Hyatt Hotels Changing Categories

Every year most hotel chains re-look at their current hotel categories and make some adjustments. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst. Hyatt just announced their yearly category changes and it is really not bad at all. It involves only 16 hotels total, which in the scheme of things is hardly anything. Also, most of the hotels listed are ones you probably would never stay at, although there are a few exceptions.

Hotels going down a category (this is a good thing!)

• Hyatt Place Chantilly/Dulles Airport-South: Going from a category 2 to category 1
• Hyatt Place Tulsa/Southern Hills: Going from a category 2 to category 1
• Hyatt Place Sterling/Dulles Airport-North: Going from a category 2 to category 1
• Hyatt Regency Albuquerque: Going from a category 2 to category 1
• Hyatt Regency Greenville: Going from a category 2 to category 1
• HYATT house Chicago/Naperville/Warrenville: Going from a category 3 to a category 2
• Hyatt Place Las Vegas: Going from a category 3 to a category 2
• Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort and Spa: Going from a category 4 to a category 3
• Park Hyatt Toronto: Going from a category 5 to a category 4 (my parents actually stayed at this hotel and said it was very nice, although somewhat far from the downtown area)
• Park Hyatt Aviara Resort: Going from a category 6 to a category 5 (this is also a great change if you are looking for a nice hotel in the San Diego area, although I’ve never stayed at this hotel)

Hotels going up a category (this is a NOT good thing)

• HYATT house San Ramon: Going from a category 1 to a category 2
• Hyatt Place Louisville-East: Going from a category 1 to a category 2
• Hyatt Place Pittsburgh-North Shore: Going from a category 1 to a category 3
• Hyatt Regency Incheon: Going from a category 2 to a category 3
• Hyatt Santa Barbara: Going from a category 3 to a category 4 (I stayed at this hotel and while it is in a great location in Santa Barbara, it still has some things it needs to fix to be worthwhile redeeming 15,000 points, especially when the room rates aren’t too bad)
• Hyatt 48 Lex: Going from a category 4 to a category 5 (this is probably the most unfortunate change, although understandable)
• Grand Hyatt Tokyo: Going from a category 5 to a category 6

So overall, more hotels are moving down than moving up and there aren’t too many disappointing changes. The three hotels that I’d pay attention to are: Hyatt Santa Barbara, Hyatt 48 Lex, and Grand Hyatt Tokyo. You can until February 6, 2013 to book those hotels at the current number of points and you can usually book 364 days out. So if you have any speculation that you are going to Santa Barbara, New York City, or Tokyo and thinking about these hotels, book now! You can always cancel later (just make sure to pay attention to the cancellation terms). While it is unfortunate that the Hyatt 48 Lex is going up a category, I am not surprised at all. For awhile, this was an amazing deal at a category 4 hotel! I’ve been to this hotel a few times and it is absolutely great. It is also in a great location in NYC and well worth the category value. At a category 5 hotel, this will still be a decent redemption option, but will depend on the room rate, as NYC hotel rates fluctuate big time.

As previously mentioned, you have until FEBRUARY 6th to make a reservation at the current hotel category. If you are looking to a make a reservation that is going down, you can still make it today, and come Feb 6th, call Hyatt and they will change the point redemption and credit you the difference.