For years I’ve argued that Hyatt’s limited global footprint has not mattered…that the hotel chain has enough hotels in enough places to suit my travel needs. But Israel has presented a new challenge.
I’m not just blindly loyal to Hyatt. Instead, the chain offers the two things I find most important in a hotel beyond wi-fi: upgrades and breakfast. Especially when I am traveling with my three-year-old son, having a separate bedroom has made a huge difference. Separate rooms is just not practical for a three-year-old…
This week I’m in Israel. Even with its many new partnerships, Hyatt still has no properties in Israel. In a fairly expensive country, this has been a mild frustration.
On the one hand, I’ve enjoyed my accommodations in Jerusalem after a disastrous Airbnb rental to start the trip (I’ll share about this in another post). On the other hand, I’m trying to limit my travel this year and need those 60 nights (perhaps less with credit card spending) somehow. It would have been nice to start chipping away at that number this week.
It’s not like Israel has a ton of Marriott or Hilton options as well, but at least there are some. And frankly part of the fun of vacation for me is nice hotels, both for the blog and because who doesn’t like a nice hotel? I’d rather have a nice hotel than souvenirs or other items to accumulate dust back home.
In Jerusalem, there’s the King David, not affiliated with any chain, and the Waldorf-Astoria, which has received bad reviews and frankly seems outlandishly priced. Tel Aviv has more options, but nothing from Hyatt.
Anyway, my point is that this is the first time I’ve really felt Hyatt has left me no choice but to deviate on vacation. It’s a shame that the chain does not have a single hotel in Israel. And it shows, quite clearly, why so many people are reluctant to be so loyal to Hyatt.
image: Hyatt – the closest Hyatt to Israel is the Grand Hyatt Amman
That problem hits me in Langkawi ML which is a place my family and I have traveled to from Singapore a few times. It’s a bummer but I gotta deal with it
As a frequent traveler to Israel, I hear your frustration. The issue is high base demand. There aren’t enough hotels to help moderate prices and/or hotel owner/operators in many cases don’t feel that they need big brand management bringing them reservations and taking a cut of revenues. The stories of hotels in Israel deflagging (including Hyatt) are numerous. The Inbal, David Citadel, Setai, etc. think they can do better going it alone. The chain properties get away with higher rates and/or poorer standards than you might see in other markets.
Wow, my travel footprint is really different. I’ve traveled countless places around the world where there was no Hyatt. I enjoyed my status match with Hyatt a few years ago, but was relieved when the year was over!
I stayed last fall at the Waldorf and I thought it was lovely. Great breakfasts also. I would recommend it-although you are correct, pricey. The King David, even though it has a long tradition, is tired looking.
What about the American Colony Hotel? Maybe you didn’t consider East Jerusalem….
Hyatt, at least at Globalist level, gives the best benefits…by a significant margin. But you have to pay through the nose for that, often 25% above comparable properties in other chains.
But your right about Israel ( from my very limited experience)…super expensive hotels for what they offer.
You’re right, not your….
I used the have the same problem with SPG. I would do things like stay in Sacramento, CA and drive to a meeting in Carson City, NV. My job involves meetings at military test ranges, most of which are in the middle of nowhere. I would love to switch to Hyatt since they seem to value their elites like SPG did, but achieving a decent level of elite may be difficult for me.
“For years I’ve argued that Hyatt’s limited global footprint has not mattered.”
How could you possibly argue that?
I guess it’s only a problem when it becomes his problem?
Something like that…
Most of my travels are for work and those involve trips to places that are often on the outer fringes of mid to large sized cities. A few are in smaller markets (Montgomery, AL or Quebec). Too many are in places where there’s simply no Hyatt property or where the nearest one is 25 miles from where I need to be. So World of Hyatt is a non-starter for me, as IHG and Marriott thoroughly cover every spot where I need to be.
It is just sad that you have not asked yourself: WHY?!
smh