World of Hyatt Globalist Upgrades & Benefits in the Real World
On March 1 Hyatt rolled out their brand new “World of Hyatt” program to replace to previous Gold Passport program. Among the changes under the new program are differences in how top tier Globalist (formerly Diamond) members are treated. Over the past week I have stayed at a couple of Hyatt’s international hotels and thought I would share my Globalist treatment.
Globalist Published Benefits
You can find all of the Globalist benefits here, but among the biggest benefits are:
- Room Upgrade up to standard suites
- Club Lounge access or Breakfast for 2 adults & 2 children if no lounge exists
- Early check-in priority access
- Free parking on award stays and no resort fees on any stay. (I didn’t get to test these out.)
Now let’s see how these benefits were conveyed at the two properties I stayed in this past week.
Hyatt City of Dreams Manila
The Hyatt City of Dreams Manila is a beautiful hotel located within an integrated casino complex not far from Manila’s International Airport. I arrived around 5pm on my flight from Hong Kong and thus did not get to try out their early check-in policy.
Room Upgrade
Upon arriving at the hotel, I was ushered up to the Club Lounge as a Globalist for check-in. I had booked a Standard King Room with points since Points & Cash was not available. My Globalist status was recognized and I was informed that I had been upgraded to an Aqua Suite as part of my Globalist benefits.
This particular hotel is located in the same complex as two others and thus doesn’t have many suites. (The Crown Towers have the majority of the suites at City of Dreams.) At the Hyatt the Aqua Suite is more like a Junior Suite, but it is the Hyatt’s biggest room. At over 900 square feet it is very nice and a great Globalist upgrade. Success!
Breakfast
The Hyatt City of Dreams has a very nice Club Lounge with views of Manila Bay, a decent spread of food and perhaps the best staff I have seen at a lounge anywhere! Still, lounge breakfast almost never compares well to eating at a restaurant. Thankfully this property allowed me to take breakfast downstairs in the buffet which was quite extensive. I believe this policy didn’t change from Gold Passport to World of Hyatt. I have heard anecdotally that some properties are changing their generous breakfast policies with World of Hyatt. Only time will tell.
Hyatt Regency Kathmandu
The Hyatt Regency Kathmandu has embraced World of Hyatt extensively. Not only have they updated their check-in signs (the Hyatt in Manila had as well), but across the property you could find advertisements for World of Hyatt including on every single table in the Club Lounge.
Check-In
Just as with the Manila property, I was sent up to the Club Lounge for check-in as a Globalist. The agent at the lounge acknowledged my new status and even made a comment about how Diamond status is no longer a thing. I arrived around 1pm and was granted early check-in without an issue.
Room Upgrade
Just as with the Hyatt City of Dreams I was upgraded to a Suite at the Hyatt Regency Kathmandu without asking. The room was described to me as a Junior Suite at check-in, but I was not impressed. It had a small living room area downstairs and then a tiny bedroom on a second level. I honestly felt the regular room is probably better.
After taking a look at the room I asked to be moved and was willing to accept a normal room, however I was given a Regency Suite with a separate living room and bedroom on the same level. The bathroom was also significantly larger.
Breakfast
Unfortunately I found the Club Lounge at the Hyatt Regency Kathmandu to be among the worst I have experienced internationally. The staff was friendly, but the food wasn’t very good and the spread was minimal. Thankfully this hotel also allows Globalist members to take breakfast downstairs in the main buffet where a decent selection of Western, Nepali and Indian food is served.
Welcome Gifts
Among the biggest changes from Diamond to Globalist is the loss of a welcome amenity. Previously Diamond members received either points or a food and beverage amenity upon check-in. This amenity often was significant including snacks and wine.
Curiously I was provided with a welcome gift at both hotels. At the Hyatt in Manila my room was pre-stocked with fruit and chocolates. In Kathmandu there was a nice selection of fruit waiting for me in my first room, however for some reason they never transferred it over to the new room.
Conclusion
So far I am impressed with how thoroughly Hyatt has seemingly communicated changes to these properties. In both cases suite upgrades were given per the program language and all other benefits were conveyed as well. I know others have had varying experiences, but so far I am happy. Losing the welcome amenity hurts a bit, but getting suite upgrades is a huge plus considering I was paying the same under the old program.
What have been your World of Hyatt elite experiences? Have you run into hotel staff that doesn’t know what is going on or were your experiences like mine? Please share in the comments!
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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Unfortunately no upgrade for me at Hyatt Regency at LAX. Did get a great view overlooking the runways though. And there’s no club since it’s still being renovated …and no points for that lack of that amenity either. And no welcome amenity or points as expected. The breakfast was great quality and I had it in the restaurant.
Grand Hyatt Tokyo – When I arrived I was already booked into a room on the 11 floor but after asking if they had an upgrade or higher floor available I was given the same standard room on the 17th floor. I was told I could have a corner room for the first night but would have to change rooms the next day so I declined. After 2 very noisy nights, I mentioned that there must be a lot of people in the room next to mine and they were very apologetic and moved me to a suite for my last night. I didn’t want to deal with the noise anymore so I took them up on their offer. My first night they delivered me a small box of cookies as an amenity. When I moved into the suite there were fresh strawberries and a bottle of wine waiting for me.
The staff were all incredibly friendly and breakfast was in the lounge which was decent.
4/4 at the Hyatt Regency OC (2x), Hyatt Regency Dallas in beautiful suite, and Park Hyatt Aviara Suite. No pushing and all done without prompting. Great program so far!
No suite upgrade at the Hyatt Regency Orlando for 2 night stay
Hyatt Olive 8…Last Saturday night no, Sunday night yes. There were no suites available (online) when I checked in Saturday.
I had to press for a California Suite at the Hyatt Westlake Village with a different check in agent.
I’m 0 for 2, no Suite at Hyatt Regency Austin and no Suite at Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria.