UPDATE: Hyatt is no longer a partner for Amex OPEN credit cards. As of January 1, 2016, you will NO LONGER receive 5% back when you use an American Express business card at a Hyatt hotel.
Did you know that you can get 5% back at Hyatt hotels when using an American Express Business credit card to pay for your stay? This is because Amex Business cards have access to the OPEN Savings Benefits where you get discounts at certain merchants just by paying with your credit card (you can read all about the saving benefits here).
Since Hyatt is a participating merchant you will get 5% back as a statement credit. You could instead opt for 2 additional Membership Reward points instead of the 5% back, but I’d pick the statement credit instead. This is a great discount for those that stay at Hyatt hotels often as it can be combined with any discount code you use (AAA, corporate code, etc.). You will automatically get credited the money, so there is no need to sign up for anything.
The statement credit is applicable only at Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, and Hyatt hotels and resorts within the U.S. Unfortunately, it excludes Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, and Hyatt Residence Club locations; You also must be making your payment directly with Hyatt and not a third party reservation system (i.e., Priceline).
You can also get 3% back if you make your reservation by first going through the online shopping portal TopCashBack. This is essentially a gateway to the Hyatt site where you will still make your reservation through the regular Hyatt.com reservation system.
Making your reservation on Hyatt.com via TopCashBack.com will ultimately get you 8% back on your reservation – 5% on your Amex statement and 3% in your TopCashBack.com account which you will then need to cash out.
If you are looking to purchase a Hyatt gift card, these also trigger the 5% statement credit! I purchased Hyatt certificates a few weeks ago and three days later the 5% back appeared on my credit card.
So even though Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, and Hyatt Residence Club locations are excluded you can purchase a gift card instead and then pay for your stay with the gift card. This way you will be sure to get 5% back. Also, Hyatt runs promotions from time to time when gift card purchases are 10% off. This coupled with the 5% statement credit will give you 14.5% back essentially! Right now that is not a public offer for this promotion, however, if you have the Milepoint premium membership, you get 10% off Hyatt gift card purchases always (up to $5,000). This membership is currently sold out, but for those that took advantage of it when it went on sale, know you can always get 14.5% off any Hyatt stay (on top of whatever discount code you use) if you use an American Express Business credit card.
So, should you use a Hyatt credit card or American Express Business credit card when paying for a Hyatt stay? If you have both options, then you should absolutely be paying for your stay with an American Express business card. Even though you’ll earn 3x points at Hyatt properties with the Hyatt branded card, I’d personally prefer 1 point (Starwood point, Membership Reward points, etc.) plus the 5% rebate. I personally use my Starwood American Express Business card when staying at Hyatt hotels.
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for the Hyatt hotels, i think that is only valid to Hyatt US locations, i am still gonna use my hyatt credit card for their overseas properties.
thanks for the topcashback site. I have been using ebates which only give 2% cashback!
@carol – that is correct
If you’re a Hyatt Platinum and you purchase the discounted GCs from the Milepoint Premium membership, can you use those gift cards on Hyatt’s “My Elite Rates”??