Updates to the Hyatt Gold Passport Program

Hyatt Gold Passport sent an email stating that they have “enhanced Elite benefits”. There will be increases plus decreases in award prices at about 40 hotels.

You now earn five points for every eligible U.S. dollar spent and can redeem points for free nights with no blackout dates. The latest changes to Hyatt's Gold Passport program, include more elite benefits. They even hint at more upgrades. I will keep you posted if this pans out. I know that Hyatt’s like to offer you an upgrade for a fee at the time of booking and some prefer to have this sure upgrade versus waiting for good luck at check in.

Hyatt will no longer accommodate 2:00 p.m. late check out as part of Gold membership (Gold is the lowest tier) so I suppose Gold members have to leave at about noon, like youth hostels require.

Gold Passport Diamond elites will receive the following additional benefits:

• Late check-out has been extended to 4 pm to offer the same elite check out time that Starwood does. Diamond members may check out as late as 4 p.m. The previous time of 2 p.m. was not really a late check out. (We understand that if they are overbooked they will not be able to accommodate but it does buy them goodwill at times of normal occupancy).
• Nightly room turn down with towel refresh for Diamond members' rooms but this is standard in the category 4 to 6 hotels (You need 22,000 points for a free night at their highest category 6 hotel)
• A new welcome amenity offered to Diamond members is a free beverage at Hyatt Place and a $5.00 credit at the Guest Market at Summerfield Suites, or continue to receive 500 bonus points at either brand. Gold Passport Platinum elite level is attained after five stays or 15 nights a year; and Diamond Elite is earned after 25 stays or 50 nights.

Diamond Elite status gets you the best room available upon arrival, but it is excluding suites whereas Marriott and Starwood do offer suite upgrades to their highest elites. I really do not have any interest in a room upgrade that is a few inches larger. It’s just not worth saying thank you for! …Just saying ….. It’s not that I was not I was not well brought up to be polite;- it’s that I appreciate tangible benefits and I unless I am buying the condo, I don’t want to waste my time listening to the receptionist gushing about how lucky I am to have a few extra inches.

Though Diamond does get you a free suite upgrade at the time of reservation four times annually on paid room nights. This is best used if you have a long stay. It has a maximum of 7 nights; but excludes Hyatt Regency Kyoto, Paris, Sydney, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Hyatt Place, Hyatt Summerfield Suites and Hyatt Residence Club Resorts

Hyatt is offering a new Credit card. If you’re approved you get two award nights at any Hyatt, anywhere in the world, after making your first purchase with the card

The best Diamond Elite benefit is access to the Regency Club or Grand Club lounge featuring complimentary continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres or daily complimentary full breakfast in hotels without a club lounge

The grapevine has it that Award Price Changes will take place starting in September, award nights at about 20 Hyatt hotels will require fewer points and some hotels will require more points.

So book your free rooms now in case your hotel will be one of the re-categorized Hotels. For Example a Category 1 hotel to a Category 2 hotel, will be an increase in award-night charge from 5,000 points to 8,000 points. Like the Hyatt Place Greensboro changing from a Category 3 hotel to a Category 2, resulting in an award-night price decrease from 12,000 to 8,000 points. In the case of a decrease, you could cancel and rebook.