Hyatt Hotels Creates New Product for American Upscale Travelers

Hyatt has just unveiled the prototype of Hyatt Place, the hotel chain´s entry in the upscale, select-service lodging segment.

Designed to create “a larger than home” experience, Hyatt Place will combine a contemporary look with state-of-the-art technology to create “a different type of guest experience not yet seen in the industry,” according to Jim Abrahamson, senior vice president of Hyatt Corp.

Hyatt will conduct focus groups with developers and visitors to the Hyatt Place prototype, which will be used as the basis for re-branding AmeriSuites, a select-service hotel chain that Hyatt acquired earlier this year from the Blackstone Group.

Hyatt intends to invest at least $150 million converting AmeriSuites into Hyatt Place hotels. There are 140 AmeriSuites in the United States

The properties will feature guest rooms 25 percent larger than traditional hotel rooms. Each will offer Hyatt´s signature “Grand” bed, a sectional sofa, walk-in showers and designer bath amenities.

The rooms, which will be wired for the Internet, will be equipped with 42-inch, high-definition plasma TVs, a video/music entertainment system and a workstation to accommodate portable computers.

Hyatt intends to begin renovating and repositioning AmeriSuites properties as Hyatt Place hotels during the fourth quarter of the ongoing year.