Hyatt has been on a tear for the last year, figuring out how to add more value for members, especially elite members and frequent guests. Honestly, I haven’t seen anything like it in years.
Last year they pioneered free internet for elites, at the same time they (1) lifted capacity controls on award nights — if there’s a standard room available, it’s available on points, matching Starwood’s redemption proposition and (2) offered confirmed at booking suite upgrades for their Diamond members four times a year.
I wish there were more Hyatt properties, because over the last 12 months they’ve clearly been offering the best value proposition of any hotel chain.
They also continue to bring back the richest bonus promotion in the hotel industry. I will always call it “Faster Free Nights” but thehy call it The Big Welcome Back: a free night anywhere in the world for every two Hyatt stays made by June 30, with free nights valid for use by August 31.
Starwood and Hilton have their own free night promos, Hilton takes 4 stays or 10 nights for a freebie though they offer a longer redemption period, and Starwood takes 3 stays rather than two and only lets you use the award nights on the weekend. I do consider Hyatt’s to be the benchmark bonus in the industry.
For about 12 months I’ve been saying that it’s time to tkae a hard look at Hyatt to see if you can make it work for your stay pattern. And they’re making it especially easy to do that, since for all of 2010 they’re offering instant platinum status and fast track to Diamond status — just 15 nights in 2010 for Diamond status through February 2012.
So I was thrilled when Hyatt offered to let me give away two sets of Hyatt Place free night packages. They offered me a package as well for myself but instead of keeping it I decided to give it away on Twitter instead. (I admit, I’m more of a luxury hotels guy than a Hyatt Place, though I don’t mind accruing Big Welcome Back nights with mattress runs at Hyatt Place properties or Summerfield Suites and redeeming them at Park Hyatts…)
And now it gets even better: my contact has now offered me two sets of two free Big Welcome Back nights to give away! So here it is.
Two chances to win:
- 1. Leave a comment in this thread, ne comment entry per person. Preferably your comment would speculate on which Hyatt you’d like to redeem your nights at if you win.
2. You can also follow me on Twitter.
I will draw two winners at random from the pool made up of Twitter followers and people who leave a comment on this post. You can enter via either method or both.
The free nights, being Big Welcome Back nights, expire August 31.
Comment here, follow me, or both by noon Eastern time on Sunday, April 25 for a chance to win!
By way of full disclosure, like with the Hyatt Place night giveaway, they’ve offered me a couple of nights for myself. Guess what? Those I’m not offering up, I plan to use them though I will probably need to top off with a few more to make a really nice redemption trip.
Huntington Beach, mahn, like when the wedge in NB is pumpin, maybe I’ll get to dislocate my shoulder again!
Thanks Gary!
If the question is where I’d use the Hyatt Place free night, the answer is one of the Hyatt Places in my former hometown of Richmond, Va. If the question is where I’d use the Big Welcome Back free nights, I’d stay at the Hyatt Regency Boston since it’s so close to the Boston Common and I haven’t had a chance to hang in Boston for a long time.
Buenos Aires!
Great blog
If there’s a Hyatt in Barcelona and I can use it in September, I’m golden. 🙂 Otherwise it’ll be used in the expensive city of Vancouver this coming June!
I’d have a hard time choosing between the Hyatt in Carmel and one of the properties in NYC…
What a fun contest!
I would use it in Paris this June. We have to fly out there for a wedding in Lyon. My wife would love it!
Good luck, all!
Thanks Gary – I’d use mine with the kids in Orlando!
Ahhh…….. Paris in the springtime!
one can only hope!
What a great offer! I’d use a Hyatt Place near Washington DC, or the free night at Grand Cypress in Orlando
Wow, very generous of Hyatt. Best hotel program for me. Website is sometimes terrible, but customer service is wonderful. Hotels are usually nice, and I hope to use 2 nights at Park Hyatt Tokyo.
I am planning a special college graduation trip for my little brother. We are country hopping through Asia. I would use these Hyatt nights in Dehli at the Hyatt Regency Dehli. I’ll keep my fingers crossed!
Chicago, IL for my wife and kids. I would use the nights to thank my family for being supportive of me after I lost my health care management job. Chicago is a relatively short drive so it would be a great break.
Fukuoka, Japan!
Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek. This place was the “bomb.” My family spent 4 nights using the next big 3. Diamonds get the resort charged waved.
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome
Zurich. Thanks for the opportunity!
I would love this
Zurich – already going to be redeeming my own FFN credits, but I wouldn’t mind extending my stay! 😉
Thanks for doing this.
Let’s pick Curacao… always dreaming of my next dive.
Miami – I need nights before my NCL trip! Thanks!
Paris sounds nice this time of year!
I’d love to redeem them at any of the Hyatt properties in Australia since I’ll be there in May and June.
I would like to stay at Park Hyatt in Chicago (now that winter is over).
I would go for a weekend in NYC
Hyatt Mendoza AR or San Fransisco
Hyatt Churchill in London or Hyatt Huntington Beach. Thanks!
Will look for a Hyatt in Anaheim – work just dropped a new (Friday night) meeting on us.
I have loved all Hyatts since I first stayed at one in 1977! (Thank you Gary for another great contest!)
I just started my fast track to Diamond and have already earned a free night at PH Tokyo! I would appreciate to get another free night, since I also have travel plans in Europe this summer, probably in Paris. I would love to stay in PH Paris if possible… Thanks again, Gary!
The Park Hyatt Milan would be a dream come true!
Singapore!
Mendoza, Argentina, probably.
Thanks for offering this
Anything in NYC would be GREAT
I would love a FL beach site in the Fall of 2010
Hatt Carmel!
Park Hyatt Tokyo, for sure!
Tokyo!
Hyatt Churchill in London
Beaver Creek – i would LOVE that!
I’d go for New York.
The Grand Hyatt in Kauai is undoubtedly their best property! Spent last winter there for one night with my wife and it was heavenly. Amazing staff, perfect grounds, breathtaking pool and sweeping views!
PHT of course!!!
Wow, great offer. If they can be split one in Baltimore and one in NYC, if not and the wife allows, Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Los Angeles.
I think I’d fly cross-country and use it for a lovely stay at the Hyatt Highlands Inn in Carmel!
Thanks for the offer. I would definitely try PH Tokyo or PH Shanghai if chosen.
A little pop across the Channel to the Paris Vendome would be just the trip!