Share your elite benefits: The complete guide to World of Hyatt Guest of Honor awards
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
There's lots to love about World of Hyatt Globalist status. It provides a host of valuable benefits ranging from free breakfast and confirmed suite upgrades to waived resort and parking fees and more. Plus, it is especially easy to earn this year. But perhaps the most unique perk of Globalist status is access to the Guest of Honor program.
Guest of Honor allows Globalist members to share their elite status benefits when booking award stays for friends or family. While several hotels offer status gifting after reaching a certain number of nights, no other program allows elites to extend their perks to others quite like this.
Today, we're going to take a closer look at what exactly Guest of Honor awards entail, how you can book them, who you can book them for and more.
Sign-up for the TPG daily newsletter to get points and miles coverage like this delivered to your inbox.
Who can book Guest of Honor awards
Before we dive in, it's important to note that Guest of Honor booking privileges are only available to top-tier Globalist members. This status level is normally earned after 60 tier-qualifying nights or 100,000 base points ($20,000 in spending), but those thresholds have been cut in half for 2021. As such, you can earn Globalist status this year after 30 nights or 50,000 base points. These requirements may be even lower if you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card or earned bonus nights through one of Hyatt's recent promotions.
Given how easy it is to earn Globalist status this year, some travelers are going out of their way to achieve it and unlock perks like Guest of Honor. For example, TPG’s Summer Hull recently completed an 11-night mattress run at a local Hyatt Place to fast-track Globalist. That said, as TPG's Katie Genter shared, mattress runs aren't for everyone.
Related: 6 strategies you can leverage to snag Hyatt Globalist status in 2021
What are Guest of Honor awards?
With that out of the way, what are Guest of Honor awards, exactly?
World of Hyatt allows Globalist members to use their points to book an award stay for someone else and extend their elite status privileges to that traveler. The Globalist member does not need to be traveling for the benefits to carry over.
All of the in-hotel benefits you'd normally enjoy as a Globalist will transfer, including waived resort and parking fees, free (full) breakfast for up to two adults and two children per room, lounge access space-available suite upgrades, late check-out and more. These benefits can undoubtedly provide over $70 in value per night to some guests when fully maximized.
Related: 7 ways Hyatt Globalist elite status can make your next trip better
Guest of Honor rules
The Guest of Honor program is very straightforward, with no gimmicks or major hoops through which you need to jump. The only rule is that the stay must always be booked using points or a free night certificate. Unfortunately, there's no way to share your benefits on a paid stay.
You can book a stay for a different individual every time and can even book multiple rooms with Guest of Honor benefits at once. Just note that per World of Hyatt's terms, the Guest of Honor booking is intended to be a gift and you shouldn't be reimbursed points from the other member.
Related: How to transfer Hyatt points between accounts
Who earns points on Guest of Honor bookings
World of Hyatt counts award stays toward elite status. However, the credit would go to the person completing the stay and not the Globalist who made the booking. So, making lots of Guest of Honor bookings for others won't help you requalify for status.
Related: What is World of Hyatt elite status worth?
Booking Guest of Honor awards
As explained above, the Guest of Honor program is exclusively for award stays. A Globalist member must book this award to apply Guest of Honor benefits.
The booking process for Guest of Honor stays is a bit different than usual in that you can't book the award directly on Hyatt's site. Instead, you'll need to either call the World of Hyatt reservation line, email your dedicated concierge or direct message the Hyatt Concierge via Twitter. In addition to providing your account information and information about the stay, you'll be asked to share information about the guest, including their World of Hyatt account number.
In addition to points stays, Guest of Honor benefits can be applied to bookings made using free night certificates. There are several ways you can earn Hyatt reward nights, but perhaps the easiest is by holding the World of Hyatt Credit Card. Each year, cardholders are entitled to a free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt property, plus a second free night after spending $15,000 in a year. This benefit alone can be worth much more than the card’s $95 annual fee.
Related: The 11 hotels where you’ll get the most out of your Hyatt reward night certificate
Boosting your World of Hyatt balance
There are many ways you can earn World of Hyatt points to book your friend or family member's Guest of Honor award. For starters, if your friend already has enough Hyatt points to book their stay, they can transfer their points to your account.
World of Hyatt members can transfer points between accounts free of charge. You can transfer an unlimited number of points, but you can only send or receive points once every 30 days. To do so, fill out this form (warning: PDF link) and submit it via email. Based on our experiences, the transfer should be processed in around 48 hours.
Alternatively, an easy way to top up your World of Hyatt balance is by transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, if you have a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you could transfer your points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. These transfers should process instantly.
Related: When and how to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt
If you don't already have the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you can currently earn up to 60,000 bonus points with it. You'll earn 30,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn up to 30,000 more points by earning two bonus points total per dollar spent on purchases that normally earn one point, on up to $15,000 in the first six months of account opening. In addition to the free night certificate previously mentioned, this card comes with automatic Discoverist status and elite night credits, among other perks.
Bottom line
World of Hyatt is one of the only loyalty programs that let you share your elite benefits with others when you aren’t traveling with them. Even better, you can share your benefits with whoever you want — not just your immediate family.
Although the Guest of Honor benefit is only available for award stays, it's easy to "pool" points and boost your World of Hyatt balance to book awards.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees