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Hyatt still uses a published award chart with fixed prices. Each hotel sits in one of eight categories, and since May 2026 each category has five price levels (Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper and Top) instead of three. The level for a given night depends on demand at that hotel. To pay the fewest points, check the hotel's calendar for Lowest or Low nights and move your dates if you can.
What we'd do first: search the hotel on Hyatt's site or app with "use points" switched on, and look at the price across a few weeks, not just your first-choice date.
What Hyatt announced
In a February 25, 2026 release, Hyatt said that "Beginning in May, World of Hyatt will expand from three to five redemption levels within each of its existing eight categories", named the levels "Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper and Top", and said it remains committed to "fixed point thresholds rather than moving to dynamic pricing for award nights" (Hyatt newsroom, February 25, 2026, checked 13 Nov 2026, 22:31 Lima).
It also said it would implement the change gradually, "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", and that annual category changes would be "announced in April", with reservations already made "honored as booked".
The same release previewed digital points sharing "later this year" and early award access for Explorists, Globalists, Lifetime Globalists and World of Hyatt credit cardmembers, with "more details coming soon". Check Hyatt's site for whether these have launched.
How the chart works
Think of the chart as a grid. Category sets the hotel's price band, from Category 1 (the lowest) to Category 8 (the highest). Level sets the price for a specific night within that band. A Category 4 hotel might price a quiet Tuesday at Lowest and a holiday weekend at Upper.
The price for each category and level is fixed: Hyatt says it uses "fixed point thresholds". What changes from night to night is the level, not the number for a level.
What the points cost
We couldn't load Hyatt's own chart page when writing this, so we don't state official figures. Independent sites (context only, not confirmed on Hyatt's pages) report the five levels at roughly 3,000 to 9,000 points a night for Category 1 and 35,000 to 75,000 for Category 8. Before booking, check the official chart and the hotel's price on Hyatt's site.
A worked example (hypothetical)
Hypothetical figures, to show how the levels change the cost of a three-night stay at one hotel:
- All three nights at Low: 3 × 15,000 = 45,000 points.
- Two at Low, one at Upper: 15,000 + 15,000 + 25,000 = 55,000 points.
- All three at Top: 3 × 30,000 = 90,000 points.
At an assumed 1¢ per point yardstick (our assumption), that's \$450, \$550 or \$900 of points. Moving one night can cost or save more than the price of a dinner out. The figures are illustrations, not Hyatt's chart.
How to find the cheapest nights
- Use the calendar view. Hyatt's search can show points prices across dates; look for the lowest level.
- Shift by a day. Weekday and weekend demand differ by hotel type: city hotels are often cheaper at weekends, resorts mid-week.
- Book early for peak seasons. Upper and Top nights tend to cluster around holidays and events.
- Watch April. Category changes are announced then; book before a hotel moves up.
- Compare with cash. If the cash rate is low, pay cash and keep the points. Our guide to cents per point shows the maths.
Where the points come from
Hyatt points come from staying, from Hyatt's co-branded cards, and by transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt. Our guide to moving Chase points to Hyatt covers the Chase route; transfers are final, so check the hotel's price before moving points.
What the change means in practice
Under the old three-level chart, most nights sat at the standard price, with off-peak and peak either side. Five levels give Hyatt more room at both ends. Hyatt says the extra levels let it "manage peak demand more precisely", and that only "limited hotels" would move "a limited number of nights" into Upper and Top in 2026. For travelers, that suggests most nights in 2026 look much as before, with some peak dates at popular hotels costing more. Hyatt hasn't published which hotels or how many nights, so check your hotel's calendar rather than assuming.
Who gets the most from the chart
- Flexible travelers. If you can move by a day or two, you can often find a cheaper level.
- Off-season travelers. Resorts out of season and city hotels at weekends tend to price lower.
- People with Chase or Bilt points. Transfers give a route to Hyatt points without staying.
- Long stays at mid-category hotels. The points per night add up, so the level matters more on a five-night stay than on one night.
Free night certificates
Hyatt's co-branded cards and status milestones can include free night certificates, each tied to a category limit. Terms vary by certificate, including whether a peak night is allowed, so read the certificate's own terms in your account. Our guide to using free night certificates compares Hyatt's with other chains'.
Mistakes to avoid
- Transferring before checking the level. Transfers are final; price the nights first.
- Assuming one price per hotel. Each night can sit at a different level.
- Missing the April notice. A category rise can make your hotel cost more.
- Ignoring the cash rate. Points aren't always the better choice.
Trade-offs
- Fixed chart, more levels. Predictable, but peak nights can now cost more than under three levels.
- Category changes yearly. A hotel can move up; booking ahead locks the current price.
- Points or cash. Low cash rates make points poor value; high cash rates at Lowest-level nights are where points shine.
Fallback
If your dates price at Upper or Top, try a nearby Hyatt in a lower category, change dates, or pay cash. You can also compare with other hotel programs; our guide to award charts and dynamic pricing explains the difference.
Hyatt award chart: FAQs
Does Hyatt use dynamic pricing?
Hyatt says no: it keeps "fixed point thresholds". The level for a night varies; the price for each level doesn't.
When did the five levels start?
Hyatt said "Beginning in May" 2026, with a limited rollout of Upper and Top in 2026.
Are existing bookings affected by a category change?
Hyatt says reservations made before a change "will be honored as booked".
Do all-inclusive Hyatt resorts use the same chart?
Hyatt's release says the five levels apply within its existing eight categories; check the resort's own page for its category and award price, which may be per person or per room.
How do I know a hotel's category?
It's shown on the hotel's page on Hyatt's site.
Can I share points with family?
Hyatt said digital points sharing would come "later this year". Check whether it has launched.