Some links to products and partners on this website will earn an affiliate commission.

World of Hyatt has announced some changes that will be implemented on 1 January, 2019. The changes appear to be an attempt to smooth out the benefits members can receive during the year. Currently the Hyatt programme is perceived as offering poor value to anybody that cannot achieve 60 nights in a calendar year.

Here is the new chart outlining what Hyatt is calling Milestone Rewards, based on the number of nights in a calendar year.

What is Actually Changing?

Currently, Hyatt members achieve “Explorist” status with 30 nights. Explorist status comes with 4 Club lounge awards and a free night at a Category 1-4 hotel.  Therefore, the major change is receiving 2 Club lounge awards earlier, at 20 nights instead of 30.

“Globalist” status requires 60 nights to achieve, or 55 nights to renew. Globalist status comes with 4 suite upgrade certificates (good for a week’s stay, confirmed at booking) and a free nights at a Category 1-7 hotel. (as well as the free night upon reaching 30 nights)

Again, these changes mean that:

• 2 suite upgrade certificates are earned at 50 nights (instead of 55/60)
• 2 more suite upgrade certificates are earned at 60 nights (instead of potentially 55 for status renewals)
• the free night certificate requires 60 nights (instead of potentially 55 for Globalist renewals)

The one new addition is a gift upon reaching 40 nights. This will be the member’s choice of:

• 5,000 points
• a $100 Hyatt gift card
• 10,000 point discount on a FIND experience

The awards for staying 70, 80, 90 and 100 nights remain unchanged.

The Bottom Line

The biggest impact appears to hit existing Globalists, who will need to stay 60 nights instead of 55 to renew their status. Even though I have held Hyatt’s top-tier status for 5 years now, I can assure you that either target is difficult!!  Hyatt has a small footprint, especially in Europe, although the addition of Small Luxury Hotels should help immensely.

In exchange for moving the goalposts by 5 nights, Globalists will essentially receive 5,000 points or $100 at 40 nights.

I am surprised to see Hyatt tinker around the edges of its status eligibility, without seriously addressing complaints about the chasm between Globalist benefits and those received by everybody else. A more valuable mid-tier status would have gone a long way to addressing those complaints, but Hyatt has passed on providing, say, breakfast to 30-night Explorists.

You can read more about these changes by clicking here.

What do you think of the changes?