World of Hyatt is my favorite hotel loyalty program, and I find top-tier Globalist status to be incredibly valuable. However, I realize I don’t talk much about World of Hyatt’s mid-tier elite level, Explorist status, so I wanted to take a closer look at that in this post.
In this post:
How to earn World of Hyatt Explorist status
You can earn World of Hyatt Explorist status through hotel stays, credit card spending, or a combination of both. Let’s take a look at what’s required.
Earning Hyatt Explorist status with hotel stays
World of Hyatt Explorist status can be earned with hotel stays in one of the following ways:
- By earning 30 elite qualifying nights in a calendar year; revenue and award stays count toward this
- By earning 50,000 elite qualifying points in a calendar year; you ordinarily earn 5x base points per eligible dollar spent at a Hyatt, so this requires the equivalent of $10,000 of Hyatt spending
The elite requirements for Explorist are exactly half the requirements of Globalist, whether earning the status with elite nights or elite qualifying points.
Earning Hyatt Explorist status with credit cards
You can earn elite qualifying nights with Hyatt’s co-branded credit cards:
- The World of Hyatt Credit Card (review) offers five elite nights annually just for having the card, plus two elite nights for every $5,000 spent; the $5,000 total keeps accruing, and doesn’t reset at the end of the calendar year
- The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (review) offers five elite nights for every $10,000 spent per calendar year
As you can tell, spending $65,000 on the World of Hyatt Card would earn you Explorist status (since you’d earn 31 elite nights), while spending $60,000 on the World of Hyatt Business Card would earn you Explorist status (since you’d earn 30 elite nights).
Now, I wouldn’t recommend spending your way all the way to status, but rather I’d use Hyatt’s co-branded credit cards to supplement the stays you’d otherwise organically make.
World of Hyatt Explorist status perks & benefits
With the requirements to earn status out of the way, what are the benefits of World of Hyatt Explorist status? Below are the benefits, roughly in the order that I value them.
Room upgrades (excluding suites & club rooms)
World of Hyatt Explorist members receive room upgrades subject to availability at check-in, excluding suites and rooms with club access. So you can expect that you’ll receive the best non-suite, non-club room at the hotel.
Hyatts are pretty good about proactive upgrades, and in some cases you may even find that hotels go above and beyond, and occasionally upgrade Explorist members to suites (but don’t count on it).
Guaranteed 2PM check-out
World of Hyatt Explorist members receive guaranteed 2PM check-out. Note that this is subject to availability at resorts. While 4PM check-out would be better, at least there’s a guarantee associated with the late check-out.
20% World of Hyatt bonus points
World of Hyatt members ordinarily earn 5x points per eligible dollar spent at Hyatt properties, including for room rates and incidentals. World of Hyatt Explorist members receive a 20% points bonus, which is an extra 1x points per dollar spent.
Unfortunately Hyatt has a pretty weak program when it comes to elite points bonuses, so this isn’t terribly exciting. For that matter, Globalist members “only” receive a 30% points bonus.
MGM Rewards Gold status
World of Hyatt has a partnership with MGM Rewards, and as part of that there’s status matching available between the two programs. World of Hyatt Explorist members can receive MGM Rewards Gold status, which offers some solid perks at MGM properties, including room upgrades, waived resort fees, and more. How valuable that benefit is depends on how often you go to Las Vegas.
Premium in-room internet & bottled water
All World of Hyatt elite members receive premium Wi-Fi, plus bottled water in the room. This probably isn’t anything to get too excited about, but it’s better than nothing.
Elite check-in counter
All World of Hyatt elite members receive access to the dedicated elite check-in counter, for the hotels that offer that. Unfortunately availability and enforcement of the line isn’t consistent, but if there is a line for elite members, you can use it.
World of Hyatt Milestone Rewards program
The Milestone Rewards program is an awesome aspect of World of Hyatt, as it offers rewards for every 10 elite nights you rack up in a calendar year, up to 100 elite nights. This program offers all kinds of valuable perks, ranging from club access awards, to suite upgrade awards, to free night awards.
Just to give a sense of what you can expect:
- At 10 elite nights you receive entry-level Discoverist status
- At 20 elite nights you receive two club access awards
- At 30 elite nights you receive two more club access awards, plus a Category 1-4 free night award
- At 40 elite nights you receive 5,000 bonus points or a $100 Hyatt gift card
- At 50 elite nights you receive two suite upgrade awards
There are tiers beyond that, but that starts to get into the Globalist status range.
As you can tell, the benefits here really stack up. For example, at 30 elite nights you’ll have earned four club access awards, each of which can be used to access a hotel’s club lounge for a consecutive stay of up to seven nights.
I’m not listing this last because I think it’s the least valuable perk, but rather because the value varies based on your exact stay patterns.
Is World of Hyatt Explorist status worth it?
While I’m a fan of World of Hyatt and really appreciate Globalist status, I think Explorist status is rather lackluster by comparison. I appreciate that Explorist status offers upgrades to the best non-suites and guaranteed 2PM check-out. I also think the Milestone Rewards program offers quite a bit of value.
There are two main areas where the program is weak, in my opinion:
- Unlike mid-tier status with other major hotel groups, you can’t simply get this by having a credit card; it requires a significant number of hotel stays, and/or quite a bit of credit card spending
- In theory earning four club access awards is great, as it could get you up to 28 nights worth of club lounge access; the major issue is that most Hyatt-family properties don’t have club lounges, and even properties that have lounges largely haven’t reopened them since the start of the pandemic
I think the club access awards would be much more valuable if they could also be used for complimentary breakfast at properties that don’t offer a club lounge. It doesn’t seem fair that elite members are penalized when hotels choose not to have club lounges, and/or choose to keep them closed.
Purely in terms of the relative value of Explorist status:
- You can earn Hilton Honors Gold status just for having a mid-range credit card, and that offers perks like a daily food & beverage credit, or complimentary breakfast; you can even earn top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status just for having a credit card
- Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status requires 50 elite nights per year, but you can earn 30 elite nights per year just by having a personal and business Marriott credit card with no spending requirement; that means you only need to stay 20 nights to earn the status, and that gets you perks like suite upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and more
- You can earn IHG One Rewards Platinum status just by having the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card (review) or IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (review), or you can earn top-tier IHG One Rewards Diamond status by spending $40,000 on either card in a calendar year
My point is simply that for savvy consumers, I think it’s either worth going for World of Hyatt Globalist status (where the perks are actually awesome), or with a program that requires less effort to earn status, but still offers strong rewards.
Bottom line
Explorist is World of Hyatt’s mid-tier elite status, which requires earning either 30 elite nights or 50,000 elite base points in a calendar year. The status offers perks like (non-suite) room upgrades, guaranteed 2PM check-out, 20% bonus points, and access to the Milestone Rewards program. Milestone Rewards could get you free night awards, club lounge access, and more.
While the status no doubt offers some perks, it pales in comparison to World of Hyatt Globalist status, and I also think some other programs make it easier to earn status with credit cards, all while offering benefits that are at least as good.
To World of Hyatt Explorist members, what has your experience been like?
I have hyatt globalist . Used to be great but now I think it is grossly overrated. I am much happier now with my Marriott titanium.
Anyway that’s my experience in Europe.
1. The famous Hyatt guarantee That if there is a cash right there will be a rate for points has become total fraud. I checked in Germany Spain and Portugal recent trip And many Hyatt hotels show appoints rate but when you...
I have hyatt globalist . Used to be great but now I think it is grossly overrated. I am much happier now with my Marriott titanium.
Anyway that’s my experience in Europe.
1. The famous Hyatt guarantee That if there is a cash right there will be a rate for points has become total fraud. I checked in Germany Spain and Portugal recent trip And many Hyatt hotels show appoints rate but when you try to book you can’t. When I called the globalist line I get the same CYA response about the guarantee covering only certain room types.
2. The executive lounge is in the highest I’ve been in Germany and Spain Didn’t have close to the type of evening meal I’ve had it Marriott brands
3. Europe Hyatt hotels seem to be priced higher than other brands and frankly I don’t see the benefit
The dedicated link to Globalist phone line on the app is a nice tool! I recently had a non-refundable rate at the Shay in LA and wanted to cancel because I got an email from the hotel saying the pool will be closed due to a private party...well, I was going to spend the day at the pool. So I called the Globalist line and within about 5 minutes they called the hotel for me...
The dedicated link to Globalist phone line on the app is a nice tool! I recently had a non-refundable rate at the Shay in LA and wanted to cancel because I got an email from the hotel saying the pool will be closed due to a private party...well, I was going to spend the day at the pool. So I called the Globalist line and within about 5 minutes they called the hotel for me and got my rate fully refunded and I was able to rebook elsewhere with a pool. Very nice feature and the agents are usually quiet helpful.
Interestingly, the ONLY times I've had upgrades are as an Explorist -- a two night stay at Park Hyatt Chicago on a Monday/Tuesday in May and a one night stay at the Andaz Savannah on a Tuesday, also in May. Both cases were to the best non-suite rooms and very much enjoyed.
Yeah the Explorist benefits aren't amazing. That being said, I haven't stayed anywhere since I earned Explorist so I can only speak to my experience as Discoverist. That being said, even as a Discoverist I've received an upgrade the last 3 or 4 trips I've taken. At the Hyatt Maui, I went from a base room to an oceanview room, and that was during Christmas time. The Grand Hyatt Seattle gave me the best possible...
Yeah the Explorist benefits aren't amazing. That being said, I haven't stayed anywhere since I earned Explorist so I can only speak to my experience as Discoverist. That being said, even as a Discoverist I've received an upgrade the last 3 or 4 trips I've taken. At the Hyatt Maui, I went from a base room to an oceanview room, and that was during Christmas time. The Grand Hyatt Seattle gave me the best possible room that wasn't a suite, even though it felt like a suite. These are just examples of my experience as a Discoverist so maybe I'm just lucky or maybe there isn't much difference between Discoverist and Explorist as far as upgrades go.
If you go to Vegas a lot. The Explorer status is pretty good since you can get Mlife or MGM Gold status, which mean they wave your resort fees. If that partnership didn't exist then I agree with most people that the Explorer status is a yawner.
I'm an Explorist now. I would say the free upgrades are of some value (~$30/night) about 25% of the time. Lounge passes are pretty much useless but the 2p check out is quite useful. I currently have 22 nights and could easily see 3 more nights thru end of year. I'm in a situation wondering if it's worth it to push 5 more nights to get to 30 to requalify again.
To requalify for Explorist, I am pretty sure all you have to do is match status to MLife Gold this year and then match back to Hyatt Explorist next year.
I’m not even at 30 nights for the year yet (all but 5 are leisure) so it doesn’t look like I’ll be hitting Globalist for next year.
Which led me to think - imho, the best perk of Globalist status is the no-resort-fees on any stays feature.
For this example, let’s say that resort fees average around $40/night. If I LOSE Globalist status and attempt to earn it again next year, 60 nights...
I’m not even at 30 nights for the year yet (all but 5 are leisure) so it doesn’t look like I’ll be hitting Globalist for next year.
Which led me to think - imho, the best perk of Globalist status is the no-resort-fees on any stays feature.
For this example, let’s say that resort fees average around $40/night. If I LOSE Globalist status and attempt to earn it again next year, 60 nights * $40 per night = $2400 in fees to be paid just to claw back G status. That sounds painful (and all will be leisure stays).
But with Hyatt properties near me averaging $250-$300/night, there’s no chance I’ll pay to renew G status this year.
Expensive hobby, for sure.
I agree with the others about the uselessness of elite status with Hyatt unless it is Globalist or Lifetime Globalist (@Lucky are you almost within reach of it?) I never had any upgrades of any kind as a Discoverist or Explorist. I think that the only time I had any really good proactive service was with the old Hyatt program. At one of the Grand Hyatt’s I asked for a late checkout and I was...
I agree with the others about the uselessness of elite status with Hyatt unless it is Globalist or Lifetime Globalist (@Lucky are you almost within reach of it?) I never had any upgrades of any kind as a Discoverist or Explorist. I think that the only time I had any really good proactive service was with the old Hyatt program. At one of the Grand Hyatt’s I asked for a late checkout and I was granted a late checkout until 6 pm. I never had a late checkout that late even with top tier status with other programs stating that 4 pm was the best they can do.
My experience is totally different from the idealistic take you offer in this post. As an Explorist you get NOTHING except maybe a “Thanks for being Explorist”. The upgrades are non-existent (try telling a property like The Confidante Miami Beach that you want an oceanfront balcony room because you’re an Explorist). Not even free continental breakfast. It is quite simply put an absolute waste of time, money and energy to purse this tier.
This, to me, is a big problem with Hyatt. Yes, earning and keeping globalist is lower than the top-tier threshold of other programs but the benefits are out of wack. You're never going to get anything substantive as an explorist as popular full-service property. At the same time, it isn't a nothing status. Considering how hard it is to find a Hyatt property, 30 nights (assuming no credit card nights or bonus promos) isn't insignificant....
This, to me, is a big problem with Hyatt. Yes, earning and keeping globalist is lower than the top-tier threshold of other programs but the benefits are out of wack. You're never going to get anything substantive as an explorist as popular full-service property. At the same time, it isn't a nothing status. Considering how hard it is to find a Hyatt property, 30 nights (assuming no credit card nights or bonus promos) isn't insignificant. 30 nights at a Hyatt Place is pure hell. I'll finish the year as a globalist with around 65 nights. Of those 65, less than 7 are at full-service properties. Try sleeping 50 nights at Hyatt Place.
Are you ok?
I love Hyatt Place
I made it to Explorist this year and I can confirm that it indeed it is a total yawner.
Explorist is a terrible tier. I've never been a Globalist and likely never will be, but I'm content to stay a Discoverist simply because overspending just to make Explorist isn't worth it for me at all. The benefits just aren't there.
The only World of Hyatt status worth anything is globalist. For domestic US travelers outside major cities, finding a Hyatt is difficult. Spending 30, 40, 50 or 60+ nights in a Hyatt Place is hell on earth. Marriott ambassador or titanium are arguably not worth it, but platinum is. For most travelers, the benefits of Marriott platinum are going to be better than Hyatt's second-highest status.
And P.S. World of Hyatt's elite status tiers need...
The only World of Hyatt status worth anything is globalist. For domestic US travelers outside major cities, finding a Hyatt is difficult. Spending 30, 40, 50 or 60+ nights in a Hyatt Place is hell on earth. Marriott ambassador or titanium are arguably not worth it, but platinum is. For most travelers, the benefits of Marriott platinum are going to be better than Hyatt's second-highest status.
And P.S. World of Hyatt's elite status tiers need new names. I imagine explorist, globalist, etc. don't translate well either.
Are you ok?
You need some help?
Hyatt Place are amazing hotels
Got a suite upgrade as an Explorist at HR Vancouver and HR Calgary but not at other properties, only upgrades are to 'nicer' rooms, with loose definitions from each property. However, in general I've been treated really well as Explorist ~ free water, comp and discounted lounge access, and comp coffee beverages.
Hitting Globalist is indeed difficult. Most people, unless business travel is a major components of their daily lives, do not spend 60 nights...
Got a suite upgrade as an Explorist at HR Vancouver and HR Calgary but not at other properties, only upgrades are to 'nicer' rooms, with loose definitions from each property. However, in general I've been treated really well as Explorist ~ free water, comp and discounted lounge access, and comp coffee beverages.
Hitting Globalist is indeed difficult. Most people, unless business travel is a major components of their daily lives, do not spend 60 nights in a hotel per year. Hyatt small footprint relative to others also complicate things. However, the places where we can use the lounge, the certs are really handy. I think Hyatt also positioned itself well here and making Globalist status to be aspirational. In return, Hyatt treated Globalist really really well - stayed a few times on award stays as Globalist and the treatments were excellent that we are considering empty mattress run just to get to 60 nights.
Explorist the the single most moronic award structure of any hotel program. You can get a free low level award night through milestone benefits. You can earn lounge passes. But you cannot use the lounge passes on free night earned through stays. That was the moment I dumped Hyatt and never looked back. In general, trying to find opportunities use lounge passes was far too complicated compared to other plans. Points bonus for Explorist is...
Explorist the the single most moronic award structure of any hotel program. You can get a free low level award night through milestone benefits. You can earn lounge passes. But you cannot use the lounge passes on free night earned through stays. That was the moment I dumped Hyatt and never looked back. In general, trying to find opportunities use lounge passes was far too complicated compared to other plans. Points bonus for Explorist is a joke. The only consistently useful benefit I had from Explorist was 2:00 checkout, which was consistently available. Oddly, I seemed to have more luck with upgrades as Explorist at Independent affiliates than Hyatt properties. Hyatt is a program for consultants that put hotel costs to client (and paid bloggers). For nearly everyone else paying inflated Hyatt room rates to stay in generally unremarkable properties to earn top tier status is moronic. Anything below a top tier status is a waste of time. Discoverist? Enjoy that bottle of water…Hyatt: Most Overrated Program Ever.
Please get some help
Enjoy IHG
Just get the Aspire.... What an amazing card, guarantee Lounge, along with breakfast for 2, let alone the upgrades.
What’s Aspire?
I believe @DCS
Uses that card only for Hilton not Hyatt
If you can get to 30 nights organically, does it make sense to spend your way to 60?
The lower end Hyatt places have free breakfasts for everyone. The larger Hyatt houses typically have reasonable buy ups to larger multi room apartments.
It depends on your stay pattern, but I generally don't see too much of a benefit of globalist over explorist at the lower end properties. Then it's a question of how many Hyatt...
If you can get to 30 nights organically, does it make sense to spend your way to 60?
The lower end Hyatt places have free breakfasts for everyone. The larger Hyatt houses typically have reasonable buy ups to larger multi room apartments.
It depends on your stay pattern, but I generally don't see too much of a benefit of globalist over explorist at the lower end properties. Then it's a question of how many Hyatt centrics and regular Hyatt hotels that you stay at without a lounge. Most regencies and grand hyatts should have a lounge to use your 4 upgrade certs.
Waiving resort fees and parking fees on award stays makes globalist awesome. But explorist is pretty well balanced, priority lines, some point bonuses, nicer rooms club access for most of the times you have a club.
This is the same problem for IHG. Domestically outside of big cities with Intercontinental or Kimpton properties, if you're just doing Holiday Inn Express, which on average has nicer and newer properties than Holiday Inn, you're better off with IHG's second-highest status (platinum). It comes with the credit card.
if you redeem a club lounge certificate at a hotel that has closed their lounge, or isn't offering food in the lounge, will they give you breakfast?
Unfortunately, not. They won't let you redeem a lounge certificate if the lounge is closed. I had a bunch of lounge certificates expire for this reason. All of the Hyatt hotels I visited had closed lounges, so couldn't use the certificates.
I haven't stayed at a Hyatt in the United States with an open club lounge since before the pandemic. Houston, Toronto, Buffalo, San Francisco, Pittsburgh. They're either closed or they never had a lounge in the first place.
LA-area Explorist, and I've been successful in securing breakfast in lieu of the closed lounge at the LAX Hyatt Regency.