Coronavirus: World of Hyatt Updates Due To COVID-19

As the travel industry continues to deal with the rapidly escalating COVID-19 situation, World of Hyatt has made some consumer friendly changes. These changes, while expected due decreasing demand, are still a welcome positive.

Hyatt suspending points forfeiture

World of Hyatt points are ordinarily forfeited after 24 months of inactivity. This policy has been suspended through May 31, 2020, and there’s a good chance that will be extended.

Hyatt postponing peak and off-peak award pricing

In 2019, one of the biggest changes World of Hyatt announced for 2020 was the introduction of peak and off-peak award pricing. This was scheduled to be implemented on March 22, 2020. Due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19, Hyatt has postponed these changes until 2021.

Hyatt postponing hotel category changes

In addition to peak and off-peak award pricing, category changes were set to impact 217 hotels later this month with 117 properties shifting to higher categories, and 100 shifting to lower categories.

Hyatt will also be delaying any category changes until 2021, with five exceptions:

• The Park Hyatt Mallorca will move from Category 6 to Category 5

• The Hyatt Centric Park City will move from Category 6 to Category 7

• The Park Hyatt Shenzhen will move from Category 4 to Category 5

• The Alila Yangshuo will move from Category 4 to Category 5

• The Park Hyatt Ningbo will move from Category 3 to Category 4

Conclusion

Given the ongoing rapid decrease in demand for travel, these are welcome changes. And we expect more consumer friendly changes moving forward.