txhyattlvr

I feel like most Hyatt brands are relatively distinguishable from each other and if you blindfolded me and put me in one, I could probably tell which brand it was once inside the door (and inside the room) but without access to the brand name. This applies to all Hyatt brands EXCEPT HR and GH....

I thought GH's were supposed to be more "convention" hotels attached to or near convention centers, etc, yet the (truly gorgeous) GH Playa Del Carmen isn't like that. Similarly, there are many HR's that definitely ARE heavy duty convention hotels, if this is the rule then shouldn't they be GH? Size wise, yes GH's are typically large, but not larger than many similar HR's. They seem to have basically identical brand standards, in-room amenities, etc. In terms of locations, both occupy similar locations and GH's exist in places where HR's don't (odd that NYC/Manhattan lacks a HR but has a GH, so does Playa Del Carmen...) so it's not a "we already have an HR there so let's call it a GH" issue. The ONLY difference I can think of (and this might not be accurate) is that all GH's appear to have clubs, while many HR's don't.

I just don't see any rhyme or reason. Am I missing something?

MSPeconomist

txhyattlvr

Interesting. IME the lounges are very similar between the two brands, but I don't claim to be an expert on that. That said, I think there's more to it than event space size/quality that determines whether an HR has a club. For example, basically all the HR's in Texas have no clubs (HR Dallas, HR North Dallas, HR Houston Downtown, HR San Antonio, etc.)... Some of these are truly iconic properties, too.. like the HR Dallas (which for a decade was featured prominently during the intro to the TV show Dallas) and it does a mammoth event business.... Oddly, they DID put a club into the brand new HR Houston Galleria, which does NOT strike me as an event-centric property....

Aventine

In Asia and the Middle East, the GHs are almost always grander and more luxurious than their HR counterparts. More F&B outlets and bigger facilities like spas and pools. The pricing usually reflects this as well.

MarkOK

I feel that there is a pretty strong difference between GH and HR overall, though, there are always oddities.

Really, GH seems reserved for full service Hyatts that are a level above HRs -- better soap, better service, better lounges, better restaurants, better quality meeting spaces, better gyms (with better shower facilities and stocked bath supplies). Every GH I have been is a level above the HRs in the same market on these characteristics.

HRs come in three flavors --- 1. The modest full service Hyatt, usually in suburban locations, that offers a standard guest room experience and full service amenities, oriented around a practical business traveler, 2. The modest full service not-all-inclusive "resort" property (HR Lake Tahoe, HR Honolulu, some HRs in SE Asia), And 3. Large convention center hotels with 1000+ rooms. And by large, as in entire block sized floors of meeting rooms (HR Minneapolis, HR New orleans, etc). GHs (as far as I can recall) only have fairly modest meeting room space by comparison.

For Hyatt's definitions, see https://www.hyatt.com/development/ourbrands

Too add: I think of GHs much more of large-luxury-like properties. Typically they are just too large to be a true luxury property, but otherwise has great service all around that one should expect at a luxury property.

MSPeconomist

hotturnip

I worked for Hyatt back when the first Grand Hyatt was introduced (Grand Hyatt New York, Trump's first big real-estate deal). Contrary to the OP, I would say just the opposite, that the Hyatt Regencies are convention/meeting hotels, and Grand Hyatts tend to be big, fancy hotels catering to business and upscale tourist travelers. But you're right, there's really little different in the rooms. In my experience, the Grand Hyatts (perhaps due to their urban locations) tend to have smaller rooms. The Grand Hyatt NY has a huge variety of rooms, but some are VERY small. The Grand Hyatt San Francisco used to be Hyatt on Union Square, not even a Regency in the name. I stayed as an employee, and was struck by how small the rooms were. I doubt that's changed any. The HR San Francisco has far more meeting space, though.

helvetic

There is absolutely nothing luxurious about Grand Hyatts. The NYC location is an absolute dump. The others I've stayed in were also lackluster (e.g. Tokyo — nice but nothing compared to Andaz or PH)

Kagehitokiri

hyatt.com/development/ourbrands/grandhyatt/specsgallery

there are fans of grand hyatt tokyo club, top suite there has a swimming pool
(dont think any hyatt regency have top suites like some (not all) grand hyatt..)

rio (suites)
berlin (club)
multiple asia including bangkok (spa cottages)

like every other brand (including all but one of the most expensive and luxurious brands) there is extremely dramatic variation within brand portfolio

mnredfox

s0ssos

The thing is the branding in Japan just doesn't make sense. Hyatt Regency Kyoto is supposed to be extremely nice. HR Hakone is very classy.
And in Hong Kong there is the HR which is a dump and GH which is amazing.

Pickles

Not me.

Aventine

Middle East as well are very opulent and luxurious.

steveholt

There are plenty of very nice GHs. GH Kuala Lumpur is luxurious. GH Seattle is fantastic. GH DFW is one of the best airport hotels on the planet. GHs in DC, Denver, HK are all quite comfortable.

MikeFromTokyo