If travel is an art, then the World of Hyatt loyalty program is like an impressionist painting: the more you look at it, the more details you notice and appreciate. In other words, while many of the program’s benefits are obvious, there are a few perks that could use closer inspection and more explanation.

One of these perks is Milestone Rewards, and here’s what you need to know about them.

What are Milestone Rewards?

Hyatt knows that the path to elite status can be a long and winding one. For this reason, they’ve sprinkled in rewards along the way to keep things interesting and well, rewarding. Put simply, Milestone Rewards are extra member benefits that you can earn along the path to each elite status tier.

Hyatt has three elite tiers: Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist. To get to each of these levels, here’s how to qualify:

Discoverist: 10 qualifying nights, 25,000 base points or three meetings/events.

Explorist: 30 qualifying nights or 50,000 base points or 10 meetings/events.

Globalist: 60 qualifying nights or 100,000 base points or 20 meetings/events.

For each tier you attain, you'll earn more valuable member benefits. These elite benefits include a host of things: late checkout, room upgrades, premium internet and more.

Elite benefits are ongoing and separate from Milestone Rewards, which are one-time perks, like an infusion of points, club lounge access or a free night award. These rewards can be understood as accelerated upgrades; they're either a taste of what’s to come at the next level of elite status or — if you’re already a Globalist — a way to continue to enjoy the "suite life."

How to earn Milestone Rewards

There are two ways to earn Milestone Rewards, which members can start only after reaching Discoverist status.

The first way is obvious: Stay in Hyatt hotels enough nights to hit the point or night totals outlined below.

The second way isn’t so obvious: spend on the World of Hyatt Credit Card. With every $5,000 you put on the card each year, you earn two elite qualifying nights toward status. If you’ve got big purchases to make, this can be an easy way to earn nights to reach the next level.

Some Milestone Rewards occur at the same time as attaining a new level of elite status — Hyatt celebrates these dual events by showering members with a combination of elite benefits and accelerated upgrades. Other Milestone Rewards happen intermittently as you work toward the next status tier.

Changes coming in 2024

On Jan. 1, 2024, Hyatt will launch a revamped Milestone Rewards program featuring new rewards and more chances to earn rewards on up to 150 qualifying nights rather than the current max of 100.

Here's what the new earning tiers and rewards options will look like:

Notable among these new rewards is the Guest of Honor award which allows members to experience or gift Hyatt Globalist elite status benefits. World of Hyatt members who choose to gift this award will earn one qualifying night credit toward elite status.

You'll also be able to gift any of the other rewards you earn at each tier via your World of Hyatt account online.

Which Milestone Rewards are best?

For some milestones, members get a choice of awards. Currently, at the 40-night milestone, options include 5,000 bonus points, a $100 Hyatt gift card or a 10,000 point savings on a FIND experience.

At the 70-, 80-, 90- and 100-night milestones, members can choose from 10,000 bonus points or one suite upgrade award.

So which to choose? Which are best? Of all the Milestone awards, the suite upgrades can be the most valuable, but only if used strategically. Hyatt is very generous when it comes to using suite upgrade awards. One award covers an entire reservation — up to seven nights. So if you’re planning a week-long family vacation, a suite upgrade award would be very valuable; if you’re staying solo for a night, not so much.

Which Milestone award is best for you depends on your travel patterns. Are you traveling solo? Are you staying in one hotel for multiple nights? Do you want to enjoy a FIND experience? Choose your Milestone Rewards accordingly.

Other things to keep in mind

If you’ve earned status through a status match, you won’t receive Milestone Rewards. This is because they’re tied to the actual milestones you’ve reached along your way to status — either the number of nights or the number of base points you’ve earned.

Milestone Rewards do expire. Further:

Both club lounge access awards and suite upgrade awards are valid for the remainder of the current calendar year plus 14 months.

Free night awards are valid for 180 days from the date issued.

The FIND experience discount is valid for six months from the date it’s issued.

If you reach a milestone where you get to choose a reward, you’ll receive an email asking you for your selection. You have 90 days from the date of the milestone to make a choice.

Suite upgrade awards are valid for standard suites only. The definition of a standard suite varies from property to property; in some cases, the size of the standard suite isn’t much bigger than a standard room.

The bottom line

World of Hyatt Milestone Rewards are perks added on top of elite status benefits. Members earn rewards at milestones along the way to elite status tiers.

Rewards include extra points, gift cards, discounts on FIND experiences, club lounge access, suite upgrades and free nights. Milestone Rewards can add a lot of extra value to your Hyatt stays, especially if you use them strategically.