Hyatt Gold Passport is very liberal with Diamond status matches. They grant the higher status upfront and require 12 nights during the 60-day trial period to keep the status (currently until February 28, 2016).
During the trial, the member receives full Diamond benefits such as the 1,000 points or F&B welcome amenity, four suite upgrade certs each valid for up to 7 nights, upgrade to the best room available at check-in (suites excluded), club/lounge access and/or full breakfast, and complimentary internet access.
You can read more about Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond benefits here.
Hyatt will also give 1,000 bonus points for the first 6 nights for a total maximum of 6,000 bonus during the 60 night trial period.
You can access the PDF below also on Hyatt’s website here : (Hyatt has not yet updated the PDF with 2016 expiration)
Here are the programs and status levels that Hyatt matches:
1. Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Platinum
2. Hilton HHonors Gold or Diamond
3. Marriott Rewards Gold or Platinum
4. IHG Rewards Club Platinum
Here’s how to apply for Diamond trial:
1. Sign up for Hyatt Gold Passport membership (do it here)
2. Take a screenshot of your account statement from eligible program
3. Send a short email with your account number and the statement from competing program requesting the trial to goldpassport@hyatt.com
You should hear back from Hyatt within few hours.
Timing of the Diamond Trial
The expiry of current Diamond Trial is unclear. For now, you can sign yup for the trial and, if you successfully complete it, have the status until February 28, 2016.
You will receive four suite upgrade certificates each valid for up to 7 night stays that are valid until February 2015 and another four next year.
Conclusion
After being a Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond member for 7 or 8 years, I had the status lapse the other year due to lackluster promotions. I took advantage of the Diamond Trial in late 2013, when it made sense with stackable promotions.
The only problem with Hyatt is the lack of properties outside of North America. Hyatt has about one-eighth the number of properties Hilton, IHG and Marriott have and about half compared to Starwood.
Hyatt’s Diamond Trial / Status Match program is currently the easiest and they still give you the status upfront. Most of the competing programs now require you to do the stays before granting the status. I believe that it is unlikely that Hyatt would continue this Diamond Trial program on its current form for too long.
