It’s a new year which means that the up to $300 twice-annual hotel credits on the American Express Platinum Card® and The Business American Express Platinum Card® have reset for bookings made by June 30.
If you’re also wanting to rack up World of Hyatt elite night credits in order to earn Globalist status this year, low rates at the Hyatt Centric Malta – which is part of Amex’s The Hotel Collection – mean you can earn three elite night credits for each of your $300 hotel credits with no extra money out of pocket for the stay. For just a little extra, you can earn four elite night credits for every $300 credit.
As a quick reminder, Greg and Carrie visited the Hyatt Centric Malta during the 100K Vacay challenge last year, so be sure to check out Greg’s review of the hotel here.
I came across this great opportunity when perusing MaxFHR. You can find the Hyatt Centric’s listing on MaxFHR here which allows you to easily see nightly rates at a glance. At the time of writing this post, every night in January and February (with the exception of February 28) is available for only $98 per night before tax. Prices in March are then a very reasonable $109-$125 per night, before jumping in cost over the summer.
If you keep scrolling through to November’s rates though, you’ll see even lower nightly prices, with some dates dropping to as low as only $73 per night before taxes and fees.
If you book a three night stay in the second half of November, the total cost should come to less than $300 even with taxes and fees, thereby meaning you’d be paying nothing out of pocket after you receive the statement credit.
To max out your $300 benefit, you could book November 16-20. That costs a total of $323.69, so only $23.69 in excess of the $300 hotel credit.
Hotel bookings via The Hotel Collection are eligible for elite night credits provided you enter your World of Hyatt account number when booking, so picking up that many elite night credits for such a low cost is a fantastic opportunity. There are slightly lower rates available when booking directly with Hyatt, but you obviously wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the $300 hotel credit that way.
Note that the benefits you receive for The Hotel Collection bookings aren’t as comprehensive as those you get when booking Fine Hotels + Resorts® (FHR) stays with the $300 credit. Here’s what you get with The Hotel Collection:
- $100 Credit: A complimentary credit valued at $100 to use towards eligible charges, such as food and beverage, spa, or other on-property charges
- Complimentary room upgrade upon arrival, when available, for all Program Guests
- Noon check-in, when available
- Late check-out, when available
- Get 5X Membership Rewards points on prepaid bookings with The Hotel Collection if you pay with a Platinum Card®
As you can see, unlike FHR bookings you don’t get complimentary breakfast, but you do get a $100 credit per stay which can be used towards breakfast if you like. Similarly, FHR bookings get a guaranteed 4pm late checkout, whereas The Hotel Collection bookings only get a late checkout if available. Also remember that you can book one night stays with FHR, but The Hotel Collection bookings have to be at least two nights.
If you have Hyatt Globalist status though, you’ll still be able to take advantage of its benefits like lounge access, complimentary breakfast, a suite upgrade, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, etc.
Don’t forget that you have to select the prepaid option in order to earn the up to $300 credit on Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cards; paying at the hotel won’t get you the statement credit.
After making your reservation with Amex and inputting your World of Hyatt account number during the process, you should see the reservation show up on your Hyatt account. If it doesn’t, reach out to Hyatt to ensure that the reservation gets linked to your account in order to earn the elite night credits (and receive status benefits where applicable).
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@stephen – I was under the impression hyatt didn’t honor elite benefits for bookings through FHR/THC but your post suggests otherwise – can you clarify/confirm…
My understanding is that they do provided your account number is correctly linked to the stay. That doesn’t seem to always happen automatically; I have an upcoming FHR stay at a Hyatt property and it’s not showing on my account yet, so I need to reach out to my concierge to make sure that’s properly added. If you don’t have Globalist status (and thus don’t have a concierge), you should be able to reach out to Hyatt customer service and achieve the same thing.
I am globalist – but hadn’t used my FHRs at a Hyatt before thinking I wouldn’t get the elite benefits. I may have to try this out, that PH Chicago is always a nice weekend getaway.
Funny. My wife and I are doing this exact thing this summer. Booked it on January 1st with all our credits. Great minds!
This title is super clickbaity. I kind of thought you all were better than that.
I thought that using the title “How to earn 3 or 4 Hyatt elite night credits for every $300 Amex Platinum hotel credit you have by booking 3 or 4 night stays at the Hyatt Centric Malta via Amex’s The Hotel Collection” might’ve been a tad too long.
I don’t know, it kind of catchy!
lol fair.
I thought you’d end up landing on this after I read your earlier Hyatt piece. Similar reasoning here: https://www.expatvista.com/p/the-malta-hyatt-mattress-run-i-almost-took
thanks for the link to blog – just subscribed another great site!