World of Hyatt elite status: What it is and how to earn it

Hotel elite status is a great way to make your travels more comfortable and rewarding. With benefits like early check-in, late checkout, free breakfast and room upgrades, it can make sense to concentrate your hotel spending on a particular program.

Each major hotel chain offers perks to loyal members, but how much are the different tiers worth? Is one program more rewarding than another? And, frankly, is it worth pursuing elite status at all?

To help you answer these questions, we’ll dive into World of Hyatt‘s status hierarchy, how its status tiers work and if it’s worth earning. We’ll also discuss how to earn Hyatt status through travel and nontravel expenses like credit card spending.

Here is everything you need to know about elite status in the World of Hyatt program.

What is World of Hyatt status?

World of Hyatt is the loyalty program of Hyatt, which has thousands of properties globally, including brands like Park Hyatt, Andaz, Miraval and Thompson. You can join for free online as an entry-level “Member.”

Hyatt rewards its most loyal customers in the World of Hyatt program with the following elite status levels:

• Discoverist
• Explorist
• Globalist
• Lifetime Globalist

How to qualify for World of Hyatt status

Here’s a look at what you’ll need to qualify for World of Hyatt status every calendar year:

• Discoverist: Stay 10 nights, book three meetings and events, or earn 25,000 base points (the equivalent of $5,000 in spending).
• Explorist: Stay 30 nights, book 10 meetings and events, or earn 50,000 base points (the equivalent of $10,000 in spending).
• Globalist: Stay 60 nights, book 20 meetings and events, or earn 100,000 base points (the equivalent of $20,000 in spending).

Lifetime Globalist requires earning 1 million base points — equivalent to spending $200,000 — over the lifetime of your World of Hyatt account. No minimum stays or meetings are required, so you could earn Lifetime Globalist status from just one stay if the spending requirement is met.

Related: Is Hyatt Globalist status worth it?

World of Hyatt status levels and benefits

• Bonus points: A 20% points bonus results in 1 additional point per dollar spent (6 points per dollar total).
• Upgrade to the best available room: Unlike Discoverist members, Explorist travelers are eligible for upgrades to the best available room at check-in, up to but excluding suites and rooms with lounge access. This is not applicable at Hyatt Place, Hyatt House and Hyatt Residence Club.
• Guaranteed availability: Explorist members are guaranteed a room when making a paid reservation at least 72 hours before arrival.
• AAdvantage redemption: Redeem Hyatt points for American Airlines AAdvantage status for a day.
• 30-night threshold bonus: When Explorists reach the 30-night threshold during the year (or earn 50,000 base points), they will earn a free night award for a Category 1-4 Hyatt property. They can also choose between earning 2,000 bonus points at their next stay at select brands, two club lounge access awards, a $25 Find experience credit or two preferred seat coupons on American Airlines.
• 40-night threshold bonus: When Explorists reach the 40-night threshold during the year (or 65,000 base points), they will earn a Guest of Honor award. They can also choose between earning 5,000 bonus points at their next stay, a suite upgrade award, a $150 Find experience credit or two Main Cabin Extra seat coupons on American Airlines.
• 50-night threshold bonus: When Explorists reach the 50-night threshold during the year (or 80,000 base points), they can also choose between earning 5,000 bonus points at their next stay, two suite upgrade awards, a $150 Find experience credit or two Main Cabin Extra seat coupons on American Airlines.

• Bonus points: A 30% points bonus results in an additional 1.5 points per dollar spent (6.5 points per dollar total).
• Room upgrades: Globalists will receive room upgrades, including to standard suites, at check-in. This isn’t available at Hyatt Place, Hyatt House and Hyatt Residence Club.
• Club lounge access and/or free breakfast: Globalist members enjoy access to club lounges, where available. At properties without a club lounge, they receive a complimentary full breakfast for each registered guest (up to two adults and two children) in the hotel’s restaurant.
• Late checkout: Hyatt also allows Globalist members late checkout privileges but extends it to 4 p.m.
• Complimentary parking on free night awards: Globalist members get complimentary parking at hotels that run their own paid parking service (i.e., parking that you can charge to your room) on award stays.
• Guaranteed availability: Globalist members have the same guaranteed availability benefit offered to Explorist members but can confirm a room closer to check-in (48 hours instead of 72).
• My Hyatt Concierge: Globalist members can utilize a more tailored concierge service in addition to the elite reservation line, which assists with reservations and any special requests.
• Two Guest of Honor awards: Hyatt’s Guest of Honor benefit allows Globalists to redeem points for a friend or family member. The person staying on the reservation can use their elite status privileges.
• Two suite upgrade awards.
• Free night at a Category 1-7 property: Besides earning a free Category 1-4 night when surpassing the requirements for Explorist status, Globalists will also earn a free night valid at Category 1-7 properties after earning Globalist status.

When they stay more than 60 nights in a year, Globalists also enjoy the following:

• For every 10 additional nights they complete in a calendar year (up to 140 total nights), Globalists can gift a Guest of Honor award to someone for a paid or award stay and choose 10,000 bonus points, an additional suite upgrade award, a $300 Find experience redemption or AAdvantage Gold status.
• If they manage to stay 100 nights in a single year, Globalists receive another Category 1-7 free night, plus a choice of 10,000 bonus points, an additional suite upgrade award, a free night at a Miraval property (when they have already paid for one night) or AAdvantage Platinum status.

There are additional rewards for staying up to 150 nights per calendar year.

Can a credit card help you earn World of Hyatt status?

The World of Hyatt Credit Card ($95 annual fee) currently earns 35,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, plus up to an additional 30,000 bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per dollar spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point (on up to $15,000 spent).

To help you reach elite status in the World of Hyatt program, the card also offers:

• Discoverist status for as long as your account is open
• Five tier qualifying nights towards elite status every year, plus two qualifying night credits every time you spend $5,000 on the card

The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card ($199 annual fee) currently offers new cardholders the ability to earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first three months from account opening, plus one free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.

To help you reach elite status in the World of Hyatt program, the card also offers:

• Discoverist status for the cardholder and up to five employees (and the ability to gift status to up to five employees)
• Five tier qualifying night credits for every $10,000 spent on the card in a calendar year

You could earn Explorist status without staying at Hyatt properties by spending $65,000 a year on the personal card or $60,000 on the business card. So, if you want a fast track to elite status in the World of Hyatt program without the stay requirements, consider applying for a World of Hyatt-branded credit card.

Is World of Hyatt status worth it?

It’s no secret we are big fans of the World of Hyatt program here at TPG, and we believe the top-tier Globalist status to be among the best hotel statuses you can earn. If you spend enough nights at Hyatt properties in a year to earn Globalist status, we believe it is worth striving for. Plus, you can earn perks even after you earn Globalist status with milestone rewards.

However, when pursuing elite status, it’s also important to consider how much you will travel in the future. There is little point in earning the benefits if you won’t be able to enjoy them.

When deciding on a hotel loyalty program, make sure it has properties where you travel the most. There’s no point in pursuing elite status with a hotel chain if you can’t feasibly stay at one (or more) of its properties regularly.

While Hyatt has rapidly expanded in the past few years by acquiring Dream Hotel Group, Apple Leisure Group and Standard International (with plans to potentially buy Playa Hotels & Resorts, too), its footprint is still smaller than Hilton, Marriott, and IHG. This may mean there aren’t as many options for your next stay if you only focus on Hyatt hotels.

Try to make sure there are Hyatt properties in or around destinations that match your travel style. For example, if you travel to a major city frequently and prefer to stay in luxury hotels, ensure one of Hyatt’s luxury brands has a presence there. If you find Hyatt doesn’t have your desired type of hotel in the places you travel most, consider pursuing elite status with a program that does.

You’ll have a solid stash of World of Hyatt points, whether you’re earning status organically or through a credit card. So, you should value Hyatt points before chasing Hyatt elite status. Otherwise, you could be left with points you can’t use.

Unlike most competitors, Hyatt has continued publishing a standard award chart. This means award stays are priced predictably, and you won’t be met with outrageously high dynamic pricing when redeeming points. This predictability is very valuable if you earn and redeem many Hyatt points.

Bottom line

The World of Hyatt program is a favorite of many travelers, including numerous TPG staffers. Redemption rates remain low compared with some other major hotel programs, and points are easy to earn since you can transfer points to the program from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards. Plus, elite status benefits are generous, especially for top-tier Globalists.

However, given the limited (but growing) footprint of Hyatt’s various brands, it may not be a viable option for everyone, even though the program provides significant value to its loyal members.

While it is not a perfect program, holding elite status in the World of Hyatt program is a great way to maximize your travel.

Related: When and how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt