Hyatt Tightens Cancellation Policies While Giving Loyalty Members Flexibility


Skift Take

Hyatt is the latest hotel company to jump onto the new cancellation policy bandwagon, but with a twist: If you're a loyalty program member, chances are higher you'll have more wiggle room.
First there was Marriott, then InterContinental Hotels Group, and Hilton. And now there's Hyatt. The Chicago-based hotel company announced it too has revised its cancellation terms, implementing a 48-hour cancellation policy, effective for reservations made or changed on or after January 1. Now, guests must cancel at least 48 hours in advance to avoid a cancellation fee. The company also noted that each Hyatt property may also have "its own cancellation policy based on local market dynamics and expectations," so the window to make changes to a reservation will vary from hotel to hotel. This is something Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian has noted before. In August, he stressed that Hyatt wants to leave the "decision-making" on cancellation policies up to its hotels. However, this new policy makes it clear that the company also wants