World of Hyatt revamps award chart, costs rise up to 67% on May 20, 2026

World of Hyatt announced that, beginning May 20, 2026, its award chart will be overhauled. The program will shift from three redemption levels (off‑peak, standard, peak) to five tiers called lowest, low, moderate, upper and top. Points required for standard room awards will change across all hotel categories, with some costs decreasing modestly while others increase between 33% and 67%. Standard awards are devalued by 17%‑38% and peak awards rise by 33%‑67% before the category shift.

A total of 136 Hyatt properties will move to new categories on the same date, with 112 hotels moving up and 24 moving down. The changes affect hotels in the United States and internationally, including locations such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Portugal, and Singapore. Free‑night awards remain valid as long as a standard room is available, and annual category adjustments will continue in future years.

Hyatt’s CEO has emphasized a move away from a points‑focused mindset toward an “emotional relationship” with members, but the immediate impact is a higher points burden for members planning stays after the May 20 rollout.