Is Hyatt Globalist Worth It? And How To Get It

A woman in a white bathrobe smiles as she sits on a luxury hotel bed looking at a tray containing pastries, fruit, coffee, a mimosa and other breakfast items.

Perhaps you have many travel plans, or you’re wondering which hotel chain deserves your allegiance. World of Hyatt is Hyatt’s loyalty program and a worthy contender. 

World of Hyatt has just three elite levels and two co-branded credit cards, unlike other programs with lots of levels and moving parts. It’s also the rare program that still maintains an award chart, which is refreshing because it lets you have a number in mind for an award stay. 

We’ll talk about Hyatt’s top elite tier — Globalist — and let you know if it’s worth your time. Spoiler alert: It very much is, but Hyatt has a noticeably smaller footprint than its competitors. 

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Globalist is World of Hyatt’s highest elite tier. It comes with the following benefits:

  • 30% bonus points on eligible purchases
  • 4 p.m. late checkout when available
  • Guaranteed room availability within 48 hours of your stay
  • Upgrade to a preferred room when available, including standard suites
  • Club access or free breakfast
  • Free parking on award stays
  • Resort fees waived for award stays
  • Premium internet and bottled water at check-in

World of Hyatt is unusual in that it offers a sweeping free breakfast benefit for up to two adults and two children with no brand restrictions. Resort fees are waived on award stays, and if the hotel charges for parking, you can park for free during your award stay. For that, it’s among the best hotel loyalty programs.

I’ve used all these benefits many times and estimate they’ve saved me hundreds, if not more. Breakfast can easily be $20 or more per person, parking can be over $20 per night, and resort fees can add up in a hurry. Plus, securing a 4 p.m. checkout can give you an extra day of sightseeing, which is valuable when you have late flights. 

Hyatt also tends to be generous with suite upgrades in my experience, which is always a nice perk. 

You’ll earn World of Hyatt Globalist status when you reach 60 nights or 100,000 points within a calendar year. 

When you earn elite status, it’s valid for the remainder of the current year and all of the following year, until the end of the following February. So if you earn Globalist at any point in 2026, you’ll have elite status for the rest of 2026 and all of 2027, through February 2028. 

You can also earn credits toward elite status by spending on a Hyatt co-branded credit card. There are currently two cards: The World of Hyatt Credit Card for personal spending and a business version. These are among the best hotel credit cards, in part because of the path to elite status they offer. 

The general opinion is that World of Hyatt points are worth about 2 cents each. Framed another way, an estimate for 5,000 Hyatt points would be worth around $100 toward a hotel stay (5,000 x 0.02 = 100). 

See if you fit one or more of these profiles. 

Frequent Travelers

Though Hyatt is on the smaller side of hotel chains, it still has over 1,400 hotels in more than 80 countries, which can take you pretty far. Hyatt has a presence in most metropolitan areas and many popular vacation destinations. 

Unless you’re planning trips to far-flung places, chances are you’ll have plenty of choice with Hyatt. Also consider one of the best travel credit cards to amp up your points earning power. 

City Lovers

If your travel style skews toward urban exploration and cultural hotspots, you’ll be in capable hands with Hyatt. There are a variety of brands, ranging from luxury and upscale to basic and family-friendly, often within the same city or region. Hyatt hotels also tend to be in excellent locations and neighborhoods.  

All-Inclusive Fans

Hyatt has an impressive number of all-inclusive brands, like Hyatt Ziva and Zilara, Dreams, Secrets and Zoetry. I’ve stayed at four separate Hyatt all-inclusives and can attest to their service and scenic private beaches. 

Couples or Small Families 

Because Hyatt Globalist includes free breakfast for up to two adults and two children, it’s a perfect benefit to share with someone and a couple of kiddos. Families with two kids would win big, as breakfast in some spots can be downright palatial. 

Here’s who shouldn’t bother with Hyatt Globalist, or could consider it a backup if needed. 

Small Town Visitors

I’ve been spending a lot of time in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and my significant other visits family in Stillwater, Oklahoma. There are zero Hyatt hotels in either of those locations, and, for now, those are our two biggest destinations. Unless this changes, Hyatt Globalist wouldn’t make sense for us. 

I’ve also noticed that in many small-to-medium towns, Hyatt doesn’t have any locations. Before you go all-in, make sure you like the options available to you, if any. 

Nature Enjoyers

I love visiting state and national parks, which are often closest to small towns. Hyatt doesn’t really focus on these areas, whereas other hotel chains specifically lean into them. Check out any national parks that are on your bucket list and see if Hyatt has anything nearby. 

Budget Travelers

Because Hyatt Globalist status benefits are geared toward savings on luxurious or expensive stays, such as free breakfast, suite upgrades and waived fees, those who prefer cheaper hotels won’t get much use out of this elite status tier. 

Hyatt’s budget options usually include free breakfast for all guests, and upgrades are less meaningful since most rooms are about the same size. For example, breakfast is included, and most rooms are identical at Hyatt Place hotels, so there wouldn’t be extra benefits available.

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What is Hyatt Globalist status worth?

Some benefits are difficult to quantify, such as late checkout and guaranteed room availability, while others have a defined monetary value. You’ll typically save more at upscale Hyatt hotels that charge for extras like room upgrades, breakfast and parking. In those cases, Globalist status can easily be worth hundreds per stay. 

Does Hyatt give breakfast to all staying in a room with a Globalist?

Globalist members receive breakfast for up to two adults and two children. 

Is there a Hyatt status above Globalist?

No, Globalist is the top Hyatt elite status tier, although you can continue earning Milestone Rewards for more stays throughout the year. 

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.