The breathtaking Grand Hyatt Jeju Dream Tower in South Korea (Credits: Hyatt)
We take a look inside Hyatt’s hotel development pipeline for summer 2020 and beyond.
As countries begin easing lockdown restrictions worldwide, and some countries even start to encourage tourism back to their shores, we check in with Hyatt Hotels Corporation to see how its project pipeline is shaping up over the coming months and years.
Hyatt hits home runs in the US and China
Hyatt is betting big on the two largest hospitality markets in the world: the US and China. The rivalry between the two nations is well-documented, especially in the current context of Covid19, and the state of affairs within the hospitality industry mirrors the tug of war between them. China and the US have been edging each other off the top spot in terms of openings and room count for the past few months, according to data from TOPHOTELPROJECTS, and it is a similar story for Hyatt.
The group has 331 projects in the pipeline that will add 71,788 rooms to Hyatt’s stock over the next few years, our analysis shows. 110 of those projects are slated to open this year, while 2021 will see 112 projects open their doors. Asia Pacific and North America are the most popular markets for Hyatt properties, with these markets set to gain 138 and 136 Hyatt-branded properties respectively over the coming years.
Hyatt’s favourite countries and cities
In terms of countries, the US narrowly wins the development race with 106 Hyatt hotels on the horizon, just ahead of China with 87 properties. Canada and India follow with just 17 and 14 projects respectively.
As regards cities, Los Angeles will welcome the most Hyatt-branded properties with 11 hotels in the pipeline, while Chengdu will soon be home to eight properties and fellow Chinese metropolis Xian will welcome six new additions. The total number of 331 Hyatt hotels will be spread across the group’s many brands, with the most popular being Hyatt Place, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt House, Hyatt Centric and Alila Hotels and Resorts, which occupy the top five places on the list with 72, 60, 42, 34 and 23 projects per brand respectively.
Notable Hyatt projects
Grand Hyatt Jeju Dream Tower is the largest project on Hyatt’s roster with 1,600 rooms, and it is due to welcome guests towards the end of this year. The rooms are split between guest rooms and suites (650), and private residences and serviced apartments (850). Located in South Korea, the hotel will be spread over two imposing towers in a newbuild complex that also boasts 11 F&B outlets; ample meeting, conference and event space; and western and Korean spas.
Meanwhile, Grand Hyatt Shenzhou, Peninsula will be one of the most important projects in the city when it opens. This 358-key luxury 5-star newbuild project will be the first exclusive villa resort in the Asia Pacific, and boast almost 4,000 sq m of meeting and event space, making it ideal for conferences and corporate gatherings. The property will feature unique meeting residences that sit above idyllic mangroves, and the hotel benefits from its own private waterfront.
Also worth noting is Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman Hotel and Residences, which is currently under construction on the Cayman Islands, with an opening date set for summer 2022. 351 guest rooms, studio suites and private residences will overlook a pristine beachfront, and guests can avail themselves of the six cafes, restaurants and bars onsite, as well as the largest function space on the island at 25,000 sq ft..
Finally, Hyatt Coco Palms Resort is an idyllic Hawaiian resort dating from 1953, which is surrounded by a large coconut grove; the renovation of this landmark property involves rebuilding guestrooms and common areas such as restaurants and pool areas. The hotel is due to reopen at the end of this year.
As it continues to grow, Hyatt Hotels Corporation doesn’t lose sight of what’s most important – people. Hyatt is a company that was built by family.
