Hyatt Makes Improvements to World of Hyatt for 2018
We received an email from World of Hyatt announcing a few changes they are making to the program for 2018. I was shocked to see that they were all positive changes! And one of them makes earning elite status easier.
World of Hyatt Changes for 2018
They are announcing two changes for the program in 2018:
- Starting January 1, 2018, all nights on free night awards will count toward tier status. You can now earn elite status and additional benefits faster.
- They’re extending the validity dates for the following free night awards. Starting with those issued January 1, 2018, you can use them up to 180 days for issuance (used to be 120 days).
- Free night in Cat 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort when you stay 30 qualifying nights or earn 50,000 Base Points in a calendar year
- Free night in Cat 1-7 Hyatt hotel or resort when you stay 60 qualifying nights or earn 100,000 Base Points in a calendar year
These are two positive changes. Seeing the free nights awards validity dates extended 60 days is a good move but nothing earth shattering. But allowing award stays to count towards status is HUGE. You used to have to book a points plus cash room for it to count towards status. Now you can gain elite status by staying at category 1 Hyatt Place for 5,000 points per night.
Conclusion
This is big news which makes earning Hyatt status easier in 2018. I am guessing the fact that World of Hyatt was announced to a ton of criticism last year led to people jumping ship to other brands. This may be a way for Hyatt to bring them back into the fold.
This change puts Hyatt in line with other hotel chains, like Hilton and SPG, that count award stays towards status. Only Wyndham and Best Western resist joining the fold.
Does this make you more likely to stay at Hyatt hotels in 2018? What do you think of the change?
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