I want to be surprised…. but I’m not surprised.
I wrote last week that Ocean Casino Atlantic City is Leaving Hyatt and was very disappointed by the news. You may be surprised to hear that, given that I’ve also expressed my point of view that The Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City Has an Identity Crisis. But as far as using points in Atlantic City, and at just 12,000 Hyatt points on a summer weekend, it was an unbeatable value.
In this article
Hyatt Unilaterally Cancelling 2020 Award Bookings at Ocean
Now Gary at View from the Wing reports that Ocean / Hyatt are cancelling any award bookings beyond December 31st, 2019.
Some of the commenters on his page are of the tone that you can “just book another room” and “no big deal” but if you were smart enough to book for next summer (and if I’d know the end was neigh for their relationship I’d have done the same!) you’re going to be very disappointed.
The cash rates for those summer nights can go over $500 + resort fees. And the nearest Hyatt is over an hour away.
Where to stay using points in Atlantic City, NJ
You can use Marriott Bonvoy points, but not for anything remotely close in style to Ocean, which is right on the boardwalk and beach.
As i wrote earlier this month, your options as far as staying in Atlantic City on points without Ocean goes are limited.
You’ll have two Marriott properties, both non-casino hotels. The Courtyard, a category 5 hotel, is just off the boardwalk and the Sheraton, a category 4, is by the convention center. Neither is ideal or close to being able to redeem at Ocean, right on the beach and boardwalk and with a casino on property.
You could also light 15,000 – 30,000 Wyndham points on fire to stay at Bally’s, Caesars, or Harrahs. I wouldn’t.
Ocean was also once a key ancillary benefit of the Status Match Merry Go Round, although recently Caesars Diamond was receiving a one-time match to Ocean Platinum without any of the previous benefits like slot dollars or free nights.
Back to the topic of these awards for next year being cancelled….
Some seem to be jumping on Hyatt about this, but I have more than a hunch (but admittedly, no facts) that the blame here belongs with Ocean. They are doing so many things now to cut costs that are pennywise and pound foolish that I just cannot imagine that it’s not them refusing to accept what they have been accepting, probably asking for full cash rates from Hyatt. And that said, I can’t imagine THAT many people were booked into 2020, so you’d think they could have reached a solution. Hyatt is known for being very customer centric, though, while Ocean was embroiled in scandal earlier this year for cancelling player’s comps with no notice using a new retroactive comp expiration policy….
Were you affected by this?
Tell me here, on Twitter, or in the private MilesTalk Facebook group.
You can find credit cards that best match your spending habits and bonus categories at Your Best Credit Cards.
New to all of this? My “introduction to miles and points” book, MilesTalk: Live Your Wildest Travel Dreams Using Miles and Points is available on Amazon and at major booksellers.
