World of Hyatt Adding Dozens of High-End Hotels in 2019

Long before a merger with Marriott was finalized, we heard rumblings that Starwood might be acquired by one of its largest competitors: Hyatt Hotels. As we're all well aware now, that potential deal never panned out, with Starwood and the beloved SPG program making its way to Marriott's portfolio, instead.

Still, Hyatt's continued to pursue opportunities to expand its footprint, through smaller deals, from a partnership with Miraval to an ongoing loyalty agreement with M Life. And World of Hyatt members will soon have even more great options when it comes time to earn and redeem — in one of the chain's biggest announcements to date, Hyatt just shared plans to acquire Two Roads Hospitality, the group that manages brands such as Joie de Vivre Hotels, Thompson Hotels, Destination Hotels and Alila Hotels & Resorts, with 85+ properties in eight countries around the world.

As a New Yorker, I'm well acquainted with Thompson, which manages properties in Manhattan, including the phenomenal Beekman Hotel, along with locations in Chicago, Nashville and other North American cities. Another Two Roads brand, Destination Hotels, also offers properties I'm curious to check out, including L'Auberge de Sedona in Arizona and Stowe Mountain Lodge in Vermont.

It's not yet clear which properties will make their way to World of Hyatt, though some members of Two Roads' "Affiliate Hotels" group, such as Aloft Charlotte and DoubleTree Boston Bedford Glen, almost certainly won't, since they're members of Marriott Rewards and Hilton Honors, respectively.

In total, Hyatt expects to purchase the chain for $480 million, with the possibility of future investments as well. The deal is expected to close later this year, with properties becoming available for World of Hyatt earning and redemption in 2019.