World of Hyatt has announced hotel category changes that will impact how many points you need to book free nights. Starting May 20, 2026, some hotels are moving up in category, which means they will cost more points per night. Others are moving down in category, which means they will cost fewer points.

These changes happen from time to time as Hyatt adjusts its award chart to reflect the current value of its properties. If you have award nights booked before the changes take effect, your existing reservations will be honored at the old rates.

The changes impact 136 properties across multiple regions and price tiers. Most of these, about 112 hotels, will be shifting to a higher category. Only 24 hotels will move to a lower category.

Some of the hotels moving from category 4 to category 5 include:

  • Hotel Figueroa
  • Hyatt Place Santa Cruz
  • Hyatt Regency Coral Gables
  • Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale
  • Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort
  • The Carolina Inn
  • Hyatt Regency Seattle
  • Grand Hyatt Kuwait Residences
  • Jabal Omar Hyatt Regency Makkah
  • Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya
  • Hyatt Regency Lisbon
  • Hyatt Regency Hesperia Madrid

Hyatt’s website lists the full category changes.

Catch Up on Other Hyatt Updates

World of Hyatt made other changes this year. Check out Episode 73 of Takeoff to learn more about these recent updates.

Our Take

Category increases are never fun, but they are a normal part of any hotel loyalty program. Our advice is simple: if there is a hotel on your list that is moving to a higher category, book it now. Even if your travel dates are not set in stone, most Hyatt award bookings can be canceled without penalty, so there is very little risk in locking in the lower rate today. This is one of the easiest ways to get more value out of your Hyatt points.

On the flip side, hotels dropping in category are worth a second look. If a property you previously wrote off as too expensive in points is now cheaper, it may be time to reconsider it for an upcoming trip. We always recommend keeping a running list of hotels you want to visit so that when changes like these happen, you can act fast and stretch your points further.