I just received an email from Hyatt that they are making some changes to the award chart. Fortunately this year, only 2 hotels are changing categories! Usually, every year there are a ton of hotels changing categories (some going down a category while more go up a category). This is a pleasant surprise!
The two categories affected include:
- Hyatt Place Knoxville/ Downtown – currently a category 1 and moving to a category 2
- Hyatt House Washington DC / The Wharf – currently a category 2 and moving to a category 3
While this is great news, there is one thing I am not happy about. No prior notice was given! In the past, Hyatt members would usually have a few weeks to make reservations at properties that were going up a category to lock in the lower points rate. In this situation, we are being told that this is in affect today starting at 9pm CT. So you have half a day to find out about this change and make the reservation. As long as you book now you can book at the lower rate. But any changes to the reservation made after this date will be booked at the higher rate.
While it doesn’t really matter too much since it is only two properties and both are at the lower level, I really hope in the future they give more advance notice!
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I had a feeling that the Wharf property was going to be going up anyway and that it was just a lower cat for the period immediately after the hotel opened (pretty sure it opened in October). As a Category 2 it was below nearby DC Hyatts and represented an outsized value with points+cash.
Hopefully they’ve gotten some of the bugs worked out since I stayed there in December.
The change actually does not go into affect until 9PM today. Not much time but still a bit for anyone that wants to book.
@Charlie – Thanks!
Does not surprise me at all about Knoxville Downtown, given the typical prices in that area of town. Fortunately, I have already made my award reservations for football season!.