In addition to expanding their footprint via partnerships (such as earning and redemption at so far about a third of Small Luxury Hotels of the World) they’ve also acquired Two Roads Hospitality which manages:

• Destination Hotels
  
• Joie de Vivre
  
• Alila
  
• Thompson Hotels
  
• tommie

Destination Hotels comprises about half the portfolio, with Joie de Vivre and Alila each less than half as large with around 20 properties each, and Thompson half as large still. tommie has not yet launched.

I broke news of this acquisition before it was announced and in December shared that Two Roads would be incorporated into World of Hyatt in 2019.

Hyatt has now announced that Thompson Hotels joins tomorrow March 28 and Joie de Vivre Hotels joins May 15. I have to give them credit for moving quickly, integration usually takes at least 18 months from deal close.

What Hotels Come Into the Portfolio

One of the open questions with the acquisition of Two Roads Hospitality, which doesn’t own the actual properties, is which hotels would come along into the Hyatt portfolio.

Hyatt suggests that 8 of the 9 Thompson Hotels will be participating properties: Thompson Chicago; The Beekman and Gild Hall in New York; Thomspon Nashville; Thompson Seattle; Thompson Toronto; The Cape in Cabo San Lucas; and Thompson Zihuatanejo. Thompson Playa del Carmen will not be part of Hyatt.

Thompson Zihuatanejo, credit Thompson Hotels

They don’t have final details to share on which hotels from other brands will join World of Hyatt, including for Joie de Vivre Hotels which is mere weeks from launch.

Joie de Vivre properties are centered largely in California, and combined with the 40 mostly limited-service properties they say they’re adding in the state by 2021 gives them more of a critical mass there, albeit with some major holes.

Here’s the current Joie de Vivre portfolio:

2000 Bonus Points

Hyatt is offering 2000 bonus points for your first eligible stay at each of these four brands completed by December 31, for a maximum of 8000 bonus points. No registration required.

A Weird, Stackable Free Night Offer

You’ll also receive a category 1-4 free night (valid for 180 days from date of issuance) if you complete an eligible stay at each of these four brands by December 31. No registration required.

Depending on when Alila and Destination Hotels actually join Hyatt that could be difficult to do. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a promotion whose terms require members to do something of indeterminate possibility.

What makes this interesting though is that if you stay at all four brands by December 31 you’ll earn 8000 total bonus points and a free night.

And Hyatt also offers a free night for every 5 of their brands you stay at. Four new brands makes it easier to earn these nights, adds an additional possible night to earn, and stays towards the new brand bonus offers also count towards the ongoing free night for every 5 brands offer.

The Really Special Properties are Still to Come

I’ve stayed 5 times at the Park Hyatt Hadahaa in the Maldives. It opened as an Alila. It’s interesting that the brand comes full circle and is now owned by Hyatt, with properties soon to become part of the World of Hyatt program.

At that point I have to assume that Alila leaves the GHA Discovery program, which is a shame. While GHA doesn’t do breakfast as a benefit, early check-in and late check-out are available as are upgrades, and they focus on local experiences, plus there are several reports of status matches.

Ventana Big Sur, while perhaps not in league with the Post Ranch Inn, still seems an idyllic stop along my dream to drive a 1966 Cobra down the Pacific Coast Highway.

Alila Uluwutu, Bali

Most of their properties are in Southeast Asia, along with India and China, and will make for incredible redemptions. Let’s just hope Hyatt isn’t temped to slot several into category 8 on the theory that they’re ‘new’ and so it wouldn’t be a devaluation. Category 8 after all is supposed to be reserved for SLH hotels!