Hyatt will eliminate their “Passport Escapes” option as of November 1, 2012

Hyatt will eliminate their “Passport Escapes” option as of November 1, 2012

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In the past I’ve written about Hyatt’s “Passport Escapes” award redemptions, which can be a good value. Through this you could redeem not only for free nights, but also include daily breakfast and several dinners during your stays, as follows:

As a point of comparison, here’s the normal award chart not including the daily breakfast and dinners:

So on the high end you’re basically paying a 35,000 point premium for daily breakfast and three dinners on a five night stay. In most cities I’d say that’s not a good deal, but at a resort where you’re “captive,” like the Park Hyatt Maldives (though in fairness all guests get free breakfast at the Park Hyatt Maldives), I’d say it could be a pretty good value given the cost of food.

Unfortunately as of November 1, 2012, this redemption option will be eliminated. That’s definitely saddening and at first I was confused as to why they would eliminate the option since I can’t imagine it cost Hyatt all that much, though Gary shares an email he received from Hyatt Gold Passport President Jeff Zidell, which has the explanation:

We are making investments in those benefits that customers value and use. In this case, we had approximately 100 members a year redeem a Passport Escape award, and it did not make sense for us to maintain the training and communication infrastructure needed to support a benefit with such low usage.

And I’d say that’s a perfectly good explanation. Properly executing these benefits takes training, and they’d rather not offer it all than confuse guests and associates, which makes sense given the few people that used the benefit.

If you still want to make a Passport Escapes booking, though, you have about a week to do so.

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  1. Carl Guest

    I wasn't aware of this award option. Too bad Hyatt didn't promote it more. If traveling as a couple, 3 dinners for two for 35,000 points could be a good tradeoff at top properties.

  2. Bruce Guest

    I think the Passport Escape might also make sense at the Park Hyatt Tokyo since they have three very good expensive restaurants at the hotel.

  3. Preacher Guest

    I've done one in April at the PHV Paris, last month at the PH Milan and just booked my last one this week, again for the Vendome. I got almost 4cpp on these. As a Plat, it was good value. Sad to see them go.

  4. MileageUpdate Guest

    Thats a shame. It seems like in the right spot it could be a great money saver. Obviously not in every spot but a nice perk that no one else was offering in the Hotel world.

  5. Michael Guest

    I'm a diamond and would have taken advantage of it if I had known about it but they never promoted it

  6. Phil Guest

    I'm actually thinking all 100 of those bookings were at the Park Hyatt Maldives and they probably complained about it. I just got back from a seven night passport escape there.

    @Pat - depending on how much you go for anything from $30 per person to $150 per person per night. It is still an incredible points value though

  7. Pat Guest

    Any idea of how much food can cost at resorts that hold you "captive" such as Park Hyatt Maldives?

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Carl Guest

I wasn't aware of this award option. Too bad Hyatt didn't promote it more. If traveling as a couple, 3 dinners for two for 35,000 points could be a good tradeoff at top properties.

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Bruce Guest

I think the Passport Escape might also make sense at the Park Hyatt Tokyo since they have three very good expensive restaurants at the hotel.

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Preacher Guest

I've done one in April at the PHV Paris, last month at the PH Milan and just booked my last one this week, again for the Vendome. I got almost 4cpp on these. As a Plat, it was good value. Sad to see them go.

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