Article and photos by Dylan Clements‍

We already have a separate guide covering Hyatt Privé and the full list of benefits. This article is about the one part of the program I find most useful: the confirmed room upgrade.

At participating hotels, Hyatt Privé can confirm an upgrade to the next eligible room or suite category at the time of booking, provided that category is available. That is very different from the usual "upgrade subject to availability at check-in" wording attached to many luxury hotel programs.

Clements Travel is an authorized Hyatt Privé travel agency, so we see this from the advisor side as well as the guest side. Eligible Privé bookings can also earn World of Hyatt points and qualifying nights, so you are not giving up your normal Hyatt earning simply because the reservation is arranged through Privé.

Where Hyatt Privé Is Available

Hyatt Privé is not available at every Hyatt hotel. Participating properties are commonly found across:

• Park Hyatt
• Andaz
• Alila
• Thompson Hotels
• The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
• Grand Hyatt
• Hyatt Regency
• Miraval

Participation varies by property, particularly outside the core luxury brands, so the individual hotel needs to be checked.

What Does a Hyatt Privé Confirmed Upgrade Mean?

The interesting part isn't that Hyatt Privé offers an upgrade. Plenty of hotel programs do.

The difference is that Hyatt Privé can confirm the upgrade before arrival.

If the next eligible category is available when the reservation is made, the hotel can confirm that upgraded room or suite in advance. You are not waiting until check-in to see what happens.

This becomes much more useful on longer stays and at resorts. A one-category upgrade could mean a better view, a better location within the resort, more outdoor space or, in some cases, a suite.

A Real Example From Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme

Rather than give a hypothetical example, I pulled up Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme in the Hyatt Privé travel advisor booking system.

The Privé rate showed the following benefit:

"Confirmed upgrade at time of booking to the next room or suite category, if available at time of reservation."

There are two important parts to that wording. The upgrade can be confirmed at the time of booking, and Hyatt specifically refers to the next room or suite category.

Once it has been confirmed, you know what you are getting. That is quite different from having an upgrade request attached to the reservation and waiting until arrival for the hotel to decide.

Hyatt Privé Upgrades Can Work for Suites Too

This is one of the more interesting parts of the benefit and something that isn't always obvious when people talk about Hyatt Privé.

The upgrade isn't necessarily limited to standard rooms. Depending on the hotel and its eligible categories, it can also apply when you are already booking a suite.

So you could potentially see a room-to-room upgrade, suite-to-suite upgrade or, where the hotel's eligible category structure allows it, a room-to-suite upgrade.

There isn't a blanket rule that the room below a suite will always upgrade into it. Hotels can exclude particular categories, and the next category still needs to be available when the booking is made. But if you are already looking at an expensive suite, it is well worth checking what the Privé upgrade is.

The difference between consecutive suite categories can easily be far greater than the value of the hotel credit.

Where This Benefit Is Most Useful

I find the confirmed upgrade most useful at expensive resorts and hotels where there is a real jump between room categories.

Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme is a good example because the Privé booking system explicitly says the upgrade can be confirmed at booking to the next room or suite category. That makes the benefit relevant whether you are booking a room or already spending considerably more on a suite.

The same applies at resorts such as Andaz Maui, Andaz Scottsdale or Alila Ventana Big Sur, where moving up a category can mean a better view, location or suite rather than just a slightly different version of the same room.

On a one-night city stay, I may not care much about moving from one standard room category to another. On a five- or seven-night resort stay, knowing in advance that you have secured the better view or room category is far more useful.

You Still Earn World of Hyatt Points

One question that comes up quite often is whether booking through Hyatt Privé means giving up World of Hyatt points.

It doesn't.

Eligible Hyatt Privé rates can still earn World of Hyatt points and qualifying nights, and your World of Hyatt number can be attached to the reservation. Hyatt's terms specifically include the Hyatt Privé rate within its definition of an eligible rate.

This is an important difference from booking an ineligible rate through a third-party online travel agency. You can book through Privé for the additional benefits while continuing to earn through World of Hyatt on an eligible stay.

Hyatt Privé vs Globalist Upgrades

These are separate benefits and are easy to confuse.

World of Hyatt elite upgrades are generally based on availability at check-in. Hyatt Privé can, at participating properties, confirm the eligible upgrade when the reservation is made.

You don't need Globalist status to use Hyatt Privé. You don't need any World of Hyatt status at all. Privé is accessed through participating travel advisors.

It is also separate from World of Hyatt Suite Upgrade Awards, which have their own rules for confirming eligible suites.

Is the Hyatt Privé Upgrade Really Guaranteed?

Yes, once it has been confirmed, but there is an important qualification.

The next eligible room or suite still needs to be available when the reservation is made. Hyatt Privé doesn't guarantee that an upgrade will exist regardless of the hotel's inventory.

If the hotel cannot offer the next eligible category, there is nothing to confirm. If it is available and the Privé upgrade is confirmed, however, you know your upgraded category before arrival.

That distinction is why I prefer to separate requested upgrades from confirmed upgrades. They are not the same thing.

Is Hyatt Privé More Expensive Than Booking Directly?

Not necessarily. It depends on the hotel, dates and rate available.

There may be cheaper member rates, advance-purchase rates or promotions that don't include Privé benefits. In those cases, I would compare them rather than automatically assume Privé is the better deal.

You need to look at the rate, cancellation conditions, breakfast, hotel credit and, importantly, what room or suite the Privé booking can confirm.

Sometimes the cheaper direct rate will make more sense. Other times the upgrade alone makes Privé considerably more attractive.

How to Book Hyatt Privé

Hyatt Privé is booked through participating travel advisors rather than being a rate you simply select from the normal booking options on Hyatt's website.

Clements Travel is an authorized Hyatt Privé travel agency, and we can check the Privé rate and benefits for the hotel you are considering, including whether a confirmed upgrade is available.

Hyatt Privé Guaranteed Upgrade FAQ

Does Hyatt Privé guarantee a room upgrade?
At participating hotels, an eligible upgrade to the next room or suite category can be confirmed at booking when that category is available.

Can Hyatt Privé upgrade you into a suite?
It can in some cases. It depends on the hotel's eligible room hierarchy and which categories are included in the Privé upgrade.

Can Hyatt Privé upgrade one suite to another suite?
Yes, this can be possible. The Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme Privé rate, for example, specifically refers to the next "room or suite category."

Do Hyatt Privé bookings earn World of Hyatt points?
Yes. Eligible Hyatt Privé rates can earn World of Hyatt points and qualifying nights.

Do you need Globalist status to book Hyatt Privé?
No. Hyatt Privé does not require World of Hyatt elite status.

Want Us to Check Your Hyatt Privé Upgrade?

If you already know which Hyatt you want to book, send Clements Travel the hotel, dates and room or suite you are considering.

We can check the Hyatt Privé rate and benefits and, importantly, see whether the next room or suite category can be confirmed before you book.

You can still earn eligible World of Hyatt points and qualifying nights, while receiving the additional Hyatt Privé benefits.

Contact Clements Travel for a Hyatt Privé quote and we will check the upgrade options for your stay.

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