The Hyatt Regency Sofia is now open.........

The first Hyatt-branded hotel in Bulgaria, the Hyatt Regency Sofia has now officially opened, creating a buzz of excitement in the local business community.  The 183-room hotel is ideally located in the heart of the capital on Vasil Levski Square and within walking distance of Sofia’s major tourist attractions and government institutions. The opening of the hotel marks an important milestone for Hyatt, thoughtfully growing its brand presence in Southeast Europe.

The Hyatt Regency brand is designed for productivity and stress-free stays by offering seamless and personalized, high-touch experiences. The full range of services and amenities include memorable culinary experiences, flexible spaces to work, collaborate or relax and expansive technology-enabled facilities for meetings and events, along with expert planners who anticipate every detail.

“We are thrilled to announce the opening of the very first Hyatt hotel in the beautiful city of Sofia,” said Laurent Schauder, general manager of Hyatt Regency Sofia. “The hotel’s central location is perfect for business and leisure travelers alike to enjoy this vibrant city, its vivid culture and rich history.”

Hyatt will require face masks for guests at all US and Canada hotels from Monday.

Hyatt Hotels has confirmed that from Monday, July 27 all Hyatt hotels in the U.S. and Canada will require face coverings within indoor public areas, which include meetings and events spaces, restaurants and bars, and fitness centers.  

The hotel giant says it is introducing the new requirements following advice from medical experts and will help reduce the spread of COVID-19.  Some guests may be exempt from this mandate, including but not limited to people with medical conditions, consuming food or beverages in restaurants, and children under the age of two years.

Guests who are not wearing face coverings indoors will be asked to wear one, and at all Hyatt hotels, face masks will be made available to guests who do not have one. Additionally, Hyatt hotels request all guests practice proper social distancing in indoor and outdoor public areas, and social distancing guidelines are prominently placed throughout all hotels.

Hyatt introduces the internationally acclaimed Miraval spa and wellness brand to Lenox......

The Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the introduction of the internationally acclaimed Miraval spa and wellness brand to Lenox, Mass., with the opening of Miraval Berkshires. This opening marks the Miraval brand’s third property, joining its original location in Tucson, Ariz. – celebrating its 25th anniversary this year – and second location in Austin, Texas, which opened in February 2019. On the same property as Miraval Berkshires, Hyatt simultaneously introduces Wyndhurst Manor & Club, a Destination Hotel, with a focus on the Berkshires’ rich culture and history. Both resorts sit atop 380 protected acres and offer a diverse range of year-round programming that encourages guests to celebrate the changing New England seasons.

“We are thrilled with the Miraval brand’s expansion to the East Coast with Miraval Berkshires and to welcome Wyndhurst Manor & Club to the Destinations Hotels family,” said Susan Santiago, Head of Lifestyle & Miraval Operations. “Wyndhurst Manor offers a step back into the Gilded Age and delivers a true-to-place experience for multigenerational families, golfers and those simply wanting to escape. The programming at Miraval Berkshires encourages guests to create a “Life in Balance” by focusing on mind, body and spirit. We look forward to welcoming guests on their transformative journey through spa, equine, fitness and nutrition experiences.”

New Hyatt hotel for Cyprus

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has confirmed, together with its partners, the plan to open the first Hyatt hotel on the island of Cyprus, Grand Hyatt Limassol. The 300-room luxury resort is expected to open in 2025 and signifies Hyatt’s continued growth into Europe’s leading travel destinations.

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The new-build beachfront resort will be situated at a Blue Flag beach east of Limassol, one of the island’s most cosmopolitan cities. With a prime beachfront location on the southern coast of the island and 300 bold, light-filled rooms offering sea views, Grand Hyatt Limassol will be a captivating destination within a destination featuring a stunning 43,000-square-foot (4,000-square-meter) beach club including premium spa and fitness facilities as well as an indoor pool and two outdoor pools. The resort will additionally offer five elevated food and beverage concepts as well as 15,000 square feet (1,400 square meters) of event space. Furthermore, Grand Hyatt Limassol will be a key element of Zaria Resort, a mixed-use luxury development, comprised of residential apartments and private villas totaling more than 861,100 square feet (80,000 square meters).

Hyatt to open Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas in 2021

Expected to open in early 2021, Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas will bring the luxury brand’s dedication to sustainable tourism, innovative eco-design and authentic destination experiences to Southern California

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has confirmed plans for the first new-build Alila resort in the Americas, located in Encinitas, California. Encinitas is a quintessential beach town in San Diego’s North County Coastal region growing in popularity with locals and visitors alike.  The Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas will add to Hyatt’s growing Alila brand portfolio, joining Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort, as the brand’s second hotel in California and the U.S., along with 14 other luxury properties worldwide.

The Alila brand features luxury hotels and resorts in unique locations, distinguished by innovative eco-design, a strong commitment to sustainable tourism as well as rare and intimate destination experiences.

Hyatt Announces Updated Cancellation Policy, Extending Travel Flexibility and Care

Guided by its purpose to care for people so they can be their best, Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced an extension to its cancellation policy that will provide further flexibility as guests start making travel decisions again.

“As we listen closely to our guests and members, we know that flexibility is more important than ever right now”

With some limited exceptions, reservations booked July 1, 2020 and beyond – for any future arrival date through July 31, 2021 – can be cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before scheduled arrival. This includes Advance Purchase Rate reservations. The exceptions are noted below.

“As we listen closely to our guests and members, we know that flexibility is more important than ever right now,” said Mark Hoplamazian, president and Chief Executive Officer, Hyatt. “In addition to offering a reimagined hotel experience that is focused on safety and wellbeing, we want to help our guests and members book with confidence as they start planning travel again and cannot wait to welcome them back soon.”

Statement on Corporate Layoffs at Hyatt in Response to COVID-19

Statement on Corporate Layoffs at Hyatt in Response to COVID-19

Due to the historic drop in travel demand and the expected slow pace of recovery, Hyatt has made the extremely difficult decision to implement layoffs and restructure roles across its global corporate functions, beginning June 1, 2020. These actions will impact around 1,300 colleagues around the world.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hyatt has taken numerous actions in an effort to meet the challenges our industry is facing including reductions of company-wide expenditures, extended salary reductions for the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors, and temporary work and/or pay reductions for all corporate colleagues. Unfortunately, with increased visibility into the effect that the pandemic is having on the hospitality industry, it has become apparent that additional measures are necessary to meet this unprecedented challenge.

Hyatt's global commitment on Care & Cleanliness Commitment

                              Focusing on the safety and wellbeing of colleagues and guests during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, Hyatt’s commitment includes Global Biorisk Advisory Council accreditation, hotel-level sanitisation specialists, and a working group of trusted medical and industry advisors

Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch

 Photo courtesy of Christopher Taber

Guided by its purpose of care and experience delivering world-class hospitality for more than 60 years, Hyatt today announced a Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment to further enhance its operational guidance and resources around colleague and guest safety and peace of mind. The multi-layered commitment builds on Hyatt’s existing rigorous protocols and will include an accreditation process by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) at all hotels around the world, colleague training and support resources, and a cross-functional working group of medical experts and industry professionals that will contribute to various aspects of the hotel experience.

Quirk Hotel opens in Charlottesville

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has opened the Quirk Hotel Charlottesville in Charlottesville, Virginia as the first boutique hotel with a focus on curated art to be imagined in the city’s historic downtown. Charming and distinctive by nature, Quirk Hotel Charlottesville delivers a warm sense of approachability and playfulness that appeals to curious travellers of all ages seeking a sense of belonging, and is the second rendition of the Quirk Hotel concept within the Destination Hotels collection, with its original location in Richmond, Virginia.

“After opening Quirk Hotel Richmond in September 2015, we are excited to bring to life our gallery concept and beautiful hotel amenities into a new, charming Virginia city,” said Kate Ukrop, co-owner of Quirk Hotel Charlottesville alongside her husband, Ted. “Alongside the Quirk Gallery in Richmond, I am looking forward to also being the director of Quirk Gallery in Charlottesville, continuing to make art more accessible for guests across the Destination Hotels brand.”

Hyatt all set to open new Grand Hyatt Miami Beach hotel in 2023.

Grand Hyatt Miami Beach set to open in 2023 and enhance Miami Beach’s Convention Center District with new public spaces, improved connectivity, and privately funded infrastructure and resiliency upgrades

Hyatt Hotels along with Terra Group and Turnberry have announced plans for a new 800-room Grand Hyatt hotel in Miami Beach, Florida that will be managed by Hyatt and is expected to open in 2023. 

The new Grand Hyatt Miami Beach will offer top-class service to leisure and business travellers alike in a prime location adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center, following a $600 million renovation completed last year.

The 17-story hotel will be situated at the intersection of 17th Street and Convention Centre Drive, within walking distance of the Atlantic Ocean beachfront, Lincoln Road Mall, New World Symphony, The Bass Museum and The Fillmore Miami Beach.  “At Hyatt, we believe in growing with intent and expanding our footprint in markets that matter most to our guests and World of Hyatt members,” said David Tarr, senior vice president, development, Americas, Hyatt. “Hyatt is proud to play an integral role in this project as hotel operator, under the luxury Grand Hyatt brand, which will help guests and locals alike celebrate the iconic, captivating city of Miami Beach.”