The good news: you can now earn top-tier World of Hyatt Globalist status for only 20 nights. The bad news: a punch in the gut to rubes like me who have already stayed 40 nights. Or not…?
Hyatt Globalist status is still very valuable. Despite its limited footprint around the world, I am very satisfied with Hyatt and will continue to patronize the chain. Earlier this year I wrote about my difficulty in determining whether to re-qualify or let my status expire. I opted to re-qualify and have paced myself to achieve that. I don’t believe I will need any “mattress running” to achieve the 60 nights.
Thus, the new promo doesn’t make it any easier for me to re-qualify since I am already at just about 40 nights. But I bet it will help many of you who once enjoyed Hyatt Diamond status but were disenchanted by the new World of Hyatt program.
A Very Generous New Fastrack Promo
The promo is very straightforward–
First, you need a Hyatt co-branded credit card from Chase.
Second, you must sign-up for the promotion here.
Third, you need the following stays between September 01, 2017 and December 31, 2017:
- To qualify for Explorist status, cardmembers must complete 10 nights (normally 30 nights)
- To qualify for Globalist status, cardmembers must complete 20 nights (normally 60 nights)
That’s only 1/3 of the normal rate! Cash and cash + points stay count. Pure points stays do not.
Keep in mind that if you qualify for Globalist status under this promotion, you will not receive a free night cert or four confirmed suite upgrades, both of which are reserved only for members who stay 60 nights or more in a given year.
You must sign up for this promo by September 30, 2017 but previously booked stays will count.
A Sign of Desperation
In talking to people at FTUs, on Flyertalk, or even my own clients, one thing is clear: most people don’t like the new Hyatt program. Granted, these are generally not high-value travelers, but they always are marginal travelers, those travelers in which loyalty is discretionary. Occupancy rates are not at 100%–but these travelers fill otherwise empty rooms.
This move strikes me as an act of desperation on the part of Hyatt. While Hyatt once said it wanted fewer elites to make its Globalist status more valuable, it now has made achieving top tier status easier than ever before.
Fair or not?
I’m not trying to preach here, but this incidents reminds me of a story in the Bible. It’s a parable in Chapter 20 of the Gospel according to Matthew (not me). A group of laborers were hired for an agreed upon wage. Throughout the day, more laborers were brought in, even up to the final hour of work. At the end of the day, the laborers lined up to be paid. Those who began at the end of the day were paid exactly the same as those who worked all day. Not surprisingly, those workers were not happy.
And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?
And I guess that’s the point. My initial reaction is one of disappointment because I already worked hard to get up to 40 nights this year. But Hyatt did not renege on our agreement. From the start of the year Hyatt has promised me Globalist status in exchange for 60 nights and that is still the case.
Even though those earning identical status to me for 1/3 work seems unfair, it is not unfair for Hyatt to be generous. It is their program and they can award status as they best see fit.
CONCLUSION
Every analogy breaks down at some point. I suppose the counter-argument to my analogy above would be that part of what has driven people like me to qualify for Globalist status is that the status tends to be exclusive. Because it so difficult to earn, I can expect a complimentary suite upgrade at nearly every Hyatt property I stay at. If people can now earn status for so little effort, there will be more competition for the scarce perks that must be shared by all top-tier elite members.
I’m not going to worry about that. Hyatt took care of me as a Diamond member in the Gold Passport era and now takes good care of me as a Globalist in the World of Hyatt era. For those of you who can take advantage of this lucrative promo, I say go for it. I’m happy for you.
With 60 nights, you’ll earn the free night stay and 4 confirmed suite upgrades. On the other hand, knowing the reasons for the original change to World of Hyatt and the current offer, Hyatt will find a way to differentiate the Globalist Lt. from those qualifying the hard way. I wouldn’t worry too much about competition for the free upgrades.
Hyatt is now harvesting what it planted. I always went out of my way to stay at Hyatt properties. As you said their limited footprint makes it very difficult for me to achieve top status with them but under the old program it was doable. Under the new ridiculous one it is not. So far this year I have 30 nights with SPG where I normally would aim for Hyatt. It is too late since I already chose my new hotel chain. Hyatt did not want me as a customer when they changed their program. Now I am the one that doesn’t want them.
Well it isn’t fair to international members who have no access to this credit card…
Thanks for sharing Ben. I like your analogy to Matthew 20. If only more people practiced that kind of true, eye-popping generosity, the world would be a better place (though I wouldn’t go so far as to call this promotion true generosity on Hyatt’s end. Which I’m sure you would agree with too).
Hahahaha… are you mistaking this blog for OMAAT?
Anyway, that kind of generosity nowdays would face suits/claims based on labor laws and/or union strike. Some would also considered such act as communism. Everybody got the same benefits regardles of the signoficance of their contribution.
I’m not saying the bible is wrong, but you may take it under perspective, is it really applicable? Or there’s more than meets the eye from the verse…..
Mistaking me for Ben? That’s quite a compliment!
Do you consider he is more goodlooking than you, thus consider this as compliment? Lol
Not what I meant! 😉
Lol. Your explanation of fair is acceptable by logic and I agree with you. But seeing other complained about this (other bloggers in boardingarea and their comments), I assume most people are filled with jealousy and greed. If I work harder than the next guy, I must earned more than that next guy!! Well, next time stop working harder. Work smarter instead. God gave you brain, use it. Lol…
Lost the Starwood bid. Made it so much harder to qualify for globalist. Now in a shithole they can’t climb out of. Probably losing lots of loyal members. Desperate !!
wow nice use of the bible in explaining ur point!
I am a little confused as to why people regard this as such a generous promo? 20 nights stay in a 4-month window is exactly the same rate at which one would have to accrue nights for the whole year to qualify. Indeed with many people tending to “front load” travel planning and at the very least have their September arrangements worked out already I doubt a huge number of people would go for this offer or be able to meet the requirements.