Unverified World of Hyatt Rumours: Category 9 and 10 Incoming, New Premium Credit Card, and Award Top-offs

The World of Hyatt programme has long been a favourite among points enthusiasts, primarily due to its transparent, fixed award chart and the value offered by the program. However, if recent rumours are to be believed, the Hyatt ecosystem is bracing for a massive changes ahead. A detailed post recently surfaced on Reddit suggesting that while the core structure of the award chart remains, the introduction of higher categories and a new Super Peak mechanic for select-service brands indicates that Hyatt is looking to increase pricing elasticity at both the very top and bottom of its portfolio.

Photo Credit: Park Hyatt Kyoto

New Category 9 and 10 Award Tiers

The most significant rumour for luxury travellers is the introduction of Category 9 and Category 10 tiers. Currently, the World of Hyatt award chart tops out at Category 8 (40,000 points at standard rates). Under the rumoured changes, Category 9 will require 50,000 points, while Category 10 will sit at 60,000 points for a standard night. This move is reportedly designed to further elevate the Park Hyatt brand. It is expected that iconic properties like the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme and Park Hyatt Tokyo will migrate to Category 9, while the Park Hyatt Kyoto could potentially be the sole occupant of Category 10 at launch.

Photo Credit: Andaz Bali

Free Night Awards: Top-Offs and Category Expansion

In a rare piece of good news, Hyatt's Free Night Awards (FNAs) are reportedly being expanded to keep pace with the category shifts:

• Category 1-4 Certificates will become Category 1-5.

• Category 1-7 Certificates will become Category 1-8.

Furthermore, Hyatt is rumoured to be introducing a top-off feature. Explorists will be able to top off a Category 1-5 certificate to book up to a Category 7 property using points. Globalists will have even more flexibility, with the ability to top off any certificate for use at any property in the portfolio. Note that the top-off amount will be calculated based on standard redemption rates. For instance, using a Category 5 certificate for a Category 7 stay would require an additional 5,000 to 15,000 points depending on the specific property’s band.

Photo Credit: Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya

The Super Peak Mechanic for Select Service

To protect margins during high-demand events (like the Super Bowl or Formula 1), Hyatt is reportedly introducing a Super Peak mechanic for select-service brands like Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, and Caption. Instead of a fixed point ceiling, pricing during these windows will be tied to a floor of 1.5 cents per point (cpp). However, this is capped at the peak pricing of two categories higher than the hotel’s current assignment. For example, if a Category 3 Hyatt Place is retailing for US$450, the price would float to 23,000 points (Category 5 peak) rather than a pure 30,000-point conversion. This mechanic will be limited to 10 nights per property per year.

New Premium Park Hyatt Credit Card

A new ultra-premium co-branded credit card with Chase is also rumoured to be on the horizon. Carrying a US$795 annual fee, the card is aimed squarely at the high-end market. Crucially, while the card offers a path to Globalist status with just 20 nights, these earned Globalists will not trigger Milestone Rewards like Suite Upgrade Awards (SUAs) or the My Hyatt Concierge until they hit the actual 60-night requirement.

While these details are currently just rumours circulating on Reddit, they represent a clear strategic shift for World of Hyatt. The introduction of Category 9 and 10 would be a significant devaluation for top-tier redemptions, but the expansion of Free Night Awards and the introduction of top-off functionality would provide much-needed utility for members.