Who controls the way the dates are set? Hyatt or the individual properties? Do we really believe that properties wouldn't receive additional revenue from higher-amount points bookings - or does it not matter as points revenue to properties is based on occupancy levels (presumably correlating with higher cash prices during higher occupancy periods)? It would be nice to have a better understanding of this system from a definitive source that isn't a blog.

Respectfully (and keeping in mind which part of FT I'm posting this in), Banyan Tree clears PH Kyoto, and so does Six Senses for equivalent or lesser cost. I have no sympathy for the hypebeasts.

Did I say it’s the best hotel in Kyoto?

I will say one other thing - to me, this makes the premium credit card from Chase even more likely and boosts the likelihood that it will have higher earning rates. Look at what is going on with United - earn rates have gone down unless you have a CC in which case they are going up. If redemption rates are going up, then Chase is going to want to attract more people to spend on their cards and could do that by boosting earning rates in conjunction with Hyatt. Of course, that doesn't mean it's a net positive for the end consumer, but it feels more likely now after this announcement.

Agreed, I couldn’t quite follow that statement on VFTW.

Glad i burned my balance down to 1,500 points.

Agreed. Chase card holders will earn more in devalued points.;)

I think he's referring to the number of rooms available for redemption at the hotel as availability, vs how easy it is to book a room at a specific hotel.

Not true unless we see a substantial share of properties move down to cats 4 or 7.

Good news for me...I will no longer feel any incentive whatsoever to be loyal to Hyatt. They had the only good program remaining, and now it is every bit as awful as any of their competition. Looks like my options for hotels on future travel have increased considerably. Time to burn my points and broaden my horizons.

I'm sure you saw how everyone reacted so poorly to that fake Reddit news of higher CC earning rates. Hyatt is just giving everyone the devaluation on the other side of the coin they asked for so those earning rates wouldn't be a big issue ;-)

I guess this means FFN won’t be making a return? 😂

It was fun while it lasted.

this will definitely invent me to book my summer travel before May.

The Hyatt approach of expanding the bands is smart. I hate it as a customer but appreciate the corporate strategy (my day job is a consultant). The changes give them plenty of flexibility and options with the program going forward and they can introduce more free night certs, similar to Hilton, to distract from point inflation. Going last in the devaluation race is useful in knowing what you can get away with. Hilton, Marriott, and IHG paved the way to get to this point. The former cost center is now a major revenue source.

The biggest loser is Chase Ultimate Rewards as the value was highly correlated to the most valuable partner, which is still Hyatt. Chase must have signed off on this devaluation, which means there is still more to come. That has to be a premium credit card offering and maybe some new promos to drive spend on Chase cards.

Just checked the new award chart again, so no 40k in Cat 8!?!? :eek:

Hmmm I’m guessing… maybe some Cat8 hotels going down to Cat7 “this year” just a little love from Hyatt. Globalists would love it, so we can use a Cat1-7 FNA one more time before they would go back to Cat 8 or further the yr after… :o

Every year, I'm hoping I won't be tempted to top off my Hyatt nights with credit card nights at the end of the year to get Globalist again. I'm traveling less, and I don't like the temptation to be stuck with Hyatt.

I hope this is the reason I give it all up. I think it might be. Finally.