Just at the heels of Marriott announcing their annual category changes, we are now seeing Hyatt following suit. Effective March 18, 2019, we will see 259 properties moving either up or down a category—130 properties will move up and 129 properties will move down. While I give them credit that they evened out the numbers on which ones are getting more and less expensive, if you take a close look at the list, it does seem like this is ultimately a negative change. Although not nearly as bad as Marriott slaughter of the hotel categories. You can check out the entire list here.
Florida is Getting Much More Expensive
If Florida is on your radar, you might want to start booking now. It seems as though almost all of the properties in South Florida and the West Coast are going up. On the West Coast you are looking at the Hyatt Place Ft. Myers, Hyatt Place Coconut Point, Hyatt Regency Sarasota, Hyatt House Naples/5th Avenue, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, and the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa. On the East Coast in South Florida, there are many properties moving up as well—Hyatt House Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port, Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale 17th Street Convention Center, Hyatt Place Delray Beach, Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami.
I am definitely the most disappointed about the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa as this was a steal at a category 4. Now that it is moving up to a category 5 you’ll no longer be able to use your free night certificate with the World of Hyatt Credit Card.
Maui is Getting Hit
There are two Hyatt properties in Maui and both of them are moving up. The Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort will soon require a whopping 30,000 points and the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort will be at 25,000 points. Fortunately the Hyatt in Kauai is not being hit, although it already requires 25,000 points a night. Although, if you are stopping in Waikiki Beach, the Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach is moving down to a category 4 which is great!
Disneyland and Disney World Moving Around
Mouse land is also seeing an impact in both Orlando and Anaheim, but it is not all bad! Both the Hyatt Regency Orlando and the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress are moving down to a category 3, but both Hyatt House Orlando Universal and Hyatt Place Orlando/Universal are moving up to a category 3. In California, you’ll see that the Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center is moving up to a category 4.
Mexico and Central America Resort Properties Increasing
Probably the best bang for your buck in the Hyatt program is about to change. The Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo has been a category 4 for quite some time now and it was due to change categories at some point. This property is easily well over $500 on most nights and during peak holiday dates can be over $1,000. While I probably wouldn’t spend that kind of money at this hotel, it was a great value at just 15,000 points a night. And best yet, you could use the free night certificate with the World of Hyatt Credit Card. Unfortunately, this is one of the properties being hit and is moving up to a category 5. I would definitely try to lock in reservations now, but do keep in mind that award availability is limited and during peak dates reservations are many times non-refundable.
Two other desirable properties in Mexico include the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort and Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya. Now that they will cost 25,000 points a night they probably are not a great value for using points and you are probably much better off staying at the all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva Cancun.
New York City is Getting Cheaper!
This is a surprise and not usually the case when hotels go through their annual re-categorization. NYC will actually cost less points for a free night stay! The Grand Hyatt New York, the Hyatt Herald Square New York, and the Andaz Wall Street are all moving down to a category 5 property.
San Diego Going Down in Points
Many properties in the San Diego area are actually moving down a category as well. Both The Hyatt Regency La Jolla and the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay are moving down to a category 3, while the Andaz San Diego and Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego are moving down to a category 4. Having these two properties now in the category 1-4 range is great since you can now use your free night certificate from the World of Hyatt Credit Card.
Other Notable Properties Changing Categories
Some other properties that you might want to lock in a reservation now include:
Increasing
- Hyatt Regency Bali — moving from a category 1 to 2
- Hyatt Place Saratoga/Malta — moving from a category 2 to 3
- Hyatt Place Charleston/Historic District — moving from a category 3 to 4
- Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa — moving from a category 3 to 4
- Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country — moving from a category 3 to 4
- Grand Hyatt Seattle — moving from a category 4 to 5
- Hyatt at Olive 8 — moving from a category 4 to 5
- Hyatt Centric Fishermans Wharf SF — moving from a category 4 to 5
- Hyatt Regency Amsterdam — moving from a category 4 to 5
- Hyatt Regency Boston — moving from a category 4 to 5
- Andaz Napa — moving from a category 5 to 6
- Hyatt Centric Park City — moving from a category 5 to 6
- Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa — moving from a category 6 to 7
Decreasing
- Hyatt Regency New Orleans — moving from a category 4 to 3
- Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort — moving from a category 4 to 3
- Park Hyatt Siem Reap — moving from a category 4 to 3
- Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay — moving from a category 5 to 4
- Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson — moving from a category 5 to 4
-  Andaz Liverpool Street London — moving from a category 5 to 4
- Andaz Singapore — moving from a category 5 to 4
Overall…
I am definitely sad to see so many category 4 properties moving up a category as this is the real sweet spot in the World of Hyatt program. Of course there are some new ones moving in, but not nearly as many. Make sure to make your reservations by March 18th to lock in the new rate. And if you have points to spare, make some speculative reservations just in case. Just remember though, any changes to your reservation, even if they are one day in either direction will re-price your stay at the new points required. You might want to consider booking longer stays at one night reservations just in case.
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There is a rumor repeat rumor Marriott has been talking to Hyatt.
Hopefully this is accurate if Marriott cedes control. Marriott has been an absolute disaster of late. Getting good management would really help them.
On a separate note, the Grand Hyatt Bali at 8,000 points is an absolute steal. My wife and I have stayed there every year for the past 5 years, and it’s wonderful.