World of Hyatt set the award travel world ablaze a couple of months back, announcing sweeping changes to its redemption structure – raising rates by as much as 67% in the process.

The missing piece? When these changes would go into effect.

At the time, Hyatt only let on that we'd see increased prices sometime in May, remaining tight-lipped about exactly when and how bad the damage would be.

But now, we've got the full details: On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 136 hotels will be changing award categories, and Hyatt's new five-tier award chart will go into effect (more on that in a bit).

In total, 112 hotels will shift to a higher award category – costing you more points and, in some cases, making free night awards useless – while 24 properties will shift to a lower award category, becoming cheaper to book. 

Hyatt's annual award chart reshuffling is one thing, but the broader award chart changes are what have us really concerned. Hyatt is scrapping its current off-peak, standard, and peak pricing in favor of a new five-tier pricing system across its eight existing hotel categories, with a far wider range of award rates from the slowest to the busiest times. It's not full-blown dynamic pricing in the vein of Marriott and IHG … but maybe dynamic-lite. 

Under this new system, you can expect award rates to go up (almost) across the board – sometimes drastically: 

  • Many standard award stays at the fanciest Park Hyatts or other top-tier Category 8 hotels will jump from 40,000 points a night to 55,000 points – nearly a 38% increase.
  • The priciest stays during the busiest times at those same properties go from 45,000 points to as much as 75,000 points a night – a 67% jump!
  • Even if you're not splurging that much, there are some big increases across Hyatt's portfolio, whether you're booking a standard award stay, especially during the busier periods.
  • To top it all off, Hyatt isn’t guaranteeing that properties will have any nights available at the low end of each category, nor is it capping how many nights they can charge the highest rates.

This new tiered pricing (with higher rates) will apply across Hyatt's entire portfolio, including suites, a growing collection of all-inclusive properties, and ultra-luxe Miraval wellness resorts.

With this announcement, Hyatt is giving travelers a nearly four-week window to lock in award reservations before the changes take effect. But that always triggers a stampede to book properties on the chopping block, so award space tends to disappear quickly. 

So, yeah … if you're sitting on a stash of Hyatt points – or Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt points – time is of the essence. Book now to lock in upcoming award stays before May 20, or risk paying a higher price later.

 

Highlights from Hyatt's Pending Award Chart Changes

Hyatt’s latest round of annual category changes – set to take effect May 20, 2026 – skews heavily toward higher award prices, continuing a broader trend as the program also rolls out a new five-tier pricing system that allows hotels to charge more on high-demand nights.

In total, more than 100 hotels are moving up in category while only a couple dozen are dropping – a clear net negative for travelers looking to stretch their points. That includes several high-end, highly rated properties getting more expensive, plus a meaningful number of hotels slipping out of reach for Hyatt’s valuable free night awards.

Here are the biggest takeaways –  and the hotels you may want to book before prices jump.

 

Top-Rated Properties to Book Now

If you’ve been eyeing a luxury Hyatt redemption, now’s the time to act. Several standout, aspirational properties are moving up in category – meaning they’ll soon require more points (and in some cases, no longer be bookable with certain free night awards).

A few of the most notable:

  • Park Hyatt London River Thames (moving from Category 7 to 8): One of Hyatt’s newest luxury flagships in Europe will soon join the program’s most expensive tier. Category 8 pricing is already steep, and it’s getting even pricier under Hyatt’s new system – as high as 75,000 points per night. Book this one while you can! 
  • Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino (moving from Category 7 to 8): A perennial favorite for beach getaways and points redemptions alike. This move makes one of the most popular Caribbean Hyatts significantly more expensive – and eliminates it from Category 1–7 free night eligibility.
    • We stayed here just last week and thought it was worth the points for its prime location and amenities. However, the rooms are a bit dated, and the new price (as high as 75,000 points per night) will be hard to justify.
  • Alila Mayakoba (moving from Category 6 to 7): A top-tier resort in Mexico’s Riviera Maya and a go-to for luxury all-inclusive-adjacent stays. Moving up a category pushes this already aspirational redemption further out of reach – as high as 55,000 points per night.
  • The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel (moving from Category 6 to 7): One of the most sought-after Hyatt properties in New York City, thanks to its historic architecture and upscale vibe, will soon require as many as 55,000 points per night going forward. That's a drastic increase from its current 25,000-point standard redemption level. 
  • Andaz 5th Avenue New York & Hôtel du Louvre Paris (both moving from Category 7 to 8): Two high-end, centrally located city hotels in NYC and Paris, respectively – both jumping into Hyatt’s most expensive category, costing as many as 75,000 points per night.

If you’ve been saving points for a bucket-list Hyatt stay, this is your warning shot. Pricing is headed in one direction – up.

 

Hotels to Use a Category 1–4 Free Night … While You Can

Hyatt’s Category 1–4 free night certificate (earned from its credit cards, Milestone Rewards, and even a Brand Explorer reward) is one of the most valuable perks in points and miles – but this year’s changes are shrinking where you can use it.

A total of 14 hotels are moving from Category 4 to Category 5, meaning they’ll soon no longer be bookable with these certificates.

While many of these are mid-tier properties, a few standouts are worth flagging before they slip out of range:

  • Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino: One of the best uses of a Category 1–4 cert today – especially during ski season or summer lake trips. This one hurts.
  • Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach: A newer, design-forward resort in Thailand that’s quickly become a favorite among Hyatt loyalists.
  • Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort: A scenic waterfront property in Montenegro – a strong redemption option in an otherwise pricey region.

Even beyond these, the broader takeaway is clear: Hyatt is steadily eroding the value of its most accessible free night awards by pushing more desirable properties out of reach. At this rate, your best bet may be the hotel chain's mid-tier Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Centric hotels, or you'll more likely have to settle for using them at a run-of-the-mill Hyatt Place or Hyatt House. 

 

New Hotels You Can (Soon) Book With a Category 1–4 Free Night

To be fair, these category changes aren't all bad news. While most of Hyatt’s changes push hotels out of reach, a small handful are actually moving down into Category 4 – meaning they’ll soon become eligible for those valuable Category 1–4 free night certificates.

That opens the door to booking some genuinely solid (and in a few cases, surprisingly stylish) properties with a certificate that’s often been limited to more basic stays.

A few that stand out:

  • Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue: A well-located, modern stay in the heart of Austin – within walking distance of nightlife, restaurants, and live music. This is a strong urban redemption option that’s now firmly in free-night territory.
  • Dream Nashville: A boutique-style property just a couple of blocks off Broadway in downtown Nashville. This hotel is a great fit if you want something a little more unique than your standard Hyatt.
  • The Standard, Singapore: A stylish newcomer in one of Asia’s most expensive hotel markets. This could quickly become one of the best uses of a free night certificate in the region.
  • Andaz Macau: A large, upscale Andaz with polished rooms and easy access to integrated resorts and entertainment. Not ultra-luxury, but a solid option in a destination where hotel prices can climb quickly.

While the overall trend isn’t great, these downward moves give Hyatt loyalists a few new, worthwhile ways to squeeze more value out of their free night certificates. 

Just know that even though these properties are moving down a category, they could still end up costing you more points thanks to Hyatt's new “dynamic-lite” award pricing. Under the current off-peak, standard, and peak pricing, Category 5 hotels top out at 23,000 points per night. When these changes take effect on May 20, a “top” Category 4 hotel will cost 25,000 points per night.

Thankfully, even if they do price out at the highest-demand price point, you can still use a free night award. 

 

Bottom Line

Hyatt just announced that its big, bad award chart changes – properties moving categories and a new, five-tier award chart – are set to go into effect on Wednesday, May 20! 

If you’ve got Hyatt points or free night certificates sitting in your account, the play is simple: Book now, think later. Hyatt will honor existing reservations at current rates – even after these changes kick in.