News Releases

CHICAGO – October 21st, 2004 – For the time­impoverished business traveler yearning for a quick getaway ­­but has no time to count points ­­Hyatt Gold Passport makes earning a free winter getaway simple.

    Through its Faster Free Nights™ promotion, Hyatt Gold Passport provides members the opportunity to earn one free night at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts worldwide for every two stays (two actual check outs) when paying with a MasterCard® card. Travelers can earn an unlimited number of free nights. Free nights can be earned November 1, 2004 through February 28, 2005. The nights can be redeemed December 1, 2004 through April 30, 2005.

    To earn Faster Free Nights, travelers must be a member of Gold Passport, Hyatt’s global frequent­guest program, and pay for their stay with a MasterCard card.

    “We’re thrilled to reward Road Warriors for their hard work and dedication with one of the easiest ways to earn a free vacation, among leading loyalty programs,” said Amy Weyman, vice president of Gold Passport, Hyatt Corporation. “With the unlimited earning power of Faster Free Nights, Gold Passport members are redeeming nights for trips of a lifetime, honeymoons and multiple weekend getaways to our properties all over the world.”

    Gold Passport members’ most popular vacation spots include Orlando, New York City, Hawaii, Tokyo, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago, Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore.

    To launch this fall’s Faster Free Nights promotion, Gold Passport will run its first­ever dedicated television commercials as part of Hyatt’s new brand advertising campaign. The Faster Free Night spots will begin the week of October 25, 2004 and continue into 2005 on cable stations like CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, Headline News, ESPN and The Golf Channel. Demonstrating what Gold Passport members can really do with all their ‘Free Time’ at Hyatt hotels and resorts, the advertising features an end line that reads: “This is not your typical hotel. This is the Hyatt touch.”

    In addition, Gold Passport will introduce a new brand identity and creative design this fall which will be reflected in all member communications, account summaries, promotional collateral and on goldpassport.com. It positions Gold Passport as a contemporary, exclusive and sophisticated global club providing its loyal members access to Faster Free Nights, exclusive rewards and special recognition at world­class properties.

    “With such an exquisite offer, it’s not surprising how the excitement around Faster Free Nights continues to escalate among global travelers,” said Fred P. Gore, senior vice president, North America Acceptance, MasterCard International. “We are pleased to join Hyatt in bringing more priceless vacations to our MasterCard cardholders.”

    Faster Free Nights redeemers can also indulge in Hyatt’s other services and amenities, including 34 spas worldwide, championship golf courses, Adventure Hyatt activities or one of Hyatt’s fine dining restaurants.

    Faster Free Nights awards are in addition to the Gold Passport points or airline miles members can earn on each Hyatt stay. Hyatt’s Gold Passport program is free to join. For additional promotional information or to become a member, visit www.goldpassport.com or call 1­-800­-30­-HYATT. About Hyatt

    There are 210 Hyatt Hotels and Resorts around the world, which are managed by two separate groups of companies. Hyatt Hotels Corporation and its subsidiaries operate, lease and franchise 122 hotels and resorts in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Subsidiaries of Hyatt International Corporation operate 88 hotels and resorts in 38 countries, with an additional 21 hotels under development. Reservations or information for any Hyatt Hotel worldwide can be obtained by calling toll­free in the United States and Canada, 1-­800-­233-­1234, your local Hyatt Hotel or Worldwide Sales Office, or your travel planner. Hyatt is accessible on the Internet at www.hyatt.com.

About MasterCard International

    MasterCard International is a leading global payments solutions company that provides a broad variety of innovative services in support of our global members' credit, deposit access, electronic cash, business­to­business and related payment programs. MasterCard International manages a family of well­known, widely accepted payment cards brands including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus® and serves financial institutions, consumers and businesses in over 210 countries and territories. The MasterCard award­winning Priceless® advertising campaign is now seen in 97 countries and in 47 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and scope. For more information, go to www.mastercardinternational.com.