Destination

HYATT REGENCY HOUSTON ANNOUNCED THE COMPLETION OF ITS MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR RENOVATION OF THE ENTIRE

HOTEL EARLIER THIS YEAR, entirely transforming its 955 guestrooms and suites, lobby, front entrances, meeting and event spaces,

Einstein’s, Shula’s Steak House and LobbiBar. A four-star hotel in the heart of downtown Houston, it opened to guests in 1972 and quickly became a hub for business and leisure travelers because of its proximity to Houston’s top entertainment and business districts.

The update was inspired in part by the West

Texas town Marfa which is known for attracting famous artists and architecture buffs. John

Schafer, managing director for Hyatt Regency

Houston, announced the completion of the extensive renovation in a press release this

February: “With the updates now complete, we are excited to reintroduce the hotel as a one-stop destination that blends top-notch hospitality, world-class dining, and high-end meeting facilities paired with modern comforts and conveniences for business and leisure travelers alike.”

Many Houstonians have long viewed Hyatt

Regency Houston as a landmark of our great city, myself included, with its famous Spindletop restaurant that rotates, offering exceptional views of the gorgeous Houston skyline. The restaurant has been closed during the pandemic, but Hyatt also plans to do an extensive renovation of the restaurant soon, which considering the impressive new design of the rest of the hotel, is sure to be amazing. Growing up I always viewed Hyatt as the,

“big, fancy hotel” and I remember my dad taking me twice to the Spindletop for my birthday! To me that is what Hyatt Regency Houston represents— almost 50 years of memories for locals, travelers, and business folk.

The Hyatt Regency Houston made an impression on my younger self and once again I am impressed by the grandness of this hotel. The lobby opens up to a dramatic 30-story atrium, one of the highest in Texas, with looping corridors in a triangle shape with a skylit ceiling. All this can be viewed from the elevators, which are open to the atrium separated only by glass, allowing you to look down into the lobby and bar as you get carried to your floor. The same goes for the elevators on the side of the building which look out to the city. Everywhere I looked I saw beautiful views of Houston.

Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to stay at the Hyatt Regency Houston and I was genuinely impressed with the hospitality of the management and staff. Checking into the hotel was a socially distanced, comfortable experience. The check-in counters have been remodeled into

Many Houstonians have long viewed Hyatt Regency Houston as a landmark of our great city, myself included, with its famous Spindletop restaurant that rotates, offering exceptional views of the gorgeous Houston skyline.

OPPOSITE PAGE: THE HYATT REGENCY HOUSTON OFFERS BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF THE CITY ALL OVER THE HOTEL THANKS TO LARGE WINDOWS; A LOOK AT SHULA’S STEAKHOUSE, SHOWCASING A MODERN, CONTEMPORARY DESIGN

Hyatt Regency Houston has received Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation which is the gold standard in prepared facilities, validating the hotel's cleanliness and safety.

BELOW: THE LOBBIBAR‘S NEW LOOK IS INSPIRED BY THE NATURAL TONES OF THE MARFA LANDSCAPE individual stations with protective shields between guests and staff that give guests the opportunity to be greeted by the staff personally and discuss their stay. This provides a more intimate and comfortable experience for guests. During the renovation, a strategic focus was on lighting, and throughout the lobby, guest rooms, meeting and event spaces, elegant light fixtures have been added to illuminate the modern aesthetic created by Hyatt adding to the welcoming milieu.

The newly renovated rooms have been completely updated with modern furnishings and décor that are both beautiful and comfortable. The grey, blue and rose petal color pallet design was influenced by artist Mark Rothko who became known for his abstract expressionist art which can be found on display at the Menil Collection 2.2 miles away from the hotel. The blue-grey accent wall, creates a calming aesthetic that blends with the sleek black floor tiles to help you stay relaxed and tranquil for your stay. In the bathrooms there is in-mirror lighting perfect for doing hair and makeup, one of the many small details the design team focused on to make sure your stay is perfect. For anyone traveling for business, you know the importance of always showing up looking your best and the fact that Hyatt included these fine details is very impressive. No expense was spared to ensure your stay with Hyatt Regency Houston is one you will never forget.

Center to the lobby and looking up into the massive atrium is the stunning LobbiBar. Designed with Marfa in mind, several booths with woodslatted-canopies separate the bar from the check-in stations. Surrounding the beautiful quartz countertop bar is an inviting seating area for bar guests and throughout the lobby are several other intimate seating spaces for guests to do business, spend time with family or enjoy a cocktail or bite.

Sharing the lobby space, you will also find an Einstein’s Bros. Bagels are perfect for a quick,

but filling breakfast to start off your day. Hyatt’s signature restaurant, Shula’s Steakhouse serves premium steak and fish dishes. Shula’s shows off a contemporary Scandinavian aesthetic with warm, neutral tones including dark wood features opening up the space while making it warm and inviting.

To complete the renovation, all meeting and event spaces have been updated with increased broadband capabilities to ensure you will always stay connected with your peers. Additionally, like the entirety of the hotel renovations, all carpeting and wall vinyl was replaced, essentially making it as if Hyatt Regency Houston were a brand-new hotel.

A top priority for Hyatt Regency Houston has been to provide a safe and healthy environment for its guests and staff, and so additional safety measures such as increased cleaning and disinfecting in public spaces, a focus on maintaining social distancing and keeping employees updated on policies are some of the protocols being implemented. Hyatt Regency Houston has received Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation which is the gold standard in prepared facilities, validating the hotel's cleanliness and safety.

Hyatt Regency Houston also provides excellent access to all of the premier downtown attractions. The hotel is within walking distance from the George R. Brown, the Toyota Center and Minute Maid Stadium. For further convenience, Hyatt Regency Houston is offering shuttle services for guests with the capacity to escort you anywhere in Houston you may need. More attractions include the theater district, the beautiful Discovery Green park, Downtown Aquarium and the Houston Museum District with 19 different museums and collections. If you will be using personal transportation, the hotel offers both valet services and personal parking, and for people with electric vehicles the hotel includes two charging stations.

A wonderful resource for those planning to visit Houston is houstonmarketplace.com. Here you can easily purchase tickets to all the attractions and activities in Houston. For leisure travelers, business travelers or even locals simply having a “staycation,” Hyatt Regency Houston offers comfort, convenience and connection to Houston attractions all while staying in the heart of downtown Houston. H

BELOW, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THE ELEGANT GRAND SUITE LIVING ROOM; THE SPACIOUS AND WELL-LIT GRAND SUITE BATHROOM; A CORNER KING ROOM, RENDERED IN CALMING COLORS; THE RENOVATED IMPERIAL WEDDING ROOM