Returning to the chain after a long sabbatical away, the Hyatt Regency Houston West is welcomed back to the chain. Here was my experience on a recent stay.
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Location
On the west side of Houston, on the Katy freeway is the Hyatt Regency Houston West. In the heart of the Energy Corridor, the property is ideal for those visiting the many oil and gas giants, and the companies that service them. Within walking distance is the headquarters for Conoco Phillips, and the Houston HQ for Shell, among others. For those flying in and out on a short stay, the hotel is a considerable distance from both Houston Hobby airport and George Bush Intercontinental.
Address: 13210 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079
Phone: +1 281 558 8338
Property
A classic business hotel, the Hyatt Regency Houston West is a low-rise 1980s gem. Reflective exterior glass, an atrium lobby with water feature complete with Koi fish greet guests in a throwback to a bygone era.
Valet will greet guests as they pull up, the rate was $21/night at the time of my stay, though Globalists redeeming free nights do not have to pay for valet parking.
The hotel lobby makes way for a sleek front desk reception. The property has an outdoor pool and fitness center though I wasn’t able to utilize either on my short stay. In the atrium, dog treats greet furry guest companions as the Regency is pet friendly – a charming touch.
Globalist Suite Upgrade
The hotel accommodated me for an early check-in and was able to grant me a Globalist suite upgrade. Nine years ago, I wrote a post asking if it was ever ok to complain about an upgrade. Nearly a decade later, I am still not sure that it is but if it is, this would be the upgrade to complain about.
The suite was a pair of rooms joined by a connecting doorway, one repurposed as a living room and the other as the master bedroom. I’ll get into the specifics later, but it actually looks better in my included photos than it did in person.
Globalist Breakfast Benefit
Globalist members of the World of Hyatt loyalty program are entitled to breakfast which is usually offered in the hotel restaurant or by room service. However, “due to COVID”, Globalists are permitted to order from the in-lobby Café on the Lake.
The staff was wonderful, and I was able to grab a warmed cinnamon roll and coffee on my way out for a meeting. However, at some point hotel breakfasts will come back. Some hotels are going to hold off as long as possible before returning this very valuable benefit to Globalists, I fear this hotel will be one of the last to add it back.
I previously valued my Globalist breakfast benefit at more than $30/dsy. This is the second Regency stay in a row that opted for this method and it was hardly worth more than $10. It has the opposite of the intended effect – instead of beginning my day with a pleasant experience provided by Hyatt, I spend my time wondering if I should have chosen a less expensive hotel and bought breakfast on my own.
Suite
The connected rooms I stayed in were 3305 and 3306. It consisted of a guest room (3306) and a living room/entertaining space (3305.) The hotel began as a Hyatt Regency decades ago, was converted to an Omni, but is now back with the brand. I found remnants of the original design, Omni’s touch, and now Hyatt’s attempt to take it back. It’s such a tired step back in time that I am surprised Hyatt reopened it under the flag without renovating entirely.
Bed
The sole highlight of the room was the bedding. The full king-size bed provided a ton of room but it was actually too large. In fact, it was so large that there was no room to open the drawers to the dresser and frankly, not nearly enough room was provided to be able to pass through to the sitting area and desk with ease.
Bathroom
The master bathroom was clean and that’s where the compliments end. Next to the toilet was one of those diseased hotel corded phones. The mirror and vanity were fine, but the shower was so bad. Bad water pressure, weird shower-over-tub with gross tan/pink tiles, and, of course, a bowed shower curtain.
TV/Desk
In the bedroom, there was a very small TV on top of the dresser and a desk near the sitting area. The desk was fine, the seating area was – to re-use the same old trope – dated. While the room was clean, furniture like this feels like it’s not. How could a chair that old ever be clean again?
Living Room
The living room is where it got weird. I understand that they are trying to offer an option for guests who want the space of a suite without remodeling purpose-built rooms, and they warned me this would be the case, however, it was a really strange set up in a room that time had already forgotten.
The Murphy bed was already pulled out when I arrived though I didn’t need it. The property just stopped caring about the details. For example, a bulb was missing from the two spotlights in the room over the Murphy. Another example of this is a small wet bar that had space for a fridge, but the hotel had decided to replace the fridge – only they bought the wrong size. No problem, they just set the minifridge on top of the mini-bar and left the cement-floored cavity open.
In a word, tacky.
Lastly, and perhaps most annoyingly, one of the two TVs had been recently updated, was large, and had all of the features and upgrades one would want, the other was older, lacked those features, and was like watching standard definition. The nicer TV was in the living room, the smaller TV was in the bedroom. I would have preferred it the other way around personally, but I understand why it was done this way.
Guest Bathroom
I do like having a guest bathroom so I can separate my space from any hosting that I may do. I didn’t have any guests on this occasion so I didn’t spend much time in the guest bathroom. It was the same layout but somehow less luxurious than the master bathroom.
Value
The hotel is priced between $115-140/night well below most markets for a business hotel. However, I wouldn’t stay here again even at that price. The newer, nicer, Hyatt House is close by as is a Hyatt Place (for those that want to stay within the brand) and while they may offer less space, they don’t charge for parking, and the hotel has been updated in the last 20 years.
For those spending World of Hyatt points, the property is the lowest level, a Category 1 running just 5,000 points.
Conclusion
I try to find the good in most places I stay but this one was just such a disappointment. I expected more from a former Omni property, but I can see why the prior owners dumped the brand. It needs a makeover, a facelift, it needs a little bit of everything. The suite space including the extra living room was certainly more room than I needed, but the touches were missing, it was awkward and I was happy to leave. You could do a lot better for about the same amount of money if not a little less but without the additional charges. Respect yourself and your family and please select just about anywhere else for your visit to Houston.
What do you think? Have you stayed at the Hyatt Regency Houston West? How was your experience?
I’ve stayed in all the Hyatt’s in Houston and the Galleria property is leaps and bounds the best. Newly done rooms, always a suite upgrade, and fantastic restaurants within walking distance. Rates are usually very reasonable as well.
I understand spell check is a convenient function, but it is too much to ask a blogger/journalist/author to read his own work personally one more time before publishing?
“I expected more from a former Omni property, but I can see what the prior owners dumped the brand.”
. You are not the only one, several other travel bloggers are skipping this step too and it reflects in the quality of their output.
Wow how petty you are. I am embarrassed for you!
You seem pleasant. /sarcasm
The “nicer newer” Hyatt house is very old, looks and feels like a Candlewood suites, and is in my experience, the worst hotel in the Hyatt system. W Houston has a lot of options, but they’re all pretty lousy.
I’m shocked this is a Hyatt property and even more shocked they left the former fridge space open. Yikes! I live in Houston so rarely stay in hotels but can offer that travelers might consider staying in the Town & Country area where there are several new hotels and drive the four miles to the energy corridor.