Originally Posted by
HHonorsRepresentative
As we launch this new benefit, we’re also saying farewell to hotel categories - which will allow prices to go lower than the previous ranges. But you can rest assured about the value of your Points. As we make this transition on Standard Room Rewards, each hotel's maximum Points price is NOT increasing.
For example, today a Standard Room at Category 10 hotels maxes out at 95,000 Points per night. Once the new Points & Money program launches, those hotels will continue to top out at 95,000 Points, and may sometimes be priced lower than the previous category range.
Well, that's lovely that Hilton isn't increasing the maximum points cost of an award above 95,000. But the rest of it is more than a wee bit murky.
Take this, for example:
As we make this transition on Standard Room Rewards, each hotel's maximum Points price is NOT increasing.
What
exactly does that mean? One thing you can take to the bank: it does NOT mean that a property which is cat 7 today will forever have a maximum award price of 60,000 points. Even under the present rules, Hilton can (and does) periodically change the categories, and thus the award costs, for various properties.
I think the weasel words here are "[a]s we make this transition." In other words,
initially you won't see any increases, but at some future date--and you can bet it will be sooner rather than later--properties will be free to charge whatever they like, unconstrained by program category labels.
I'd love to be proven wrong, so fire away.