This Year’s World of Hyatt Hotel Category Changes: 24 Properties Shifting Down, 112 Moving Up

We learned that World of Hyatt was making significant changes to its award chart for the first time in several years earlier this year.

The program’s award chart remains intact with its 8 categories, but there will soon be 5 redemption tiers, replacing the current off-peak, standard, and peak tiers.

What we didn’t know at the time was where hotels would shift during Hyatt’s annual category realignment. Now, however, we know which hotels are shifting to what categories, and when the switchover to the updated award chart will take place.

Buckle up, there’s a lot to discuss!

World of Hyatt’s 2026 Award Chart Changes

Before we dive into which hotels are changing categories, let’s review the basics of what’s happening when World of Hyatt’s new award chart goes into effect on May 20, 2026.

First, World of Hyatt will maintain an award chart with 8 categories, but it will add redemption levels. Off-peak, standard, and peak rates are being phased out, and it will shift to 5 redemption tiers: Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper, and Top.

The new Lowest Category 1 redemption rate (3,000 World of Hyatt points) undercuts the current Category 1 off-peak rate (3,500 World of Hyatt points) by 500 points. The new Top Category 8 redemption rate (75,000 World of Hyatt points) exceeds the current Category 8 peak rate (45,000 World of Hyatt points) by a massive 30,000 points, which equates to an approximately 67% increase over current levels.

Here’s how the new pricing structure breaks down:

Now that we’ve gone over the basics of what’s changing on May 20, let’s dive into the property-specific category changes and what that means for you.

World of Hyatt Category Realignment: 24 Hotels Shift Down, 112 Shift Up

This year, a total of 136 hotels will shift categories, with 24 moving down in category and 112 moving up. These shifts will occur on May 20, 2026. Any free night or Points + Cash reservations booked before May 20 at 8 a.m. CT will be booked at current rates, even if a hotel is shifting to a higher category.

Additionally, any World of Hyatt member with an existing free night or Points + Cash reservation made before May 20 for stays on or after May 20 will receive a 1-time points refund if the hotel they’ve booked is shifting down in category.

Finally, any award reservation made after 8 a.m. CT on May 20 will be subject to the terms of the new award chart, and any changes made after that point will also be in accordance with it.

Now, we’ll look at the specifics of the category changes, broken down by region, and take note of the following:

• A property marked with a single asterisk (*) means the hotel will move down in category.
• A property marked with a double asterisk (**) means the hotel will move up in category and will no longer be eligible for a Category 1-4 free night certificate.
• A property marked with a triple asterisk (***) means the hotel will move down in category and become newly eligible for a Category 1-4 free night certificate.

United States

As you can see, a total of 8 U.S. properties will shift down in category. Meanwhile, another 9 will unfortunately move up in category and become ineligible for a Category 1-4 free night certificate. Notable examples of this include Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, The Carolina Inn, and the Hyatt Regency Seattle.

Finally, there are 2 properties, Dream Nashville and Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin, that are moving down in category and will become eligible for a Category 1-4 free night certificate.

Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America

Throughout all of Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America, just 1 property will move down in category while the rest that are changing will move up.

Europe

In Europe, just 1 property will move down in category, while 2, the Hyatt Regency Lisbon and the Hyatt Regency Hesperia Madrid, will move up and become ineligible for a Category 1-4 free night certificate.

Africa and the Middle East

Unfortunately, 3 properties in Africa and the Middle East, the Grand Hyatt Kuwait Residences, Jabal Omar Hyatt Regency Makkah, and the Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, will move up in category and become ineligible for a Category 1-4 free night certificate.

Two properties, Grand Hyatt The Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and the Hyatt Regency Al Kout Mall, will move down a category.

Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific region will see several hotels — 12 in total — moving down a category. Three of these, the Hyatt Regency Dharamshala, the Andaz Macau, and The Standard, Singapore, will become eligible for a Category 1-4 free night certificate.

There’s a lot of information to process. Not only are 136 properties changing categories on May 20, but World of Hyatt’s new award chart will go into effect. Remember, any reservations booked before May 20 will be subject to the current award chart. If you have any Hyatt reservations you’re considering, read up on the best ways to redeem World of Hyatt points for maximum value, and make sure you do so before May 20 to lock in the more favorable rates under the current award chart.

Final Thoughts

On May 20, 2026, the World of Hyatt program is changing. It keeps its award chart, but is adding redemption tiers. Also on that date, 136 properties will change categories. Some properties could cost you fewer points, but many will cost you more.

Lock in any stays you’re considering before May 20 to redeem at today’s rates!