Hyatt Gold Passport is upping the ante and making their program slightly more attractive by offering new benefits for their top tier guests. In an email which is slowly circulating to Diamond Elite members, Hyatt announced that Diamond Elites will enjoy premium wi-fi free of charge, along with two complimentary one-time use United Club passes, and introduce a new perk called Guest of Honor.
Guest of Honor
Guest of Honor is here! Treat those you love the most to an experience they won’t forget. Now when you redeem your points for a free night for your friends and family, they’ll receive the exclusive in-hotel perks of your Diamond membership. Your Guest of Honor will receive the royal treatment, including:
- The best room available upon arrival, excluding suites
- A special welcome amenity
- Exclusive access to the Regency Club® or Grand Club® lounge
- Daily complimentary breakfast
- An upgrade to premium WI-FI where available
- 4 p.m. late checkout
So give the gift of an exciting new destination or a relaxing weekend to your Guest of Honor. We look forward to welcoming them soon.
Hyatt’s Guest of Honor is an industry first, which allows Diamond Elites to book hotel stays using their points for their friends and family. During the stay, the recipient will enjoy all the same perks that the Diamond Elite usually enjoys, without the need of having status themselves! Not only does this make points more valuable, it’s the only major hotel program that offers the extension of elite benefits beyond their actually members. To book a hotel room for friends and family call 800-400-221. The Guest of Honor promotion is valid March 2 – December 30, 2015 and is not valid at M Life Resorts or Hyatt Residence Club Resorts. There is no word yet if this is a promotion for the 2015 program year or if it will carry forward through 2016.
United Club Passes
Get ready to sit back and relax in the comfort and convenience of over 45 United Club locations at airports served by United Airlines® worldwide. Two complimentary United Club one-time passes are yours annually, starting March 1, 2015.
This perk really is just icing on the cake and will make the entire vacation more enjoyable. From the airport to the hotel, Hyatt says, “we have you covered”. Although the perk is not nearly as extensive or as good as Marriott and United’s partnership, as Marriott’s Top Tier benefit includes United Silver Elite status, it’s a way for the hotel chain to let their frequent guests know that they are appreciated. Each pass appears to be good for only one person at any United Club worldwide.
Upgrade to Premium Wi-Fi
Whether traveling to pitch new business or reuniting with loved ones– you said it was essential to stay connected on the road. And we listened.
Starting February 14, enjoy free Wi-Fi on any device during your stay, regardless of how you book or where you’re traveling. Connect in your guestroom and social spaces at all Hyatt brands. And to all Hyatt Gold Passport® Diamond and Platinum members, you’ll receive a complimentary upgrade to premium Wi-Fi service whenever available.
Most major hotel chains now offer basic WI-FI to all guests free of charge in an effort to keep guests connected. Complimentary hotel WI-FI tends to be a joke and has extremely slow upload/download speed and many hotels now sell premium WI-FI with faster speeds at a outrageous price. Marriott and SPG already offer free premium internet to their top elite customers, whereas Hilton only offers basic internet to their top elite. This enhancement catches Hyatt up with a benefit Marriott and SPG has been offering for some time and gives their program a slight edge over Hilton.
Overall I am happy to see Hyatt improving their Gold Passport frequent guest program. I partook the Hyatt Passport challenged last October, and earned Hyatt Diamond status after just 12 nights. I was lucky enough to sign up for the promotion just a few days before Hyatt stopped offering it and have been impressed thus far by the two Hyatt properties I’ve stayed at: Hyatt Place Roseville and Hyatt Regency Sacramento. Hyatt is still not my go to hotel chain, as they do not have enough worldwide destinations, but thus far, their properties and beds are much more comfortable than many Marriott and Hiltons I’ve experienced!
What do you think of these enhancements? Do the new enhancements make you want to switch your loyalty to Hyatt or keep it longer?
