Wyndham Rewards is adding a fourth award tier on September 15, 2026. The new chart drops the cheapest redemptions to 5,000 points while introducing a 45,000-point category for its most premium properties — a straight 50% jump from the current 30,000-point ceiling.[[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/wyndham-rewards-adding-fourth-award-tier/)[[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/wyndham-rewards-adding-fourth-award-tier/)

That means certain hotels you can book today for 30,000 points per night will cost 45,000 afterward. Wyndham hasn't published the exact list yet, but expect the usual suspects: top-end Wyndham Grand resorts, Registry Collection properties, and select all-inclusives that currently sit at the top of the old chart. Think places where cash rates routinely exceed $500–$800 a night.[[2]](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/learn/wyndham-hotels-award-chart-changes)

The bulk of the portfolio stays in the 15,000- and 30,000-point buckets, with some lucky properties sliding down to the new 5,000-point floor. But for business travelers and luxury optimizers chasing high-value redemptions, the message is clear: the current pricing window is closing.

Brands Most at Risk

Registry Collection hotels, positioned as the program's luxury play, are prime candidates for the 45,000-point tier. Properties like Grand Residences Riviera Cancun set the tone when the brand launched — intimate, high-service escapes that rarely felt like 30,000-point bargains even before the change.

Wyndham Grand resorts follow closely. Flagships in desirable beach or city locations have long represented the sweet spot: solid luxury at fixed pricing that punched above its weight. Post-September 15, that equation shifts. The same goes for premium all-inclusives that currently top out at 30,000. A four-night stay at something like Grand Palladium Select Costa Mujeres jumps from 120,000 to 180,000 points if it lands in the new top tier.[[2]](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/learn/wyndham-hotels-award-chart-changes)

It's not every property in these brands. Wyndham calls the 45,000-point group "a small number" of its highest-end assets. Still, if your go-to spot has been reliably 30,000, assume the worst and act accordingly.

Lock It In Before the Music Stops

Book before September 15 and your reservation is protected. If the hotel moves to a lower tier, Wyndham refunds the difference. If it jumps to 45,000, you keep the original rate. Cancellation policies still apply, but this is as close to a sure thing as hotel loyalty gets.[[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/wyndham-rewards-adding-fourth-award-tier/)

Don't wait for the official list. Log in now, search your target dates at current pricing, and hold what matters. Points don't earn interest, and these windows have a habit of slamming shut while you're still "researching."

Need more points? Top up strategically. Chase Ultimate Rewards transferred to Wyndham at 1:1 as of earlier this year. Wells Fargo Rewards points also move over, albeit at a 1:2 ratio in some cases. Wyndham occasionally runs buy-points promotions with bonuses up to 80% — useful if you're just short and the property is worth the cash outlay.[[3]](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/news/chase-ultimate-rewards-adds-wyndham-rewards)

The program isn't collapsing. The new 5,000-point floor helps offset the sting for budget stays, and fixed pricing beats dynamic nightmares at other chains. But for anyone who treats Wyndham as a legitimate luxury vehicle rather than a roadside motel hack, this is a genuine devaluation on the high end.

Identify your target Registry Collection or Wyndham Grand properties today. Check availability for your fall and winter trips at current rates. Book the ones that make sense, even if you cancel later if plans change. The 15,000-point difference per night adds up fast when you're flying business and optimizing every point.

Action item: Open the Wyndham app or website right now. Pull up your shortlist of high-tier properties, confirm current 30,000-point availability for desired dates before September 15, and place refundable holds on anything you'd actually want to stay at. Waiting for the final list is how you end up paying 50% more in points — or cash.