A reminder: Gold Passport members can now earn Gold Passport points at all Hawthorn Suites properties.

Gold Passport has been around for 15 years, and Hawthorn Suites is its first hotel partner. Gold Passport members can earn three points per dollar spent on eligible suite rates during Hawthorn stays — not quite the five points per dollar available at Hyatt hotels, but nothing to sneeze at, either. And, of course, redemption opportunities are available as well. Free nights can be redeemed for 4,000 points per night at Hawthorn Suites.

Additionally, in lieu of points, Gold Passport members have the option to earn 300 miles per Hawthorn stay on participating airlines.

The real value here is that the 207-property Hyatt chain has, in essence, given Gold Passport members an additional 122 (Hawthorne) hotels at which to earn or burn points — a roughly 58 percent increase in location choices.