I’m NOT Pursuing the Hyatt Globalist Challenge. But Should YOU?

World of Hyatt announced an interesting status challenge this week that drastically reduces the requirements to reach certain tiers.

This is a golden ticket for many people to reach World of Hyatt’s Globalist status — their top-tier level. If you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card, sign up for various promotions, and do a little mattress running (all broken down by Frequent Miler in this great post), you can enjoy Globalist status for two years.

Pretty great, right?

I’m passing.

And I’ve been asked by a few people if I think they should pursue the challenge.

So here’s why it doesn’t work for my travel practices and goals. But it may (or may not) work for yours.

My Current Hyatt Status: Explorist

My legacy Hyatt Credit Card (which converts to the World of Hyatt Credit Card in a few weeks) gave me Gold Passport Platinum status when I was approved for it back in God-knows-when.

I eventually status-matched to M Life Gold a year or two later, thanks to a partnership of sorts between Hyatt and MGM Resorts.

When World of Hyatt was introduced, my Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum should have transferred to Discoverist.

But Discoverist translates into M Life Pearl — a lower tier than Gold.

Thankfully, I was able to match status back and forth every year between Hyatt and M Life. So I’m Gold with M Life and Explorist with Hyatt.

And Explorist is fine for my Hyatt needs.

A vast majority of my Hyatt-branded hotel stays are just one night and at their (wonderful, IMHO) airport locations. I usually stay at Hyatt Regency properties and receive Regency Club lounge access. And when I’m leaving town, it’s often at an airport where I have lounge access with my Business Platinum Card® from American Express benefits. So the free breakfast perk (a Globalist benefit) isn’t a must.

I’m usually by myself during those stays. Sure, a suite upgrade — a huge perk of Globalist status — would be fun. But I rarely “need” them.

I Don’t Stay at Hyatts Very Often

I like Hyatts. A lot. They have very nice hotels. I stay at Hyatts a couple of times a year — and never have been disappointed. (René, on the other hand…)

But there are a few reasons I don’t stay at Hyatts very often.

Hyatt’s Footprint

They don’t have as many properties as, say, Marriott or IHG. Even in cities with Hyatts, I find their hotel locations generally aren’t convenient to where I spend most of my time.

For example, my family usually attends my niece’s birthday party in a St. Paul (Minnesota) suburb. There’s a Hyatt in St. Paul. But much closer to my sister’s house is a Holiday Inn– with a pool the kids love. We generally get upgraded to a suite (or at least a slightly bigger room) when we stay at the Holiday Inn, thanks to the Platinum status that comes with my IHG Premier Rewards Club Credit Card. So we host a party or dinner of some sort whenever we can.

Lots of Points Elsewhere

My wife and I are sitting on something like half a million IHG points. And a few Chase Ultimate Rewards® points (which, yes, we could convert to Hyatt). We also carried over a bunch of SPG points when Marriott took over Starwood. We have enough Hyatt points to enjoy a night or two somewhere. But not yet enough to merit a “need” for Globalist status.

My Extended Family: Hilton, IHG, Marriott Enthusiasts

My wife, daughter, and I usually travel with my in-laws a couple of times each year. (Hey, free babysitting.) And they’re longtime Marriott fans who love using their Marriott Bonvoy Boundless and Chase Sapphire Reserve® cards for Bonvoy points. So we often stay in Marriotts when traveling with them.

They also have an IHG Premier Rewards Club Credit Card they keep for the free night. My father-in-law has used it for visiting clients, gifted it to us, or used it himself.

My parents, meanwhile, are Hilton Grand Vacations members — and make great use of the program. They also have Hilton Honors Gold status with my dad’s Platinum Card® from American Express. (Enrollment required.) So when we travel with them, it’s usually to a Hilton property.

Big Client: Not a Hyatt Enthusiast

My clients generally book my accommodations on work trips. In all that time, I’ve stayed in an actual Hyatt exactly once. So there’s really no point (heh heh) in chasing Globalist in that regard.

Doesn’t Improve My M Life Status

Back in the pre-COVID days, I worked in Las Vegas sometimes seven times a year. (And I’m crazy enough that I’d vacation there once or twice more.)

Of those few dozen stays, I remember only three that weren’t at an M Life hotel. (Orleans and Stratosphere. They’re unforgettable — not in a complimentary way. My Palms stay worked out pretty nicely, though.)

Because of the Hyatt-M Life partnership, I receive Hyatt points for each dollar I charge to my MGM Resorts rooms. My client arranges payment for the room and tax — I don’t earn any points on room rates. But charging meals and bar tabs to my room wins me a few extra Hyatt points.

Because my client usually puts two people in a room, every extra inch of space is great. So my M Life Gold status occasionally scores me a corner room or something with a bit more space. (It’s not automatic and almost always requires asking.)

But World of Hyatt Globalists don’t receive M Life status higher than Gold. So it doesn’t do me a whole lot of good there.

Don’t Have the Points or Cash Budget for It

Award stays count toward the challenge, which is pretty great. But I honestly don’t have enough Hyatt points to complete it. I could transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to World of Hyatt. That would do the trick.

But most of our redemptions right now are towards statement credit. (Kids are expensive, man.)

And I sure as hell will not spend four figures of money for a status I may use only a few nights each year.

Travel Uncertainty

The Globalist status challenge — if you jump on it now and complete the requirements soon — nets you top-tier status for two years.

For my family and me, though, we don’t see ourselves traveling until at least Summer 2021, if not fall. Or winter. So we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the full two years of Globalist. (#FirstWorldProblems, to be sure.)

And when our travel resumes, it will be to see family (so lots of IHG, Marriott, and Hilton stays). Sadly, most of my work travel looks like it will not return.

Should You Chase Globalist Status?

As I always say, each person’s travel needs, goals, and budgets are different.

Just because a status challenge is exceptional for the right person — and I truly think this one is — doesn’t mean you must do it.

If you:

• Don’t often stay at Hyatts
• Don’t know if you’ll stay at Hyatts
• Can’t afford to mattress run or don’t have the time

…then maybe it’s not for you.

Just got around to reading the new Hyatt Globalist “deal”. Let me get this straight…I book 15 nights I don’t need at a cost of $1000+ and then get free breakfast and maybe a room upgrade on the 3 nights I actually need in the future. I’ll pass.

— Becky Pokora (@sightDOING) December 1, 2020

If you’re itching for World of Hyatt Globalist status and can afford this challenge, then sure. Just make sure you’ll use the status enough during the next couple of years.

Final Approach

This status challenge is perfect for travelers who spend a bunch of nights each year at Hyatt properties. Because completing it is — relatively — cheap and easy (as status challenges go), this really presents a great opportunity for some people. I’m not pursuing this promotion, though. It doesn’t make sense for my current needs.

But make sure you have the time, points, and money to not only complete the challenge but take advantage of the perks once you have the Globalist status.

Are You Going Globalist?

What do you think about this promotion? Are you pursuing it? Why or why not? Please share your thoughts in the below Comments section!