#31 This week on Rewarding Routes, we're breaking down the biggest Hyatt news in years the World of Hyatt award chart overhaul. In this episode, we're talking about what's changing in May 2026 and what it means for anyone using Hyatt points for Japan travel. We'll break down the new five-tier pricing system, discuss how the changes hit peak travel seasons like cherry blossom and Golden Week the hardest, and share a real example using our upcoming Hyatt Place Kyoto stay to show exactly what these changes cost in points.

Tune in to learn how to protect your points value before May, identify when the new chart actually works in your favor, and make smarter booking decisions for your Japan trips going forward.

What You'll Learn from This Episode

• How Hyatt's new five-tier award chart (Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper, Top) compares to the current Off-Peak, Standard, and Peak system and why it feels like a step toward dynamic pricing
• Why the "Top" tier is the biggest hit, with some categories seeing 50–67% point increases over current peak pricing
• A real breakdown using Hyatt Place Kyoto (Category 2) how a 7-night stay goes from 56,000 points at standard to 70,000 at Moderate, and from 84,000 to 126,000 points during cherry blossom season
• Why booking before May could save you tens of thousands of points and what happens to your booking if a hotel's category changes
• How to get one month of early access to award availability through the World of Hyatt card or Explorist status, and why that matters more than ever with the new lowest tier

Featured on the Show

• 📰 Full Hyatt Award Chart Breakdown — The Points Guy: https://thepointsguy.com/news/world-of-hyatt-award-chart-major-changes/
• 📸 Follow John on Instagram for category change updates: @itsjohndiaz
• 🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Leave a 5 Star Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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