Hyatt announced they’d be making several changes to their hotels, reservations, and World of Hyatt program with regards to COVID-19 situation. Hyatt will be offering flexible cancellations on all reservations including those that were pre-paid and non-refundable.
Additionally, World of Hyatt points will be suspending the forfeiture of points through May 31, 2020. The proposed World of Hyatt 2020 Free Night Award Category Changes including introduction of peak/off-peak awards have been postponed until 2021.
World of Hyatt will likely be extending elite status for Explorists and Globalists until 2022, similar to what they’ve done for these members in Asia in the coming weeks.
Per Hyatt,
Existing reservations for upcoming travel between March 14 and April 30, 2020:
All existing reservations made before March 13, 2020 that are for arrivals between March 14 and April 30, 2020 can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival. This includes Advance Purchase Rate reservations.
New reservations for any future travel:
Any reservation you make between March 13, 2020, and April 30, 2020 – for any future arrival date – can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival. This includes Advance Purchase Rate reservations.
Existing Advance Purchase Rate non-refundable reservations for travel through June 2020:
As announced earlier this week, special exceptions are in place for all Advance Purchase Rate non-refundable reservations made directly with Hyatt on or before March 8, 2020 for arrivals before June 30, 2020. Guests holding these fully prepaid reservations who have decided not to travel may still opt at least 24 hours before their stay to receive 10,000 World of Hyatt Bonus Points compensation in lieu of both their stay and the offer above (if eligible). World of Hyatt points may be usedtoward future travel at any of our 900+ hotels across 17 brands globally.Â
Suspending Points Forfeiture:
We will be suspending the forfeiture of points through May 31, 2020. As a reminder, our general policy is that points do not expire, but they will be forfeited if a member’s account is inactive for 24 consecutive months.
Postponing Award Chart Changes:
We are postponing the introduction of Off-peak and Peak point redemption (originally planned for March 22, 2020) until 2021. This means that free-night redemptions will continue to be at standard rates for the rest of this year. Before we launch Off-peak and Peak point redemptions for stay dates in 2021 and beyond, we’ll give you and our members advance notice as we always do.
Additionally, we are postponing our annual hotel award category changes (originally planned for March 22, 2020) until 2021, with the exception of five hotels still shifting award categories on March 22, 2020.
Any free night award and Points + Cash redemptions booked at these hotels on or after Sunday, March 22 at 8:00 am CDT will follow the new Award Chart. Members who have existing award bookings for a night after Sunday, March 22 that moves to a lower award category will receive an automatic one-time refund on the point difference. Points will be refunded in members’ accounts starting on Monday, March 23. Once changes go into effect on Sunday, March 22 at 8:00 am CDT, any adjustments made to existing reservations will follow the terms of the new Award Chart.
Evaluating Elite Tier Qualification & Benefit Extension:
In February, World of Hyatt extended elite tier status and award expiration dates for qualifying members residing in Asia Pacific. Please visit the World of Hyatt COVID-19 FAQs for details.
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I booked a hotel that was 8000 points per night when I booked it but is now 20000 points per night after a complete refurbishment. I made the reservation back in July of 2019 and my stay is coming up in April. I don’t want to cancel and get my 32000 points back for my four nights because I don’t have 80000 to rebook it at some future date. However, I don’t think I’ll make it now to this hotel due to other restrictions. Advice?
My question exactly !
V1: Budapest?
@BillyBob Yes ! Also have a 2 night stay in Hexagon Suite booked for late May,so I’m looking at 80,000 for 2 nights ! Ihave a little ore time b4I must make a move on this one. I too am still looking for answers. Perhaps put the question to other bloggers with close Hyatt contacts? view from the wing, omaat, Hyatt Concierge on Twitter. The only thing I could imagine could be a future rebooking if anything.
V1: I think I am at the same hotel, assuming the Párisi Udvar Hotel, but in April. Did you get the suite for 8000/night? Good on you, but how did you do it?
In my reservation details, it says 80000 points. I asked about cancelling a few weeks ago (before virus craziness began) and the agent wasn’t sure how many points I would get back (32000 or 80000). I had called upon seeing that 80000 in the details. If I could actually get 80000 points back that would be great. Option 2 would be simply to move the dates (that’s my go-to plan if I really can’t go in April.
Just noticed V1 that you reported 80000 not 8000. Still wondering how you booked the suite w/points and what it costs now.
I booked Parisi Udvar when it was still a category 2 .. same as you ! Paid 13,000 points/ night for the Suite. Now 40,000 /night x2 if I Cancel and rebook. This was booked very early as soon as the hotel was live for Points bookings. Stayed last year late August 8000 pts/night king bed room also used Club Access Awards there. Called the booking in to attach these.
So the question still remains…can we re-book for future dates with the old category 2 points amount with the current situation? Still waiting to hear any updates from Hyatt regarding this.
V1: I am thinking about calling Hyatt and simply trying to rebook — stressing to them that I don’t want to cancel. If I do call (probably within the next few days or up to a week) I’ll post an update here as to how flexible they are willing to be. I haven’t done it because 1) wait-and-see seems to be better, and 2) I don’t want to alert them to the cheap points paid situation. Please post anything you find out here too — thanks!
Billy bob … correction 32,000 points redeemed for the Hex Suite 2 nts as this is premium suite redemption . With cancellation now 40,000 pts/night. So 80,000 in total ! All borders closed here in Europe now…not looking good atm. It’s going to take awhile b4 anything close to normal again. No other info to add. Will post if any info’s regarding changes/redemption.
V1: I have two simple flights coming up next week from PHX-CLT and then returning a week later: kind of worried the return is going to be cancelled leaving me across the US with no viable way home. Definitely Budapest is out of the question for me in April (my AA flight from PHX is already cancelled anyway). I am going to just push this whole thing to the autumn and try to replicate it exactly but sometime in October maybe — good luck there!
V1: if you contact Hyatt and they offer any concession, please update this thread (for me and for anyone else reading it). I’ll do the same.
Good luck to you.
V1: Good news: they emailed me this:
We are writing to you regarding your upcoming room reservation at the Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest.
Due to various travel and governmental bans and other restrictions that affect everyday life, we would like to hereby inquire whether we can expect your arrival at our hotel this spring.
If you cannot come at the original dates you reserved, we would like to offer you that at the same rate as you booked your room, you could stay at our property (depending on availability) at a later date this year, until maximum December the 27th.
We would kindly ask you to contact us before your original date of arrival and discuss with us the new dates of your visit.
In case we do not receive such details from you, unfortunately, the prepaid amount cannot be refunded and the opportunity of moving your reservation dates will be lost.
Your feedback within 24 hours would be greatly appreciated.
Billy Bob…Great news !
What are your expected dates ? Just to give me a timeline, as my dates are end May early June.
Im guessing yours must be close to a month from today ?
This will also be interesting news to others in the community.
Thanks for keeping me informed so that I can also weigh up my options during these troubled times.
V1
Sorry for my late reply — my dates are in mid April. I have yet to take them up on their offer. I had a really busy week. My plan is to try to reschedule but that means I have to commit to a date. I’ll post any news.
Got confirmed reservation for mid October – no need to cancel: they just moved the dates. Good luck V1!
V1 did you go?
Billy Bob, As their post covid opening date was June 1 & this was our checkout date, I contacted the GM and requested an unprecedented 12 months extension! Approved !