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Grand Hyatt Denver-Impressive Improvements

a bed with pillows and a lamp in a room

I spend a pretty significant number of nights in Denver, and most of that time is at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center.  I’ve firmly held to the belief that in this market the Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency are reversed, with the Regency being the far superior property.  I’m starting to reconsider this stance.

I checked in to the Grand Hyatt Denver for a one night stay last night.  I’ve probably stayed at this property a dozen or so times over the past two years and I’ve never been put in a club room.  I’ve been upgraded to suites on lower floors which were nice, but this was my first stay in a club room.  I was under the impression that all the rooms (except for one show room) were waiting to be renovated.  This hotel is owned by a group in California, so not a “corporate” Hyatt, and my understanding is that the budget wasn’t available yet.

Not sure how long the club rooms have been renovated, but I really enjoyed almost everything about the room.  The rooms are more dark woods and earth tones where the old rooms were lighter.

Grand Hyatt Denver

The bathrooms are a huge improvement as well.  The shower has two shower heads, one of which is a rain shower head.  I LOVE those types of showers (the best one I’ve experienced is in the DFW Admirals Club in the A terminal), so was really pleased to see it.  I wish they had gone with a slightly deeper sink.  It’s not the first time I’ve seen a sink of this type in a room.  They look great, but end up splashing all over the place because they’re too shallow.

Grand Hyatt DenverGrand Hyatt Denver

The desk surface was a bit smaller than I would prefer for working and eating at the same time.  But, this is one area where they really went above and beyond most other domestic US hotels for the business traveler.  The desk has FOUR electrical outlets all conveniently located.  I think this is the first US hotel I can remember that had it organized this well.  And, each night stand (on both sides of the bed) had an additional two outlets located perfectly.

There’s also two reading lights located on the headboard that look like they would come in handy.

Grand Hyatt DenverGrand Hyatt Denver

Finally, I think the hotel did a decent job of improving their food quality.  I never really enjoyed eating at this property in the past.  While I haven’t sat down in the restaurant since it was renovated, I did order room service.  I had an gnocchi appetizer, a dish of risotto with soy beans and corn, and a chicken panini.

I found the choice of a currant jam (I think that’s what it was) as an accompaniment for the risotto quite odd when I ordered the dish, but figured it was worth trying.  I really don’t think it added to the dish.  It felt more like a chef trying to force something to sound more interesting.  That being said, I’m a traditionalist when it comes to risotto, so maybe I’m not the target audience.

Grand Hyatt Denver

All in all, I think they did a solid job with the renovations of the club rooms.  I’m a Diamond member (top tier) of Hyatt Gold Passport, and I stay in Denver quite a bit.  If this hotel would guarantee me a club room as an upgrade, I’d have to give serious consideration to which Denver property I’d hang out at.  But, since there’s only a handful of renovated rooms (just the club floor), I suspect the chances I get blocked into one of these rooms on a consistent basis aren’t great.

6 Comments

  1. Ed, I’d just flat out have a face-to-face talk with the GM of the property and tell him what you said in the last paragraph. If they’ll guarantee you an upgrade to a Club level room, you’ll switch your very frequent DEN stays to their hotel.
    Worst they can say is No or Go To Hell. And I’ve said worse to you on a regular basis. 🙂

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