FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center REVIEW

Dec 26, 2019 | 1:44 pm

#8

jmandc

Join Date: Aug 2017

Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA Executive Platinum

Posts: 42

Opening Night Stay

Back from our stay and honored to post the first review.

Being there opening night was certainly an experience. It's a 600 room hotel -- possibly the largest in the state of Oregon -- and we were told there were a total of 10 paid guests that night

Things did start a little inauspiciously. We took a 30 minute ride on Max (light rail) from PDX which dropped us right in front of the hotel with the convention center directly behind us. We excitedly walked into the outer door of the hotel which led to a another set of doors into the lobby. Lo and behold, the second doors were locked and so we stood there peering in and uncertain what to do. We could see another entrance on the other side, but it would require us walking all the way around the block through the wind and rain. Fortunately, someone saw us and let us in, apologizing that they hadn’t figured out how to unlock these doors (they would finally be unlocked on Day 3).

Once in, we walked toward the front desk where we were greeted by about half a dozen eager staff, each hoping (or possibly not) that we would pick them. The one we selected couldn’t have been nicer and yet more uncertain of how to actually check us in. She called someone over, then someone else and eventually it took 4-5 people about 15 minutes to figure out how to run my credit card and give one key that works for both our room and the Regency Club.

A few weeks prior, I had tried to use a TSU. I knew occupancy would be low, but didn’t want to have to rely on the new staff to know that Globalists get suite upgrades. However, my and other concierges had said it wasn’t possible since TSUs are applied by the hotel and they couldn’t contact them since hotels don’t answer their phones until they are open for business. As is almost always the case, my concierge figured it out prior to our arrival, so I knew we were guaranteed at least a Corner Suite. The hotel website says corner suites run 621-804 square feet while Regency Suites are listed as 820 square feet. Since I’d be there with my son and his friend (they were attending a card tournament at the Convention Center), I wanted the most space possible. A manager eventually came over and said that all the suites are the same size and the only difference is the Regency Suite is on the same floor (3rd) as the lounge. So we stuck with the corner suite on the top floor.

We entered our room into an entry area with shelving that contained a coffee maker and refrigerator and then a narrow living room with a pull-out sofa and an extremely large TV that, frankly, is too big for how close you have to sit to it. The pull out bed also is maybe 5 feet long which requires anyone but a child to sleep diagonally. On a little table sat a personal note from the GM welcoming us as their “first guest” along with a scarf from the hotel which was a wonderful touch!

The bedroom is nice-sized and also has an extremely large TV, but one that’s more suited to the size of the room. The bathroom was quite large and featured an oversized shower with a wand and rain showerhead (medium water pressure), a shampoo/conditioner/body wash dispenser and a separate room with the toilet (no bathtub).

The Regency Club is one of the largest and nicest I’ve ever seen, with all kinds of different areas to sit, board games spread throughout, an outdoor patio (it was cold and rainy so we didn’t check it out), two computers, a telescope to look at the mountains and a good-sized conference room. During the day, there were nuts, veggies and cheese and crackers. We only visited once in the evening where they served two hot dishes (potstickers and something else I can’t remember) and expanded veggies, dips, etc. Dessert had 3-4 choices, none of which were particularly great. Breakfast had eggs that looked powdered and were super salty, though there was a huge spread of pastries, breads, meats, fruit and yogurt which made for a complete meal.

Oddly, the placement of things seemed not fully thought through and the serving utensils often were the wrong type (for instance, having tongs instead of spoons for the granola and also the fresh berry mix instead of a spoon). I’m sure all this will get worked out.

There is a modest fitness center -- thought it might be larger and grander given the size and newness of the hotel -- with an assortment of machines. Everything, of course, was brand spanking new.

The hotel, itself, is stunning and feels high end. The lobby has a couple of nice restaurants and a gourmet market that sells some packaged goods and also serves coffee and hot food. The hotel staff seemed a bit green – two people we spoke to in the lounge had never worked at a hotel before – but everyone was unbelievably nice and appeared to be perfect fits for a Hyatt.

I imagine this property will be a huge success given its location and just how nice it is. We loved being their “first guests” and look forward to coming back again.