The day is here. The day World of Hyatt fans dread every year. The World of Hyatt program just announced a slew of hotel category changes. In the vast majority of cases, this means an award redemption devaluation or category increase, but there are always a few rare instances where properties get “cheaper.”

World Of Hyatt Category Updates

On March 26th, 2024, roughly 183 World of Hyatt properties will change category, with 137 properties moving to a “higher” category and 46 properties moving to a “lower” category. Unlike in previous years, there are no “new” categories this year (i.e. the introduction of Category 8 and the All-Inclusive Categories).

Thankfully, there is still almost a full month before these changes go into effect. Here are some factors to keep in mind when making bookings moving forward:

• Reservations made before March 26th, 2024 will follow the current redemption award chart rates.
  • Note: The actual stay can occur after March 26th, 2024, but…
• Reservations made or modified on or after March 26th, 2024 will follow the new redemption award chart rates.
• Reservations made before March 26th, 2024 will receive a refund for the point difference if the hotel moves to a lower category.

Credit. Hyatt. Andaz Papagayo (Costa Rica).

World Of Hyatt Hotel Category Change Summary

The 2024 changes are both fewer (i.e. less properties) and less severe (i.e. key properties) than in years past, but there are still a number of “fan favorite” properties changing categories. The All-Inclusive properties in the Caribbean were hit particularly hard this year.

Here are some popular properties which change categories on March 26th, 2024:

United States & Canada

• Hyatt Carmel Highlands (California): Category 7 (30,000 points) to Category 6 (25,000 points)
• Manchester Grand Hyatt (California): Category 4 (15,000 points) to Category 5 (20,000 points)
• Grand Hyatt Washington (D.C.): Category 4 (15,000 points) to Category 5 (20,000 points)
• Park Hyatt Washington (D.C.): Category 5 (20,000 points) to Category 6 (25,000 points)
• Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach (Hawaii): Category 4 (15,000 points) to Category 5 (20,000 points)
• Thompson Chicago (Illinois): Category 4 (15,000 points) to Category 5 (20,000 points)
• The Grayson (New York): Category 5 (20,000 points) to Category 6 (25,000 points)

Credit. Hyatt. The Grayson (New York).

Caribbean & Latin America

• Park Hyatt Mendoza (Argentina): Category 3 (12,000 points) to Category 4 (15,000 points)
• Andaz Papagayo (Costa Rica): Category 6 (25,000 points) to Category 7 (30,000 points)
• Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana (Dominican Republic): Category E (40,000 points) to Category F (50,000 points)
• Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana (Dominican Republic): Category E (40,000 points) to Category F (50,000 points)
• Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall (Jamaica): Category D (30,000 points) to Category E (40,000 points)
• Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall (Jamaica): Category D (30,000 points) to Category E (40,000 points)
• Hyatt Ziva Cancun (Mexico): Category E (40,000 points) to Category F (50,000 points)
• Secrets Tulum (Mexico): Category B (20,000 points) to Category D (40,000 points)

Credit. Hyatt. Hyatt Ziva Cancun (Mexico);

Europe

• Hyatt Regency Nice (France): Category 6 (25,000 points) to Category 7 (30,000 points)
• Hyatt Centric Venice (Italy): Category 3 (12,000 points) to Category 4 (15,000 points)
• Hyatt Centric Milan (Italy): Category 4 (15,000 points) to Category 5 (20,000 points)
• The Tribune (Italy): Category 4 (15,000 points) to Category 5 (20,000 points)
• Il Tornabuoni (Italy): Category 6 (25,000 points) to Category 7 (30,000 points)
• Thompson Madrid (Spain): Category 5 (20,000 points) to Category 6 (25,000 points)

Credit. Hyatt. Thompson Madrid (Spain).

Asia & Pacific

• Park Hyatt Siem Reap (Cambodia): Category 3 (12,000 points) to Category 4 (15,000 points)
• Alila Fort Bishangarh (India): Category 4 (15,000 points) to Category 5 (20,000 points)
• Alila Ubud (Indonesia): Category 2 (8,000 points) to Category 3 (12,000 points)
• Andaz Bali (Indonesia): Category 4 (15,000 points) to Category 5 (20,000 points)
• Alila Villas Uluwatu (Indonesia): Category 7 (30,000 points) to Category 8 (40,000 points)
• Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay (Japan): Category 4 (15,000 points) to Category 3 (12,000 points)
• Park Hyatt Auckland (New Zealand): Category 5 (20,000 points) to Category 6 (25,000 points)
• Andaz Singapore (Singapore): Category 5 (20,000 points) to Category 6 (25,000 points)

Credit. Hyatt. Alila Villas Uluwatu (Indonesia).

Africa & Middle East

• Alila Jabal Akhdar (Oman): Category 6 (25,000 points) to Category 7 (30,000 points)
• Park Hyatt Zanzibar (Tanzania): Category 5 (20,000 points) to Category 6 (25,000 points)
• Grand Hyatt Istanbul (Turkey): Category 3 (12,000 points) to Category 4 (15,000 points)
• Park Hyatt Istanbul (Turkey): Category 5 (20,000 points) to Category 6 (25,000 points)
• Andaz Capital Gate (U.A.E.): Category 2 (8,000 points) to Category 3 (12,000 points)

Credit. Hyatt. Park Hyatt Zanzibar.

You can find the full list of category changes HERE.

Final Thoughts

Any time a hotel becomes “more expensive” from a redemption perspective, it is bad news. However, compared to the changes over the last two years, the changes this year are relatively mild. As with years past, the changes which “hurt” the most are when a hotel goes from a Category 4 to a Category 5 and a Category 7 to a Category 8. In both cases, not only is the points “jump” more significant (i.e. 5,000 and 10,000 respectively), but the ability to use a Category 1-4 and Category 1-7 Free Night Award vanishes. Thankfully, Hyatt Globalists are able to speculatively book properties (i.e. before they have the points), and lock in the lower rates before the changes go into effect.