World of Hyatt News: Postponing Category Changes and Peak/Off-Peak Pricing and Waiving Certain Cancellation Fees

The Confidante Hotel, Miami Beach

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, World of Hyatt has issued a number of announcements today:

Waiving Certain Change & Cancellation fees: 

— Existing reservations for upcoming travel between March 14 and April 30, 2020:

Reservations made before March 13, 2020 for arrivals between March 14 and April 30, 2020 can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival. This includes Advance Purchase Rate reservations.

— New reservations for any future travel:

Reservation made between March 13, 2020, and April 30, 2020 – for any future arrival date – can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival. This includes Advance Purchase Rate reservations.

— Existing Advance Purchase Rate non-refundable reservations for travel through June 2020:

As previously announced, special exceptions are in place for all Advance Purchase Rate non-refundable reservations made directly with Hyatt on or before March 8, 2020 for arrivals before June 30, 2020. Guests holding these fully prepaid reservations who have decided not to travel may still opt at least 24 hours before their stay to receive 10,000 World of Hyatt Bonus Points compensation in lieu of both their stay and the offer above (if eligible). World of Hyatt points may be used toward future travel at any of Hyatt hotels and brands.

Suspending Points Forfeiture:

Hyatt will suspend the forfeiture of points through May 31, 2020. (Ordinarily, Hyatt points are forfeited if a member’s account is inactive for 24 consecutive months).

Postponing Award Chart Changes:

Peak/Off-Peak Postponed

Hyatt is postponing the introduction of Off-peak and Peak point redemption (originally planned for March 22, 2020) until some date in 2021 (to be later announced). This means that free-night redemptions will continue to be at the current standard rates for the time being.

Category Changes Postponed for all but 5 Properties

Hyatt is postponing the annual hotel award category changes (originally planned for March 22, 2020) until 2021, with the exception of five hotels still shifting award categories on March 22, 2020. Those hotels and their new category assignments include:

Any free night award and Points + Cash redemptions booked at these hotels on or after Sunday, March 22 at 8:00 am CDT will follow the new Award Chart. Members who have existing award bookings for a night after Sunday, March 22 that moves to a lower award category will receive an automatic one-time refund on the point difference. Points will be refunded in members’ accounts starting on Monday, March 23. Once changes go into effect on Sunday, March 22 at 8:00 am CDT, any adjustments made to existing reservations will follow the terms of the new Award Chart.

Stay safe and healthy everyone!!