Be More Outdoors: World of Hyatt Announces Exclusive Alliance with Under Canvas, the Leader in Upscale Outdoor Hospitality, Adding More Immersive Experiences for Guests and Members

Rhea-AI Summary

World of Hyatt has announced an exclusive alliance with Under Canvas, a leader in upscale outdoor hospitality. This partnership allows World of Hyatt members to earn and redeem points for stays at 13 Under Canvas outdoor resorts, including the new luxury ULUM Moab. The alliance provides access to unique experiences near iconic U.S. national parks and outdoor destinations.

Under Canvas offers safari-inspired tents with luxury amenities and complimentary activities. Five of their 'Grand Circle' camps are DarkSky-certified, emphasizing their commitment to minimizing environmental impact. The partnership aims to meet the growing demand for immersive nature experiences while expanding Hyatt's luxury portfolio.

Positive

• Expansion of Hyatt's luxury portfolio with 13 new outdoor resorts
• Access to unique, upscale experiences near U.S. national parks for World of Hyatt members
• Potential for increased member engagement and loyalty through new earning and redemption opportunities
• Alliance with an environmentally conscious brand (DarkSky-certified camps)

Negative

• None.

Travel Industry Analyst

This alliance between World of Hyatt and Under Canvas marks a significant shift in the luxury travel landscape, blending high-end hospitality with outdoor experiences. The move reflects a growing trend in the travel industry towards experiential and nature-based luxury.

The partnership strategically positions Hyatt to capture a share of the burgeoning glamping market, estimated to reach $5.41 billion by 2028. This expansion into upscale outdoor hospitality could potentially increase Hyatt's revenue streams and attract a new segment of affluent, adventure-seeking travelers.

From an investor's perspective, this alliance offers several potential benefits:

• Diversification of Hyatt's portfolio, reducing reliance on traditional urban and resort properties
• Access to high-growth markets, particularly in proximity to national parks
• Enhancement of Hyatt's loyalty program, potentially increasing member retention and acquisition
• Alignment with growing consumer demand for sustainable and nature-based travel experiences

However, investors should also consider potential challenges:

• Seasonality of outdoor resorts may impact consistent revenue generation
• Higher operational costs and complexities associated with remote locations
• Potential environmental regulations or restrictions in sensitive areas

Overall, this move demonstrates Hyatt's adaptability to evolving travel trends and could position the company for growth in an emerging luxury segment.

Sustainability Expert

The alliance between Hyatt and Under Canvas represents a significant step towards mainstreaming sustainable luxury travel. Under Canvas's commitment to environmental stewardship, as evidenced by their DarkSky certification and 'Mindful Approach' ethos, aligns with growing consumer demand for eco-conscious travel options.

Key sustainability aspects of this partnership include:

• Energy conservation: Use of low-level lighting and rechargeable battery packs
• Water conservation: Implementation of pull-chain showers and low-flow toilets
• Light pollution reduction: DarkSky certification for five 'Grand Circle' camps
• Minimal environmental impact: Camps designed to flow with natural topography

This initiative could potentially set a new standard for sustainable luxury in the hospitality industry. It may encourage other major hotel chains to incorporate similar eco-friendly practices, driving industry-wide change.

However, the increased foot traffic to these sensitive natural areas could pose environmental challenges. Hyatt and Under Canvas will need to carefully manage this balance to maintain their sustainability credentials.

For investors, this partnership demonstrates Hyatt's commitment to sustainability, which could enhance its ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) profile. This is increasingly important for attracting socially responsible investors and meeting evolving regulatory requirements.

The success of this venture could pave the way for further expansion into sustainable luxury offerings, potentially creating new revenue streams while bolstering Hyatt's reputation as an environmentally conscious brand.

World of Hyatt members can now earn and redeem points for even more luxury and adventure-filled stays in some of the most iconic destinations throughout the U.S.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- World of Hyatt is inviting guests and members to immerse themselves in memorable outdoor experiences and stays at Under Canvas’ 13 outdoor resorts, including Under Canvas’ new luxury outdoor resort, ULUM Moab. The new alliance provides members with unprecedented access to iconic, upscale experiences across many U.S. national parks and other notable outdoor destinations. World of Hyatt members can now book their stays at Under Canvas camps and ULUM Moab through Hyatt to start earning and redeeming points.

ULUM Moab (Photo: Business Wire)

“Travelers are looking for new and unique experiences to reconnect with nature in off-the-beaten-path locations. By adding these luxury outdoor camps to World of Hyatt, we are bringing more memorable travel experiences for our guests and members,” said Mark Vondrasek, Chief Commercial Officer, Hyatt. “Hyatt offers one of the fastest-growing luxury portfolios globally and with the inclusion of these incredible Under Canvas camps in World of Hyatt, we continue to double down on this focus and bring immense value to our rapidly growing member base.”

Luxury Safari-Inspired Stays Near the Most Iconic U.S. National Parks and Monuments

The Under Canvas and ULUM outdoor resorts offer World of Hyatt members some of the most sought-after and curated luxury outdoor experiences. Spread across spectacular destinations in the U.S., such as Montana’s Yellowstone National Park, Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains, Acadia National Park in Maine and Yosemite National Park in California (anticipated opening in May 2025), Under Canvas camps offer extraordinary upscale hospitality, with safari-inspired tents and complimentary programming such as nightly campfires with s’mores, board games, yoga and kid’s activities. The camps also offer wholesome and nutritious food and beverage options through innovative menus that embrace seasonality and thoughtfully sourced ingredients.

Learn more about a few of the outdoor resorts, now bookable through World of Hyatt for the 2024 and 2025 seasons:

• Under Canvas Bryce Canyon: Sleep under endless star-filled skies in a Stargazer Tent or indulge in the celestial-themed culinary offerings at this camp, located just 15 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.
• Under Canvas Grand Canyon: Get lost in 160 acres of secluded piñon and juniper forest in Arizona, the camp is minutes away from the iconic natural wonders of the Grand Canyon.
• Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase: Discover the splendor of the American Southwest with endless outdoor experiences, from hiking mesas to chasing sunsets at Horseshoe Bend.
• Under Canvas Moab: Take the perfect getaway to explore the towering plateaus, sandstone cliffs and geologic wonders of Utah’s Canyon Country.
• Under Canvas Zion: Wonder at the magic of the desert at this camp located near Zion National Park in Utah, surrounded by sandstone cliffs, majestic red rock and wide-open skies.
• ULUM Moab: Enjoy unparalleled luxury outdoor experiences at ULUM Moab, the first resort under the new ULUM brand, which was introduced by Under Canvas in 2023. Set across 200 acres, ULUM Moab extends architecture that embraces the contours of the land with a full-service restaurant, hot and cold dipping pools, a yoga deck, comfortable lounge spaces and more.

“Under Canvas is the leading outdoor resort company in the United States, with 13 locations outside of national parks and adventurous destinations such as Acadia, Glacier, Moab, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion,” said Matt Gaghen, chief executive officer of Under Canvas. “We’re looking forward to welcoming World of Hyatt members to our beautiful, safari-inspired camps so that they can experience true comfort in nature in these amazing destinations. This exciting collaboration with Hyatt will further our goal of connecting more people with extraordinary places, people, and the planet by enhancing access to the outdoors.”

Notably, Under Canvas’ five “Grand Circle” camps across Utah and Arizona are the first-ever DarkSky-certified resorts in the world – a testament to the brands’ commitment to minimizing light pollution and protecting the night sky. Grounded in its ‘Mindful Approach’ ethos, the camps are designed to minimize disturbance, maximize open spaces and flow with the natural topography of the land.

In an effort to reduce energy and water usage, Under Canvas camps feature pull-chain showers, low-flow toilets, rechargeable battery pack chargers, and low-level lighting. Under Canvas’ safari-inspired tents provide comfort in nature, with king-size beds, luxe linens, USB charging packs, bedside lanterns and a wood-burning stove, with the majority of tent types offering private decks with views and ensuite bathrooms. To encourage immersion in nature, Under Canvas camps do not offer Wi-Fi. For tech-savvy travelers, ULUM Moab offers Wi-Fi connection in its contemporary, temperature controlled, lobby lounge and restaurant.

More Rewards and More Choice for World of Hyatt Members

Following the initial Mr & Mrs Smith integration of more than 700 global boutique and luxury hotels and resorts into World of Hyatt, select Under Canvas camps and ULUM Moab are also now part of the Mr & Mrs Smith platform. Hyatt is expected to make even more Mr & Mrs Smith hotels available for members to book through Hyatt channels by the end of 2024.

As with all hotels integrated into World of Hyatt via Mr & Mrs Smith, World of Hyatt members can now book through Hyatt and earn 5 Base Points per $1 USD spent on room rates as well as Tier Qualifying Nights for each eligible night at Under Canvas camps and ULUM Moab. World of Hyatt Credit Cardmembers can also earn an additional 4 Bonus Points per $1 USD spent on room rates when booking through World of Hyatt channels. World of Hyatt members are able to earn and redeem and receive the same benefits at Under Canvas camps and ULUM Moab as they would at Mr & Mrs Smith hotels.

Learn more about Under Canvas camps and ULUM Moab resort and book your next stay at Hyatt.com/UnderCanvas.

The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

For further information:

About World of Hyatt

World of Hyatt is Hyatt’s award-winning guest loyalty program uniting participating locations in Hyatt’s Timeless Collection, including in the Park Hyatt®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Vacation Club®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, and UrCove brands; Boundless Collection, including in the Miraval®, Alila®, Andaz®, Thompson Hotels®, Dream® Hotels, Hyatt Centric®, and Caption by Hyatt® brands; Independent Collection, including in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt®, and JdV by Hyatt® brands; and Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, including in the Impression by Secrets, Hyatt Ziva®, Hyatt Zilara®, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts®, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas brands. Members who book directly through Hyatt channels can enjoy personalized care and access to distinct benefits including Guest of Honor, confirmed suite upgrades at time of booking, diverse wellbeing offerings, digital key, and exclusive member rates. With more than 40 million members, World of Hyatt offers a variety of ways to earn and redeem points for hotel stays, dining and spa services, wellbeing focused experiences through the FIND platform; as well as the benefits of Hyatt’s strategic loyalty collaboration with American Airlines AAdvantage®. Travelers can enroll for free at hyatt.com, download the World of Hyatt app for android and IOS devices and connect with World of Hyatt on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter.

ABOUT UNDER CANVAS

The leader in upscale, outdoor hospitality, Under Canvas is the ultimate outdoor destination experience. Its safari-inspired accommodations perfectly embrace their natural surroundings while featuring indoor luxuries, allowing guests to discover their outdoor self in comfort and style. Under Canvas currently operates 11 locations: North Yellowstone-Paradise Valley, West Yellowstone and Glacier in Mont.; Moab, Zion, Lake Powell-Grand Staircase and Bryce Canyon in Utah; Mount Rushmore in S.D.; Great Smoky Mountains in Tenn.; Grand Canyon in Ariz.; and Acadia in Maine; its newest location, Under Canvas Yosemite, Cali., is set to open in May 2025. To provide an even more elevated outdoor resort experience, Under Canvas launched ULUM—a bespoke resort brand that debuted its first location 20 miles south of Moab, Utah in spring of 2023. This exceptional outdoor resort features all Suite Tents, a full-service restaurant, three dipping pools, and in-tent amenities such as electricity, coffee and tea, Aesop bath products and more. For more information, please visit www.undercanvas.com and www.ulumresorts.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240725324290/en/

Hyatt Media Contact:

Kaitlyn Sheehy

kaitlyn.sheehy@hyatt.com

Under Canvas Media Contact:

J/PR

(619) 255-7069

undercanvas@jpublicrelations.com

Source: Hyatt Hotels Corporation

FAQ

What are the benefits for World of Hyatt members in the new alliance with Under Canvas?

World of Hyatt members can now earn and redeem points for stays at 13 Under Canvas outdoor resorts, including ULUM Moab. They earn 5 Base Points per $1 USD spent on room rates and Tier Qualifying Nights for eligible stays.

Which national parks are near the Under Canvas resorts available through World of Hyatt?

Under Canvas resorts are located near iconic U.S. national parks including Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, Acadia, Yosemite, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion.

What unique features do Under Canvas resorts offer to World of Hyatt members?

Under Canvas resorts offer luxury safari-inspired tents, complimentary activities like nightly campfires with s'mores, yoga, and kid's activities. Five 'Grand Circle' camps are DarkSky-certified, emphasizing minimal light pollution.

How does the Under Canvas alliance align with Hyatt's (H) business strategy?

The alliance aligns with Hyatt's strategy to expand its luxury portfolio and offer unique experiences to members. It caters to the growing demand for immersive nature experiences and off-the-beaten-path locations.