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World of Hyatt has announced an award category change to over 250 of its properties worldwide. The new categories will come into effect on March 18, 2019, so you have just under two weeks to lock in bookings at hotels that are going up in price. However, unlike most “category adjustments” which are a clear devaluation, Hyatt is actually lowering the price on almost half the affected properties.
Summary of Upcoming changes
- In total, 259 properties are changing category
- 130 properties are going up in category
- 129 properties are going down in category
Effect On Hyatt Free Night Certificate
The World of Hyatt Credit Card comes with a host of features and benefits, and arguably one of the most impressive is the annual free night certificate. The free night can be redeemed at any category 1-4 property worldwide. Here's a breakdown of how the upcoming category changes will impact your free-night options:
- 18 properties will no longer be eligible for the free-night award
- 12 properties will become eligible for the free-night award
Properties that will no longer be eligible include:
- Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco
- Hyatt Place Dewey Beach
- Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami
- Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa
- Hyatt Regency Boston
- Hyatt Place Nashville Downtown
- Grand Hyatt DFW
- Hyatt House Virginia Beach / Oceanfront
- Grand Hyatt Seattle
- Hyatt at Olive 8
- Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
- Hyatt Regency Cologne
- Park Hyatt Hamburg
- Hyatt Regency Amsterdam
- Hyatt Regency Sochi
- Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui
- Park Hyatt Busan
- Hyatt Regency Guam
Properties that will become eligible include:
- Andaz San Diego
- Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
- Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach
- Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile
- Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago
- Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina
- Hyatt House Jersey City
- Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson
- Park Hyatt Istanbul – Macka Palas
- Hyatt Regency Kiev
- Park Hyatt Zanzibar
- Park Hyatt Hangzhou
While the changes are minimal, this still represents a global loss of six free-night-eligible hotels overall. In the U.S., ten properties will no longer be eligible, while eight properties will become eligible for the annual free night that comes with the World of Hyatt Card.
Our Take
Overall, this is a relatively minor change, and we’re relieved that this didn’t turn out to be a major increase in points required across the board. Despite the net loss of two free-night eligible properties in the U.S., this category change will have minimal impact for most Hyatt loyalists. If you are considering an upcoming stay with one of the properties going up in price, you still have just under two weeks to lock in your reservations.
Source: Doctor Of Credit
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We still get an incredible amount of value for our points with Hyatt. Thanks for the heads up on the changes! Looking forward to Hyatt Waikiki soon.
Thanks for the information. Need to book fast.
Better hurry to finalise a few bookings!
Thanks for the reminder… I still have a few bookings to make!
The Hyatt Hong Kong was incredible…sad to see it going. Just learning about Costa Rica…..wow, how do you even get there? Really hurts to see Hamburg and Köln go…
I like the balance here – about the same number going up as going down. Quite different from most usual annual category changes – where 2/3 to 3/4 are going up. Still can’t believe that a Hyatt Place anywhere would be above Cat 4 though.
This one in particular hurt us. Many of the locations we stay at, has risen BUT that makes us look around a little bit more t other properties that we haven’t experienced. I still love Hyatt.
As category changes go, this isn’t too bad. I just wish they had more properties in Europe.
I appreciate the heads up. Sometimes these changes happen with little to no warning and you lose some of your hard earned rewards. At least we know what’s coming.
Sad to see the Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami is no longer eligible. It’s a great modern place for South Beach Miami.
When oh when will Hyatt have a loyalty presence in the U.K.! Actively avoid them because they have no transferable currencies
I got Explorist by MGM mlife gold status.
Is this a downgrade for me?
This seems to be a trend across most if not all of the different hotel chains. More changes to come I’m sure…
Looks like a balanced adjustment to me.
Looks like Hyatt followed Marriott’s suit with the category change.
Tough to keep up with all the changes.
Thanks for the heads up.
That is a fair number going down, relatively speaking to the number of hotels going up!
Agree, not too much of a change, but still some major cities are now ineligible. Wonder how they picked and chose which to change around??
Indeed, it would be interesting to learn more about the evaluation process.
Still the best program currently out there.
We need to earn and burn while this is still the case then, I think!
…a fine program indeed.
After spending so much time figuring out my Marriott stay plan for this year prior to Marriott’s cat changes, I feel like I have no energy left to do the same with Hyatt. :p
“…so you have just under two weeks to lock in bookings at hotels that are going up in price.” Thanks for the heads up. Will review our travel plans here to see if we want to seize the day on any of these.
Good and bad hate losing the Hyatt in Boston it’s a pretty good property and close to the theater district
Not a lot of time to take advantage of the lower rates. Thanks for the heads up.
Certainly a net loss with this year’s changes, but let’s not forget there are some 39 SLH properties that can be booked with Certs, in addition to the Hyatt options that remain… All appear to be outside the US, but still worth a mention.
I’m glad the changes are relatively minor.
Thanks for the information! Comes just in time!
So many hotels I didnt know Hyatt had. I think I need to check some out. It’s sad to see changes but at least it’s not too bad. I once in a while think about what it might be 10yrs from now for changes in the hotel biz. I wonder who will be around and how will point values look then.
Yet one more reason why I love Hyatt. Instead of a stealth devaluation like Marriott or IHG, this is a far more genuine attempt to reset award categories with paid rates…
Thanks for the tip. Will need to come back and review Hyatt hotel changes on this page before my trip.
I have just switched many of my stays to Hyatt so it’s disappointing to lose any hotels as options for award stays. Thanks for the information.
I suppose you do lose some of the good ones 🙁
Downgrades are downgrades. We used to stay at the Boston Hyatt Regency each year in October or November. Well, no more since no longer falls under category 1-4 awards. We no longer have the Hyatt credit card as it is no longer worth it.
This statement above “Hyatt is actually lowering the price on almost half the affected properties” makes my heart warm!
I’m sad to see the Grand Hyatt DFW excludes esp. with the new AA/Hyatt partnership.
Andaz Costa Rica Resort, biggest ouch for me.