Each year most hotel programs re-categorize their hotels.

They have different categories, in the case of Hyatt it’s one through six (Starwood for another example is one through seven). And each category has a price per night in number of points.

Usually on an annual basis – although sometimes less frequently and occasionally throughout the year — hotel chains will shift some hotels up or down in category, increasing or decreasing the number of points that specific hotels cost to redeem for.

Hyatt has announced their changes for 2013.

These changes go into effect February 7, which means until that time you book under the ‘old’ rates. If a hotel is going up in price, lock in your future reservations now to save points.

What’s more, if you make a reservation now for a stay after February 6 they will even refund the difference in points for hotels that are going down in category.

In total only 17 hotels are changing category — and of those 10 are going down and 7 are going up.

Here’s the FAQ for these changes.

I love that the Park Hyatt Aviara is dropping a category, down to four. I don’t much like — but have been completely expecting — that the Hyatt 48 Lex goes up from a 4 to a 5 (meaning the points price jumps from 15,000 a night to 18,000). It was simply priced too low for the market to begin with, considering that the two Andaz properties and the Grand Hyatt are in the top category 6. Sad to see that value leave.

But for the most part, few changes overall even as hotels begin to recover from the recession and fill up. Which is great to see!

Meanwhile, Hyatt’s 48 hour sale is back..

(HT: J.W.C.)