Hyatt Expands Award Charts: 5 Price Bands, Up to 67% Increase; Adds Elite Head Start on Awards

I took the day to think about this news, and it’s… still not good.

On the one hand, I do praise Hyatt for keeping award charts at all. I (and most of you) appreciate predictability for award pricing. You know what you need to save up and it doesn’t change drastically in the interim. 

And just last week, we had the Hyatt rumor mill in full spin when a college student used AI to dream up program changes.

Well, there is no Category 9 or 10, but there are massive increases inside the new bands. These new charts will take effect in May but also keep in mind we are only about a month off from when Hyatt will recategorize hotels into new categories if warranted.

The regular award chart sticks to Category 1-8, but each category has 5 variants, up from 3 today. Today we have Off Peak, Standard, and Peak.

New World of Hyatt Award Charts

Now we will have Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper and Top.

Here is the new Standard Room Chart.

You can see that a Category 8 like the Park Hyatt Paris Vendome will jump from 45,000 points a night to a whopping 75,000 points a night.

One of my favorite things to teach is using points on peak dates like the holidays for outsized value. Those that have taken that to heart will feel this sting the most. I know I will…

Here is the new Standard Suite award chart. 

And here is the new Premium Suite chart:

Here is the new standard room chart for All Inclusives.

And Miraval.

Book as far out as you can as soon as you can, to beat both this change and the annual recategorization. 

I can’t say I blame Hyatt for this. By avoiding dynamic entirely they had to make economics work, yet it still seems like some of these increases far exceed cash inflation.

Some Categories Already Adjusted

• The Barnett, part of JdV by Hyatt, will move from Category 5 to Category 4
• Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman Resort & Spa will move from Category 6 to Category 8
• Hyatt Place San Antonio-Northwest/Medical Center will move from Category 1 to Category 2
• Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach will move from Category 4 to Category 5
• Grand Hyatt Incheon will move from Category 3 to Category 4
• Hyatt Centric Malta will move from Category 2 to Category 3
• Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort will move from Category 4 to Category 5

Free Night Awards

Cat 1-4 and Cat 1-7 certficates are unchanged, and will be able to be used on any tier. This arguably increases certificate value since a hotel may actually not move up in Category but be at the upper end of Cat 4 or 7, giving you more points in “value.” I’ll take it. Sadly, no news about ever being ever to combine those certificates in one booking with other awards or to use a Suite Upgrade Award with them – sorely needed upgrades.

Digital Points Sharing

Hyatt makes it super easy to share points, but you have to send in a form. Usually fast, but not always. That will finally be available online (hopefully with good fraud controls).

Elites and Cardmembers get early access to awards

If you have a World of Hyatt Credit Card or have at least Explorist status or higher (Discoverist won’t cut it), you’ll have early access to award nights – 13 months early vs. 12. For desirable properties at peak times, this will matter – though the pool of eligible customers is large and not stratified.

Overall

A few goodies alongside a big whomp whomp on the categories. Plan your next year of Hyatt award travel ASAP…

Thoughts?

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