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World of Hyatt Slashes Elite Requirements

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With travel significantly reduced you can still earn elite status. The World of Hyatt slashes elite requirements making it possible for you to earn elite status with half the number of stays and points. This also applies to Globalist status. Here’s how.

Elite Requirements Halved

If you can’t travel as much next year, you can still earn World of Hyatt elite status thanks to the elite requirements being halved.

Normally, to earn World of Hyatt (WOH) elite status you have to stay 10 to 60 nights or earn 25,000 to 100,000 base points a year.

For the 2021 calendar year, you can earn it with half the number of stays and points:

  • Discoverist – stay 5 nights or earn 12,500 base points
  • Explorist – stay 15 nights or earn 25,000 base points
  • Globalist – stay 30 nights or earn 50,000 base points

Pro-tip: The requirements to earn Lifetime Globalist status has not changed.

All stays count towards elite status. This includes paid stays, points stays, and free night award stays, including free nights earned with Milestone Rewards and the World of Hyatt credit card.

Milestone Rewards tiers are not reduced. You still need to have the required number of night stays to earn each Milestone Reward.

Pro-tip: Combine this with the Hyatt Bonus Journeys promotion and you can earn elite status even faster.

Earn Elite Status Faster

You can earn elite status faster because the World of Hyatt has extended the Bonus Journeys promotion.

The Bonus Journeys promotion gives you double elite night aka tier qualifying nights for all stays through February 28, 2021.

Each night you stay, you’ll earn a second night towards elite status.

But you have to register for the promotion by January 15, 2021.

You can earn elite status faster and for less money or points.

Pro-tip: If you time your stays right, you can earn Globalist status after 13 nights.

13 Nights to Earn Globalist Status

Timing is everything. With the right timing, it will only take 13 nights to earn Globalist status. This little travel hack is easy.

With Globalist status, you get free breakfast, free upgrades to suites, late check out, early checkin, and more!

Hyatt counts a stay as one that occurs in the same year as check out. Some people make this mistake with their World of Hyatt account at the end of the year and they lose their elite status.

But this year, you can use it to your advantage.

By registering for the Bonus Journeys promotion, you’ll earn double tier qualifying nights for stays. This gives you two nights credit for every night you stay.

Checking out next year before the end of February means your stays count for the 2021 elite qualifying year. So a 13 night stay gives you 26 tier qualifying nights.

The World of Hyatt credit card gives you 5 nights towards elite status.

When you put it all together, you can earn Globalist status after 13 nights in 3 steps:

  • Register for the Bonus Journey promotion
  • Stay 13 nights with a checkout before the end of February (13 x 2 = 26 nights)
  • Have the World of Hyatt card (5 nights)

Counting up the nights, you have 26 nights from stays and 5 nights from the WOH card gives you 31 tier qualifying nights. With World of Hyatt slashing the elite requirements means you earn Globalist status after 13 nights.

Pro-tip: This is a great deal but it’s not for everyone.

Why You Might Want to Pass

Combing the reduced elite requirements, Bonus Journeys promo, and having a World of Hyatt card can quickly get anyone, even the infrequent traveler Globalist status.

With Globalist status comes amazing benefits like free breakfast, free suite upgrades, and late checkout. Sounds great, right?

It is.

Especially when you can earn Globalist status after only 13 nights.

But there’s a catch.

When you earn Globalist status with less than the normal 60 nights, you earn Globalist lite status.

Like a diet soda, Globalist lite gives you almost all the goodness of Globalist status but with only some of the best parts.

The best parts being, a free Category 1 to 7 award night, 2 confirmed suite upgrades a year, and a My Hyatt Concierge (MHC).

You can use confirmed suite upgrades on bookings of 7 nights or less. Guaranteeing that your vacation is spent in a suite vs hoping for the free upgrade.

It’s a great deal for some but not for everyone especially if you value the best Globalist perks.

Conclusion

The World of Hyatt slashes elite requirements making it possible for you to earn elite status with half the number of stays.

With the right combination and timing: Bonus Journey promotion, checkout next year before the end of Februrary, and a World of Hyatt card, you can earn Globalist status after 13 nights.

But this offer isn’t for everyone.

For infrequent travelers who want free breakfast, the occasional suite upgrade, and who stay at inexpensive hotels, earning Globalist status from only 30 (or 13) nights is a great deal.

If you want the free Category 1 to 7 hotel night, guaranteed suite upgrades for 7 nights, and access to a My Hyatt Concierge (MHC), then you’ll want to earn Globalist status the normal way…after 60 nights.

Despite my travel hacking nature, because I value all my Globalist benefits, I’m earning my status with 60 nights. With the Bonus Journeys promotion I only have to stay 30 nights.

Are you going to earn Globalist status using the reduced elite requirements?

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Carl

Tuesday 1st of December 2020

I agree that there are compelling arguments for earning full vs. “lite” Globalist. I’m on the fence but will be doing some soul searching over the coming weeks.

Debra Schroeder

Wednesday 2nd of December 2020

Hi Carl,

Given what happened this year, I'm confident you'll come up with the decision that's right for you.

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