CANNES, France — Hyatt Hotels Corp. is not a newcomer to the world of luxury and lifestyle. But the hospitality giant is preparing to significantly expand its presence in both sectors over the coming years, unveiling plans to open more than 50 luxury and lifestyle hotels by 2026.
The company currently has 256 properties in these categories.
“What we’re seeing from a global perspective is that luxury travel remains robust,” said Tristan Dowell, Hyatt’s global vice president for luxury, lifestyle and leisure, during the press conference. ILTM Cannes Conference earlier this month. “We have done a lot of in-depth research into the luxury space, and with brands like Park Hyatt, Alila and Miraval, we will make an even more concerted effort to bring them to life through a luxury lens and grow these brands.”
Dowell added that Hyatt’s momentum in the lifestyle sector has accelerated following its acquisition earlier this year of Standard International, the charming hotel group best known for the Standard hotel brand.
“With the acquisition of Standard, we are bringing on board highly experienced colleagues who will help us become the lifestyle leader,” he said, citing Hyatt’s appointment of Standard’s former executive chairman International, Amar Lalvani, at the helm of a recently announced company. lifestyle division headquartered in New York.
The London Standard. Hyatt acquired boutique hotel Standard International this year. Photo credit: Felix Mizioznikov/Shutterstock
The lifestyle division will oversee brands including Andaz, Thompson Hotels, JDV by Hyatt, the Standard International portfolio and Breathless Resorts & Spas.
Meanwhile, Hyatt is launching a separate luxury division that will include brands such as Park Hyatt, Alila, Miraval, Impression by Secrets and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt.
Javier Aguila, Hyatt Group president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, told media at ILTM Cannes that Hyatt’s increased focus on luxury and lifestyle marks a return to form for the company.
“Luxury and lifestyle have always been at the heart of Hyatt’s DNA,” Aguila said. “I travel frequently and have met so many people who have told me stories from 40 years ago when Hyatt was a pioneer in establishing the luxury hospitality industry in their country . We want to regain this leadership, not only in certain segments but overall.
Among Hyatt’s most notable high-end openings planned for 2025 is Miraval the Red Sea, which will mark the brand’s international debut when it opens in Saudi Arabia late next year. Other luxury and lifestyle properties scheduled to open in 2025 include Thompson Miami Beach and Thompson Shanghai; Breathless Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa in Mexico; and Andaz Doha, Andaz Miami Beach and Andaz Lisbon.
Big plans for Park Hyatt
On the luxury front, it’s the 44-year-old Park Hyatt flag that will see some of the most substantial growth in the portfolio.
Hyatt plans to add seven Park Hyatt properties to the brand’s more than 40 existing hotels over the next two years.
Openings planned for 2025 include Park Hyatt Los Cabos in Cabo del Sol, Mexico, Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Park Hyatt Johannesburg in South Africa, Park Hyatt Phu Quoc in Vietnam and Park Hyatt Taipei in Taiwan.
Tristan Dowell
Additionally, the iconic Park Hyatt Tokyo, which closed last May for a multi-million dollar renovation, is expected to reopen by October 2025.
“We’ve never seen so many new openings from the Park Hyatt brand in a few years,” Dowell said.
Adam Zilber, general manager of the soon-to-open Park Hyatt Los Cabos, called 2025 a “flagship year” for the Park Hyatt flag.
“The brand is looking to reestablish itself,” Zilber said. “He was a pioneer from a luxury standpoint.”
Currently accepting reservations for stays beginning in July, Park Hyatt Los Cabos will be located in the gated community of Cabo del Sol, joining existing properties like the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas. The resort will include 163 rooms and 19 private residences, more than 80 percent of which will overlook the Pacific, Zilber said. Amenities will include five swimming pools, five dining concepts, a 59,000 square foot fitness and wellness center and an oceanfront beach club.
It will also be Park Hyatt’s first property in Mexico.
“It’s a big opportunity for the brand,” Zilber said. “We don’t have a lot of Park Hyatt resorts – there’s really only a handful. And the travel advisors I’ve met love working with us and love the relationships we’ve developed with them; “They’ve just been waiting for a luxury resort in Los Cabos from Hyatt so it’s exciting to be able to organize that for them.”