Does the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card Stand Up to the Competition?

If you own a business and often find yourself staying at Hyatt properties, you may assume that the World of Hyatt Business Card is the best credit card for your business. However, competition for business spend is fierce among card issuers. Choosing the right card to put potentially thousands of dollars per month on is a big decision.

Let’s compare the World of Hyatt Business Card with two popular hotel business cards: the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. Is the Hyatt card on par with the competition or is it a credit card bogie?

World of Hyatt Business Card

The World of Hyatt Business Card offers an easy way to collect Hyatt points with every business purchase. Because it’s offered by Chase, you have to be under the 5/24 card count for approval. However, because it’s a business card, it won’t count against your 5/24 status once approved.

So is the World of Hyatt Business card a hole in one? Let’s find out.

Status Upgrades

Hotel loyalty status provides select benefits to the status carrier. From room upgrades to bottled water upon arrival, loyalty status is how hotels reward their most frequent guests.

However, even though the perks of hotel status are attractive, they can be difficult to earn. Most hotel status tiers require staying 10 to 20 nights at a chain to reach the first tier. This is where hotel credit cards come in handy.

Hotel branded credit cards offer automatic status upgrades, allowing you to bypass the minimum stay requirements and receive VIP treatment right away.

Let’s compare the benefits of each hotel card’s loyalty status:

World of Hyatt Business Card: Discoverist

The World of Hyatt Business Card grants the holder automatic Discoverist status. Discoverist status is the first-tier status of Hyatt’s reward program and normally requires 10 qualifying nights to earn.

Discoverist status offers the following benefits:

• Preferred room within the same category: Get a room with a view, higher floor or corner room within the room type booked.
• Premium internet: Discoverist members and above receive a dedicated internet login. Fewer people using it means faster internet.
• Dedicated check-in line: Express check-in line for Discoverist and above members.
• 2 p.m. checkout: Check out late (subject to availability).
• Earn Hyatt points on American Airlines: In addition to the AAdvantage points you already earn on flights, you’ll earn 1X Hyatt point for each AAdvantage point earned on American Airlines revenue flights.
• Free bottled water upon check-in

If you have road warriors on your staff, the World of Hyatt Business card offers the option to gift Discoverist status to up to five employees, which is an easy way to make their travel life easier.

Marriott Bonvoy Business Card: Gold Elite

With the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), you earn Gold Elite status.

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Gold Status

Carrying the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card gives you instant Gold status in the Hilton Honors program. Gold status is Hilton’s second-tier loyalty status and normally takes 40 nights to earn.

Hilton Honors Gold status offers the following benefits:

• 80% earning bonus on stays: Instead of earning 10X points per dollar spent on room rate at Hilton properties, you’ll earn 18X points.
• Room upgrades: Your reservation will be upgraded to a next level room (subject to availability).
• Food and beverage credits: Daily credit for room service or on-property restaurant and bar. Credits depend on the property but range from $10 to $25.
• Elite rollover credits: This allows you to roll over nights above the previous status threshold to the following year. For instance, if you stayed 50 nights and it takes 40 to earn Gold status, you’ll start the next year with 10 qualifying nights.
• Fifth night free: Book four consecutive reward nights and get the fifth night free.
• Bottle water upon check-in

You’ll also earn Diamond status, the top-tier Hilton status, if you spend $40,000 on your Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.

Points Potential

Every dollar spent on your business has rewards-earning potential. Although hotel status is a great perk, maximizing the points you earn on each dollar of business expenses is the most crucial part of card selection.

In addition to the points you can earn on various spending categories, each of these cards also offers a welcome bonus after meeting the minimum-spending requirements. You can visit the 10xTravel best business credit cards page to locate the current offer as the offers change.

Let’s see if the World of Hyatt Business Card outperforms the competition in points-earning potential.

World of Hyatt Business Card

The World of Hyatt Business Card earns 1X point on every purchase, but offers better rates on select categories:

• 4X at Hyatt Hotels
• 2X on the top three of the following categories each month: dining, shipping, advertising on social media and search engines, car rentals, gas stations, internet, cable or phone providers, airline tickets purchased directly from airlines, local transit or commuting, through 12/31/24, then your top two categories each quarter after that.
• 2X fitness club or gym memberships
• 1X per dollar on all other purchases

One of the main benefits of the Hyatt card is the ability to capture the most points on your most frequent categories.The Hyat card allows you to get the most of your spending even if one category outperforms another during a specific month, which is beneficial for businesses that lack a specific category of spend.

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Business credit card from American Express earns 2X points on all non-bonused spending. While this may sound attractive at first, keep in mind that not all hotel points are created equal.

We’ll look at the utility of each hotel points program next. Along with points you earn on regular spending, you’ll earn these rates on special categories:

• 6X on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy Program.
• 4X restaurants worldwide and U.S. gas stations
• 4X U.S. shipping and U.S. service providers

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Not to be outdone, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card earns 3X points on all non-bonused spending and earns elevated rates on the following categories:

• 12X at Hilton hotels
• 5X on on other purchases on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter

Points Utility

Although these cards market high earning rates, don’t be fooled. Not all hotel points are created equal. Now that we know how many points each card earns, let’s dive into what you can exchange these points for. It’s not as simple as two is bigger than one.

World of Hyatt Business Card

You can redeem Hyatt points for hotel stays at any of the 1,150 Hyatt hotels and all-inclusive resorts around the world.
Hyatt organizes its hotels into eight categories. Each category requires a specific number of points for each room type. Rooms range from 3,500 Hyatt points per night for a standard room at a Category 1 hotel to 90,000 points in a premium suite at a Category 8 property.

You also can use your points to purchase upgrades on a paid stay. Purchasing a standard room and then using Hyatt points for an upgrade can be an inexpensive way to stay a night in a suite. Upgrades range from 3,000 to 9,000 points per night. Keep in mind that these upgrades are subject to availability upon check-in.

You can transfer World of Hyatt points to 27 different airline mileage programs. Most of these airlines exchange 2 airline miles for 5 Hyatt points. While this isn’t an incredible rate, it’s good to know that these hotel points have flexibility.

Besides earning Hyatt points with your Hyatt-branded credit card or on stays at Hyatt properties, you can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt at a ratio of 1:1.

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Credit Card

In March 2022, Marriott moved away from a fixed award chart in favor of dynamic award pricing. This makes anticipating award pricing difficult, but we can still determine a range of prices.

Stays start at 15,000 Bonvoy points per night in low-demand limited-service brands. Award stays top out in the 120,000-point range. However, these prices are demand dependent, therefore they can change.

Marriott Bonvoy points are also transferable to more than 40 airline partners. You can transfer 3 Marriott Bonvoy points and receive 1 airline mile. You’ll hear talk about transferring Bonvoy points to airlines more often than the other hotel programs. That’s because, while the exchange rate isn’t awesome, it’s at least consistent with the value of the points. While 5,000 Hyatt points redeem for a hotel stay, it will take approximately 3 times as many Marriott points.

One of my biggest beefs with Marriott points is that Marriott allows redemptions for standard rooms only. This is not the case for Hyatt and Hilton. If you carry high status with Marriott and regularly receive upgrades or if you typically travel solo, this may not be a big deal. Because I generally travel with my family, the inability to redeem points for two-room suites is a bummer.

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Hilton also uses dynamic pricing. While there are a few hotels you can snag for 10,000 Hilton Honors points per night, most limited-service hotels start at 20,000 points.

For instance, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Columbus – Worthington in Ohio starts at 20,000 points per night. On the high end, the Beverly Hilton in California goes for 197,000 points per night for a terrace suite. While not all rooms are available for point redemptions, Hilton offers more room types for guests paying with points than Marriott.

Although Hilton redemptions are comparatively pricey, if you have at least Silver status with Hilton, your award redemptions stretch further by utilizing Hilton’s Fifth Night Free program. Points redemptions of five consecutive nights price as a four-night stay. This theoretically stretches your points 20% further.

Hilton Honors points transfer to 27 airline partners, but even after considering that Hilton Honors points are less valuable than most airline points, the transfer rates rarely make sense. Most airline’s offer 1 mile in exchange for 10 Hilton Honors points.

You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles to Hilton Honors. Transferring Membership Rewards to top off your Hilton account can be a decent strategy, especially when they’re offering a transfer bonus.

Other Benefits

If you’re considering a hotel business card, it’s safe to assume that you plan on traveling. With that in mind, the World of Hyatt Business card offers some travel-related benefits to its customers.

Let’s see if the benefits offered on the World of Hyatt Business card keep up with its rivals.

World of Hyatt Business Card

The World of Hyatt Business Card offers two statement credits of up to $50 for on-site purchases at Hyatt properties. These credits make the $199 annual fee easier to swallow. Additionally, you’ll receive the following benefits:

• 10% redemption bonus: Spend $50,000 and get a 10% bonus on redeemed points for the remaining year (on up to 200,000 points).
• Travel interruption insurance: Reimbursement of up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your prepaid, non-refundable passenger fares if your trip is canceled or interrupted by sickness, severe weather or another insured situation.
• Car rental damage waiver: Decline the auto collision insurance at the car rental counter, and Chase will cover damage to your rental.

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Credit Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card offers one important benefit that the World of Hyatt Business card does not. Each year you renew the card, you get a free night certificate after paying your annual fee. You can redeem this certificate for a night at any property valued up to 35,000 points.

This benefit alone can offset the $125 annual fee. In addition to the free night certificate, cardholders of the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card receive the following benefits:

• Car rental damage waiver: Decline the auto collision insurance at the car rental counter and Amex will cover damage to your rental due to collision in excess of what your car insurance covers.
• Baggage insurance plan: Reimbursement for damage or lost bag up to $1,250 for a carry-on and $500 for checked bags above common carrier reimbursement.
• Travel interruption insurance: Reimbursement of up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your prepaid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather or another covered situation.
• Additional free night award: Earn an additional free night after spending $60,000 in any 12-month period.

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

The Hilton Honors Business Card doesn’t offer an annual free night certificate.

This card has a high annual fee of $195. You’ll receive the following benefits with this card:

• Car rental damage waiver: Decline the auto collision insurance at the car rental counter and American Express will cover damage to your rental due to collision in excess of what your car insurance covers.
• Baggage insurance plan: Reimbursement for damaged or lost bags up to $1,250 for a carry-on and $500 for checked bags above common carrier reimbursement.

Does the World of Hyatt Business Card Stand Up to the Competition?

After considering the annual fees, points value and all the additional benefits the World of Hyatt Business Card offers, does it earn its way into your business’ card collection or does it fall short? Let’s take a look at the score.

While the World of Hyatt Business card offers a low-level status, solid points earning potential and up to $100 worth of credits to offset its $199 annual fee, it fails to offer ongoing benefits that make the fee worthwhile.

Paying a $199 annual fee is a lot easier knowing that you’re effectively prepaying for a hotel stay by receiving a free night certificate. Without this benefit or an equally lucrative benefit like access to Priority Pass lounges, it feels a bit like paying for the sole privilege of carrying a Hyatt card.

Other Cards to Consider

If you’re under 5/24, you might consider one of the Chase Ink cards. Because Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Hyatt, you’ll maintain the ability to earn Hyatt points. You won’t receive the benefits of the Hyatt card. However, the benefits of earning Chase’s flexible point currency far outweigh the few benefits the World of Hyatt Business Card offers. Additionally, all three of the Chase Ink cards carry lower fees, two of which have no annual fee.

You might also consider the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card that offers mid-tier status and a free night certificate for a $99 annual fee. In general, we’d encourage you to check out the Best Credit Cards Under 5/24 and apply for the top ranked card that makes sense for you.

Final Thoughts

Since Ultimate Rewards points already transfer to Hyatt, and the World of Hyatt Business Card doesn’t offer a free night certificate or robust long-term benefits, there isn’t a lot of need to carry it in your wallet.

Remember that business cards don’t count against your 5/24 status, so the World of Hyatt Business Card may be worth it for a quick bonus. However, more lucrative long-term business cards for your wallet exist.

Unless you find yourself essentially living at Hyatt properties, the World of Hyatt Business Card is a bit closer to a putt-putt course than a championship golf course.

*Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

*Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

**The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.