Today, Chase and Hyatt sent out a press release that heralds an “expanded partnership” between the two companies. In the midst of a whole lot of corporate press release dribbles are a couple of interesting nuggets.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders will be able to spend to Hyatt Explorist status
First off, Chase plans to add Hyatt Explorist status as a big spend bonus on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Sapphire Reserve for Business℠:
World of Hyatt Explorist status will be added as a benefit for top spending Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve for Business cardmembers beginning in the middle of 2026.
What does “top-spending” mean? We’re being told that Sapphire Reserve cardholders will have to spend $75,000 per year to get Explorist status, while business cardholders will have to spend a cool $120K. Hyatt status will be in addition to the perks that cardholders already receive when reaching those annual spending levels:
- IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status
- $500 Southwest Airlines Chase Travel credit (credits automatically applied when booking Southwest flights through Chase Travel)
- Southwest Airlines A-List Status
- $250 Credit for The Shops at Chase ($500 for business cardholders)
Explorist is the epitome of a “better than nothing” elite status, and includes the following benefits:
- Free Premium Internet
- 2 pm late check-out
- 20% point bonus
- Room upgrade (based on availability, not including suites)
To me, this will undoubtedly rank as the least of the big-spend perks on the Sapphire Reserve cards. IHG Diamond Status is legit, providing free breakfast and meaningful room upgrades (in my experience). Hyatt Explorist? Not so much.
For folks who are really into Hyatt status and spending a lot on a business card, it probably makes more sense to put that spend on the World of Hyatt Business Card instead, as you’d earn five elite nights after each $10K in spend. You could get all the way to Globalist after $120K, even with no stays, plus you’d earn all of the Milestone Rewards and a 10% rebate on redeemed points.
That said, the Sapphire Reserve perk may have some appeal for those cardholders who are already doing the spending and only have a couple of Hyatt stays per year.
A premium Hyatt credit card is on the way
Long anticipated, and with an occasional false start rumor over the years, today’s announcement confirms that a premium Hyatt credit card is on the way:
Additionally, Hyatt plans to expand its card portfolio as Hyatt and Chase continue to grow their relationship, building on the success of its current co-branded credit cards – the World of Hyatt Credit Card and the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card.
While the announcement doesn’t specifically say that the new card(s) will be premium offerings, it’s unimaginable that Chase and Hyatt intend to undercut the two existing cards by releasing only no-annual-fee versions. They’ll be shooting higher this time. Think $500-$700 annual fees and loads of coupons.
More Hyatt properties will be “Edited”
Lastly, Chase will soon be adding more Hyatt properties to its luxury hotel collection, The Edit:
Hyatt will also continue to increase the number of luxury and premium brands, such as Park Hyatt and Alila, participating in The Edit by Chase Travel.
Both versions of the Sapphire Reserve card have twice-yearly $250 credits for bookings made through The Edit. While the rates are almost always more expensive than booking direct (or through another online travel agency), they come with a whole array of perks, including:
- Daily breakfast for 2 (at many, but not all, properties)
- $100 property credit
- Room upgrade at check-in,if available
- Early check-in/late check-out, if available
- Free Wifi
- The ability to earn hotel points and elite benefits
Within the last couple of weeks, Hyatt hotels with Edit perks have been mysteriously hard to find on Chase Travel℠. It looks like that’s because they’ve been tinkering with the property mix. Based on what they’re saying now, there should be many more Hyatts available soon.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing earth-shattering (or detailed) about today’s announcement. Firm dates for each “enhancement” aren’t given, outside of “middle-2026” for the new Explorist big spend benefit. It will be nice to see more Hyatt options when trying to burn those Edit credits, although I can’t imagine that Hyatt Explorist is going to move the needle much for many Sapphire Reserve cardholders.
For me, the most interesting part is the new Hyatt premium card(s). While we’ve long assumed that it was on the way, this was the first time (to my knowledge) that we’ve seen actual confirmation that Chase will be expanding the Hyatt card portfolio.
The “refreshed” versions of the Sapphire Reserve and Reserve for Business that were released earlier this year were fairly anticlimactic, something that doesn’t seem to have escaped Chase’s notice.
Hopefully, this time around, they’ll give us something to be excited about.
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If someone is inclined to stay at Edit type properties in the first place, Edit benefits should exceed Explorist benefits. So, for this type of person, what incremental benefits are they actually receiving?
For someone who wants to advance to Globalist, they would still have to earn the 60 elite nights. So, what’s the point? The perk should be a grant of 30 elite nights.
Clearly, Chase is trying to recover from it’s missteps. But, it seems these moves are being made by team members who are unfamiliar with these programs.
Can’t wait to hear more about a premium card.
Yeah that kind of spend just for Explorist makes no sense to me. Maybe Globalist, maybe. I’d rather spend 30 nights a year (in points).
Am I looking at this wrong, or won’t $120k spent on the business card already give you Globalist status (5 elite nights per $10k x 12 = 60 elite nights)? So this new “big spend” bonus looks to be a negative and they should realize that anyone spending that much on the business card wouldn’t be “given” explorist status; they will have earned Globalist status.
This is for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business
The article mentioned this.
I am happy with my $95 Chase Hyatt card, free night category 1-4 and never failed to be greeted as ” Thank you for being Discoverist “.
Bilt is really screwing me over here on the potential premium card; I’m under 5/24, but once the Bilt card hits I won’t under again until the beginning of 2027, when (ironically) the $95 Hyatt card rolls off.The premium card won’t be released in time for me to take advantage, so this is very annoying (hopefully it’s not a card I’ll particularly want…)
Have to imagine this was an “ask” by Chase to try and shore up its disaster of a CSR relaunch and this is what Hyatt would agree to give. AKA – not much. Upside for Hyatt without devaluing what it means to be a high level member of its loyalty program. And teasing a new premium card is nothing more than that.