In the past years Hyatt has embarked on an ambitious expansion in Europe, where its presence was mostly limited to a handful of properties in the top luxury end of the market.
Although the openings have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hyatt has brought the Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Centric brands to Spain, with 4 new properties in their catalog in Madrid and Barcelona.
The Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower opened its doors briefly in February 2020, right before the government mandated compulsory confinements due to COVID-19, and remained closed until September 2021, when it finally reopened. The property is a rebranding of the original Hesperia Tower hotel, part of the Hesperia group, which opened in 2006.
Located in the new business and financial district of Barcelona, between the international airport (6 km) and the city center (7 km), the hotel sits just a few minutes away from the congress center Fira Gran Via on a 108 m high tower designed by the prestigious British architech Richard Rogers. The 29-storey complex offers 280 rooms and suites, 5,000 sq.m. of events space, a ballroom of 1,614 sq.m. and an auditorium for up to 500 delegates.
We were allowed to tour the property and to check some of their rooms and suites and also the new Regency Club.
THE LOBBY
The lobby and ground floor area of the hotel has been all renewed. The old lobby was not remarkable, as you can expect of many business hotels, and here are some archive pictures for comparison:
The new lobby includes updated decoration, with living room style seating areas and a re-designed lobby bar, and a giant LED screen which is defintely the protagonist of the space.
standard rooms
The standard rooms are 30 sq.m./322 sq.ft. with unobstructed views of Barcelona. The soft update of the previous rooms included new 42” flat-screen ultra high definition TVs and refreshed decoration.
REGENCY EXECUTIVE SUITES
These 21 suites are located amongst all floors of the hotel, featuring a 19 sq.m./204 sq.ft. lounge separated from the room which, together with the bedroom, offers a space of 56 sq.m/602 sq.ft. The room features city views, a large dressing room, and 65” flat-screen ultra high definition TV in both the living room and the bedroom.
DUPLEX SUITES
Located on the 25th floor, the two-floor duplex suites provide a large living room, dining table for four people, and bathroom on the first floor. On the second floor you will find a shower/bathtub overlooking the city, as well as amazing city views thanks to the glass attic wall.
THE REGENCY CLUB
The Regency Club is located on the 1st floor, and it offers lounge and dining spaces along with work/meeting space (it is a business hotel after all!)
CONCLUSION
Hyatt definitely did a nice job updating this property. The spaces and new decor are nicer and much warmer than the generic business hotel it was before under the Hesperia brand.
Please keep in mind that this property is a business-oriented hotel due mostly to its location right off the Fira Gran Via exhibition complex. Also it is probably the best hotel option near the airport, but for tourists visiting the city the location can be challenging as it is far off the city center and most of the city landmarks.
