World of Hyatt announced upcoming changes to the program, that will come into effect from 1 January 2024.
Guest of Honor Changes
Guest of Honor (GOH) is a Globalist member benefit (till 31 Dec 2023). With the GOH perk, Globalist members can book stays for their friends or family using points, and they will receive Globalist benefits like free breakfast, suite upgrades and late checkout.
This will soon change.
Key points to note
- Globalist members will no longer enjoy unlimited GOH benefit; can now be earned only through Milestone Rewards (more on this later)
- GOH awards can be used for a single stay of up to 7 nights
- GOH benefit can be applied to paid or award stays (previously only award stays)
- Members can gift themselves GOH awards, if they are not already a Globalist member
- Members who gift GOH awards to others will also receive elite qualifying night for the recipients’ stays
- Members who have (re)qualified for the Globalist status in 2023 will receive 5 GOH awards on 1 Jan 2024
- Existing Globalist members who do not re-qualify for the status in 2023 will continue to receive the legacy (old) GOH perk till the status expires on 29 Feb 2024
Milestone Rewards Changes
World of Hyatt members are awarded Milestone Rewards every 10 nights, starting at 20 nights or 35k Base Points.
All Hyatt members earn 5 Base Points per US$1 spent on an eligible hotel stay, before taxes and fees. In other words, one can receive the 20-night milestone after spending US$7,000 pre-tax, regardless of the number of nights stayed.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of what’s changing from 1 January 2024:
| Qualifying Nights/Points | Till 2023 (old) | From 2024 (new) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Nights or 35k Base Points | 2x Club Access Awards | CHOOSE ONE • 2x Club Access Awards • 2k Next Stay Award • US$25 FIND credit |
| 30 Nights or 50k Base Points | 1x Cat 1-4 Free Night Award + 2x Club Access Awards | 1x Cat 1-4 Free Night Award + CHOOSE ONE • 2x Club Access Awards • 2k Next Stay Award • US$25 FIND Credit |
| 40 Nights or 65k Base Points | CHOOSE ONE • 5k Bonus Points • US$100 Hyatt Gift Card • US$150 FIND Credit | 1x GOH Award + CHOOSE ONE • 5k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award • US$150 FIND Credit |
| 50 Nights or 80k Base Points | 2x Suite Upgrade Awards | CHOOSE ONE • 5k Bonus Points • 2x Suite Upgrade Awards • US$150 FIND Credit |
| 60 Nights or 100k Base Points | 1x Cat 1-7 Free Night Award + 2x Suite Upgrade Awards + My Hyatt Concierge | 1x Cat 1-7 Free Night Award + 2x Suite Upgrade Awards + My Hyatt Concierge + 2x GOH Awards |
| 70 Nights | CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award | 1x GOH Award + CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award • US$300 FIND Credit |
| 80 Nights | CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award | 1x GOH Award + CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award • US$300 FIND Credit |
| 90 Nights | CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award | 1x GOH Award + CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award • US$300 FIND Credit |
| 100 Nights | CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award | 1x Cat 1-7 Free Night Award + CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award • Miraval Extra Night |
| 110 Nights | – | 1x GOH Award + CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award • Miraval Extra Night |
| 120 Nights | – | 1x GOH Award + CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award • Miraval Extra Night |
| 130 Nights | – | 1x GOH Award + CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award • Miraval Extra Night |
| 140 Nights | – | 1x GOH Award + CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award • Miraval Extra Night |
| 150 Nights | – | 1x Ultimate Free Night Award + CHOOSE ONE • 10k Bonus Points • 1x Suite Upgrade Award • Miraval Extra Night |
My take on these changes
Aside from the fact that GOH benefits will no longer be unlimited, these are all positive changes to the program.
As I am no-longer living in hotels, I’ve been prioritizing staying in Marriott Bonvoy hotels for the following reasons:
- Marriott’s Lifetime Platinum status is much easier to achieve vs Hyatt’s spend-based requirement, and I am only 2 years away
- Marriott has over 7 times more properties around the world vs Hyatt
- Throughout my past 3 years as a Globalist, I did not see a huge difference in benefits as a Hyatt Globalist vs Marriott Titanium, especially outside North America
Related: Head-to-head: The best Hotel Loyalty Programs
It was nice having Hyatt’s Globalist status, but as a Singapore-based traveller, I will not miss it that much, even with these (mostly) positive changes.
The good news is, if you are based in Singapore and Hyatt Globalist is useful to you, there is now a new Category 1 property just across the causeway, if you need mattress-runs.