Guide to Hyatt Milestone Rewards

Updated Aug 1, 2025
A luxurious outdoor lounge area by the ocean at sunset, featuring palm trees and elegant seating around a pool

Hyatt’s Milestone Rewards program offers some of the most compelling incentives in the World of Hyatt loyalty ecosystem. As you rack up qualifying nights throughout the calendar year, you’ll unlock valuable perks like suite upgrades, free night certificates and even American Airlines benefits, thanks to a growing partnership between the two brands. For more details, check out the World of Hyatt Card review.

In this guide, we’ll break down how Milestone Rewards work, explore what you can earn at each tier and share tips to help you choose the most valuable options for your travel style. Whether you’re aiming for Globalist status or simply staying loyal to Hyatt properties throughout the year, this is everything you need to know to make the most of your Milestone Rewards.

A luxurious outdoor lounge area by the ocean at sunset, featuring palm trees and elegant seating around a pool

What are Hyatt Milestone Rewards?

Hyatt Milestone Rewards are benefits you earn based on the number of qualifying nights you stay in a calendar year. Starting at 20 nights and continuing through 150 nights, these rewards are structured to encourage loyalty at every level.

Unlike elite status tiers (Discoverist, Explorist, Globalist), which you earn at 10, 30 and 60 nights, respectively, Milestone Rewards offer incremental incentives in between.

How Hyatt Milestone Rewards work

Each time you hit a certain number of qualifying nights, you unlock a specific reward or get to choose from a set of options. You can earn qualifying nights through:

  • Paid stays
  • Award stays using Hyatt points
  • Free nights from credit card certificates
  • Bonus journeys or promotions (when applicable)

It’s important to note that your qualifying night balance resets at the start of each calendar year.

Using Hyatt’s credit cards to earn qualifying nights

One of the easiest ways to accelerate your progress toward Hyatt Milestone Rewards is by holding a World of Hyatt credit card issued by Chase.

Here’s a closer look at the personal and business cards:

Whether you’re spending toward a suite upgrade at 50 nights or eyeing the coveted Category 1–7 free night at 60 nights, these cards can significantly reduce the number of nights you need to stay at Hyatt properties. They’re a key part of a Milestone Rewards strategy.

World of Hyatt card

Milestone Rewards thresholds and choices

Nights or Base PointsAutomatic rewardsChoice of Reward
20 nights or 35,000 base points– Two Club access awards
– 2K Next Stay award
– $25 FIND credit
– Two American Airlines Preferred Seat coupons
30 nights or 50,000 base pointsCategory 1–4 Free Night Certificate– Two Club access awards
– 2K Next Stay award
– $25 FIND credit
– Two American Airlines Preferred Seat coupons
40 nights or 65,000 base pointsGuest of Honor Award– 5,000 bonus points
– One Suite Upgrade award
– $150 FIND credit
– Two American Airlines Main Cabin Extra coupons
50 nights or 80,000 base points– 5,000 bonus points
– Two Suite Upgrade awards
– $150 FIND credit
– Two American Airlines Main Cabin Extra coupons
60 nights or 100,000 base points– Two Guest of Honor awards
– Category 1–7 Free Night award
– Two Suite Upgrade awards
– My Hyatt Concierge access
70, 80 and 90 nightsGuest of Honor Award (at each milestone)(choice of one at each Milestone)
– 10,000 bonus points
– One Suite Upgrade award
– $300 FIND credit
– AAdvantage Gold status
100 nightsCategory 1–7 Free Night Award– 10,000 bonus points
– One Suite Upgrade award
– One Miraval Extra Night
– AAdvantage Platinum Status
110, 120, 130 and 140 nightsGuest of Honor Award (at each milestone)(choice of one at each Milestone)
– 10,000 bonus points
– One Suite Upgrade award
– One Miraval Extra Night
– AAdvantage Platinum status
150 nightsUltimate Free Night award
(Valid at any Category 1–8 hotel, Category A–F all-inclusive or Miraval)
– 10,000 bonus points
– One Suite Upgrade award
– One Miraval Extra Night
– AAdvantage Platinum status

Tips for maximizing Hyatt Milestone Rewards

Time your stays strategically

Milestone Rewards are based on the number of qualifying nights or base points earned within a calendar year. That means timing is everything. If you’re just shy of a milestone like 30, 50 or 60 nights — each of which unlocks major benefits — you might consider booking an extra trip or planning extra spend on a Hyatt credit card before December 31 to push you over the edge.

As a reminder, the World of Hyatt Credit Card earns:

  • 5 elite qualifying nights annually.
  • 2 additional qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent.

And the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card offers:

  • 5 elite nights for every $10,000 spent.

These cards help you achieve milestones faster and unlock rewards with less time spent in hotels.

Redeem free nights wisely

We recommend using your Category 1–4 and 1–7 free night certificates strategically. Consider:

  • High-demand seasons or special events where cash rates are inflated.
  • Luxury resorts, urban properties or iconic hotels with high nightly rates.

When possible, try to get around $300 in value from your Category 1-4 Certificates and $700 in value from your Category 1-7 Certificates.

Maximize Suite Upgrade awards

Suite Upgrade awards are among the most valuable rewards. They offer confirmed upgrades at the time of booking to standard suites at most properties.

These are valid for stays of up to 7 consecutive nights on eligible paid reservations.

They’re great for special occasions, longer stays or properties with exceptional suite offerings.

Track expiration dates

After you unlock a Milestone Reward, you typically have 90 days to make your selection. Once your selection is made, each milestone reward typically expires six months to one year from the time it’s issued.

Use the Hyatt app to monitor your rewards and set reminders to avoid losing your hard-earned benefits.

Bottom line

Hyatt’s Milestone Rewards program is a standout feature of the World of Hyatt loyalty program and provides consistent incentives for frequent travelers. Whether you’re aiming for elite status or simply looking to maximize your stays, the program offers a range of valuable perks.

By planning your stays strategically, leveraging Hyatt credit cards and thoughtfully redeeming rewards, you can unlock free nights, suite upgrades and exclusive benefits. Even if you’re not a Globalist, Hyatt’s Milestone Rewards ensure you’re consistently rewarded for your loyalty.

FAQs – Hyatt Milestone Rewards

Marc Delaney
Marc Delaney
Marc Delaney is a bilingual (English/French) travel rewards strategist and credit card expert at Milesopedia USA. Born in the U.S. to a French-American family, Marc combines North American know-how with a deep understanding of international loyalty programs. With over a decade of experience in personal finance, he specializes in helping high-income individuals, digital nomads, and frequent flyers optimize their credit card points and travel benefits. His insights focus on maximizing value from programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Amex Membership Rewards®, Aeroplan® and Flying Blue®. Marc started his career advising startups on business credit strategies and later transitioned into rewards consulting for cross-border entrepreneurs. He holds a degree in economics from the University of Vermont and has contributed to financial newsletters, webinars, and loyalty-focused communities across North America and Europe. A passionate traveler, Marc has explored more than 40 countries using points and miles to fly in premium cabins and stay in luxury hotels. When he's not analyzing credit card ecosystems, you'll find him hiking remote trails or reviewing airport lounges for Milesopedia readers.
All posts by Marc Delaney

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