World of Hyatt for Canadians

Hyatt has re-branded itself to World of Hyatt. What does this mean for Canada specifically? Not much different than the rest of its world members. I thought I’d give a quick rundown of the new program and how it affects Canadians.

Expiry Policy

Hyatt is going to be making a slight change to its expiry policy. First of all, your account needs to be active once every 24 months to prevent your points from expiry. If your points expiry prior to July 1, 2017, your membership could be terminated as well.

Starting on July 1, 2017, if your account was inactive for the same 24 months, you will still lose your points, but your account will remain open.

Aside from staying at a hotel or redeeming for a reward night, the two easier ways to keep your account active (as a Canadian, without needing to burn your points before you want to) is to bank any Avis car rentals towards World of Hyatt (earn 500 points for each qualifying car rental) or purchase points (watch for promotional offers).

Membership Statuses

Below is a quick summary of some of the key highlights of each status to watch for:

Membership

• Qualification: free sign up
• Earn 5 points for every $1 USD spent at Hyatt locations worldwide (including stays, dining, spa services)
• Receive up to 10% off (hotel paid stay) at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts
• Receive complimentary Internet
• Receive waived resort fees on free night awards 
• Receive Sapphire status with M Life rewards

Discoverist

• Qualification: after 10 qualifying nights or earning 25,000 Base Points or holding 3 qualifying meetings/events per calendar year
• Earn 10% point bonus on all eligible purchases (or 5.5 points per $1)
• Receive a preferred room upgrade at check-in (based on availability)
• Receive Premium Internet
• Receive a bottle of water daily
• Receive late check out upon request (until 2:00pm and subject to availability at some locations)
• Receive Pearl status with M Life rewards

Explorist

• Qualification: 30 qualifying nights or earning 50,000 Base Points or holding 10 qualifying meetings/events per calendar year
• Earn a 20% point bonus (or 6 points per $1)
• Receive 4 Club lounge access awards annually (includes continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres)
• Receive a room upgrade at check-in (based on availability, as well as excluding suites and rooms with Club lounge access)
• Guaranteed room availability at participating Hyatt hotels (up to 72 hours in advance, blackout dates apply)
• Receive Gold status with M Life rewards

Globalist

• Qualification: 60 qualifying nights or earning 100,000 Base Points or holding 20 qualifying meetings/events per calendar year
• Earn a 30% point bonus (or 6.5 points per $1)
• Receive a room upgrade at check-in (based on availability, up to standard suites)
• Receive priority access to available rooms when checking in early
• Receive late check out upon request (until 4:00 p.m. and subject to availability at some locations)
• Receive complimentary parking on free night awards (available where parking can be charged to your room)
• Receive Club lounge access (includes daily continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres)
• Receive daily complimentary full breakfast for each registered guest (up to 2 adults and 2 children) at Hyatt hotels and resorts without a Club lounge
• Receive waived resort fees on free night awards and eligible rates
• Receive 2 complimentary United Club one-time passes annually
• Guaranteed room availability at participating Hyatt hotels (up to 48 hours in advance, blackout dates apply)

Lifetime Globalist

• Qualification: earn 1,000,000 base points over the course of the membership
• Access to My Hyatt Concierge agent for reservations and personalized service

Oddly enough, the main difference with Lifetime Globalist is the Concierge service (which you can receive another way, explained in the next section). I suspect that they will eventually expand this status.

More Ways to be Rewards

Hyatt also created this new bonus reward chart that applies to all statuses:

Stay at 5 different Hyatt brands on paid stays	Receive a free night award (category 1-4, valid for 1 year)
Stay 30 qualifying nights or earn 50,000 base points in a calendar year	Receive a free night award (category 1-4, valid for 120 days)
Stay 60 qualifying nights or earn 100,000 base points in a calendar year	Receive a free night award (category 1-7, valid for 120 days) Receive 4 suite upgrade awards (valid for 1 year) Access to a Concierge agent for reservations and personalized service
Stay 70, 80, 90 and 100 qualifying nights in a calendar year	Choose to receive 10,000 bonus points or a suite upgrade award

Redeeming your Points

 

Free reward night or cash and points redemption has remained the same as the Hyatt Gold Passport days. They are as follows:

For a standard room:

• Category 1: 5,000 points or 2,500 points + $50 USD
• Category 2: 8,000 points or 4,000 points + $55 USD
• Category 3: 12,000 points or 6,000 points + $75 USD
• Category 4: 15,000 points or 7,500 points + $100 USD
• Category 5: 20,000 points or 10,000 points + $125 USD
• Category 6: 25,000 points or 12,500 points + $150 USD
• Category 7: 30,000 points or 15,000 points + $300 USD

For Regency Club or Grand Club upgrade award:

• Category 1: 7,000 points
• Category 2: 12,000 points
• Category 3: 17,000 points
• Category 4: 21,000 points
• Category 5: 27,000 points
• Category 6: 33,000 points
• Category 7: 39,000 points

For Suites:

• Category 1: 8,000 points
• Category 2: 13,000 points
• Category 3: 20,000 points
• Category 4: 24,000 points
• Category 5: 32,000 points
• Category 6: 40,000 points
• Category 7: 48,000 points

For room upgrades on paid nights

• Regency Club / Grand Club upgrade: 3,000 points
• Suite upgrade: 6.000 points

List of Hotels in Canada

In Canada, there are currently 8 Hyatt branded hotels:

• Hyatt Regency Calgary (category 3)
• Hyatt Regency Montreal (category 2)
• Hyatt Regency Toronto (category 3)
• Hyatt Regency Vancouver (category 3)
• Park Hyatt Toronto (category 4)
• Andaz Ottawa Byward Market  (category 3)
• Hyatt Place Edmonton/Downtown (category 2)
• Hyatt Place Edmonton/West  (category 2)

It used to be slim pickings in Canada, but they list has really grown over the years. The top 5 major cities in Canada are covered now.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, there are currently no Canadian co-branded credit cards associated with Hyatt. I do not see this changing any time soon. However, will all these new hotel expansions in Canada, I do hope that World of Hyatt is going to have some further integration with the country. If no co-branded credit card, maybe a transfer partner with one of the transferable points loyalty programs?