Hyatt’s Gold Passport Loyalty program organizes their hotels into 7 categories. The higher the category, the more points required for a free night redemption. Hyatt hotels in category 1 require just 5,000 Hyatt points for a free night redemption. Hyatt Hotels in category 7 require 30,000 points for a free night redemption.
Category 1 hotels are important to Gold Passport members for a few reasons. Members that are close to the required number of stays for a higher status level may be interested in finding the cheapest priced category 1 hotels so they can pay for a few extra hotel nights to retain their current Hyatt status for next year. Other members may be interested in spending their Hyatt points towards hotels in Category 1 that offer the best value for their points.
I created a list of the current Hyatt Category 1 hotels in the US and added the current hotel prices for a weekday and a weekend stay. The list uses January 3, 2017 as the date for a weekday stay and January 14, 2017 as the date for a weekend stay. I then took the one night standard rate cost and divided it by the required point redemption for a free night (5,000 points) to determine a hypothetical point redemption value. The higher the point redemption value, the more value you get for an award redemption at that hotel.
It’s important to be aware that posted hotel prices are subject to change and these values only represent one point in time. However, I think they are a good general barometer for the hotel’s typical cost. They are also a good resource for anyone just looking to find the closest Category 1 Hyatt hotel.
Point Value
What exactly is the value of a Hyatt point? Valuing a loyalty points currency is highly subjective. However, it’s important to make some type of estimate for the base value of a Hyatt point in order to determine whether a given hotel redemption represents better value compared to another hotel nearby.
Another argument is that all loyalty points decline in value over time (since airlines and hotels regularly devalue their points) so your better off just spending loyalty points as fast as possible towards the best options currently available because the loyalty points will always lose value over time. Both arguments have merit.
My philosophy is that I try to spend the points as quickly as I can but I also try to maximize the point redemptions as much as possible. So I do believe there is merit estimating a base value for a Hyatt point even if the value is only a general guide.
Point Value Sources
There are a few places to find potential values for Hyatt points:
I can purchase points directly from Hyatt at prices ranging from $24 for 1,000 points ($.024 per point) to $1,320 for 55,000 points ($.024 per point).
The average point redemption value from my list of category 1 Hyatt hotels in the US (based on the posted standard rate cost) for an average weekend is $.022.
So in very general terms you could hypothetically say the value of a Hyatt point ranges anywhere from $.018 to $.024. If you find a redemption opportunity greater than $.024 per point, your getting great value for your points and if you redeem your points for less than $.018 per point, you might not be getting a great value for your redemption. But always remember your points are worth $0 if you never redeem them at all so take those values with a grain of salt. Any redemption is better than no redemption.
Category 1 Options
The vast majority of Hyatt Category 1 hotels represent limited service Hyatt Place and Hyatt House properties. However, there are a few instances of full service Hyatt Regency properties listed as Category 1 hotels. If I have a choice between staying at a Hyatt Regency or a Hyatt Place / House, I always choose a Hyatt Regency.
I sorted the following table to show Hyatt Regency Category 1 hotels with the highest point redemption values for a weekend night in January 2017:
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Wisconsin
Hyatt Regency Green Bay
5,000
$96
$200
$0.0192
$0.0400
Illinois
Hyatt Regency Lisle near Naperville
5,000
$99
$117
$0.0198
$0.0234
Kansas
Hyatt Regency Wichita
5,000
$90
$108
$0.0180
$0.0216
Oklahoma
Hyatt Regency Tulsa
5,000
$117
$108
$0.0234
$0.0216
Illinois
Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Chicago
5,000
$135
$99
$0.0270
$0.0198
Virginia
Hyatt Regency Dulles
5,000
$110
$93
$0.0220
$0.0186
Virginia
Hyatt Regency Fairfax
5,000
$108
$90
$0.0216
$0.0180
Texas
Hyatt Regency North Dallas
5,000
$93
$89
$0.0186
$0.0178
New Mexico
Hyatt Regency Albuquerque
5,000
$79
$79
$0.0158
$0.0158
If you happen to be near one of the Hyatt Regency’s on the list, your best value point redemption would be the Hyatt Regency in Green Bay and the Hyatt Regency in Naperville. If I needed a few more nights to make the next status tier at Hyatt, the cheapest options would be the Hyatt Regency in Albuquerque or North Dallas.
Alabama
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Alabama
Hyatt Place Birmingham/Hoover
5,000
$76
$90
$0.0152
$0.0180
Alabama
Hyatt Place Birmingham/Inverness
5,000
$81
$85
$0.0162
$0.0170
Arizona
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Arizona
Hyatt Place Tempe/Phoenix Airport
5,000
$110
$241
$0.0220
$0.0482
Arizona
Hyatt Place Phoenix/Mesa
5,000
$109
$189
$0.0218
$0.0378
Arizona
Hyatt Place Phoenix/Chandler-Fashion Center
5,000
$144
$178
$0.0288
$0.0356
Arizona
Hyatt Place Phoenix/Gilbert
5,000
$89
$161
$0.0178
$0.0322
Arizona
Hyatt Place Phoenix-North
5,000
$94
$153
$0.0188
$0.0306
Arizona
Hyatt Place Tucson Airport
5,000
$93
$80
$0.0186
$0.0160
Arkansas
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Arkansas
Hyatt Place Rogers/Bentonville
5,000
$118
$110
$0.0236
$0.0220
Colorado
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Colorado
Hyatt House Colorado Springs
5,000
$89
$80
$0.0178
$0.0160
Florida
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Florida
Hyatt Place Fort Myers/at The Forum
5,000
$119
$161
$0.0238
$0.0322
Florida
Hyatt Place Lake Mary/Orlando-North
5,000
$153
$153
$0.0306
$0.0306
Florida
Hyatt Place Orlando Airport
5,000
$112
$120
$0.0224
$0.0240
Florida
Hyatt Place Jacksonville Airport
5,000
$108
$94
$0.0216
$0.0188
Georgia
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Georgia
Hyatt Place Atlanta/Cobb Galleria
5,000
$105
n/a
$0.0210
n/a
Georgia
Hyatt House Atlanta/Cobb Galleria
5,000
$112
$176
$0.0224
$0.0352
Georgia
Hyatt Place Atlanta Airport-North
5,000
$108
$164
$0.0216
$0.0328
Georgia
Hyatt Place Atlanta Airport-South
5,000
$95
$139
$0.0190
$0.0278
Georgia
Hyatt Place Atlanta/Duluth/Johns Creek
5,000
$118
$127
$0.0236
$0.0254
Georgia
Hyatt Place Atlanta/Perimeter Center
5,000
$189
$126
$0.0378
$0.0252
Georgia
Hyatt Place Atlanta-East/Lithonia
5,000
$99
$117
$0.0198
$0.0234
Georgia
Hyatt Place Atlanta/Alpharetta/Windward Parkway
5,000
$162
$108
$0.0324
$0.0216
Georgia
Hyatt Place Columbus-North
5,000
$85
$93
$0.0170
$0.0186
Georgia
Hyatt Place Atlanta/Duluth/Gwinnett Mall
5,000
$83
$79
$0.0166
$0.0158
Georgia
Hyatt Place Atlanta/Alpharetta/North Point Mall
5,000
$152
$76
$0.0304
$0.0152
Georgia
Hyatt Place Atlanta/Norcross/Peachtree
5,000
$72
$72
$0.0144
$0.0144
Idaho
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Idaho
Hyatt Place Boise/Towne Square
5,000
$123
$99
$0.0246
$0.0198
Illinois
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Illinois
Hyatt Regency Lisle near Naperville
5,000
$99
$117
$0.0198
$0.0234
Illinois
Hyatt Place Bloomington/Normal
5,000
$117
$108
$0.0234
$0.0216
Illinois
Hyatt Place Chicago/Lombard/Oak Brook
5,000
$99
$108
$0.0198
$0.0216
Illinois
Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Chicago
5,000
$135
$99
$0.0270
$0.0198
Illinois
Hyatt House Chicago/Naperville/Warrenville
5,000
$108
$94
$0.0216
$0.0188
Illinois
Hyatt Place Chicago/Itasca
5,000
$90
$90
$0.0180
$0.0180
Illinois
Hyatt Place Chicago/Naperville/Warrenville
5,000
$102
$89
$0.0204
$0.0178
Illinois
Hyatt House Chicago/Schaumburg
5,000
$85
$80
$0.0170
$0.0160
Illinois
Hyatt Place Chicago/Hoffman Estates
5,000
$93
$80
$0.0186
$0.0160
Illinois
Hyatt Place Chicago/Schaumburg
5,000
$104
$80
$0.0208
$0.0160
Illinois
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Indiana
Hyatt Place Fort Wayne
5,000
$121
$148
$0.0242
$0.0296
Indiana
Hyatt Place Indianapolis Airport
5,000
$114
$126
$0.0228
$0.0252
Kansas
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Kansas
Hyatt Place Kansas City/Lenexa City Center
5,000
$108
$121
$0.0216
$0.0242
Kansas
Hyatt Place Topeka
5,000
$153
$120
$0.0306
$0.0240
Kansas
Hyatt Place Kansas City/Overland Park/Convention Center
5,000
$117
$108
$0.0234
$0.0216
Kansas
Hyatt Place Kansas City/Overland Park/Metcalf
5,000
$119
$108
$0.0238
$0.0216
Kansas
Hyatt Regency Wichita
5,000
$90
$108
$0.0180
$0.0216
Kentucky
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Kentucky
Hyatt Place Cincinnati Airport/Florence
5,000
$139
$117
$0.0278
$0.0234
Kentucky
Hyatt Place Bowling Green
5,000
$93
$102
$0.0186
$0.0204
Louisiana
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Louisiana
Hyatt Place Baton Rouge/I-10
5,000
$94
$126
$0.0188
$0.0252
Maryland
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Maryland
Hyatt House Gaithersburg
5,000
$119
$93
$0.0238
$0.0186
Michigan
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Michigan
Hyatt Place Detroit/Livonia
5,000
$126
$149
$0.0252
$0.0298
Michigan
Hyatt Place Detroit/Auburn Hills
5,000
$121
$148
$0.0242
$0.0296
Michigan
Hyatt Place Detroit/Novi
5,000
$112
$144
$0.0224
$0.0288
Michigan
Hyatt Place Detroit/Utica
5,000
$90
$126
$0.0180
$0.0252
Michigan
Hyatt Place Lansing/Eastwood Towne Center
5,000
$134
$112
$0.0268
$0.0224
Minnesota
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Minnesota
Hyatt Place St. Paul/Downtown
5,000
$127
$127
$0.0254
$0.0254
Mississippi
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Mississippi
Hyatt Place Jackson/Ridgeland
5,000
$119
$106
$0.0238
$0.0212
Mississippi
Hyatt Place Columbus
5,000
$108
$99
$0.0216
$0.0198
Missouri
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Missouri
Hyatt Place St. Louis/Chesterfield
5,000
$127
$102
$0.0254
$0.0204
Missouri
Hyatt Place Kansas City Airport
5,000
$85
$97
$0.0170
$0.0194
New Jersey
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
New Jersey
Hyatt House Mt. Laurel
5,000
$90
$117
$0.0180
$0.0234
New Jersey
Hyatt Place Mt. Laurel
5,000
$120
$88
$0.0240
$0.0176
New Mexico
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
New Mexico
Hyatt Place Albuquerque/Uptown
5,000
$108
$126
$0.0216
$0.0252
New Mexico
Hyatt Regency Albuquerque
5,000
$79
$79
$0.0158
$0.0158
New Mexico
Hyatt Place Albuquerque Airport
5,000
$90
$76
$0.0180
$0.0152
New York
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
New York
Hyatt House Fishkill/Poughkeepsie
5,000
$117
$171
$0.0234
$0.0342
North Carolina
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
North Carolina
Hyatt House Charlotte Airport
5,000
$127
$189
$0.0254
$0.0378
North Carolina
Hyatt Place Charlotte Airport/Lake Pointe
5,000
$159
$129
$0.0318
$0.0258
North Carolina
Hyatt Place North Raleigh-Midtown
5,000
$126
$126
$0.0252
$0.0252
North Carolina
Hyatt Place Charlotte/Arrowood
5,000
$153
$119
$0.0306
$0.0238
North Carolina
Hyatt Place Charlotte Airport/Tyvola Road
5,000
$121
$117
$0.0242
$0.0234
North Carolina
Hyatt Place Durham/Southpoint
5,000
$110
$110
$0.0220
$0.0220
North Carolina
Hyatt Place Greensboro
5,000
$117
$108
$0.0234
$0.0216
North Carolina
Hyatt Place Raleigh-Durham Airport
5,000
$104
$99
$0.0208
$0.0198
North Carolina
Hyatt Place Raleigh West
5,000
$88
$96
$0.0176
$0.0192
North Carolina
Hyatt House Raleigh Durham Airport
5,000
$117
$72
$0.0234
$0.0144
Hyatt Category 1 North Dakota
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
North Dakota
Hyatt House Minot
5,000
$89
$74
$0.0178
$0.0148
Hyatt Category 1 Ohio
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Ohio
Hyatt Place Cleveland/Independence
5,000
$85
$114
$0.0170
$0.0228
Ohio
Hyatt Place Cleveland/Lyndhurst/Legacy Village
5,000
$120
$112
$0.0240
$0.0224
Ohio
Hyatt Place Cleveland/Westlake/Crocker Park
5,000
$126
$108
$0.0252
$0.0216
Ohio
Hyatt Place Canton
5,000
$102
$93
$0.0204
$0.0186
Ohio
Hyatt Place Cincinnati-Northeast
5,000
$102
$93
$0.0204
$0.0186
Ohio
Hyatt Place Columbus/Worthington
5,000
$84
$92
$0.0168
$0.0184
Ohio
Hyatt Place Columbus/Dublin
5,000
$88
$88
$0.0176
$0.0176
Ohio
Hyatt Place Cincinnati/Blue Ash
5,000
$80
$80
$0.0160
$0.0160
Oklahoma
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Oklahoma
Hyatt Place Tulsa-South/Medical District
5,000
$85
$117
$0.0170
$0.0234
Oklahoma
Hyatt Regency Tulsa
5,000
$117
$108
$0.0234
$0.0216
Oklahoma
Hyatt Place Oklahoma City Airport
5,000
$90
$90
$0.0180
$0.0180
Oklahoma
Hyatt Place Oklahoma City-Northwest
5,000
$85
$76
$0.0170
$0.0152
Pennsylvania
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Pennsylvania
Hyatt Place State College
5,000
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Pennsylvania
Hyatt Place Pittsburgh/Cranberry
5,000
$99
$139
$0.0198
$0.0278
Pennsylvania
Hyatt Place Pittsburgh Airport
5,000
$117
$117
$0.0234
$0.0234
South Carolina
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
South Carolina
Hyatt Place Greenville/Haywood
5,000
$110
$119
$0.0220
$0.0238
South Carolina
Hyatt Place Columbia/Harbison
5,000
$108
$88
$0.0216
$0.0176
Tennessee
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Tennessee
Hyatt Place Memphis/Germantown
5,000
$144
$117
$0.0288
$0.0234
Tennessee
Hyatt Place Memphis/Primacy Parkway
5,000
$108
$108
$0.0216
$0.0216
Tennessee
Hyatt Place Memphis/Wolfchase Galleria
5,000
$117
$94
$0.0234
$0.0188
Texas
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Texas
Hyatt Place Fort Worth/Cityview
5,000
$109
$144
$0.0218
$0.0288
Texas
Hyatt Place Dallas/North Arlington/Grand Prairie
5,000
$85
$136
$0.0170
$0.0272
Texas
Hyatt Place Dallas/Plano
5,000
$119
$129
$0.0238
$0.0258
Texas
Hyatt Place San Antonio Airport/Quarry Market
5,000
$108
$126
$0.0216
$0.0252
Texas
Hyatt Place Dallas/Garland/Richardson
5,000
$103
$117
$0.0206
$0.0234
Texas
Hyatt Place Dallas-North/by the Galleria
5,000
$149
$114
$0.0298
$0.0228
Texas
Hyatt Place Dallas/Park Central
5,000
$134
$114
$0.0268
$0.0228
Texas
Hyatt Place Dallas/Las Colinas
5,000
$84
$110
$0.0168
$0.0220
Texas
Hyatt Place Fort Worth/Hurst
5,000
$90
$103
$0.0180
$0.0206
Texas
Hyatt House Dallas/Las Colinas
5,000
$94
$94
$0.0188
$0.0188
Texas
Hyatt House Dallas/Addison
5,000
$89
$89
$0.0178
$0.0178
Texas
Hyatt House Houston/Energy Corridor
5,000
$85
$89
$0.0170
$0.0178
Texas
Hyatt Regency North Dallas
5,000
$93
$89
$0.0186
$0.0178
Texas
Hyatt House Dallas/Richardson
5,000
$136
$85
$0.0272
$0.0170
Texas
Hyatt Place San Antonio-North/Stone Oak
5,000
$108
$85
$0.0216
$0.0170
Texas
Hyatt Place Bush Intercontinental Airport
5,000
$112
$80
$0.0224
$0.0160
Texas
Hyatt Place El Paso Airport
5,000
$80
$80
$0.0160
$0.0160
Texas
Hyatt Place San Antonio-Northwest/Medical Center
5,000
$88
$80
$0.0176
$0.0160
Utah
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Utah
Hyatt Place Salt Lake City/Farmington/Station Park
5,000
$102
$93
$0.0204
$0.0186
Virginia
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Virginia
Hyatt Place Fredericksburg-Mary Washington
5,000
$93
$142
$0.0186
$0.0284
Virginia
Hyatt Place Richmond/Innsbrook
5,000
$90
$123
$0.0180
$0.0246
Virginia
Hyatt Place Roanoke Airport/Valley View Mall
5,000
$102
$123
$0.0204
$0.0246
Virginia
Hyatt Place Chantilly/Dulles Airport-South
5,000
$169
$101
$0.0338
$0.0202
Virginia
Hyatt Place Richmond Airport
5,000
$104
$100
$0.0208
$0.0200
Virginia
Hyatt Place Richmond/Chester
5,000
$85
$93
$0.0170
$0.0186
Virginia
Hyatt Regency Dulles
5,000
$110
$93
$0.0220
$0.0186
Virginia
Hyatt Regency Fairfax
5,000
$108
$90
$0.0216
$0.0180
Virginia
Hyatt House Sterling/Dulles Airport-North
5,000
$117
$81
$0.0234
$0.0162
Virginia
Hyatt Place Sterling/Dulles Airport-North
5,000
$117
$80
$0.0234
$0.0160
Virginia
Hyatt Place Herndon/Dulles Airport-East
5,000
$108
$76
$0.0216
$0.0152
Wisconsin
State
Hyatt
Points Cost
Weekday Cost 1/3/17
Weekend Cost 1/14/17
Weekday Value per point
Weekend Value per point
Wisconsin
Hyatt Regency Green Bay
5,000
$96
$200
$0.0192
$0.0400
Wisconsin
Hyatt Place Milwaukee Airport
5,000
$102
$85
$0.0204
$0.0170
Wisconsin
Hyatt Place Milwaukee-West
5,000
$102
$80
$0.0204
$0.0160
Note: the following Category 1 properties were excluded from the list because they either didn’t have available occupancy or they will not open until later in 2017.
Travel enthusiast that spent years flying in the back of planes and staying at cheaper hotels in order to save a little money. After learning how to leverage airline and hotel loyalty programs, I've developed an interest in luxury travel and write about my experiences with it.
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