Lindblad and Hyatt Team Up for More Access to Adventure

Loyalty programs are a well-established marketing mainstay for airlines and hotel chains. But the cruise industry hasn’t done much to reward its passengers. That’s now changed.

This month Lindblad Expeditions, the major adventure travel company currently with a fleet of 14 relatively small (148 passenger) ships, kicked off a loyalty collaboration with Hyatt Hotels. The venture is thought to be the first between a hospitality company such as Hyatt and a cruise line.

Through this relationship, World of Hyatt members have the ability to encounter scenic and wild life wonders in some of the most remote locations in the world while earning and redeeming World of Hyatt points.

According to Hyatt, “This loyalty collaboration strongly aligns with Hyatt’s wellbeing strategy by offering authentic, educational experiences that support Hyatt’s three landmarks of wellbeing: Feel, Fuel and Function. Through Lindblad Expeditions’ photography experiences, wildlife encounters, certified field experts and group travel outings, members are able to experience personalized adventures that enhance their personal wellbeing while gaining a new perspective of their surroundings.”

When booking a trip with Lindblad Expeditions through Hyatt, its World of Hyatt members rack up a long list of loyalty benefits. For starters members earn five Base Points per $1 of eligible spend, not including incidentals. They receive their standard elite tier bonus points on eligible spend, not including incidentals (10 percent Discoverist, 20 percent Explorist, 30 percent Globalist) and members are able to redeem points to use for free expeditions.

Members of all tiers are rewarded with a $250 on-board credit to use on Lindblad expeditions. Also, members receive elite tier qualifying night credits for eligible nights on a Lindblad expedition. World of Hyatt members can purchase or redeem points for specially curated Lindblad Expedition experiences during limited-times through FIND.

•World of Hyatt Credit Cardmembers can earn an additional 4x points per $1 of eligible spend on Lindblad Expeditions. Hyatt Credit Cardmembers can earn an additional 3x points per $1 USD of eligible spend on Lindblad Expeditions.

•AAdvantage® members with elite status (Gold or higher rates as in the past.) who are also members of World of Hyatt and have linked their accounts can earn 1 AAdvantage bonus mile per $1 of eligible spend on Lindblad Expeditions.

Hyatt says that its loyalty program currently has some 16 million members. The World of Hyatt name replaced the Hyatt Gold Passport name two years ago. Of the relationship with Lindblad Expeditions, Hyatt says, “We wanted to keep it simple with the same rates as in the past. What we now have is the same structure and all very integrated.”

While a new cooperative venture, Hyatt says it has already received “great member feedback. They particularly like the destinations Lindblad serves.” Of the relationship, Hyatt says, “It’s unique in the industry. As far as we know, no other hotel company has partnered with a cruise company.”

To help kick off the new arrangement, Lindblad announced details about its newest vessel, the National Geographic Venture. Built last year by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Inc. at Whibley Island, WA along with its sister ship Quest, the Venture has 50 cabins, accommodates 109 passengers with a crew and staff of 56. Other cruise liners boast of having musicians, show girls and other entertainers on its staff. For its part, the Venture has instead, under an Expedition Leader, about a dozen specialists – naturalists, undersea diver-photographers, a marine biologist, certified photography instructor, a wellness specialist and, depending on the destination visited, bird or even kelp experts.