Even with the upcoming class adjustments, there’s nonetheless loads of worth in World of Hyatt factors

It is changing into an annual custom. Every February or March, World of Hyatt broadcasts its annual class adjustments a few month earlier than implementing them. As quickly as Hyatt releases the listing of class adjustments, loyalists — myself included — rigorously look at the listing to see if properties we love or hope to ultimately go to will quickly require extra or fewer factors for a keep.

Annually, some vacationers bemoan the decline of the World of Hyatt program after the class change announcement. However, as TPG director Carly Helfand stated whereas discussing this yr’s adjustments, “Yearly I discover not less than one which I’ve loved staying at that is getting cheaper, which additionally makes it a little bit extra bearable. This time it is the Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa — it is a actually good possibility in wine nation.”

Like Carly, I additionally look via the listing to search out interesting properties that can drop a class. Plus, though factors prices have elevated considerably over time for some properties, I consider there’s nonetheless loads of worth in redeeming Hyatt factors. This is why.

Hyatt nonetheless has an award chart

Through the years, many loyalty applications have moved to dynamic award pricing. Dynamic award pricing is not inherently dangerous, however it normally results in this system’s factors or miles ultimately lowering in worth. And it virtually all the time makes getting outsize worth out of your rewards harder.

The good news is that Hyatt did not resolve to take away or change its award chart this yr. World of Hyatt is aware of its award chart is a differentiator, particularly when competing towards applications with bigger footprints.

Since World of Hyatt makes use of an award chart, you may predict how a lot you may must redeem for upcoming stays. Plus, having an award chart means you may usually escape peak pricing throughout occasions or excessive season.

Associated: Your information to the World of Hyatt award chart

World of Hyatt makes use of peak, commonplace and off-peak pricing for every class, however I’ve booked way more off-peak award nights than peak award nights. The distinction between off-peak and peak award charges can be minimal: simply 3,000 factors for Hyatt Class 1 properties, 6,000 factors for Hyatt Class 4 properties and 10,000 factors for Hyatt Class 7 properties. Even when you think about that Hyatt factors are value rather more than most different resort factors, this can be a much less important distinction than you may discover in most different resort loyalty applications.

Nevertheless, I anticipate we’ll proceed to see Hyatt carry choose manufacturers and properties in at dynamic award charges, as we noticed with Mr & Mrs Smith and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. If that is what Hyatt must do to keep up an award chart for many of its properties, I will not fret over it. If I select to remain at these properties, I will decide to earn Hyatt factors as a substitute of redeeming them.

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Associated: Ought to I get the World of Hyatt Credit score Card or switch factors from Chase as a substitute?

Hyatt’s annual award class replace is affordable

Let’s be trustworthy: It is cheap for World of Hyatt to replace the award class for a few of its properties yearly.

Positive, it has been unhappy to see some properties slowly climb in class annually. And I am personally bummed to see that the one Class 1 Park Hyatt — the Park Hyatt Chennai — will lastly transfer as much as Class 2. However as occupancy, common every day charges and different components shift for a property, it is solely cheap for its class to shift.

I additionally recognize how Hyatt handles its annual class adjustments, particularly as many different loyalty applications make no-notice devaluations. Hyatt normally broadcasts its deliberate class adjustments a few month earlier than they go into impact, so members have ample time to accrue Hyatt factors and guide any closing stays they need on the present award charges. Plus, Hyatt refunds factors for any bookings that drop in award class between once you guide and once you keep.

In brief, if we would like the World of Hyatt program to keep up its award charts, we should settle for that properties will generally change classes. Hyatt broadcasts and handles these class adjustments in the very best means, which I recognize.

Associated: 5 methods to guide Hyatt award stays with out sufficient factors in your account

Hyatt factors are nonetheless extraordinarily useful

TPG’s February 2025 valuations peg the worth of Hyatt factors at 1.7 cents every. Nevertheless, I personally assume this valuation is extremely conservative, as I’ve gotten a mean of three.91 cents per level when redeeming Hyatt factors for stays inside the final yr.

Three properties I’ve redeemed Hyatt factors at inside the final yr will enhance in class on March 25: Lindner Resort Prague Fortress, Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin and Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport. Apparently, none of those properties gave me an above-average redemption fee after I stayed.

For instance, this February, I redeemed 40,000 factors for an eight-night keep at Lindner Resort Prague Fortress that will have in any other case value $1,124. This meant I bought a modest redemption fee of two.81 cents per level. Nevertheless, as soon as this property strikes to Class 2, I would wish to redeem 64,000 factors for a similar keep. This is able to drop my redemption fee to 1.75 cents per level, barely above TPG’s February 2025 valuation of Hyatt factors.

The excellent news is that every one of my highest redemption charges inside the final yr had been at properties that are not altering in class on March 25, such because the Lindner Resort Cologne Am Dom, Hyatt Place Austin Airport, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa and Hyatt Place Dallas / Las Colinas. And I’ve booked some glorious redemptions for later this yr in South Africa and Sweden that can give me greater than 5 cents per Hyatt level.

So, though you might discover these class adjustments lower your redemption fee at some properties, I believe you may nonetheless get good redemption charges general. That is significantly true should you’re prepared to sometimes guide paid charges at World of Hyatt properties or use one other program for some stays. I nonetheless see World of Hyatt as among the finest Chase Final Rewards switch companions. And I believe I will ultimately switch my Bilt Rewards Factors to World of Hyatt — particularly if we ever see a Hyatt switch bonus on a Bilt Hire Day.

Associated: 5 simple methods to maximise Hyatt award redemptions

Backside line

One yr, a TPG staffer proclaimed that his Hyatt free-night certificates felt almost nugatory after the annual class change announcement. He is actually allowed to really feel this manner, however I did not agree on the time and do not agree now. I nonetheless get ample worth when redeeming World of Hyatt factors and free evening certificates.

Get your award bookings in by March 25 on the present charges for any properties which are leaping a class. But in addition take a while to contemplate what properties you wish to redeem Hyatt factors at this yr. For instance, I am contemplating all of the properties I concern would possibly enhance in class. This yr looks like a good time to go to, as they might go up in class subsequent yr.