Act fast: Less than a week until World of Hyatt devaluation, so you should book now
Editor's Note
It's time to book your future Hyatt stays, before a major devaluation kicks in less than a week from today.
World of Hyatt announced its annual changes to where properties sit on its award chart, and while we're thrilled that the award chart itself remains intact, some of the individual property pricing shifts will still likely sting. That's why it's time to book any hotels you've had your eye on now. Bookings are open as far as April of 2026, and some all-inclusives are even bookable into 2027.
A whopping 118 Hyatt hotels and resorts — including some of our favorites — are moving to higher award categories. Higher-end and popular hotels and resorts in big cities and leisure destinations were especially hard hit: Some of these hotels are increasing in price by as much as 10,000 World of Hyatt points — so it's time to lock in the reduced pricing before the changes hit on March 25.
You'll want to pay especially close attention to properties going from Category 7 to Category 8; if you have a Category 1-7 cert, that means hotels like the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa will no longer be bookable with those valuable certificates.
There is a bit of sweetener in the bitter news, however, as 33 properties are shifting to a lower award category.
Our early calculations show that among the hotels increasing in award category, the average award cost will be more than 2,444 points more per night once these changes take effect March 25. That's not as bad as the 5,000-point average cost increase in 2023 — but it's higher than last year's average cost increase.
To give you an idea of how this year stacks up, here's a comparison from previous years:
- 2022: 76 properties went down, 70 went up
- 2023: 152 properties went down, 214 went up
- 2024: 46 properties went down, 137 went up
- 2025: 33 properties are going down, 118 are going up
Once these changes occur, those who like free night certificates will have fewer options for using Category 1-7 certificates. In addition to the previously mentioned Grand Hyatt Kauai, the Grand Hyatt Tokyo is moving from Category 7 to Category 8, putting it out of reach for most free night certificates. And another TPG favorite, the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, Costa Rica is going up to Category 8 as well. (This property was actually a Category 4 hotel just a few years ago, showing how quickly things can change.)
Unfortunately, changes will also effect properties that fall under Hyatt's all-inclusive award chart, resulting in several popular resorts becoming significantly more expensive on award stays. This includes Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres, Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa and Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa, which will all increase one level from 30,000 to 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Also bear in mind that the valuable free night awards given to Hyatt members at certain elite night benchmarks or earned via the Hyatt credit cards are becoming less valuable. For example, once these changes take place, you'll no longer be able to use your Category 1-4 free night certificate at these properties:
- Hyatt Regency Newport Beach
- Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
- The Bellevue Hotel
- Thompson Atlanta – Buckhead
- Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui
- Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya
- Hyatt Regency Tokyo
- Hyatt Regency Koh Samui
- Hyatt Regency Vancouver
- Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile
- Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin
I just used a Category 1-4 award at the Hyatt Regency in Tokyo, and I've also used my free night awards at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile, so this is personally painful.
However, the Category 1-4 certificates will become valid at the following hotels that are moving down into Category 4:
- Hotel Figueroa
- Dream South Beach
- Park Hyatt Doha
- Grand Hyatt Sanya Haitang Bay Resort and Spa
- Grand Hyatt Jeju
There are a few other bright spots to highlight. For example, the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa is moving down from Category 7 to Category 6, meaning you can book an award stay starting at 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night. If you book that hotel now, you should get a refund once the changes go into effect. Also, the vast majority of changes are clustered at the lower end of the award chart. Of the 118 properties moving up in category:
- 34.75% are going from Category 1 to 2
- 23.03% are going from Category 2 to 3
- 11.02% are going from Category 3 to 4
All in all — it could always be worse. At least World of Hyatt still has a published award chart, didn't change per-category prices and didn't add a higher Category 9 to the program. Additionally, all bookings before the morning of March 25 will follow the current award chart, so it might be a good time to make some speculative bookings into 2026.
Hyatt added that "members who have existing award or Points + Cash bookings as of 8:00 am CDT on Tuesday, March 25 for a night on or after Tuesday, March 25 at a Hyatt hotel that moved down to a lower category, will receive an automatic one-time refund on the point difference. Points will be returned to members' accounts starting Tuesday, March 25."
If you plan to use your Hyatt points at any hotels moving to a higher category, you should make reservations before March 25 for stays as far out as the calendar will allow, which is typically 13 months. If you make or modify a reservation after that time, it will fall under the pricing rules that come into effect on March 25.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees