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New Hyatt Hotel Award Category Changes

July 5, 2016 by James Larounis Leave a Comment

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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.

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JamieJamie Larounis is an avid traveler, blogger and miles/points educator. Traveling well over 100,000 miles a year and staying in hotels for over 100 nights, he leverages miles, points and other deals to fly in first class cabins, and stay in 5-star hotels. The Forward Cabin shares his experiences, musings, reviews, tips, tricks, resources and industry news with you, the fellow traveler. [Learn more about Jamie...]

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