News Releases

CHICAGO—August 19, 2005—In response to overwhelming demand from Hyatt’s Gold Passport® members to “bring back Faster Free Nights!,” Hyatt has again teamed up with MasterCard® to resurrect its popular global promotion. For three months this fall Gold Passport members will earn free time while staying at Hyatt hotels and resorts, which they can redeem for stays in Hyatt destinations worldwide. “We’ve received more phone calls and e-­mails from excited customers asking us when the promotion would return than ever before, “ said Amy Weyman vice president of marketing, Hyatt Hotels Corporation. “Our Gold Passport members see great value in earning free nights at a Hyatt hotel.”

Faster Free Nights returns September 1, 2005 and continues through November 30, 2005. After every two eligible stays Gold Passport members who pay with their MasterCard card will earn a free night at any participating Hyatt hotel or resort worldwide. There is no limit to the number of free nights a member can earn. Gold Passport members can redeem their Faster Free Night awards beginning September 15, 2005 through January 31, 2006. No blackout dates apply.

“With such a rewarding offer, it’s not surprising Faster Free Nights promotion continues to resonate with today’s business travelers,” said Fred P. Gore, senior vice president of North America Acceptance for MasterCard International. “We are truly pleased to continue working with Hyatt in bringing priceless vacations to our MasterCard cardholders.”

Hyatt’s compelling television advertisement campaign will showcase the pleasure its Gold Passport members take in their free time earned through Faster Free Nights.

Participating Is Simple

To earn free nights travelers must be a Gold Passport member. Current members must register to participate in Faster Free Nights in order to become eligible for the free nights. New members who join Gold Passport during the promotion automatically become registered in the promotion. Registration is available online at goldpassport.com, by calling 1­-800-­51-­Hyatt or through any worldwide reservation center.

New Tool On Goldpassport.com Eases Tracking of Free Nights

Introduced in early­-June as part of the new functionality offered on goldpassport.com, the My Promotional Awards section makes tracking Faster Free Nights Awards as easy as possible. Members can track how many free nights they have earned, redeemed, and the number of stays needed to earn their next free night.

The improved functionality and innovative design enhancements of the new goldpassport.com allow Hyatt’s most loyal customers to better realize the benefits of Gold Passport membership.

About Hyatt

There are 210 hotels and resorts (over 90,000 rooms) in 43 countries around the world, operating under the Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt and Park Hyatt brands. Currently, there are an additional 31 Hyatt hotels and resorts under development, including 12 new hotels in China. Hyatt Corporation (domestic U.S., Canada and Caribbean hotels) and Hyatt International Corporation (international properties) are subsidiaries of Chicago­-based Global Hyatt Corporation. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc. (timeshare), Hyatt Equities, L.L.C. (hotel ownership), and U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (which franchises Hawthorn Suites, Microtel and America’s Best Inns).

In January 2005, Global Hyatt Corporation also added an additional 143 properties to its growing portfolio with the acquisition of the upscale, limited service AmeriSuites hotel chain. These properties will be repositioned and renamed under a new Hyatt brand by early 2006.

From the U.S. and Canada, reservations for any Hyatt hotel worldwide may be obtained by calling 1-­800-­233­-1234 or logging onto 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, business-­to-­business and related payment programs. MasterCard International manages a family of well­-known, 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 award-­winning Priceless® advertising campaign is now seen in 96 countries and in 48 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and scope. For more information go to www.mastercardinternational.com or refer to our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.