New Hyatt Brand for China - UrCove
Jul 22, 2023, 7:01 pm
#151
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 18
The front desk receptionalists in many of the UrCove hotels can't even speak Englist. I just compeleted 17 nights in Hyatt hotels in various cities in China. My experience is that it is usually much less hassle to deal with PH/GH/HR/HP/Andaz brands in China rather than those independent brands. The reason that you need to call each hotel (especially for hotels ourside of Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou areas) indivially is because each hotel must comply with its own local regulations about whether or not allowing passport to check in. Being able to to book on Hyatt website does not guarantee that you can checkin with your passport. It is even trickier that even for hotels in the same city, they could have different local regulations simply because they belong to different district of the city. We learned all these in a hard way.
Jul 22, 2023, 7:22 pm
#152
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New York
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 157
The front desk receptionalists in many of the UrCove hotels can't even speak Englist. I just compeleted 17 nights in Hyatt hotels in various cities in China. My experience is that it is usually much less hassle to deal with PH/GH/HR/HP/Andaz brands in China rather than those independent brands. The reason that you need to call each hotel (especially for hotels ourside of Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou areas) indivially is because each hotel must comply with its own local regulations about whether or not allowing passport to check in. Being able to to book on Hyatt website does not guarantee that you can checkin with your passport. It is even trickier that even for hotels in the same city, they could have different local regulations simply because they belong to different district of the city. We learned all these in a hard way.
Urcove is a JV with Hyatt hence many of their hotels either don't accept foreigners or don't accept foreign credit cards, or both. Sometimes the specific Urcove property will list this out on their website but more often or not they don't. Based on my experiences, they are very slow at responding to emails and a call directly to the property works best.
Properties accepting foreigners and foreign credit cards include:
- Beijing International Convention Center UrCove
- Shanghai Jing'an UrCove
- Shanghai Lujiazui Expo UrCove
Properties that don't accept foreigners:
- Beijing Wangfujing UrCove
Properties that don't accept foreign credit cards:
- Jiashan Center UrCove
Jul 22, 2023, 7:36 pm
#153
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,377
To summarize:
1. If you don't know whether a specific UrCove accepts foreigners, simply call them and ask them in Chinese (email is a complete waste of time)
2. Once you have a greenlight, it's probably best to book via their minipgrogram (QR code quoted below)
I'm honestly shocked that we're still discussing these issues here because this stuff isn't rocket science.
1. If you don't know whether a specific UrCove accepts foreigners, simply call them and ask them in Chinese (email is a complete waste of time)
2. Once you have a greenlight, it's probably best to book via their minipgrogram (QR code quoted below)
I'm honestly shocked that we're still discussing these issues here because this stuff isn't rocket science.
Jul 22, 2023, 8:42 pm
#154
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New York
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 157
To summarize:
1. If you don't know whether a specific UrCove accepts foreigners, simply call them and ask them in Chinese (email is a complete waste of time)
2. Once you have a greenlight, it's probably best to book via their minipgrogram (QR code quoted below)
I'm honestly shocked that we're still discussing these issues here because this stuff isn't rocket science.
1. If you don't know whether a specific UrCove accepts foreigners, simply call them and ask them in Chinese (email is a complete waste of time)
2. Once you have a greenlight, it's probably best to book via their minipgrogram (QR code quoted below)
I'm honestly shocked that we're still discussing these issues here because this stuff isn't rocket science.
Jul 22, 2023, 9:04 pm
#155
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 59
The front desk receptionalists in many of the UrCove hotels can't even speak Englist. I just compeleted 17 nights in Hyatt hotels in various cities in China. My experience is that it is usually much less hassle to deal with PH/GH/HR/HP/Andaz brands in China rather than those independent brands. The reason that you need to call each hotel (especially for hotels ourside of Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou areas) indivially is because each hotel must comply with its own local regulations about whether or not allowing passport to check in. Being able to to book on Hyatt website does not guarantee that you can checkin with your passport. It is even trickier that even for hotels in the same city, they could have different local regulations simply because they belong to different district of the city. We learned all these in a hard way.
Jul 23, 2023, 3:48 am
#157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,120
Sep 20, 2023, 9:32 pm
#158
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: YVR
Programs: AC 50K | WS Gold | Bonvoy Titanium | Hilton Gold | Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 163
Thanks for sharing
Urcove is a JV with Hyatt hence many of their hotels either don't accept foreigners or don't accept foreign credit cards, or both. Sometimes the specific Urcove property will list this out on their website but more often or not they don't. Based on my experiences, they are very slow at responding to emails and a call directly to the property works best.
Properties accepting foreigners and foreign credit cards include:
- Beijing International Convention Center UrCove
- Shanghai Jing'an UrCove
- Shanghai Lujiazui Expo UrCove
- Shanghai UrCove Shanghai Pudong East
- Hangzhou UrCove Westlake
Properties that don't accept foreigners:
- Beijing Wangfujing UrCove
Properties that don't accept foreign credit cards:
- Jiashan Center UrCove
Urcove is a JV with Hyatt hence many of their hotels either don't accept foreigners or don't accept foreign credit cards, or both. Sometimes the specific Urcove property will list this out on their website but more often or not they don't. Based on my experiences, they are very slow at responding to emails and a call directly to the property works best.
Properties accepting foreigners and foreign credit cards include:
- Beijing International Convention Center UrCove
- Shanghai Jing'an UrCove
- Shanghai Lujiazui Expo UrCove
- Shanghai UrCove Shanghai Pudong East
- Hangzhou UrCove Westlake
Properties that don't accept foreigners:
- Beijing Wangfujing UrCove
Properties that don't accept foreign credit cards:
- Jiashan Center UrCove
Nope, you get a discount but no Hyatt SNP or benefits.
Oh, also adding that the transactions post as Ru Jia Jiu Dian (Chinese spelling of the Home Inn Chain), but I did get 4x Hyatt points on my Hyatt card.
Last edited by thereisnoaddress; Sep 20, 2023 at 9:34 pm Reason: added details about Hyatt 4x points
Sep 21, 2023, 4:11 am
#159
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,377
Ever since WeChat started promoting foreign credit cards, I haven't been rejected once, even by mom & pop stores that wouldn't dream of accepting any sort of plastic. The fee free limit is 200 per transaction, but most places are fine splitting larger amounts into separate charges.
Dec 3, 2023, 9:34 am
#160
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,968
Had a one-night stay at UrCove Shenzhen Bay on Saturday. Nice stay. The hotel is on the top 6-7 floors of a 44-floor office building, which itself is part of a shopping mall/residential complex development. On Apple Maps, I could not find "UrCove Shenzhen Bay", but the hotel was listed as "Shenzhen Chegong Miaoyifei Hotel". The hotel is 7-8 min walk from Exit C of Shenzhen Metro Line 7 Shangsha Station.
Check-in was quick and staff were friendly. I will not post any photos here, since those on the Hyatt site are quite representative. Did not get any upgrade (the hotel was not busy, and all room types were available). I booked a seaview room, and the view was good. The fitness centre and laundry room are also on the 43rd floor, right off the elevators. Most annoying of the room is that aircon has been turned off and I could not get the room below 22 degrees. The windows do open, though, so I could get some fresh air into the room. Breakfast on the 44th floor restaurant is mediocre quality, as expected of all UrCoves in general, but the view from the restaurant is great (faces the sea).
I went back and forth to my room at least 6-7 times during my stay, and each time, there were housekeeping staff cleaning the rooms. They were VERY FRIENDLY and engaging, each time seeing asking if I needed anything for the room, any water, etc. Honestly speaking, some housekeeping staff in five-star hotels I have stayed at have not reached this level of service!
I would gladly stay here again if ever visiting Shenzhen Bay area.
Check-in was quick and staff were friendly. I will not post any photos here, since those on the Hyatt site are quite representative. Did not get any upgrade (the hotel was not busy, and all room types were available). I booked a seaview room, and the view was good. The fitness centre and laundry room are also on the 43rd floor, right off the elevators. Most annoying of the room is that aircon has been turned off and I could not get the room below 22 degrees. The windows do open, though, so I could get some fresh air into the room. Breakfast on the 44th floor restaurant is mediocre quality, as expected of all UrCoves in general, but the view from the restaurant is great (faces the sea).
I went back and forth to my room at least 6-7 times during my stay, and each time, there were housekeeping staff cleaning the rooms. They were VERY FRIENDLY and engaging, each time seeing asking if I needed anything for the room, any water, etc. Honestly speaking, some housekeeping staff in five-star hotels I have stayed at have not reached this level of service!
I would gladly stay here again if ever visiting Shenzhen Bay area.
Dec 21, 2023, 7:51 pm
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,939
Are there any other confirmed UrCoves in Shenzhen that accept foreigners and foreign credit cards?
But if you use WeChat linked to a Chase Hyatt at an UrCove, will it still code as a Hyatt purchase and get 4x points?
Ever since WeChat started promoting foreign credit cards, I haven't been rejected once, even by mom & pop stores that wouldn't dream of accepting any sort of plastic. The fee free limit is 200 per transaction, but most places are fine splitting larger amounts into separate charges.
Last edited by lsquare; Dec 25, 2023 at 5:58 pm
Dec 25, 2023, 6:06 pm
#162
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New York
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 157
It will appear as a Tencent transaction.
Paying directly with the Hyatt card will result in 4x points for most UrCove that are coded as RUJIAJIUDIAN.
Dec 25, 2023, 6:10 pm
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,939
Rujia is Chinese for Home Inn. Interesting!