The Hyatt Times Square which is located on West 45th Street a half a block from Times Square opened its doors for business on December 3rd, just in time to catch some of the holiday travelers visiting New York City. Although not quite completed, the hotel is in an ideal location for visitors to the City and the continued construction is barely noticeable. The hotel has 487 rooms and is 54 stories high giving it the distinction of being the tallest freestanding Hyatt hotel in the United States. It is the seventh Hyatt branded hotel in Manhattan.
I had a free suite night certificate that I received from my Chase credit card which was due to expire December 31st so I thought a great way to use it would be for a quick trip to New York City to enjoy some of the holiday feel of the season. When I called to book I was given a choice between the Grand Hyatt and the Hyatt Times Square and I am glad I chose the latter. Just as a new car has that certain feel and that certain scent, I learned that to be true of hotels as well.
Entering the hotel lobby, I was immediately struck by the sleek almost all white interior which was softened and warmed by the walnut ceiling and wall. Facing the door is a bank of Apple check-in monitors with the employee-manned desk just to the right. The Concierge Desk and Apple Business Center are located directly behind the desk. The hotel interior was designed by George Wong Design, a boutique design company which has worked with several Hyatt projects including the Park Hyatt Chennai (India).
I actually ran into Richard Morgan, the General Manager, as I was checking out the fitness center. He was showing some of the local hoteliers around the hotel and invited me to join them as they visited the spa area which is still under construction. He was very generous in answering my questions about the hotel and about some of the features in the rooms.He also arranged for me to also visit the restaurant which is scheduled to open this Sunday, December 22nd.
My suite was an Executive Suite located on the 15th floor. The entrance hallway leads into the sitting room which included a pull-out sofa bed, a desk/work area, a 47 inch flat screen television surrounded by New York themed pop art, and a credenza containing a refrigerator and coffee making supplies. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed that the coffee maker was not a Keurig or Nespresso, however, the coffee supplied was Starbucks brand.
The suite bedroom had king bed, a seating area with a colorfully covered chair, a table with reading material (one of the books was a book on the art of Banksy!), flat screen television, and a lovely tufted luggage bench. According to the General Manager, Richard Morgan, all of the linens in the hotel are 100% cotton and yes, they do feel luxurious! The floor to ceiling windows feature blackout curtains.
I was surprised to see that the bedside tables actually had no real drawer space. When I asked Mr. Morgan about that he answered me with a question of his own. “Where do most people leave items behind in a hotel?” Yes, the bedside tables. So the design of the tables serves to extend the top of table and also helps prevent leaving items behind. There are power outlets on both tables as well as telephone and Braun alarm clocks.
The bathroom was spacious and contained a rain shower as well as a hand held shower attachment. Shaving legs in a shower is an ongoing conundrum for women so, with a nod to the ladies, there is a stainless leg shaving shelf to solve that problem. The amenities offered by the hotel are the citrus scented KenetMD product line which is available for sale on Hyatt’s retail site. As someone who enjoys a hot bath after a day of sightseeing, I was pleased to discover that all of the Deluxe rooms at the Hyatt have a bathtub in addition to a shower.
Located on the fourth floor of the hotel, the 24 hour fitness center contains state of the art treadmills and elliptical machines, as well as free weights, yoga mats and exercise balls. Headphones, towels, and water are provided for guests.
The 4200 square foot Hyatt spa will be the only hotel spa in the area and will offer signature massages and spa treatments. It will also feature a blowout bar and manicure and pedicure stations.
The restaurant, T45, was also designed by George Wong Designs and definitely has a cozy, retro diner feel to it. it will feature a menu of classic diner dishes and a milkshake bar.
As there is no Club Lounge and the restaurant had not opened, breakfast was being served temporarily in one of the second floor meeting rooms. There was a hot buffet, pastries, cereals, assortment of fruits and an egg and omlette station.
For the convenience of its guests, the Hyatt also offers grab and go breakfast options in the Lobby.
From the art in the bedrooms to the quirky nametags of the staff, I absolutely loved the feel of this new Hyatt. There is just something special about staying in a brand new hotel!
I had asked Richard Morgan how he would describe the hotel and he answered, “…a comfortable, neighborhood hotel.” I tend to agree. And with its location in close proximity to Times Square, the always outstanding Hyatt Staff, and sleek, modern, sophisticated feel, it just may become my ‘go to’ hotel in New York City.
Planning a trip to New York soon? Do you think you might visit this brand new Hyatt?
If you go:
Hyatt Times Square New York 135 West 45th Street New York, New York, USA, 10036 Tel: +1 646 364 1234 Fax: +1 646 640 3739With special thanks to Richard Morgan, General Manager; Brittany McTeague, Front Office Manager; Liam Fox, Assistant Front Office Manager; and Greg Hirsch, Night Manager.
Great review! Love all the details.