World of Hyatt routinely evaluates their hotels within their award categories, and will generally make changes once a year. Hyatt has announced their latest round of changes, and unlike last year, many hotels are shifting categories this time around.

World of Hyatt members will see updates made to the number of points required for a free night at 259 hotels. 130 hotels will shift into a higher award category and 129 will shift to a lower award category. No new categories have been added, and the points required for each category will remain the same, with affected hotels shifting by only one category up or down.

Here’s a look at some of the hotels that will be increasing as of March 18, 2019:

• Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort will be increasing from a Category 6 (25,000 points) to a Category 7 (30,000 points)
• Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires will be increasing from a Category 5 (20,000 points) to a Category 6 (25,000 points)
• Hyatt Centric Park City will be increasing from a Category 5 (20,000 points) to a Category 6 (25,000 points)
• Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort will be increasing from a Category 5 (20,000 points) to a Category 6 (25,000 points)
• Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami will be increasing from a Category 4 (15,000 points) to a Category 5 (20,000 points)
• Hyatt at Olive 8 will be increasing from a Category 4 (15,000 points) to a Category 5 (20,000 points)
• Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo will be increasing from a Category 4 (15,000 points) to a Category 5 (20,000 points)

Here’s a look at some of the hotels that will be decreasing as of March 18, 2019:

• Grand Hyatt New York will be decreasing from a Category 6 (25,000 points) to a Category 5 (20,000 points)
• Andaz Liverpool Street London will be decreasing from a Category 6 (25,000 points) to a Category 5 (20,000 points)
• Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach will be decreasing from a Category 5 (20,000 points) to a Category 4 (15,000 points)
• Andaz San Diego will be decreasing from a Category 5 (20,000 points) to a Category 4 (15,000 points)
• Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile will be decreasing from a Category 5 (20,000 points) to a Category 4 (15,000 points)

For those who have the World of Hyatt Visa, that comes with the Anniversary Free Night Award or those who earn the Brand Explorer Free Night, both which are good at Category 1-4, you’ll want to take note of the following to where you can redeem your nights at.

You’ll now be able to use at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach, Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile, Andaz San Diego all which are dropping down to the Category 4 level.

However, some current Category 4 favorites including the Hyatt at Olive 8, Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami, and the Hyatt Regency Amsterdam move up to a Category 5, so be sure to redeem at any of these before these changes go into place.

Here’s what Hyatt says about the changes:

All free night award and Points + Cash redemptions booked before 11:01 pm CST on Monday, March 18 will follow the current award chart, even if the hotel is shifting to a higher category that will require more points for reservations booked on or after March 18. Any free night award and Points + Cash redemptions booked on Monday, March 18 at 11:01 pm CST or after will follow the new award chart.

For members who have existing reservations for nights after March 18 at any hotels moving to a lower award category that will require fewer World of Hyatt points, we will proactively refund the point difference. Points will be refunded in members’ accounts starting on Tuesday, March 19. Once changes go into effect on Monday, March 18 at 11:01 pm CST, any adjustments made to existing reservations will follow the terms of the new award chart.

You can view all the World of Hyatt Hotels changing categories here. For context, Marriott  announced their Marriott Bonvoy 2019 Category Changes, which go into effect on Tuesday, March 5, 2019,

If you’re looking for more World of Hyatt points, World of Hyatt is a 1:1 transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards.

What are your thoughts on the latest category changes to the World of Hyatt program? Feel free to share your thoughts below.