8 reasons frequent travelers love Hyatt Globalist elite status

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information.

Not all hotel loyalty programs reward their most loyal customers equally. However, World of Hyatt offers perhaps the best hotel elite status you can earn in the form of its top-tier Globalist status.

Globalist members can enjoy suite upgrades at most brands, complimentary breakfast for each registered guest (up to two adults and two children), access to lounges, waived resort fees, free parking on award nights, bonus points and more.

Having Globalist status can significantly enhance your Hyatt stays, making them more comfortable and affordable.

In short, World of Hyatt’s Globalist status is an outstanding elite status. So, let’s look at the top reasons why we love Hyatt Globalist status.

Bonus points

Hotel du Palais Unbound Hyatt — Hôtel Du Palais Biarritz in France, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

World of Hyatt members without any elite status earn 5 base points per eligible dollar spent. However, World of Hyatt Globalist members receive a 30% bonus on eligible purchases, meaning they earn 6.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases with Hyatt. Those bonus points can add up and turn into a sweet luxury vacation.

Complimentary breakfast

Free breakfast is high on travelers’ preferences regarding hotel elite status benefits. While Hyatt’s competitors generally provide their top elite members with a continental breakfast, Hyatt Globalist provides a completely different breakfast experience.

Whether you’re paying with cash or redeeming points, Hyatt Globalist members are treated to a complimentary full breakfast for up to two adults and two children registered in the room at most properties.

While each Hyatt property may have its own approach, you can usually expect to enjoy a full, hot breakfast in the hotel restaurant. At some Hyatt properties, you may even have the option to enjoy your complimentary breakfast through room service at no extra cost.

Club lounge access

Regency club at Hyatt Regency Maui — The Regency Club at Hyatt Regency Maui in Hawaii. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

As a World of Hyatt Globalist elite member, you’ll usually receive complimentary full breakfast at their properties unless the hotel has a club lounge. In that case, your Globalist status grants you access to the club lounge, where you can generally enjoy breakfast and evening snacks at no additional cost. Some club lounges even offer complimentary evening cocktails.

While not all Hyatt properties have club lounges, you’ll often find them at Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt locations. However, the quality of club lounges varies greatly. In our experience, lounges outside the U.S. often offer better food and a larger selection of complimentary drinks.

Even without World of Hyatt Globalist status, you could still gain access to the club lounge during an upcoming Hyatt stay. For example, you might have club access certificates you earned as Hyatt milestone rewards. You can also book lounge access rooms using additional points or cash at some hotels.

Suite upgrades

Thompson Madrid in Spain. KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

World of Hyatt Globalist members have several routes to secure complimentary upgrades to suites.

Firstly, as a Globalist member, you are eligible for complimentary space-available standard suite upgrades during check-in. This is similar to airline elite members receiving space-available first-class upgrades.

The second and more reliable method for Globalist members to secure suites is using Hyatt upgrade certificates in advance. Through the Hyatt milestone rewards program, you’ll receive two suite upgrade certificates when you reach 50 elite-qualifying nights or 80,000 base points with Hyatt in a calendar year. You’ll also get two more suite upgrade certificates when you reach 60 elite-qualifying nights or 100,000 base points in a calendar year. Each certificate allows you to upgrade a standard room reservation, booked with points, cash or eligible rates, to a standard suite reservation at no extra cost for up to a seven-night stay.

To determine which suites qualify for a suite upgrade certificate, carefully review the room descriptions on the individual hotel websites. In particular, look for the “standard suite” terminology in the suite’s description. The ability to secure a suite far in advance for a special trip is an exceptional perk offered by Hyatt’s loyalty program that is unmatched by other major hotel programs.

Waived resort fees

Andaz Wailea — The Andaz Maui At Wailea Resort in Hawaii charges a resort fee of $50 plus tax per night. HYATT

Travelers universally dislike hotel resort fees, and it’s no wonder why.

Fortunately, Hyatt offers a simple way to avoid these fees: All World of Hyatt members can enjoy waived resort fees when redeeming points or free night awards.

World of Hyatt Globalist members enjoy waived resort fees on all eligible stays booked directly with Hyatt, whether paid with points, cash or a combination of both. This can be a significant saving, especially for those frequently staying at high-end hotels and resorts.

To illustrate, a five-night cash reservation at the stunning Grand Hyatt Kauai in Hawaii typically comes with $265 in resort fees. However, you would be exempt from these fees if you are a World of Hyatt Globalist member.

Free parking

Guest room at the Confidante Miami Beach — A guest room at The Confidante Miami Beach in Florida, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. STEVE SANACORE/HYATT

Some Hyatt properties offer free parking, but high-end or urban properties often charge for it. For example, parking costs $55 per night at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, while parking at Park Hyatt New York costs $90 per night.

Globalist members can avoid these parking charges if they book an award stay using points or an award certificate. This benefit does not apply to cash reservations or stays booked with a combination of points and cash. Additionally, if a third party owns the hotel’s parking lot, you may be subject to parking fees even if you use points or an award certificate.

Hyatt Guest of Honor

A corner room at the Thompson Washington, D.C. HYATT

Hyatt Globalist status comes with valuable perks you may want to share with your friends and family through the Guest of Honor program.

As a Globalist, you can use your points to book an award stay for someone else. Your standard Globalist benefits, like free breakfast, waived resort fees and suite upgrade eligibility, will be transferred to your guest. It’s important to note that the booking must be an award stay, as the Guest of Honor program does not apply to paid stays.

Elite check-in and late checkout

Park Hyatt Auckland in New Zealand. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

As a Globalist, you get priority access to available rooms at participating hotels if you arrive at your destination before the standard check-in time. Participating locations may also offer a dedicated area for elite members to check in.

On the day you check out, Globalist members can typically request a 4 p.m. late checkout, which can be helpful if you want to spend extra time in your room before heading out.

Late checkout is subject to availability (and hence not guaranteed) at hotels with a casino, Hyatt resorts and Destination Residences. Also, late checkout isn’t offered at Hyatt Residence Club resorts. Nevertheless, it’s worth asking for late checkout politely if you need it. Make sure to mention your World of Hyatt status to the front desk when making the request, as doing so can increase your chances of enjoying more time at the property.

How to earn Hyatt Globalist status

Chicago Athletic Association. — Chicago Athletic Association in Illinois, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. HYATT

To secure Hyatt Globalist status, you must accrue 60 eligible nights or 100,000 base points in your World of Hyatt account within a calendar year. You can also earn Globalist status by organizing 20 or more eligible meetings or events in a calendar year.

Unlike Hilton Diamond status and Marriott Platinum Elite status, no credit card is available that automatically grants Hyatt Globalist status. It can be challenging to earn Globalist status unless you frequently travel, but there are ways to make it easier.

Both paid and award nights count toward 60 nights per year for Globalist status, and the World of Hyatt Credit Card can expedite your progress. You receive five tier-qualifying night credits toward status each calendar year by simply having the card. Additionally, for every $5,000 charged to the card, you earn two tier-qualifying night credits toward the year you spent the money. Best of all, there are no limits on the number of tier-qualifying night credits you can earn through spending on your card.

Bottom line

Once you’ve enjoyed the perks of Hyatt Globalist elite status, it’s hard to let those luxuries go. With free breakfast, suite upgrades, late checkout, waived resort fees, bonus points and more, Hyatt Globalist status is a hotel elite status worth having if you can find a way to make it happen.

Additional reporting by Benét Wilson and Kyle Olsen.