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Two big changes are hitting Hyatt on the same day, May 20, and if you have points sitting in your account right now, this post is for you.
If you’re brand new to the points world and not sure what World of Hyatt even is, my Mom’s Guide to Hyatt is a great place to start before diving into this one.
The short version: book anything you’ve been thinking about before May 20 at 8 a.m. Central. Anything booked before that is locked in at current rates, even if your stay is later this year or into early 2027.
What’s Happening on May 20
Two things are landing at the same time, which is a lot.
- The award chart is getting more complicated. Right now every category has three pricing tiers: off-peak, standard, and peak. Starting May 20 that becomes five tiers: Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper, and Top. More levels means more room for the cost of a night to climb, especially when you’re trying to book during a busy travel period. Some categories could see a 40,000-point spread between the cheapest and most expensive nights. That’s a big range.
- 136 properties are shifting categories. This is the annual category reshuffle Hyatt does every year, but this time it’s happening alongside the new chart. Of those 136 hotels, 112 are going up and only 24 are going down. So, 82% of the changes are moving in the wrong direction for anyone spending points.
The reassuring thing is that more than 90% of all Hyatt properties worldwide aren’t changing at all. But if a hotel you love is on the list, it matters.
Note: if you already have a reservation at a hotel that’s dropping a category, Hyatt automatically refunds you the points difference starting May 20. You don’t have to do anything. Just don’t modify the reservation after May 20, or it reprices under the new chart.
If you’re still building up your Hyatt points stash and want to know which cards can help, here are the ones I’d look at for Hyatt stays.
Every Hotel Changing Categories on May 20
| Category change | Properties |
|---|---|
| 7 → 8 | Andaz 5th Avenue, New York Hotel du Louvre, Paris Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino Park Hyatt London River Thames |
| 6 → 7 | Alila Mayakoba, Mexico The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel, New York |
| 5 → 6 | Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino |
| 4 → 5 | Hotel Figueroa, Los Angeles Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale Hyatt Regency Coral Gables Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, Orlando Hyatt Regency Jersey City Hyatt Regency Seattle |
| 3 → 4 | Andaz Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi Grand Hyatt Athens Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay |
| 2 → 3 | Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka Hyatt Centric Las Condes Santiago Hyatt Place Kyoto |
| 1 → 2 | Hyatt Regency Cape Town Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort Story Hotel Stockholm North |
| Category change | Properties |
|---|---|
| 7 → 6 | Park Hyatt Sanya |
| 6 → 5 | Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica |
| 5 → 4 | Andaz Macau Dream Nashville Hyatt Centric Austin The Standard, Singapore |
| 4 → 3 | Commune by the Great Wall Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver Hyatt Centric Playa Del Carmen Hyatt Place London City East |
The Properties Worth Booking Right Now
Most Hyatt properties have flexible cancellation, so booking speculatively is pretty low risk. You can always cancel. Here are the ones I’d prioritize before May 20.
Park Hyatt London River Thames (Category 7 to 8)
This is probably the most urgent one on the list. Category 8 is the highest tier in the program, and once it moves there it’s no longer eligible for the Category 1-7 free night certificate you can earn through elite status. If London has ever crossed your mind, book it now.
Andaz 5th Avenue, New York (Category 7 to 8)
A lot of people think this move is a stretch (it’s a lifestyle hotel, not a flagship) but it doesn’t matter what any of us think once May 20 hits. Same deal as London: it comes off the Category 1-7 free night list entirely. Book it at current Category 7 rates while you can.
Hotel du Louvre, Paris (Category 7 to 8)
Paris has always been one of the better points redemptions in Europe. The du Louvre jumping to Category 8 changes that math in a real way. If Paris is on your family’s list, this is a good reason to finally make the reservation.
Hyatt Regency Aruba (Category 7 to 8)
A beach resort at Category 8 is a tough pill to swallow. Aruba is already a popular destination and the rates reflect it. Locking in a future stay at Category 7 before May 20 is worth the few minutes it takes to book.
Alila Mayakoba, Mexico (Category 6 to 7)
This one is frustrating because it literally just reopened after a renovation. It’s one of the more beautiful properties in the Hyatt portfolio (beach, pools, Riviera Maya) and Category 6 is genuinely good value for what you get. Enjoy it at this rate while it lasts.
The Beekman, New York (Category 6 to 7)
A boutique downtown Manhattan hotel that’s always punched above its category for points travelers. Moving from 6 to 7 is a meaningful jump in a city where points costs add up fast. If you have a New York trip coming up, this one’s worth locking in.
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, Orlando (Category 4 to 5)
This one really stings. The Hyatt credit card comes with an annual free night certificate valid at Category 1-4 properties, and Grand Cypress has been one of the best uses of it. After May 20, that certificate no longer works here. Hyatt Regency Seattle and Hyatt Regency Coral Gables are in the same boat, both jumping from Category 4 to 5. If you’ve been sitting on a free night, now is the time to use it at one of these before they move up.
I talk more about free night certificates and how to get the most out of them in this post.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe (Category 5 to 6)
Year-round demand, mountain views, popular with families, but it’s moving up a category. If a Tahoe trip has been on your list, this is your push to finally book it.
A Note on Points and Cards
If you’re earning Hyatt points through a flexible points card or through a co-branded Hyatt card, these category changes affect how far those points go. A Category 8 property now costs the maximum points in the program. So, if you’ve been saving up for a specific hotel, check this list and make sure it’s not about to jump levels before you’re ready.
Join Our Community
If this kind of stuff is new to you and you’re not sure where to start, come join us — I share tips like this regularly.
The Bottom Line
May 20 at 8 a.m. Central is your deadline. Anything booked before then is protected under today’s award chart, even for stays a year out. Go through your travel list, check if any of these hotels are on it, and just make the reservation! You can always cancel later if plans change.
And if you’re just getting started with points and all of this feels like a lot, download my free beginner’s guide.
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