Hotel Loyalty 2013-Q1 promotions Hyatt Gold Passport Hyatt Hotels

Hyatt More Possibilities promo registration open and Freddies Voting

Hyatt Gold Passport has opened registration for Hyatt More Possibilities promotion from March 1 through May 31. The basic deal is 3,000 points after every 3 nights or 3,600 points for Hyatt Gold Passport Visa card members (20% bonus). I notice the promotion T&C do not mention anything about the 20% credit card member bonus that was included in the press release I received from Hyatt on Feb 5.

I registered this morning while working in a Hyatt Hotel suite and thinking last night’s stay might qualify and then realizing the promotion does not start for another 11 days. Registration is required by April 30, 2013.

When I registered for the Hyatt promotion the webpage mentioned voting for Hyatt Gold Passport in the 2013 Freddie Awards.

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Hyatt More Possibilities Promotion Registration confirmation page.

We hope that you enjoy participating in our promotions and will cast your ballot for Hyatt Gold Passport in this year’s Freddie Awards, recognizing the best travel loyalty programs throughout the world. Vote Gold now through March 31.

The Freddie Awards are the loyalty program awards founded by Randy Petersen, owner of BoardingArea.com.

I have not voted for loyalty program awards in several years. I do not go to the award events. These awards are big time advertising news for the winning loyalty programs. Marriott Rewards is a consistent winner and probably the leading hotel loyalty program by awards over the past several years.

The aspects I like about Hyatt Gold Passport as I sit in a Hyatt suite writing this post.

1. Hyatt Diamond suite upgrades. Of course you have to have earned Diamond elite with 25 stays, 50 nights or some sort of fast-track challenge to benefit from Diamond suite upgrades. Personally I have never come anywhere near to getting the full potential from the four Hyatt Suite Upgrades given to Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond members each year.

Each upgrade certificate is valid for a suite upgrade for up to seven nights on a hotel stay. I have not stayed seven nights on a single hotel stay in several years.

I used a suite upgrade last night on an $89 stay. The suite is two rooms with a kitchenette on the top floor of the Grand Hyatt Denver. The Regency Club is down the hall.

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Grand Hyatt Denver

2. AAA breakfast rates. This benefit is available to all AAA members with Hyatt’s recurring promotional rates. Full buffet breakfast in a restaurant included for the same lowest rates available as prepaid, nonrefundable rates is the most common rate I have booked over the past couple of years. Even though Diamond members usually have Regency Club access for breakfast or restaurant breakfast at some locations, the AAA breakfast rate is often a complimentary $40 to $50 hotel restaurant breakfast at no additional cost.

3. Platinum members receive complimentary internet. Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum requires just 5 stays in a calendar year. That is a low threshold for free internet at upper upscale hotels where daily internet fees can run $10 to $25.

4. Hyatt Gold Passport Visa. The basic benefit here is automatic Platinum elite and an annual free night and an enrollment bonus of free nights and suite upgrades if you are already elite. The difference between Hyatt’s Visa and other hotel credit cards is Hyatt is the only program that gives promotion bonuses for just being a credit card member. Most Hyatt Gold Passport promotions of the past two years included 20% more points if you are a Hyatt Gold passport Visa card member. Club Carlson and Hilton HHonors have award stay benefits that are also highly competitive. Hilton HHonors American Express card members can redeem points for discounted 4-night stays at category 6 (125,000 points) and 7 hotels (145,000 points). Club Carlson Visa card members receive one free hotel night on award stays of two or more nights.

I will likely not be voting in the Freddie Awards, but Hyatt Gold Passport certainly has many benefits for the casual traveler or frequent guest and is a good candidate for an award vote.

 

Ric Garrido, writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler, shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests. You can follow Loyalty Traveler on Twitter and Facebook and RSS feed.

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