World of Hyatt points still hold significant value, even with the upcoming category changes. Each February or March, World of Hyatt announces its annual category changes about a month before implementing them. Loyalists, including TPG writer Katie Genter, carefully examine the list to see if properties they love or hope to visit will soon require more or fewer points for a stay.
Each year, some travelers lament the decline of the World of Hyatt program after the category change announcement. However, as TPG director Carly Helfand said while discussing this year’s changes, “Every year I notice at least one that I’ve enjoyed staying at that’s getting cheaper, which also makes it a little more bearable. This time it’s the Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa — it’s a really good option in wine country. “
Like Carly, Genter also looks through the list to find appealing properties that will drop a category. Despite points costs having increased significantly over the years for some properties, she believes there’s still plenty of value in redeeming Hyatt points.
One reason is that Hyatt still has an award chart. Many loyalty programs have moved to dynamic award pricing, which often leads to points or miles decreasing in value and makes getting outsize value from rewards more difficult. The excellent news is that Hyatt didn’t decide to remove or change its award chart this year.
Since World of Hyatt uses an award chart, travelers can predict how much they’ll need to redeem for upcoming stays and often escape peak pricing during events or high season. World of Hyatt uses peak, standard and off-peak pricing for each category but Genter has booked far more off-peak award nights than peak ones.
The difference between off-peak and peak award rates is minimal: just 3,000 points for Hyatt Category 1 properties, 6,000 points for Category 4 properties and 10,000 points for Category 7 properties. Even considering that Hyatt point s are worth much more than most other hotel points , this is a less significant difference than found in most other hotel loyalty programs.
However, Genter expects we’ll continue seeing select brands and properties b ring in dynamic award rates as seen with Mr & Mrs Smith and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas . If this helps maintain an awar d chart f or most propert ies , she won’t fret over it . If she chooses t o stay at these propert ies , she’ll opt t o earn Hyat t point s instead o f redeeming them .
It’s reasonable f or World o f Hyat t t o update th e awar d categor y f or some propert ies once a year . Sure , i t ‘s been sad seeing som e propert ies slowl y clim b i n categor y each year . And Gent er i s personall y bumme d seein g Par k Hyat t Chenna i mov e up t o Categor y2 fro m Categor y1 – th e onl y suc h instance globally . Bu t as occupanc y rate s an d othe r factor s shif t fo r a propert y i t ‘s onl y fair fo r it s categor y t o shif t too .
Genter appreciates how Hyat t handle s it s annua l categor y change s especiall y whe n man y othe r loyalt y program s mak e no-notic e devaluation s . Hyat t usual ly announce s planne d chang es abou t amont h befor e they g o int o effec t givin g member s ampl e tim e accumulatin g necessar y poin ts an d bookin g fina l stay s a t curren t rate s besides refunin g exce ss poin ts if bookin gs dro p dow n durin g thi s period betwee n reservatio n date an d actua l visi t date
