Skift Take

Hyatt just extended its loyalty program to reach a whole new market of luxury properties around the world. Boutique enthusiasts will be thrilled with both Hyatt and its reach.

Series: Business of Loyalty

Travel Loyalty News

The Skift Business of Loyalty covers the world of hotel, airline, and other consumer loyalty programs in the travel industry. Read more coverage of loyalty here.

When Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels launched a new loyalty program in 2016 that focused on experiences rather than direct competition with the Marriotts and Hiltons of the world, many were left scratching their heads about how the new World of Hyatt would end up holding water. Ultimately, some hardcore business travelers may have defected, but here in 2018, things are starting to look a lot more interesting for the World of Hyatt program and its members.

Just last week, WoH announced that it would start working with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, a network of about 500 luxury properties, to both earn and redeem properties at the chain. According to Skift’s Deanna Ting, the partnership should be up and running later this year.

That news comes on the heels of Hyatt kicking off a similar partnership with Oasis home rentals, opening up a variety of members-only experiences and launching a pretty darn good credit card.

Sure, World of Hyatt may not get members the fancy bonus points or 300 different airline partners — but with all of these perks, for many, that may no longer matter.

— Grant Martin, Business of Loyalty Editor

Skift Stories and More Expert Insight

Making Sense of the Hyatt, NH Hotels, Minor International Saga Thus Far: If you’ve been a bit bewildered by what’s happening with Spanish hotel company NH Hotel Group, and its two suitors — Thai conglomerate, Minor International, and U.S.-based Hyatt Hotels & Resorts — you’re not alone.

HotelTonight and Expedia Offering New Twists on Hidden Hotel Deals: Suddenly there is a flurry of innovation — or at least ample twists on traditional practices — when it comes to the ways online travel players are delivering price-hidden, or opaque, hotel deals to consumers.

AccorHotels’ High-End Acquisition Problem: Accor hoped that by plugging these high-end brands into its wider product portfolio, it would be able to grow them faster than they would on their own. So far this hasn’t happened.

Hyatt’s $22 Million Charge Underscores Hotels’ Homesharing Struggles: Hyatt Hotels Corporation, not unlike AccorHotels, seems to be having some difficulty making homesharing work.

AccorHotels Buys Majority Stake in Boutique Lifestyle Chain 21c Museum Hotels: Even though AccorHotels recently revealed it took a $288 million hit on its 2016 acquisitions of luxury homesharing platform Onefinestay and concierge provider John Paul, it hasn’t deterred the company’s shopping spree.

Aimia Explores Partnership With Oneworld as It Weighs Selling Aeroplan to Air Canada: Aimia Inc. is in talks with the Oneworld airline alliance as the Aeroplan frequent flyer program operator bolsters its attempt to go it alone in the face of an unsolicited bid from Air Canada.

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Skift Business of Loyalty Editor Grant Martin [[email protected]] curates the Skift Business of Loyalty newsletter. Skift emails the newsletter every Monday.

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Tags: hyatt, loyalty

Photo credit: Hyatt's World of Hyatt loyalty program announced that it was expanding its partnerships once again. Hyatt Hotels & Resorts / Hyatt

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