Opinion: Why You Should Try Different Hyatt Brands
Hyatt’s award chart is still on a reasonable side compared to Marriott and Hilton. Photo credit: www.hyatt.com
Hyatt introduced new redemption rates in 2020, following Marriott’s off-peak and peak pricing model. However, the redemption rates are still affordable and are not heavily influenced by dynamic pricing as Hilton does. Because the redemption values are great, Ultimate Rewards (UR) points from Chase are usually valued significantly since Chase is the only transfer partner of Hyatt. Another advantage is quality. Hilton and Marriott hotels have amazing properties, but Hyatt is consistent. This is more apparent when staying at low-tier properties. I’ve been to countless Hilton Inns and Fairfield Inns during my consulting days, and some hotels are simply terrible. On the other hand, Hyatt is consistently decent; not all Hyatt hotels are amazing, but they are all decent. The level of quality is quite consistent compared to other brands. Today, I will introduce another perk of staying at Hyatt hotels: 5-Brand Free Night Award.
Surprisingly I’ve only stayed at three Hyatt brands. Which one should I try next?
The 5-Brand Free Night Award is a free night certificate you can earn by staying at five different Hyatt brands. The certificate is good for a night at category 1-4 hotels, and you can start earning as soon as you join Hyatt’s program - no registration required! The qualifying stay can be either paid or award, and you are not tied to a timeline to complete the requirements. You can stay at two different brands this year and at three brands next year, or you can even stretch it over multiple years to earn the certificate. There are 18 Hyatt brands, which means you can earn up to three free night certificates.
The Beekman Hotel in New York City is a Thompson brand hotel that is on my radar. Photo credit: www.thebeekman.com
These are currently available Hyatt brands:
Alila
Andaz
Destination by Hyatt
Grand Hyatt
Hyatt
Hyatt Centric
Hyatt House
Hyatt Place
Hyatt Regency
Hyatt Residence Club
Hyatt Zilara
Hyatt Ziva
Joie de Vivre
Miraval
Park Hyatt
Thompson
Unbound Collection
UrCove
Park Hyatt New York has one fo the best hotel pools I’ve experienced.
There are two restrictions. First, stays at Small Luxury Hotels of the World and MGM properties do not count towards the earning requirements. Some Small Luxury Hotels are my favorites though, so I definitely encourage that you check it out. Second, once the free night certificate is earned, you need to use it within 180 days from when it’s issued. Be aware that you will actually need to complete your stay by that date. Just booking for a stay won’t cut it, and otherwise, the certificate will expire.
Hotel Gajoen Tokyo is a Small Luxury Hotel in Tokyo, Japan, and it’s stunning. Photo credit: https://slh.com/hotels/hotel-gajoen-tokyo
Since my itinerary usually involves Marriott hotels and occasionally Hilton brands, I have not earned a single 5-Brand Free Night Award yet. So far, I’ve stayed at Park Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, and Hyatt Place, and I will be staying at two different Hyatt brands early next year, allowing me to qualify for my first certificate. There are some challenges with staying at 15+ Hyatt brands if you want to earn all three possible free night awards. For example, Miraval properties are some of the most expensive hotels, and UrCove is a Hyatt brand only in China. With these two out of the way, you are left with 16 different brands, while demanding, I think trying out different brands and experiencing hotel identities is a really fun way to entice consumers. Have you earned a 5-Brand Free Night Award before? If so, which hotel did you redeem the certificate at? Leave a comment below and share it with the PointsMiler community!
