As a reward for their most loyal customers, and a reflection of just how slow travel is right now, Hyatt has made some gracious changes as their loyalty program as World of Hyatt extends benefits once again for members.
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More time to use points:
Hyatt is suspending the forfeiture of points through June 30, 2021. As a reminder, their general policy is that points do not expire, but they will be forfeited if a member’s account is inactive for 24 months.
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More time to use earned awards:
Awards with 2020 Expiration: All unused Free Night, Suite Upgrade or Club Lounge Access awards with expiration dates between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 will be extended to December 31, 2021.
Awards with 2021 Expiration: All unused Suite Upgrade and Club Lounge Access awards with February 28, 2021 expiration dates will be extended to December 31, 2021. In addition, all unused Free Night awards that were earned in 2020 with 2021 expiration dates will be extended to December 31, 2021.
All award extensions will be generated by World of Hyatt – members do not need to take action. Visit the World of Hyatt COVID-19 FAQs for details.
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More time for elite members to enjoy their status and benefits:
Status and benefits have been extended for elite members without having to re-qualify. This means that whatever your status was as of March 31, 2020 – whether Discoverist, Explorist or Globalist – it was updated and now reflects a February 28, 2022 expiration date. Visit the World of Hyatt COVID-19 FAQs for details.
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Postponing award chart changes:
Introduction of Off-peak / Peak Point Redemption: Hyatt is further postponing the introduction of Off-peak and Peak point redemption (originally planned for March 2020) until July 2021. This means that free-night reservations will continue to be at standard rates until July 2021.
Annual Hotel Award Chart Changes: In addition, with a few exceptions noted below, Hyatt will also be suspending their 2021 hotel category award chart changes which typically occur each March. This means that each hotel will remain in its current category and be redeemable for the same number of points in 2021 as it was in 2020 (except as noted below). As always, they’ll refund members the point difference for any existing reservations at hotels requiring fewer points as of October 29, 2020. Current exceptions include:
Hotels Moving Down & Requiring Fewer Points (effective October 29, 2020)
● Stonebridge Inn, A Destination Hotel from category 5 to 4
● Wailea Grand Champions Villas, A Destination Residence from category 6 to 5
● Wailea Ekolu Village, A Destination Residence from category 6 to 5
● Wailea Ekahi Village, A Destination Residence from category 6 to 5
● Lichenhearth, A Destination Residence from category 6 to 5
● Parker New York from category 6 to 5
● Grand Hyatt Vail from category 7 to 6
● Mauna Lani Point, A Destination Residence from category 7 to 6
● Wailea Elua Village, A Destination Residence from category 8 to 7
● Kaanapali Alii, A Destination Residence from category 8 to 7
● Vail Residences at Cascade Village, A Destination Residence from category 8 to 7
● The Lodge at Spruce Peak, A Destination Hotel from category 8 to 7Hotels Moving Up & Requiring More Points (effective mid March 2021)
● Hyatt Regency John Wayne Airport from category 2 to 3
● Hyatt House Nashville/Downtown-SoBro from category 4 to 5
● Mar Monte Hotel part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt from category 4 to 5
● Park Hyatt Aviara from category 5 to 6
We see this as a big benefit and hope/expect other chains, which haven’t already, to follow suit.
