WoH 2023 Category Changes to Take Effect on Mar 28
Mar 2, 2023, 6:51 pm
#91
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 409
Thoughts from my personal traveling standpoint:
All three Jacksonville properties going up. I would never stay in them but it seems to indicate how this category change is going across the board. Also eliminates a potential cheap mattress run in my back pocket.
HR Atlanta moving up to 3 changes the calculus on one of my all-time favorite points value hotels. Often can get solid strings of off peak days/weeks at this hotel, which at 6500 points was a steal. Not so sure anymore.
HR Savannah same category as Andaz now (cat 4), so Andaz it is! No more balancing the pros and cons lol.
HR Grand Reserve Puerto Rico moving to 5, which eliminates one of my favorite Cat 4 cert redemptions
A lot of cheap Dallas properties finally moving from 2 to 1 (and rightfully so)
HP Moab moving up to a cat 5...wow one year ago it was such a steal at cat 2!
GH and HR Bali back to cat 2. Last year their drops to cat 1 were sort of a saving grace to the devals.
HR Suzhou looks very enticing as a cat 1 now.
Hotel Eclat Taipei down to a 2. Ok, I could see a potential staycation mattress run here now.
GH Jeju and GH Seoul. Cat 4 to 5. NOOOOOOO!!!
GH Bangkok cat 2 to 3. Recently spent a week here and loved it. Less likely to return now.
PH Bangkok cat 5 to 6. PH Saigon cat 4 to 5. Oyy, the inflation makes me really struggle with these vs non-branded boutiques at a fraction of the cost.
HR Guadalajara cat 2 to 3. Awww man, I haven't made it here yet. So many reports of it being an excellent redemption I was stoked to try to fit it into a future trip to Mexico. Oh well, might book cash instead.
HC Lima cat 3 to 2. Nice, makes it a palatable redemption now.
GH Baha Mar. Cat 5 to 6. Mehhh, I've never been terribly keen on the Bahamas anyway, but I still enjoy reading the thread updates and always have it as a slight possibility in the back of my mind whenever considering a caribbean destination. Even less likely now.
All three Jacksonville properties going up. I would never stay in them but it seems to indicate how this category change is going across the board. Also eliminates a potential cheap mattress run in my back pocket.
HR Atlanta moving up to 3 changes the calculus on one of my all-time favorite points value hotels. Often can get solid strings of off peak days/weeks at this hotel, which at 6500 points was a steal. Not so sure anymore.
HR Savannah same category as Andaz now (cat 4), so Andaz it is! No more balancing the pros and cons lol.
HR Grand Reserve Puerto Rico moving to 5, which eliminates one of my favorite Cat 4 cert redemptions
A lot of cheap Dallas properties finally moving from 2 to 1 (and rightfully so)
HP Moab moving up to a cat 5...wow one year ago it was such a steal at cat 2!
GH and HR Bali back to cat 2. Last year their drops to cat 1 were sort of a saving grace to the devals.
HR Suzhou looks very enticing as a cat 1 now.
Hotel Eclat Taipei down to a 2. Ok, I could see a potential staycation mattress run here now.
GH Jeju and GH Seoul. Cat 4 to 5. NOOOOOOO!!!
GH Bangkok cat 2 to 3. Recently spent a week here and loved it. Less likely to return now.
PH Bangkok cat 5 to 6. PH Saigon cat 4 to 5. Oyy, the inflation makes me really struggle with these vs non-branded boutiques at a fraction of the cost.
HR Guadalajara cat 2 to 3. Awww man, I haven't made it here yet. So many reports of it being an excellent redemption I was stoked to try to fit it into a future trip to Mexico. Oh well, might book cash instead.
HC Lima cat 3 to 2. Nice, makes it a palatable redemption now.
GH Baha Mar. Cat 5 to 6. Mehhh, I've never been terribly keen on the Bahamas anyway, but I still enjoy reading the thread updates and always have it as a slight possibility in the back of my mind whenever considering a caribbean destination. Even less likely now.
Mar 2, 2023, 6:57 pm
#92
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: $9 Fare Club
Posts: 1,479
The Grand Reserve going to Cat 5 is laughable, the place is the epitome of mediocre.
In some respects, I'm disappointed for it moving up in that people who would have burned certs there now have to look elsewhere.
In some respects, I'm disappointed for it moving up in that people who would have burned certs there now have to look elsewhere.
Mar 2, 2023, 7:31 pm
#93
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 825
last major award chart change the hyatt centric waikiki went down to a category 4 and hyatt ziva cancun stayed flat. This chart the eliza jane goes to a cat 5, hyatt ziva cancun going essentaly to a cat 8? With the ai chart and the grand reserve going to a cat 5 has to be the worst across the board.
Mar 2, 2023, 8:17 pm
#94
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Taipei
Posts: 1,124
Mar 2, 2023, 9:39 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: BNA
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Bonvoy Plat, HHonors Diamond, DL Gold
Posts: 383
Over the years, we've come to expect properties to move to more expensive categories, and sometimes the occasional surprise when some move down a category. What is most disappointing for Hyatt card holders, Explorists, or Globalists who earn free night certificates, is that the certificates have much less value than they did 10 years ago, with the cumulative category changes. Category 4 Free Night certs should be updated to Category 5. Category 7 Free Night Certs for Globalists should be updated to Category 8. If not now, at least in the next couple of years.
Mar 2, 2023, 9:52 pm
#96
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
So, with all the Hyatt cares about this or that marketing fluff, how about caring about this.
Mar 2, 2023, 11:53 pm
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,053
Over the years, we've come to expect properties to move to more expensive categories, and sometimes the occasional surprise when some move down a category. What is most disappointing for Hyatt card holders, Explorists, or Globalists who earn free night certificates, is that the certificates have much less value than they did 10 years ago, with the cumulative category changes. Category 4 Free Night certs should be updated to Category 5. Category 7 Free Night Certs for Globalists should be updated to Category 8. If not now, at least in the next couple of years.
Mar 3, 2023, 3:08 am
#98
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
Moreover, if they insist on forcing the name "Globalist" upon each of us, at least allow us to use the free "Globalist" nights in the leading "Globalist" cities in the world. You know, the "put money where mouth is" part of the equation.
Mar 3, 2023, 5:43 am
#99
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
Over the years, we've come to expect properties to move to more expensive categories, and sometimes the occasional surprise when some move down a category. What is most disappointing for Hyatt card holders, Explorists, or Globalists who earn free night certificates, is that the certificates have much less value than they did 10 years ago, with the cumulative category changes. Category 4 Free Night certs should be updated to Category 5. Category 7 Free Night Certs for Globalists should be updated to Category 8. If not now, at least in the next couple of years.
However the CAT 1-7 should be updated to CAT 8. That award used to cover all hotels and now it doesn't. And the "doesn't" is an ever growing number.
Mar 3, 2023, 6:06 am
#100
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: US/TYO/LON
Programs: Marriott Titanium; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 411
Just finished a 2 day stay at Thompson Madrid last weekend, with 2 CAT4 certificates. Honestly, I was a little surprised that it was CAT4 to begin with when the HR down the street is a CAT5. Lovely hotel, which was a steal at CAT4. Unfortunate how everything just goes mostly in one direction. My only issue is that the certificates are so hard to use now. Most places I would stay at/want to stay are now at CAT5, which makes these useless. As much as I loathe Marriott, I do like the option that you can use a CATX certificate on a higher point redemption and top up with points to cover the difference.
If only Hyatt would introduce that feature, it would take the pinch off a lot more.
If only Hyatt would introduce that feature, it would take the pinch off a lot more.
Mar 3, 2023, 6:15 am
#101
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,508
I justified the annual fee of the Hyatt credit card with the CAT4 cert (as well as the slight status qualification boost) although I never use that card. It's getting harder for me to justify the card with these changes. I'm thinking of moving the card's credit limit to another card and closing the Hyatt card. And making more premium hotel bookings through AmEx FHR.
Mar 3, 2023, 6:41 am
#103
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
I justified the annual fee of the Hyatt credit card with the CAT4 cert (as well as the slight status qualification boost) although I never use that card. It's getting harder for me to justify the card with these changes. I'm thinking of moving the card's credit limit to another card and closing the Hyatt card. And making more premium hotel bookings through AmEx FHR.
Mar 3, 2023, 7:09 am
#104
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hilton Silver, Delta Platinum, AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 47
Off to book some Thompson Madrid dates since 15K for that product is too good to pass up.
Lots of disappointments in this list. Personally I was sad to see Hyatt Madeleine bumped up to 30K/night. I liked that property as a category 5, but a 6 will give me pause. At least the two options at CDG are dropping to Category 1.
Glad to see the Denver market, a city I visit frequently, not go up. Having so many decent options there at 12K/night has always felt like a bit of a steal to me.
Overall, I still find more to like here than I do most days with Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton. I have a three-night midweek stay in NYC coming up and had multiple Hyatt options at reduced points of 17K/night where most Marriotts were 40-50K/night or more. The only value proposition I consistently find among Bonvoy options in major cities is the AC brand which in my experience is about a third or more less than other Bonvoy offerings. I know AC is not everyone's cup of tea, but it works well for me.
Lots of disappointments in this list. Personally I was sad to see Hyatt Madeleine bumped up to 30K/night. I liked that property as a category 5, but a 6 will give me pause. At least the two options at CDG are dropping to Category 1.
Glad to see the Denver market, a city I visit frequently, not go up. Having so many decent options there at 12K/night has always felt like a bit of a steal to me.
Overall, I still find more to like here than I do most days with Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton. I have a three-night midweek stay in NYC coming up and had multiple Hyatt options at reduced points of 17K/night where most Marriotts were 40-50K/night or more. The only value proposition I consistently find among Bonvoy options in major cities is the AC brand which in my experience is about a third or more less than other Bonvoy offerings. I know AC is not everyone's cup of tea, but it works well for me.
Mar 3, 2023, 7:17 am
#105
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,848
Are there truly more CAT 5s and less CAT 4s than there were 10 years ago? If so I'd agree they should update. But if the %s are the same and just hotels moved around within the buckets, then they shouldn't (or at least have no need to) update.
However the CAT 1-7 should be updated to CAT 8. That award used to cover all hotels and now it doesn't. And the "doesn't" is an ever growing number.
However the CAT 1-7 should be updated to CAT 8. That award used to cover all hotels and now it doesn't. And the "doesn't" is an ever growing number.