Last-minute strategies for earning World of Hyatt elite status
Editor's Note
As the end of the year approaches, you should consider your progress toward any hotel elite statuses you've been working toward this year. Log in to your account, and check whether you've earned the status or still need more nights, points or other metrics.
If you're reading this article, chances are good you're striving for World of Hyatt elite status. Many Hyatt loyalists likely have their eye on top-tier Hyatt Globalist elite status, but several lower elite status tiers are easier to obtain.
Regardless of which World of Hyatt elite status you're working for this year, read on for last-minute strategies to get you across the finish line.
World of Hyatt elite status overview
Hyatt uses a calendar year for its qualification period, so you'll need to accrue the following between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 each year:
- Discoverist: 10 nights, 25,000 base points or three meetings and events
- Explorist: 30 nights, 50,000 base points or 10 meetings and events
- Globalist: 60 nights, 100,000 base points or 20 meetings and events
Once you earn a specific World of Hyatt elite status, you'll keep it for the following calendar year plus two additional months. You'll also earn World of Hyatt milestone rewards each year starting at 20 nights or 35,000 base points.
World of Hyatt status is worth a lot, especially at the top-tier Globalist level. However, there are relatively few shortcuts to earn World of Hyatt elite status. And although Hyatt is expanding its footprint in many regions, it's still much smaller than Marriott Bonvoy or IHG One Rewards.
Related: How much value does World of Hyatt status provide when you book directly?
Strategies for earning more qualifying nights
If you plan to qualify for a specific Hyatt elite status based on nights, now is a good time to check your progress. If you haven't reached your target yet, consider how many nights you'll get through stays before the end of the year. If your currently planned trips won't get you to your qualifying-night goal, here are some strategies you could use.
Open the World of Hyatt Credit Card
The World of Hyatt Credit Card gives primary cardholders five tier-qualifying night credits each calendar year. Existing cardholders will get five credits within the first eight weeks of each calendar year. But new cardholders will get the five credits within eight weeks of opening their card. While that's cutting it close, these often reach your account much faster — so you'd hopefully receive them in time to help this calendar year.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card offers many useful perks that can easily justify paying its $95 annual fee. Check out our World of Hyatt Credit Card review for all the details.
Related: 6 reasons I love my World of Hyatt Card and plan to keep it for the long term
Spend on your World of Hyatt card
There are actually two currently available World of Hyatt credit cards: a personal version and a business version. While only the personal version gives you five qualifying nights each calendar year (as discussed above), both offer night credits when you meet set spending thresholds with your card:
- World of Hyatt Credit Card: Two qualifying night credits for every $5,000 you spend on the card
- World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: Five qualifying night credits for every $10,000 you spend on the card
There's no cap on the number of qualifying night credits you can earn via credit card spending. So, you could theoretically spend your way to whatever number of nights you need. However, we don't recommend making purchases you don't need or can't afford to earn qualifying night credits.
Related: Credit card showdown: World of Hyatt card vs. World of Hyatt Business card
Book cheap award nights
One final option if you need more night credits is staying more nights with Hyatt. You could do a mattress run at the nearest Category 1 Hyatt hotel to your house. But we recommend making a trip (or staycation) out of it.
You can check out the current Category 1 Hyatt hotels via a map on Hyatt's website. You can, of course, book a paid rate or a higher category Hyatt hotel. But we suggest considering award nights at Category 1 hotels since these nights will cost you 3,500, 5,000 or 6,500 points per night. If you have flexibility, use the Hyatt award calendar to find off-peak nights that only cost 3,500 points per night.
Related: Your guide to World of Hyatt award charts
Strategies for earning more base points
Based on Hyatt's terms and conditions, you can earn base points as follows:
- 5 base points per dollar on eligible room rates
- 5 base points per dollar on eligible incidental charges to your room or guest folio (even on ineligible room rates)
- Varying rates on eligible non-stay charges, including 10 base points per dollar on Find Experiences and 5 base points per dollar on Lindblad Expeditions
Unfortunately, many of the Hyatt points you earn are bonus points instead of base points. So, if you are short of the base points needed for a specific elite status tier, you'll likely need to spend real cash to top off your base points. In some cases, getting the remaining nights you need for your desired status might be easier or cheaper than chasing base points. But this will depend on your specific situation.
Related: How to get top-tier Hyatt Globalist status for life
Other strategies for earning Hyatt elite status quickly
There are also several other ways to quickly earn World of Hyatt elite status.
Get a Hyatt credit card
If you only want to snag Discoverist status, you could open the World of Hyatt Credit Card or World of Hyatt Business Credit Card. Both cards offer complimentary Discoverist status for the primary cardholder. Plus, the primary cardholder can also gift Discoverist status to up to five employees with the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card.
As mentioned above, both cards also let the primary cardholder earn qualifying night credits through spending on their card.
Related: Why I aim to spend $15K on my World of Hyatt Credit Card each year
Look for a status challenge
If you have American AAdvantage elite status and have linked your AAdvantage and World of Hyatt accounts, you can occasionally enjoy status match or challenge opportunities with Hyatt.
Through Nov. 30, 2023, AAdvantage elite members can enroll in a trial tier offer with World of Hyatt if they haven't already used such an offer this calendar year. Once you enroll, you'll begin a 90-day trial period during which you'll enjoy World of Hyatt Explorist status.
If you complete 10 tier-qualifying nights at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide, Small Luxury Hotels of the World hotels and Lindblad Expeditions during your trial period, you'll maintain Explorist status through February 2025. But AAdvantage members with Platinum Pro status or higher also have the opportunity to earn World of Hyatt Globalist status through February 2025 by completing at least 20 tier-qualifying nights during their 90-day trial period.
Related: American Airlines elite members can register for a World of Hyatt status challenge
Bottom line
It's always best to earn elite status organically through travel you're already doing. But, if you find yourself just short of your desired Hyatt elite status tier as the end of the year approaches, it may make sense to book a few extra nights, spend on the World of Hyatt Credit Card or World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, book a Find experience or use one of the other strategies discussed in this article to reach your goal.