25% off Hyatt Properties & IHG Further Restricts Elite Benefits

Hotel News & Promotions

I have a couple of quick hotel related tidbits that I thought were worth sharing. Let’s take a look.

Hyatt Black Friday Sale

Hyatt is offering 25% off many of their properties as part of their Black Friday sale which is live now.

The Offer

Tis the season to be together. Whether you hit the slopes or head to the beach, enjoy the holidays with those who matter most. Book the Holiday Rate on Hyatt.com by Nov‌ember 2‌9 to save up to 25% at participating Hyatt hotels in the U.S. and Latin America for stays through 201‌7.

Terms

• Hyatt Holiday Rate is valid for Hyatt Gold Passport members for bookings made between November 18 and November 29, 2016 for stays between November 18, 2016 and November 29, 2017 at participating hotels in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Latin America.
• To qualify for Hyatt Holiday Rate guests must request the Hyatt Holiday Rate when making their reservation via Hyatt.com or a Hyatt Global Contact Center.
• Guest must be a Hyatt Gold Passport member and provide membership number prior to confirming reservation.
• Hyatt Holiday Rate requires full pre-payment and is non-refundable.
• Hyatt Holiday Rate is up to 25% off the Standard Rate, is non-transferable and is valid for one guest room.

You can find the full details and terms here.

Analysis

This is a great deal if you are going to be paying for a room in a Hyatt over the next twelve months. As someone who often changes travel plans, I am always weary of non-refunable rates, but at least in this case you are getting something for it. If you are someone who knows your plans and that you will stick to them, then book away!

IHG Elite Benefits Restrictions

I was the first to cover the news that Hyatt will no longer honor elite benefits on 3rd party stays under their World of Hyatt program and now IHG is doing something similar. While they have technically had this in their terms for awhile I believe, most hotels have honored benefits in my experience. Now, they are emphasizing that you need to book through them.

In an email to many members including myself they wrote:

We’ve made a change. Effective January 1, 2017, members must book directly through IHG® (IHG.com, IHG® App, IHG® brand sites, corporate travel sites, Central Reservations, or Hotel direct) and not through other travel booking sites in order to take full advantage of the benefits that come with an IHG® Rewards Club membership. Why? We want to give you the best travel experience—from start to finish—every time. And we can only do that when you book with us directly.

This leads me to believe that they will pressure hotels NOT to honor benefits on 3rd party stays as a way to force you to book direct. This is a very negative move by IHG, but it seems to be par for the course these days. At this point if you value elite benefits you really need to book direct.

Conclusion

Hyatt’s sale is good but would be better without the prepayment requirement and IHG has made a bad move for consumers, but one that is pretty much in line with other major brands. Loyalty has always had a cost for consumers, but lately that cost seems to be going up more and more.

Your thoughts?

Disclosure: Miles to Memories has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Miles to Memories and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

---

 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the old king of travel rewards cards. Right now bonus_miles_full

Learn more about this card and its features!

---

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.