Hyatt has announced more great news for World of Hyatt members today including extending free nights, suite upgrades and more into the end of 2021. Additionally, points expiration will also be paused through mid 2021, and award chart changes for 2021 will be minimal.

This news follows Hyatt’s earlier announcements of World of Hyatt 2020 Status Extension for All Members which extended status for all members a year, plus some expiration extensions of expiring awards.

Extending World of Hyatt loyalty benefits  

To give members one less thing to worry about during this challenging time, World of Hyatt will further extend the following benefits for all members globally:  

• More time to use points:  
  • Previously suspended through December 31, 2020, World of Hyatt is  now suspending the forfeiture of points through June 30, 2021. As a reminder, the general policy is that points do not expire, but they will be forfeited if a member’s account is inactive for 24 months.  
• More time to use earned awards:  
  • Awards with 2021 Expiration: All unused Suite Upgrade and Club Lounge Access awards with February 28, 2021 expiration dates will be extended to December 31, 2021. In addition, all unused Free Night awards that were earned in 2020 with 2021 expiration dates will be extended to December 31, 2021. 
• Previously announced, but important reminders: 
  • Awards with 2020 Expiration:  All unused Free Night, Suite Upgrade and Club Lounge Access awards with expiration dates between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 will be extended to December 31, 2021.  
  • More time for elite members to enjoy their status and benefits: Status and benefits have been extended for elite members without having to re-qualify. This means that whatever your status was as of March 31, 2020 – whether Discoverist, Explorist or Globalist – it was updated and now reflects a February 28, 2022 expiration date.  

Providing increased flexibility with award chart updates  

To provide members advance notice to plan ahead and get the most out of their points for free nights, World of Hyatt is making the following updates to its award chart:  

• Off-peak and Peak point redemption further postponed: World of Hyatt is further postponing the introduction of Off-peak and Peak point redemption (originally planned for March 22, 2020) until July 2021. This means that free-night redemptions will continue to be at standard rates through June 2021.  

• Annual hotel award chart changes announced: With only a few exceptions, World of Hyatt is suspending its 2021 hotel category award chart changes that typically occur each March. This means that most hotels will remain in their current categories and be redeemable for the same number of points in 2021 as they were in 2020, with a few current exceptions. 
  • 12 hotels will be shifting to a lower award category effective October 29, 2020. This means members will soon be able to enjoy free night awards for less points at Hyatt hotels including Grand Hyatt Vail (from category 7 to 6), Stonebridge Inn, A Destination Hotel (from category 5 to 4), The Lodge at Spruce Peak, A Destination Hotel (from 8 to 7), and Park New York (from category 6 to 5), and more. 
  • Four hotels will be shifting to a higher award category effective mid-March 2021, requiring more points to redeem for a free night award.

Hotels Moving Down & Requiring Fewer Points (effective October 29, 2020)

• Stonebridge Inn, A Destination Hotel from category 5 to 4
• Wailea Grand Champions Villas, A Destination Residence from category 6 to 5
• Wailea Ekolu Village, A Destination Residence from category 6 to 5
• Wailea Ekahi Village, A Destination Residence from category 6 to 5
• Lichenhearth, A Destination Residence from category 6 to 5
• Parker New York from category 6 to 5
• Grand Hyatt Vail from category 7 to 6
• Mauna Lani Point, A Destination Residence from category 7 to 6
• Wailea Elua Village, A Destination Residence from category 8 to 7
• Kaanapali Alii, A Destination Residence from category 8 to 7
• Vail Residences at Cascade Village, A Destination Residence from category 8 to 7
• The Lodge at Spruce Peak, A Destination Hotel from category 8 to 7

Hotels Moving Up & Requiring More Points (effective mid March 2021)

• Hyatt Regency John Wayne Airport from category 2 to 3
• Hyatt House Nashville/Downtown-SoBro from category 4 to 5
• Mar Monte Hotel part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt from category 4 to 5
• Park Hyatt Aviara from category 5 to 6

What are your thoughts on the latest World of Hyatt extensions of expiring awards for 2021, as well as minimal category changes next year? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.