If you’ve been sitting on a stash of Chase Ultimate Rewards® or World of Hyatt points, listen up… the clock is ticking. On May 20, 2026, World of Hyatt is rolling out both a brand-new award chart structure and category changes that will make dozens of hotels more expensive to book with points. That’s a double whammy, and it’s happening fast.

I’m going to break down exactly which hotels are going up, which ones are coming down, and most importantly, what you need to do before 9 a.m. EST on May 20 to lock in current pricing.

What’s Actually Changing on May 20

There are two separate things happening at the same time, and it’s important to understand both:

1. A new award chart structure. Hyatt is moving from 3 pricing tiers per category to 5 pricing tiers per category. This means even if a hotel stays in the same category, you could pay more points per night depending on when you’re booking and how in-demand that hotel is. The range within each category is getting wider… and the high end of that range is higher than before.

Hyatt’s Current vs. New Chart:

2. Hotel category changes. 136 properties are shifting categories on May 20. Of those, 112 are going up and only 24 are going down. That’s 82% moving in the wrong direction for us as points enthusiasts.

Bottom line: the combination of these two changes means your points won’t stretch as far after May 20. Booking now, before the deadline, will save you tons of points.

The Hotels You Should Book Before May 20

Here are the ones worth paying attention to…properties I’d consider booking before May 20, especially if you’ve had any of these destinations on your radar.

You can view the full list of hotels changing here.

Japan

Japan is one of the absolute best destinations to visit with points, and a few Hyatt properties there are about to get pricier.

• Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay — Category 3 → 4
• Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka — Category 2 → 3
• Hyatt Place Kyoto — Category 2 → 3
• Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya — Category 5 → 6

If a Japan trip is anywhere on your radar, and based on the response I got to my Japan Family Travel Guide, I know it’s on many of yours, then these hotels are worth booking NOW. Hyatt Place Kyoto, in particular, has been a fantastic value for families. Once it jumps to Category 3, it will be a little pricier for those families that need two rooms.

Mexico

• Alila Mayakoba — Category 6 → 7

Alila Mayakoba just reopened after a full renovation, and it’s already moving up to Category 7. It has been one of the most beautiful Hyatt properties in Mexico, and a Category 7 redemption isn’t cheap. If this has been on your bucket list, seriously consider locking something in before May 20.

Caribbean

• Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa — Category C → D
• Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino — Category 7 → 8

Secrets St. Lucia is part of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, so it runs on a separate A–F category scale, but moving from C to D still means more points per night for what is an absolutely stunning all-inclusive resort.

This property has been on my bucket list since I have never visited Saint Lucia, and it looks like a fantastic all-inclusive. Saint Lucia looks like a stunning destination, and if you’ve been dreaming about it, now’s the time to book.

The Hyatt Regency Aruba is jumping to Category 7 to 8. Category 8 is the top of the chart, and with the new 5-tier pricing structure, you could be looking at a serious points hit per night. Aruba has some of the most beautiful blue water I’ve ever seen, so if you love beach vacations, you may consider booking.

Europe

Europe is getting hit with several notable increases:

• Grand Hyatt Athens — Category 3 → 4
• Hyatt Regency Lisbon — Category 4 → 5
• Hyatt Regency Hesperia Madrid — Category 4 → 5
• Park Hyatt London River Thames — Category 7 → 8

The Park Hyatt London moving to Category 8 is significant. Category 8 is the top of the chart, and at 5 pricing tiers within that category, you could be looking at a lot of points per night. If London is on your list, book before May 20. This property gets rave reviews, and I’ll be bummed if I don’t get to experience it before it increases.

Take note that both the Hyatt Regency Lisbon and Hyatt Regency Madrid are jumping to Category 5, which means they’ll no longer be bookable with Category 1–4 free night certificates.

Grand Hyatt Athens is bittersweet for me as we’ve actually stayed here as a family, and it’s such a great property at an affordable rate. It’s modern, has a stunning rooftop pool, and the club lounge is nice, especially for the price point. The good news? Even moving up to Category 4, it’s still bookable with Category 1–4 free night certificates. So if you have one sitting in your account, this is honestly a fantastic use of it.

USA

Several U.S. properties are also going up in category:

• Andaz 5th Avenue (New York) — Category 7 → 8
• Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort (Orlando) — Category 4 → 5
• Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe — Category 5 → 6
• Hyatt Regency Seattle — Category 4 → 5
• Hyatt Regency Coral Gables — Category 4 → 5

For families who love using Category 1–4 free night certificates, the Hyatt Regency Seattle, Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, and Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress are jumping to Category 5, which puts them out of range for those lower-tier certificates. If you have one expiring, now is the time to use it.

The Grand Cypress is such a great property for families with endless activities. Here’s our full review below.

Related: Full Review of the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort

The Andaz 5th Avenue jumping to Category 8 is a bit much. These are great hotels, but Category 8 alongside the most iconic luxury properties in the world? It’s a stretch.

We actually have a stay booked at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe this summer, and I cannot wait! The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe is an iconic lakefront property sitting right on the shores of one of the most breathtaking lakes in the entire country. It’s currently going through a full property renovation, so it’s going to be even more stunning than before.

If you’ve never been to Lake Tahoe, put it on your list.

What’s Getting Cheaper (Yes, There’s Some Good News)

Not every property is going up. A handful are actually dropping in category, which means they’ll cost fewer points after May 20:

• Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver — Category 4 → 3
• Hyatt Centric Playa Del Carmen — Category 4 → 3
• The Standard, Singapore — Category 5 → 4
• Hyatt Place London City East — Category 4 → 3

If you have stays booked at any of these properties already, great news: Hyatt will automatically refund you the points difference starting May 20.

How to Book Before the Deadline

The key rule: any reservation made before May 20 at 9 a.m. EST is locked in at current award chart pricing, even if your stay is months away, or even into early 2027. That’s a huge protection.

Here’s what to do:

1. Identify your target hotels from the list above.
2. Book the stay now, even if your dates aren’t 100% confirmed. Hyatt award cancellations are generally flexible.
3. Do NOT modify the reservation after May 20th; any changes after the deadline will reprice at the new rates.

If you’re not sure how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® to Hyatt for the best value, check out my full guide below:

Read: How to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards® at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts for a nearly free stay!

My Personal Take

Every year, Hyatt does category adjustments, and it’s expected. But this year feels different because of the simultaneous shift to a 5-tier award chart. Even properties that stay in their current category could get more expensive at peak pricing. And the hotels moving up in category on top of that? It compounds quickly.

Remember, don’t hoard your points! Every devaluation is a reminder that the best time to use them is now. Japan, Saint Lucia, & Florida… these are trips worth taking, and they’re trips you can take for far less than you think with the right points strategy. But that strategy gets harder after May 20.

Book now to lock in the value so you have no regrets after May 20th.

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