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Eleven Hyatt Hotels Shifting Categories on March 25, 2021

Travelers planning to travel to six different World of Hyatt hotels in the near future will be forced to pay more points for their room per night. After suspending wholesale category changes in 2021 last fall, only 10 hotels will be changing categories effective on Thursday, March 25.

Although World of Hyatt announced they would suspend the majority of category changes, 11 hotels will be shifting categories starting Thursday, March 25, 2021. In a statement to FlyerTalk, the hotel company announced which hotels would be moving categories, headlined by the Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Bungalows.

Ten World of Hyatt Hotels Move Up, While One Comes Down

Under the plan, luxury property Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Bungalows will move up one category, from a Category 5 property to a Category 6. Joining them in the higher tier will be the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club and Spa in Carlsbad, California. After March 25, booking a room at one of these properties will range from 25,000 to 50,000 World of Hyatt points.

Two other properties will also move up one award category, from Category 4 to Category 5. The Mar Monte Hotel, located along the coastline of Santa Barbara, California will jump to the higher tier, along with the Hyatt House Nashville/Downtown-SoBro.

Only one property will move down an award category. The Hyatt Place Houston Downtown will downgrade from a Category 3 to a Category 2 hotel, reducing the number of World of Hyatt points needed for a room between 8,000 and 16,000 per night.

Table courtesy: Hyatt Hotels

According to a Hyatt spokesperson, anyone booking a free night award or a Points + Cash award can still take advantage of the lower award categories until 8:00 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, March 25. Afterwards, the new category pricing will apply. Anyone who has already booked an award at the Hyatt Place Houston Downtown for after March 25 will receive a one-time refund of their points to reflect the reduced rate.

True to their word, none of the World of Hyatt participating hotels will move to the highest tier, Category 8. That group will only apply to Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties and Hyatt Destination Residences.

Move Comes as Hyatt Welcomes Post-Pandemic Guests with Reduced Elite Requirements

Even with the few hotel increases, World of Hyatt is still making it easier for frequent guests to earn status in 2021, as COVID-19 vaccinations are distributed and the industry prepares for a bounce. In November 2020, the hotel company announced they would cut elite requirements in half for earning year 2021.

Share your thoughts about the category changes on the FlyerTalk forums!