Reminder: Hyatt Hotels Changing Categories – Tomorrow is the last day to book…

This is a quick reminder that the yearly revamp of hotel category changes is taking place for Hyatt and tomorrow (Wednesday February 6th) is the last day to book at the current rate. This is by no means a huge change as there are only a total of 16 hotels changing, and most of them actually going down category which is in our benefit. The unfortunate thing is that some great hotels are going up a category (for example: Hyatt Santa Barbara, Hyatt 48 Lex in NYC, and Grand Hyatt Tokyo). As long as you make future reservations for hotels that are going up in value, you will be locked in at today’s rate. If, however, you need to change your reservation to another date, chances are you’ll have to pay the higher number of points.

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 – room rates can vary from $150/night to $500/night though!)
  
• 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

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 (or any other city where the hotel is going up a category) 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 7th, call Hyatt and they will change the point redemption and credit you the difference.

DO NOT FORGET!