The Valuable Benefits of Hyatt Elite Status [Discoverist, Explorist, Globalist]

Elite benefits and excellent customer service are 2 things that many travelers look for in elite status with a hotel brand. When traveling, you want the peace of mind to know that a hotel brand has your back if things go wrong. You also want to be rewarded for your hotel spend and stays in the form of perks you can use throughout the year.

Among the miles and points community, it’s well known how valuable Hyatt elite status is. In terms of perks, it’s hard to beat what Hyatt offers its members.

Starting at Discoverist and all the way up to Globalist, Hyatt elite members can earn tons of benefits that may make it worth it for you to invest in the World of Hyatt program.

In this article, we’ll outline the Hyatt elite tiers and the benefits you’ll receive. It’s important to note that while the benefits are top-notch, Hyatt does have a limited footprint. Unlike larger hotel brands like Hilton and Marriott, unfortunately, you won’t find Hyatt in many cities around the world.

Comparing Hyatt Elite Status Tiers

Hotel Perks	Member	Discoverist	Explorist	Globalist
Complimentary internet	Standard	Premium as available	Premium as available	Premium as available
Free daily breakfast				X
Resort fee waived	On free night awards	On free night awards	On free night awards	On free night awards and eligible rates
Complimentary bottle of water daily		X	X	X
Dedicated check-in area		X	X	X
Late checkout upon request at participating locations		2 p.m.	2 p.m.	4 p.m.
Room upgrade based on availability upon arrival		Preferred room within type booked	Upgrade to best room, excluding suites	Upgrade to best room, up to standard suites
Club lounge access				X
Priority access to available rooms when checking in early				X
Complimentary parking on free night awards at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts with parking that can be charged to a guest’s room				X
Member Rate at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts when available	X	X	X	X
Ensure a room is available at participating Hyatt hotels in advance of arrival (blackout dates apply)			72 hours	48 hours
Exclusive reservation line	X	X	X	X
Bonus Points when choosing points		10%	20%	30%
Bonus Points with American Airlines after linking accounts		X	X	X

New Milestone Rewards

In 2024, Hyatt made significant updates to its Milestone Rewards program, introducing new options for awards and adjusting the qualification levels. You can expect to receive awards at specific levels, and you’ll also have the opportunity to make choices at certain stages.

Hyatt Milestone Rewards are awards you earn at incremental stages as you progress through the ranks of elite status. The awards are intended to motivate you to maintain your position within the elite tiers.

Some notable stand-out awards include:

• A Category 1-4 certificate received at 30 nights.
• 2,000 bonus points earned on your next stay (at Hyatt Place or Hyatt House properties) earned at 20 and 30 nights.
• At 60 nights (Globalist), you receive (2) Guest of Honor Awards, (1) Category 1-7 free night award, (2) suite upgrades awards, and a dedicated My Hyatt Concierge.
• A Category 1-7 free night at 100 nights stayed.
• Either 10,000 points, a suite upgrade award, or a buy-one-get-one free night at Miraval.
• At 150 nights, you get a Category 1-8 free night certificate.

It’s important to take note of a few things regarding these awards:

• The Guest of Honor Awards can be used on any person you gift it to and are valid on stays up to 7 nights. It’s also valid on award and paid stays, giving you more options to utilize them.
• Previously, there was no incentive to stay past 100 nights, but Hyatt has now added Milestone Reward levels at 100 nights, all the way to 150 nights stayed.
• You’ll be able to choose awards once you pass a certain amount of nights stayed or base points earned, so you’ll be able to earn or select awards even before you hit certain elite tiers.
• The Miraval Extra Night is valid on paid, points + cash, or award stays.
• It’s worth noting that when you stay 60 nights and have earned Globalist status, all of the awards at that level are provided by default, and you don’t have to choose between them.
• When there is a choice of awards, you can choose 1 of the 3 options provided.

Here are the different awards you can choose and at what levels from Hyatt:

	You Receive	Your Choice Of
20 Nights OR 35,000 Base Points		2K Next Stay Award	(2) Club Access Awards	$25 FIND Credit
30 Nights OR 50,000 Base Points	(1) Category 1-4 Free Night Award	2K Next Stay Award	(2) Club Access Awards	$25 FIND Credit
40 Nights OR 65,000 Base Points	(1) Guest of Honor Award	5,000 Bonus Points	(1) Suite Upgrade Award	$150 FIND Credit
50 Nights OR 80,000 Base Points		5,000 Bonus Points	(2) Suite Upgrade Awards	$150 FIND Credit
60 Nights OR 100,000 Base Points	(2) Guest of Honor Awards	(1) Category 1-7 Free Night Award	(2) Suite Upgrade Awards	My Hyatt Concierge
70, 80, 90 Nights	(1) Guest of Honor Award	10,000 Bonus Points	(1) Suite Upgrade Award	$300 FIND Credit
100 Nights	(1) Category 1-7 Free Night Award	10,000 Bonus Points	(1) Suite Upgrade Award	Miraval Extra Night
110, 120, 130, 140 Nights	(1) Guest of Honor Award	10,000 Bonus Points	(1) Suite Upgrade Award	Miraval Extra Night
150 Nights	Ultimate Free Night Award	10,000 Bonus Points	(1) Suite Upgrade Award	Miraval Extra Night

Hyatt Discoverist

Discoverist is the lowest elite tier in the World of Hyatt program that can be earned with stays, base points, or credit card spending. To earn Discoverist with stays or base points, you must stay 10 nights or earn 25,000 base points in a calendar year.

Another way to earn Discoverist status is through The World of Hyatt Credit Card, which comes with 5 elite nights every year. Members also earn 2 elite nights for every $5,000 spent on the card in a calendar year.

Late Checkout

Even for the lowest elite tier, Hyatt gives members a late checkout option. Instead of your typical 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. checkout time, you can request a 2 p.m. checkout time, subject to availability. It’s important to note that late checkout is not available at Hyatt Vacation Club resorts.

Preferred Room Upgrade

Who doesn’t love an upgrade? Well, Discoverist members have access to a preferred room subject to availability at check-in, with a few caveats. So, what are preferred rooms? Think high floors and more appealing views. Upgrades will never include access to Club floors, suites, or other specialty-type rooms.

Hot Tip: Regarding the caveats, the preferred room must be within the same room type/category booked by the member. Preferred room upgrades are not available at all Hyatts. Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, and Hyatt Vacation Club hotels and resorts are excluded from the preferred room upgrades benefit.

Bonus Points

Earning bonus points is something that everyone can get used to. For Discoverist members, you’ll receive 10% bonus points on eligible rates and incidental charges during your stay.

Waived Resort Fees

For those of you with Free Night Awards, listen up. When you book a Free Night Award at a resort, you won’t have to pay those annoying resort fees. This can save you some serious cash, particularly when staying at resorts with high fees. This applies to any reservation where you use all points or a free night certificate.

Bottle of Water

Although not the most glamorous benefit, bottled water can be expensive at hotels. For Discoverist members, you’ll receive a bottle of water each day of your stay outside of Hyatt Vacation Club resorts.

Premium Internet

Internet quality is solid across the Hyatt portfolio. Your Discoverist membership includes daily premium internet in-room access, except at Hyatt Vacation Club resorts.

Elite Reservation Line

Some Hyatt members may utilize this benefit more than others, but if you need an elite reservation line, Discoverist members have access to an exclusive one.

Bottom Line: Late checkout and preferred room upgrades are 2 of the main perks you earn as a Discoverist. 

Hyatt Explorist

The middle elite tier in the World of Hyatt loyalty program is called Explorist. This status is earned after staying 30 nights or earning 25,000 base points. You can also spend your way to Explorist status using the World of Hyatt card.

As mentioned in the Discoverist section, you’ll earn 2 nights with every $5,000 that you spend on the card. You can “buy” Explorist status by spending $65,000 in a year on the card.

Keep in mind that Explorist includes all of the benefits of Discoverist.

Best Available Room Upgrade

While Discoverist members have access to preferred rooms at check-in, Explorists are offered the best available room at check-in, excluding suites and rooms with Club lounge access. This benefit applies to all hotels except Hyatt House, Hyatt Place, and Hyatt Vacation Club hotels and resorts.

Category 1-4 Free Night

Earning free nights is one of the best perks of the World of Hyatt program. For Explorists members, you’ll earn a category 1-4 hotel free night after staying 30 nights or earning 50,000 base points.

The main restriction with this to be aware of is that the free night expires 180 days from the date it’s received. This is in contrast to the free night that comes with the World of Hyatt card, which is valid for 365 days.

Club Lounge Access

Access to Club lounges is a benefit that many travelers can get behind. When you stay 20 nights or earn 35,000 base points, you’ll be able to choose 2 Club lounge access certificates. You’ll be able to choose 2 more lounge access certificates when you stay 30 nights or earn 50,000 base points.

Hot Tip: You may not realize that 1 Club lounge access certificate is valid for a stay of up to 7 nights. The lounge is where you can have continental breakfast and, in some cases, afternoon or evening hors d’oeuvres.

To utilize this benefit, the hotel must have a Club lounge. For those staying at Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Miraval, Hyatt Zilara, Hyatt Ziva, or Hyatt Vacation Club hotels and resorts, the Club lounge certificates are not valid.

Certificates are not valid on Free Night Award stays but are valid when you pay an eligible rate or redeem points for a room.

Bonus Points

Explorist members receive 10% additional bonus points during their stay and 20% bonus points on eligible paid rates and incidental charges incurred.

Guaranteed Room

Guaranteed room availability is a benefit you’ll pick up when you earn Explorist status. When you book a paid room, you’ll be guaranteed a room when booking at least 72 hours prior to arrival.

The main restriction of this benefit is that guaranteed rooms are not valid during times of extraordinary room demand, and the perk is subject to blackout periods. Separately, this benefit does not apply to Hyatt Vacation Club resorts, any Hyatt hotel with a casino, or any Hyatt resort.

Bottom Line: For a middle elite tier, perks such as the best available room upgrades, a free award night, and Club lounge access make Explorist a valuable hotel status. 

Hyatt Globalist

Globalist is the top tier in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. Members earn this status after staying 60 nights or earning 50,000 base points.

For those looking to earn Globalist status through credit card spend, there’s an avenue for you. If you spend $140,000 in a year on the card, assuming no hotel stays, you’ll earn Globalist status. This factors in the 5 elite nights you’ll earn from being a World of Hyatt card member.

Globalists will receive the following unique benefits in addition to those from the lower Explorist and Discoverist tiers:

Best Available Room Upgrade

Room upgrades are also a benefit for Globalists — standard suites and rooms with Club lounge access are included.

Premium, Specialty, Premier, Presidential, Diplomatic, and any other suites besides Standard Suites are not available for the best available room upgrade, and neither are upgrades at Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, or Hyatt Vacation Club hotels. That said, hotels often go out of their way to treat Globalists well, so you may experience some very nice rooms while staying as a Globalist.

Club Lounge Access/Complimentary Breakfast

Lounge access and complimentary breakfast are huge perks of Globalist status. Globalists receive Club lounge access, where available, or daily complimentary breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children if a Club lounge isn’t available.

This benefit excludes Miraval, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, and Hyatt Vacation Club hotels and resorts and a select list of independent properties. This is an excellent benefit at properties like the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar to save a ton of money since you wouldn’t have to buy expensive breakfast every day on the property.

It’s worth noting that many club lounges include drinks throughout the day, and several include 3 meals a day, which can add up to significant savings over the course of a trip.

Suite Upgrade Awards

One of the top perks a Globalist earns is suite upgrade awards. As part of the milestone reward program, you can choose a suite upgrade award at 40 nights, and then 2 more at 50 nights. At 60 nights, you’re automatically provided with 2. This would mean that a Globalist could have 5 total suite upgrade awards by the time they hit 60 nights.

Hot Tip: Members can use these upgrades to confirm a suite at the time of booking for every night of your stay up to 7 nights. All stays, except Free Night Awards, are eligible for suite upgrade awards. Hyatt Vacation Club hotels and premium suites at Hyatt Ziva and Zilara hotels are excluded.

Category 1-7 Free Night

In addition to the Free Award Night you’ll earn on your way to Globalist, you’ll earn a Category 1-7 Free Night Award when you stay 60 nights or earn 100,000 base points.

This free night can unlock a ton of value, especially at notoriously expensive properties. After you receive the free night, the certificate is valid for 180 days after the date it’s issued.

Bonus Points

As a Globalist, you’ll earn 30% bonus points on eligible rates and incidental charges. These additional points can help pad your Hyatt account balance to book your next hotel.

Milestone Bonus

What’s nice about Hyatt is the program’s milestone bonus structure. You can choose various perks at 20 nights, all the way up to 150 nights.

Late Checkout

An additional 2 hours on your checkout time is what Hyatt awards to Globalist members. Instead of a 2 p.m. checkout time, Globalists can checkout at 4 p.m. Late checkout is guaranteed and is not offered at Hyatt Vacation Club resorts.

Free Parking

When booking an award night, Globalists receive free parking if the parking charges can be billed to the room — this can be particularly valuable at properties like Hyatt House Austin, where a Globalist could save over $40 per night just by having this perk. Free parking is not available at Hyatt Vacation Club resorts.

Early Check-In

For Globalists who arrive early on the day of check-in, you’ll receive priority access to available rooms. There is no guaranteed protocol for obtaining a room early, but Globalists get first dibs.

Guest of Honor

Guest of Honor is one of the more unique hotel perks for elite members. The way this works in practice is that the Globalist redeems Hyatt points for a friend or family member and then transfers their elite status privileges to that friend or family member.

The friend or family member can also transfer their points to the Globalist, who can then redeem the transferred points for a stay and transfer their Globalist benefits to that individual. At 60 nights, Globalists receive 2 certificates to use for this; however, you can also choose additional certificates at 40 nights and then 70, 80, or 90 nights.

Guaranteed Room

Instead of the 72-hour availability requirement for Explorists, Globalists are guaranteed a room when making a reservation at least 48 hours prior to arrival.

Keep in mind that Hyatt does not guarantee this benefit during periods of high demand, and it’s subject to blackout periods set out by the hotel. Hyatt Vacation Club resorts, Hyatt hotels with a casino, and Hyatt resorts are excluded.

My Hyatt Concierge

A My Hyatt Concierge agent may be right for elite members who value personalized service. This agent will be able to help with reservations and make each stay more tailored toward your needs.

Reviews of My Hyatt Concierge agents are a mixed bag — some are very proactive in helping with reservations. In contrast, others will only make basic adjustments with little to no personalized service.

Additional Milestone Bonuses

The true road warriors out there will find additional benefits beyond the 60 nights required for Globalist. After reaching each milestone, members who stay 70 to 150 nights will receive either 10,000 bonus points, a suite upgrade award, a FIND credit, or a Miraval buy-one-get-one night (depending on the level). At 150 nights, you can receive a Category 1-8 free night award.

Bottom Line: Best available room upgrades, including suites, Club lounge access, suite upgrade awards, and 2 free award nights, can be argued as the best perks of the top elite status in any hotel program. 

Reciprocal Benefits With World of Hyatt and American Airlines

In March of 2019, the American Airlines AAdvantage and World of Hyatt elite programs announced a partnership allowing elite members in each program to receive increased points/miles per dollar earnings and fast track to elite status in the other program. With that said, below are the details of the benefits that are offered:

Elite World of Hyatt members will receive the following benefits:

• 1 additional World of Hyatt point per $1 spent on qualifying American Airlines flights
• Explorist and Globalist members will have the opportunity to participate in American Airlines elite status challenges

AAdvantage members will receive the following benefits:

• Earn 1 additional AAdvantage mile per $1 spent on qualifying Hyatt stays and experiences
• ConciergeKey (invitation-only) members receive Hyatt’s top-tier Globalist status
• Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Platinum AAdvantage members will have an opportunity to participate in Hyatt status match challenges

Final Thoughts

The benefits of elite status in the World of Hyatt are what excite many travelers. As you can see, there’s something for everyone in terms of benefits, especially for those of you who can reach Globalist.

It’s important to recognize Hyatt’s global footprint for any of the Hyatt elite tiers. Compared to Hilton and Marriott, Hyatt simply doesn’t have the number of hotels you’ll find with other hotel chains.

Compared to other loyalty programs, Hyatt customer service is second to none, and the Hyatt elite benefits have value that you’ll want to use. These are strong reasons why travelers should consider earning Hyatt elite status.