Pros
- Very valuable points when used to book free nights
- Discoverist – Globalist members receive bonus points on bookings
- No blackout dates on standard rooms
- Many rewards redemption options
Cons
- Only one co-branded credit card
- Far fewer locations in the U.S. and abroad than top competitors
- Points expire after 24 months of account inactivity
World of Hyatt Rewards Program Review Summary
World of Hyatt is the 3rd best hotel rewards program, according to WalletHub research. Some of the World of Hyatt rewards program’s most notable features include points worth an average of 2.53 cents apiece, a wide range of redemption options and bonus points on bookings for members from the second membership tier onward.
Below, you can see a detailed analysis of World of Hyatt, with everything from its status levels and perks to the process for earning and redeeming rewards. You can also see how World of Hyatt holds up against popular competitors.
World of Hyatt Review Scorecard
| Category | WalletHub Rating | Rank vs Other Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Earning Policies | 53% | #1 |
| Rewards Value | 65% | #3 |
| Redemption Policies | 79% | #4 |
| Destination Coverage | 29% | #7 |
| Status Levels | 49% | #5 |
| Other Features | 76% | #5 |
| OVERALL | 62% | #3 |
World of Hyatt Snapshot
| Points Needed for a Free Night: | Min: 3,500 Avg: 59,250 Max: 115,000 |
| Average Point Value: | 1 point = 2.53 cents 1,000 points = $25.3 |
| Transfer Partners: | 25, including: American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways and more |
How to Earn World of Hyatt Points
WalletHub Rating for "Earning Policies": 53.33% (8 / 15 points)
World of Hyatt members earn points by making purchases through Hyatt and its partners. Below is a list of the types of transactions that provide points, as well as how much you’ll get for each dollar you spend.
- 5 World of Hyatt Points per $1 Spent: Hyatt Hotel stays
- 5 World of Hyatt Points per $1 Spent: Dining, spas and other services at eligible locations
- 5 World of Hyatt Points per $1 Spent: Stays at participating “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” locations
- 5 World of Hyatt Points per $1 Spent: Stays at participating M Life Rewards destinations
- 5 World of Hyatt Points per $1 Spent: Cruises with Lindblad Expeditions
- 1 World of Hyatt Points per $1 Spent: Hosting qualifying meetings or events at Hyatt (up to 50,000 Hyatt points)
- 10 World of Hyatt Points per $1 Spent: Special experiences in the U.S. and Mexico
- 1 World of Hyatt Point per $1 Spent: American Airlines flights
- 1-4 World of Hyatt Points Per $1 Spent: Purchases on a World of Hyatt Credit Card
- 500 World of Hyatt Points: Car rentals from preferred partners
If you have a trip coming up, it’s a good idea to check for deals on the websites of hotels in the Hyatt portfolio. You might be able to earn more points than usual on a booking or use a smaller number of points when reserving a reward night.
How Much Are World of Hyatt Points Worth?
WalletHub Rating for "Rewards Value": 65.48% (16.37 / 25 points)
World of Hyatt points are worth 2.53 cents each on average, according to WalletHub’s research. The average World of Hyatt point value is almost the same for both weekday and weekend reservations.
How to Redeem World of Hyatt Points
WalletHub Rating for "Redemption Policies": 78.6% (19.65 / 25 points)
| Redemption Method | More Info |
|---|---|
| Free Nights | Get stays at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, as well as at two partners: “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” and “M life Rewards” |
Resorts | Purchase luxury resort stays |
Room upgrades on paid nights | Upgrade accommodations |
Dining, Spas & More | Trade points for special amenities at hotels |
FIND Experiences | Pay for special experiences like wilderness excursions or cooking lessons |
Lindblad Expeditions | Go on cruises to remote areas |
Airline Miles | Convert points to airline miles with Hyatt’s partners, such as American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways and more |
Avis Car Rental | Pay for rentals with points |
Shopping | Shop for merchandize and gift cards from popular brands online |
Where Can World of Hyatt Points Take You?
WalletHub Rating for "Destination Coverage": 28.73% (4.31 / 15 points)
World of Hyatt includes more than 280,000 rooms across more than 750 properties in over 60 countries and territories. It also features around 19 different hotel brands, including Andaz, Thompson Hotels, Destination Hotels, Joie de Vivre Hotels, Miraval Resorts and Tommie. That gives hotel-goers of all budget levels a suitable place to stay.
World of Hyatt Status Levels
WalletHub Rating for "Status Levels": 49.28% (3.45 / 7 points)
The World of Hyatt rewards program is free to join, and most people will join as a basic member. Basic World of Hyatt membership benefits include special rates for members on reservations, Sapphire Status in the M life Rewards program (MGM’s rewards program) and waived fees on resort stays you book with points. The more nights you spend at World of Hyatt hotels and resorts, and the more purchases you make using a Hyatt credit card, the higher your status level will become. The higher your status level is, the better perks you’ll get every time you stay at a Hyatt property.
Below, you can see exactly how many nights you’ll need to stay to achieve and maintain each World of Hyatt status level, along with the perks that come with it.
| World of Hyatt Levels | Nights Needed per Year | Points Bonus | Other Notable Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | None | None | Special rates for members Resort fees waived on Free Night Awards Sapphire Status with M life Rewards Extra amenities at “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” |
| Discoverist | 10 | 10% | Member benefits Pearl Status with M life Rewards Premium internet Free bottle of water every day Preferred room (within the same category booked) Elite Check-in 2:00 p.m. late checkout American Airlines AAdvantage® Bonus |
| Explorist | 30 | 20% | Discoverist benefits Gold Status with M life Rewards Upgraded room (excluding suites and rooms with club lounge access) Guaranteed rooms 72 hours in advance |
| Globalist | 60 | 30% | Explorist benefits Resort fees waived on eligible paid stays in addition to Free Night Awards Room upgrade, including standard suites 4:00 p.m. late checkout Guaranteed rooms 48 hours in advance Club access or breakfast Free parking during reward nights Guest of Honor (share your Hyatt status benefits with someone when you book a free night for them using your points) |
Members must satisfy a given status level’s qualifying requirements between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 to reach the status level and enjoy the corresponding benefits. Members only keep their status for the duration of the current calendar year.
In light of the above information, World of Hyatt's scores for this section are as follows:
Ease of achieving elite status: 72.50% (1.45 / 2 points)
- According to our study, the cost of achieving elite status with World of Hyatt is $6,462.
Valuable membership perks: 40% (2 / 5 points)
- Based on light and average spending profiles, new members can expect to receive member discounts as a valuable perk. Heavy travelers can expect to receive late check-out, member discounts, free room upgrades and priority/express check-in as valuable perks.
Other Features of the World of Hyatt Program
WalletHub Rating for "Other Features": 75.92% (9.87 / 13 points)
The "Other Features" component of this World of Hyatt program review focused on five sub-categories. Below, you can see how many points World of Hyatt earned in each category, along with the corresponding WalletHub Rating.
| Category | Points | WalletHub Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Points Expiration | 4.62 / 5 | 92.4% |
| Expired-point reactivation | 0 / 2 | 0% |
| Transferring points between accounts (without fees) | 2 / 2 | 100% |
| Number of Transfer Partners With No Fee | 1.25 / 2 | 62.5% |
| Purchasing points | 2 / 2 | 100% |
World of Hyatt Credit Cards
Opinions and ratings are our own. This content is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Some offers are from WalletHub partners.
There is only one co-branded Hyatt credit card, The World of Hyatt Credit Card, as of January 2023. You can see how it compares to credit cards from other popular hotel chains in the table below.
World of Hyatt Credit Card vs. Competitors’ Cards:
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Initial Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| The World of Hyatt Credit Card | $95 | 30,000 points |
| Choice Credit Card | $0 | 60,000 points |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | $95 | 130,000 points |
7 Tips for World of Hyatt Members
- The best way to redeem World of Hyatt points is for Hyatt stays. Points are worth 2.53 cents apiece that way.
- Pool or transfer points if it makes sense. World of Hyatt allows members to pool their points together for easier redemption. This is especially helpful for family members with individual World of Hyatt memberships who often travel together.
- Take advantage of status perks. The assorted small perks with which members are rewarded for their financial loyalty can be a big selling point for hotel rewards programs, but they are often forgotten by users as time goes by.
- Consider applying for a Hyatt credit card. The World of Hyatt Credit Card could save the average person well over $3,500 during the first two years of use, according to WalletHub’s calculations.
- Try the Island Approach with your credit cards. The World of Hyatt Credit Card offers competitive earnings on hotel reservations (within the Hyatt family). On other purchases, you’ll actually get a lower value. That’s why you should put an everyday rewards card into your wallet as well. Doing so rounds out your rewards arsenal, making it so you get your money’s worth on every transaction.
- Make sure to read Hyatt reviews & World of Hyatt FAQs. Learning from experts and fellow travelers will help you pick up some helpful tips as well as avoid tricks and pitfalls.
- Compare your hotel options if you’re not wedded to Hyatt. Hyatt is not the only worldwide hotel chain with a rewarding loyalty program. You can see how World of Hyatt compares to a couple of popular alternatives below. You can also check out WalletHub’s rankings of the Best Hotel Rewards Programs to learn more.
World of Hyatt vs. Choice Privileges vs. Hilton Honors
| Category | World of Hyatt | Choice Privileges | Hilton Honors |
|---|---|---|---|
| WalletHub Rank | 3rd | 8th | 7th |
| Average Point Value | 2.53 cents | 1.24 cents | 0.63 cents |
| U.S. Properties | 764 | 5,920 | 5,675 |
| International Properties | 386 | 1,180 | 1,783 |
| Countries/Territories with a Property | 68 | 41 | 122 |
| Point Expiration | After 24 months of inactivity | After 18 months of inactivity | After 12 months of inactivity |
| Credit Card to Consider | The World of Hyatt Credit Card | Choice Credit Card | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card |
Did You Know?
Hyatt’s rewards program used to go by the name Hyatt Gold Passport. It only made the name switch to World of Hyatt in 2017.
World of Hyatt Review Methodology
Overall program rankings are based on the same methodology as WalletHub’s annual study on the Best Hotel Rewards Programs. Editor’s ratings reflect the sum of each rewards program’s scores across the study’s 5 major categories – earning policies, redemption policies, rewards value, geographical coverage and other features – adjusted to a 5-point scale and to create a representative distribution of ratings.
WalletHub calculated World of Hyatt point values by comparing room rates in 20 popular travel destinations – 10 domestic and 10 international – to the number of points needed to book a rewards night. We did this for all World of Hyatt-owned hotel locations within 50 miles of the city center in each destination, applying the process to weekend and weekday dates in each destination’s high and shoulder tourist seasons.
