Hyatt Guest of Honor is a free loyalty program that rewards you for staying at Hyatt properties
Hyatt Guest of Honor is Hyatt's membership program that tracks your stays and gives you points you can redeem for free nights, room upgrades, and other perks. You earn one point per dollar spent on room rates at participating Hyatt hotels worldwide. There is no annual fee to join, and membership is open to anyone who books a room.
The program works across all Hyatt brands — from budget-friendly Hyatt House properties to luxury Park Hyatt locations. Your points never expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months, which means even occasional travelers can hold onto their balance.
Key Takeaways
- You earn one point per dollar spent on room rates, and points can be redeemed for free nights or room upgrades at any Hyatt property.
- Elite status tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) unlock benefits like automatic room upgrades, late checkout, and bonus points on stays.
- Free night awards start at 5,000 points for budget properties and go up to 50,000 points or more for luxury locations, depending on the hotel category.
- You can transfer points to a travel companion's account, combine points from multiple accounts, or donate points to charity.
- Points do not expire as long as you have at least one account activity every 24 months, such as a stay, credit card purchase, or point transfer.
How to earn points and what they are worth
You earn one point for every dollar you spend on your room rate at a Hyatt property. Taxes, resort fees, and incidental charges do not earn points — only the base room rate counts. If you book through a third-party website instead of directly with Hyatt, you typically earn points only if you are logged into your Guest of Honor account at the time of booking.
Points are worth different amounts depending on which free night award you redeem them for. A free night at a budget Hyatt House might cost 5,000 points, while a free night at a Park Hyatt in a major city could cost 50,000 points or more. Hyatt publishes a category chart that shows how many points each property requires. You can also use points toward room upgrades, spa services, or dining at some properties, though free night awards are usually the best value.
If you have a Hyatt credit card, you earn bonus points on every purchase you make with the card, not just hotel stays. The card also typically comes with an annual free night award certificate, which gives you a free night at a property in a specific category without spending any points.
Elite status tiers and what they unlock
As you accumulate stays or nights at Hyatt properties, you move up through elite status tiers: Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Diamond Elite, and Diamonds Elite Plus. Each tier requires a certain number of nights stayed in a calendar year. Silver Elite starts at 10 nights, Gold Elite at 25 nights, Platinum Elite at 50 nights, and Diamond Elite at 70 nights.
Higher tiers come with tangible benefits. Gold Elite members get a 10% point bonus on all stays. Platinum Elite members receive automatic room upgrades (subject to availability), late checkout until 4 p.m., and a 10% point bonus. Diamond Elite members get all of that plus suite upgrades when available, complimentary breakfast, and a 10% point bonus. Diamonds Elite Plus — the highest tier — adds benefits like spa credits and priority restaurant reservations at some properties.
Elite status resets each calendar year on January 1st. If you do not reach your tier's night requirement by December 31st, you drop back to the previous tier or to member status if you fall below Silver Elite. However, elite members who stay at least once during the year retain their status through the following February, giving you a grace period to earn nights for the next year.
Free night awards and how to use them
Free night awards are the most direct way to use your points. You redeem a set number of points for one free night at a specific property, and you pay only taxes and resort fees — no room rate charge. Hyatt groups its properties into categories based on location and demand, and each category has a fixed point cost.
You can search for available dates and properties on the Hyatt website using the "Redeem Points" option. The calendar shows you which nights are available at each property and how many points that night will cost. You can book a free night award just like a regular reservation, and you can modify or cancel it without penalty as long as you do so before your arrival date.
Some free night awards come with restrictions. An award night certificate from a credit card, for example, may be valid only at properties in a specific category and may have a blackout date window. Always check the terms of your certificate before booking to avoid disappointment.
Room upgrades and other redemption options
Beyond free nights, you can use points for room upgrades at check-in. The cost varies by property and how much of an upgrade you are requesting. A modest upgrade might cost 5,000 to 10,000 points, while a significant jump to a suite could cost much more. Upgrade availability depends on what rooms are left unsold at the time of your arrival, so this option works best if you book early.
Some Hyatt properties also let you redeem points for spa services, dining credits, or activity packages. These redemptions are usually less valuable than free night awards point-for-point, so they are best used if you have leftover points you would not otherwise spend. A few properties offer points redemption for airline miles or gift cards, though the exchange rate is typically unfavorable compared to booking a free night.
Transferring points and combining accounts
You can transfer points to another Guest of Honor member's account, which is useful if you want to help a family member reach a free night award or if you are combining balances before a trip. Transfers are free and process within a few business days. You can transfer points to the same person multiple times, so there is no limit on how much you can move to one account.
If you have multiple Hyatt accounts under different email addresses, you can request to have them consolidated into a single account. This is helpful if you have earned points under different names or email addresses over the years. Contact Hyatt Guest Services to request a consolidation, and they will merge the accounts and combine your point balances.
You can also donate points to a charity partner through the Hyatt website. Hyatt matches a portion of donated points, so your contribution goes further than the points alone.
How points expire and how to keep your account active
Points do not expire as long as your account has activity at least once every 24 months. Activity includes a stay at any Hyatt property, a purchase with a Hyatt credit card, a point transfer, or even a point donation to charity. If your account goes inactive for 24 months or longer, your points will be forfeited and your account may be closed.
If you are not a frequent traveler, the easiest way to keep your account active is to use a Hyatt credit card for everyday purchases. Even a small purchase counts as account activity and resets your 24-month clock. Alternatively, you can transfer a small number of points to another member's account or donate points to charity to maintain activity status.
If your account has been inactive and your points have expired, you may be able to recover them by contacting Hyatt Guest Services within a certain timeframe. There is no may provide, but it is worth asking if you discover your account has lapsed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay to join Hyatt Guest of Honor?
No, membership is free. You can join at any Hyatt property front desk, through the Hyatt website, or by downloading the Hyatt app. There are no annual fees or hidden charges to maintain your account.
Can I earn points if I book through a travel website like Expedia or Booking.com?
You typically earn points only if you book directly through Hyatt's website or app and are logged into your Guest of Honor account at the time of booking. Third-party booking sites usually do not credit points to your Hyatt account. Booking directly also gives you access to Hyatt's rate guarantees and member-only deals.
What happens to my points if I do not use them for a long time?
Points expire if your account has no activity for 24 months. Activity includes a stay, a credit card purchase, a point transfer, or a donation. If you travel infrequently, using a Hyatt credit card for regular purchases is the easiest way to keep your account active without booking a hotel stay.
Can I use points to book a room for someone else?
Yes, you can book a free night award for another person and give them the reservation confirmation. You can also transfer points to their account so they can book their own free night. If you transfer points, the recipient's account must be active in the Hyatt system before you can send points to them.
How do I know which Hyatt properties are in which point category?
Hyatt publishes a category chart on its website that lists every property and its point cost for a free night award. You can also search by property name or location on the Hyatt booking page, and the point cost will display alongside the nightly rate. Categories can change annually, usually in January.