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Hyatt is rolling out the annual update to the redemption costs for its World of Hyatt® loyalty program (this coincides with the introduction of a new five-tier redemption structure) This year the change will impact 136 hotels worldwide (with 112 increasing in cost).
Hyatt has confirmed the category shifts with the update taking effect on May 20th. Only 24 properties are moving down in cost this year. Everything from Park Hyatt to Hyatt Place locations are going to cost more.
The changes are especially pronounced in the United States, which accounts for 53% of the affected properties. Most US hotels on the list are increasing in category. California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Texas will see the most change. Limited-service brands such as Hyatt Place and Hyatt House make up a large portion of the adjustments (60 out of 64 of those properties are moving up).
Internationally, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America are also seeing widespread increases. In contrast, the Asia-Pacific region stands out as an exception. Several properties in China are moving down in category.
Some high-profile properties are moving into the top Category 8 tier, including Hôtel du Louvre in Paris, Park Hyatt London, Andaz 5th Avenue (review here), and Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino (review here). The shift also means the loss of many Category 4 hotels, which have historically been popular among travelers redeeming free night certificates.
Hyatt has set May 20th as the effective date for both the new award chart and the category changes. Reservations made before that date under the current structure will still be honored. This gives travelers a limited window to lock in lower redemption rates at affected properties.
Despite the increases, Hyatt maintains that its award chart will remain straightforward and accessible with the new five-tier system designed to provide more flexibility across a broader range of redemption options. However they want to spin it, this will make many properties 67% more expensive than they are now. Hyatt points are not easy to earn and these redemptions will become out of reach for many travelers.
Anthony’s Take: For travelers planning future stays, the upcoming changes make early booking more important than ever (particularly for properties that are about to move into higher redemption tiers). World of Hyatt® is still a great loyalty program, but these changes suck no matter what the corporate speak tries to tell you.
(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.
2 comments
I’ve been a Hyatt loyalist as top tier since the Gold Passport days but this cornucopia of negatives without any counterbalancing positives is making me seriously reconsider my loyalty. Hyatt can try to hide the upcoming monstrous devaluation behind only about 75% of the category changes are negative (again) but the fact is that with the new dynamic pricing, Hyatt can charge gigantic amounts of points for a room when they feel like without even changing the category of the hotel.
I’m already committed to Globalist for this year but I certainly wouldn’t have put a lot of effort into getting my wife Globalist this year as well if I had any idea that Hyatt would eviscerate awards so harshly and quickly. My plan is to see if the impending changes are as bad as expected and if they are I’ll have to do some determinations for myself and let the spouse’s status lapse.
Hyatt was already getting more on thin ice in a loyalty context. I expected actual improvements this year that would balance any negatives. Hyatt felt improvements were unnecessary. Add in that Hyatt has degraded the experience at many supposedly full service hotels domestically (remember club lounges as a standard feature at any HR?) and it feels like Hyatt is less interested in me. I’ll likely reciprocate.
While this is not surprising, it is disappointing. I’ve enjoyed being a Globalist for 7 years and feel Hyatt really was ahead of the other brands in terms of loyalty. Unfortunately, times change and our economic climate is not great and apparently the BoD has to be kept happy (sigh).
As with any relationship, situations change and since I’m well on my way to Globalist for 2027, I won’t change course for this year but for the future, I feel the winds of free agency blowing. Like other mutual breakups, I’m already looking back at this time fondly…and with some relief-much like ditching annoying ex in-laws, no having to choose Hyatt Places after Jan 1st! 🙂