It’s that time of year again. Hyatt just announced award category changes that will take place on March 26, 2024. You can see the announcement and all of the hotels here.
Notable Changes
In total, 183 properties are changing categories. Unfortunately, more properties are increasing (137) than decreasing (46).
Several fan favorite aspirational properties and all-inclusive properties are going up in award categories, including:
- Andaz Costa Rica Papagayo Peninsula: Moving from Category 6 (25,000 points) to Category 7 (30,000 points)
- Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana: Moving from all-inclusive Category E (40,000 points) to Category F (50,000 points)
- Hyatt Ziva Cancun: Moving from all-inclusive Category E (40,000 points) to Category F (50,000 points)
- Hyatt Centric Park City: Moving from Category 7 (30,000 points) to Category 8 (40,000 points)
- Hyatt Regency Lost Pines: Moving from Category 5 (20,000 points) to Category 6 (25,000 points)
- Hyatt Regency Washington, Hyatt House Washington DC/The Wharf, and Grand Hyatt Washington: Moving from Category 4 (15,000 points) to Category 5 (20,000 points)
- Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego: Moving from Category 4 (15,000 points) to Category 5 (20,000 points)
- Vail Residences: Moving from Category 7 (30,000 points) to Category 8 (40,000 points)
Many of the properties that are decreasing by a category are in China and Japan, but there are a few notable ones in the U.S.:
- Hyatt Centric Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco: Moving from Category 5 (20,000 points) to Category 4 (15,000 points)
- Hyatt Place Santa Cruz: Moving from Category 5 (20,000 points) to Category 4 (15,000 points)
- Kissel Uptown Oakland, In The Unbound Collection By Hyatt: Moving from Category 5 (20,000 points) to Category 4 (15,000 points)
These properties are now eligible for the Hyatt credit card free night certificate.
Keep in mind that these point values listed above are for standard awards and will vary based on peak and off-peak dates.
What to do with these changes
Rant? Complain? Throw a fit? If you’d like. But, I won’t sugarcoat it: This is a devaluation.
However, I still believe World of Hyatt offers good value. Many practical properties still cost 5000-15000 points per night. When you transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to World of Hyatt, you get more value than you would from transferring to IHG and Marriott.
You can still book Hyatt properties at the current award prices through March 25, 2026. So, if there is a property you have your eye on that is increasing, book it before then. If you are already booked in a property that will be decreasing a category, Hyatt will automatically refund you the difference in points.
What do you think of these changes?
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
It is frustrating especially when there were a few on the list especially the AI, you were looking to get to and would agree that moving the free night cert’s up to category 5 would demonstrate that Hyatt values customer loyalty. It does make me feel like not putting so much emphasis on this game anymore, I’m not saying I wouldn’t stay at a Hyatt anymore. But just not going to that next level of excitement.
@Boonie I understand. Can’t believe I stayed at the Andaz Costa Rica in 2020 for 15k a night and now it’s going to be double that!
I’ve been a Globalist since WOH started and a Diamond before that. I have no intention of ditching Hyatt but I’d be lying if I said that the cavalcade of small-to-medium-sized devaluations isn’t hurting my loyalty to the brand. At a minimum I think that Hyatt needs to make all of the category 1-4 certificates valid for category 1-5 to allow for category inflation. That wouldn’t be much but at least it would show some awareness that engaged loyalty members keep getting less for that loyalty in the current circumstance.
@Christian Yes! Making those certs valid for Category 1-5 would be nice.