Hard on the heels of the opening of the Andaz Amsterdam, Hyatt announced its plans for a Hyatt Place at Schipol Airport scheduled to open later this year. Yesterday they announced that a third hotel was being planned, the Hyatt Regency Amsterdam.

Scheduled to open in 2015, the property will have 215 rooms and 15 suites.

Located further out from the city centre than the Andaz, it will be some distance from the Central Station of Amsterdam. It will be in the east of the city, an area I don’t know really.

Central Station is at the top centre of the map above.

The press release description does tend to suggest it’s half a mile from the closest tram stop:

Hyatt Regency Amsterdam will be located in central Amsterdam between Sarphatistraat and Spinozastraat, and will be surrounded by the Singelgracht canal. The hotel will be in close proximity to many of Amsterdam’s museums, including the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Scheepvaart Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum. The hotel will be less than half a mile from the Weesperplein metro stop and is close to the ring road, which connects all parts of Amsterdam to the national road system.

Amsterdam appears to be turning in to a matress run destination – or at least it will be in 2015

The Hyatt web site appears a major redesign overnight. Whilst the landing page is pretty much the same, once you go to make a reservation, the pages are fresher and bolder than the old site.

Not too much change on the new home page – although it is a lot less fussy than before:

Searching for a city now lists the properties that Hyatt operate in the city:

Clicking on the Check-In/Check-Out box opens a calendar which can be clicked:

Once you select a property, the rates available are presented in a vertical list by room type, with different rates offered on tabs across the top. Ticking a box displays Gold Passport point rates for each room type:

Clicking on the Offers and Certificates link, pops open the familiar box where you can request special rates:

Once you select a special rate these are listed in the property display, and against each room type:

As you switch between properties the site remembers the special rates you selected. This is a big enhancement. In many cases rooms now come with short descriptions against each tab, helping us decide whether the room is appropriate for our needs, or comes with extra services:

The reservation page clearly shows the whole range of taxes and charges levied:

The confirmation page at a resort clearly lists the resort fees applicable:

The property information pages are refreshed although I did think most of the content the same as before:

Against each property, you can now pull up all the photos used on their web site, giving a good idea of what the property or rooms might look like before you visit:

I did have some problems booking, although whether this related to the new site, I do not know.

Overall

A better, more modern look which matches with the make-overs being done to the properties.

I have been a member of the AARP for several years as they often have good tie ups at Hyatt, my hotel chain of choice. Membership is available for both US Residents as well as those of us living abroad who are over 50 years old. The fees do vary significantly and non-US members can only join for a year at a time. Current rates are:

It is perhaps worth looking at what sort of discounts are available.

AARP offers a range of discounts on travel. However, many of these only work for those living in the US. For example the discounts for British Airways and via Expedia, don’t work unless you have a US credit card. There other discounts for car rentals, cruises, Cirque De Soleil and UPS which seem to work for non-US members, although often only at US locations.

The major benefit is having access to AARP rates at leading hotel chains, with properties from 5* on down. A sample of the higher end property discounts are:

When booking the discount you should present the AARP card to the employee at check-in. I am not always asked for it, but have it handy just in case.

A couple of worked example for Hyatt to give you an idea of the discounts on offer and how to obtain them. Hyatt makes it pretty easy to search for the AARP rate, as it is an option right from their homepage.

A search on the Grand Hyatt in San Francisco in August offers these rates:

A saving of $28 per night making membership a pretty good deal.

A search on the Grand Hyatt in New York in December offers these rates:

Not every room type is offered for the AARP rate but there is a reasonable choice, although if you are looking just for a basic room, the Advance Purchase rate is still cheaper although it cannot be cancelled or amended.

I like using AARP rates as they often come with the same cancellation policy as the normal Hyatt rate as well as earning Gold Passport points.

At Starwood there is a special search page (here) which gives access to their special AARP rates. A search on the W in San Francisco, again in August shows the AARP rate as $311, the pre-paid rate as $326 and the Flexible rate at $346, so a saving of about 10%.

A check of the Four Points at San Francisco Airport showed that the pre-paid rate was $23 cheaper than the AARP rate and $37 cheaper than the Flexible rate.

A search for London showed no hotels with the AARP rate in May, so it seems less available in some locations.

A check of Best Western properties in San Juan, PR revealed a discount for AARP equal to that for AAA members at 10% of the Best Available Rate.

Hyatt are giving away up to 35,000 books in exchange for us making a ‘pledge’ to help our communities thrive.

I’ve increased my volunteer work this month and so after sharing it on Facebook or Twitter Hyatt added my pledge to their list.

It would be a shame if Hyatt didn’t meet their pledge, so if you can help out go to this page, pledge and help out.

Hyatt published a press release this morning indicating that they were rebranding five hotels in India under the Hyatt brand name.

• Hyatt Bangalore MG Road,
• Hyatt Hyderabad Gachibowli,
• Hyatt Pune,
• Hyatt Amritsar,
• Hyatt Ahmedabad

Hyatt Bangalore MG Road is located in the heart of India’s Silicon Valley on the buzzing MG Road, with views of nearby Ulsoor Lake. The hotel is close to Bangalore’s shopping and business areas and has 143 guestrooms, including four suites. The hotel’s signature restaurant, The Pink Poppadom, serves modern Indian cuisine; Lido, the all-day-dining restaurant, is situated overlooking the swimming pool; and the rooftop bar, Liquid Lounge and Bar, offers a refreshing al fresco experience. Hyatt Bangalore MG Road also offers a spa and fitness center. The hotel’s meeting and function space includes the Istana conference room, a pre-function area and two smaller meeting rooms.

Hyatt Hyderabad Gachibowli is located 20 minutes from the airport in the financial hub of Gachibowli, in the heart of Hyderabad’s new business district. The hotel has 166 rooms, including nine suites, and is spread across an expansive, landscaped area that gives it the feel of an urban resort.  The hotel’s two restaurants include Collage, which offers international cuisine, and Deori, which is known for its North Indian, Andhra and Hyderabadi cuisine. The Lounge Bar offers a wide variety of cocktails and premium liquours. Hyatt Hyderabad Gachibowli’s spa features six treatment rooms, which celebrate well-being through yoga, Ayurveda and meditational experiences. The fitness center and temperature-controlled outdoor swimming pool provide the opportunity to refresh and rejuvenate after a long day’s work. The meetings and function space at Hyatt Hyderabad Gachibowli includes the Istana conference room, a pre-function area and a number of smaller meeting rooms.

Hyatt Pune, situated in Pune’s IT corridor on Nagar Road, is only 10 minutes from the airport. Hyatt Pune blends the city’s green outdoors with stylish interiors, creating a unique and refreshing ambiance with multiple water features and other design elements. The hotel has 209 rooms, including 12 suites, and is especially known for its Garden suites, which have a large spacious garden that is ideal for long-stay and leisure guests. Eighty Eight, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, has an eclectic international menu with a live Japanese Teppanyaki grill and Tempura station, in addition to Italian pizzas from a wood-fired oven. Baan Tao, the award winning Pan-Asian restaurant, offers contemporary al fresco dining with Thai and Chinese pavilions. Fishbowl, the lounge, has a mix of live entertainment and lounge music. Hyatt Pune’s spa is a place to restore and harmonize energies with traditional Ayurveda and other therapies. Other recreational facilities include a fitness center with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, an outdoor swimming pool and a vitality pool. The hotel offers expansive public areas and more than 10,000 square feet (929 square metres) of banquet and meeting space, making it an ideal venue for small and medium size conferences, trainings and social events.

Hyatt Ahmedabad is located in the heart of the city, just 35 minutes from the international airport and adjacent to Vastrapur Lake in Gujarat’s largest city. The hotel’s 178 rooms, including 10 suites, are all equipped with bedside electronic controls and convenient facilities ideal for the business traveler. The hotel offers multiple restaurants, including Collage, which offers international cuisine in a verdant setting overlooking Lake Vastrapur; Nonya, an innovative Pan-Asian restaurant; and Chocolart, which offers baked goods, pastries and chocolates. The extensive spa facilities offer seven treatment rooms and a salon. The fitness center features state-of-the-art cardio and resistance machines, and the outdoor pool is ideal for relaxation and recreation. Meeting and function facilities at the hotel encompass 11,500 square feet (1068.39 square metres) and includes a ballroom, pre-function areas and two private meeting rooms.

Having stayed previously at this property I was interested to see what, if anything, had changed. I was flying in late and leaving in the afternoon of the next day so did not want to waste a suite upgrade and so accepted that I would receive an ordinary room. In fact, the hotel had upgraded me and gave me a room on the top floor of the hotel, 8504.

The rooms are very nicely decorated with plenty of space to sit at the desk, and a large bathroom:

Whilst the bath is the main feature but where there is also a separate shower. The closet cleverly opens to both the room side and the bathroom side.

My Diamond Gold Passport amenity was already in the room:

When I woke up the next morning, after a great nights sleep, the views were very interesting from the room. A new tower was going up opposite the hotel:

You could also see upwards to other parts of the tower:

As the sun came up the Bund became clearer:

Breakfast was three floors below in the Grand Club, and they offer and at seat service of eggs or omlette. I had the omlette and it was pretty good. In addition they had a wide range of juices, breads, cheese etc. The staff prepared coffee and tea and the atmosphere was quiet with most people reading papers or their iPads.

Check-out was accomplished in a moment, with a request for me to choose whether to be billed in Chinese or UK currency. A ride down in the two lifts and I was ready to face the subway and Maglev train back to the airport.

After leaving Customs at Miami I was directed to the lower level by a ‘helpful’ American Airlines Agent and spent time looking for the bus stop for the hotel van pick-up. Failing to find one I asked and was directed to the Upper (Departures) Level. Again, looking for signs proved fruitless and I asked someone else. Apparently I was supposed to know that you have to stand on the middle island and flag the bus down when it comes. No signs, no hints, no clues – that seems to be the motto for MIA.

After a long flight, with little sleep and a painful immigration process I was pretty ready to get to the hotel. I called the Hyatt House who advised that the bus would be about 20 minutes as it leaves every 30 minutes from the property.

In due time the van turned up, and I flagged it down. One stop to pick up two women who claimed that they had been waiting 45 minutes and we were off to the hotel.

The van looks like this, in case you ever need it:

I have stayed at the property some time ago, and as it was a new year wanted to start my Hyatt stay re-qualification. The hotel staff were friendly, confirming that I had been upgraded to a two bedroom suite as a Diamond, and explaining about the evening and morning food offerings. I had an 0630 flight and so checked on options to get me to the airport in time. This turned out to be a taxi as the first shuttle leaves at 0530.

The room was on the first floor overlooking the airport, which caused some noise during the night.

The two bedrooms (each with their own bathroom) meet at the common area/sitting room/kitchen area:

The bedrooms were almost identical and had seperate showers/bath tubs and basins:

The evening snacks (free wine and beer!) were on the ground floor where the breakfast is served:

The evening when I went down there was a salad you could make yourself, some soup/broth, as well as chicken wings. Not a bad spread.

During the evening I received 3 flyers under the door for delivery options from local restaurants, although the hotel advises against using these following complaints:

(Note that even the hotel hasn’t quite grappled with the new Hyatt House name, referring to the old Summerfield Suites names in the flyer).

Overall
A good stay with only the occasional interruption. If I had more energy I would have gone to the supermarket which is a 10 minute walk away. (There is also a Starbucks there, and an Office Depot). The cab came when booked the next morning and took 10-15 minutes back to the airport for $16. I was glad I was there early as the queue for United was horrendous – they have three flight leaving in the hour from 6am-7am – Chicago, Houston and Newark.

I was hoping to continue my series of interesting things you can do with miles, but came unstuck when I go to BA and their Avios scheme. There are really only options for Flights, Flight Upgrades, hotels and cars on the agenda.

So I thought I would look to see what value might be obtained by using Avios rather than paying for a room during my stay in Shanghai next week.

Options on the Hyatt web site were:

 
Each of the properties were available using Avios:

So, it looks like between 23.27 and 24.83 Avios per Yuan.

Hyatt has taken over management of a hotel in downtown LA – a welcome return in my view to LA after some years of absence.

As part of the rebranding, there is a generous Gold Passport offer – 2,500 bonus points per night for stays until end of May 2013.

Conditions:

• Book using rate code LA2500
• Must request points at check-in
• Not available on convention rates
• Must pay an eligible rate

Details here

The hotel is located at -333 South Figueroa, Los Angeles, California, USA 90071

There are several bed types:

Refundable rates are in the region of $229 weekday and $189 weekend.

The property is close to the Metro Centre station and Disney Symphony Hall.

Collect 2,000 additional Hyatt Gold Passport Points during your stay in Berlin, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Mainz, Warsaw and Zurich.

Hyatt Gold Passport holders will earn 2,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points per stay  and a free upgrade to the next available room category (subject to availability).

Simply book an eligible rate between 1 February and 30 April 2013 at participating hotels and quote offer code GP486 at time of reservation to take advantage of this offer.  The offer is only valid on weekends (from Friday to Sunday).

The offer is valid for bookings on weekends only, i.e. from Friday to Sunday, excluding the following dates: Grand Hyatt Berlin 8 February 2013 to 10 February 2013, 27 April 2013 to 28 April 2013; Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf 24 March 2013 to 26 March 2013; Park Hyatt Zurich 26 April 2013 to 29 April 2013.

An “Eligible Rate” is any hotel published room rate, including, but not limited to rates found on hyatt.com or any Hyatt Gold Passport hotel partner website, the Hyatt Daily Rate, volume, AAA and senior citizen rates, etc.

With More Possibilities, members can earn 3,000 Hyatt Gold Passport bonus points after every three eligible nights (up to 45,000 bonus points) at any Hyatt hotel worldwide from March 1 through May 31.

Plus, Hyatt Credit Cardmembers will receive a 20 percent point bonus – that’s 600 more bonus points after every three nights. With these additional bonus points, Hyatt Credit Cardmembers can earn a maximum of 54,000 bonus points during the promotion.

You can register from 15 Feb 2013.