Hyatt today announced that all 19 of its resorts in Latin America will begin providing complimentary on-property Covid-19 testing for guests traveling to the U.S. through May 31, 2021. While other individual hotels and destinations have begun offering coronavirus testing, this marks the first major chain to do so across a broad swath of its properties in a particular region.
According to the announcement, this new offering is valid for up to two registered guests per room per stay at participating resorts in Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean and South America. The tests will be either rapid antigen or the more widely accepted RT-PCR tests, both of which have been approved by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The one thing that may vary from one resort to another is a minimum length-of-stay requirement. Guests can also purchase additional on-property tests for a fee, subject to availability.
Here is the full list of participating properties:
- Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino
- Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour
- Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Bahamas
- Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
- Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
- Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, Jamaica
- Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, Jamaica
- Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
- Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Thompson Playa del Carmen Beach House, Mexico
- Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House, Mexico
- The Cape, a Thompson Hotel, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, Mexico
- Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen, Mexico
- Thompson Zihuatanejo, a Beach Resort, Mexico
- Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, Mexico
- Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Hyatt Zilara Cancun, Mexico
- Hyatt Ziva Cancun, Mexico
This move is aimed at setting travelers’ minds at ease as the U.S. institutes new international travel restrictions and begins requiring incoming air passengers to present a negative Covid-19 test taken within three calendar days of departure, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days. It is also the next step in Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment, a set of policies that includes requiring guests to wear face masks or coverings in hotel public areas, as well as more rigorous cleaning measures.
Among the other terms and conditions guests should be aware of, they must be departing for the U.S., specifically, and tests must be conducted during a stay at a participating hotel. So no hotel-hopping and coming back to the Hyatt you were at for a test within the approved time frame.
Hyatt has also extended a Travel Delay Rate for guests who cannot complete their travel plans due to test-related reasons, such as a delay in results, or a positive test during the stay and prior to departure. The special rate offers discounts of up to 50% off standard ones, and also includes savings of up to 30% on food and beverage charges, excluding alcohol. There is no minimum night requirement for the Travel Delay Rate, and it is available on stays of up to 14 nights. As it is meant to be a stopgap for folks whose travel plans are derailed, the rate can only be booked by guests with the hotel directly while on-property. Unfortunately, it does not apply to Hyatt’s all-inclusive Ziva and Zilara properties. It does, however, earn World of Hyatt points and nights count toward elite status with World of Hyatt.
For travelers who have looked at the new options and decided to postpone or cancel their upcoming trips, Hyatt currently has a policy allowing guests to cancel or change their reservations at no charge up to 24 hours before their scheduled arrival for nearly all reservations made from July 1, 2020, or beyond for dates through July 31, 2021.
Given recent coronavirus surges both in the U.S. and other countries, as well as shifting international travel policies, many folks might be putting of trips for the time being. However, this is good news for travelers with upcoming plans who might have found the new testing requirements overwhelming, or impossible to meet on short notice. Hopefully, other large chains with properties in the region, and perhaps even those in the United States, will begin offering guests Covid-19 tests on a more regular basis to ensure a safer travel experience for all.
