Don’t redeem your miles for hurricane relief if you can spare cash. The redemption rates are never that good. It’s much better to use the points to offset your own travel expenses and donate the cash you would have spent.
I love when travel providers help out in times of need around the world if they’re a worldwide business, at home where they do business, but I feel a little funny about calling to much attention to the charitable giving.
Hyatt Regency Houston, credit: Hyatt
I’ve always tried to do good works when I can as silently as possible and that may be my Jewish upbringing. I was taught that the highest level of charity is helping someone become independent. But after that it’s giving to those in need without knowing to whom one gives and without the recipient knowing from whom they received. It’s being done, then, for the good work itself and not for the notoriety of the act.
So I get a little uncomfortable with brands who send out messaging about their giving. If it inspires others to give though then it makes sense to me.
And so I’m somewhat torn by this message I received from Hyatt:
On the one hand it’s:
- Charitable giving, I’m loathe to criticize that
- A matching campaign, so worth publicizing if it turns out additional donations
On the other hand… up to $25,000?
- Hyatt has over 600 hotels, this is less than $40 per hotel
- World of Hyatt has about 20 million members, so about 1/8th of a cent per member
By all means donate $25,000. Though I’ve tried to help, it’s more than I have done. But don’t brag about it.
In any case they’re giving to the Red Cross in a matching donation (so later). That will help replenish the Red Cross’ coffers, which is a good thing, but it isn’t really hurricane relief in any case. I’d be more interested in what Hyatt is doing to open it’s doors to those affected by the storms and an opportunity for members to help do more. How can we cover the cost, maybe with points (at full redemption value), for those in need to have a room?
How should I (we) be thinking about this? I reacted strongly to their announcement (more so than the median marketing email), and I’m genuinely not sure how to think about it.
Something is better than nothing Gary!
I saw the same thing and thought that not only has Hyatt become experienced at screwing over it’s members with the WOH stuff, but now they want to screw over people in need. This is nothing be a cheap advertising stunt and they want to be applauded for minimal giving. Hyatt has gone from my number one hotel for years to only if necessary and it is mainly due to how Hyatt corporate thinks that they can turn on people without consequences.. My wife and I also cancelled our Hyatt credit cards recently. I applaud legitimate giving, but I hate it when someone thinks that they can use someone else’s misery to try to score cheap PR points. Had they done nothing I would not have noticed, but this is just a cheap PR stunt.
Ha, I actually emailed my brother Ben that last night and said “seems a little stingy, no?”. Especially when lots of small-ish businesses with 100 employees or so are giving similar amounts.
Anything is better than nothing but the number, for a company like Hyatt, is kind of like me bragging about donating $5. It’s all relative.
@Gary – All such efforts are really about helping the brand, not those affected. They would not do it if it did not help the brand in some manner. Therefore, I discount it. It should not be shamed as help is help. However, neither should it *ever* be applauded as anything other than what it is: a marketing investment.
The best course of action is the one you normally take, Gary; ignore it.
I looked last night and Hyatt was one of the only hotels not to allow you to donate points. It’s not a great redemption but if you had orphan points then donating them seems like a worthwhile cause instead of getting magazines.
Just got off the phone with WOH expressing these exact concerns as well as concerns surrounding their status fast track promotion. Sad to see Hyatt making such strategically poor decisions these days.
I took advantage of Hyatt’s offer to double my contribution to the american red cross.As a retiree,i was hoping no matter the amount it would help benefit those in texas in need.I dont know how i would find out that they matched my contribution,but i hope they did.
No one has to donate anything, period. Shaming an individual or a corporation for the amount of a donation is unseemly.
They could also comp rooms throughout the region for local people displaced.
Joel Osteen wouldnt open his church, but I bet his Christian followers will still kids his ass and rail against liberals who will end up footing most of the bills. Let those aholes drown.
Trump hasn’t paid his Sandy donations yet, what chance he will actually pay his 1 million announced. A million from a billionaire. Scumbag!
At least you can be sure that hyatt will pay.
Eff fake Christians and hypocritical republicans. Die mofos!
I doubt shaming an individual or a corporation for the amount of a donation is consistent with your upbringing.
Shame Shame Shame!
Especially after all this World of Hyatt understanding & togetherness B.S. marketing.
HYATT (mis)management, as a whole, has become pathetic. I’m trying to remember a recent proactive decision but all seem to be reactive and skewed.
Should Gary Leff be applauded or shamed for having a typo only three words in to this post?
@carlh – Absolutely right.
@Gary – If they want to brag, they should add a couple of zeros to their donation.
“Jewish upbringing”, “highest level of charity” haha thanks Gary, my cereal (milk and all) just came flying out my nose!
@FlyMeAway who has commented elsewhere with a bit of nastiness as “Michael P” and “Joseph”… Can the anti-semitism, this refers specifically to talmudic teachings and to Maimonides.
@ Credit
1) Check your facts, please. I’m not an admirer of Osteen or a member of his congregation, but you are incorrect.
2) As far as your other comments and sentiments are concerned, it indicates a level of pathology beyond my capability to diagnose or treat. I’m not trying to be snarky. I sincerely urge you to seek professional help.
@ Gary – I have mixed feelings about publicized corporate giving. To me, it always seems like a marketing gimmick. Yet, I appreciate that they give, as they don’t have to.
Wow. I haven’t seen “credit” since Lucky banned him. Even nastier than before. $25,000 is cheap from a luxury brand. For that amount, it’s better to not go there….. I don’t share my charity as it diminishes it if I do. Anyway, I can’t give a million so my “charity” may not count to someone else. And someone’s 10 cents could be a widow’s mite.
Even though Hyatt has a relatively small footprint, it is a worldwide company. There are numerous natural and manmade disasters around the globe every year. Not to seem cold hearted, but Harvey is not a big one in the greater scheme of things and it appears there are plenty of resources to help out. Still for a major corporation to make an announcement of disaster relief, it should go big or go home (say or do nothing). $25,000 is what big companies give to sponsor fundraisers for small local nonprofits.
If we are to judge Hyatt, do so on what it does overall for charity on an annual basis. Looking at the Hyatt Corporate Responsibility Scorecard and financials for 2016, it appears that Hyatt’s overall charitable cash contributions exceed 1% of net income, which should be a minimum level for big corporations.
Regarding Trump’s pledge of $1 million, I’ll believe it when I see his tax return. I bet that audit lasts at least another four years b/t/w. Even assuming that such a check is actually written, the funds could come from Trump, his family, his foundation, other sources or a combination thereof. Some may believe my skepticism makes me a Trump hater, but given his penchant for making up or misconstruing facts for his own benefit, caution here is prudent.
Hyatt is certainly not worthy of praise for it’s donation. It’s still better than Hilton that allows you to donate points at 1/4 cent per point! or IHG that allows you to donate points, but doesn’t tell you how much IHG will value those points when they transfer them to the charities.
No praise for their feeble charity. But at least no shame for being complete douches.
Every bit counts.
There is no obligation to give anything but it is nice. That said, I find it more offensive when large companies give say $1M to a disaster but then spend x millions more advertising that fact. I haven’t seen any Hyatt adds so I’m not all that mad. Also, it depends what you’re doing with that money as not all non-profits are created equal, some suck out so much cash for salaries and overhead your money would be much better used just flying doen there in a helicopter and throwing paper towels over the side.
Definitely quite low for a donation…
Every bit does count, but when I saw this email, I just shook my head at the paltry amount pledged by a luxury brand. Not great at all on their part.