World of Hyatt has long stood out for having one of the most predictable hotel award charts in the industry. Travelers could look at a hotel’s category and quickly estimate how many points they would need for a free night. That clarity made planning easier, especially for those saving up for high-end or aspirational stays.
That structure is now changing.
Beginning in 2026, Hyatt will expand its current three-tier pricing system (off-peak, standard, peak) into a five-tier structure. While Hyatt will still publish an award chart, the additional pricing levels give the company more flexibility to adjust redemption costs based on demand.
In practical terms, award pricing will move closer to demand-based pricing — even if it is not officially labeled as fully dynamic.
What’s Changing?
Instead of three pricing bands per hotel category, there will now be five. This allows Hyatt to price rooms more precisely depending on travel demand.
When demand is low, pricing may fall into the lowest tiers.
When demand is very high, pricing can rise significantly into the top tier.
The most noticeable impact will likely be at the highest tier. In some cases, award costs at popular or luxury properties could rise substantially compared to today’s peak rates — potentially increasing by as much as 60% or more during high-demand periods.
Who Is Most Affected?
These changes will likely impact:
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Luxury and top-tier properties
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Resort destinations during holidays
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Major cities during large events
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Peak summer or winter travel periods
Travelers who regularly redeem points for high-end stays or during busy travel seasons may see the largest increases in required points.
For more flexible travelers who can travel during slower periods, there may still be solid value — particularly in the lower pricing tiers.
Is Hyatt Becoming Fully Dynamic?
Not entirely.
Unlike fully dynamic programs where point costs fluctuate directly with cash prices, Hyatt will continue to publish an award chart. However, adding two additional tiers reduces predictability at the upper end of pricing.
The result is a hybrid system: structured categories remain, but pricing can vary more widely within them.
What This Means Strategically
For frequent travelers and points collectors, this update reinforces several important principles:
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Advance Planning Becomes More Important
Locking in high-demand stays earlier may protect against top-tier pricing. -
Flexibility Has Greater Value
Traveling during shoulder or off-peak seasons may produce stronger redemption value. -
Luxury Redemptions Require More Points
Aspirational properties may demand larger balances during peak demand. -
Hyatt Still Offers Strong Value
Despite these changes, Hyatt remains one of the more favorable hotel programs compared to competitors that have fully abandoned award charts.
The Bigger Picture
Loyalty programs evolve over time, often adjusting pricing structures to better align with market demand. Hyatt’s update does not eliminate its award chart, but it introduces more variability within it.
For travelers at every level — from beginners to seasoned award bookers — the key takeaway is simple:
Understand the new pricing tiers, monitor demand patterns, and adjust booking strategies accordingly.
The fundamentals of earning and redeeming points remain the same. What changes is how important timing and flexibility become in maximizing value.
Hyatt Award Pricing Changes Begin May 2026 — What Travelers Need to Know
World of Hyatt is making a significant update to its award pricing structure, and the changes officially take effect in May 2026.
For years, Hyatt has been praised for maintaining a relatively predictable award chart. Each hotel category had three pricing levels: off-peak, standard, and peak. That system made it easy to estimate how many points you would need before even selecting dates.
Starting in May 2026, Hyatt will expand that structure from three pricing tiers to five.
What Is Changing in May 2026?
Beginning in May 2026:
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Hyatt will move from 3 pricing tiers to 5 pricing tiers.
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Award pricing will vary more widely within each hotel category.
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The highest tier will allow for significantly higher point costs during strong demand periods.
Hyatt will still maintain a published award chart, but the additional tiers provide more flexibility to increase pricing when demand is elevated.
In practical terms, this makes the program behave closer to demand-based pricing — even though it is not fully dynamic.
How Big Could the Increases Be?
At the top pricing tier, some hotels — particularly higher-category and luxury properties — could see award costs rise by up to 60% or more compared to today’s current peak rates.
The largest impact is expected at:
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Luxury and flagship properties
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Resort destinations during holidays
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Popular cities during major events
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High-season travel periods
Travelers redeeming for premium experiences during busy times will likely feel the greatest impact.
What This Means for Travelers
With the new pricing structure launching in May 2026, here are a few key considerations:
1. Booking Before May 2026 May Protect Current Rates
If you have aspirational stays in mind, securing reservations before the new structure goes live could lock in lower pricing under the existing system.
2. Flexibility Will Become More Valuable
Traveling during shoulder seasons or less popular periods may offer better redemption value under the expanded tier system.
3. Larger Point Balances May Be Needed
High-demand stays may require significantly more points once the new pricing tiers are active.
Is Hyatt Going Fully Dynamic?
No. Hyatt will still maintain a category-based award chart. However, expanding from three to five pricing tiers introduces greater variability, especially at the upper end of pricing.
This creates a hybrid structure: still chart-based, but with wider swings depending on demand.
Final Thoughts
The changes taking effect in May 2026 represent one of the most notable updates to Hyatt’s loyalty program in years. While Hyatt remains one of the stronger hotel programs in terms of value, predictability at peak times will decrease.
For travelers of all experience levels, the strategy remains the same: Plan ahead, monitor demand, and use flexibility to maximize value.
Understanding how these changes work now will help you make smarter redemption decisions before and after May 2026.
