Grand Hyatt Beijing REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
 

I am writing this from the RC in the GH Beijing where we were upgraded to a suite upon arrival (although this was not necessarily due to being diamond but rather through a lucky connection at the PHT last week). I would say that not having club access beginning September 1 would be a major degradation, although I don't know if this hotel regularly upgrades Diamonds to the club floor or not.

This is a fine hotel. Two negatives: NEVER trust anything the concierge says (if they recommend a place or a service, I get the very strong feeling there is some sort of kickback involved) and the cleanser used in the rooms leaves a strong perpetual smell of ammonia.

The pool is incredible, as everyone will tell you. The rooms are excellent. There is access to a huge luxury mall directly underneath the hotel, and one can also access the Beijing subway that way. TianAnMen Square is only a 10-15 minute walk away. The RC breakfast is fine.

Internet access is expensive in the rooms -- free wi-fi in the club, but my power is draining too much to do a review for Muerz's site. I should do that when I get home!

I'd certainly stay here again, but continue to trust my guidebook over the concierge and maybe next time buy some room air freshener.

This property is very nice, and has lots grand club, rooms and suites. In June I over heard Sarah, the grand club manager, telling some guest that effective Sep 1, only guest staying on the grand club floors will have access to the grand club.

So the next question is will all diamonds automatically receive a grand club room? I do know that there were several guests in the lounge that were on lower floors.

I thought it is the hotel policy to upgrade diamonds 1 level, hence as a diamond I always pay my corporate rate for a grand club room, and receive an executive suite on the grand club floors.

Does anyone have any experience paying for a regular room at this property and getting grand club access?

Diamond upgrades
 

I have been given access to the Grand club floor at the GH Beijing whilst paying a corporate rate. Also invariably when paying the internet rate at Hyatt Regency .

Now that Hyatt have said that they will only allow access to guests actually on the GC floor, I hope that I will continue to get the upgrades,
Otherwise Hyatt will lose me. Considering that I stay Diamond the 'hard' way eg make Diamond before the last Qtr promos , and never use heavily discounted rates eg Pricepoint I am more than a little peeved ay being barred from accessing the club.

Hyatt has to find a way to ensure their higher revenue guests continue to get access to the lounge , even tho the floor might be full.

Stayed at the GH Beijing a couple of years ago. Loved the pool but the rooms were quite small for a "Grand" Hyatt.

Ditto about the concierge; they are not particularly helpful. Also be careful of the Audi cabs that sit right outside of the hotel waiting for you. 6-7 of us split up into 2 cabs going to the same destination and the 2nd cab charged almost double what the 1st cab charged. No doubt the meters in the Audi cabs have been tempered with. Be careful...

RC Access
 

I will be staying there from Aug 27 until 30 and got an upgrade to a suite using 6000 points. Does staying in a suite mean I will get access to RC as well?

Don't think so. You could allways burn some additional points.

I'm writing this from the Grand Club free Internet access laptop at the GH Beijing. This is my third 1 night stay in the last 2 weeks at this hotel (I'm using it as a central base to come back to as I jet around China). They don't seem to bend over backwards for Diamonds here as they seem to in the US. The first 2 stays they said they had no rooms on the Grand Club Floors (top 4 of the 18 floors). No upgrade to a Deluxe room (or Jr. Suite) or a Suite. They said they were sold out of those when I said that if Grand rooms weren't available do they upgrade to the next best available room? Even though 3 minutes earlier they said I could upgrade to a Deluxe room for an extra $50. 10 minutes later I checked on hyatt.com and of course all types of rooms were available. They did give me Grand Club access on all stays though. Finally, on this (my 3rd stay) I got a room on a Grand Club floor (as everybody else has said, the rooms are the exact same as on the other floors). No diamond amenity. On this my third stay I finally asked if I got a diamond ammenity and they said no, access to the Regency Club IS MY DIAMOND AMMENITY. I just checked on the Hyatt Goldpassport website and of course it says that a dimond ammenity will be given for every stay. The pool is great here as others have said. Think half as magnificent as HR Maui, but indoors. It was pretty cool IMHO. The gym is real nice. It's in a good central location in Beijing. Frankly though I'd probably stay at another hotel in Beijing after 9/1 (unless of course it was FFN season and a 1 night stay) because I could definitely see this hotel saying that no Grand Club rooms are available even if they were just so Diamonds couldn't access the Club. I think after 9/1 in Asia I will call the Hyatt hotel I have reservations at and give that hotel the option of confirming me in a Grand Club room 48 hours prior to arrival. If I can't get an RC/GC Club Level room confirmation then I will probably cancel before the cancellation deadline and stay at a Hilton/Conrad where I have a better chance at an upgrade for cheaper. BTW, the Grand Club here has not been at all full any of the days I've been here, and they even have a 2nd overflow room accross the hall that always seems to be empty.

Generally speaking, the "diamond amenity" seems to be much less common in Asian Hyatts, as I believe people have noted on other threads.

I rarely saw the RC full either. It should be apparent to all by now that the Sept 1 downgrade of Diamond privileges to exclude automatic club admission is a concealed price increase. Who knows, maybe the business environment has improved sufficiently that it's appropriate -- hotel prices are hugely elastic.

Writing from Hyatt in Beijing right now... It may not be the heart of the tourism season here, but the hotel is still quite busy judging by the coming and goings in the lifts. However, GC is practically empty. As a result, it's quite possible to have dinner over the evening cocktail snacks without inconveniencing anyone.

Usually I can't stand people going for the buffet and emptying it, because of the lack of consideration for others this behaviour is showing. But in this case, when there are three tables used in the club, and waiters with litterally nothing to do as the buffet is not emptied quickly enough, I have no moral qualm to fill my plate with appetizers...

i had 2 stays in this hotel in spring 03, and my experience is that one does not get upgraded at this hotel, diamond or not. none of my diamond colleagues got a RC flr room although they all had RC access. now if they changed that policy, it'd be interesting it means that diamonds get upgraded just so they get lounge access.

I stayed in the hotel first week of Dec. previous stays in 03 had seen me gain access to the GC, which back then was probably the best I had ever experienced.
This time around, I could pay $50 to upgrade to the GC floor and have access OR I could have the full buffet breakfast in the Cafe.
Apart from the irritatioj of not having coffee and pre dinner drinks, it wasn't too bad.

This attitude was probably due to the fact that they upgraded my wife and me to a junior suite, which more than made up for the lack of access.

Can't help but think that a few less Diamonds may be beneficial in the long run. Or at least basing it on the number of points earned/ revenue generated...

I'm just a lowly Platinum member now, and I'm wondering if they upgrade Plats to Club level? Or should I try using my suite upgrade coupon here?

My various stays at the GH Beijing (all at the same corporate rates) yielded wildly varying results--2 no-upgrades, 2 RC upgrades, and 1 suite upgrade. In each case, the hotel was not close to a sell-out situation.

I think the lack of consistency is one of the most frustrating aspects about this hotel--whether in terms of the front-desk response, concierge recommendations, the (in)ability to trust the bell desk for reliable, reasonable transport. I don't think I'm exaggerating in suggesting that when in China, prop up your "buyers beware" antenna.

One alternative hotel that I'll definitely visit again is the Peninsula Beijing. It's very centrally located--around the corner from the GH, charges similar rates as the GH, and has much larger and more luxurious rooms (32" plasma screen TV in the bedroom and 14" swivel LCD TVs embedded in the marble wall of the bathroom). Service quality, however, isn't any more consistent than the GH.

Stimpy, I'd sure carry that suite upgrade coupon and use it if you don't get Club level. The hotel has a high proportion of suites, as people live short term in the hotel. It has 582 rooms, of which 102 are suites. I had a suite on a February stay; I am Diamond and was told that the Club level was fully booked. The suite was very comfortable, and had a tiny functioning kitchen.

You will not get the full breakfast in the restaurant; rather you will get a continental restaurant in the lobby.

I think this is a training issue and Hyatt should certainly address it. I don't hear as much problems at the Grand Hyatt Shanghai...but most of us on Flyertalk seem to have encountered problems at the GH Beijing...

I just spent three nights at the GHB on extended FFNs. When I showed up, no mention was made of a GC, and I didn't even ask, since they upgraded me to a very nice suite with a small kitchen. That was good enough for me, especially for what I paid for the room. The hotel is quite good for mainland China, I thought.

Upgrade to 1 bedroom apartment
 

I'm here now and I got the upgrade to a 1 bedroom apt with a full kitchen. It is actually not in the hotel per se, but in the residential section. I had a hard time finding the room at first since the number wasn't listed on the wall directories by the elevators. Outside my room is a sign with an arrow which says "direction to hotel".

I got the coupon for free breakfast at the Fountain Lounge. I tried to use a RC upgrade coupon, but they noticed the fine print which says USA and Canada only.

The hotel is packed this week due to a big global economic summit thing. I'm guessing all the CEO's and world leaders are at the Pen and St. Regis, and their lackeys are here at the Hyatt. ;)

I am writing from the PEK Hyatt right now, and it has been a hit-and-miss stay. The overall experience is such that I will stay at the ShangriLa Kerry Centre next time.

Concierge very inconsistent - eager to sell me services, but wouldn't or couldn't even give me directions to an ATM or another building here in the complex. Was willing to charge my credit card for a cash advance when the desk turned down my request for a cash advance on my room. (I ended up walking downstairs to the ATM I knew of from previous visits.)

Room in the residential section with a little kitchen was OK - nothing fancy, but comfortable. Unfortunately the glasses in the kitchen hadn't been washed, so that was a bit off-putting.

No admittance to the RC Lounge for me despite Diamond status, no willingness to credit me for a G1 bonus the stay qualified for. I will ask again for the G1 later when I check out.

Like I say, I will probably stay at the Kerry Centre next time - they have always given great service.

Was there last week for 2 nights. Had a friend staying with me, so requested 2 beds.
Also paid the net rate for the GC stay. Was pretty sure I wouldn't get the Daiamond upgrade.
Pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to a 2 bedroom suite , with kitchen in main part of the hotel.
GC was as good as ever. Worth paying the extra $30 or so for, particularly with 2 people staying.

Had a late night check-in problem with a dour night shift duty manager during a stay earlier this week, but once I made my feelings known to management the next morning, things were rapidly put right.

Overall, the service is consistently better in the GH Shanghai (where I am tonight) but both hotels are quite good and I am happy to stay in either of these hotels on future China trips -- which is good since I'm back in China again in three months!

Need Advice Please
 

For Feb. 24th-27th, the lowest rate per night I found was on hyatt.com: (plus 15% Service :eek: )

Grand King $180.00
Grand Deluxe King $230.00

Club King $255.00
Club Deluxe King $280.00

Since we will be out all day and can get breakfast at the Mall, is it worth the extra to be in the Club floor? Also, is there a notable difference between Grand and Grand Deluxe?

If I were you (I'm assuming you are not Hyatt Diamond), I would spend the extra $$ on the Grand Deluxe room way before I would spend the $$ on the Club room. Quite frankly though, I'd probably just get the regular room though. The Club floor rooms are exactly the same size as the Grand King rooms. The only extra you get is Grand Club access and it's not worth $75. You can eat a full days worth of good meals outside the Hyatt at local restaurants for under $20. Don't get me wrong, its a nice Grand Club, but IMHO not worth $86 (with tax) extra per night.

The only reason I book the club is that you get free use of the meeting rooms which I sometimes need. You can eat and drink for much cheaper outside the hotel.

The club floor(s) was under renovation around Christmas and the club itself was temporarily moved to the basement level. Not sure if everything is done by now.
Get a regular room - club level is not worth paying extra.

You can also take advantage of this (keep T&Cs with you):
Receive a $25 dining credit to use during your stay towards restaurant dining or room service at eight participating Hyatt hotels in Asia between December 1, 2005 and February 28, 2006. Simply request Offer Code GP656 at time of reservation. To make a reservation, visit Hyatt.com or call your nearest Hyatt Worldwide Reservation Centre.

I don't think it's worth paying the extra $86+ either for the RC. There is a lot of great food to be eaten outside of the hotel.

Although it was nice to use their computer in the lounge...but you may be able to use it even if you aren't on the RC.

gregorygrady, stimpy, azepine00, subdawg, thanks for your prompt and helpful advice. No club floor for sure. How about extra $50.00 for Grand Deluxe? I looked at the pictures, there is a separate sofa/coffee table on the side, is GD much bigger than a G, or almost the same size, but just a partition to separate the bed and the couch?

p/s No, I am not Diamond, just Gold, so most probably no upgrade.

Unless you are entertaining guests, I wouldn't pay for it. However even as a Platinum I have been upgraded to the deluxe room each time there. In fact I don't know what a normal room looks like.

I think that the Grand Hyatt Beijing has an overabundance of deluxe rooms and suites. I've been at this hotel on numerous occasions, and staying on different floors...I always look at the floorplan on the back of the room doors, and I have counted approx. 40% of the rooms as bigger than the standard room.

So, as Platinum before, I have received an upgrade (70% of the time) to a deluxe room sometimes, but usually to a suite. Now as Diamond, of course, the upgrades are always there.

Geez, I must have some bad luck. How do you all get Grand Deluxe and SUITE upgrades? I've stayed there 4 or 5 times and was only upgraded to a Club room once or twice. All the other times I got put in a regular old bottom of the barrel "Grand King".

Maybe it's in my profile that I'm supposed to be upgraded?! For several years, I had been an Amex Centurion member enjoying the perks of Hyatt Diamond. And, the hotel treated me very well. But then, Amex dropped Hyatt, and I stayed more at Starwood, so I only got Hyatt Platinum. During this time as Plat, however, I still did indeed get the above-mentioned upgrades most of the time. I have only stayed a few times in those standard rooms at the "curved" section of the building. Usually, I get the bigger rooms on the ends of the building...i.e. those deluxe rooms or suites with the kitchenette, etc.

Maybe it's also because most of my stays are 1-2 nights, so the hotel is more willing to upgrade on shorter stays?

This year, I'm back up to Diamond because of my increased stays with Hyatt last year. And, so far this year, being at the Grand Hyatt Beijing a few times already, always got the upgrade. ^

I have pretty much the same story. I get upgraded nicely every time even after the drop to Plat. However I switched to Intercontinental and Starwood and I don't do much Hyatt anymore, unless I'm in Beijing.

I personally wouldn't pay the extra $50 unless you are travelling w/more than 1 person. We stayed there in Nov and rec'd a pretty small room. However, since we were out most of the day and crashed when we got back, it didn't matter to us.

Sorry, I've never gotten a GD, so don't really know how the spacing is...

Off-topic, but...then you will like very much the new InterContinental Financial Street in Beijing. Location is not too good, but rooms are great...and the rates are excellent.

Thanks again, all, for helping. I am going to book the Grand King now and if the room is too small, will pay extra to upgrade to Deluxe. Hoping to have a chance to post back here while being there. Can't wait.

Thanks, but I stay at the GH because of the location. I've tried the Intercontinental and it is a way cool hotel, but really empty and out of the way.

The property is currently being renovated and many, if not all of the deluxe rooms on the main curved hall are being split into two rooms.

Hmmm.... maybe I should look for another hotel?

The main reason I choose Hyatt is that my friends are staying at the Beijing just across the street and I would like to be close to them. No, I do not want to stay at Beijing if I do not really have to.

Someone recommended Peninsula, but it's a bit far no?

No, it's just a block behind the Hyatt. 5 minute stroll. It would probably be a lot more expensive I would guess as it's a much nicer hotel.

No, for the dates of my stay, Penn Palace is cheaper. No points though.

(Tripadvisor lists PP #1 on their top rated Beijing hotel list, and GH #4. )

Oh, another plus for GH is the indoor Mall next door.

Avoid any "art students" or "English language students" who approach you while you're on that stroll!