Credit Karma’s editors and writers want to help you stay on top of credit card news. The information below is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. Heads up: Credit card terms are subject to change, and the terms outlined below may not be current after the date of publication.
Hyatt unveiled a new hotel credit card Thursday.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card features an elevated rewards structure that could spark an arms race with competitors like Marriott and Hilton, both of which introduced new and improved credit cards this year.
The Chicago-based hotel chain is teaming up with Chase to issue the World of Hyatt Credit Card, which is now available.
Here’s our first impression of the World of Hyatt Credit Card:
| Why we like it | What to watch out for |
|---|---|
| 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening | $95 annual fee |
| Additional 20,000 bonus points after spending another $3,000 (for a total of $6,000) on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening | |
| 1 free anniversary night each year at a qualifying Hyatt hotel or resort | High spending requirements for the sign-up bonus |
| Additional free night at a qualifying Hyatt hotel or resort after spending $15,000 on purchases in an anniversary year | Small 2,000-point bonus for approved card members upgrading from existing Hyatt credit cards |
| 9x points total on Hyatt stays and experiences spent on the card as a World of Hyatt® member | 17.49% to 24.49% variable APR for purchases |
| 2x bonus points on dining, airfare purchased directly through the airline, fitness club and gym memberships, ride-sharing services and local transit; 1 bonus point on all other purchases | |
| No foreign transaction fees |
Why we like it
The World of Hyatt Credit Card features a generous sign-up bonus that’s broken down into two parts:
- You’ll earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening the account.
- On top of that, you’ll earn another 20,000 bonus points if you spend $6,000 total on purchases within the first six months.
That’s enough points to book up to 12 nights at certain Hyatt hotels, depending on the points per night.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card also includes one free night at a qualifying Hyatt hotel each anniversary year. You can even earn a second free night at a qualifying Hyatt hotel after spending $15,000 on purchases in an anniversary year.
Last but not least, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the card’s rewards structure. Here’s how it breaks down:
- 9x points total on Hyatt stays and experiences, based on:
4 bonus points per dollar spent on the card at Hyatt hotels and resorts, including participating restaurants and spas
5 base points per eligible dollar spent as a World of Hyatt® member
- 2x bonus points on dining at restaurants
- 2x bonus points on airline tickets purchased through the airline
- 2x bonus points on fitness club and gym memberships
- 2x bonus points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services
- 1 bonus point on all other purchases
What to watch out for
The World of Hyatt Credit Card comes with a $95 annual fee.
That’s not bad for a hotel card that’s so rewarding. Still, it’s worth pointing out that its sister card, The Hyatt Credit Card, carries a slightly less expensive $75 annual fee. So if you’re comparing the cards or thinking about upgrading, keep that in mind.
The spending requirement for the sign-up bonus is also no joke. As much as we love the idea of 60,000 bonus points, you’ll have to spend $6,000 on purchases during the first six months after opening the account to get those points. For a lot of folks, that’s a bit of a stretch.
At the very least — and despite its potential drawbacks — this new card seems like a sign that Hyatt isn’t content to sit on the sidelines while Hilton and Marriott pump up their credit card game.
It could very well be that the hotel rewards arms race is just getting started.