The 2026 Hyatt Award Chart Changes, Without the Hysteria

World of Hyatt Changed the Rules. Here's What We Actually Know (So Far).

Before we get into it let’s all take a breath together: inhale through the nose one-two-three-four. Hold for four. Exhale through the mouth one-two-three-four. Okay. Let's talk about Hyatt.

Every time a major loyalty program announces changes, the points-and-miles content machine kicks into high gear. It has to — that's how it works. Changes mean clicks, clicks mean revenue, and "Hyatt Is Dead" drives more traffic than "Let's Wait and See." I'm not saying everyone covering this is being opportunistic; some of it is genuine concern. But some of it is just the algorithm doing its thing. And ironically, the breathless coverage of points programs — the constant optimization, the scorecards, the tier anxiety — may be part of what signals to hotel brands that their loyalty currency is overvalued and due for a correction.

The content machine feeds the very devaluations it then covers.

So here's what I'd like to do instead: look at what Hyatt actually announced, name what's real, and resist the urge to draw conclusions before the details drop in April. (Primary source: Hyatt Newsroom)

The TLDR

Beginning in May, World of Hyatt will expand from three redemption levels (off-peak, standard, peak) to five: Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper, and Top — across all eight existing categories. Is this a devaluation? Probably. Is it the apocalypse? Too soon to say. The program hasn't actually changed yet, and a lot depends on how Hyatt rolls this out in practice.

The award chart still exists. That matters.

Here's the thing the doom posts are glossing over: Hyatt didn't blow up its award chart. Hyatt's own announcement reaffirms their commitment to "fixed point thresholds rather than moving to dynamic pricing for award nights" — and the headline says it all: "World of Hyatt Updates Award Chart While Preserving the Transparency Members Expect." That's Hyatt's framing, and it's doing some work. But the underlying commitment is real: fixed price points still exist. Your research still means something.

It's worth noting that the whole press release reads as "we're still Hyatt!" — which is actually reassuring, even if it's also PR. The nightmare scenario — a move to full dynamic pricing like Marriott and Hilton — didn't happen.

Catch: There are now significantly more possible redemption price points across the standard and all-inclusive charts. Whether that still counts as a "traditional" award chart is a fair debate — but it's not dynamic pricing, and that distinction matters.

Takeaway: Watch, don't panic. The structure is intact. The real test is how many nights land in the Upper and Top tiers once this rolls out.

Costs are going up at the top — but not everywhere and not yet

On average across all categories, standard-level pricing will be roughly 25% higher under the new "Moderate" tier. At the top end, costs rise by 33–67% depending on the category. That's significant. But here's Hyatt's own language on the rollout: they will "implement the changes thoughtfully, with limited hotels moving a limited number of nights into the Upper and Top categories in 2026 and broader adoption in the years that follow." We'll see what "thoughtfully" looks like in practice — but that's the commitment on record. They also note this is the first meaningful structural update in five years, framing it as a sustainability move rather than a cash grab.

Catch: Hyatt has made promises about gradual rollouts before. The off-peak/standard/peak system expanded more broadly than many expected at first. We'll know more in April when the full hotel category list drops.

Takeaway: Act on specific properties you have in mind. Reservations booked before the changes take effect in May will be honored at current pricing. If there's a trip you've been sitting on, lock it in. If you're flexible, wait and see how the tiers shake out before drawing conclusions.

What about all-inclusive resorts?

The five-tier pricing structure applies to all-inclusive resorts as well — across all six categories (A through F) — and also to Miraval properties. For those of us who use Hyatt points specifically for all-inclusive stays, this deserves attention. According to Hyatt's own award chart update , top-tier Category F all-inclusive properties could cost as much as 85,000 points per night at the Top redemption level — compared to current peak pricing, that's a meaningful jump for a segment that was already expensive.

Catch: All-inclusive pricing is per room and typically based on double occupancy. Solo travelers or those traveling as a single adult in a couple already navigate awkward pricing here — and more tiers means more variables to track when you're planning around school calendars, travel companions, or limited PTO.

Takeaway: If you have a specific all-inclusive on your radar, research it now. Check current pricing and book before May if you can. For speculative planning, wait until April's category list is released.

The case for fewer points tourists — and more award availability

Here's an angle the hand-wringing posts are missing: higher point costs at peak times may actually reduce competition for award nights. If the casual points collector decides it's not worth it, that creates breathing room for those of us who plan ahead and hold enough points. Award availability at desirable properties has often been the real constraint — not the point cost itself. It's too early to know how this plays out, but it's worth holding that possibility alongside the negatives.

Takeaway: Potentially good news for strategic planners. If you're willing to build your points balance intentionally, you may find less competition for the redemptions that matter to you.

Meanwhile: Hilton is paying attention

This week's Hyatt news didn't drop in a vacuum. American Express and Hilton simultaneously launched elevated welcome offers across their co-branded credit cards, with bonuses ranging from 70,000 to 175,000 Hilton Honors points depending on the card, all running through April 15, 2026. Hotel chains watch each other, and Hilton knows a Hyatt shakeup is a moment to recruit.

If Hilton already fits your travel patterns, the timing is worth noting. If it doesn't, no loyalty program drama — especially drama about changes that haven't even been implemented yet — is a good reason to switch ecosystems.

Two things actually getting better

Hyatt also announced two genuine upgrades: the ability to share points digitally, and early award night access for Explorists, Globalists, Lifetime Globalists, and World of Hyatt Credit Cardmembers. The digital points transfer is a real quality-of-life upgrade — the old process involved paper forms, which is exactly as archaic as it sounds. Early award access could be meaningful for booking popular properties or navigating the school-holiday crunch, though details won't be available until April.

Takeaway: Worth noting, worth waiting on details. The early access feature in particular could be a genuine advantage for those of us working around kid schedules or high-demand travel windows.

The moxie bottom line

Hyatt is still the most strategically valuable hotel program for people who use points with intention. These changes are real, and over time they'll cost more for the most desirable stays. But the program isn't dead, and the structure isn't gone — it's more complicated.

The details that actually matter won't be available until April. That's not a reason to do nothing, and it's not a reason to do everything at once. It's a reason to be deliberate: book what you have in mind, hold your points if you don't, and let the urgency cycle run its course without you in it.

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