What Is Hyatt’s Mysterious, Invitation-Only Courtesy Card Status?

The primary benefit of these invite-only programs is service level. Tangible perks are not huge compared to "regular" top tier benefits. With Marriott Cobalt, it's like Ambassador with a cherry on top. As an AA CK, when flying long-haul F and my seat was identified as broken just prior to boarding, they bumped another F passenger back to J and gave me his seat. To be honest, I would have been happy in J.

It seems like unless you earn this status as an owner of a property, these secret hotel status becomes a very good example of diminishing returns

Hi Ben, have you ever heard of Cathay Pacific’s invitation only Diamond Plus FF status? I’m curious of their unpublished benefits and guess quite a few of your readers would be interested as well.

@Former - I'd have felt more guilty if it was J to MC/MCE, as that gulf is much bigger than F to J.

@Eve - I'd argue the opposite: if you're spending $50k+ a year you're more than likely staying at full service properties, so that extra level of service + suites will be more meaningful and noticeable. Whereas if you're a hotel owner, then getting the best suite and special service is moreso professional courtesy from one business owner to the other, and just a good networking opportunity. Just like Chefs / Restaurateurs will often go out of their way to talk to others in their line of work, give them items on the house, best table, etc. when they're at each other's restaurants.

Would CX allow Diamond Plus members to add their membership on a ticket after booking?

Ben should cover this CX issue of not being able to modify FFP due to 'security' excuse.

I'm curious what the locations are in your pics! Perhaps small text for each one; I'm sure many other readers would like to know too. Not as well travelled as you, so don't immediately recognise them, but some are like wow, I'd like to go there if I knew where it was!

First pic is Park Hyatt Ningbo, second pic is Park Hyatt Sydney, third pic is Park Hyatt Kyoto. Unsure of the last one.

I have had Courtesy Card for around 15 years now—all based on hotel spend. One day a large, dark green envelope showed up in the mail. (Prior to that they apparently included a bathrobe and these days everything is electronic). Your description is generally correct. However, upgrades to the very top suites are a little less common than they used to be unless you have a specific relationship with the hotel. But at the nicer hotels it is almost always a category above the standard suite. They have cut a few benefits over the years (you used to be able to gift Diamond to 1 person once a year and they had a GOH-type thing years ago that didn’t require any sort of certificates). At franchised hotels there is often no recognition beyond Globalist and staff can be a bit perplexed because of how the tier is referred to in their system. It is a very nice program and I appreciate the long-time relationship.

I have always found it very weird that airlines (or in this case hotel groups) offer individuals that are responsible for large corporate travel accounts these "top tier/secret" status benefits... Seems like a very tempting and excessive gift to an individual belonging to another company.

A vast majority of companies have strict and clearly defined rules and thresholds regarding corporate gifts (such as this) employees may receive and while there may not be a predefined value for it, the benefits you can get from using such as status even once could well be into the 100s of dollars.

@Ben don't you find this practice is ethically questionable at least?

Let me emphasize one thing: I understand why a vendor would *want* to offer such a perk, what I don't understand is how the individual responsible for travel accounts is allowed to accept it without breaching these common corporate guidelines.

Lucky: on your homepage is a picture of a hotel room with a tower visible in window, and a Japanese tea set on a wood table in the foreground. Which hotel is this please?

Park Hyatt Guangzhou

In your scenario, Hyatt would already have a corporate-level rate agreements and more than likely offer elite status for all of that corporation's travelers. While I agree that Courtesy Card could still be considered a personal gift, the entire arrangement is a business benefit so would be more easily able to pass compliance audits because the intent & optics are not as heavily pay-to-play or providing an unfair advantage as just outright offering status to one individual. That being said, it's not a slam dunk case and I'd bet that some corporations have turned it down for the reasons you stated.

Just curious: what is the blend of your average stay? Many nights at moderately priced low to mid range Hyatts, or less quantity but higher priced premium Hyatts? And, if you feel comfortable answering, what is your profession?

Curious if you'd share the approx spend you hit?

I am curious of this too. I have spent over $60,000 per year with hyatt for the last 4 years. I am guessing it takes spend and time/nber of years at that spend level consistently.

I’ve been spending $50K + a year at Hyatts for the past 5 years and am still a lowly Lifetime Globalist 🙁

Those who are invited don't try to obtain such status. They have financial resources. They just do their thing and it just happens. They're not looking for "returns" or perks -- for example, an upgrade to a suite because they're already booking a suite. And, a single stay might cost the same dollar amount necessary to annually qualify for Ambassador ($23k). They're simply looking to be treated well. That's it.

Last one is Alila Ubud

I was the GSM at the former Park Hyatt San Francisco. Back then, Courtesy Card members were rare and always treated like royalty. They were always upgraded to top/presidential suites with floral arrangements, personal GM curb greeting and escort to in-room registration, house car privileges (on stand by for guest), high-end custom amenities and dining, etc. Every guest facing employee would be briefed and greet the VIP by name on every encounter. It was truly a bespoke and luxurious level of hospitality rarely seen today.

Indeed. It is not uncommon that in a contract arrangement, the hotel program or the airline program include X number of gratis tier status slots that can be assigned to whomever the company wishes. For example, if a company does $A million a year with Hyatt, the company might receive X Globalist slots, Y Explorist slots, and Z Discoverist slots. Same concept with an airline.

With Marriott's Cobalt, a GM greeting at reception as well. An upgrade *from* a booked suite can depend on the specific property -- ranging from "sorry" all the way to a presidential suite. But, supposedly, Marriott corporate has pulled upgrades from the properties (and uses an algorithm).

I'm enjoying my newly acquired LGLO status since April and have had exemplary stays.. maybe there's so few of us in my country (Malaysia) that I get the GMs personally come over to greet me too say how they missed me etc..Uhm I've been staying regularly at the hotel for the past three years and only now you notice me? It took me 29 years to get LGLO mainly because of the places I go have lower revenue especially when converted over to USD. All on personal spend .. ok. I feel poor now

Only at HK Hyatt Centric, the staff tell me on average they have about 10 LGLO and 5 Courtesy Cards on any average week.

Hundreds? Try thousands of dollars of value when you include the value of those suite upgrades!