Hyatt hosted a happy hour for Milepoint at the Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile last night. I’ll review the property shortly.
Jeff Zidell and a couple of other people from the Gold Passport program were there, and they picked up open bar (!) for the group along with all sorts of snacks and appetizers. So a big thanks to Hyatt Gold Passport!
Towards the end of the evening Jeff took questions. Two of the questions were about the Diamond status trial and challenge, and about toothpaste. And the answers to both contained good news.
Jeff said that they have no plans to eliminate or change the Diamond status challenge. They “accept refugees from all programs.”
Hyatt will give temporary top-tier Diamond status to elite members of other programs, and offer an expedited way to keep that Diamond status.
In general that means if you are a Starwood or IHG Rewards Platinum, or a Hilton or Marriott Gold or Platinum, Hyatt will give you Diamond status for 60 days — and then if you stay 12 nights during that time you get to keep the status through the end of the membership year.
Officially you need to be able to demonstrate stay activity in the qualifying elite status account you already have (technically Marriott Gold comped from United Premier Gold or the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Visa, and Hilton Gold from the American Express Surpass or Hilton Reserve Visa, don’t count — but frequently Hyatt doesn’t actually ask you to verify your stay activity).
If you did a status challenge now, and completed the challenge, you would keep it through February 2015.
Since you get Diamond right away and for 60 days, you get all the benefits of Diamond immediately — including (4) confirmed suite upgrade certificates. You can use these to confirm a suite at the time of booking if available on nearly any paid stay (any paid rate, including cash and points booked through Hyatt — and some paid rates through other channels).
In addition to confirmed-at-booking suites, Hyatt also offers the most generous breakfast benefit of any major chain — if a club lounge isn’t available, then it’s full (not continental) breakfast in the restaurant for up to 4 guests registered to the room. And if the hotel has a club lounge which is simply closed (as some do on the weekends), they also give you 2500 bonus points for the stay.
Hyatt is exceptionally generous during the challenge. They even give you 1000 bonus points per night during the first 6 nights of your challenge (something I had forgotten until Scott at HackMyTrip mentioned it yesterday).
Even if you don’t complete the challenge, you still keep the suite upgrades through their expiration (February 2015, which is when you need to reserve the suite by and not when you need to stay by).
You can request a challenge by emailing goldpassport@hyatt.com.
Meanwhile, whether an elite or not, toothpaste is returning as an in-room amenity. Many Hyatt guests have missed having Aquafresh toothpaste as one of the bathroom amenities. All hotels are required to bring back toothpaste by March 31, although they will not be required to replace the toothpaste tube daily.
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Can you confirm… Hyatt Diamond status challenge is a one time good deal?? If you completed the challenge let’s say, 3 years ago; and you’d like to make Diamond again, is the challange an option? – Thanks,
Do point nights count?
you said points/cash does , and understand that
from Scott at hack my trip:
“Pretty much anything you can book online at Hyatt.com is an “eligible” rate
@bill – straight up awards (points) nights do not count towards the challenge
When would be the best time to start the challenge, in order to get the most out of the stud, if achieved? In other words, If I do the challenge in July, Would I keep the status until Feb 2016?
@Solo3 – it’s supposedly once in a lifetime but I do know of people that have done it more than once
Good news on the toothpaste… I’m down to a mere 65 tubes of Hyatt Aquafresh at home!
Any Hyatt stay qualifies?
Even category 1 Hyatt Place?
Even Hyatt Place category 1 cash and points or paid stay booked through Hyatt. Awards do not count. MGM M Life stays do not count.
Great info….thanks…….so the cocktail party a foreshadowing of a new Hyatt/Milepoint announcement?
@JustSaying well, for the record I will deny any rumors that Milepoint will be acquiring the Hyatt chain.
Sorry for the cyptic question. It should have been: Is Milepoint soon to announce any new deal like the previous 10% off Hyatt Gift card deal?
When would be the best time to start the challenge, in order to get the most out of the status, if achieved? In other words, If I do the challenge in July, Would I keep the status until Feb 2016?
EAGERLY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS 4 & 12
ANOTHER SITE DID SAY A CHALLENGE STARTED AND COMPLETED QUICKLY STARTING 7/1 WOULD BE GOOD FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MONTHS
Hey Gary et team,
if I do the challenge & subsequently spend 20K on the Hyatt card (which earns 5 nights toward diamond), does that cut down the # of actual nights I have to stay to 7 only? Likewise 40K on the Chase Hyatt card earns 12 nights will actually get me the diamond status if I spend that much after the challenge? thanks
@David – credit card spend does not count towards the challenge
Checked out of Park Hyatt Tokyo on March 30 and no tooth paste yet except for the tiny no name brand tube that comes with the toothbrush.
Hyatt Regency Tokyo – Checked in April 1 and the same thing here. Called housekeeping today, April 2 and no AquaFresh.
Is this for domestic hotels only?