My Hyatt Diamond credentials showed up in the mail today and while there was nothing of value actually physically enclosed in the envelope, I firmly believe the program is one of the top hotel loyalty programs out there.
The top six reasons I love being a Hyatt Diamond are:
1) Four confirmed suite upgrade certificates a year. These are good on paid stays on pretty much any rate (including cheapo advance pay or corporate) and they are good for up to a week each. I like having the peace of mind that my suite is confirmed and I don't have to haggle for it like I often have to do at Starwood properties, like my recent experience at the Joule hotel. My only wish is that they were eligible on award stays, though a common trick is to use these for the first night or two of a stay and then use award nights for the rest. Many hotels won't make you switch from the suite, so you've just in essence redeemed it on an award stay (this is risky, but can pay off)
2) Free breakfast - even on award stays. I stayed at the Park Hyatt Vendome on Faster Free Nights (the crazy amazing promo Hyatt often runs where you get one free night at ANY Hyatt for every two stays) and they allowed free room service breakfast as an option, which one day was almost 90 euros. Most chains that offer free breakfast offer light continental breakfast in the lounge, whereas Hyatt rolls out of the red carpet, especially in top properties.
3) Free internet - a very easy way to capture the heart of a travel blogger.
4) When you open up a Hyatt Visa card, instead of getting two free nights at any Hyatt (which is an amazing deal) after $1,000 spend within the first 3 months, Diamonds get two free nights in a suite, which is a showstopping deal for a card that only has a $75 annual fee. Yes, two free nights in a $1,000+ a night Park Hyatt suite for $75 total!
5) 30% bonus points on each stay. I find Hyatt to have the most generous standard earning ratios of the major hotel programs (at least for top tier redemptions) and the 30% bonus just sweetens the deal.
6) Qualification is only 25 stays or 50 nights. I'm not a consultant so I don't rack up hundreds of nights a year, so elite programs like Marriott Platinum (75 nights) are unattainable. In my eyes Hyatt Diamond is more valuable and much more achievable, especially since most of my paid stays are only a night or two.
Overall, no loyalty program is perfect, but Hyatt comes close to it - at least for my needs.
