Right! So why/how does Hyatt send the wrong message to those that spend 60 nights that certain properties cost more (if inflation is everywhere!)

ETA: if everyone recognizes inflation is everywhere, why are ppl surprised that some properties cost more?

I'm not sure if the devaluation and the inflation we're all experiencing go hand in hand. Are the cash rates going up as well? Why are some properties going down one category then? It seems like the category realignment is arbitrary.

Inflation certainly isn't everywhere. New Zealand's rate is around 2.5%. Thailand and Singapore are both around 1%. France is about 2% ...

Context is important...

My understanding is that we were talking about the US.

Cash rates are going up, particularly for luxury hotels, much much more than the rate of inflation. Alila Ventana Big Sur hotel prices basically doubled (+$1,000) in a year. Point values in those situations must adjust.

Devaluation is everywhere. The key is that the Hyatt devaluation is better than the rest. At least there is still an award chart, unlike Marriott, Hilton, IHG all going or have gone dynamic.

What's there to stop Hyatt from abandoning its award chart now that the key players have done so?

Would cash rates be as high at Alila Ventana if global travel restrictions were rescinded?

I agree re: the latter, but that's probably part of the problem right now. How many Globalists actually spent 60 nights in a Hyatt last year, at anything resembling normal rates, compared to the masses of blog readers who "mattress ran" Globalist using cheap rates and the 2x nights promo?

I wouldn't be surprised if a Cat 1-8 cert is created next year, or becomes a Milestone Reward at some number above 60, when the Globalist ranks are thinned, assuming Hyatt doesn't lower the threshold again or offer a 2x nights promo.

It's ultimately a business decision. Loyalty programs are not about their loyalty to you. It's about providing enough incentives that the customers continue to spend money at (and perhaps stay loyal to) the brand and company. Programs will continue to make changes (some positive and some negative) until they achieve a good balance. I'm sure Hyatt knows that it needs to have a more attractive loyalty program because of its small footprint. It's entirely possible that they will get rid of the award chart, but as long as the return per point (and ultimately per dollar spent) is still better than the alternatives, it will remain an attractive program.

My guess is: yes. They've added full board, they're near a LOT of wealthy people but in a very different place from them, there is a high barrier to entry for competition, and now they have a lot more exposure via the Hyatt relationship. I doubt rates here would decline when travel opens, unlike maybe Hawaiian properties.

Not entirely. Outside of Globalists being able to (in general) pull a single night on a cert per year, the higher (point) price would still exist. Moving hotels up likely has about as much to do with that as restricting a handful of globalists' stays.

Well, where were those rates in 2019? A lot of wonky stuff happened during the pandemic with price points getting "out of whack" from their norms (especially as service was cut back and then re-added).

My main complaint about losing award charts is not having a good yardstick/ballpark on pricing. That's my main grumble with Marriott's change...I don't mind if there are moving yardsticks over time (markets shift, blah blah blah) and seasonal variations...it's just very nice to know where things "should" be in the scheme of things.

Wishful thinking, but a Cat1-8 would be a nice 100 night milestone.

No, Cat.1-8 would be logical modified 60 night benefit. Adding currently 9 hotels to Cat.8 is only Globalist status devaluation because no more vouchers usage. WoH was close to SPG but now it went back further. Footprint is roughly 2/3 of SPG but WoH lifetime status is hardest achievable between all programs. Only money talks, nothing else(nights and/or years).

Well, SPG doesn't exist anymore!