Earlier this year, World of Hyatt announced it was making significant changes to its award chart for the first time in several years. While the program’s award chart remains intact with its 8 categories, there will soon be 5 redemption tiers, replacing the current off-peak, standard, and peak tiers.
What we didn’t get at the time was a full picture of which hotels would shift categories during Hyatt’s annual category realignment. While there was a handful of changes announced then, we know which hotels are shifting to what categories. And we now know these changes are all happening from 20 May.
A Brief Recap
Before we jump into the hotels moving up or down, let’s have a quick recap of the previous announcement.
Hyatt is keeping the same 8 award categories, but the pricing structure is getting a refresh. The familiar off‑peak, standard, and peak setup is going away. In its place, we’ll see five new redemption tiers: Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper, and Top. It’s something of a more dynamic way of pricing award nights, without going fully dynamic.
One of the most eye‑catching changes is at the ends of the chart. The new Lowest rate for a Category 1 hotel drops to 3,000 points, which is actually 500 points cheaper than today’s off‑peak rate. I guess that’s a nice little win for budget redemptions.
On the flip side, the new Top rate for a Category 8 property jumps to 75,000 points. That’s a huge leap from the current 45,000‑point peak rate (roughly a 67% increase). That is definitely going to make members have a rethink about splurging on Hyatt’s most luxurious stays.
World of Hyatt Category Realignment: 24 Hotels Drop, 112 Move Up
Hyatt’s annual category shake‑up is a big one this year. In total, 136 hotels are on the move: 24 properties are dropping to a lower category, while 112 are climbing up. All of these changes officially take effect on May 20, 2026.
That said, for those of us in Australia, there is no movement among Australian hotels. The hotels closest to Australia with changes are The Standard, Singapore which drops from Category 5 to 4, while the Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort goes from Category 1 to Catgeory 2.
As with previous years, World of Hyatt will have a set of policies to deal with issues around booking before 20 May.
- Firstly, any free night or Points + Cash booking made before May 20 at 8 a.m. CT will lock in the current rates, even if the hotel is about to jump to a higher category. So booking early can definitely pay off.
- Secondly, there is a refund for those with bookings in hotels that move down. If you booked a free night or Points + Cash stay before May 20 for travel on or after that date, Hyatt will automatically refund the difference in points once the new categories go live. This is a one‑time adjustment and you don’t have to chase it down.
- Finally, after 8 a.m. CT on May 20, though, everything switches over. All new award bookings, and any changes to existing ones, will follow the new award chart.
Final Words
Hyatt’s 2026 award chart overhaul is one of the biggest updates we’ve seen from the program in years. It’s going to reshape how members think about redeeming points, especially at the high end. With new redemption tiers, cheaper entry‑level awards, and a hefty jump for top‑tier properties, there’s a lot to take in.
The category realignment adds another layer, with 136 hotels shifting up or down. While Australian properties remain unchanged this time around, nearby destinations like Singapore and Malaysia do see movement. And as always, Hyatt’s transition policies give members a fair shot at locking in current rates or receiving refunds where applicable.
If you’re planning a stay, or even just thinking about one, now’s the moment to take a close look at your upcoming trips. Booking before May 20 could save you a chunk of points, and knowing which hotels are on the move will help you get the most value out of your World of Hyatt balance.
