World of Hyatt Credit Card vs. Business card

With Chase having recently introduced a World of Hyatt business credit card, there are now two options for people looking to use credit cards for World of Hyatt credit card benefits. The personal The World of Hyatt Credit Card and the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card share many similarities, but they have a few important differences.

These differences can help you decide which of these cards might be best for you – in this article, we’ll take a look at the World of Hyatt personal versus business card and help you sort through the pros and cons of the two cards.

World of Hyatt personal vs. business card

Here’s a look at how the two cards compare in several important categories:

Card	The World of Hyatt Credit Card	World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
Rewards rate	4 points per dollar on Hyatt hotel purchases (on top of 5 base points per dollar earned by regular World of Hyatt members) 2 points per dollar at restaurants 2 points per dollar on directly purchased airfare 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting 2 points per dollar on gym and fitness club memberships 1 point per dollar on other purchases	4 points per dollar on Hyatt hotel purchases (on top of 5 base points per dollar earned by regular World of Hyatt members) 2 bonus points per dollar spent in your top three spend categories each quarter through Dec. 31, 2022, then your top two categories each quarter 2 bonus points per dollar spent on fitness club and gym memberships 1 bonus point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Sign-up bonus	30,000 bonus points if you spend $3,000 in first three months Up to 30,000 more bonus points, with 2 points per dollar spent on purchases that earn 1 point, up to $15,000 in the first six months	60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
Annual fee	$95	$199
Benefits toward elite status	Automatic Hyatt Discoverist status Five qualifying nights toward elite status each year Two elite night credits for every $5,000 spent on the card	Automatic Hyatt Discoverist status Give Discoverist status to up to five employees Five elite night credits for every $10,000 spent on the card

Earning World of Hyatt points

The two Hyatt credit cards have very different earning structures. Both cards earn 4 World of Hyatt points per dollar on Hyatt purchases and 2 points per dollar on gym and fitness club memberships. They also both offer automatic Hyatt Discoverist elite status, which comes with 5 Base Points per dollar spent on Hyatt hotel stays and a 10% bonus on points earning, but that is where the similarities end.

The personal World of Hyatt credit card also offers a straight 2 points per dollar at restaurants and on directly purchased airfare, local transit and commuting. The World of Hyatt business credit card takes a different approach to how you earn points. Through Dec. 31, 2022, you’ll get 2 points per dollar on your top three spending categories out of a list of eight categories:

• Dining
• Airline tickets purchased directly with the airline
• Car rental agencies
• Local transit and commuting
• Gas stations
• Internet, cable and phone services
• Social media and search engine advertising
• Shipping

In 2023 and beyond, you’ll get this bonus on only your top two spending categories instead of three, and all other spending outside these bonus categories earns 1 World of Hyatt point per dollar spent.

The initial sign-up bonuses for the two cards are slightly different as well. The business card has a straightforward welcome offer, where you’ll get 60,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months of having the card.

The sign-up bonus on the personal World of Hyatt credit card is a slightly different and tiered offer. You’ll get 30,000 World of Hyatt points after spending $3,000 in the first three months of having the card, but you’ll also get a bonus 2 points per dollar spent on all purchases (3 points total) that normally earn 1 point per dollar for the first six months of having the card. This bonus is limited to the first $15,000 in spending on the card, so you can get an additional 30,000 points, for a total welcome offer of 60,000 World of Hyatt points.

Redeeming awards

The World of Hyatt credit card and the World of Hyatt Business credit card both earn World of Hyatt points, which can be used to book stays at Hyatt and Hyatt-associated hotels. Hyatt has an award chart with peak, normal and off-peak prices in several different award categories. A Category 1 Hyatt hotel costs 5,000 points per night or as little as 3,500 points per night during an off-peak period. So you can see that the initial welcome offer on either of these two Hyatt credit cards is enough to be worth a great deal toward free nights depending on where and when you use your points.

Both the personal and business card offer additional ways that you can maximize the redemption of your points. The personal card gives you a free night certificate each year on your anniversary that is good at any Category 1 to 4 hotel. You can also get an additional Category 1 to 4 free night certificate if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year. The Hyatt business credit card does not offer these free night certificates, but it does unlock a 10% rebate on award stays once you spend $50,000 on the card in a calendar year. Once that happens, you’ll get a 10% rebate on all award redemptions for the rest of the calendar year (up to a maximum of 20,000 points back per year).

See related: How I use my World of Hyatt card for free nights, status boosts

Annual fee

The World of Hyatt credit card annual fee is $95, and the World of Hyatt Business credit card annual fee is $199. Neither of these annual fees is waived for the first year of having the card, so you’ll want to take a look at the benefits of the two cards and make sure that they are worth more than the annual fee for you.

Status, credits and other benefits

There are several World of Hyatt credit card benefits that you’ll want to know. Both the personal and business Hyatt credit cards give automatic Discoverist elite status, and both cards offer elite qualifying nights for spending on the card. The personal card gives five elite nights just for having the card, and an additional two qualifying nights for each $5,000 spend each year. The business card gives five qualifying nights for each $10,000 spent on the card.

While the business card does not give any free-night certificates, it does offer a way to get up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits each year. If you spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property, you’ll get a $50 statement credit. You can do this up to two times each anniversary year, so if you have a paid stay at least twice a year at a Hyatt hotel, you’ve accounted for more than half of the business card’s $195 annual fee.

World of Hyatt Credit Card: Best for casual Hyatt travelers

Most casual Hyatt travelers will probably be better off with the personal World of Hyatt credit card. The annual fee is lower, and you get a free night certificate each and every year. In most cases, the value of the free night will more than compensate for the $99 annual fee. If you spend at least $15,000 on the card, you’ll get a second free night which can help you maximize the value of the card even more. This additional spending can make a lot of sense especially in the first year of having the card, given the tiered sign-up bonus.

World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: Best for people trying to spend their way to elite status

If you’re a true Hyatt road warrior, you might want to consider the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, as it has several benefits that are geared toward business travelers. First, in addition to getting automatic Hyatt Discoverist elite status, you can also gift Discoverist status to five additional employees. You’ll also get dynamic bonus spending categories, so you can get extra points for your spending no matter where your primary spending habits lie, instead of being locked in to the set categories of the personal card.

But a key benefit is for big spenders who want to make sure they get to top-tier Globalist status. Earning five elite nights for every $10,000 spent is a better ratio than the ratio with the personal card (two nights per $5,000 spent).

Bottom line

Both the personal and business World of Hyatt credit cards offer value to travelers who stay at Hyatt hotels. Deciding which one makes the most sense for you will depend on your unique spending and travel habits. The personal World of Hyatt credit card has a lower annual fee and offers a free night each year on your anniversary. The World of Hyatt Business credit card doesn’t give any free night certificates and has a higher annual fee, but it offers a faster path to elite status plus dynamic bonus spending categories. Take a look at the details for each card to make the right choice for your situation.