CHICAGO—For the modern guest, travel is about choice. Boutique or brand? Front desk or mobile-check in? Healthy or comfort food options—or, perhaps, a bit of both? Whatever the aspect of hospitality, guests want to be able to get what they want when they want it—which is why Hyatt Hotels Corp. is expanding World of Hyatt to the home-sharing space.
Last year, Hyatt replaced its Hyatt Gold Passport program with World of Hyatt, a global loyalty platform that the company said was grounded in the idea that a little understanding goes a long way—essentially, the program aimed to understand guests better. Now, members can earn and redeem World of Hyatt points with Oasis, a serviced home rental accommodations provider that offers more than 2,000 personally vetted homes across more than 20 destinations worldwide, which the company invested in last year.
“With World of Hyatt extending to Oasis, members no longer have to forego loyalty program benefits when their travel needs extend beyond a hotel,” said Amy Weinberg, SVP, World of Hyatt. “They now have the opportunity to earn and redeem World of Hyatt points when they stay in an Oasis home.”
Here’s how it works: Members who book an Oasis home rental can receive World of Hyatt benefits, consistent with Hyatt hotel locations worldwide, including the following: earn five base points per eligible dollar spent on qualifying Oasis nights; earn tier-qualifying nights for qualifying Oasis nights; earn bonus points on eligible Oasis spend for elite members (10% for Discoverist, 20% for Explorist and 30% for Globalist); and request late checkout for elite members (2 p.m. for Discoverist and Explorist; 4 p.m. for Globalist).
Weinberg noted that new redemption benefits were structured specifically to Oasis stays. For instance, guests can redeem 15,000 points for a $200 credit toward an Oasis stay (and additional increments of 15,000 points for additional $200 credits); and enjoy a welcome amenity at check-in for elite members. Hyatt also created a special offer for the launch—through June, World of Hyatt members have the ability to earn 1,000 bonus points per qualifying night on top of base points earned for stays at Oasis.
Parker Stanberry, founder of Oasis, noted that the expansion will be beneficial to the Oasis platform. “The World of Hyatt integration is another great point of differentiation for Oasis and helps us to stand out in the home-rental space,” he said. “Our guests are already very loyal, and this move gives us the opportunity to tap into an even larger market of travelers seeking alternative accommodation options. In a recent Hyatt survey, U.S. travelers rated authenticity/living like a local as the most important aspects of private accommodations, only behind parking and cleanliness, which plays well into the experience that Oasis provides, combining high-quality home rentals with local guides and partnerships.”
According to Weinberg, this move is the latest in a series of strategies designed to give the guests the experience that they desire. “As part of our commitment to serving the high-end traveler with new experiences in more places, we originally launched The Unbound Collection by Hyatt sub-brand in 2016, which was designed to be a collection of unique stay experiences worth sharing, outside of traditional hotels,” she explained. “To follow, in 2017, we chose to invest in Oasis and have serviced home rental accommodations join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt’s portfolio.”
And adding Oasis to the World of Hyatt program just builds on that, she said. “With the World of Hyatt loyalty program now extending to Oasis, we can serve our members in more dimensions of their lives when their travel needs extend beyond a hotel—whether it’s because they’re traveling with a larger group and need more space, have a longer stay in mind, or want to stay in a local neighborhood,” she said.
Stanberry noted that Oasis is different from other private accommodation models. “Oasis combines the comfort and authenticity of home rentals with the amenities and services World of Hyatt members are accustomed to,” he said. “In addition to strict standards and a detailed inspection of each property prior to arrival, guests who stay at an Oasis home can have peace of mind with dedicated Oasis team members—also known as Sidekicks—located in each market, facilitating check-in and available around the clock for assistance. Sidekicks act as an on-demand concierge service that can arrange everything from a private chef, to a one-of-a-kind art tour, to a reservation at a recently opened hot spot. Oasis also works with partners in every destination to give guests access to perks they might expect at a hotel—like a free fitness class at Barry’s Bootcamp, a discount with Zeel for in-home spa services or access to a local private members club where they can take meetings or socialize.”
Weinberg pointed out that the needs of travelers are changing. “We know our members’ needs continue to evolve and expand beyond that of a traditional hotel, but they also want the peace of mind, personalized service and care that they expect from Hyatt,” she said. “With Oasis’ shared commitment to quality and care, it combines the comfort and authenticity of home rentals with the service and amenities our guests are accustomed to—including in-person check-in and checkout, fresh linens and premium toiletries, and on-demand concierge services.”
The extension is beneficial to Hyatt, too, enabling the company to offer vacation experiences in new regions. “This collaboration with Oasis also helps expand Hyatt’s global footprint with homes in many markets where Hyatt is currently underrepresented, and in places where we know our members are interested in traveling to,” Weinberg said, pointing, in particular, to Barcelona and Ibiza, Spain; Punta del Este, Uruguay; Rome; and Trancoso, Brazil.
Looking toward the future, Weinberg said, “More than ever before, companies have to know and understand consumer needs. Within the loyalty program, we are looking at how we can care for our members in new ways and new places, and Oasis is one of many partners that can help us do that.” HB