Hyatt's annual category changes take effect on May 20, 2026 at 9am ET — and this year's update is the most significant in the program's history. Two things are happening at once: a new 5-tier pricing structure replaces the old 3-tier off-peak/standard/peak model, and 112 hotels are moving up in category against just 24 moving down.

If you have Hyatt points or a Chase card you can transfer from, you have until 9am ET on May 20 to lock in current rates for future stays.

The New Award Chart

The old chart had three pricing levels: off-peak, standard, and peak. The new chart adds two more tiers — making five total: Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper, and Top. Hyatt still calls this a fixed award chart program, but with this much variation between the cheapest and most expensive dates, it functions closer to dynamic pricing in practice.

Here's how the numbers compare:

Category Old Off-Peak New Lowest Old Standard New Moderate Old Peak New Top
1 3,500 3,000 5,000 6,000 6,500 9,000
2 6,500 6,000 8,000 10,000 9,500 15,000
3 9,000 8,000 12,000 15,000 15,000 20,000
4 12,000 12,000 15,000 20,000 18,000 25,000
5 17,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 23,000 35,000
6 21,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 29,000 40,000
7 25,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 35,000 55,000
8 35,000 35,000 40,000 55,000 45,000 75,000

The off-peak (now "Lowest") price actually drops for several categories — including Categories 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. That is cold comfort when peak dates at Category 7 jump from 35,000 to 55,000 points, and Category 8 peaks go from 45,000 to 75,000 — a 67% increase.

The spread between cheapest and most expensive dates is now enormous. Category 8 can cost anywhere from 35,000 points (lowest) to 75,000 points (top) — more than double depending on when you travel.

Which Hotels Are Moving Categories

112 hotels are going up; 24 are going down. That's 83% of changes trending worse for members.

Notable Hotels Going Up

Several fan favorites are moving to more expensive categories:

  • Andaz 5th Avenue (New York) — Category 7 → 8. No longer bookable with Globalist free night certificates.
  • Park Hyatt London River Thames — Category 7 → 8. Same issue for Globalist certs.
  • Hôtel du Louvre (Paris) — Category 7 → 8.
  • Hyatt Regency Aruba — Category 7 → 8. Standard rates go from ~30K to up to 75K at peak.
  • Hotel Fluela Davos (Switzerland) — Category 7 → 8.
  • Alila Mayakoba (Mexico) — Category 6 → 7.
  • The Beekman, New York — Category 6 → 7.
  • Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe — Category 5 → 6.
  • Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya — Category 5 → 6.
  • Hyatt Regency Seattle — Category 4 → 5.

Hotels moving from Category 4 to 5 lose eligibility for anniversary night certificates from the World of Hyatt Credit Card. That group includes Hotel Figueroa Los Angeles, Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, Hyatt House and Hyatt Regency Jersey City, The Carolina Inn, Hyatt Regency Seattle, Hyatt Regency Hesperia Madrid, and Hyatt Regency Lisbon.

Hotels Going Down (Good News)

  • Dream Nashville — Category 5 → 4. Now bookable with anniversary nights.
  • Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin — Category 5 → 4.
  • Andaz Macau — Category 5 → 4.
  • The Standard, Singapore — Category 5 → 4.
  • Andaz West Hollywood — Category 6 → 5.
  • Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica — Category 6 → 5.
  • Hyatt Place Santa Barbara — Category 6 → 5.
  • The Time New York — Category 6 → 5.

If you have a reservation at a hotel that's dropping, Hyatt will automatically refund the point difference starting May 21.

What To Do Before May 20

Book forward stays now. You can book Hyatt stays up to 13 months in advance, and most reservations are cancellable for free until close to the stay date — so booking now has low downside. If the stay doesn't work out, cancel and get your points back. If it does, you're locked in at the old rate.

For hotels that are going up in category, you cannot change dates on the reservation after the price increase — you can only keep the reservation or cancel it. If you're booking a multi-night stay, consider booking single nights separately so you have more flexibility over which nights to keep.

Use Points Advance. Hyatt allows members to book award stays even without enough points in your account via Points Advance. The points are deducted when you accumulate enough, and must be available at least 7 days before your stay. Officially this requires Globalist status, but it's worth calling — some agents will extend it to members with any Hyatt status, including the status that comes with holding a World of Hyatt Credit Card.

Transfer Chase points immediately. If you hold a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or any Ink card, you can transfer Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt at 1:1. Transfers are typically instant. Transfer what you need, then book.

What This Means for the Program

World of Hyatt has long been considered the best-value hotel loyalty program — the combination of a fixed award chart, strong redemption values, and the Chase UR transfer at 1:1 made it the default recommendation for hotel points.

That reputation isn't gone, but the 2026 changes narrow the gap. Category 8 peak at 75,000 points is genuinely expensive. The difference between a slow Tuesday and a holiday weekend is now 2x the points cost at the top categories. Members who could previously count on a consistent price for their preferred properties now need to plan more carefully around dates.

The off-peak improvements are real — Category 1 drops from 3,500 to 3,000, Category 5 from 17,000 to 15,000. If you're flexible with dates and willing to avoid peak periods, the new chart still offers solid value. If you travel on fixed dates — school breaks, holidays, summer weekends — expect to pay significantly more than before.

The Full New Award Chart at a Glance

Standard Room — all five tiers (estimated for Low/Upper; Lowest/Moderate/Top confirmed):

Category Lowest Low* Moderate Upper* Top
1 3,000 — 6,000 — 9,000
2 6,000 — 10,000 — 15,000
3 8,000 — 15,000 — 20,000
4 12,000 — 20,000 — 25,000
5 15,000 — 25,000 — 35,000
6 20,000 — 30,000 — 40,000
7 25,000 — 35,000 — 55,000
8 35,000 — 55,000 — 75,000

*Low and Upper tier exact prices not yet published. Most stays will fall into Lowest, Moderate, or Top depending on demand dates.

How do I know if a Hyatt hotel is going up in category?

Search for your hotel on the Hyatt website and compare its current category to the published May 2026 category change list. You can also check your existing reservations — Hyatt will automatically refund points if a hotel drops in category, but you'll need to rebook at the lower price if the change hasn't applied automatically.

Can I still use anniversary night certificates at hotels moving to Category 5?

No. World of Hyatt credit card anniversary free nights (and milestone award nights) are valid at Category 1–4 properties only. Hotels moving from Category 4 to 5 as of May 20 are no longer eligible for these certificates. If you have an unused certificate and want to use it at one of those hotels, you must book before May 20.

Is World of Hyatt still worth it after this devaluation?

Yes — particularly for off-peak stays and all-inclusive resorts. The Lowest tier off-peak prices dropped for several categories, and the Chase UR → Hyatt 1:1 transfer remains one of the best in the industry. The program is less exceptional for peak holiday travel at top-tier properties, where costs now rival or exceed what you'd pay at other programs. Flexibility on dates is more important than ever.

Hyatt Credit Cards

Both Hyatt-branded Chase cards earn points in the World of Hyatt program and come with automatic Discoverist status, which may help with Points Advance requests before May 20.

World of Hyatt Credit Card — The personal card. Earns 4x at Hyatt properties, 2x on dining, fitness, local transit, and flights booked directly with airlines. Includes one free night certificate each anniversary year (valid at Category 1–4 hotels), which is the certificate losing eligibility at properties climbing to Category 5 on May 20. Annual fee: $95.

World of Hyatt Business Credit Card — The business version. Earns 4x at Hyatt, 2x on fitness, dining, office supply stores, local transit, and airlines. Also earns Tier-Qualifying Nights toward elite status through spending. Annual fee: $199.

Neither card is necessary to earn or redeem Hyatt points — Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers at 1:1 to Hyatt, so any Chase Sapphire or Ink card works as a feeder. The Hyatt cards make sense if you're actively staying at Hyatt properties and want the anniversary night certificate or are trying to reach Globalist status through card spending.

See the full updated pricing on the World of Hyatt award chart or explore the World of Hyatt program page on CardCurator.