Hyatt has been focusing on growing in recent years. Management has acknowledged gaps in the size and scope of its portfolio and embarked on both an acquisitions strategy, such as buying Two Roads Hospitality and an organic growth plan. The net result is Hyatt’s growth spurt is real and look like it will be sustained for a while to come.
If Hyatt is a Luxury Brand They Need More Luxury Properties
In the past couple of years it seems like Hyatt was mainly opening lower tier, select service properties like Hyatt House and Hyatt Place which offers less value to elite World of Hyatt members. However they recently announced the planned opening of more than 20 new luxury hotels and resorts by the end of 2020. The additions include new properties under the Park Hyatt, Andaz, Alila, Grand Hyatt, Miraval and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brands.
As part of this global expansion, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand is seeing its strongest growth to date in Europe. Upcoming hotels include distinctive properties like Great Scotland Yard, the location of London’s former metropolitan police headquarters, opened on December 9; and the majestic Hôtel du Palais Biarritz, the former imperial residence of Napoleon III, which is due to reopen in June 2020 after an extensive renovation.
“With our growth acceleration in the luxury segment, we will have the opportunity to care for more travelers around the globe through a range of differentiated high-end experiences,” said Mark Vondrasek, chief commercial officer, Hyatt. “We’re excited to expand into new markets and enhance the global footprint of our brands, giving our guests and members additional ways to connect with our luxury offerings in places where they want to be.”
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2020, the Park Hyatt brand is also a key contributor to Hyatt’s luxury portfolio growth, with five Park Hyatt hotels expected to open by 2020 in Doha, Qatar; Jakarta, Indonesia; Niseko, Japan; Suzhou, China; and Auckland, New Zealand.
“Across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, as well as Southwest Asia, luxury properties account for over a third (35 percent) of our portfolio,” said Peter Fulton, group president – EAME SWA, Hyatt. “Europe in particular, with its unique and historic architecture, represents a natural home for The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand, and as we expand with our lifestyle and independent brands, we are confident our new offerings will cater to high-end travelers who are seeking an unprecedented stay.”
Other announcements include the expansion of the Alila brand, with three luxury resorts expected to open in Switzerland, Malaysia and Oman. In addition, six Andaz branded luxury lifestyle properties are due to open in Dubai, UAE; Prague, Czech Republic; Bali, Indonesia; Shenzhen and Xiamen in China; and Palm Springs, California.
The Grand Hyatt brand is also set to continue to grow with new openings in Hefei and the Shenzhou Peninsula in China, Kuwait, Gurgaon in India, Jeju in South Korea, and Nashville, Tennessee, along with the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Planned Alila openings
Alila Dalit Bay in Malaysia (2020)
Alila Hinu Bay in Oman (2020)
Alila La Gruyère in Switzerland (2023)
Planned/Recent Andaz openings
Andaz Dubai The Palm (2019)–will mark the brand’s entry into Dubai
Andaz Bali (2020)–will mark the brand’s entry into Indonesia
Andaz Shenzhen in China (2020)
Andaz Xiamen in China (2020)
Andaz Palm Springs in the U.S. (2020)
Andaz Prague (2022)–will mark first Hyatt hotel in the Czech Republic
Andaz Seoul Gangnam in South Korea (opened 2019)
Planned/Recent Grand Hyatt openings
Grand Hyatt Hefei in China (2019)
Grand Hyatt Al Khobar (2020)–will mark the brand’s entry into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Grand Hyatt Kuwait (2020)–will mark the brand’s entry into Kuwait
Grand Hyatt Gurgaon in India (2020)
Grand Hyatt Jeju in South Korea (2020)–will mark largest Grand Hyatt hotel in Asia Pacific
Grand Hyatt Nashville in the US (2020)–will mark the brand’s entry into Tennessee
Grand Hyatt Shenzhou Peninsula in China (2020)
Grand Hyatt at SFO–only on-airport hotel at SFO (opened 2019)
Planned/Recent Park Hyatt openings
Park Hyatt Doha (2019)–will mark the brand’s entry into Qatar
Park Hyatt Auckland (2020)–will mark the brand’s entry into New Zealand
Park Hyatt Jakarta (2020)–will mark the brand’s entry into Indonesia
Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono in Japan (2020)
Park Hyatt Suzhou in China (2020)
Park Hyatt Kyoto in Japan (opened 2019)
Planned The Unbound Collection by Hyatt openings
Great Scotland Yard (2019)–will mark the brand’s entry into the UK
Hotel du Palais Biarritz in France (2020)
Planned Miraval openings
Miraval Berkshires Resort and Spa in the US (2020)—will mark the brand’s entry into Massachusetts
Hyatt’s growth spurt in the luxury sector is good news for Globalists. These properties offer more upgrade opportunities, they often have lounges and provide better quality amenities for top tier elites to benefit from. Loyalty matters and if you’re spending 60 nights per year with a chain, getting a free breakfast at a Hyatt House isn’t going to make the traveler feel as appreciated as a suite upgrade at a Park Hyatt.
