The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
5 reasons why Hyatt needs a cobranded business card
Stella is a full-time writer with expertise in credit cards, points and miles, and all things travel. She is a journalism graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and previously worked as a copywriter at JetBlue Airways and as a credit cards writer at LendingTree.
September 21, 2021 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
Hyatt is unique among major hotel chains in not offering a business credit card, despite strong loyalty from travelers and business owners.
The World of Hyatt loyalty program is praised for straightforward redemptions, reasonable award rates and valuable partnerships, such as with Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
A business card could help members earn elite status faster and provide business-focused benefits, appealing to frequent travelers and those seeking to separate business expenses.
Currently, Hyatt has only one major transfer partner, limiting ways to earn points compared to other hotel programs.
What to consider
Hyatt's personal card offers some elite status benefits but does not provide top-tier status or business-specific perks.
Award rates for Hyatt properties remain competitive, even with upcoming peak and off-peak pricing changes.
Business travelers may find it challenging to reach higher elite status levels without a dedicated business card option.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed analysis of how a Hyatt business card could enhance elite status opportunities and reward structures for frequent business travelers.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Nearly every major hotel chain offers a business credit card except Hyatt. As a Hyatt enthusiast and elite-status holder myself, it's time for that to change.
Hyatt launched its first-ever cobranded credit card with Chase in 2010 through its previous loyalty program known as Hyatt Gold Passport. More than a decade later (and a refresh to what we now know as the World of Hyatt program), the World of Hyatt Credit Card is still its only option on the market that's currently available to new applicants.
While it's a very good card, Hyatt should really offer a cobranded business card to complement its personal card — here's why.
People love Hyatt — so give them more Hyatt to love
The pool at the Park Hyatt New York. (Photo courtesy of Hyatt)
Straightforward redemptions are also a major selling point of the program. You can redeem your hard-earned points for five-star properties in much smaller denominations than the cost that Hilton or Marriott would charge you for comparable properties. While Hyatt will add off-peak and peak pricing in October 2021, award rates will still be more reasonable than other hotel loyalty programs.
For these reasons, my Hyatt loyalty continues to grow. While Hyatt properties aren't as ubiquitous as other brands internationally, Hyatt's initiatives, such as partnering with Small Luxury Hotels of the World to allow World of Hyatt members to earn and redeem points at certain SLH properties, and the acquisition Apple Leisure Group, bring some of the most elegant (and unique) hotel options worldwide. I've stayed in a few on my international travels and have loved the amenities, from free upgrades (on availability) to daily breakfast for two.
As the brand expands its footprint, a cobranded business credit card could be a way to bring even more travelers to the World of Hyatt program. The personal World of Hyatt card does a decent job of rewarding various everyday purchases. However, a Hyatt business card could allow some folks to double up on earning with new, business-centered bonus categories such as shipping and telecommunications. There's even potential to offer benefits specific for business cardholders, tapping into a market that's looking for an all-new sign-up bonus and benefits that will keep them returning to Hyatt.
That's why a program like World of Hyatt — while smaller — is still a robust loyalty program for this new age of travel, as the vast majority of Hyatt properties are located in the United States. Besides, for the foreseeable future, most business travel will take part closer to home with shorter distances to cover, meaning more executives will be looking for a chain with plenty of properties to choose from right here in the U.S.
Still, Hyatt comprises an impressive number of brands, from the Park Hyatt to the Andaz to family-friendly properties such as Hyatt House. While not a Marriott or a Hilton in terms of size, Hyatt properties span more than 1,000 properties worldwide in 68 different countries, including business-friendly labels like Hyatt Place and Hyatt Centric, which are often in the lower categories, requiring fewer points per award night. All the more reason to launch a cobranded business card that road warriors could use to up their earning and enjoy elite benefits while traveling for work.
Business travel will eventually return
Photo by Westend61/Getty Images
TPG's senior aviation reporter, David Slotnick, reported on the return of business travel this summer as domestic leisure travel numbers soared through the roof. While business travel hasn't caught on as fast, thanks to widespread vaccinations, in-person events and meetings have started to return and will be sure to come back in some form or another eventually.
When it does, some business travelers are sure to be looking for new credit cards they can leverage to make their work trips more rewarding. There are many compelling reasons why business owners should open a separate business card from all their personal cards. For one, you can keep all of your expenses separate and establish a business line of credit history since it won't affect your personal report.
Despite threats of COVID-19 variants, we can expect some level of business travel to continue to exist. For those who scout out Hyatt properties on their business trips, a separate business card from the consumer card would be a beneficial option to have.
Another way to reach elite status
Hyatt Globalist breakfast at the Park Hyatt Vienna (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
A business Hyatt card could instantly give people an incentive to spend more in order to earn more annual elite night credits, as pursuing elite status is an important value proposition for business travelers.
The current World of Hyatt credit card comes with a $95 annual fee and offers automatic Discoverist status — the lowest elite status level in the World of Hyatt program. At this level, you'll enjoy bonus points on Hyatt purchases, 2 p.m. late checkout based on availability and more. Cardmembers will also enjoy five qualifying night credits towards your next tier status every year and the opportunity to earn two additional nights through every $5,000 spent on the card in a calendar year. While this is a nice boost to elite status, it can be challenging to achieve the higher ranks of Hyatt elite status unless you stay at Hyatt hotels on a regular basis.
Other hotel cobranded business cards offer automatic top-tier status, though at the exchange of a high annual fee. Similarly, it would be a hit if Hyatt created a cobranded business card option with a higher annual fee that offered either automatic Explorist or Globalist statuses — the levels where you'll find room and suite upgrades, bonus points and more -- or let you earn them through spending. Or, perhaps cardholders could hit Explorist status faster by owning and spending on both the business and personal version Hyatt cards each year.
Chase is the only major transfer partner to Hyatt
You can transfer Chase points to Hyatt to stay at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Chris Dong / The Points Guy)
Hyatt is a smaller (but still major) hotel chain, so it's not surprising that there are fewer options to earn Hyatt points than with some of the other hotel loyalty programs out there.
Chase is currently the only major transfer partner of Hyatt. While this gives Chase Ultimate Rewards an edge for Hyatt enthusiasts over American Express Membership Rewards and Citi ThankYou, adding a cobranded Hyatt business card option would create another attractive avenue for travelers to ramp up their earning with Hyatt, as well as offering the opportunity to redeem more World of Hyatt points.
Beyond stays at Hyatt hotels and resorts, you can earn a stash of World of Hyatt points through spend on the World of Hyatt Credit card or transferring Ultimate Rewards points from your Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Chase also has strong business card options, including the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card or the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card. With only one major transfer partner, Hyatt needs to create an in-house business card to actively compete with Chase's Ultimate Rewards-earning cards.
Bottom line
While TPG doesn't have any information on if Hyatt will ever come out with a cobranded business card, we think it would surely be a crowd-pleaser. For business owners and business travelers loyal to the World of Hyatt brand, a consumer option alone may not cut it any more. That said, if you're a business owner, it's a great time to apply for the personal version while elite status qualifications are halved for the remainder of 2021.
Official application link: World of Hyatt Credit Card with a sign-up bonus of up to 60,000 bonus points: 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point, on up to $15,000 spent.
Editors note: A previous version of this post said Hyatt had acquired Small Luxury Properties of the World. The article has been updated to note that Hyatt partnered with Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The article also said that Hyatt was alone among the major hotel chains without a business cobranded card, but this information has since been amended.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
