Hyatt continues rapid global expansion

Key markets for the international hotel group include: China, Russia, and Western Europe. The Middle East region, which is witnessing 10% year-on-year growth, will also be an important market for Hyatt, according to regional executives (source World Travel Organization, 2006.)

Global Hyatt, Senior Vice President of Europe, Africa and Middle East (EAME), Gebhard Rainer said: "Hyatt is expanding rapidly in several strategic growth centres, largely in Asia, but also in parts of Europe, and the Middle East."

"We are seeing Middle East outbound travellers demonstrating a preference and loyalty, for our distinct Hyatt brands. They prefer the Grand Hyatt for the opulence of the interior design, Hyatt Regency for the city-centre location and excellent business facilities, and Park Hyatt for boutique luxury."

Middle East Expansion

Global Hyatt will be opening six properties throughout the Middle East region in the next two years.

In June 2008, as part of a Resort complex, the 142-room Park Hyatt Jeddah will be the first boutique hotel in Saudi Arabia offering unrestricted access to the seafront. As part of the development, Hyatt International will also be managing a marina, a large convention and banqueting area, and an upmarket Spa and Health Club.

With a blend of ancient and modern architecture to create a palatial setting, Grand Hyatt Doha will be opening its doors in the spring of 2008, where it will include 268 rooms over five floors, a 1,500 square meter ballroom, private beach, Spa and Health Club and a handful of restaurants and retail shops.

Scheduled to open in early 2008, Park Hyatt Istanbul- Macka Palas is a restored 1922 building ideally located in the fashionable Nisantasi residential and shopping district. With the help of New York based Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel interior designs, the refurbished Art Deco palace will house 88 generously sized deluxe rooms, a number of exclusive suites, a hotel spa, and upscale designer stores.

"Middle East inbound tourism numbers are growing at an exceptional rate," said Thierry Bertin, Area Director of Marketing - Middle East, Hyatt International Hotels and Resorts. "Hyatt is therefore taking the lead in the region's luxury hospitality sector. From Dubai to Doha and Amman to Jeddah, Hyatt's Grand, Park, and Regency brands have drawn a very loyal regional following."

Soon to be opened Middle East Hyatt properties include: 3 Grand Hyatts -Doha (2008), Beirut (2009), Abu Dhabi (2009); 3 Park Hyatts - Istanbul (2008), Jeddah (2008), and Cairo (2009).

International Expansion

Global Hyatt will open 43 properties outside the Middle East region over the next three years.

Hunt Hamilton Zurich, the leading international interior designer specialising in the hotel and leisure industry, has helped re-create Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill. The unveiling of the refurbishment of bedrooms, suites, corridors and the Regency Club will take place in the summer of 2007.

Grand Hyatt Moscow, opening in 2009, will be a 94-storey building situated just four kilometres northwest of the Kremlin on the Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment creating a spectacular new downtown that will also be home to the city's government. In addition to the 350 generously sized rooms, the hotel will also include a Sky Lobby on the 92nd floor, a Spa on the 60th floor, restaurants on the 91st and 93rd floors, serviced apartments and office space.

Opening in 2008, Park Hyatt Shanghai will be located on the top floors of Shanghai World Financial Centre in Pudong. All 175 guestrooms will have stunning city views and additional facilities including restaurants, meeting rooms, and a spa.

"With thousands of rooms and added amenities coming up, our growing expansion will enable loyal customers to explore a wider choice of cities worldwide, giving them the comfort of having the ultimate Hyatt experience," said Rainer.

These hotels will include: Grand Hyatts - San Antonio (2008), Moscow (2008), Guangzhou (2008), Islamabad (2009), Macau (2009), Las Vegas (2009),Guangdong (2009), Kuala Lumpur (2009), Gurgaon (2010), Lahore (2010); Hyatt Regencies - Kiev (2007), Tianjin (2007), Dushanbe (2008), Pune (2008), Chongqing (2008), Hong Kong (2008), Phuket (2007), Curacao (2008), Port of Spain (2008), Guanacaste (2008), Chengdu (2008), Nanjing (2008), Suzhou (2008), Lisbon (2009), Yekaterinburg (2008), Chennai (2009), Lahore (2009), Minsk (2009), Riga (2009), Beijing (2009), Saratov (2009), Colombo (2009); Park Hyatts - Beijing (2007), Ningbo (2008), Shanghai (2008), Tbilisi (2009), Hyderabad (2009), Andalusia (2009), Chiang Mai (2009) plus other Hyatt brands including Hyatt on the Bund (Shanghai, 2007), Hyatt Clearwater Beach (Florida, 2008), and Hyatt at Olive 8, (Washington, 2008).