Sorry you were right it was the Queen Elizabeth (not QEII)

“An Iconic Legend returns with triumphant Style & Class” The Review
 

Park Hyatt Sydney

Arrival/Greeting

I couldn’t help but think that somebody tipped them off that I was coming or they are actively reading our threads.
Within a minute or two my arrival I was surrounded by warm welcomes from the front of the house by both of the front office managers
(These folks are sensational by the way)
Then to my complete and utter surprise a brief greeting and welcome from the GM himself as we approached the elevators.

Guests are escorted to their rooms by hosts/front desk Ambassadors not bellman which may be more typically a front office manager.
I was so taken back by the properties personal interest in my brief stay experience it is harder for me to be more critical of my stay.
For those that know anything about me the truth is all that always follows even if some see my viewpoints as overly critical.
I feel that is always the best interest for all parties to make for some hopeful slight ongoing improvements.

Many of us have years of perceptions on this property self included
I would like to suggest to global readers that follow this thread we put those thoughts behind us as this marks a new chapter going forward for the Park Hyatt Sydney.

If I've observed anything about the new Park Hyatt Sydney it is an overwhelming desire/commitment to please guests like never before ^
With one glaring exception of its past business decision of no suite upgrades for Diamonds policy which sadly still remains firmly in place
Turning its back on Gold Passport and its loyal membership base.On the other hand each guest is treated with the highest regard for room upgrades
and all other amenities here including the unexpected and random acts of kindness and generosity from amazing team members
Moving on................

The Butler is Back!!!

It’s not just advertising it’s the first time in 15 years I actually had one show up at the door.
For those that have not had such luxuries they are truly a great asset providing you with any special services during your stay.
Packing or unpacking and a wide variety of assistance are offered.Regretfully my short stay didn’t make use of this exceptional service

The Room

Upon entry of the long and winding corridors which have some nice new touches including enhanced hallway lighting I arrived at my upgraded room 244.
I am a huge fan of the simple rectangular door handles of polished chrome and the simple state of the art room key entry system. Simple, effective and effortless.
Have been looking at a similar design for my new residence.
The large well-appointed room two exceptional all glass balconies(no obstruction remain anymore) with good views of the Opera House

It took a while to understand the rooms architectural design
The rooms do not have the wow dramatic factor of say Andaz Wall Street New York City that I have come to favour.
In fact in some areas it is a slightly lesser overall room product with some exceptions. I’m speculating the designers wanted to achieve an understated yet tasteful contemporary design that wouldn’t compete with the view which is the main event at this property clearly.
In that regard I’d say that the designers got it right. The rooms are certainly more functional and contemporary then in the past

Impressive are the mirrored and wood light up closets(beautifully lit with great task lighting) that open up to impeccable storage and your every whim from a glass door mini bar to all the most important amenities.Sharp television replaces the former Bang AND Olfusen television that were confusing because the B&O remotes were never meant to work with hotel systems.I am not a fan of Sharp it is a lower quality television compared to LGs,Sonys and other brands. The upside is they are on beautiful round silver bases opposite the bed and the sliding glass doors
They are adequate but the picture is not as sharp and bright had they used a more appropriate higher end brand.


THE Good & the Bad

The Beds as noted previously are platform they are very firm and have no box spring.The bed has zero movement.
For firm mattress lovers you will be in heaven for those accustomed to the Westin Heavenly Beds you may be in much misery.
I am hoping the good folks at the PH Sydney Hyatt can come up with a future solution as Andaz Wall Street has in New York City has
which has allowed me to become a regular guest even with their dreaded platform bed.
I sadly got little sleep hopefully I am in the minority of guests.
The other thing that does happen through the night is the occasional blast of cruise ship horns which I also experienced at 3 AM :eek:
Light sleepers may be startled in the otherwise quiet of night.

Lighting

A mix of state of the art LED energy efficient lighting with on off touch controls that are difficult and confusing to control in a darkened room at night.
The lighting is stunning and well thought out when fully lit. I regret they didn’t simply use dimmers for greater control of lighting and ease of function
Power Converters are something the Park Hyatt Sydney truly got right located on both sides of the bed and desk/table area. Easy to access.

Shades

Like Andaz they use motorized shades one for black out and one for blocking some of the day time glare .They are not the high end of motorized shades and quite noisy but highly effective and attractive at doing their job.
The heating and ac controls are adequate and a huge improvement over the Park Hyatt Melbourne which were amongst the least user friendly controls ever found inside any hotel room

Bath Area
The rainforest shower and second hand held is very nice with controls located on the marble at waist length that extends from the vanity into the shower area.
I was slightly disappointed with the shower water pressure after coming from the Westin.The vanity area is very attractive with the toilet area located away from the bathroom in the front of the guest room in what almost seems like a second guest toilet at first glance. In the middle of the night confused how to get adequate lighting in the pitch black I ended up walking into the shower accidently seeking the toilet.

The Toto toilet is quiet elaborate one part heated seat one part bidet. It’s the fattest toilet seat I’ve ever parked myself on. Though I assume that many find it appealing to have their rears warmed while on the throne I am not a fan. I chose to pull the plug out of the wall rather than read the owner’s manual or call the butler to learn how to make it all work J
I loved the new sleek glass minimalist European scales I will be purchasing one for myself

Toiletries

Tied with the most putrid shampoo ever encountered in any hotel is the new Bergamonte 222.Of course like beds subjective.
I had an immediate allergic reaction and discontinued use immediately.For anyone that complained about the former Portico products I’d be curious of their opinions
Thought the packaging was disappointing too very downscale with the exception of the soap. Hilton has attractive high quality toiletries in Australia I think this is a minor area the Park Hyatt Sydney should possibly reconsider depending on other guest feedback.

Oddly there are tubs and no Jacuzzis in the rooms and that follows the same path up to the expensive lavish suites that go for 3000 plus dollars a night.
IMHO I believe that and the platform beds and the lack of Jacuzzis are the two biggest mistakes this otherwise amazing hotel flubbed.
That of course will ultimately rely in the eyes of the beholder!

The Dining Experience to be added

Dinner

Breakfast

The Bellmen

First Class & Professional

The Concierge
I didn’t use but their services they never failed to smile and engage in nice conversation when accessing elevators where they are now located in the former space of the checkout desk area

The Gym

Has a new Techno Gym line up.I wish Hyatt had kept its recent smart partnership choice of Life Fitness.To be fair Techno Gym equip has made some improvements in recent years.
However it is still not as good as Life Fitness,Nautilus and other fitness brands

The Spa
Nicely redone with couple massage tables side by side so partners and or friends can be massaged together by two therapists at a time

Random Acts of Kindness
To follow

Final Assessment

Park Hyatt Sydney after many years is well on its way to finding its ultimate promise to truly exceed most guest expectations.
It was well on course even at the time of its closing last year despite its aging interior and small shortcomings.
Today it’s simply a vastly improved and much better hotel experience physically and aesthetically.
It knows who its luxury customers are overall and what it takes to satisfy their most individual personal whims and desires
In my eyes it is what the Park Hyatt brand aspired to be at inception of the original brand launching and reasonably acheived.
Park Hyatt Sydney is clearly well on its way taking it to the next level if early experiences are any indicator.

Is the Park Hyatt Sydney worth its starting price of 800 dollars a night and up even in an overpriced high demand market like Sydney?
Perhaps that’s a question even the hotel is asking in the long term. Right now with less than all rooms and suites fully opened & completed there is certainly no shortage of customers.
For some they may be real happy to have accumulated Gold Passport points after reviewing the rates here.

It’s of my opinion that the Park Hyatt Sydney has few peers when it comes to overall guest service for those wishing to fulfil a truly aspirational experience in Sydney
Surrounded by polished seasoned Hyatt hospitality professionals with amongst some of the best moments of my thirty years on the road in any brand.
One can find a far more comfortable bed in Sydney and better overall dining experiences with far better value.
However nothing compares to the remarkable team that remain currently on board or the magical setting that is a must for anyone traveling to Sydney for the first or the 100th time
This is a place where celebrities, VIPs and the mere frequent traveller elite or not can feel pampered and made to feel like a true visiting VIP dignitary on revenue or award.
For those of you that are such VIPs/ dignitaries already you will feel right at home ;)

In my time here on FT and elsewhere in the social media space analysing thousands of hotels and trip reports.
I would suggest run don’t walk and make a booking to get your preferred dates while availability exists
Come experience one of the worlds most civilized unique experiences in hospitality that some may rarely experience while the current team is still on board.
All associated with a great elite guest program like Hyatt Gold Passport.

Welcome back "Park Hyatt Sydney" nice to have you back!

(photos to follow upon my return to office)

Great review 777 !

In sentiment to the toiletries you mentioned, I wonder why the PH is not resorting to Aesop products like the PH Tokyo!? :confused: It would be a local product as well. At a hotel that charges these sort of rates I personally think toiletries in the scale of L'Occitane, Aesop or Bvlgari would be a proper addition.

Thanks for the kind words it was a long one and I still have left out details
More coming for those that can read through such extensive verbiage :cool:
I am holding my breath for the Gary Leff review on Park Hyatt Maldives!

Many toiletries brand only provides to one particular hotel in the same region or city, if Park Hyatt Tokyo using Aesop, none of the other Tokyo hotels are able to use this brand. For me I think even L'Occitane, Aesop or Bvlgari are not even in the same tier, it's all depends on the person preference. Even I was bit shocked to know LG TV is better than Sharp...

Luxury hotel should given different kind of toiletries for selection, like Mandarin Oriental has Aromatherapy Associates, Acqua Di Parma, and Asprey. Even Four Seasons are able to change bed from firm to soft in order to accommodate guest.

L'Occitane & Aesop I would rate in the same league. Bvlgari... well probably not (lower, just a brand name).

I would think Hyatt could do some convincing. A property like that needs reputable amenities (but that's just my opinion).

In both the GH Shanghai and the HR Incheon, when the bed was too firm, I have called down and housekeeping showed up with a foam pad that made it softer. Wonder if the PH Sydney knows about that fix?

Bingo!
I did bring this up to the good folks at PH Sydney
Unfortunately it is not something they are familiar with yet

This is exactly what Andaz Wall Street New York City is doing
And it's simply amazing how from barely a few hours of sleep a night I can get
A restful enough nights sleep in a plaform bed
Why would anyone who could afford 16,0000 dollars a night would want to sleep in one would be the bigger question in my mind

While I understand the need to have platform beds in say Andaz to appeal to
Younger folks in their 20s and 30s why is the Park Hyatt brand known as a great luxury brand going the way of the lower end brands?
I can only hope that the upcoming Park Hyatt New York doesn't also go this poorly thought out route in the most anticipated and long awaited return to New York City

Some hotels just don't get it. I liked a lot of the Hilton properties in Thailand, but not a single one had a comfortable bed. Not the Conrad, Hilton, not in BKK, not in Phuket. I haven't stayed there in years because of this.

I recently stayed at the Holiday Inn Baruna Bali on their $10 a night special. They had a nice King Koil mattress that was the best I can recall in many years.

Strange- I have found the beds at the Conrad in BKK to be very comfortable.

The Park Hyatt pre-rennovation also had very comfortable beds- has this changed with the refresh?

Agree the Park Hyatt pre reno had about the best beds in the city
They are all Platforms now with no box spring very firm
I repeat this for those that don't care to read my non fiction novel above ;):)

Thanks 777 for the updates!

The PH MEL uses horrible VIVE/VIBE products, but the specialty suites have Aesop, and lots of it.

Le Labo is a niche fragrance brand and they make some of my favorite fragrances. I can't comment on the quality of their bath products because I've not tried them, but purely from a price perspective Le Labo is probably more high end than either L'Occitane or Aesop (e.g. US$65 for a bottle of body lotion). But given the demographics of the clients the hotel is targeting, I agree that this brand probably isn't the best choice. The new Park Hyatt Ningbo also uses Le Labo amenities by the way (and Fairmont is rolling this brand out chain-wide).

I guess it makes sense as some of their deluxe room categories are pretty much junior suites already...

but I wonder if they would upgrade a CC to one of their suites though.. :D