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Hyatt Diamond Challenge Open to Everyone
Hyatt used to have one of the most generous status challenges around. Up until late last year, if you could show them that you had elite status with another chain, Hyatt would give you their top-tier status for 60 days. To keep the status past that point, you needed to complete 12 nights during that time. (Which I did.)
A lot of people abused this challenge and simply took the Diamond status to enjoy the benefits on their vacations without any intention of ever completing it. This was obviously unsustainable and so Hyatt got rid of the challenge and then eventually replaced it with a different program.
The New Status Challenge
When the new Diamond challenge was released earlier this year, it was only open to people who were sponsored by a hotel. You could no longer call up and request it. Besides that, it no longer gave status up front, but a lot of the other terms are the same.
According to reports on Flyertalk, Hyatt has dropped the sponsorship requirement for the Hyatt Diamond Challenge and now is allowing anyone to sign-up.
Before you do, here is how the new program works:
- You must stay 12 nights within 60 days.
- You receive Platinum status for the duration of the challenge.
- If you complete 6 nights during the challenge then you keep the Platinum status. If you complete 12 nights you get upgraded to Diamond status.
- You receive 1,000 bonus points per night for the first 6 nights.
Find out more: Diamond Benefits – Platinum Benefits
Analysis
Since Platinum status is easily gained through their credit card and really doesn’t give you much, the only reason to do this challenge is to get Diamond status. Once you complete the 12 nights, you will be given Hyatt’s top-tier status through February of 2017! You will also receive 4 suite upgrades for this year and 4 more next year.
How to Sign-up
To sign up simply call 1-800-228-3360 and ask for the Hyatt Diamond Challenge. There are several reports of people being able to get in on the challenge without any sort of sponsorship, however that could change at any time. Additionally, a few people on Flyertalk have confirmed with Hyatt that signing up for the challenge now and completing it will secure Diamond status through February, 2017.
Conclusion
While this isn’t nearly as generous as the previous Hyatt Diamond Challenge, it is a way to fasttrack towards one of the best elite statuses in the loyalty space. I completed the old challenge last year and am working towards keeping my Diamond status since I value it so much. Good luck!
HT: The Trip Sherpa
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can we still sign up for the diamond challenge?
Might be a stupid question but 1 stay of 12 days will also suffice ?
It is just 12 nights, so you could do it on one stay.
I’m getting a deal for 12 days 750 USD under a long stay package. I suppose this rate qualifies as an eligible stay.
pag: I’ve spent most of the day looking at rates around the country, mostly Category 1s of course, but have not found anything close to that rate. Care to share where this $750 package is available?
12 nights for $750 sounds pretty good. Mind sharing where?
Just want to verify, you receive the Diamond status immediately after 12 nights and you don’t have to wait until the end of the 60 days for it to become effective. i.e. You enroll in the challenge on June 15th, complete the 12 nights on July 1st, and the Diamond Status is effective July 1st/2nd and not August 15th (end of 60 day challenge period). Correct?
Yes you should receive Diamond status as soon as the 12th night posts to your account. It normally takes a couple of days, although I’m sure Hyatt would expedite it if you had another stay coming up quickly.
From my understanding, the cheapest Hyatt chains are in Vegas, which are:
The Luxor in Las Vegas can be had for under $40/night (plus resort fee)
The Excalibur in Las Vegas can be had for under $30 (plus resort fee)
So if I want to maximize to get the Diamond status faster while I am doing this challenge, I will go to Vegas, then book 1 night at Luxor, then move the next day one night at Excalibur…repeat until 6 stays in Luxor and 6 stays in Excalibur on different nights. If each night cost $50 after resort fees, total cost would be $50 x 12 = $600 for Diamond status until Feb 2017! Not too shabby, right?
Let me know if you have better idea.
Why do you need to movearound? Why not just stay all 12 nights at one place? The requirement is 12 nights not 12 stays.
In the past Mlife stays have not counted towards the Diamond Challenge and I do not believe anything has changed.
Any ideas if MGM stay would qualify?
MLife stays have not been eligible for the challenge in the past and I don’t believe anything has changed.
Was already in the challenge with the hotel signing us up but they just switched it to the new offer because the other one was only till 2016. We will hit 50 nights this year any ways but I wanted to have it before our big trip with the suite upgrades. Park Hyatt Tokyo here I come
DR: glad to hear you got switched; I’m in the same boat (currently in the challenge via hotel sponsorship). I was wondering how you asked? I sent an email to gpcs@hyatt.com asking to have mine extended till 2017, haven’t received a response yet, but any other tips?
How do you get points + cash rates to show up when searching Hyatt for rooms? I only see cash OR points.
You can only book Points + Cash over the phone. Generally Points + Cash availability pretty closely mirrors points availability, but that isn’t 100%. The only way to make sure a hotel is available with Points + Cash is to call Hyatt.
I started my diamond challenge (sponsored) on May 1, and I’m still in the process of completing it, just a few more stay days left before I get the status. Will mine also be valid through Feb 2017, or only Feb 2016? Thanks for reporting this went public!! 🙂
I believe challenges started before June 1 are only good through February, 2016. It doesn’t hurt to ask to see if they will extend it to 2017, since you will be completing it in the second half of the year. My guess though is they won’t.
Ahhhh dangit! Bad timing 🙁 Thanks, I’ll try asking anyways.
[…] Hyatt Diamond Challenge now publicly available: […]
How about point stays? Do they count? Thanks!
Points + Cash count, but not points only stays.
Is there a minimum number of stays required as well? I think for most hotel chains a stay is 2 nights. If there is no minimum can I just book one 12 night stay with points and cash. Check in once and be done?
For the trial it is just 12 nights. No minimum number of stays.
I just called the HGP to enroll for the diamond challenge reading your post. Rep said nope and it has to be thru the manager at any hyatt hotel. they have a form which has to be filled and send in. Anybody had luck ??
Two questions:
1. Can we attempt the challenge if we tried last year?
2. Do points and cash stays count as qualified stays?
1. Based on what people mentioned in the linked to Flyertalk thread you can try the challenge even if you previously did it.
2. Yes Points + Cash stays qualify.
Wish I could use it now while a diamond. I expire Mar 2016, but doubt I will get the 50 nights. If I could do 12 and then get it to 2017 it would be sweet.
hot diggity dog!!!
I’ve been waiting for diamond challenge.