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-   -   World of Hyatt award chart structure and category changes for 2026 (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hyatt-world-hyatt/2213533-world-hyatt-award-chart-structure-category-changes-2026-a.html)

hhdl Feb 25, 2026 2:51 pm


Originally Posted by ElevatorEnthusiast (Post 37616814)
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.

In general across hotel programs (Accor is really the only exception, but that's the most purely revenue rebate program out there: you redeem points for discounts from the revenue rate, period) the points reimbursement correlates to revpar on the particular night (which is more or less equivalent to occupancy times the average rate paid for that night). Basically, Hyatt sees the hotel averaged $X per room that night (counting vacant rooms as zero and ignoring out-of-order rooms) and settles up at something fairly close to that.

The point price is then intended to roughly correlate with what Hyatt expects to pay (probably targeting $0.007 to $0.01 per point overall, given that the minimum reimbursement is probably $20-30/night)) for a typical redemption at that property. It's Hyatt deciding the categories and levels that will best hit the target.

ElevatorEnthusiast Feb 25, 2026 2:57 pm

Thinking about earn rates at current valuations with top status and credit cards:

Hyatt (at 2 CPP): 5 base points + 1.5 Globalist bonus points + 4 Hyatt CC points = 10.5 points per dollar * 2 CPP = 21 cents per dollar

Marriott (at 0.8 CPP): 10 base points + 7.5 Titanium or Ambassador bonus points + 6 CC points = 23.5 points per dollar * 0.8 CPP = 18.8 cents per dollar

Hilton (at 0.5 CPP): 10 base points + 12 Diamond Reserve bonus points + 14 Aspire CC points = 36 points per dollar * 0.5 CPP = 18 cents per dollar

If Hyatt redemptions drop on average to 1.5 CPP:

10.5 points per dollar * 1.5 CPP = 15.75 cents per dollar

Assuming that CC earn rates are going to have the option to go up, a premium Hyatt card would need to earn (x+6.5)1.5=21 where x equals 7.5 points per dollar on Hyatt spend to maintain current earning rates. To match Marriott and Hilton, it would need to be 5.5 points per dollar on Hyatt CC spend.

If Hyatt points drop to a valuation of 1 CPP:

10.5 points per dollar * 1 CPP = 10.5 cents per dollar

The premium card would need to earn 14.5 points per dollar to maintain rates or 11.5 points per dollar to match Marriott and Hilton.

hhdl Feb 25, 2026 2:58 pm


Originally Posted by SP03 (Post 37617097)
Dynamic like Marriott would means the price in points could change from day to day or hour to hour. You can’t plan with that kind of dynamic pricing.

Even if the new Hyatt pricing will be tied to anticipated demand and cash pricing, at least you know that if you don’t book the award today, at least the price for the dates you want won’t change when you come back.

It's unlikely to change day to day, but the levels (but not categories) will probably be analyzed based on redemption behavior and adjusted several times a year.

LowValueCustomer Feb 25, 2026 2:59 pm

tell you one thing - my Hyatt card spend goes to zero point zero, effective immediately. good luck pitching a premium card after this.

DallasEsq Feb 25, 2026 3:14 pm


Originally Posted by Schnit (Post 37616525)
Apparently according to Frequent Miler there is no required to have any set number of nights at any level. So most hotels will never used Lowest/Low. Expect most good hotels to move between Moderate/Upper/Top like they move between now.

How does Hyatt compensate the hotels for point redemptions? At Marriott, the compensation is based on occupancy in which the hotel gets more if it's fully booked, so the hotels don't really care how many points the rooms are listed for.

Edit: Never mind, #91 answered my question

m0hamed Feb 25, 2026 3:15 pm

And just like that PH Paris has no base rooms for Points redemptions for months now despite being available yesterday...

777 global mile hound Feb 25, 2026 3:20 pm


Originally Posted by woodcmfr (Post 37616421)
We're now at 40 different point redemption's levels for standard rooms. This is basically dynamic awards now..

You took the words right out of the horses mouth or in this case one of the Hyatt Ambassadors mouths
I haven't had time to close look at all these changes but from the surface its as if Marriott or Hilton is running the Hyatt program or bought Hyatt.
Forget about sugar coating this is an implosion of the program beyond inflation rationality.
Looks like I will have to keep moving business elsewhere more than expected.This makes the recent promotion near worthless

BonvoyageIRL Feb 25, 2026 3:20 pm

As a mostly cash-paying and leisure traveler, I don't mind these changes too much. I mostly burn the points I earn from the stays within 1-2 years of earning them. The devaluation hurts quite a bit, and the fact that this is a soft version of dynamic pricing isn't ideal either.

However, I joined Hyatt for the Globalist status and how ahead-of-the-curve it was compared to the other hotels' top-tier statuses. The now-proven fake rumors devalued Globalist by making it MUCH easier to achieve, which is why I was considering leaving the program. Why be a Globalist for a program that allows everyone to be Globalist (Hilton Diamond?)

While these changes are less than ideal, it seems to do two things:
  • Potentially make availability at high-end properties easier to get. It's been impossibly hard to get reservations at some Park Hyatts, even with hundreds of thousands of points, due to how little availability there were.
  • Make qualifying Globalists net-even, if not harder to achieve.
From a statusperspective, this means that Globalist status will (at least for now) not be diluted (if not made more valuable). While I'm keen to hear what else might come down the line, these changes don't bother me (personally) much

ElevatorEnthusiast Feb 25, 2026 3:21 pm


Originally Posted by hhdl (Post 37617126)
In general across hotel programs (Accor is really the only exception, but that's the most purely revenue rebate program out there: you redeem points for discounts from the revenue rate, period) the points reimbursement correlates to revpar on the particular night (which is more or less equivalent to occupancy times the average rate paid for that night). Basically, Hyatt sees the hotel averaged $X per room that night (counting vacant rooms as zero and ignoring out-of-order rooms) and settles up at something fairly close to that.

The point price is then intended to roughly correlate with what Hyatt expects to pay (probably targeting $0.007 to $0.01 per point overall, given that the minimum reimbursement is probably $20-30/night)) for a typical redemption at that property. It's Hyatt deciding the categories and levels that will best hit the target.

To confirm, Hyatt sets the point levels (the intra-category band) or the property sets it? Is Hyatt the one deciding on night minimums (such as at PH Kyoto)?

777 global mile hound Feb 25, 2026 3:22 pm


Originally Posted by m0hamed (Post 37617171)
And just like that PH Paris has no base rooms for Points redemptions for months now despite being available yesterday...

Yes funny how that works :rolleyes: no coincidences possible are there

COLINDAD Feb 25, 2026 3:25 pm


Originally Posted by littlemookie (Post 37616943)
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.

As others have stated, it may push people to use the Chase travel portal more whereby Chase gets a cut as a travel agent when you spend your points, which are on their books as a liability.

Tonyr4 Feb 25, 2026 3:27 pm


Originally Posted by sensei (Post 37617022)
Right, but higher point requirements should mean less demand and hence more availability for the limited number of standard rooms.

Don't be so sure of that. The Lodge at Spruce Peak in Vermont went up to a category 8 a few years ago. Cash prices are sky high and the hotel is as crowded as ever. We've been visiting that property for a solid 10 years now before it was even part of the Hyatt program.

chicago747 Feb 25, 2026 3:27 pm

I've been lamenting blowing thru our 250k point stash for upcoming stays in Japan. I never like seeing my balance that close to zero. But seeing the value I'll be getting now versus what the same redemptions will be in a few months makes me feel a bit better.

Tonyr4 Feb 25, 2026 3:29 pm


Originally Posted by ElevatorEnthusiast (Post 37617181)
To confirm, Hyatt sets the point levels (the intra-category band) or the property sets it? Is Hyatt the one deciding on night minimums (such as at PH Kyoto)?

Hyatt pays the redemptions so I'd assume they set the points levels.

notquiteaff Feb 25, 2026 3:32 pm


Originally Posted by m0hamed (Post 37617171)
And just like that PH Paris has no base rooms for Points redemptions for months now despite being available yesterday...


Originally Posted by 777 global mile hound (Post 37617182)
Yes funny how that works :rolleyes: no coincidences possible are there

Are you saying that Hyatt or the property has taken away the rooms to wait for higher points payments? (what would be in it for the property?)

Or that all the rooms were booked up within hours of this announcement by members burning down their piles of Hyatt points?


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