Hyatt now offering suite upgrade bidding on some reservations
World of Hyatt is known for treating its top-tier elite members especially well. I'd argue the brand is first among many when it comes to customer loyalty. As a World of Hyatt Globalist, I often get upgraded to a suite at check-in or even ahead of time.
That's why I was so surprised when I recently received an email offering me the opportunity to bid for a suite upgrade at an upcoming stay in Lisbon.
Several offers were available, including the chance to bid for an upgrade on a sliding scale. Options included a standard river-view room starting at an additional $41 per day, a deluxe suite starting at $97 and a deluxe river-view suite starting at $141. You could bid up to $185 for the largest suites.
Interestingly, I had a second stay at the hotel later in the week and received a similar offer via email.
Related: Tips to get the hotel room upgrades you deserve
There were also options to pay for early or late check-in or checkout, prepurchase classes like Pilates, get a room on a higher floor, book an airport pickup, and even prepay for a massage. (I should have booked the massage in advance since they were sold out when I was there.)
Other than TPG Senior Director of Content Summer Hull (who vaguely remembered getting an offer from an all-inclusive Hyatt property), none of my colleagues remembered receiving similar emails. I also asked in the TPG Lounge on Facebook and got some surprising intel. Several World of Hyatt members have received similar offers recently.
Facebook user N. Glann also had an upcoming stay at the Hyatt Regency Lisbon. "None of the upgrade offers seemed worth it, and the bidding started at a minimum price on the slider that I was not willing to pay," Glann said. "Even airport pick-up seemed ridiculously high at 90 euros, which is $92.33 USD. Right now, I can get an Uber XL or XXL from LIS to the Hyatt for 13.94 euros, which is $14.30 USD, or 16.37 euros, which is $16.79 USD, respectively."
A reader named Viktor Kryvyziuk said he'd received an upgrade offer for Dreams Natura Resort & Spa in Cancun. "Bidding included different room options and has a minimal bid amount (e.g., $115) with a reference to an average numbers members would typically bid (e.g., $150)," he said.
Marie Christine Misajon-Seda told TPG she got an upgrade offer at Hyatt Vivid Grand Island, also in Cancun. She was a World of Hyatt Explorist at the time but was already booked into a suite using points, so she didn't jump on the upgrade offer to a larger room.
Another reader said he didn't believe the bidding policy was new, suggesting it was up to individual hotels, which I do believe to be the case. I've stayed more than 80 nights at Hyatt hotels in the past 12 months, and the beautiful Hyatt Regency Lisbon is the first Hyatt where I've seen this.
In any case, I didn't end up bidding on an upgrade for either stay, but I was upgraded to a one-bedroom suite both times anyway.
Hopefully, that will be the case at other Hyatts that decide to enable this bidding process. I only see one red flag with this: Globalists could potentially lose out on upgrades if nonmembers or lower-tier elite members buy up all the suites because the hotel sells cheap upgrades. That is exactly what's happened to upgrades for elite members on airlines like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. They are getting much better at selling those prized first- or business-class seats to everyone. Depending on how properties react, the move to upsell hotel upgrades could be a devaluation if it spreads widely
I reached out to World of Hyatt on the policy but hadn't heard back by publication.
Now, bidding on upgrades is nothing new. Hilton Honors has been offering it for several years now — even for top-tier members who might otherwise get a free upgrade. It is a smart business move by hotels to increase revenue, as long as it doesn't come at the expense of free upgrades. Complimentary Hilton upgrades were already unusual in my experience, even for top-tier Diamond members. It might make sense at a chain like Hilton to bid ahead of time to guarantee a suite. I really hope that doesn't become standard at World of Hyatt.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.