Effective June 4, 2010 Hyatt Gold Passport is adding a new, higher category 6 for high-end properties such as the Park Hyatt Chicago, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Hyatt Regency London The Churchill and the Park Hyatt Zurich.

The new category 6 will require 22,000 points per night and include 20 domestic and international properties.

All the other categories and their current point levels will remain the same (from 5,000 to 18,000 points per night), but 65 properties will be moved into lower categories and 89 will be moved into higher categories–including those that will become category 6 properties. Several properties are moving up by two categories and members are particularly unhappy with some of these changes including Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, Thailand and Grand Hyatt Bali, both moving from category 1 to category 3, as well as Hyatt Regency La Jolla, Grand Hyatt San Francisco and Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells, all in California, moving from category 3 to 5 and Grand Hyatt New York going from category 4 to 6. Some good news includes the Grand Hyatt Jakarta moving from category 2 to 1. And not surprisingly considering the shape this city is in, three Hyatt Place hotels in Detroit have gone from category 2 to 1.

Guests who have already booked award stays at hotels that will become less expensive on June 4 will receive an automatic refund of points for the difference between the old and new prices. And guests who booked stays that will require more points starting on June 4 will not be charged additional points.

There will be a category 6 for Passport Escape awards–a five-night Passport Escape award will require 145,000 points and a seven-night Passport Escape award will require 210,000 points. The number of points required for an award stay in a category 6 hotel in a Regency/Grand Club room will require 27,000 points and a suite will require 33,000 points. Free night award redemptions at time share locations will not change.

You can book stays at the old rates until June 3, so check the list of hotels moving categories to see if you will save some points by booking before the changes go into effect. For more information, visit http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?2489

Bottom line: It’s been a while since Hyatt adjusted their award chart–the last time they made changes to their categories was over three years ago. Most of the movement downward in categories was between the lower categories. Category 4 has one decrease (Andaz West Hollywood) from the former highest category 5 and category 3 has six decreases from category 4.