New Hyatt Hotel Award Category Changes

Each year, most hotel chains conduct an annual review of their hotels and what award category they place those hotels under. In most senses, the award category a hotel is assigned to is based on demand and average price of rooms, though these conditions don’t always correlate.

According to Hyatt, In total, 56 hotels will shift to a lower award category, and 50 hotels will move to a higher award category. The changes will become effective as of 12:01am CST on August 1, 2016. 

Here are the hotels moving UP a category.

[table id=14 /]

Moving up a category, here are what I think are the biggest changes.

• Grand Hyatt Santiago – I’ve heard great things about this property, and it’s moving from a category 2 to 3.
• Hyatt Place Asheville Downtown – I haven’t stayed here before, but am curious as to why this is moving from a category 1 to 3.
• Grand Hyatt DFW – Personally, I think this hotel was already overpriced, and now with the award change, it’s going to shift even more demand to the Hyatt Regency, which is a category 2. I worry rates there may go up.
• Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago – moving from a category 4 to 5.
• Hyatt Regency Dallas – moving from a category 2 to 3. I actually like this hotel – the rooms are modern, and it’s in a decent location.

Interestingly, most of the hotels moving up here appear to be Hyatt Place or Hyatt House properties.

Here are the hotels moving DOWN a category.

[table id=15 /]

Moving down a category, here are what I think are the biggest changes.

• Okay, this one is personal, but I’m thrilled the Hyatt House Gaithersburg is now a category 1. I spend a lot of time there, and used to do a lot of Points and Cash availability. Now at only 5,000 points for a free night, it will make this property a steal for me.
• Hyatt Place Phoenix/Mesa – good location. Now a category 1.
• Hyatt Place Tempe/PHX – good location. Now a category 1.
• Hyatt Regency Dulles – best location of Hyatt’s near IAD, which I travel out of a lot. Nice to see this will join all the other Hyatt Place properties in the area.
• Hyatt Regency Perth – I recently stayed here and I certainly didn’t think this was a category 4 hotel, so nice to see it moving down to a more reasonable level.
• Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami – moving from a category 6 to 4, finally this hotel will become reasonable to spend points on. Nice hotel, nice location, but a bit sketchy on status recognition.