World of Hyatt’s Milestone Rewards program offers members rewards for every 10 qualifying nights they stay in a calendar year. This program can confuse some people, so in this post I wanted to take a close look at how it works, especially in light of the changes that have been made as of 2024.
In this post:
What are Hyatt Milestone Rewards?
With the World of Hyatt Milestone Rewards program, you receive certain perks when you pass thresholds over the course of a calendar year.
For context, Hyatt has three elite tiers, which have the following qualification requirements:
- Discoverist status: 10 qualifying nights or 25,000 base points (equivalent to $5,000 of spending)
- Explorist status: 30 qualifying nights or 50,000 base points (equivalent to $10,000 of spending)
- Globalist status: 60 qualifying nights or 100,000 base points (equivalent to $20,000 of spending)
In addition to that, World of Hyatt offers perks for every 10 qualifying elite nights you earn over the course of a calendar year, up to 150 qualifying elite nights. There are also rewards for earning a certain number of base points, ranging from 25,000 to 100,000 (the equivalent of $5,000 to $20,000 of spending).
Full list of Hyatt Milestone Rewards benefits
With the above out of the way, it’s probably easiest to explain the program by going through all of the Milestone Rewards. Below is a chart showing all the Milestone Rewards benefits, from 10 elite nights, all the way up to 150 elite nights. Then below I’ll go into more detail on how each of these Milestone Rewards works.
10 nights or 25,000 base points
For earning 10 elite nights or 25,000 base points (equivalent to $5,000 of spending) you earn Discoverist status, which is the first Milestone Rewards perk. This offers a 10% points bonus, premium internet, upgrades to preferred rooms, late check-out, and more.
20 nights or 35,000 base points
For earning 20 elite nights or 35,000 base points (equivalent to $7,000 of spending) you receive your choice of one of three awards:
- Two Club Access Awards — each transferable certificate can be used to get club lounge access for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
- A 2K Next Stay Award — earn 2,000 bonus points on a member’s next stay at a Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Caption by Hyatt, or UrCove Hotel, within 180 days
- A $25 FIND Experience Credit — each transferable credit can be used for $25 off a FIND experience
Which of these is most valuable? If you have a use for the club access awards then I’d say those could be most valuable. Just keep in mind that Globalist members already receive club lounge access, so this would be most useful if gifting it to others. Alternatively, I think the 2,000 bonus points (which I value at ~$30) on the next stay at a limited service brand is more valuable than the $25 FIND credit.
30 nights or 50,000 base points
For earning 30 elite nights or 50,000 base points (equivalent to $10,000 of spending) you automatically receive the following two perks:
- Explorist status — this offers incremental perks like a 20% points bonus, room upgrades to the best available non-suites, and more
- A Category 1-4 Free Night Award — this transferable certificate is valid for 180 days, and lets you redeem for a standard room at any Category 1-4 property
On top of that, you receive your choice of one of three awards (the same as at the 20 night or 35,000 base point threshold):
- Two Club Access Awards — each transferable certificate can be used to get club lounge access for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
- A 2K Next Stay Award — earn 2,000 bonus points on a member’s next stay at a Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Caption by Hyatt, or UrCove Hotel, within 180 days
- A $25 FIND Experience Credit — each transferable credit can be used for $25 off a FIND experience
40 nights or 65,000 base points
For earning 40 elite nights or 65,000 base points (equivalent to $13,000 of spending) you automatically receive the following perk:
- One Guest of Honor Award — this transferable certificate offers Globalist perks for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
On top of that, you receive your choice of one of three awards:
- One Suite Upgrade Award — each transferable certificate can be used to confirm an upgrade to a standard suite for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
- 5,000 World of Hyatt points — have 5,000 World of Hyatt points deposited in your account or the account of someone you designate
- A $150 FIND Experience Credit — each transferable credit can be used for $150 off a FIND experience
Which of these is most valuable? If you have a use for the suite upgrade award that definitely has the most potential value, as that could get you thousands of dollars in value. Otherwise, I’d say the FIND credit could be worth more than the points (which I value at ~$75), assuming you’re interested in a FIND experience.
50 nights or 80,000 base points
For earning 50 elite nights or 80,000 base points (equivalent to $16,000 of spending) you receive your choice of one of three awards:
- Two Suite Upgrade Awards — each transferable certificate can be used to confirm an upgrade to a standard suite for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
- 5,000 World of Hyatt points — have 5,000 World of Hyatt points deposited in your account or the account of someone you designate
- A $150 FIND Experience Credit — each transferable credit can be used for $150 off a FIND experience
At this threshold there’s definitely a strong incentive to select the two suite upgrade awards, since there’s the same opportunity cost as at the 40 night threshold (where you only get one suite upgrade award).
60 nights or 100,000 base points
For earning 60 elite nights or 100,000 base points (equivalent to $20,000 of spending) you automatically receive the following four perks:
- Globalist status — this is Hyatt’s awesome top tier status, offering a 30% points bonus, upgrades to the best available rooms (including standard suites), 4PM late check-out, breakfast and/or club lounge, and more
- Two Suite Upgrade Awards — each transferable certificate can be used to confirm an upgrade to a standard suite for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
- A Category 1-7 Free Night Award — this transferable certificate is valid for 180 days, and lets you redeem for a standard room at any Category 1-7 property
- Two Guest of Honor Awards — each transferable certificate offers Globalist perks for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
- My Hyatt Concierge — get access to a dedicated point of contact who can help you with reservations, missing stay credits, and more
This is where World of Hyatt gets seriously rewarding. Best of all, you don’t have to make any selections here, as everything is earned automatically.
70, 80, or 90 nights
For earning 70, 80, and/or 90 elite nights (there’s no option to earn these rewards through base points) you automatically receive the following perk at each threshold:
- One Guest of Honor Award — this transferable certificate offers Globalist perks for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
On top of that, you receive your choice of one of three awards:
- One Suite Upgrade Award — each transferable certificate can be used to confirm an upgrade to a standard suite for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
- 10,000 World of Hyatt points — have 10,000 World of Hyatt points deposited in your account or the account of someone you designate
- A $300 FIND Experience Credit — each transferable credit can be used for $300 off a FIND experience
Which of these is most valuable? If you have a use for the suite upgrade award that definitely has the most potential value, as that could get you thousands of dollars in value. Otherwise, I’d say the FIND credit could be worth more than the points (which I value at ~$150), assuming you’re interested in a FIND experience.
100 nights
For earning 100 elite nights (there’s no option to earn this reward through base points) you automatically receive the following perk:
- A Category 1-7 Free Night Award — this transferable certificate is valid for 180 days, and lets you redeem for a standard room at any Category 1-7 property
On top of that, you receive your choice of one of three awards:
- One Suite Upgrade Award — each transferable certificate can be used to confirm an upgrade to a standard suite for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
- 10,000 World of Hyatt points — have 10,000 World of Hyatt points deposited in your account or the account of someone you designate
- A Miraval Extra Night Award — each transferable certificate can be used to get a second night free at any Miraval property on an eligible rate for up to double occupancy, whether paying cash or redeeming points
Which of these is most valuable? If you’re considering staying at a Miraval, then that definitely offers the most value, since a night could easily cost $1,000+, or up to 72,000 World of Hyatt points.
110, 120, 130, or 140 nights
For earning 110, 120, 130, or 140 elite nights (there’s no option to earn these rewards through base points) you automatically receive the following perk at each threshold:
- One Guest of Honor Award — this transferable certificate offers Globalist perks for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
On top of that, you receive your choice of one of three awards:
- One Suite Upgrade Award — each transferable certificate can be used to confirm an upgrade to a standard suite for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
- 10,000 World of Hyatt points — have 10,000 World of Hyatt points deposited in your account or the account of someone you designate
- A Miraval Extra Night Award — each transferable certificate can be used to get a second night free at any Miraval property on an eligible rate for up to double occupancy, whether paying cash or redeeming points
150 nights
For earning 150 elite nights (there’s no option to earn this reward through base points) you automatically receive the following perk:
- An Ultimate Free Night Award — this transferable certificate is valid for 180 days, and lets you redeem for a standard room at any Category 1-8 property, Category A-F all-inclusive resort, or participating Miraval resort
On top of that, you receive your choice of one of three awards:
- One Suite Upgrade Award — each transferable certificate can be used to confirm an upgrade to a standard suite for a stay of up to seven nights on an eligible rate, whether paying cash or redeeming points
- 10,000 World of Hyatt points — have 10,000 World of Hyatt points deposited in your account or the account of someone you designate
- A Miraval Extra Night Award — each transferable certificate can be used to get a second night free at any Miraval property on an eligible rate for up to double occupancy, whether paying cash or redeeming points
Hyatt Milestone Rewards FAQs
There’s some more nuance to the Hyatt Milestone Rewards program, and I figure it’s best to address that in the form of some frequently asked questions.
Why does Hyatt have the Milestone Rewards program?
The intent of the Milestone Rewards program is to increase member engagement beyond just the three elite tiers. The Milestone Rewards program offers incremental perks, so that you have an incentive to keep racking up elite nights either between elite tiers, or beyond Globalist status.
The program also creates customized rewards, so that members have more flexibility to select the benefits that they value most. Loyalty programs have evolved a lot over the years, and I think this program is a reflection of that.
Do elite nights earned through credit cards count toward Milestone Rewards?
Absolutely! Elite nights earned through World of Hyatt’s co-branded credit cards do count toward Milestone Rewards:
- 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 on an ongoing basis
- The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (review) offers five elite nights for every $10,000 spent per calendar year
Do promotional elite nights count toward Milestone Rewards?
Yes. If World of Hyatt has a promotion offering bonus elite nights (as we sometimes see for all members, and sometimes see for those with a co-branded credit card), then those nights would count toward Milestone Rewards.
Do you earn Milestone Rewards if you status match?
While World of Hyatt doesn’t have a formal status match program, we have sometimes seen targeted status matches, including for American AAdvantage members, thanks to the partnership between the brands.
If you do status match then you won’t receive Milestone Rewards. Milestone Rewards are entirely related to the number of elite nights in your account, rather than your status, and a status match typically doesn’t come with any elite nights.
What base points count toward Milestone Rewards?
World of Hyatt members earn five base points per eligible dollar of spending at Hyatt hotels. Those are the base points that would qualify toward Milestone Rewards. Meanwhile points earned through credit cards aren’t considered “base points” for these purposes.
Do you earn Milestone Rewards every year?
You sure do! Milestone Rewards aren’t a one time thing (unlike the Brand Explorer promotion), but rather are an ongoing benefit. Furthermore, you can earn all Milestone Rewards every year. In other words, if you were a Globalist last year, you’d still be able to receive rewards at all tiers this year.
How much time do you have to select Milestone Rewards?
For Milestone Rewards tiers where there’s a choice, you have to make your selection within 90 days. Meanwhile for those Milestone Rewards where there isn’t a choice, they’ll automatically be deposited in your account within days.
Do you need to register for Milestone Rewards?
There’s no registration required, and World of Hyatt members automatically earn these upon reaching thresholds. For the benefits where there are no choices, the Milestone Rewards will automatically post, while for those where there’s a choice, members will receive an email asking them to make a selection.
Do lifetime Globalist members automatically receive Milestone Rewards?
World of Hyatt members can earn lifetime Globalist status after earning one million base points in the program. Lifetime Globalist members automatically receive the following Milestone Rewards benefits every year:
- Four Suite Upgrade Awards
- Category 1-7 Free Night Award
- Access to My Hyatt Concierge
- Five Guest of Honor Awards
Lifetime Globalist members can earn all Milestone Rewards again based on annual activity. In other words, they can earn a lot more suite upgrade awards, free night awards, etc., than other Globalist members.
Which Milestone Rewards perks are transferable?
As of 2024, World of Hyatt has made a vast majority of Milestone Rewards perks transferable. Specifically, the following perks can now be gifted to other World of Hyatt members:
- Suite Upgrade Awards
- Free Night Awards
- Club Access Awards
- Miraval Extra Night Awards
- FIND Experience Credits
- World of Hyatt points
In the interest of being thorough, the following perks can’t be transfered to others:
- Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist status
- Access to My Hyatt Concierge
- 2K Next Stay Awards
How to earn Hyatt elite nights
On the most basic level you earn one elite night for every night you stay at Hyatt when booking directly through Hyatt channels (this includes both award and revenue nights, and booking through Hyatt Privé qualifies).
On top of that, the World of Hyatt Credit Card and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card offer the opportunity to earn additional elite nights:
- For the personal version of the card, you receive five elite nights annually just for having the card, plus two elite nights for every $5,000 spent on the card; the card also offers a Category 1-4 free night certificate on your account anniversary every year, a second Category 1-4 free free night award when you spend $15,000 on the card in a cardmember year, and Discoverist status for as long as you have the card
- For the business version of the card, you receive five elite nights for every $10,000 spent on the card in a calendar year; the card also offers Discoverist status for as long as you have the card, and $100 in Hyatt credits every anniversary year
Bottom line
The Hyatt Milestone Rewards program offers benefits for every 10 elite nights you earn annually, all the way up to 150. This program is now more flexible than ever before, given the increased thresholds were these awards are available, plus the increased transferability of awards. Milestone Rewards continues to be an awesome program.
What has your experience been with the Milestone Rewards program? Do you have any questions about Milestone Rewards that I haven’t answered?
is there an expiration for these awards after you select one?
Hi, if I book a cash stay of $7,000 for a 10 nights stay on my personal Hyatt card, does that mean I will earn 20 qualifying nights on top of the 10 qualifying nights for the stay?
Oh, and how long are the Miraval extra night certificates good for?
Hi Ben--can the ultimate free night and Miraval extra night be used together for a two night stay?
Nice positive change this year. Last year I hit 122 nights and didn't get anything for the 110 & 120 night level. Good to see the heavy users will be rewarded.