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Back in February, World of Hyatt® announced a sweeping update to its award chart. It then released the list of hotels that are increasing in category (and redemption cost) last month. Neither announcement was good.
These changes to the award chart mark the program’s first major structural change since 2021. While Hyatt will continue to publish fixed award charts rather than move to fully dynamic pricing, the expansion from three to five redemption tiers within each category significantly widens the range of possible award costs. The changes will apply to stays booked beginning after May 20th, so the time to book anything that’s increasing is now.
Currently, Hyatt hotels price awards at three levels within each of eight categories: Off-Peak, Standard, and Peak. Under the new structure, each category will feature five levels: Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper, and Top. Hyatt says the additional tiers allow for more precise seasonal pricing and reduce the need for large annual category shifts. However, the new framework also increases the ceiling on what award nights can cost (in some cases dramatically).
For standard rooms, pricing ranges will shift as follows:
- Category 1: 3,500 to 6,500 points becomes 3,000 to 9,000 points
- Category 2: 6,500 to 9,500 points becomes 6,000 to 15,000 points
- Category 3: 9,000 to 15,000 points becomes 8,000 to 20,000 points
- Category 4: 12,000 to 18,000 points becomes 12,000 to 25,000 points
- Category 5: 17,000 to 23,000 points becomes 15,000 to 35,000 points
- Category 6: 21,000 to 29,000 points becomes 20,000 to 40,000 points
- Category 7: 25,000 to 35,000 points becomes 25,000 to 55,000 points
- Category 8: 35,000 to 45,000 points becomes 35,000 to 75,000 points
At the low end, some nights may cost slightly fewer points than before. At the high end, increases range from roughly 33% to as much as 67%, depending on the category.
All award charts will be adjusted, including those for suites, club rooms, Miraval properties, and all-inclusive resorts. Free night certificates (including Category 1 to 4 and Category 1 to 7 awards) will remain valid within their respective categories regardless of the pricing tier, provided standard room availability exists.
Reservations made before category changes take effect will be honored at the rate booked. Since the last award chart update in 2021, Hyatt has expanded significantly. Members now have access to lifestyle brands such as The Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels, luxury all-inclusive offerings under Impression by Secrets, Zoëtry Wellness and Spa Resorts, Dreams Resorts and Spa, and outdoor experiences with Under Canvas. Hyatt has also grown in high-demand global destinations, increasing the reach and versatility of World of Hyatt® points. There is still no mention of Mr & Mrs Smith seeing any sort of standardization.
Anthony’s Take: World of Hyatt® is maintaining a published award chart and avoiding dynamic pricing, but the shift to five pricing tiers introduces significantly higher redemption ceilings across all categories. Any way you slice it, this is not good news. The lack of any guarantee for lowest tier redemptions is particularly troubling.
(Image Credits: Hyatt.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
