iluvdoco

Didn't see this mentioned yet.

https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/e...t-updates.html

New Category 8 hotels (35-45k points/night)

• Alila Napa Valley
• Alila Ventana Big Sur
• Andaz Maui at Wailea
• Park Hyatt Kyoto
• Park Hyatt Milan
• Park Hyatt New York
• Park Hyatt Niseko
• Park Hyatt Paris
• Park Hyatt Sydney

- I'm assuming this will also change the price of standard suite/premium suite awards at these properties?
- Glad DC area hotels weren't touched, and a few have decreased in category

AndyKehn

https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/e...t-updates.html

Ventana, Andaz Maui, Alila Napa Valley, PH NY moving to cat 8. RIP cat 1-7 certs.

Adelphos

With top end hotel prices often ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 per night (up 50-100%), points devaluation at these hotels was inevitable and arguably necessary

iluvdoco

I'm not pleased to see the award changes, but at least they're not going the way of Marriott....yet

ElevatorEnthusiast

Other disappointing changes include The Confidante and Hyatt Hill Country San Antonio moving from Cat 4 to Cat 5.

Gild Hall is also moving up to Cat 5, which means no Cat 4 use in Manhattan anymore. The Thompson Central Park is moving up to a Cat 6 (not shocking) - personally, I'm just glad they didn't move to 7 with the increase to the PH NY at Cat 8.

Unfortunately, these changes make maximizing the Cat 1-7 certificate in the US very difficult as there seem to be very few non-residences properties that are Cat 7 in the US.

I wonder if this change will mean the Andaz Maui will actually start having points availability that isn't nigh impossible to find on shorter stays - probably not, but one can hope for a silver lining.

Adelphos

The credit card cert should increase to categories 1-5 - though that may require an annual fee bump to $150 or $195

iluvdoco

Makes TSUs more valuable imo. Will there be any change in the milestone bonuses?

beachfan

hard to see how they would be more valuable unless you are a point billionaire. A couple on that list don’t even book into true suites.

More availability perhaps but I haven’t had problems using them in general.

Jaenks

It was mentioned before you started the new thread.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hyat...y-changes.html

myperks

If Bali ever reopens, both the Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt are back down to cat 1

Jaenks

Although I do not personally care about those nine hotels moving to Cat.8 a few things that came to my mind.
1. WoH should immediately upgrade 60 nights free nights voucher to Cat.1-8 in program t&c.
2. Achieving and get posted the Cat.1-7 free night voucher before March 22nd is difficult to most members. I personally left re-qualification to spring because I plan use the voucher in autumn.
3. Hotels category up movement which are not justified: PH Istanbul, The Wellem among others,

climbingbear

Though I dislike any price increases, I would be ok with this.

That also brings up the question. For the milestone rewards, will Hyatt change the the categories to Cat 1-8 and Cat 1-5? For me, that would take out the sting of these category changes.

iluvdoco

We posted at the same time!

kevinjm

A bit surprising to see HP Santa Barbara make its way into cat5. This puts it on par with Mar Monte. Based on the pricing and location, this make no sense.
Though I know SB is very limited in hotel choices.

Glad San Diego cat4 hotels were untouched.

nsx

The people complaining about Ventana Big Sur being difficult to book on points may get some relief, at a price.

22.5k (25% points rebate) to 30k points per night was fun while it lasted.