Hyatt’s Mr & Mrs Smith partnership goes live with more than 700 boutique and luxury hotels
Just when folks may have been wondering if Hyatt and its popular World of Hyatt loyalty program were losing some luster, the hotel giant's Mr & Mrs Smith acquisition rollout shows this is no hotel loyalty underdog.
Hyatt bought Mr & Mrs Smith last year, but the luxury and boutique hotel booking platform's hotels weren't fully integrated into the World of Hyatt loyalty network. That changed today, as more than 700 Mr & Mrs Smith hotels are now bookable via Hyatt booking channels. The partnership comes amid Hilton snatching away the Small Luxury Hotels of the World partnership Hyatt held for years and after Marriott seized Hyatt's MGM Resorts partnership.
But comparing the Mr & Mrs Smith partnership to what Hyatt had with SLH should leave World of Hyatt members feeling pretty happy with the new deal. Hyatt's partnership with SLH included around 350 hotels, whereas the more than 700 Mr & Mrs Smith hotels included in this first batch is supposed to be just the beginning phase of more high-end properties joining World of Hyatt.
"Our members truly value World of Hyatt, and we're always looking for new ways to engage guests, help them get the most out of their travels and reward them for experiencing what the world has to offer — from cozying up in a secluded treehouse in the Arctic Circle, reigning over an English country manor, glamping under starry desert skies or going wild in a jungle villa perched above Pacific waters," Amy Weinberg, Hyatt's senior vice president of brand, loyalty and data, said in a statement.
The launch adds more than 20 new countries to World of Hyatt's global footprint. Reports indicate Hilton's new partnership with SLH is starting out with just around 100 hotels, so Hyatt is more than picking up the slack left from the SLH partnership going away.
Hyatt's new geography thanks to Mr & Mrs Smith
Hyatt now has a presence in countries like Namibia, Fiji and the British Virgin Islands thanks to the first batch of Mr & Mrs Smith hotels rolling out into the World of Hyatt network. The partnership features some remarkable vacation opportunities like Zannier Hotels Sonop (pictured above) in Namibia, a luxury campsite with just 10 tented suites on top of boulders in the Namibian desert.
Other opportunities include a luxe getaway within Finland's portion of the Arctic Circle at Arctic Treehouse Hotel, which offers a mix of villas and suites overlooking a wintery paradise. Kisawa Sanctuary in Mozambique sprawls across nearly 750 acres on Benguerra Island off the coast of eastern Africa and features an arrival gift of a complimentary 60-minute massage and a personalized jet lag defeater treatment — oh, and each private residence here comes with a private stretch of beach, an infinity pool and butler service.
You'll also have the opportunity to book a stay at Uxua Casa, a small luxury hotel of 10 private casas in the seaside village of Trancoso in Bahia, Brazil. The stylish getaway features bespoke designs and creations from local artisans near a picturesque stretch of shoreline.
"I'm not allowed to have favorites — because it's like children: You're not allowed to have a favorite child — but if I was to have a favorite, maybe this property would be it," Tamara Lohan, Mr & Mrs Smith co-founder and CEO, said with a laugh regarding Uxua Casa.
While Hyatt declined to provide a full list of the first batch of Mr & Mrs Smith hotels rolling into World of Hyatt ahead of the launch, you can see those now by heading to the World of Hyatt explore hotels map and selecting "Mr & Mrs Smith" on the brand filter page.
Which Mr & Mrs Smith hotels will participate ... and which won't?
There is some brand and property shuffling taking place on various fronts amid the ongoing game of changing partnerships across the hotel industry.
More than 60 hotels Hyatt partnered with via SLH will re-join Hyatt via Mr & Mrs Smith on May 15, but a specific list of those properties was not included in time for publication.
The first batch of participating Mr & Mrs Smith hotels might include more than 700 properties, but a Hyatt spokesperson told TPG more hotels will be added quarterly. Mr & Mrs Smith adds more than 30 properties a month to its roster, and some — but not all — of those would also join World of Hyatt.
Mr & Mrs Smith hotels that won't join World of Hyatt have a variety of reasons for doing so. Some are small, family-run hotels that likely don't have the technology capabilities to link up to World of Hyatt. Others have brand conflicts: Several Six Senses hotels are on Mr & Mrs Smith, but the brand is part of IHG Hotels & Resorts and the IHG One Rewards loyalty program.
We're curious if Mr & Mrs Smith eventually becomes a way to earn and redeem World of Hyatt points at some ultra-luxury brands like Aman, Belmond and Rosewood — all of which have a presence on the platform, but we didn't get a clear response here from Hyatt.
"We expect to welcome more Mr & Mrs Smith hotels to World of Hyatt in the future, and it is possible that one of the hotels/brands mentioned ... could decide to opt into participating in the future," a spokesperson said via email.
World of Hyatt benefits at Mr & Mrs Smith
Participating Mr & Mrs Smith hotels will be considered a brand in terms of World of Hyatt's Brand Explorer award redemptions, so a stay will go toward earning you a Category 1-4 free night award. World of Hyatt members will also enjoy other membership perks like earning 5 base points per dollar spent on the nightly rate at a Mr & Mrs Smith hotel.
While Mr & Mrs Smith hotels won't participate in World of Hyatt's award chart, any room at a participating Mr & Mrs Smith hotel available for a cash rate will also be available for World of Hyatt members to book with points.
Some examples of rate redemptions include a stay at the mountain retreat Life House, Berkshires, where award redemptions start at 8,750 World of Hyatt points per night. Award redemptions at the seaside No. 42 by Guesthouse, Margate, in the United Kingdom start at 16,250 points per night. An award stay at Hotel Aguas Claras in Costa Rica will start at a little more than 24,000 points per night.
Eligible nights at participating Mr & Mrs Smith hotels will go toward earning tier status and Milestone Rewards. Additionally, members at the Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist tiers will earn their respective bonus points following a stay.
Those who book with World of Hyatt points will have resort fees waived. World of Hyatt members booking a stay at a Mr & Mrs Smith property will also enjoy the signature "Smith Extra" included at each hotel, which often ranges from welcome cocktails to homemade cocktails and late checkout, depending on the location.
Elite tier benefits World of Hyatt Globalist members enjoy, like free breakfast, are not going to be standard offerings at participating Mr & Mrs Smith hotels. However, Globalists might receive an upgraded room upon arrival based on availability, and some Mr & Mrs Smith rates do include breakfast as a standard offering.
"We are continuing to evaluate ways to enhance guest experiences and member experiences, especially for our most valued elite members," said Laurie Blair, Hyatt's vice president of global marketing. "So, this is just the start of the of the relationship with Mr & Mrs Smith."
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