Hyatt Hotels Corp. expects a successful 2024 and beyond, driven by the record year of deal signings in 2023. As of end-2023, Hyatt’s pipeline has peaked at 127,000 rooms globally, which will fuel asset-light earnings into the future, the Chicago-based company said.
The record pipeline accounts for around 40% of existing rooms in Hyatt’s portfolio.
Since the company went public, Hyatt has seen considerable growth, with the number of hotels nearly tripling and the development pipeline quadrupling. The growth is a result of organic growth, conversions and strategic acquisitions financed by real estate dispositions, Hyatt said.
The expansion has also helped in the significant growth of World of Hyatt. The loyalty program has quadrupled in membership in the past five years. World of Hyatt has over 30% more members per hotel than bigger hotel competitors, Hyatt said.
“We have been very intentional in our growth strategy and acquisitions, always prioritizing guest, customer and owner preference as well as differentiation, and taking bold steps to stay ahead of market trends,” said Mark Hoplamazian, president and CEO, Hyatt. “Guided by our purpose of care, we believe our most exciting chapter is ahead of us, and we are committed to reinforcing our position as the preferred hospitality brand.”
LUXURY, RESORT, LIFESTYLE PORTFOLIOS
Hyatt has witnessed rapid expansion of its luxury, resort and lifestyle hotel portfolios. Since 2017-end, almost 90,000 rooms have been added to this segment, representing 45% of Hyatt’s total portfolio.
This growth has doubled the number of luxury rooms, tripled resort rooms and quadrupled lifestyle rooms. Hyatt is looking to add more than 35 hotels globally within its collection of luxury plans by the end of 2025.
Growth highlights in this segment include:
- The upcoming introduction of the Park Hyatt brand in key markets, with Park Hyatt London River Thames (U.K.), Park Hyatt Johannesburg (South Africa), Park Hyatt Changsha (China) and Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). The brand will also widen its footprint in Mexico with Park Hyatt Cancun and Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo Del Sol (expected to open in 2025) and Park Hyatt Mexico City (set to open in 2026).
- Hyatt has strengthened its position in the luxury all-inclusive resort sector, including the recent introduction of Impression by Secrets, the group’s ultra-luxury brand. The Inclusive Collection will grow in European markets, with two debuts this year — Zoetry Halkidiki Resort & Spa in Greece and Dreams Madeira Resort, Spa & Marina in Portugal.
- The Thompson Hotels brand has been expanding in Europe, with more locations set to open. These include Thompson Rome (Italy), Thompson Vienna (Austria) and Thompson Seville (Spain). Hyatt will also launch the Thompson Hotels brand in Asia Pacific, with Thompson Shanghai Expo (China) slated to open in 2025. The brand continues to grow across the Americas with Thompson Houston, Thompson Palm Springs and Thompson South Beach, all expected to open this year, and Thompson Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) in 2027.
HYATT STUDIOS
The extended stay segment has been a hot favorite with hotel companies and travelers for the past few years. Responding to this trend, Hyatt launched Hyatt Studios. The upper midscale extended-stay extends the Hyatt experience and quality in markets where traditional Hyatt properties may not be present.
Announced in 2023, the new brand has already generated interest, with 200 deals in various stages of negotiations in single-unit developers as well as multi-unit developers, including executed deals representing approximately 2,000 pipeline rooms across North America.
GLOBAL EXPANSION
Hyatt said it has been working with owners who either own or plan to develop hotels in all four brand portfolios, said Hyatt.
“Our growth is only possible because of our strong relationships with both managed and franchised owners. Whether it’s winning deals in highly competitive markets like Park City, Utah, with Grand Hyatt Deer Valley or innovating with one-of-a-kind projects like Grand Hyatt Kuwait Residences, we work tirelessly to be the preferred brand for owners and developers,” said Jim Chu, executive vice president and chief growth officer, Hyatt.
Independent Collection: After the opening of Hotel Flüela Davos in 2023 as the brand’s entry into Switzerland and the only European Hyatt property in an alpine ski destination, the Unbound Collection by Hyatt will open in Kennedy 89 in Frankfurt, Germany later this year. Hyatt will also launch the brand in Indonesia with the opening of The Keraton at The Plaza in 2025.
JdV by Hyatt: The brand includes an exclusive collaboration with Lindner Hotels. This year, the brand will expand further in Germany, with me and all Hotel Berlin East Side and Lindner Hotel Boltenhagen, which opened in October 2023. The JdV by Hyatt brand is meant for boutique conversions and continues to extend Hyatt’s brand presence in new markets such as Southampton, N.Y., with the Bentley Hotel slated to open this year.
Destination by Hyatt: The brand will be launching in Canada this summer in Ramara, Ontario and also in Saint Lucia with Cas En Bas Beach Resort.
Timeless Collection – Hyatt Regency: Driven by a recent refresh of the brand, the Hyatt Regency brand will open Hyatt Regency Panama City, the first Hyatt Regency property in Panama, later this year.
Grand Hyatt: The brand is venturing into new destinations with the newly opened Grand Hyatt Kuwait Residences. The brand will open Grand Hyatt Deer Valley later this year in the ski destination of Park City, Utah. The brand also has openings in Sana Fe (2025) and the first urban Grand Hyatt hotel in Mexico (Los Cabos, expected to open in 2026).
Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brands continue to drive organic growth for Hyatt globally. In Asia Pacific, these brands are opening in new cities like Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), Makassar (Indonesia) and Shibuya (Japan) before 2025. In the U.K., Hyatt Place Leeds and Hyatt House Leeds will be the city’s first dual-branded Hyatt hotel, set to open this fall.
Boundless Collection — Hyatt Centric: The brand will grow its presence in Canada with Hyatt Centric Toronto City Centre, anticipated to open this summer, Hyatt Centric Victoria – Old Town (slated to open in 2026) and Hyatt Centric Winnipeg Downtown (an adaptive reuse project to open in 2025). The brand will launch in new Asia Pacific markets this year, with Hyatt Centric Zhongshan Park Shanghai (China) and Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). In Latin America, the brand will also debut in two countries: Hyatt Centric Escazu San Jose (Costa Rica) and Hyatt Centric Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) – both expected to open in 2024. In 2025, Hyatt will add a hotel in a new market in Mexico with Hyatt Centric Queretaro.
Caption by Hyatt: The brand will open its first in Asia Pacific with Caption by Hyatt Zhongshan Park Shanghai (in China) and Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka (Japan) this year, followed by Caption by Hyatt Kabutocho Tokyo in 2025, In 2025, Caption by Hyatt Downtown Nashville/The Gulch is expected and Caption by Hyatt Chattanooga Downtown will open in 2026. Through the integration of Dream Hotel Group, this year is slated to bring Dream Valle de Guadalupe, the brand’s first property in Mexico and a new market for Hyatt.
Inclusive Collection — Secrets Resorts & Spas: The brand will grow its presence in Mexico and the Caribbean with the opening of Secrets Tides Punta Cana in Uvero Alto, Dominican Republic, and Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres near Cancun, Mexico.
Dreams Resorts & Spas will add two new resorts in Mexico this year, with the upcoming Dreams Grand Island in Cancun and Dreams Estrella Del Mar Mazatlan, a 350-room property, which also marks a new destination for the brand.
Hyatt Vivid Grand Island, the inaugural property under the newly announced adults-only Hyatt Vivid brand, will open this year adjacent to Dreams Grand Island, combining 19 culinary concepts, a 26,000 square-foot spa, several pools and a beach club.