Hyatt has announced that it will be switching to a new central reservations system next year. This has some positive implications.
In this post:
Hyatt switching to Sabre, and what it means
Beginning in 2024, Hyatt will start using Sabre’s SynXis Central Reservation System for its main central reservations system for all Hyatt hotels. Hyatt states that this integration will enhance Hyatt’s reservations capabilities, streamline its operations, and deliver a seamless and efficient experience for guests, including a faster search and booking process.
Hyatt’s new system will be designed to make the guest search and booking process smoother, and increase visibility for property availability through the following methods:
- There will be a flexible calendar search, for both cash bookings and World of Hyatt award bookings, meaning that guests should finally be able to compare rates (in cash and points) for weeks at a time
- Enhanced rooms and rates views, whereby hotels will be able to quickly synchronize reservation modifications, enabling guests and employees to access newly available rooms in real-time; hotels will also be able to share dynamic packages, allowing guests to individually customize aspects of their stay
I’m excited about a real calendar view!
Hyatt has lagged both Hilton and Marriott when it comes to the booking process by not having any sort of a calendar view that shows availability and rates for both revenue and award stays.
Hyatt does have an award calendar, but that simply shows which dates are peak, standard, and off-peak. It doesn’t actually show whether a particular night is available, though. I’m sure I’m not alone in being excited about this new functionality being introduced, since it’ll make it much easier to find award availability, find nights with the best rates when paying cash, etc.
Doctor Of Credit states that “there is some concern that switching booking systems will also allow Hyatt to introduce dynamic award pricing as it’s not currently possible with the booking system being used.”
I suppose anything is possible, and perhaps World of Hyatt will eventually switch to dynamic award pricing. However I wouldn’t assume that this is a primary motivation for switching to Sabre, or that this is immediately planned.
Bottom line
Hyatt will be using Sabre for its central reservations system as of 2024, which should have several new benefits for both hotels and guests. The most exciting development that’s immediately being announced is that we’ll finally see a calendar functionality for both revenue and award rates and availability, which is long overdue.
What do you make of Hyatt’s transition to Sabre?
Agree with several others that this is mainly to create dynamic pricing. I know you get paid by Hyatt for some of these posts so you need to be diplomatic, but given the nature of what's to come it'd be better to not report this at all if you can't be open about it.
Very unsurprising considering Hyatt’s Chief Information Officer, Eben Hewitt, is Sabre’s former CTO. It was only a matter of time.
PointCalendar.com provides Hyatt availability for both cash and points.
“I suppose anything is possible, and perhaps World of Hyatt will eventually switch to dynamic award pricing. However I wouldn’t assume that this is a primary motivation for switching to Sabre”
No, Hyatt will move to dynamic pricing in one or two years at most. Since if you know how much Hyatt compensate Hotels, constantly paying more than 1c/p per Hyatt (Or UR) point to hotels aren't sustainable.
That means Hyatt is switching to the system Marriott has used for a while. There will be a devaluation coming too. Not in the traditional sense, but with dynamic pricing the same hotels may cost you the same or more depending when you stay.
"I suppose anything is possible, and perhaps World of Hyatt will eventually switch to dynamic award pricing. However I wouldn’t assume that this is a primary motivation for switching to Sabre, or that this is immediately planned."
Lucky isn't naive, so perhaps this is his attempt at dry humor. Ha. Ha.
WOH is definitely my favorite hotel rewards program, but with this move I think we can all see the Death Star approaching Alderaan here....
"I suppose anything is possible, and perhaps World of Hyatt will eventually switch to dynamic award pricing. However I wouldn’t assume that this is a primary motivation for switching to Sabre, or that this is immediately planned."
Lucky isn't naive, so perhaps this is his attempt at dry humor. Ha. Ha.
WOH is definitely my favorite hotel rewards program, but with this move I think we can all see the Death Star approaching Alderaan here. Does anyone think Hyatt is embarking on this major change in booking systems primarily for the benefit of its customers?
The road to dynamic pricing begins...
Calendar search just means that everyone will be able to see the cheapest dates, which will then be booked and off the market, leading to devaluation by default. Certain dates will be booked and sought after by virtually everyone, others will remain empty. Hotels will want to fill those…so prices could go down. Dynamic pricing by default. I give Hyatt maybe 3-4 more years, maximum, before they go down the Marriott/Hilton/IHG road. At that point,...
Calendar search just means that everyone will be able to see the cheapest dates, which will then be booked and off the market, leading to devaluation by default. Certain dates will be booked and sought after by virtually everyone, others will remain empty. Hotels will want to fill those…so prices could go down. Dynamic pricing by default. I give Hyatt maybe 3-4 more years, maximum, before they go down the Marriott/Hilton/IHG road. At that point, I’ll be interested to see the discourse over whether Choice - and it’s Preferred Hotels partnership - is worth serious consideration as an earn/burn program.
Agree. They're buying the capability now for a future devaluation of the program. Ben's right that in the short term it's good. But long term all these programs have the same destination.
Hello Dynamic award pricing
So if room availability is more real time does that mean hotels can't keep lying about suites not being available for Globalist upgrade when they show in the app as available for the duration of the stay? Nah, they'll just make up a different excuse
Dwight is probably making a killing in commission with this deal
100% Hyatt will move to dynamic pricing for awards if they can't currently but will be able to with the new system.
Random complaint about Marriott. As a business traveler if I book with Hyatt and it says it’s $220 a night then when I get the bill it’s 4 nights at $220. Great! Super easy to do my expense reports.
With Marriott it might also say $220. But it’s Sunday $145, Monday $275 etc. And I need to pull out F&B so I can’t just add $220 plus tax and multiply by 4 I have...
Random complaint about Marriott. As a business traveler if I book with Hyatt and it says it’s $220 a night then when I get the bill it’s 4 nights at $220. Great! Super easy to do my expense reports.
With Marriott it might also say $220. But it’s Sunday $145, Monday $275 etc. And I need to pull out F&B so I can’t just add $220 plus tax and multiply by 4 I have to add all the F&B together.
I assume Marriott does this to get better RevPAR, ADR numbers. I hope Hyatt doesn’t start doing this.
Wouldn't you have to pull out F&B either way?.
Hyatt already does this at many properties. Check out The Time hotel in NYC for example.
If the company is only paying for the room and fees and you're paying for F&B you can ask for separate payments and separate bills and not need to calculate anything.