toomanybooks

Well, it would depend on the size/shape of the region. Presumably that has not been released.

MarkOK

Having kids on the school calendar is the worse. Airfare spikes, hotels rates spike, TSUs are hard to use, etc. The cost of traveling the week before ~Jan 5th (or whenever the weekend post newyears is) is very often double (or more) vs travelling the week after Jan 5th, for example, and traveling in mid-late May costs half as much as traveling in the first couple of weeks of June. When I am 47, my kid will be off to college and I am so looking forward to travelling again in these time frames. But, I'm not certain that peak/nonpeak calendars will split these differences quite as closely as cash rates do (and airline/car rental rates etc).

notquiteaff

they are probably still looking for a gerrymandering expert to draw the maps

Colin

the upside is for those hotels that maintain high rates even during low occupancy, like PH NYC and Paris.

other hotels, like Hyatt Carmel, have base rates from $100 to $1000 based upon season & day of week. no benefit here with offpeak at 25K as cash is more prudent.

lsquare

lol! Do we really need to inject domestic politics into this thread?

projectmaximus

This was implied but then kinda contradicted from different reports that I read. One thing I believe is clear, however, is that Hyatt corp is the only party to benefit from these designations, not the properties themselves. Because their award reimbursements are set based on occupancy levels, they actually benefit far more from having awards used at higher occupancy levels than low (obviously cash paying customers is best). The addition of peak and off-peak just allows Hyatt corp to incentivize members to use our points at lower occupancy periods where the cost to Hyatt is lowest by a large margin, and minimize usage at high occupancy where the cost is highest. The hotel wont get any more money from a peak redemption vs a standard or off-peak (besides the occupancy differences of course, but that isn't causation)

azepine00

I ve seen changes in all sorts of airline hotel and car programs over last 15 years - the only one that held value (inflation adjusted) has been hyatt - probably the only one that deserves to be called loyalty program these days.

eefor jfp

Agree. The last time properties going up outnumbered properties going down was when Category 7 was created for the seven Park Hyatts. Every year since then Hyatt has always exactly balanced ups and downs so that the program has been net neutral. Like azepine00, I'll also give Hyatt the benefit of the doubt that they will do this more or less fairly based on past treatment of category adjustments.

smilee

I think you should be worried.

If you look at Marriott as an example, most of the seasons when you want to be somewhere are PEAK. If you want to be in Florida during Huricane season - fine, that won't be PEAK. If you want to be in Seattle in January when it rains every day, that also won't be PEAK. But Florida in the winter, or Seattle in July/August will be PEAK.

As I said, look at the rates. A 20K hotel that charges $150 off season, will now be 17K. But the 20K hotel that charges $300-$400 in PEAK season, will be PEAK.

lsquare

Yes and that was what I was trying to say earlier. If shoulder season isn't bleak, I guess I can live with it. Btw, I definitely don't want to be in Seattle in January...

azepine00

I do worry (and do anticipate some losses) however my take is that hyatt is not marriott, united, hertz, hilton etc and their approach has been historically customer friendly. There arent too many brands i trust - hyatt is one of them... ymmv of course

Visconti

Jokes aside, I do take some comfort that those who have been with Hyatt for 15+ plus years have some confidence in the integrity of the currency, at least relative to others. While I've only been with Hyatt rewards only 4 or 5 years, during that time I've seen a little devaluation, but certainly nothing like I've experienced with SPG --> Marriott and whatever Hilton is up to.

UA-NYC

Not just devaluation with Marriott - a lot of widespread distrust at the moment over there.

My first year with Hyatt (90 total nights) and it has been as good as I have long heard about.

aCavalierInCoach

Good call out... this became my biggest issue with spending any more time bothering - total lack of trust in Marriott's intentions for the program and even simply their willingness to stand behind the as-advertised benefits. Hopefully doesn't spread.

smilee

Marriott's distrusting reputation has me worried. I do not have a solid understanding in today's business tactics such as United, American, Hilton and Marriott, but in this move with Hyatt following Marriott's lead, I am worried.

As a nearly 20 year Diamond/Globalist, I have been through many changes some good, but more bad- such as no more cash and fixed points, diamond amenity, and the need for 60 nights. Recently OMAAT talked about increased screening for Regency Club access, and my experience with Hyatt wanting to charge me for RC access for my kids. Don't forget that Hyatt's introduction of WOH and was with only a few months notice a couple of years ago. Now an increase in award prices probably about 30% for when I want to use them.

Hyatt has been very customer friendly, I just hope the new way of doing business and rewarding customers is the old Hyatt way.