Hyatt and Mr & Mrs Smith Team Up: What’s the Deal?
So, picture this: in 2023, Hyatt decided to splash out a cool £53 million to snap up Mr & Mrs Smith, a posh hotel booking platform. Fast forward to 2024, and lo and behold, Mr & Mrs Smith has found its way into the World of Hyatt program. These days, it feels like big hotel chains are morphing into mini travel agencies, trying to grab a slice of everything a traveler wants to book, from snazzy home rentals to charming boutique hotels.
In this piece, let’s dive into how this new partnership functions and what it brings to the table for World of Hyatt members.
What Exactly is Mr & Mrs Smith?
If you haven’t crossed paths with Mr & Mrs Smith yet, they sell themselves as a “travel club and boutique hotel specialist.” They’re linked up with over 2,000 boutique hotels. I’d say they’re basically a luxury travel agency and a fancy marketing arm.
Now, just to clarify, Mr & Mrs Smith doesn’t actually own these hotels. Instead, they rake in a commission when people book through them. In return, they offer a few perks to their patrons. It’s quite like what you’d find at Leading Hotels of the World and Small Luxury Hotels of the World — companies that promote properties rather than run them.
Your curiosity might be piqued to know that Mr & Mrs Smith places fewer demands on exclusivity and standards than those other guys. You’ll spot Mr & Mrs Smith’s seal on many properties that also have ties to other hotel groups or marketing giants. And yes, they deal with some of the biggest, most prestigious hotel brands globally.
When Hyatt decided it couldn’t ignore Mr & Mrs Smith anymore, it was all about bolstering their luxury hotel standing and boosting their distribution, especially in Europe. They hope to win the favor of hotel owners and woo over a million Mr & Mrs Smith members.
How Mr & Mrs Smith Fits Into World of Hyatt
Mr & Mrs Smith’s hotels can now be booked through Hyatt’s website and app. Not every single hotel under Mr & Mrs Smith’s umbrella is partnered directly with Hyatt, but a good number are.
If you’re itching to earn and use points, you need to book through Hyatt’s channels. Mr & Mrs Smith’s original site is still up and running, but no point perks for you if you book there. Sometimes, you might find a better bargain there too.
How to Pocket Hyatt Points with Mr & Mrs Smith
If you book a Mr & Mrs Smith property via Hyatt, earning points works pretty much like at any other Hyatt spot:
- World of Hyatt members score five basic points for every dollar spent on eligible room fees at Mr & Mrs Smith’s properties. Extra charges don’t count, mind you. And yes, those points help you climb your way to lifetime World of Hyatt status.
- Elite tier cardholders — Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist — will get their normal bonuses on Mr & Mrs Smith stays. That’s a perk!
- Even standard elite nights for Hyatt’s programs can be chalked up from Mr & Mrs Smith stays.
- Mr & Mrs Smith properties qualify for World of Hyatt’s global deals and the Brand Explorer promotion.
- Fancy using that World of Hyatt Credit Card? You’ll nab 4x World of Hyatt points per dollar when staying with Mr & Mrs Smith.
All of this sounds grand, but keep an eye on the pricing. Sometimes, the deals might not be the best through Hyatt’s channels.
Redeeming Hyatt Points with Mr & Mrs Smith
Using points at Mr & Mrs Smith hotels is quite different than the usual World of Hyatt setup. The silver lining? You can redeem World of Hyatt points for any room at Mr & Mrs Smith hotels without worrying about capacity controls.
The downside? Pricing is all over the place, no set award chart. Typically, you’ll get around 1.0 cent per point towards a stay’s cost at a Mr & Mrs Smith place.
Truth be told, that’s not all that appealing. Considering I value World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents each, I’d think twice before redeeming them at that going rate.
What’s on Offer for Hyatt Elite Members?
Let’s not beat around the bush. Since Mr & Mrs Smith properties aren’t run by Hyatt, there’s a shortage of elite perks. But, you’ll get a “Smith Extra,” an amenity unique to each property. Same perk you’d have received booking directly with Mr & Mrs Smith.
World of Hyatt Globalist folks might luck out with a room upgrade, but details are foggy, so don’t hold your breath.
The Big Picture on Hyatt and Mr & Mrs Smith Partnership
Sure, it’s great to snap up World of Hyatt points while staying at luxury, independent hotels under this partnership. It widens the number of properties where Hyatt members can stay and be rewarded. Essentially, Hyatt pockets a commission when you book these hotels and doles out some points back as a friendly gesture.
Based on all this, here’s my take: the chance to earn points outweighs the chance to burn them. Points earning is a sweet deal, while redemption rates fall short compared to other avenues for Hyatt points.
All this aside, a few snags stand out when booking Mr & Mrs Smith properties through Hyatt:
- Hyatt can sometimes slap on higher prices compared to booking directly with Mr & Mrs Smith’s site or other platforms.
- Sometimes, fancier packages that include breakfast or spa treatments aren’t available through Hyatt.
- You might miss out on perks you’d get booking through programs like Virtuoso or Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, like free breakfast, room upgrades, and a lot more.
Bottom Line
Back in 2023, Hyatt made Mr & Mrs Smith its new shiny toy, enhancing their offerings as a luxury travel agency. Although Mr & Mrs Smith still marches to a separate drum online, it’s become a handy instrument within Hyatt’s booking channels for many properties, offering members a chance to earn and spend points.
This could potentially open up some new avenues for you, but be aware of the constraints: potentially higher rates, limited elite perks, and sometimes sacrificing other rewards when booking elsewhere. For me, this rings as something worth knowing about, but I wouldn’t say it’s incredibly persuasive. Especially when considering the subpar redemption opportunities in this deal.
So, what’s your thought on the World of Hyatt adventure with Mr & Mrs Smith? Planning a getaway to Val Seny ski resort to put this to the test?