I Got A Reward For Staying At 75 Hyatt Properties!

"I wish they’d add some incremental benefits for those staying more than 25 stays/50 nights per year, rather than just random “surprise and delight” rewards."

Isn't that called "Courtesy Card"?

Why doesn't the Park Hyatt Sydney have a star?

My bad - Australia is on the map twice...

@ Tokyo Hyatt Fan -- Sure, but there are no published benefits. Did almost 150 nights with Hyatt last year and didn't get it.

50 unique hotels, like you, and last week lifetime Diamond status.

What a life. Do you ever stay in one place long enough to enjoy a play or a concert or mingle with locals on their own turf?
Forty+ years ago I worked for a fellow whose mission was to evaluate services within a specific hotel brand. The sorry SOB's mission also included 'Regional Assistants' to his liking, and of course, the engagement was *extremely* brief. I hope that your standards are much higher.
-CG

It seems Courtesy Card is back (for individuals that don't influence corporate travel budgets, at least) to mostly being nominated by GMs. What's the most times (not days) you've stayed at a single Hyatt in the past year?

Funny -- I got this e-mail today too!

@ Steven L. -- I've done a bunch of stays at the Grand Hyatt Tampa, though it's a cheap enough hotel that I doubt it'd get me Courtesy Card!

What a cool idea! Well done, Hyatt!

And congrats on the 75 hotels. When should I expect my e-mail for 10 hotels visited? 🙂

Hmm, this makes me want to go count the number of different Hyatt's I've stayed at...

Must run in batches. I also got my email this morning. 25th Hyatt (in a little over a year since joining). I set my stay pattern so that number 25 would be the Park Hyatt Tokyo. 🙂

Between that and Maldives, those are probably the two flagship properties. Although it was the PH Siem Reap that has been best for me so far.

It's a positive to have your "milestones" remembered, what's not a positive is the cheap "reward". One free night in a basic room for practically cross-crossing the globe ticking off Hyatt properties (given the smaller footprint Hyatt has, reaching 75 unique properties is a real achievement), not to mention living almost most of the year in Hyatt branded hotels, is pretty cheap and ruins the moment.

Really, if that's that's the best the can do, they need to try harder. I'd rather a special gift like a little high quality trophy or other some other permanent memento of craftsmanship than just a free night coupon (which you could get from any ordinary promotion).

If they want to make the moment feel special, don't ruin it by offering run of the mill. Good idea, bad execution.

Thanks for publishing this! It prompted me to search my email, and one had come in in March while I was traveling -- and I have reached 100 unique properties! If I hadn't clicked through the email I would have missed out on a free night. (Which, contrary to an earlier poster, I find to be a delightful gift!)

Not to sound ungrateful, yet that seems a rather small reward for such huge loyalty. My partner and I stayed in a top London 5 star hotel for 50 nights over 18 months and they gave us an upgrade to a £6k/n room, some hand made shoes, a Jo Malone candle, some bath robes with our initials on, free spa massage for both of us and management all coming to thank us. My curious nature kicked in, so I went looking up the prices and the shoes themselves cost £400, so my stay for the night was already actually costing the hotel.

@ Kieran -- Personally I think a free night at any hotel in the world is a pretty darn awesome perk. But I guess it means different things to different people.

Why don't you stick to SPG? Over 75 nights you would get 4 points per dollar and over a 100 you'd qualify to the Ambassador level. I think they'd treat you better.

Great post, but slight typo FYI: "How could would it be to have “Hyatt Milestone Curator”", I'm assuming "cool"? 🙂

@Lucky - I'm glad you found your free night in a basic room rewarding, but based on your stay history you've earned plenty free nights at Hyatt properties around the world (either through points or promotion). That's my point, this reward isn't really any different from the rewards typically earned and therefore is neither unique nor special.

If the out of the ordinary achievement is meant to feel special, it needs an out of the ordinary reward - not a typical reward. I see the current arrangement as undermining the message Hyatt want to send, rather than a criticism of a free night itself (it's a marketing mismatch).

It's like inaugural flights, if you only got extra frequent flyer points for being on said flight, not a gift bag and certificate and other unusual extras, would they feel a bit ordinary to you? Sometimes, to make something feel less than ordinary, you need to do different things (not just same old, same old). Surprise and delight!

Ben,

Please update this post to say you were "targeted for this promotion." Hyatt informed me that I wasn't targeted, so it doesn't matter how many unique properties I stay at -- I won't receive anything.

Hey Ben,
It was so nice to read your post. I am the Milestones Curator for Hyatt and it's been such a wonderful position. After speaking with Hyatt Gold Passport members about their travels, I really wanted to create something that recognized a person's lifetime with Hyatt - and celebrated their travel journey. I'm so happy that you enjoyed your personal map! Best ~Caroline

I wasn't targetted either 🙁

Just went through and counted my Hyatt stays - total of 86 properties (including 11 on awards only and maybe 10 that didn't generate stay credit (old stay certs - Priceline)) - so way over 50 in any case (even if you count only revenue stays). Never got the email.

@ Caroline -- Thanks for the comment, you're awesome!

@ Michael -- Think I clarified that in the post: "It’s part of their “surprise and delight” campaign, so while it’s not a published benefit, many members have received bonuses for reaching certain stay milestones."

@ Poppy -- Fixed, thanks!

But Ben,

This is one of those "the blogger gets recognized" but the hoi polloi with as many unique stays as you at just as many aspirational properties, gets bupkis.

Which, I'm sure you can understand, is frustrating.

@ Michael -- What makes you think this has anything to do with being a blogger? There are dozens of reports from non-bloggers getting these threshold bonuses. No reason to assume it has anything to do with being a blogger.

Hmmm, I wonder why I would say that? I recall Mommypoints being targeted for a great promotion awhile back too, but that was merely a coincidence, I bet. And why would Gold Passport target you, anyway? Makes no sense for them to do so, right?

The issue is: if you are targeted and write about it lovingly and most of us are not targeted, but have the same profile as you, it is hard to stomach.

I don't see why you don't get that.

And Ben, with all due respect, you did notice that Caroline chimed in on this thread, right? She certainly is well aware of you or else how would she know you posted about this?

hi ben, does this take into account hyatt places and hyatt houses?

also, do you know if hilton has a program like this?? i have stayed at over 100 hilton branded properties worldwode, i.e. hampton, hilton garden inn, embassy, hilton, waldorf, et.c...

thank you,
john.

@ john -- It includes all Hyatt properties, including Hyatt Place and Hyatt House. Hilton doesn't have a similar program, as far as I know.

Hey Ben! I just hit the 50 mark and unfortunately, I didn't get in early enough since now they are only awarding 10,000 pts (plus 500 more if you get the map thing right). Was REALLY excited to get the free hotel night and now I'm not so surprised or delighted at only getting 10,000 pts. I'm a Diamond and was hoping they'd still be giving out the free night stay. Now, apparently, I have to go stay at another 25 Hyatt properties before I can get my free night! #toughlife

I just got the email for staying at 50 unique Hyatts. Only got 10K points like Mark and I am Diamond too. I was hoping for the free night like you got at 50, but 10K points is better than nothing...hopefully when I reach 75 they'll still be doing free nights and not just 10K points by then...