World of Hyatt today announced its March 22, 2022, award category changes that are just awful.
Category 8, which was previously only used for select SLH hotels, will now include the most sought-after Park Hyatt properties too.
Alila Napa Valley
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
Alila Ventana Big Sur
Park Hyatt Kyoto
Park Hyatt Milan
Park Hyatt New York
Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome
Park Hyatt Sydney
World of Hyatt redemption rates may look lower than those of competitors, but you have to keep in mind that you only earn half the number of points at Hyatt compared to Hilton, IHG, or Marriott, and the elite bonus points are significantly lower + there are no elite welcome points.
Regrettably, Hyatt felt the need to move several hotels to category 8 that was supposedly only used for SLH hotels (but didn’t we know what would happen in due course).
1. Why is the Award Chart changing?
Every year World of Hyatt performs an audit of the number of points required to redeem a free night and Points + Cash at each property. A hotel’s award category may be adjusted based on the current market conditions.
2. How will the World of Hyatt Award Chart change?
Some hotels will move to a higher category and some hotels will move to a lower category. No other changes are being made to the chart at this time.
3. When will the changes to the award chart become effective?
Effective 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, World of Hyatt will adjust the award categories for 146 hotels.
4. How many hotels are shifting to a higher category?
70 hotels will move to a higher award category. Free night award redemptions at these hotels will require additional World of Hyatt points for reservations made beginning at 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022.
5. How many hotels are shifting to a lower category?
76 hotels will move to a lower award category. Free night award redemptions at these hotels will require fewer World of Hyatt points effective 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022.
6. What are the current point redemption values for each free night award category?
Category 1 = 5,000 World of Hyatt points
Category 2 = 8,000 World of Hyatt points
Category 3 = 12,000 World of Hyatt points
Category 4 = 15,000 World of Hyatt points
Category 5 = 20,000 World of Hyatt points
Category 6 = 25,000 World of Hyatt points
Category 7 = 30,000 World of Hyatt points
Category 8 = 40,000 World of Hyatt points
7. Are any existing Hyatt hotels moving into Category 8?
Yes, 9 Hyatt properties are moving into Category 8 with this change. These include:
Alila Napa Valley
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
Alila Ventana Big Sur
Park Hyatt Kyoto
Park Hyatt Milan
Park Hyatt New York
Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome
Park Hyatt Sydney
8. For free night award redemption reservations made before 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, which award chart will be effective?
All free night award redemptions booked before 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, will follow the current Award Chart. For example, if you book an award night prior to 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, for a stay that occurs on March 22 or after, the current Award Chart will apply. Any free night award redemptions booked at 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, or after will follow the new Award Chart.
9. For Category 1-4 award (including Hyatt Credit card anniversary awards) and Category 1-7 award reservations made before 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, which award chart will be effective?
All Hyatt Category 1-4 and 1-7 free night awards booked before 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, will follow the current Award Chart. For example, if you book a category 1-4 or 1-7 free night award night prior to 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, for a stay that occurs on March 22, 2022, or after the current Award Chart will apply. Any Category 1-4 or 1-7 free night award redemption booked at 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, or after will follow the new Award Chart.
10. How will award nights booked prior to 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, be impacted if the hotel I am staying at now requires more points?
Any Free Night Award booked prior to 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, at a property that is shifting to a higher category and will require more points will not be affected. Reservations will remain in place at the originally booked point level. For example, a Free Night Award booked at a Category 1 hotel for 5,000 points before 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, that is moving to a Category 2 hotel for 8,000 points will remain at 5,000 points.
11. How will award nights booked prior to 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, be impacted if the hotel I am staying at now requires fewer points?
Any Free Night or Points + Cash Award booked prior to 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, for nights on or after March 22, 2022, at a property that is shifting to a lower category and will require fewer points will receive an adjustment. World of Hyatt Customer Service will proactively deposit the point difference into a member’s account starting on March 23, 2022. If the reservation that received an adjustment is canceled, the points originally deducted for the award reservation will be returned to the members account and the adjusted points will be removed from the member’s account. For example, a member with a Free Night Award booked before 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, for a Category 2 hotel for 8,000 points that is moving to a Category 1 hotel that requires 5,000 points at 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, will receive 3,000 points returned to his/her account. If the member cancels this Free Night Award, 8,000 points will be returned to the members account and 3,000 points will be deducted.
12. Starting at 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, how will modifications to existing reservations be handled?
Any modifications made to reservations on or after 8:00 a.m. CT, March 22, 2022, will follow the terms of the new Award Chart. Any modifications to Category 1-4 or 1-7 Award Night reservations that cause an award to be reissued cannot be redeemed for hotels that moved above Category 4 or 7 as part of these changes.
