December 8, 2025
Inside World of Hyatt: How Laurie Blair Redefines Loyalty, Care & the Future of Travel
Episode Description
Have you ever wondered what exactly goes on behind the scenes in loyalty programs—and what drives executive decisions about what to offer, add, or take away from their members’ experience?
In this episode, I get to do exactly that. I’m joined by Laurie Blair, Hyatt’s Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Loyalty, for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Hyatt designs a program that travelers actually feel loyal to.
We talk about what truly sets the World of Hyatt program apart, how they make decisions about elite benefits and redemptions, and what status holders can expect in the future. We get into everything from the rarity of fixed award charts and hotel loyalty programs, stealth devaluations, and Hyatt’s approach to balancing business goals with prioritizing their members—to the underrated redemptions you should absolutely be taking advantage of.
Laurie also shares what it’s like to build a loyalty program that discerning travelers trust and love, how Hyatt listens to its members, and why care—not just points—is the foundation of everything they do.
If you’ve ever wondered how loyalty is built inside one of the most respected travel brands in the world, this is your backstage pass.
Turn your expenses into points and save tens of thousands of dollars a year on your wishlist travel. Don’t miss out! Click here to know more about my comprehensive online program, Points Made Easy.
What You’ll Learn from this Episode
- How Hyatt designs loyalty around care, not just transactions
- Why Hyatt continues to keep a published award chart when others don’t
- The philosophy behind Guest of Honor and milestone awards
- How Hyatt approaches transparency, devaluations, and member trust
- What status holders can expect from future program updates
- How partnerships like Peloton, American Airlines, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith fit into Hyatt’s vision
- Why underrated Hyatt redemptions are still some of the best in travel
Featured On the Show
- World of Hyatt Program
- Hyatt FIND Experiences
- Follow me on Instagram
- Get on the waitlist for the Points Made Easy Course here!
- Get My Cash-Back Credit Card Cheat Sheet!
- If you have any questions or you want me to dive deeper into a specific topic, email me here: podcast@pointmetofirstclass.com
Click here to download full episode transcript
Point Me to First Class is the show for professionals and business owners with higher-than-average personal or business expenses, who want to learn to leverage these expenses into credit card points they can spend on travel.
Each week, I share valuable tips, tools, and strategies to help you uplevel your skills earning and redeeming credit card points, so you can expand your travel and expand your experiences.
