Old meets new at a hip new Shanghai address

Shanghai is one of the most fascinating cities; Hyatt's Andaz is one of the hippest hotel brands.

Put the two together and you have Andaz Shanghai ITC, which opened this week.

Located in the heart of Shanghai's heritage district, the new hotel is part of one of the city's newest landmarks, the soaring ITC Xujiahui complex.

So think spectacular views from upper levels and a design that drew on the theme of nostalgia, referencing numerous iconic Shanghai sights, tastes, sounds and smells.

The Xujiahui district has a storied past and was at the forefront of development when Shanghai opened up to the outside world.

Motifs of the city's past, and present, can be found in the luxe rooms, restaurants, the rooftop bar and the open, neighbourhood-style corridors.

There are 267 rooms and suites offering floor-to-ceiling views.

There is a variety of accommodation options, many offering outdoor terraces, Nespresso coffee makers, Byredo Eleventh Hour amenities, made for Andaz.

Three culinary options are The Rooftop Bar; The West Wing, a European/Shanghainese deli and wine bar and he East Wing (above) with daytime buffets and classic Shanghainese dishes in the evening.

There are also opening offers for World of Hyatt members valid for stays from February 10 to May 2.

I've added it to my "to visit" list. It joins the brand's Asian debut property: Andaz Xintiandi, Shanghai, in the city.

For more information, or to book a reservation, you can visit the Website.

Another one bites the dust: Hyatt swoops for Mr & Mrs Smith

Another independent travel organisation has been snapped up by one of the big guys - although that is not the way they will spin it.

Hyatt Hotels is to buy the Mrs & Mrs Smith curated hotel booking platform, taking a 100% stake, Travel Mole reports.

Founded in 2003 by James and Tamara Lohan (above), Mr & Mrs Smith sells bookings for a collection of around 1,500 boutique and luxury hotels and resorts.

Hyatt says the deal will double its access to boutique and luxury hotels globally and it will employ over 100 Mr & Mrs Smith employees in its commercial services team, including the founders.

“We are excited by this planned acquisition and bringing World of Hyatt members even more global luxury offerings,” Hyatt said.

The Mr & Mrs Smith portfolio includes properties in over 20 countries where Hyatt has no presence.

Co-founder Tamara Lohan said she was "very excited to share the news that Hyatt Hotels Corporation is planning to acquire Mr & Mrs Smith."

She added: "20 years ago, James Lohan MBE and I were told we were crazy - that the world didn’t need another travel guide, that we’d never find a distributor or make a success out of hotel curation if we insisted on such rigorous standards. Sending reviewer couples out to make sure each and every hotel was perfect? Nuts! They said.

"Back then, we didn’t know how to publish a book, build a website or run a 24/7 travel team. We weren’t sure how to raise money or recruit a team of curators to seek out the very best hotels around the world. 

"We made it up as we went along, made plenty of mistakes, picked ourselves back up, and carried on. There have been times when things have been very challenging indeed, but we’ve always been able to adapt and survive - and now those two decades of working, learning and winging it have paid off."

The sale price is reported as being around $US66 million. 

Hyatt's hip Andaz brand makes its debut in Thailand

Unless your focus is dodgy nightclubs, then Jomtein Beach is much better holiday destination than sweaty downtown Pattaya.

Hyatt Hotels this week opened the doors to its new Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach hotel property, , marking the debut of the hip Andaz brand in Thailand.

The resort sits on 6.4 hectares of beachfront overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.

"With the growing demand for immersive, authentic experiences among luxury travellers, we are delighted by the launch of the vibrant Andaz brand in Thailand, one of the world's most appealing destinations," said David Udell, group president, Asia-Pacific, Hyatt.

"Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach is our first Andaz resort in Thailand, adding to the brand's growing portfolio in the region, which now includes properties located in Bali, Delhi, Seoul, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, Tokyo and Xiamen."

Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach is located between the holiday hub of Jomtien and the fishing village of Bang Saray.

 

It is within a two-hour drive from Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport with the Jomtien area becoming a lifestyle leisure precinct.

"While celebrating the spirit of exploration and the individuality of each guest and immersed in an unspoiled beachside setting, Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach offers low-rise clusters of rooms, suites and villas, shady courtyards, sparkling pools and creative event spaces, all of which reflect the dynamic charm of this up-and-coming destination," said Ranjeet Y. Rajebhosale, the hotel general manager.

"Through collaborations with local brands like the wellness provider, Panpuri, and artisans, we hope to create riveting experiences that will help guests reconnect with nature and discover Thai culture."

Set in low-rise clustered buildings, the hotel has 204 rooms, suites, and villas with walk-in rain showers and a balcony or terrace with a daybed.

Lagoon Access Rooms allow guests to step straight into the rippling waters of the resort pool, while the Pool Suites allow guests to cool down with a private dip at any time of day, and the Beachfront Suites are set directly on the beach.

The resort has six restaurants and bars featuring "local, seasonal, and sustainable produce" (doesn't everyone boast this nowadays?)

For more information see andazpattaya.com.

Your hotel room key is now on your phone

Your hotel room key is now in Apple Wallet on your iPhone. 

The Hyatt Hotels groups has rolled out room keys in Apple Wallet at six participating hotels in the US, with plans to roll the technology out across the group’s global portfolio, Business Traveller reports.

Guests who are members of the World of Hyatt loyalty programme will be able to unlock their rooms and key card-protected common areas such as gyms, pools and elevators via their iPhone or Apple Watch.

Guests simply hold their device near the door’s NFC-enabled lock to gain access - provided the iPhone is running iOS 15 or that the guest is using an Apple Watch running watchOS8.

The initiative is already in use at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Hyatt Centric Key West Resort and Spa, Hyatt House Chicago/West Loop-Fulton Market, Hyatt House Dallas/Richardson, Hyatt Place Fremont/Silicon Valley and Hyatt Regency Long Beach.

World of Hyatt members can add their room key to Apple Wallet after completing a reservation. 

The key with the room number will be activated once the guest is checked in and the room is ready.

They will not have to unlock their device to use their room key if they use express mode, and can still use the device to unlock their room or common areas for up to five hours with the phone’s automatic Power Reserve should it be running low.

Oops if the phone goes flat. And not sure what happens if your iPhone or watch gets stolen.

Guests can also check out via the World of Hyatt app, which will then deactivate the key and archive it in the Apple Wallet.

Hyatt’s room key is already provided as a digital key via the World of Hyatt mobile app at more than 600 participating hotels.

“Like everything we do at Hyatt, our approach to technology always includes listening to our guests and members," said Julia Vander Ploeg, who owns the very grand job title of senior vice president and global head of digital and technology for Hyatt 

"We heard that they want access to be near-instantaneous. Room keys in Apple Wallet is an easy, convenient and secure room key option for our guests when they travel."

Hyatt says that the room keys “take full advantage of the privacy and security built into iPhone and Apple Watch”, and that the information is “never shared with Apple or stored on Apple servers”. 

Hyatt opens its doors in Brisbane

Maybe 25-30 years ago, there was nothing as glamorous as a Hyatt Hotel. 

With dramatic atriums, and often see-through glass lifts, the name Hyatt epitomised luxury. 

Today, that space in the travel marketplace is a lot more crowded, but there is still excitement in Brisbane, where the city is about to get its first Hyatt - which will be the eighth in Australia. 

Located in the heart of the city's central business district within Queen Street Mall, the 292-room Hyatt Regency Brisbane will feature an outdoor infinity pool and bar. 

The hotel has been re-branded from the former NEXT Hotel and undergone a refurbishment to enhance the guestrooms, public areas, event spaces and dining venues. 

David Udell, group president, Asia-Pacific, Hyatt, said: “Hyatt has had a brand presence in Australia for more than 30 years. 

"With Brisbane being one of the fastest-growing cities in Australia, Hyatt Regency Brisbane is a strategic addition to our growing portfolio in the country, complementing our current and future hotels in key destinations such as Sydney and Melbourne."

The hotel is a 15-minute walk from the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, and approximately a kilometre from the South Bank cultural district. 

Facilities include a 24-hour fitness centre, an all-day restaurant and more than 100 square metres of flexible function space.

See www.hyattregencybrisbane.com. But be warned, the Hyatt website is bit clunky. 

Are you looking for the right address in Los Angeles?

You can't find a much more hip address than the corner of Hollywood and Vine. 

In the shadow of the Capitol Records Building, just a short stroll from legendary Musso and Frank's restaurant and the TCL Chinese Theater, this is quintessential Los Angeles. Perfect if you happen to have a meeting with a movie star. 

Thompson Hollywood, a luxury boutique hotel situated on Wilcox Avenue, near Hollywood and Vine, is getting ready to open its doors in the heart of what is known as the Vinyl District. 

The 190-room hotel will be managed by Hyatt and will join Hyatt’s guest loyalty program, World of Hyatt.

In a city where the right address can mean the difference between an easy schedule and spending hours a day on clogged freeways, this looks a good choice. There is a nearby red line Metro station that links to downtown, although catching a train is decidedly non-LA. Ideally, you need a car and driver.    

There will be 24 suites - in case someone else is paying your tab - and you are right in the centre of the city's musical landmarks and a serious bar and dining scene. Just be alert late at night as the regeneration of the precinct is still underway. 

The hotel will feature two immersive restaurants (whatever that means) and a range of meeting and event spaces, along with views from the rooftop pool deck and lounge.

Founded in 2001, Thompson Hotels is an award-winning boutique lifestyle hospitality brand, as yet unknown in Australia. 

The Thompson portfolio of lifestyle hotels includes The Beekman and Gild Hall in New York City; Thompson Washington D.C.; Thompson Nashville; Thompson Seattle; Thompson Chicago; The Cape in Los Cabos, Mexico and Thompson Playa del Carmen in Riviera Maya, Mexico; Thompson Zihuatanejo on Mexico’s Pacific Coast; and the new Thompson Dallas. ­

The Thompson Hollywood, 1523 Wilcox Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028. 

www.hollywoodthompson.com