One of my favorite hotels is the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. I continue to stay there on visits to Hong Kong despite many competitive options in the city. The waterfront views, excellent service, and large swimming pool are all attractions to me. And the lounge! The Grand Club is an enormous space on the 30th and 31st floors and is one of the best parts of the hotel. Few hotels come close to matching its selection of food and drinks. The servers even recognize repeat guests and their preferences. (I’m not quite there yet, but they have picked up on a few things during longer stays.)
The hotel has been renovating its rooms and public spaces for a few years, and I had the opportunity to stay in one of the renovated harbor view rooms during a trip to Hong Kong last June. Overall they look great. I just wish they weren’t phasing out the metal room keys. 🙁
Now the Grand Club has reopened with a similar look, including dark wood and more contemporary design. The original style wasn’t bad, but it did reflect the over-exaggerated luxury style of its 1980s construction: lots of marble, curtains, and columns. I actually thought it worked well in the club, which had the space to avoid an overwhelming feeling, but the new design still looks great.
The renovated space has been opened up to allow more seating and better line-of-sight. After climbing the staircase to the 31st floor there were previously three main seating areas separated by a few steps in a split-level design. Now it looks more like one large, modern restaurant. You can get a great view even from the back.
From the press release:
Conceived by Australian-based BAR Studio, the Grand Club Lounge is characterised by dramatic volumes, taking full advantage of the iconic panorama of Victoria Harbour through floor-to-ceiling windows that span over 4.6 metres. Mirroring the all encompassing refurbishment of the hotel, the warm and luxurious décor exuding contemporary aesthetics is characteristic of the new Grand Hyatt interiors. The 30th floor houses a comprehensive array of amenities, including a reception, living room with communal table, boardrooms as well as a private screening room, catering to all professional requirements.
Ascending onto the upper 31st floor, guests are welcomed by an airy interior that recalls a luxurious loft space. The multipurpose layout includes a lounge, a library and an inviting kitchen, allowing guests to create spectacular social events. The interior styling fuses contemporary and classic custom designed furniture that draw on subtle references to chinoiserrie. Dark wood and burnished gold finishes are enlivened with light timber and white marble to provide rich contrasts that underscore the living environment. The pairing of large-scale commissioned contemporary artworks and a stunning feature light that flows down both floors further enhances Grand Club Lounge as the ultimate aspirational home-away-from-home.
My feet follow my stomach, and as I’ve made clear one of the great attractions of the Grand Club here is the impressive breakfast buffet, along with eggs made to order, evening canapés, and a wide selection of complimentary cocktails and Champagne. These were previously organized around a large table underneath the dome, however the pictures of the new space suggest something much more typical of other clubs.
The island and bar are still large, but not large enough to offer the spread that I remember. My hope is that this is only a representation of the daytime snacks (for the sake of press photos). If anyone else is going to the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong soon, I’d love to get some more details on how the dining options have changed, if at all. In the past I’ve been invited to have breakfast at one of the hotel’s restaurants if I preferred that over the lounge. The views upstairs are better, but that leads me to believe the property will continue to offer a substantial meal.
Access to the Grand Club is exclusive to guests staying in suites or on one of the Grand Club floors, which start on the 30th floor and are accessed by a separate elevator (so you’ll always pass by the Grand Club on your way there). Of course, Gold Passport Diamond members also receive complimentary access to the Grand Club during their stay. I know clubs in the U.S. aren’t always worth remembering, but this is one location that encourages me to maintain my elite status with Hyatt.
Rates often exceed $400 per night, or 25,000 Gold Passport points for a free night award. This is definitely a place where I’d recommend booking Points + Cash if possible.
