Hyatt and Chase Tease Premium Credit Card and New Path to Elite Status

If you’re a fan of Hyatt, there’s reason to get excited: a deeper perks slate is on the way.

Two major announcements just landed: first, a big-spend pathway to Elite status through the World of Hyatt program via the Chase Bank/Hyatt partnership; and second, the strong hint of a coming premium Hyatt credit card.

Below you’ll find a breakdown of what we know so far—plus educated speculation on what to expect from the premium card.

New high-spend Elite status pathway

Starting mid-2026, select cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the business version will gain access to a path toward Hyatt’s “Explorist” status via big spend milestones.

In concrete terms:

• The consumer Sapphire Reserve cardholders will reportedly need to spend $75,000 per year to unlock Explorist status.
• The business version will require about $120,000 in annual spend.

What does Explorist status include?

Here’s a refresher on the benefits of the Explorist tier under the World of Hyatt program:

• 20% bonus on base points earned from eligible stays.
• Complimentary premium internet (where available).
• Late checkout up to 2 p.m., subject to availability.
• Room upgrades (excluding suites and rooms with Club access), again subject to availability.

How to judge the value

For Hyatt loyalists who already hold the Sapphire Reserve (and its hefty set of benefits), this is a “nice to have” feature. If you’re already spending heavily on the card, getting Hyatt Explorist on top might add incremental value—but it’s important to recognize that Explorist is not the top-tier (that’s Globalist).

For many, this perk may not shift the needle too much. Maybe if we were talking Globalist….

Premium Hyatt Credit Card: what we know + what to expect

The second big highlight from the announcement is confirmation that Hyatt (in partnership with Chase) plans to launch a premium co-branded credit card. While no official benefits or fees have been released yet, past industry surveys and loyalty-card rumors give us a strong basis for speculation.

What to expect (speculation)

Based on industry chatter + what Hyatt needs to compete, here are plausible features for the premium card:

• Annual Fee: Could land in the $250–$450 range, given the “premium” branding and to differentiate from the current $95 consumer card.
• Enhanced Earning Rates: Perhaps 5X or more Hyatt points per $1 at Hyatt properties, 3X on top 1-2 spending categories (restaurants, travel, etc.).
• Free Night Awards: Upgraded free-night certificate(s), possibly at higher category properties (e.g., Category 1-5 or Category 1-6 instead of the current Category 1-4 on the regular card).
• Elite-Night Credit / Status Boost: Automatic elite-night credits towards Hyatt status (e.g., giving some Explorist nights or fast-tracking Globalist). The premium card might include 10 or more elite-night credits simply for holding the card, plus additional nights for spend milestones.
• Additional Travel / Hotel Perks: Likely to include enhanced perks such as complimentary club lounge passes, stronger room upgrade priority, elevated resort credits, or enhanced privacy/concierge services.
• Annual Credits or Travel Benefits: Expect travel/hotel credits (e.g., resort fee credits, free breakfast credits, property credits) to help justify the higher fee.

Final word

If you love Hyatt, this is a meaningful moment:

• The new high-spend pathway via Sapphire Reserve is a nice bonus for big spenders but many may already have many of those travel benefits.
• The forthcoming premium Hyatt card is likely the more exciting development for Hyatt devotees, as it promises enhanced benefits and a step up from the basic offering.