Maybe some readers are curious: why start a brand-new post specifically to introduce the award categories of major hotel chains? What does understanding award categories mean for us, and is there any benefit?

I have to say, the meaning is huge, and the benefits are even bigger. Understanding the award categories of major hotel chains means we can know how many points it takes to book the hotel we want, means we can tell whether our FN can be used at the highest or a relatively high value at a hotel, and means we can use that to judge whether we should apply for a new credit card (for example, Hyatt credit card welcome bonus with 2 free nights at any category; highly recommended. If you’re interested, click in and take a look). All of this is very important and very beneficial for those of us who play the card and points game. So every year, when hotel groups make award category adjustments based on the previous year’s revenue, occupancy rates, and other factors across their hotel portfolio, we still need to pay close attention.

For the 2017 award categories, three major hotel groups have already made adjustments. Come along and let’s take a look.

IHG

IHG was the first hotel group this year to roll out its own rewards changes. On 12/28/2016, IHG announced the 2017 "point requirement" for its hotels, and the changes took effect on 01/15/2017.

Details: IHG Rewards Club award changes details

In broad terms: IHG has about 5,000 hotels worldwide. In this change, upgrades applied to 496 hotels worldwide, 388 in the U.S., and 10 in China; downgrades applied to 157 hotels worldwide, 34 in the U.S., and 39 in China. Overall, the number of upgraded hotels far exceeds the number of downgraded hotels. The good news is that in China, many Holiday Inn Express properties were moved down to Category 1 (only 10,000 points for a night, and breakfast too).

Marriott

After Marriott acquired Starwood last year, Marriott and Starwood recently announced that starting on 3/09/2017, the award categories for hotels under both groups would begin changing.

Bookings made before 3/7 at both hotel groups still use the old prices; bookings made after 3/7 will follow the new prices.

Details: Marriott award changes details

Details of the changes:

  • Marriott has about 4,500 hotels worldwide, and 23% of them will have award category changes
  • 40% (569 hotels in the U.S., 7 in China) will move down in category
  • The remaining 60% (327 hotels in the U.S., 10 in China) will move up
  • Overall, using points in China has become more worthwhile

SPG

After Starwood was acquired by Marriott last year, Starwood and Marriott also recently announced at the same time that starting on 3/09/2017, the award categories for hotels under both groups would begin changing.

Bookings made before 3/7 at both hotel groups still use the old prices; bookings made after 3/7 will follow the new prices.

Details of the changes: SPG award changes details page

Details:
  • SPG has about 1,500 hotels worldwide, and 21% of Starwood hotels will have award category changes
  • Of those, 63% (24 hotels in the U.S., 1 in China) will move down in category
  • The remaining 37% (38 hotels in the U.S., 51 in China) will move up
  • SPG is very generous: there are fewer downgrades this year and more upgrades, especially in China, where using points for stays is even more worthwhile

Hyatt

No updates.

Hilton

As a hotel group that adjusts quarterly (four times a year), and one that can even quietly change categories whenever it thinks they are no longer appropriate without making a separate announcement, and even has some hotels blocking pure points or C+P bookings during certain periods, I really don’t have much to say here.... For more details, you can take a look at my post Hilton Hotel Complete Guide (2): Points and Advanced Strategies.

But the latest news is that Hilton will completely eliminate the Award Categories system in the future, which is absolutely bad news for us! Without a fixed award chart, Hilton can secretly adjust the number of points required dynamically, and we won’t be able to know in advance how many points it will take. This is undoubtedly a disguised devaluation of points.... So everyone should hurry up and use your points more while you still need to....

FYI, Hilton’s rewards program has been renamed Hilton Honors; it used to be called Hilton HHonors, with one fewer H. It really has become Honors after all.