World of Hyatt is the loyalty program of Hyatt Hotels, launched in 2017 to replace Gold Passport. It encompasses more than 1,000 hotels across 25+ brands worldwide. Members join for free and earn 5 base points per dollar on Hyatt stays (2.5 at Hyatt Studios) and enjoy exclusive member rates and benefits.
The diverse Hyatt portfolio ranges from luxury Park Hyatt and Alila resorts to family-friendly Hyatt Place and Hyatt House, all participating in one program. Points can be redeemed for free nights (with no blackout dates on standard rooms) and other rewards like room upgrades or spa services.
Importantly, all brands honor your earned elite benefits on stays. Overall, World of Hyatt provides a simple, unified system to earn and use hotel rewards across the entire Hyatt network.
Experienced points-and-miles travelers often choose Hyatt over larger hotel chains for several compelling reasons.
Hyatt outshines other hotel programs with better value, simple award charts, and insider perks.
Unlike some competitors, Hyatt’s approach to redemptions and elite rewards is transparent and generous. Despite a smaller global footprint than rivals like Marriott or Hilton, Hyatt delivers outsized value that wins over loyalty enthusiasts.
In the sections below, we break down the specific features that make World of Hyatt a standout favorite among frequent travelers and points hobbyists.
Simple and Predictable Award Chart
One major advantage of Hyatt is its transparent award chart. Hyatt still uses fixed point categories for its hotels, with published award rates for off-peak, standard, and peak dates. This predictability lets members plan ahead with confidence. By contrast, many chains (e.g. Marriott, Hilton, IHG) have shifted to dynamic pricing where point costs can fluctuate wildly based on demand.
Hyatt’s system means the points required for a free night won’t suddenly double overnight due to algorithm changes. Hyatt also gives advance notice of any award chart updates, allowing members to lock in stays before devaluations.
Outstanding Point Value
Hyatt points are consistently among the most valuable in the hotel industry. Redeeming World of Hyatt points often yields exceptional value per point, especially compared to other programs. It’s common to get around 1.5 to 2+ cents per Hyatt point in real savings, whereas Hilton and Marriott points typically fetch under 0.8 cent each. This means Hyatt nights generally require fewer points for the same dollar value of stay.
For example, ultra-luxury Hyatt properties (like Park Hyatt or Alila resorts) might cost 30–40k points per night, where a comparable Marriott could demand 100k+ points. Your Hyatt points simply stretch further. Even at lower-tier hotels, Hyatt’s fixed categories let you capture great value during peak travel times when cash rates soar, while other chains jack up award prices dynamically.
In real-world terms, you might spend half the points with Hyatt for a similar hotel room that would cost double in another program. This outstanding point value is a key reason World of Hyatt is viewed as a “best hotel loyalty program” for savvy travelers looking to maximize reward nights.
Easy Points Earning and Flexible Transfers
World of Hyatt makes it easy to rack up points through multiple pathways. Of course, you earn 5X points per dollar on Hyatt stays (even more with elite bonuses), but Hyatt also partners with major programs that let you top up your account instantly. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer 1:1 to Hyatt, widely considered one of the best uses of Chase points. Similarly, Bilt Rewards (from the Bilt Mastercard) transfers to Hyatt at 1:1, allowing renters to turn rent payments into hotel nights.
These transfers are usually instant, giving you flexibility to move points whenever you find a great Hyatt redemption. Hyatt even allows members to combine points with someone else (e.g. a spouse) for free, up to 500,000 points per year, which is perfect for family travel pools. On top of that, Hyatt’s own co-branded credit cards offer strong earning rates (up to 4X on Hyatt spend) and bonuses on everyday categories.
Top-Tier Elite Benefits
Hyatt’s elite status program (especially Globalist, its top tier) is widely regarded as the most rewarding in the hotel world. Globalist members enjoy valuable perks that significantly enhance each stay. These include free breakfast for up to two adults and two children, guaranteed 4PM late checkout, room upgrades to the best available (including standard suites when available), and waived resort fees on award stays.
Perhaps the most unique benefit is Guest of Honor: a Globalist can book a points stay for someone else, and that guest receives all the Globalist perks (upgrades, free breakfast, etc.) during the stay. This is an incredible way to share your status with family or friends. Additionally, Hyatt offers milestone rewards like suite upgrade certificates and lounge access passes as you progress toward Globalist, ensuring even mid-tier elites get useful benefits.
Notably, Hyatt is generous with suite upgrades – Globalists often get to enjoy suites, not just better view rooms. Marriott and Hilton’s top tiers, by comparison, can be less consistent (suite upgrades are not guaranteed and breakfast perks have more exclusions). Hyatt also waives parking fees on award stays for Globalists, adding further savings.
Fewer Hidden Fees
Another area where World of Hyatt shines is in minimizing pesky fees for loyalty members. Hyatt waives all resort fees on award stays for all members, no matter your status. This can save you $30–$50 per night at resorts that would otherwise add a “destination” fee even on a free night booking. Additionally, if you’re a Globalist, Hyatt will also waive parking fees on award nights – a perk that families with cars or road-trippers greatly appreciate.
These policies mean an award night is truly free (plus taxes), whereas other programs often still hit you with fees. For example, Marriott Bonvoy continues to charge resort fees on free nights (even for top-tier elites), and Hilton only recently began waiving resort fees on award stays (but still charges for parking).
The difference is noticeable: with Hyatt, you can redeem points without worrying about surprise charges at checkout, adding transparency and value. Hyatt also has no fees for using your points (no booking fees or agent fees), and it offers fee-free award cancellations up to the hotel’s standard cancellation deadline.
The Secret Hyatt Family Plan Rate
Traveling with a family often means needing more than one hotel room. This is where Hyatt offers an insider secret that many travelers aren’t aware of: the Hyatt Family Plan Rate. It’s not advertised on Hyatt’s website or booking engine, but it can lead to huge savings for families who know to ask.
What Is the Family Plan Rate?
Hyatt’s Family Plan Rate is a special offer that allows families to book a second room for children at a steep discount (often up to 50% off) the standard rate. In essence, if you need an extra room for your kids (18 or younger), many Hyatt hotels will give you that additional room at half-price. This helps larger families stay together comfortably without paying full price for two rooms. The program is intended for parents traveling with kids and typically applies to a second room that will be occupied by the children.
It’s perfect for situations where a single room can’t accommodate everyone, or you just want extra space. While the exact discount can vary by property (some may offer 50% off, others slightly less), the Family Plan Rate can significantly cut costs for family travel.
How It Works
The process to use the Family Plan Rate is straightforward, but it requires booking by phone or chat – you won’t find this rate listed online. Here are the basic steps to follow:
- Book the first room: Make a reservation for one room (at either a standard paid rate or using points) for the adults in your party.
- Contact Hyatt to add a second room: Call Hyatt reservations (or use the Hyatt online chat, or call the hotel directly) and request the “Family Plan Rate” for an additional room for your children under 18.
- Receive up to 50% off the second room: If available for your dates, the second room will be added at a discounted cash rate – usually 50% off the daily rate for that hotel. (Note: the discount applies to the cash rate; you cannot pay half the points for a points booking.)
- Enjoy adjacent rooms: In most cases the hotel will try to give you connecting or side-by-side rooms, so the family can be together comfortably.
This all needs to be arranged with a Hyatt agent; you cannot book the family rate online. Availability can be limited – not every hotel or every date will have a Family Plan room open – but it often exists at many Hyatt properties worldwide, especially outside the U.S.
Important Details
- Must book by phone: You have to call Hyatt (or use their live chat) to secure the Family Plan Rate; it won’t show up on the website booking engine. Have your existing reservation number handy when calling.
- Not offered at all hotels: This is an optional program for Hyatt properties, so some hotels (especially many in the U.S.) may not participate. Always ask, but be prepared that availability varies.
- Educate the agent if needed: Because it’s not widely advertised, some reservation agents might not be familiar with the “Family Plan” term. Politely explain that it’s a Hyatt offer for a second room for children at a discounted rate – agents can look up the policy if unsure.
- Only for children’s room: The second room must house kids 18 or under (some hotels may limit to under 12). In practice, families sometimes split adults between rooms, but officially it’s meant for the kids.
- Earning points on second room: The primary room will earn points and elite night credits as usual. The second room (at the discounted rate) will not earn World of Hyatt points or elite credits on the room rate, though incidentals charged to it might.
Overall, the Family Plan Rate is a fantastic money-saver for families. For example, instead of paying $200 + $200 for two rooms, you might pay $200 + $100 per night with this discount. It’s one of those “secret” perks that can make a huge difference for family travel budgets, underscoring Hyatt’s reputation for thoughtful loyalty benefits.
World of Hyatt Credit Cards
World of Hyatt offers two co-branded credit cards through Chase – one personal and one business – and they are powerful tools for any Hyatt enthusiast. These cards not only help you earn points faster but also come with perks that accelerate your progress toward free nights and elite status.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Personal)
This consumer card is highly regarded for its generous benefits relative to its $95 annual fee. Cardholders get an annual free night certificate (good at Category 1–4 Hyatt hotels) every year, which by itself can be worth more than the fee if used at a nice property. You can even earn a second free night certificate each year by spending $15,000 on the card. The card also grants 5 elite night credits every year just for holding it, giving you a head-start toward statuses like Globalist.
For every $5,000 you spend on the card, you earn 2 additional elite night credits, meaning heavy spenders can substantially boost their elite night count. Other perks include automatic Discoverist status (entry-level elite) for the cardholder, which gives benefits like late checkout and small point bonuses, and no foreign transaction fees. The earning rates are solid: 4X points per $1 at Hyatt hotels, 2X on restaurants, airline tickets, local transit and gyms, and 1X on other purchases.
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
Aimed at small business owners, this card has a higher annual fee ($199) but comes with unique advantages, especially for those pursuing elite status or managing team travel. You get Discoverist status for yourself and up to 5 employees (you can gift entry-level status to others) as long as you’re a cardmember. While Discoverist is modest, it’s a nice perk for employee cards (which come at no extra cost).
The card doesn’t provide free night certificates; instead, it focuses on spend-based rewards and credits. Notably, for every $10,000 spent in a calendar year, you earn 5 elite qualifying nights. This accelerates status earn for big spenders (spend $40k in a year for 20 nights, etc.). If you put $50,000 through the card in a year, you’ll receive a 10% rebate on points redemptions for the rest of that year (up to 20k points back on 200k points redeemed).
This effectively rewards high spenders with extra free points when they use their points. Additionally, the business card offers up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits each year ($50 credit twice per year when you spend $50+ at Hyatt), helping offset the fee. Its earning structure gives 4X at Hyatt, 2X on gyms, and 2X on your top three spending categories each quarter (among several categories like dining, gas, airfare, etc.).
Useful Hyatt Program Features
Points Calendar Tool
One handy feature Hyatt provides is the Points Calendar on its website. This tool lets you view a calendar of award availability and point requirements for a given hotel. For example, if you have a particular resort in mind, you can pull up its Points Calendar to see which dates have standard rooms available for points and whether those dates are off-peak, standard, or peak pricing. It’s an invaluable planning aid when your travel dates are flexible – you might discover that moving your stay by a day or two could drop a night from 15,000 points to 12,000 points (off-peak rate).
To use it, search for a hotel on Hyatt’s website and click on the “Points Calendar” link on the hotel page (it appears below the hotel’s contact info). The calendar will display each day’s award cost and availability. By scanning the calendar, you can quickly spot the cheapest dates in points. This level of transparency and ease of search is something most other hotel programs don’t offer. The Points Calendar tool makes finding and booking Hyatt award nights far easier, ensuring you get the best value for your points.
Flexible Cancellation Policy
World of Hyatt awards also come with flexibility that travelers appreciate. In general, most Hyatt award bookings are fully refundable as long as you cancel within the hotel’s standard cancellation window (often 24 or 48 hours before check-in, depending on the rate/hotel). Hyatt does not charge any penalty or fee to cancel an award booking and redeposit the points, which encourages members to lock in attractive award stays early.
If your plans change, you simply cancel by the deadline and your points are returned to your account, usually immediately. This policy means you can secure a great redemption (say, a hard-to-get hotel during peak season) whenever you see it, with the peace of mind that you’re not financially committed if your plans aren’t final. Always double-check the cancellation policy when booking (some promotional rates or special event times may have longer notice requirements), but in most cases Hyatt is very accommodating.
Earning Hyatt Points Through Point Transfers
One of the reasons Hyatt points are so attainable is the ability to transfer in points from two valuable partner programs. Both Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards transfer to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. This means points earned from credit cards or other activities in those programs can be converted into Hyatt points on demand. Below is a summary of these transfer partners, their ratios, and how quickly transfers typically process:
| Partner Program | Transfer Ratio to Hyatt | Typical Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1:1 (1,000 Chase = 1,000 Hyatt) | Instant or within minutes |
| Bilt Rewards | 1:1 (1,000 Bilt = 1,000 Hyatt) | Instant or within minutes |
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are earned via popular cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ink Business Preferred. Hyatt is one of the best redemption options for Chase points given the consistently high value of Hyatt awards. Transfers from Chase to Hyatt usually happen almost instantly, allowing you to move points at the time of booking a hotel award. Bilt Rewards is a newer program that lets you earn points on rent payments (via the Bilt Mastercard). Bilt also partners 1:1 with Hyatt, and transfers are typically immediate as well.
This means even if you’re not a road-warrior staying at hotels constantly, you can still build a huge Hyatt point balance by leveraging credit card rewards or rent points. The seamless and fast transfers give World of Hyatt an edge – you only need to transfer when you’re ready to book, and you’ll see the points in your Hyatt account right away, ready to reserve that next free night.
Bottom Line
World of Hyatt stands out as arguably the best hotel loyalty program because it delivers what travelers value most: real reward value, fairness, and excellent perks. Hyatt points hold high value, and with a transparent award chart, members can actually use their points for dream trips without prohibitive costs. The program’s combination of stable pricing, generous elite benefits, and even hidden gems like the Family Plan Rate sets it apart from competitors.
While no program is perfect for everyone (Hyatt’s smaller footprint is a consideration if you travel to offbeat locations), Hyatt more than compensates with quality over quantity – their hotels are often in destinations travelers want to visit, and you’ll get more luxury for fewer points compared to other chains.
In the end, World of Hyatt offers more bang for your buck (or point) and a more hassle-free experience for its loyal members. Whether you’re a frequent business traveler chasing elite status or a family saving up for an annual vacation, Hyatt’s loyalty program provides outstanding value and truly rewarding travel experiences, making it our top pick in the hotel loyalty landscape.
