As painful as writing a bad review is, giving a good review feels great. So let the good times roll! I have already admitted my bias towards certain brands, Hyatt being one of them.
For disclosure purposes, I will mention that I have Diamond Membership status with Hyatt. The automatic benefits include: 1) the best room available including Regency Club or Grand Club rooms; 2) a suite upgrade at time of reservation four times annually on paid room nights; 3) a special welcome point bonus or food and beverage amenity during each stay; etc.
I had a reservation at the Park Hyatt in Chicago from 11/1 to 11/3. My wife (aka TheTravelBoss) makes all of my travel reservations. She was able to redeem a suite upgrade (Diamond Membership benefit) for the stay. I was upgraded to a beautiful 900 sq ft suite on the 12th floor, but let me go back to the beginning.
In the first section of my review, I evaluate things like the reservation process, check-in, lobby, doorman, parking, concierge, and bell service. I did not have a car and did not use concierge or bell service on this stay. I had 20 data points to score - for a maximum total of 100 points in this category. The Park Hyatt scored a whopping 99 points (I probably should have given them 100, but I felt like that might have been over-the-top). When you arrive, you feel like you are at a luxury private residence and not a hotel. For goodness sake - the morning coffee is served in the butler's pantry... how nice! A traveling business man could get used to that kind of treatment. The doorman was exceptional. He went as far as to walk a block with me showing me where I was going. He always greeted me "Sir", but had a very warm demeanor. The perfect blend of manners and friendliness. The check-in process was a breeze, and the associate was very helpful at the front desk.
In section two, I evaluated the room, housekeeping, and the property. There were 39 data points worth 195 points in this section. The Park Hyatt scored 180 points. The room itself was a spectacular two room, two bathroom suite. I had a view of Lake Michigan and the furniture was beautiful by any standard. My one major pet-peeve was also apparent in this room. The window treatments. Even though it was a terrific room, the window treatments were tattered. It is one of the few items you always look at in a room. Why are they always the last items to be upgraded? The other data point the Hyatt gets dinged for is the toilet paper dispenser. It is a very cool looking stainless-steel item that hangs in a slot by gravity. The only problem is when you go to dispense the toilet paper, the roll falls off the spool and rolls away from you. It is "ah-ha" moments like this when you realize function is much more important than form. Other than those two items, you couldn't ask for a better suite. The linens where crisp and the cleanliness was impeccable. The furniture and art work were just the right touch. With new window shades and a non-self-ejecting toilet paper dispenser, the room would have scored a perfect 195 points.
In section three, I review the restaurant/bar, workout facility, pool, and the spa. The bar/restaurant is located on the 7th floor. It doesn't have the "hotel bar" feel at all. The crowd is sophisticated, yet friendly. I played trivia with some people I met at the bar. Quick trivia question: What are the three universities where the university name is a color? I'll tell you later. Back to the review. The bartender is a guy named Nick. He was fantastic. A great bartender is very important to business travelers - especially me - and not to be overlooked. Nick is extremely professional and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. The only food I ordered was a delicious sausage plate. It was served piping hot and was very wonderful paired with a glass of red wine. The workout area is one of the better ones you will find at a hotel. In the gym, there are ample free weights and weight machines. No shortage of running and elliptical machines either. I didn't use the spa services, but the facility looked quite nice. Overall, the Park Hyatt scored 118 out of 140 points in this section.
In section four, I cover Regency Club, location, gift shop, special requests, and general comments on the property. The Park Hyatt of Chicago doesn't have a Regency Club, but the whole property effectively feels like a Regency Club. I also didn't use the gift shop or make any special requests during my stay. There were 40 points available in this section. I awarded 29 out of 40 points. The location was good, but not great.
Overall, the Park Hyatt of Chicago scored 426 out of 475 points. I would rate this property as a "
strong recommend" for a high-end business traveler. The price tag would get it excluded from most travel budgets (a hefty $475 per night), but the product is first-rate. It would be an ideal option for a higher-end leisure traveler visiting Chicago. The Michigan Avenue location is perfect for shopping, sight-seeing, etc. I guarantee that if you can afford it, you won't be disappointed. Well done Park Hyatt Chicago!
Oh and the answer to the trivia question: Brown, Auburn, and Sienna. The person at the bar tried to claim a fourth university - Navy. I cried BS, as the official name is The Naval Academy at Annapolis... Just saying!
Happy travels,
The Travel Brain
Full Disclosure: For the benefit of the FTC, I did not receive any compensation directly for this blog post. All opinions expressed are strictly those of The Travel Brain.
