Hyatt has announced its annual redemption category changes which will go into effect March 28 at 8 a.m. Central time. Overall 372 properties are changing category, with 214 going up and 158 going down.

Overall U.S. hotels are going up, while Europe and Asia should get less expensive. In general the best and most luxurious hotels are going up, even in regions where redemption categories are falling generally. And all-inclusives get more expensive.

Now that Hyatt has peak and off-peak dates, the number of hotels changing categories up and down doesn’t really tell us much about what is happening to average redemption pricing. A hotel can stay in the same category but have fewer off-peak dates and more peak dates.

• You should book redemptions at any hotel that’s going up in category now to lock in lower pricing. Pay attention to cancellation rules, but in general you can book now speculatively and cancel later.

• Hyatt automatically refunds points for existing bookings at properties that are going down in price.

Here’s how the changes break down across regions.

Hyatt Changes In The U.S.

Hotels in the U.S. have done well, though generally rates aren’t actually higher than they were pre-pandemic overall. So I’m surprised to see things so lopsided that of the 120 category changes in the U.S. there are 93 increases and 27 decreases (one is a two category decrease).

• There are (7) new category 8 hotels, 6 of which are Hyatts and 1 is an SLH property. Hyatt had said category 8 wouldn’t even be used for its own hotels but it was clear to me then that it was only a matter of time.

• These new category 8s include Alila Marea, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, and Wentworth Mansion.

  
  Pool And Ocean At The Alila Marea Encinitas

• Park Hyatt Aviara, which rarely makes reward night space available to members anyway, goes from category 6 to 7. So does Grand Hyatt Vail; Grand Hyatt Kauai; Hyatt Regency Maui; and Andaz 5th Avenue.

  
  Andaz 5th Avenue Elite Room Service Complimentary Breakfast

• Mission Pacific and The Seabird resorts go from category 5 to 6.

  
  Seabird Resort Pool

• The Eliza Jane in New Orleans; and Andaz San Diego go from category 4 to 5 and will no longer be bookable with category 1-4 free night certificates earned from the co-brand credit card, as rewards for hitting 30 nights in a year with Hyatt, and earned for each 5 Hyatt brands stayed at.

  
  Eliza Jane

• On the other hand, Thompson D.C. next to the Department of Transportation drops from category 5 to 4 becoming bookable via free night certificates (this is the only U.S. hotel that newly becomes useful for these).

  

Only 5 hotels that are currently classified as category 5 or above are dropping. These changes are heavily skewed towards more expensive hotels getting more expensive.

Hyatt Changes In the Mideast And Africa

Only 10 hotels are changing category, with 7 going down and 3 going up.

The Park Hyatt Dubai goes from 5 to 6, Hyatt Regency Dubai from 1 to 2.

Park Hyatt Dubai

Hyatt Changes In Asia Pacific

55 hotels are changing category. 19 are going up and 36 are going down. So this is where you’re seeing a lot of the decreases.

All of the changes are just a single category. Nonetheless, it seems the hotels I’m most interested in are almost uniformly going up.

• The excellent SLH Viceroy Bali goes from 7 to 8

• Park Hyatt Sanya goes to 7

• Park Hyatt Saigon and Grand Hyatt Seoul go to 5.

• Grand Hyatt Bangkok goes to 3, though Thailand generally sees a lot of declines for instance the Sukhothai goes from 4 down to 3

• Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt Bali increase from 1 to 2

Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America

Here there are 72 changes overall and 59 are increases – just 13 decreases.

There are (9) all-inclusives going up by two categories, and Secrets Impression Moxché goes up 3 categories to all-inclusive category F. So the biggest increases can be found in this region, focused on all-inclusive properties. In addition I’d note,

• The Hyatt Regency Aruba and The Cape, Thompson Hotel go from 6 to 7.

• Andaz Papagayo and Grand Hyatt Baha Mar go from 5 to 6

  
  Andaz Papagayo

• On the other hand The Inn at English Harbour in Antigua and Barbuda and The Liming Bequia in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines drop from 8 to 7

Europe

Out of 108 changes in Europe, 39 hotels are going up and 69 are going down. So in addition to Asia, decreases are concentrated here. However more of the best properties are going up than down.

• There are a whopping 17 new category 8 hotels including Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik; Hôtel Martinez; Mykonos Riviera Hotel & Spa; 7Pines Resort Sardinia; Ca’ Sagredo Hotel; Grand Hotel Cocumella; Nobu Hotel Marbella; Park Hyatt Zurich; and Villa Orselina. Meanwhile 7 hotels drop from category 8 to category 7.

• There are 13 new category 7 hotels including Park Hyatt Vienna; Hôtel du Louvre; Hyatt Paris Madeleine; Villa di Piazzano; The Lumiares Hotel and Spa; and Can Ferrereta.

• Andaz Liverpool goes from category 5 to 6; Hyatt Regency Amsterdam and Thompson Madrid go from category 4 to 5; and Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport goes from category 1 to 2 (while the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House at Paris Charles de Gaulle drop from 2 to 1).

Category Changes Overall

I’m not surprised to see hotels going up in category, room rates are going up compared to where they were during the pandemic (though we didn’t really benefit on pricing when rates were depressed). Hyatt is adjusting how many points you’re charged.

However these changes likely understate the magnitude of the effect since hotels that are remaining the same in category may see fewer off-peak nights and more peak nights, where award pricing goes up but a category change hasn’t been made (so no change gets disclosed).

Overall while Hyatt has a smaller footprint than Marriott, Hilton, or IHG, I find they do have hotels I genuinely want to stay in. I get great value out of my Hyatt points, though I expect to get just a little bit less value. Still, I stay with Hyatt because of the elite benefits – including on award stays – which based on my status include confirming upgrades at time of booking into suites; free breakfast (that is actually defined as a hot entree, coffee or tea, and juice or a buffet); and late check-out that’s actually guaranteed at non-resort properties. While not all Hyatt concierge service is exemplary having a dedicated person to contact for all Hyatt needs is helpful as well.