Chicago resident Tom Markwell travels frequently for business and expects consistency and quality wherever he stays. “What I appreciate about the Hyatt brand,” he says, “is that no matter where I am in the world, I can count on the sophisticated elegance of Hyatt properties to meet my business needs.”
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, based in Chicago, is a global hospitality company known for authentic service and memorable guest experiences. Through its subsidiaries, Hyatt manages, franchises, licenses, owns and develops hotels, resorts, branded residences and vacation ownership properties. The company’s portfolio includes more than 570 properties across six continents and 48 countries, spanning brands such as Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Andaz, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House.
Hyatt’s expansion accelerated in 2015 and built momentum in 2016, reflecting a long-term growth strategy. In 2015 alone, the company expected dozens of new openings across full-service and select-service brands. Full-service brands include Hyatt, Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Andaz, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara, while select-service brands include Hyatt Place and Hyatt House.
Park Hyatt represents the company’s luxury offering, operating in premier destinations such as Park Hyatt Vienna and Park Hyatt New York. Grand Hyatt hotels are larger properties found in major metropolitan centers, particularly in Asia. Hyatt Regency hotels combine scale and sophisticated meeting capabilities to serve both leisure and business travelers, while the core Hyatt brand focuses on well-located, neighborhood properties such as those in Union Square and Times Square in New York City. Andaz delivers a boutique, lifestyle experience in dynamic urban and leisure destinations, designed to attract creative-minded guests who value local culture and vibrant design.
The Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara brands mark Hyatt’s entrance into the all-inclusive resort segment. Both emphasize elevated food and beverage offerings and attentive service; Hyatt Ziva welcomes guests of all ages, while Hyatt Zilara provides an adults-only all-inclusive experience. Hyatt Place properties serve families and business travelers in urban, airport and suburban settings, offering casual hospitality and practical amenities. Hyatt House, formerly Hyatt Summerfield Suites, focuses on extended-stay guests with apartment-style accommodations in urban and suburban U.S. markets.
United States growth: The U.S. led Hyatt’s 2015 rollout, including new full-service properties such as Hyatt Regency Houston, Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Va., Hyatt South Beach in Miami Beach and Hyatt The Loop Chicago. Several select-service hotels were also planned, including Hyatt Place locations in Asheville, Bowling Green, Charleston, Denver and New York Times Square; a Hyatt House in Chelsea, N.Y.; and dual-branded Hyatt Place/Hyatt House hotels in Charleston’s historic district and downtown Denver.
The 108-room Hyatt Place in downtown Bowling Green, Ky., marked the brand’s first presence in that market. Jeff Flater, vice president of marketing for Hyatt Place, noted that the brand suits campus and multitasking lifestyles—appealing to visiting parents, sports teams, guest lecturers and prospective students—by offering casual hospitality and thoughtful amenities.
Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta exterior © Playa Hotels & Resorts
All-inclusive expansion: With Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara, Hyatt entered the all-inclusive market in Mexico and the Caribbean. Hyatt Ziva Cancun (formerly Dreams Cancun) planned a reopening in late 2015 as a full rebuild on Punta Cancun, offering an inclusive experience that emphasized elevated amenities and services. Hyatt partnered with Playa Hotels & Resorts to deliver a distinctive all-inclusive product consistent with Hyatt’s standards.
Hyatt Playa del Carmen opened as a beachfront urban oasis steps from Fifth Avenue, blending natural elements, artwork and expansive floor-to-ceiling views. Designed by Mexican architect Sordo Madaleno with concept work by New York’s Rockwell Group, the hotel began accepting reservations from July 1, extending Hyatt’s presence in the Riviera Maya with offerings tailored to diverse traveler lifestyles.
Regional openings in the Americas included Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro, Hyatt Regency Cartagena and Hyatt Montevideo. New Hyatt Place hotels were slated for Tijuana, Managua and Tegucigalpa.
Asia and India: Luxury growth dominated China, where Hyatt planned five full-service openings in 2015, including Grand Hyatt properties in Chengdu and Sanya Haitang Bay, Hyatt Regency hotels in Changchun and Wuxi, and a Park Hyatt in Hangzhou. India saw rapid expansion with seven new Hyatt-branded hotels—three full-service and four select-service—including Andaz Delhi, Hyatt Regency hotels in Ahmedabad and Chandigarh, and Hyatt Place properties in Chakan, Chennai, Gurgaon and Hyderabad. Other regional launches included Hyatt Place Seoul, Park Hyatt Bangkok and Grand Hyatt Colombo.
Middle East, Africa and Europe: Hyatt expanded in Saudi Arabia with new hotels in Makkah, Riyadh-Olaya and Jeddah, and added properties in Africa including Hyatt Dakar in Senegal, Park Hyatt Zanzibar in Tanzania and Hyatt Place Taghazout in Morocco. A Grand Hyatt was planned for Abu Dhabi. Europe’s pipeline included Hyatt Regency openings in Amsterdam, Minsk and Tashkent, as well as Hyatt Place locations at London Heathrow Hayes and Jermuk, Armenia.
Property updates and recoveries: Existing Hyatt hotels continued renovations and reopenings. Hyatt Regency San Francisco completed a Phase III renovation, transforming its atrium lobby and adding a new restaurant and bar; the hotel is noted in the Guinness World Records for the “largest atrium.” Grand Hyatt Taipei finished major guestroom and public-space renovations in 2014 ahead of a grand relaunch in 2015 to mark its 25th anniversary.
In late 2014, Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos and Hyatt Place Los Cabos suffered extensive saltwater damage after Hurricane Odile, which struck as a Category 3 storm. Hyatt worked on repairs and expected to reopen those properties in spring following restoration efforts.
Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall in Jamaica introduced enhanced guest transfer services in late 2014, offering personalized airport greetings and private transfers—Hyatt’s first all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica. Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta opened in December 2014, featuring a secluded beach cove, and Hyatt House San Juan opened as Puerto Rico’s first extended-stay Hyatt House, offering panoramic views of the Atlantic and San Juan Bay.
Brand summaries
Andaz
Demographic: Guests seeking a creative, locally inspired hotel experience.
Offerings: Hotels reflect local culture through communal spaces, artwork, food and event areas.
Highlight: Andaz Maui is the brand’s first resort property; Andaz Tokyo opened in the city’s second-tallest building.
Grand Hyatt
Demographic: Upscale travelers seeking luxury in major cities.
Offerings: Energetic lobbies, notable dining, modern amenities and robust meeting facilities.
Highlight: Prominent presence in Asia and centrally located properties in major urban centers.
Hyatt
Demographic: Savvy guests preferring smaller hotels in well-known neighborhoods.
Offerings: Staff provide local insights and personalized recommendations; guestrooms are flexible for work and relaxation.
Hyatt House
Demographic: Extended-stay guests.
Offerings: Apartment-style accommodations with kitchens, living areas and full amenities.
Highlight: Complimentary offerings such as the Morning Spread buffet and on-site fitness centers.
Hyatt Place
Demographic: Family and business travelers and multitasking lifestyles.
Offerings: Modern comforts and conveniences designed for practical, flexible stays.
Highlight: 24/7 food and beverage options and fitness facilities.
Hyatt Regency
Demographic: Business and leisure travelers.
Offerings: Sophisticated meeting capabilities and event-hosting services across urban, suburban, airport, convention and resort locations.
Hyatt Zilara / Hyatt Ziva
Demographic: All-inclusive vacationers (Hyatt Zilara is adults-only).
Offerings: Suites, unlimited premium beverages, live entertainment and elevated culinary experiences as part of the all-inclusive package.
Highlight: Resorts operating or opening in Jamaica, Puerto Vallarta and Mexico.
Park Hyatt
Demographic: Affluent luxury travelers.
Offerings: Intimate, artful experiences centered on food, wine and personalized service.
Highlight: Recent debuts include Park Hyatt New York and Park Hyatt Vienna.