With approvals of vaccines that promise a high degree of efficacy against becoming ill with the serious effects of COVID-19 disease, it might be time for some to consider travel plans for 2021 and beyond.

World of Hyatt, the Hyatt Hotels frequent guest program, is making significant changes to its elite status qualifications for the 2021 calendar year by reducing the Base Point and Tier-Qualifying Night requirements by 50 percent to earn elite status, as compared to the program’s standard requirements. Additionally, World of Hyatt is extending several unusually rewarding offers through the first two months of 2021 that make achieving Hyatt elite status easier than ever.

Grand Hyatt Bangkok Spa Suite

Hyatt status achieved in 2021 is valid through February 2023. So if you qualify by Feb. 28, 2021, the benefits apply to all Hyatt stays in the next two years. These are new the requirements for obtaining Hyatt status in 2021.

Reduced 2021 World of Hyatt elite status qualifications include: 

  • Discoverist – Stay five Tier-Qualifying Nights or earn 12,500 Base Points 
  • Explorist – Stay 15 Tier-Qualifying Nights or earn 25,000 Base Points
  • Globalist – Stay 30 Tier-Qualifying Nights or earn 50,000 Base Points 

Top tier Globalist benefits include 30% bonus points on hotel stays and eligible purchases, waived resort fees, room upgrades including standard suites available at check-in, and Club access or breakfast.

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Grand Hyatt Beijing Executive Suite

But Hyatt has made status even easier by extending some very lucrative promotions. The Bonus Journey’s promotion is one of the most lucrative promotions for earning Hyatt points I’ve seen:

Change of seasons. Change of scenery.

Bonus Journeys is back and more rewarding than ever.

Breathe fresh mountain air. Relax in spectacular surroundings. Enjoy the outdoors and soak in the sunshine. When you’re ready for a beautiful new view, Bonus Journeys is ready to reward you. Register first by January 15, 2021 and stay through February 28, 2021.

All members can earn 3X points for every qualifying stay (up to 150,000 Bonus Points)

World of Hyatt credit cardmembers can earn 4X points for every qualifying resort stay (up to 75,000 Bonus Points)

All nights count twice for everyone – once when they’re earned and again in 2021 toward elite status and Milestone Rewards. All stays between January 1, 2021 and February 28, 2021 count double. Stays paid with points count double, too.

The Bonus Journeys promotion is valid for stays at all Hyatt properties, participating MGM Resorts, Small Luxury Hotels of the World locations, and Lindblad Expedition experiences. Previously booked stays qualify, as long as you register prior to check-out of your stay. Promotions like this almost always require registration before booking.

Current holders of the Hyatt credit card are credited with five qualifying nights each year. Those who apply and are approved by December 31, 2020, will get 10 elite nights towards status for both 2020 and 2021. In addition, for every $5,000 charged to a Hyatt credit card from any source earns two qualifying nights.

Another Hyatt promotion that could be useful is Hyatt’s Office For A Day program. Basically you are renting a hotel room to use as an office from 07:00 am to 07:00pm. Rates start at $65/day and include a private guestroom with all the conveniences of an office, plus the comforts and amenities of a premium hotel experience. These “stays” count the same as an overnight stay for purposes of elite qualification.

Hyatt status achieved in 2021 is valid through February 2023. So qualifying by Feb. 28, 2021, means the benefits apply to all Hyatt stays in the next two years.

One issue with these amazing offers is potentially having to many elite members. For top tier Globalist at least, that doesn’t seem likely because the pandemic has caused a precipitous drop in business travel. Business travelers are the vast majority of those who reach the upper tiers of frequent guest programs.

Final Thoughts

Among the amazing promotions that make obtaining Hyatt elite status incredibly easy, Hyatt has generously slashed the requirements for elite status in half, increased the bonus for new credit card holders, and is giving double qualifying night credit for stays between January 1 and February 28, 2021. The potential combinations of the various programs to get to the desired levels of 5, 15, or 30 nights are almost endless.

To get to Globalist in 2021, I need 25 qualifying nights (13 nights by February 28) in addition to the 5 nights I’ll be credited for the Hyatt credit card. I can do that through a combination of using points for stays, credit card spend, Office For a Day stays, and maybe a regular paid stay or two depending on price at Hyatt hotels in the city where I live. Stays don’t require physical presence in the room and potential virus exposure. Being present to check in and check out is sufficient to get credit for a stay.

Because 2021 stays grant status for the following year plus the remainder of 2021, any status earned in 2021 is valid until the end of February 2023! Two years of Globalist status in exchange for only 13 qualifying nights between January 1 and February 28, 2021 is a great deal in my book.