World of Hyatt Hotel Category Changes 2025

According to some folks, the Ides of March are almost here, more commonly known as the World of Hyatt hotel category changes for 2025. But it’s not as doom and gloom as some would have you think.

As with last year’s changes to Hyatt hotel categories, you have time to book your hotels at current award chart rates.

But at the stroke of 8 am CT on March 25, 2026, these 151 hotels will change categories. The majority, 118 hotels, will go up a higher category and 33 hotels will decrease in category.

Pro-tip: When a hotel changes category, the Points + Cash rates also increase or decrease.

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These Are The Category 4 Hotels You Should Book Now

If you have a Category 1 to 4 free night award from a Milestone reward, a Brand Explorer award, or the World of Hyatt credit card, these are the Category 4 hotels you should book now.

Because these 11 hotels are moving up a category. When they change to a Category 5, these hotels won’t allow you to use your free night award.

Pro-tip: If a hotel you’re planning to stay at is one of the 6 hotels moving down from Category 5 to Category 4, book it now with points.

Then call your My Hyatt Concierge if you’re a World of Hyatt Globalist, to swap out the points for a Free Night Award (FNA).

What Happens If Your Hotel Goes Down a Category

If your hotel goes down a category and costs fewer Hyatt points, you’ll get an automatic refund of the overage.

If you booked a week at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa for a stay after the end of March, you’ll get some points back. Because the Hyatt Regency Maui is moving from a Category 7 hotel to a Category 6 hotel.

The 35,000 points (5,000 points a night difference) will get deposited into your account sometime after March 26, 2025.

Hyatt processes them in batches so it takes a little bit of time. You can be patient and wait or you can cancel and rebook if you want or need the points sooner vs later.

Pro-tip: I tried the automatic process in 2023 but my Hyatt point spreadsheet didn’t match with the total showing in my Hyatt account. So I cancel and rebook.

What Happens if You Change a Reservation

If you change a reservation on or after March 25, 2025, the new award chart will apply.

If the hotel moves down a category, you will receive a refund for the point difference. However, if the hotel moves up a category, you will have to pay more points.

Pro-tip: If you want to stay for multiple nights but aren’t sure of your exact dates, book single night stays. This allows you to drop off a night if you shorten your stay without having to pay more points for your entire stay.

What Happens if You Change the Date on a Free Night Award

Be careful if have to change your reservation, your stay could cost more points.

The new hotel category chart applies to rooms booked using a free night award.

Let’s say you booked the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile for mid-July, using a Free Night award. But next month you realize you should change your reservation to the end of July to catch the final stage of the Tour de France.

You’re out of luck.

Because that hotel is moving up to a Category 5 hotel, if you change your date, you can’t use your Category 1 to 4 certificate.

Conclusion

Be sure to book your future Hyatt stays at the 118 hotels that will move up in category before 8 am CT on March 25, 2025, when the new World of Hyatt award chart changes.

Start with the hotels where you won’t be able to use your free night award.

What hotel are you booking before it increases in point cost?

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Photos courtesy World of Hyatt