Hyatt forms alliance with glamping brand Under Canvas

CHICAGO — Hyatt Hotels Corp. has allied with Belgrade, Montana-based Under Canvas so that its World of Hyatt members can book stays and earn and redeem points at its properties. 

Glamping brand Under Canvas currently has 13 outdoor resorts across the U.S., including its new luxury outdoor resort, ULUM Moab, in Utah. Under Canvas has locations in Montana’s Yellowstone National Park, Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains, Acadia National Park in Maine and Yosemite National Park in California (with a scheduled opening in May 2025). 

“Travelers are looking for new and unique experiences to reconnect with nature in off-the-beaten-path locations. By adding these luxury outdoor camps to World of Hyatt, we are bringing more memorable travel experiences for our guests and members,” Mark Vondrasek, chief commercial officer of Hyatt, said in a news release. “Hyatt offers one of the fastest-growing luxury portfolios globally and… we continue to double down on this focus.”  

Under Canvas, which is owned by Denver-based KSL Capital Partners, has also achieved ESG goals by giving “grand circle” camps in Utah and Arizona, becoming the first-ever Dark Sky-certified resorts in the world because of their minimal light pollution. The company also aims to reduce energy and water usage with pull-chain showers, low-flow toilets, rechargeable battery pack chargers and low-level lighting. 

Under Canvas’ safari-inspired tents have king-size beds, USB charging packs, bedside lanterns, a wood-burning stove, and, notably, no Wi-Fi (although the ULUM Moab resort does offer the service in its lobby and restaurant.) 

 “We’re looking forward to welcoming World of Hyatt members to our beautiful, safari-inspired camps so that they can experience true comfort in nature in these amazing destinations,” Matt Gaghen, CEO of Under Canvas, said in the release.  

Earlier this year, Hyatt announced it added more than 700 boutique and luxury hotels and villas from Mr & Mrs Smith to its Hyatt system following its acquisition in 2023, and the company said select Under Canvas properties are now also part of that platform.

Hyatt is rumored to be in advanced talks to acquire New York City-based lifestyle company Standard International. Bloomberg was the first to report the news, citing people familiar with the matter, who said the deal remains a work in progress. A Hyatt spokesperson told Hotel Investment Today, “As a matter of policy, we don’t comment on questions of this nature. We remain committed to asset-light growth through organic growth and strategic acquisitions but have nothing new to share now.”

The company also made news in June by acquiring the ‘Me and All Hotels’ brand from Germany’s Lindner Hotels. The deal follows the Hyatt and Lindner collaboration in 2022 when most Lindner Hotels & Resorts and all hotels were integrated into the World of Hyatt loyalty program.

Hyatt has also made other high-profile acquisitions over the past few years with its 2023 purchase of lifestyle brand Dream Hotel Group, its 2021 deal for all-inclusive player Apple Leisure Group and its 2018 acquisition of Two Roads Hospitality, adding lifestyle Alila, Destination, Joie de Vivre, Thompson and Tommie brands.