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World of Hyatt loyalists finally have the information they’ve been waiting for: the dates of the upcoming award chart and category changes. And for better or worse, these dates are one and the same: May 20 at 9 a.m. EDT.
As TPG previously reported, Hyatt is drastically changing its award chart. The award chart for Hyatt hotels and resorts will still be Category 1 through 8, but there will now be five pricing tiers for each category, instead of three. And on average, it appears many award stays will be more expensive under the new chart.
136 Hyatt hotels and resorts will change categories on May 20: 112 will go up, and 24 will go down. However, it’s important to remember that more than 90% of properties will remain in their current categories. Plus, Hyatt has told TPG, “as we continue to implement the new award chart, we anticipate that the percent of category adjustments will further decline over time.”
Here’s the full list of hotels that will be changing category on May 20.
TPG’s Eric Rosen is sad to see The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel, in New York go from Category 6 to 7. He’s also frustrated to see Alila Mayakoba go from Category 6 to 7, noting, “It * just * reopened after all.” Meanwhile, TPG’s Clint Henderson is disappointed he’ll no longer be able to use Category 1-4 certificates at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables and Hyatt Regency Seattle, both of which will move from Category 4 to 5.
On the lower category side, Eric and I are both sad to see the Hyatt Regency Cape Town and Hyatt Place Kyoto go up in category, from 1 to 2 and 2 to 3, respectively. I’m also disappointed to see the Andaz Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi, move from Category 3 to 4 and the Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort move from Category 1 to 2, as I’ve loved staying at both properties multiple times in the past. The Story Hotel Stockholm North’s upcoming move from Category 1 to 2 is also painful, as I really enjoyed using a suite upgrade award there last year.
Here’s a list of a few other notable properties that are increasing a category on May 20:
- Andaz 5th Avenue (Category 7 to 8)
- Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka (Category 2 to 3)
- Grand Hyatt Athens (Category 3 to 4)
- Hotel du Louvre (Category 7 to 8)
- Hyatt Centric Las Condes Santiago (Category 2 to 3)
- Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino (Category 7 to 8)
- Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport (Category 3 to 4)
- Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort (Category 4 to 5)
- Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay (Category 3 to 4)
This being said, it’s not all bad news. Here are a few notable properties that are dropping a category on May 20:
- Commune by the Great Wall (Category 3 to 2)
- Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver (Category 4 to 3)
- Hyatt Centric Playa Del Carmen (Category 4 to 3)
- Hyatt Place London City East (Category 4 to 3)
- The Standard, Singapore (Category 5 to 4)
As with previous World of Hyatt category changes, all free night award and points and cash stays booked before May 20 at 9 a.m. EDT will price according to the current award chart, even if your stay date is later in 2026 or even in early 2027. Plus, if you have an existing award stay or points and cash booking as of May 20 at 9 a.m. EDT at a property that moved to a lower category, you’ll get a one-time refund on the points difference. These refunds will begin to be credited to member accounts on May 20.
Bottom line
Now we have the date for the changes — May 20 — and a list of properties moving up or down a category. Of course, we still don’t know how impactful the switch from three to five award pricing tiers in each category will be.
This being said, get your bookings in before May 20 at 9 a.m. EDT, especially for stays that will soon change category. However, keep in mind that any adjustments to your reservation made after the May 20 changes will be based on the new award chart.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
