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Category: Hotels

  • Solid and Scenic: The Hyatt Regency Cologne

    Solid and Scenic: The Hyatt Regency Cologne

    I’ve used an image of this property for years as a file photo for all things Hyatt, but I only last week got to finally experience the Hyatt Regency Köln (Cologne) for myself. My expectations were admittedly not the highest, as several others in this space have written some pretty scathing pieces on this property in the past, citing maintenance issues and the property just generally showing its age. But I needed to be in Köln, and it’s been an incredibly slow travel year by my standards; without the elite nights from this stay, I would have needed to mattress run to renew my World of Hyatt Globalist status. So in spite of the negativity surrounding this property, I decided to give it a try.

    Location

    If scenic views of Köln are what you’re after, you’re going to be hard-pressed to do better than this property. I would estimate the Hyatt Regency likely has THE most prized and expensive views in the entire city. That said, in terms of actually being centrally-located, the property leaves a bit to be desired. It sits not in the city center, but across the Rhine in the borough of Deutz. From Köln’s central train station, you should expect to walk 10-15 mins to reach this property. It’s a very beautiful walk, around the cathedral, then crossing the Rhine via the famous Hohenzollern Bridge. But if you have heavy luggage in tow, and are okay with foregoing a breathtaking first impression of the city, you would be better served choosing a train that serves Köln Messe/Deutz Station, only about a 5 minute walk to the hotel; this station is served by many ICE trains direct from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Terminal 1. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to make that walk later, sans luggage. As far as local transit options go, look for tram lines 1, 7, and 9 from the Deutzer Freiheit tram stop, also about a 5 minute walk away.

    Pricing

    This property is World of Hyatt award category 4, meaning you’ll pay 15,000 World of Hyatt points for a standard award night, 18,000 for peak award nights, and 12,000 for off-peak. During Christmas market season, it is quite common to see cash rates go north of €300, making the use of points an even better value proposition this time of year. This property can be a great place to burn those Cat 1-4 free night certificates, which seem to get devalued every March as all the good redemption options seem to slowly migrate to Category 5. Out of my six-night stay, three of those were peak pricing; luckily, I had the same number of Cat 1-4 certs banked, and had my concierge strategically place those on the peak nights for maximum value. This was the first time in a while I’ve been able to get the full 18,000 point value out of those certificates; as I no longer go out of my way to maximize those, my lowest point was burning one on the then-Category 2 Hyatt Regency DFW Airport just days prior to expiration.

    One could make the argument that this property likely offers the best possible view that can be obtained utilizing the humble Cat 1-4 certificate anywhere in the world, and I fear that if this property remodels in the future, it may move to Category 5 or even Category 6, rendering those certificates useless here.

    Arrival and Globalist Recognition

    I have gotten quite good (if I do say so myself) at navigating the logistics of traveling to Europe over the years; I gave my Hyatt concierge an ETA of 10:00am about a week prior to my arrival, and she worked with the hotel to try and have a room ready by then. As I walked through the doors at 10:01, I was quite impressed with myself for estimating my arrival time a week prior within a 120-second margin of error! While my room was cleaned by this time, it had not yet undergone Hyatt’s QA process. Being from the U.S., I fully expected to be told to go pound sand for a couple hours. However, I was granted access by the cheery front desk agent to wait in the Regency Club, and eat breakfast in there while I waited – and when my room finally was ready, the keys were personally delivered to me in the Regency Club, so I did not have to return to the lobby!

    I did not receive an upgrade, nor did I really expect to, as the hotel was (verifiably) sold out at least one night of my reservation. However, the staff that I interacted with were incredibly kind, welcoming, and helpful.

    Rooms and State of the Hotel

    Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. There are some criticisms floating around about how dated this place feels. And there is some validity to that! The guest room floors feel like the year 2010 called, and asked for its hotel back. The power socket placement is… odd, and if you don’t have a Schuko (type F) plug adapter with USB ports on the side, expect any cords plugged into the front to be bent and possibly destroyed by proximity to the mattress as you toss & turn in bed – luckily, I’m to the point now where I always seem to have multiple travel adapters of varying styles in my backpack. Every lamp in the room seemed to have a different mechanism to turn on/off. I had to upload a picture of the rather antiquated thermostat to ChatGPT to figure out how to use it (meanwhile, the HP Frankfurt Airport had a QR code with instructions on how to use their much simpler digital thermostat… cue eye roll). The bathroom door wouldn’t stay shut unless I slammed it. The Wi-Fi could be better, and logs you out after precisely 24 hours, even if you are actively connected.

    But all that said, it was spotlessly clean, and perfectly adequate! In fact, dare I say that I actually kind of liked that it was a little bit dated. Hotels in Western countries have been in a race to the bottom for years, featuring ever-smaller rooms, weird “barn” doors (or no doors at all) on bathrooms, and eliminating closets and storage in favor of open-air “landing zones” for your luggage. It seems that memo has not reached Köln yet. The rooms were spacious, even by American standards; in fact, I am having a hard time thinking of a standard room I’ve received in Europe larger than this one. The bathroom was large too, featuring a separate bathtub and shower (with some of the best water pressure I’ve ever had, albeit lacking a handheld sprayer like most European hotels). But perhaps the most unique feature was the walk-in closet with a little bench to sit on. As I was staying for a week during a German winter, having this closet enabled me to fully unpack, organize myself, and truly feel at home; contrast this to my most-frequented property in EMEA, where I’d be living out of my suitcase and packing cubes due to the open-concept “storage.” And as I previously mentioned, I like being able to burn my Cat 1-4 certs here; a remodel would likely trigger a change to a higher category.

    My one small complaint about the housekeeping: once I ran out of shower gel, it was never refilled. None of the housekeepers seemed to check if it was empty, and even when I specifically requested more, it never came. Luckily there was good ol’ fashioned Pharmacopia bar soap left near the bathtub (and this was replaced daily!), so I was still able to shower and get clean, albeit not in the way I preferred.

    Food and Beverage

    This is one of those rare properties where Globalist members can choose whether they want their complimentary breakfast at the Glashaus restaurant on the mezzanine level, or in the Regency Club. In practice, I suppose you could have both, as there’s no real enforcement mechanism here. That said, the spread is largely the same core items in both locations. The restaurant has slightly more variety, but you’re not going to be missing anything major if you opt for a quieter breakfast with a better view in the Regency Club. Despite Hyatt being an American brand, this specific property seems to serve largely regional guests, and the breakfast reflects that; while a few hot items such as (very good!) bacon are on offer, you should expect a more continental breakfast focused on bread and fruit, because, well, you’re on the continent. Contrast this to someplace like the Hyatt Regency Amsterdam, which has an incredibly diverse selection of items on offer to cater to a more global audience. All that said, the quality of everything was very much on-par with expectations for a European Hyatt.

    It appears Hyatt knows the location is rather out-of-the-way, with few off-site dining options nearby… and they charge “captive market” prices accordingly for F&B. Of course you’ll pay €39 for breakfast (if not Globalist or Guest of Honor), because going out to eat locally is going to require a good trek, likely to the city center. Expect any food & beverage not comped via elite status or access to the Regency Club to come with some of the most egregious price tags I have ever seen from a Hyatt – even worse than most in the USA. And keep in mind, trams to the city center are available behind the hotel every few minutes, even if this isn’t immediately obvious approaching via the bridge… so you’re not as much of a captive audience as it might initially feel! There are lots of great local dining options in Köln; go into the city center and take advantage (if it’s Christmas Market season, go get a steak near the Cathedral and thank me later).

    Regency Club

    The Regency Club is located on the 6th floor of the hotel. The layout is a bit odd, as instead of a discrete room, the club is really just the elevator lobby for the hotel’s club level; this means you have guests passing through with their luggage, and housekeeping passing through with carts, especially at peak hours. That said, the views of the Rhine from the Regency Club are absolutely incredible, the staff are very helpful, and even at the busiest times, I was always able to find a clean table near the windows. Access is available 24/7, though most food and beverage is promptly put away by 10pm.

    Bottom Line

    Do you need to manage your expectations a bit? Perhaps. Is it nearly as bad as some bloggers say? Absolutely not. Hyatt spoils us, and it leads to some just looking for something to complain about. Even the worst European Hyatts are probably better than the ~30th percentile of American Hyatts, and it’s important to keep that in perspective. Köln is an absolutely wonderful city, and the Hyatt Regency is a perfectly serviceable option with spectacular views to stay while visiting. In my opinion, it is one of the best remaining options to burn those Category 1-4 free night certificates we all seem to accumulate each year, and for that reason, I kinda hope they don’t remodel or change for a while. All of the shortcomings here are really relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, and I mention them not to complain, but purely in the interest of giving an honest, transparent take. None of these issues are show stoppers, and I’ll definitely be back.

  • Hilton Potentially Experiencing Major System Outage, Check-Ins Affected

    Hilton Potentially Experiencing Major System Outage, Check-Ins Affected

    In a day already marred by technical mishaps, with Microsoft’s Azure cloud causing a nationwide ground stop for Frontier Airlines, it appears the tech gremlins weren’t done just yet. This time, the hospitality giant Hilton found itself in the crosshairs of technological turmoil, potentially affecting guests chainwide and complicating the check-in process – a scenario that’s enough to fray the nerves of even the most seasoned traveler.

    Reports began surfacing on Reddit, where a user by the name FuzzelFox shared an intriguing and somewhat alarming experience. According to the post, multiple Hilton property computers simultaneously suffered the dreaded “blue screen of death,” a term that sends shivers down the spine of anyone who relies on technology for their day-to-day operations. The issue wasn’t isolated, as it seemed to ripple across the street to another property, hinting at a larger, possibly systemic problem. The immediate suspicion? A rogue update dispatched across Hilton’s IT infrastructure with less-than-desirable results.

    Did anyone else's computers just crash?
    byu/FuzzelFox inHilton

    Amidst the chaos of rebooting PCs and guests waiting to check in, another piece of the puzzle emerged. Crowdstrike, known for its endpoint security solutions and widely adopted in various enterprise environments, rolled out a bad update today that is allegedly causing blue screens across many different companies – not just Hilton.

    Many Windows 10 machines blue screening, stuck at recovery
    byu/Sorryboss insysadmin

    Hilton has yet to release any official statement on the matter, but my educated guess here is that Hilton is likely a customer of Crowdstrike (edit: a commenter on the original Reddit post indicated this is indeed the case), and likely has the Crowdstrike endpoint security agent deployed to their front desk computers. As that software “checks in” with Crowdstrike’s cloud and pulls down updates, bad things are going to happen.

    Imagine, if you will, the added frustration for travelers who, after facing delays and cancellations courtesy of the earlier Frontier Airlines debacle, find themselves unable to check into their hotel rooms. If anyone is checking into a Hilton property tonight, we’d love to hear from you.

  • 2024 Hyatt Award Category Changes: What You Need to Know

    2024 Hyatt Award Category Changes: What You Need to Know

    Once a year, usually around late February, Hyatt announces a slew of hotel award category changes. So far, unlike their competitors which have all gone to fully-dynamic award pricing, Hyatt still maintains an award chart, and opts to make changes all at once, one time per year. This can lead to outsize value, particularly during peak times and large events.

    I predicted this would be the year Hyatt went fully dynamic, and luckily, Hyatt has disappointed me in the best of ways. Hyatt has released its annual list of category changes for 2024, and while undoubtedly, like most years, this represents a devaluation of the program, it’s not as bad as I think many of us were bracing for.

    At first glance, this sounds bad: 137 hotels are going up in category, and only 46 are coming down. However, the segments getting hardest hit aren’t the aspirational properties that are typically the target of these category changes. In fact, it seems to be the lower end of Hyatt’s portfolio getting impacted the hardest this time – which will be painful for me, as there will no longer be any Category 1 mattress run opportunities here in Tulsa. Hyatt Regency Tulsa and Hyatt Place Tulsa/Downtown both go up from Cat 1 to Cat 2, while that horrible old Hyatt Place in South Tulsa exited the system entirely to become a “Hyad” or a Homewood or something (a recent drive-by suggests it will be the “Hyde Park” and the cheap signage doesn’t exactly inspire confidence).

    These changes go into effect March 26, 2024 at 8am Central. Some key points to remember here:

    • Hotels moving from Category 4 to 5 will no longer be accessible using a Category 1-4 free night award – unlike Marriott, Hyatt does not allow “topping off” a free night certificate with points
    • Hotels moving down from 5 to 4 will become accessible using a Cat 1-4 certificate
    • Apply this same logic to Category 7 and 8 for the Cat 1-7 award certificates

    This means if you have any of these Cat 4 or Cat 7 properties on your radar that are going up a category, you should book now before the changes take effect and lock in the lower categories (and therefore the ability to use your FNCs). Just pay attention to any relevant cancellation policies.

    Some notable changes:

    • Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego from 4 to 5 (ouch)
    • Thompson Madrid from 5 to 6 (double ouch)
    • Grayson Hotel in Manhattan 5 to 6
    • GH Denver, HR Denver Convention Center, and HC Denver/Downtown all 3 to 4
    • Lost Pines & Gainey Ranch both go from 5 to 6
    • Thompson Chicago from 4 to 5
    • HR Lake Tahoe drops from 6 to 5

    I’m probably missing some but these are the ones that stick out to me at first glance. There are some that sting here, but am I the only one that was bracing for worse?

    First of all, I think Hyatt is still in damage control mode from losing SLH and MGM. That shrank their footprint… a lot. Mr. & Mrs. Smith should mitigate the loss of SLH a bit, but Hyatt needs to mitigate the perception that their program has been gutted. They’ve done about as decent of a job as I think any of us could have asked for on that front.

    The other thing is the economy, and broadly travel demand. The recent wave of layoffs and hiring freezes has sent a chilling effect through the travel world, causing demand to slow. As a result, there’s less need to artificially chill demand through devaluation.

    What do you think about these changes? Comment below.

  • Marriott Property near EWR has Legionella Problem, Still Accepting New Bookings?!

    Marriott Property near EWR has Legionella Problem, Still Accepting New Bookings?!

    Travel can be yucky, no doubt. But I can’t help but be a little taken aback at the callous and utter disregard for public health & safety displayed by an Elizabeth, NJ Marriott property. The Renaissance Newark Airport hotel, typically regarded as one of the few properties at EWR that don’t completely suck, recently discovered their water system was infested with legionella bacteria, which can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a pneumonia-like illness with a death rate around 10% according to the CDC.

    So Marriott did the responsible thing and immediately shuttered the hotel until this could be safely remediated by professionals… right?

    Well, not exactly. It appears things are largely business as usual at the New Jersey property. In fact, they are still taking new bookings for as soon as tonight! The Marriott website doesn’t even appear to offer any warning to unsuspecting guests who might want to book a stay there tonight. Talk about getting Bonvoyed!

    The hotel is still taking new reservations for as soon as tonight!

    The letter being distributed to guests (which I had archived here for posterity) lets us know that the risk of contracting this deadly disease from a building’s water system is “low.” How reassuring! However, it tells us that anyone with any risk factors should avoid showering at all (even a cold shower) and use caution when brushing teeth. Those risk factors include smokers, those with chronic lung disease, weakened immune systems, and anybody age 50 or older. Basically, more or less copy-and-paste the risk factors for COVID here… but with much higher mortality rate if infected!

    This is a really big deal. Gary Leff over at View From the Wing called the hotel, and apparently they expect to need 6-8 weeks to resolve this issue. Common sense would dictate you just close the freaking hotel until then… but I guess the potential legal liability doesn’t scare them? Or maybe they’re still recouping their losses from 2020 and shutting down for two months would spell the end of the property.

    The letter states that they are working with both the New Jersey state health department, as well as the City of Elizabeth’s health departments. You’d think if Marriott corporate didn’t shutter the hotel, one of these two entities would?

    You go into Newark with a certain expectation of cleanliness (after all, you can’t spell “sewer” without “EWR”), but this may just be a new low. We’ll see if Marriott corporate does the right thing and shuts this operation down.

  • Hyatt’s New Promo is Pretty Meh; Here’s How to Make the Most of It

    Hyatt’s New Promo is Pretty Meh; Here’s How to Make the Most of It

    Hyatt has announced its first global Bonus Journeys promotion of 2024, which runs from March 1st through April 30th. While Marriott’s promo offered 1,000 points and double elite credits per night, Hyatt’s new promo is pretty lukewarm by comparison. But there are still some ways to maximize your earnings and get some value out of it.

    The Details

    With Bonus Journeys, World of Hyatt members can earn 3,000 bonus points for every three qualifying nights (up to a total of 21,000 bonus points). This is valid at all Hyatt properties globally, including Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), which are still part of the program for now (though that’s changing).

    If you have either the World of Hyatt Credit Card or World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, you can earn an additional 1,000 bonus points for every three nights at properties in 18 international destinations. These include: Australia, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

    Registration is required prior to your first eligible stay, and is open between February 22nd and April 15th. There is zero harm in registering, so even if your plans don’t include a Hyatt stay, we’d recommend everyone go ahead and register as soon as it opens so you don’t forget. The promotion is valid on your first stay. The good news is that nights are cumulative. You don’t need to stay three nights on one stay to earn the bonus points. Award stays count as well.

    Analysis

    If you max out this promotion over 21 nights in the selected international destinations and have a Hyatt credit card, you could potentially earn up to 28,000 bonus points. This is not enough to get excited about, but I value World of Hyatt points at approximately 2.0 cents per point, so if you are in a position to max out every requirement, you could potentially milk ~$560 in value out of this. I imagine most of us realistically won’t come close, if nothing else because the full value requires an extended international stay.

    This is a slower time of the year for travel. Hyatt knows this… that’s why these promotions tend to come at inconvenient times of the year. Sure, you’ll have the spring break crowd, but most of these people aren’t going to be spending 21 nights in Macau.

    We probably shouldn’t expect to ever see the Bonus Journeys promos of 2020 ever again. High inflation, high labor costs, and persistent demand for Hyatt’s quality product means there just isn’t an incentive for Hyatt to invest much in marketing anymore. I shudder to think about what this year’s category changes will look like, assuming they don’t go all-in on dynamic award pricing (which I think Hyatt very well might). We should know this relatively soon.

    Bottom Line

    Hyatt’s new promo is not very impressive, but it’s better than nothing. If you have some Hyatt stays planned in the next few months (or even if you don’t as there’s no penalty to register), you might as well register once it opens and earn some bonus points. But don’t go out of your way to chase this promo.

  • Hyatt Dumps SLH, Hilton Picks Up The Pieces?

    Hyatt Dumps SLH, Hilton Picks Up The Pieces?

    The past year has been rough for Hyatt on the partnership front. First MGM dumped Hyatt for Marriott. And the losses continue…

    Hyatt has just confirmed that it will end its partnership with Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) in the near future, while Hilton simultaneously announced a new partnership with the group of boutique and luxury properties. This is a huge loss for Hyatt loyalists, who could use their points and enjoy elite benefits at over 300 SLH hotels around the world. Some of these hotels were truly aspirational, such as the Grand Hotel Victoria in Lake Como, Italy, or the Calala Island resort on a private island in Nicaragua.

    At this time, World of Hyatt members can still book participating SLH Hotels on Hyatt’s booking channels, and nothing changes as of now for existing World of Hyatt member reservations. More information on the end of this relationship will be shared with guests and members in the coming months.

    Quote from Hyatt spokesperson (ht The Points Guy)

    The writing has been on the wall for some time that Hyatt and SLH would eventually break it off, especially with Hyatt’s acquisition of similar platform Mr & Mrs Smith (causing the company to cut ties with IHG), and now last month’s announcement of SLH’s new partnership with Capital One Travel. This alone seemed like an odd partnership, given SLH is undoubtedly a premium travel brand, and “premium” usually isn’t what comes to mind when we think about Capital One or their target audience (though admittedly they do seem to be trying with the Venture X?).

    But Hilton!?! I’ve written ad nauseam about the decline of what was once one of my favorite travel brands. Pre-COVID, I was all-in on Hilton, but the brand’s standards declined to the point where I switched to Hyatt and never looked back. The quality delta between Hilton and Hyatt, at least domestically, is tough to overstate. It really seems like Hilton has given up on competing with Marriott and Hyatt, and has instead decided to go duke it out with Wyndham, Choice, and Radisson, much like a struggling NCAA team moving to a lesser conference where they can easily beat the crap out of their new rivals.

    Hyatt says that it will focus on integrating more hotels from Mr & Mrs Smith, after announcing last year that the platform would be integrated into World of Hyatt in “early 2024.” However, the Mr & Mrs Smith portfolio is much smaller than SLH, and the integration has been very slow and limited so far. Hyatt also says that nothing changes for existing reservations at SLH hotels, but it’s unclear how long the partnership will last and when the last date to book will be. It’s worth noting that SLH has a standard set of on-property benefits for bookings through World of Hyatt, and Hyatt tier status is not otherwise honored; presumably, Mr & Mrs Smith will honor the full range of tier benefits.

    On the other hand, this is a great opportunity for Hilton to expand its luxury footprint, which currently consists of brands like Conrad, Waldorf Astoria, and LXR. Hilton says that it will add more than 200 SLH hotels to its portfolio, and that Hilton Honors members will be able to earn and redeem points, as well as enjoy elite benefits, at these hotels (unlike when they were partnered with Hyatt). This could make Hilton points much more valuable, especially if they price SLH hotels at reasonable rates and don’t exclude them from using free night certificates. Maybe I won’t need to cancel my Hilton Surpass Card after all?

    However, there are still many unknowns about the Hilton-SLH partnership, such as when it will start, how it will work, and what benefits will be offered. Hilton says that it will share more details soon, but I’m not holding my breath.

    What do you think of this news? Are you excited or disappointed by the changes?

  • Underwhelming at Best: Marriott and MGM Finally Reveal Details of Partnership

    Underwhelming at Best: Marriott and MGM Finally Reveal Details of Partnership

    After months of delays largely owing to the hacking of MGM’s IT infrastructure last year, Marriott and MGM have finally revealed the details of their new partnership, which will allow members of both loyalty programs to earn and redeem points, receive elite benefits, and transfer points between the two programs. Sounds great, right? Well, not so fast. When you look closer, you’ll see that this partnership is a shell of the old Hyatt-MGM partnership, which ended last year.

    First of all, Marriott members do not receive any status match to MGM’s program, which means they still have to pay resort fees, unless they are Marriott Ambassadors. Resort fees are one of the biggest rip-offs in Las Vegas, and Hyatt Explorist and Globalist members used to be able to avoid them by matching to MGM Gold. Oftentimes, the resort fee far exceeds the actual rate of the room itself, so being able to dodge these as a Hyatt Globalist was huge. This also created interesting “virtual” mattress running opportunities by remotely checking into Excalibur or Luxor for a sub-$20 nightly rate, though MGM caught on and shut down remote check-ins for Hyatt members.

    In addition to the lack of waived resort fees, the lack of a status match to MGM also means Bonvoy members (except Ambassadors) will have to pay for parking unless they have MGM status via another means. Maybe this finally gives the MGM Rewards Mastercard by FNBO, which doesn’t carry an annual fee, some tiny amount of value proposition for a very specific subset of readers who frequent Vegas? Self parking at MGM’s Vegas properties, once complimentary, now runs as much as $23 a day – which could, much like the resort fee, very well cost more than your room itself.

    A mid-week room rate at Excalibur; the resort fee is almost double the room rate, and self parking ($18/day during the week) costs almost as much as the room itself… talk about getting nickeled and dimed!

    Second, the benefits for Marriott elites staying at MGM hotels are pretty underwhelming. Silver and Gold members get almost nothing, except a small bonus on points and a welcome gift of 500 points (for Gold members), which is worth less than a cup of coffee (especially a cup of coffee in Vegas, where in-room coffee makers aren’t the norm). Platinum and Titanium members get a bit more, such as priority check-in, late check-out, and room upgrades, but these are subject to availability and not guaranteed. Only Ambassadors get one suite upgrade per year, early check-in, and free self-parking. The kicker: these benefits are only valid until December 31, 2024, which suggests that this partnership is not nearly as stable or long-term as suggested when it was first announced in 2023.

    Third, the points transfer ratio between the two programs is not very favorable. You lose 20% of your points every time you transfer, whether it’s from Marriott to MGM or vice versa. That means you need 12,500 Marriott points to get 10,000 MGM points, or 12,500 MGM points to get 10,000 Marriott points. That’s a pretty steep price to pay, especially when you consider that MGM points are just not very valuable to begin with. You need 25,000 MGM points for a free night at a standard MGM hotel, or 75,000 MGM points for a free night at a premium MGM hotel, such as Bellagio or Aria. That’s equivalent to 31,250 or 93,750 Marriott points, respectively. You’re better off saving your Marriott points for other redemptions and just paying cash rates, which are often very cheap in Las Vegas – it’s a loss leader for these resorts to offer insanely cheap room rates to get you in the door and spending money on their casino floor.

    The only potential benefit of this partnership is the ability to earn elite night credits with Marriott by staying at MGM hotels. This could be useful for mattress running, especially at the cheaper MGM hotels, such as Excalibur or Luxor. However, this is only possible if you book through Marriott channels, and not through MGM directly (a stark contrast to the former Hyatt partnership, where you could book directly with MGM and add your World of Hyatt number at check-in). This means you have to compare the rates and availability, and make sure you’re not paying more or getting less by booking through Marriott. Also, you have to hope that MGM will allow mobile check-in via their app, which they stopped doing for Hyatt bookings once the end of the partnership was announced.

    This much-hyped partnership is a huge disappointment for Marriott and MGM loyalists, especially compared to the previous Hyatt-MGM partnership. It offers very little value, very few benefits, and very limited options. It seems like a half-hearted attempt to attract more customers, without giving them any real incentives or rewards. Unless you’re a Marriott Ambassador or an MGM Noir, we’ve all gotten Bonvoyed by this deal.

  • “Hyad Park Hotel” – Ex-Hyatt Property in Tulsa Adopts Questionable Name Amid Mass Deflagging

    “Hyad Park Hotel” – Ex-Hyatt Property in Tulsa Adopts Questionable Name Amid Mass Deflagging

    In a hushed move that’s sending ripples through the hospitality realm, Hyatt seems to be quietly orchestrating a mass deflagging of properties, quietly ushering them out of the esteemed World of Hyatt program. While Hyatt maintains a stoic silence on the matter, word on the street suggests that franchisees of Hyatt-branded properties are facing a straightforward ultimatum from corporate: either get with the program and comply with Hyatt’s stringent brand standards (this usually means a partial or full remodel of the property), or get the heck out.

    The message from Hyatt corporate is clear: Hyatt is no longer tolerating low-quality properties. Period. Play time is over. This strategic cleansing seems to be primarily targeting the “OG” Hyatt Place hotels, relics of the initial 2005 acquisition of AmeriSuites. Hyatt loyalists have long detested these legacy AmeriSuites properties, relics frozen in time since the Bush administration. Newer Hyatt Place properties, when purpose-built to be a Hyatt Place, are an excellent select-service choice when the property takes a backseat to the destination, and all you need is a clean, modern place to sleep and shower (or undertake a mattress run). These older “legacy” properties water down the brand in a significant way, and Hyatt is doing the right thing by cleaning house.

    In a move that’s raising questions among eagle-eyed observers, one Hyatt Place property in Tulsa, OK, not only lost its coveted Hyatt affiliation, but took on a rather dubious moniker in its place. The former Hyatt Place Tulsa-South/Medical District at 7037 S. Zurich Avenue now seems to be calling itself the… wait for it… “Hyad Park Hotel.” I don’t live very far from the property, and at this moment it appears to be closed with the original Hyatt signage intact, but the questionable name already appears on Google Maps. If and when they install signage, I’ll be sure to go grab some pictures. “Hyad Park” sounds like a creative workaround for a movie director who couldn’t get permission to feature the Park Hyatt brand in their movie. Hyatt’s legal team is poised for a field day with what appears to be a blatant trademark infringement.

    Screenshot for posterity

    The state of Oklahoma has shed about half of its Hyatt properties sometime in the last four months or so, which points to a very abrupt and drastic deflagging operation. So far, we have lost all our legacy AmeriSuites properties, namely:

    • Hyatt Place Tulsa-South/Medical District
    • Hyatt Place Oklahoma City-Northwest
    • Hyatt Place Oklahoma City Airport

    We have gained one new property, the Fordson Hotel in Oklahoma City. While I haven’t had an opportunity to stay yet, it seems promising for a quick weekend staycation option.

    Signs point to 2024 as the year Hyatt Place sheds its dated image, bidding adieu to many older properties, especially those lingering from the AmeriSuites era. It doesn’t seem like many of these properties are willing to remodel to brand standards, but did find one in Roanoke, VA that appears to be doing just that (ht Mike Jones). Surveying HDC’s development pipeline offers a glimmer of hope, with new select-service properties set to grace North America, potentially filling the void left by the departing legacy properties. Hopefully we get some more in Tulsa to fill the void left by the “Hyad Park,” as the one in question was a great mattress running opportunity for 3,500 points or < $80 most nights.

    The critical challenge for Hyatt lies in fortifying its portfolio elsewhere. With Marriott, IHG, and Hilton boasting larger footprints, Hyatt’s limited number of properties and geographical footprint has always been its Achilles heel. In Europe, they’re doing this primarily doing this through acquisition, buying UK-based Mr. & Mrs. Smith and German hotel group Lindner Hotels. We’ll see if they can build properties here in the States fast enough to backfill their portfolio.

  • From Guest of Honor to Milestone Rewards: Hyatt’s Loyalty Game-Changers

    From Guest of Honor to Milestone Rewards: Hyatt’s Loyalty Game-Changers

    Hyatt is ushering in changes to its World of Hyatt loyalty program in 2024, and the overall outlook appears positive for most of us. The alterations touch on various aspects, offering members increased flexibility and added benefits without significant devaluation. Here’s a breakdown of the key modifications:

    Guest Of Honor Becomes a Milestone Reward

    One notable change is the transformation of the Guest of Honor benefit. Formerly an unlimited Globalist perk, it will now function as a Milestone Reward. This means members can enjoy the privileges of extending their status to friends or family after accumulating a set number of nights. The initial milestone is reached at 40 nights, making the feature accessible even before achieving Globalist status at 60 nights.

    The Guest of Honor credits are applicable to both paid and award stays, broadening the scope of its utility. Additionally, when gifting this benefit to others, the giver earns an elite qualifying night upon the completion of the recipient’s stay. While the move introduces some limits on usage, the overall flexibility and transferability of the benefit have increased.

    Expanded Choices Every 10 Elite Nights

    Hyatt is enhancing its Milestone Rewards, extending benefits every 10 elite nights up to 150 nights. This change provides members with more options to tailor their rewards based on their preferences. Notably, this expansion presents a compelling incentive for elite members, giving them the flexibility to choose benefits that align with their travel patterns and priorities.

    More Suite Upgrades Available Earlier

    The suite upgrade landscape is also evolving, with more suite upgrades available starting at 40 nights and continuing up to 150 nights. This adjustment allows members staying 60 nights, for instance, to enjoy five confirmed suites instead of the previous four. Importantly, these suite upgrades become transferable, offering members greater flexibility in how they utilize this valuable benefit.

    Easily Gifted Awards

    A significant shift in Hyatt’s approach is the increased transferability of awards. Virtually all Hyatt awards, including free night awards, club access, suite upgrades, and Guest of Honor awards, can be easily gifted to others. This added flexibility enables members to share their rewards with friends or family, enhancing the overall value of the program.

    Meetings, Events, and Small Business Stays Earn Elite Nights

    Hyatt introduces changes to how elite nights are earned through meetings, events, and small business stays. The new program allows meeting planners, travel advisors, and small business program administrators to earn 2 qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent, up to 60 elite nights per year. This initiative provides additional opportunities for various stakeholders to accrue elite status credits.

    Hyatt’s Continued Evolution and Future Outlook

    The integration of Mr. and Mrs. Smith into the program adds a new dimension to Hyatt’s offerings. While specific details are yet to unfold, the move signifies a strategic expansion of Hyatt’s portfolio with carefully selected properties.

    The changes to the World of Hyatt loyalty program for 2024 bring a mix of positive enhancements. While some limits have been introduced, the overall trend is one of increased flexibility and additional choices for members. The program’s focus on maintaining a valuable and differentiated experience for members reflects Hyatt’s commitment to standing out in the competitive loyalty landscape. As Hyatt continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these changes will resonate with its diverse membership base.

    You can view the full press release here.

  • London Calling: Hyatt Place Paddington to Open Doors Next Year

    London Calling: Hyatt Place Paddington to Open Doors Next Year

    Big news for Hyatt enthusiasts and London travelers alike: Hyatt is set to expand its footprint in the heart of London with the opening of Hyatt Place London Paddington in 2024. The discovery was made by the eagle-eyed team at Traveling for Miles, and even though it falls under the Hyatt Place banner, on the more modest end of the Hyatt spectrum, the implications are anything but modest.

    London has long been a haven for upscale Hyatt properties like the iconic Hyatt Regency Churchill, the stylish Hyatt Regency Blackfriars, the historic Great Scotland Yard, and the trendy Andaz Liverpool Street. However, the city has been severely lacking in select-service Hyatt options, catering to longer stays or trips where the property takes a back seat to the destination – and London offers no shortage of things to do outside the four walls of your hotel.

    This new addition will mark only the fourth select-service Hyatt property in the London area, joining the ranks of Hyatt Place London City East, Hyatt Place Heathrow Airport, and Hyatt House London Stratford.

    Location-wise, the Hyatt Place London Paddington boasts an enviable address at 29/23 Norfolk Square, just steps away from London Paddington Station. This central location is a strategic hub served by multiple Tube lines and the newly inaugurated Elizabeth Line. Not only does this make it convenient to explore various parts of London, but it’s also a boon for travelers to and from Heathrow. Paddington is home to the Heathrow Express, providing nonstop service to Heathrow Central, and the Elizabeth Line offers a direct connection to the airport. This is great risk mitigation against missing your flight; recent years have been marked by rampant strike action in the UK, and Paddington provides two easy ways to get to LHR, neither of which are reliant on the Tube, local buses, or connections to other services.

    The 87-room hotel is set to emerge from the conversion of the Norfolk Plaza Hotel, a 1970s-era hotel that has seen better days. While details about the amenities are scant, let’s face it – it’s a Hyatt Place. You’re getting a clean, comfortable place to stay the night while racking up elite nights towards World of Hyatt status. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – on past visits to the city, I’ve made a bad habit of dropping a lot of points on a high-end property I didn’t want to leave despite there being an infinite amount of things to do in London. Maybe next time, I’ll give this Hyatt Place a shot, and use the savings in points to stay longer than I otherwise might have. London ain’t a cheap date, so this is a welcome option.

    The anticipated opening date is pegged for July 1, 2024, according to the property’s information page. However, as of the time of this writing, reservations have yet to be made available on Hyatt.com, and it’s unclear what award category the property will fall into (I’m betting category 3, allowing for use of those sweet, sweet Cat 1-4 free night certificates). Keep your eyes peeled for updates, and mark your calendars for a potential stay at the Hyatt Place London Paddington in the summer of 2024.