I stayed at the Hyatt House New Orleans/Downtown in July. I have to say it was a superb Hyatt House altogether. The good things:
1. One of most affordable hotels in downtown New Orleans.
2. I found the staff absolutely pleasant.
3. I really liked the new thermostats! Someone complained above (and I see others complained about this at another site), but I had no problem getting my room cold, I really liked being able to set the fan and the temperature independently, and it remembered my preferences (the first night at 9PM, I set it for 68 and the fan on high, and at 9 PM everynight thereafter, it would automatically set at 68/fan high).
4. They upgraded me from my standard lowest tier King room to a high floor preferred view king (with Discoverist status).
5. The breakfast area is sufficiently large and well-maintained.
6. There are two fitness centers that are super convenient (on floors 16 and 15 I think). I was on floor 16 and it was really convenient to walk down the hall to the fitness center. I think this was a good model -- I dislike riding up and down elevators, crossing lobbies, etc. when I am in my workout clothes. The fitness centers were tiny, but I never had anyone else in there with me.
7. The Regency bars and restaurants were nice and easily accessed.
The downsides.
1. If you care to swim, it is a bit of an effort to get to the Regency's pool.
2. If you need parking, the valet gets 'full' often and can't be relied upon.
3. The valet rates are bit high, and the park-it yourself option leaves you paying high rates as well (the costs of parking in new orleans all over is high -- it seems about double the cost of most major US cities). My only Hyatt House specific complaint on the parking costs is that the garage next door where you can park yourself has no in/out privileges. Thus, leaving results in an extra $25 dollars because of the flat 12-24 hour rate applied (and this 25 dollar rate was a promotional new-garage opening rate, I imagine before long it will be closer to the 30-40 dollars a day that other downtown NOLA garages charge).
4. The bar atmosphere at the Hyatt House is really kind of sterile for enjoying a pre-going out drink or a nightcap (though, the bar tender was great).
The meh's.
1. Some people complain about the elevator system. There is 1 elevator to go from the entrance of the building to the lobby, and then a separate bank to get to the rooms. I didn't find it at all bad, but I got tired of other guests making comments and mild complaints about it.
2. The location may not be ideal. I rather liked the location from the standpoint that you get away from the noise, smells and crowds of canal street and bourbon street. Last night I was in New Orleans, I stayed at the Astor (I think) at Canal and Bourbon and it was frustratingly loud all night. The noise levels at the Hyatt House were very quiet. The meh about the location is that there are are a few decent eateries nearby, but generally, you have to walk a ways to get to downtown eateries and a bit farther to get to the french quarter. Getting a taxi or pedicab from bourbon street back though was quick and affordable for when I didn't want to walk the mile.
Anyways, it was pleasant enough that I am returning in December when I have a conference in New Orleans (and it is 30% cheaper than other hotel during those dates). The Convention Center is a good walk away, but maybe that would give an introvert like me some space from running constantly into colleagues.