guaranteed to find a basic, affordable, and comfortable Holiday Inn Express through IHG.
FAQ
Is it free to join World of Hyatt?
Yes, World of Hyatt is absolutely free to join. Signing up takes only minutes and allows you to immediately begin earning Hyatt points.
Do World of Hyatt points expire?
Your Hyatt points will expire after 24 months of inactivity. The good news is keeping your account active is easy: just redeem or earn Hyatt points, transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points into your Hyatt account, buy Hyatt points, or keep an active World of Hyatt credit card.
How many points do you need for a free night at Hyatt?
Free night stays at Hyatt begin at just 5,000 points. You can find out how many points you need for a free stay by checking the property’s category which determines the number of points per night.
How much are Hyatt points worth?
As a general rule, World of Hyatt points are worth 1.7 cents each. You can get a better or worse value depending on how your points are used. Redeeming Hyatt points for free Hyatt stays typically offers the best value.
What are the Hyatt elite status tiers?
World of Hyatt has three levels of elite status: Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist. Discoverist is the lowest elite tier and it can be earned automatically with the World of Hyatt credit card.
How do I earn World of Hyatt elite status?
There are three ways to earn elite status in World of Hyatt. The easiest is becoming a World of Hyatt cardholder which includes automatic Discoverist status. Other elite tiers require meeting a threshold of Hyatt stays or earned base points.
Is there a difference between Hyatt base points and bonus points?
The only difference between bonus points and base points is base points help you achieve elite status and bonus points do not. Only base points count toward achieving elite status tiers.
Does World of Hyatt have an award chart?
Yes, World of Hyatt has several award charts. One award chart applies to most properties except Hyatt’s all-inclusive resorts with free stays starting at 5,000 points per night.
What is the Hyatt lowest hotel category and the highest?
World of Hyatt properties range from Category 1 (starting at 5,000 per night) to Category 8 (40,000 points per night). Only a handful of properties are Category 8, a tier reserved now for some properties that belong to Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
What hotels does Hyatt own? What hotels brands are in World of Hyatt?
World of Hyatt is comprised of 17 brands including Park Hyatt, Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt, Miraval, Andaz, Alila, Thompson Hotels, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Residence Club, Destination Hotels, Joie de Vivre, Hyatt Zilara, Hyatt Ziva, and the Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Two partner programs also participate in World of Hyatt: M life Rewards (MGM International Resorts) and Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH).
Which credit cards earn World of Hyatt points?
There is only one co-branded World of Hyatt card: the World of Hyatt credit card from Chase. This card earns 4x Hyatt points on Hyatt stays and up to 2x Hyatt bonus points on other purchases.
Is the Hyatt Credit Card worth it?
The World of Hyatt credit card is a good choice if you plan to actively participate in the World of Hyatt program and want to earn free stays faster. The card has a $95 annual fee but it more than makes up for it with automatic elite status and free nights. The welcome offer for the Hyatt credit card can be worth up to 10 free nights at Hyatt plus the card gives you one free night stay a year on your cardmember anniversary and another free night certificate if you spend at least $15,000 a year.
Can you book club rooms or suites with Hyatt points?
Yes, you can use Hyatt points to directly book upgraded rooms including club rooms and standard or premium suites. You can also use points to upgrade a paid night stay.
Wrap Up
Don’t be fooled by World of Hyatt’s small footprint. This unique hotel loyalty program has a lot to offer, including some amazing luxury properties in areas underserved by other programs, a very generous award chart, and valuable elite status benefits. While World of Hyatt probably won’t be your first choice if a large portfolio matters, it’s worth considering if you want a program that makes it easy to earn free nights and upgrades.