Booking direct: How much value does The World of Hyatt status provide?
If you want elite earning and benefits, you'll need to book directly with most hotel loyalty programs. So, if you're comparing prices and deciding how to book your stay, consider that you may not get elite benefits and earnings when you book through an online travel agency, credit card travel portal or another third party.
Elite earnings and benefits can provide significant value, especially if you hold hotel elite status. I've recently considered the value of booking directly with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and IHG Rewards Club. But today, I'll consider the value of elite status when booking directly with The World of Hyatt.
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The World of Hyatt status levels
The World of Hyatt has four elite status tiers. Here's a quick overview of each level.
| Requirements for status per calendar year | Earning rate on stays based on status | Standout benefits that start at this status level | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | None | 5x (8.5% return based on TPG's valuations) | Resort fees waived on free night awards
Status match to M life Sapphire
|
| Discoverist | 10 nights or 25,000 base points or 3 meetings hosted
5 nights or 12,500 base points in 2021 | 5.5x (9.35% return) | Upgrade to preferred room within room type booked based on availability at check-in
Premium internet, elite check-in and bottled water Late check-out until 2 p.m, as available Status match to M life Pearl |
| Explorist | 30 nights or 50,000 base points or 10 meetings hosted
15 nights or 25,000 base points in 2021 | 6x (10.2% return) | Upgraded room, excluding suites and rooms with club lounge access, based on availability at check-in
Status match to M life Gold |
| Globalist | 60 nights or 100,000 base points or 20 meetings hosted
30 nights or 50,000 base points in 2021 | 6.5x (11.05% return) | Upgraded room including standard suites based on availability at check-in
Club access or breakfast Resort fees waived on eligible rates Late check-out until 4 p.m, as available Priority access to rooms when checking in early Guest of Honor benefits when gifting an eligible award |
Related: What is The World of Hyatt elite status worth?
How to get The World of Hyatt status
As shown in the table above, you can earn status organically through meeting the required number of nights, base points or meetings hosted each calendar year. And, as you may have noticed in the above table, The World of Hyatt decreased the requirements to earn elite status in 2021.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card provides automatic Discoverist elite status for as long as your card is open. But, even if you're going for a higher level of elite status, the World of Hyatt Credit Card can still help. After all, you'll get five qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every year as a cardholder. And cardholders can spend to reach higher status levels, including top-tier Globalist. In particular, you'll earn two additional qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card.
The World of Hyatt is also currently offering several lucrative promotions that make earning elite status easier. So, even though I've never considered going for The World of Hyatt status in the past, I plan to earn Globalist this year. Specifically, I'll use a combination of nights spent at Hyatt brands and spending on my new The World of Hyatt card to reach Globalist status.
Related: Use the World of Hyatt credit card to earn Globalist elite status
What value does World of Hyatt status provide?
Like most hotel chains, The World of Hyatt may not provide elite benefits or earnings on bookings that aren't made directly with Hyatt or through other approved channels. The World of Hyatt bookings through Amex's Fine Hotels & Resorts program often receive access to elite benefits and earnings. But you may not get elite benefits or earnings based on your elite status tier when you book through other online travel agents and credit card portals. So, it may be worth booking directly to ensure access to your elite benefits and earnings.
What is The World of Hyatt status worth?
As with most hotel elite status tiers, The World of Hyatt status provides benefits in two primary areas: earnings and on-site perks. It isn't easy to estimate how much value you'll get from on-site perks. But TPG Senior Editor Nick Ewen estimated the following values based on earning status organically while spending an average of $150 per night on eligible charges:
- Discoverist: $14 per night
- Explorist: $28 per night
- Globalist: $72 per night
At first glance, you may not agree with Nick's valuations. But let's consider the valuation of Globalist status at about $72 per night. Space-available upgrades up to standard suites, complimentary breakfast or club lounge access, waived resort fees, late check-out until 4 p.m., Guest of Honor benefits when gifting award nights and more can undoubtedly provide $72 per night in value to some guests. I can't personally speak to World of Hyatt elite status yet, but multiple other TPG staffers believe the benefits they receive as Globalists are worth more than $72 per night.
Related: 6 ways to redeem points with The World of Hyatt program
Calculating your value for The World of Hyatt elite status
You may value your particular status level differently and even appreciate the perks of your status differently for different trips. For example, complimentary breakfast may be beneficial in an expensive location like the Maldives. But this benefit won't provide any value if the property offers breakfast to all guests or you prefer to eat breakfast away from the hotel each morning. Likewise, there's no point in considering the value of club lounge access if the property you're going to stay at doesn't have a lounge.
You can check out Nick's guide to What is The World of Hyatt elite status worth to see his methodology. You can then use his methodology to calculate your value per night for a particular stay based on your elite status level. Note that the value of elite status to you may be even greater than Nick's valuations show, since his valuations only consider the point bonus provided on top of what is provided for base-level members.
Related: Your guide to The World of Hyatt award chart
Value of points earned on stays
When you stay on a points-eligible rate, you earn points based on the cost of your stay and your elite level. So, let's consider the points each level of elite status would earn on bookings with World of Hyatt and the value of these points based on TPG's valuation of The World of Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each.
| Status level | Points earning rate (return based on TPG'S VALUATIONS) | Points on $100 of qualifying charges | Points on $150 of qualifying charges | Points on $200 of qualifying charges | Points on $500 of qualifying charges | Points on $1,000 of qualifying charges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | 5x (8.5%) | 500 ($8) | 750 ($13) | 1,000 ($17) | 2,500 ($43) | 5,000 ($85) |
| Discoverist | 5.5x (9.35%) | 550 ($9) | 825 ($14) | 1,100 ($19) | 2,750 ($47) | 5,500 ($94) |
| Explorist | 6x (10.2%) | 600 ($10) | 900 ($15) | 1,200 ($20) | 3,000 ($51) | 6,000 ($102) |
| Globalist | 6.5x (11.05%) | 650 ($11) | 975 ($17) | 1,300 ($22) | 3,250 ($55) | 6,500 ($111) |
Ignoring the value of other benefits, such as upgrades, breakfast, club lounge access and more, the above table shows the tangible value of the points you'll receive for a range of qualifying charges when booking through eligible methods at each elite level. This allows you to estimate -- based on your qualifying charges and elite level -- how much value you'd be giving up in points alone (based on TPG's valuation of The World of Hyatt points) when booking through a non-qualifying method.
Related: 5 easy ways to maximize Hyatt award redemptions
Bottom line
It's essential to consider the potential value you'll lose when booking through online travel agencies. I use Hotels.com Rewards when I'm staying at hotels outside my primary loyalty programs. But, when I'm staying with hotel loyalty programs where I have status (or want to have status) I book directly to ensure I get elite earnings and benefits.
Featured photo of the Andaz Capital Gate hotel in Abu Dhabi by Katie Genter/The Points Guy.