My favorite Hyatt property, and perhaps one of my all around favorite hotels in the world, is the Park Hyatt Sydney. It’s a stunning, intimate property, with unbelievable views.
Park Hyatt Sydney
View from the Park Hyatt Sydney
On top of that, I find the staff to be excellent, in particular the concierge team. It’s a hotel which isn’t just considered good by those looking to redeem points, but is also generally regarded as the single best hotel in Sydney. As you might expect, the rates reflect that. In high season, rates start at 1,000AUD+ per night. The hotel costs 30,000 Hyatt points per night, which isn’t a sum of points everyone wants to part with, particularly for a longer stay.
Over the years I know a lot of people have been suggesting that Hyatt needs to open another property in Sydney, and it seems like that will finally be happening soon. The Four Points by Sheraton Darling Harbour will be rebranded as the Hyatt Regency Sydney as of November 30, 2016.
Rendering of the Hyatt Regency Sydney
Per the press release, the hotel will be undergoing a $250 million redevelopment and refurbishment, including a new 24 story tower, featuring a total of 222 additional guest rooms:
Following a significant $250 million redevelopment and refurbishment, Hyatt Regency Sydney will enjoy an unparalleled location in the Sydney Central Business District adjacent to Darling Harbour, providing the perfect setting for corporate, leisure and meeting and events programs. This expansion will also include a new 24-story tower and 222 additional guestrooms, making Hyatt Regency Sydney the largest upscale, full service hotel in Australia with a total room count of 892. Additionally, the hotel will introduce a 272-seat all day dining restaurant, which will build off Hyatt’s history of culinary excellence, and will also feature the only hotel rooftop bar in Sydney and a Regency Club lounge with stunning panoramic views of the harbor.
As you can see, this will make the Hyatt Regency Sydney the largest “upscale, full service” hotel in Australia, with 892 rooms.
On the surface converting a Four Points into a Hyatt Regency doesn’t make me especially hopeful about the project, since Four Points is a limited service, lower end brand, while presumably they’re trying to make the Hyatt Regency a bit more luxurious. At the same time, it seems like the hotel will be undergoing a big renovation, so I imagine it’s mostly just the “bones” of the hotel staying the same.
Four Points by Sheraton Sydney (soon to be Hyatt Regency)
It’ll be great to have another points friendly hotel which will presumably be more reasonably priced. As of now the hotel isn’t yet bookable as a Hyatt Regency (though you can still book it as a Four Points for stays after November 30), though I’m sure it will be soon. I’m curious to see what category it will be priced at.
Presently it’s an SPG Category 4 property, making a free night redemption 30,000 Marriott Rewards points.
If I had to guess, given that Hyatt Regency is a bit more upmarket, I suspect this will be a Category 5 or Category 6 Gold Passport property, making a free night redemption 20,000-25,000 points. I hope it’s a Category 5, but given what an expensive hotel market Sydney can be, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a Category 6.
Four Points by Sheraton Sydney (soon to be Hyatt Regency)
Bottom line
This is an exciting addition to Hyatt’s Australia portfolio, which is otherwise quite limited. While the Park Hyatt is an awesome property, it’s extremely aspirational, so not in most peoples’ budgets.
As someone who is both a Hyatt and Starwood loyalist, I’m excited about this change, since Starwood has two other properties in Sydney, and will soon have a few more, due to their takeover from Marriott.
What do you make of the Four Points by Sheraton being rebranded as the Hyatt Regency Sydney?
Just to clarify, the redevelopment is almost complete and the image supplied is an actual photograph (not a render).
@jediwho
I agree with Susan. As a BNE-born man now living in MEL who loves to visit SYD almost every single year since I was in my twenties, 3-5 days if SYD is but only one stop on your itinerary is MORE than enough - it is no Manhattan. As evidence, we are telling my brother-in-law & his fiance from Austria to only spend 2 days there when they visit later in the year.
@jason
...@jediwho
I agree with Susan. As a BNE-born man now living in MEL who loves to visit SYD almost every single year since I was in my twenties, 3-5 days if SYD is but only one stop on your itinerary is MORE than enough - it is no Manhattan. As evidence, we are telling my brother-in-law & his fiance from Austria to only spend 2 days there when they visit later in the year.
@jason
I have stayed here several times over the last 12 years and have NEVER paid anywhere near what you are suggesting, and never would; I would only pay that for the Sheraton or Westin (and have done so a couple of times). @Rick is absolutely correct - $AU200-250 per night is normal. Any more than that and you may as well stay up at the Sheraton or Westin.
@jediwho:
In terms of how many days in Sydney is enough - I guess it depends on what you want to do (especially if you are thinking of taking day trips out of the city, like to the Blue Mountains, or the Hunter Valley)
I grew up in Australia (but not in Sydney), and found that three days in Sydney was enough for what I was looking to do - any out of city trips...
@jediwho:
In terms of how many days in Sydney is enough - I guess it depends on what you want to do (especially if you are thinking of taking day trips out of the city, like to the Blue Mountains, or the Hunter Valley)
I grew up in Australia (but not in Sydney), and found that three days in Sydney was enough for what I was looking to do - any out of city trips were always done on separate occasions. I usually spend two/three nights in Sydney on each return visit I make.
If you are making a trip to Sydney as your only destination (in other words, aren't traveling elsewhere around Australia), then 8+ days would be better, but if Sydney is just but one stop on your itinerary, then I think 3 days is enough.
A reasonable property with good sized rooms but a tricky location: not really walking distance up to the city centre . When it was consistently around 200 AUD plus it was fair value but now at over 300 or more I would pass. Hyatt could make it work but only if they keep the rate modest/category fair.
I stay there when it was Nikko hotel(before Four Season). The location is not easy to access I have to say. I agree with @Dale M, darling harbour is a tourist trap! I don't know many locals go there.
Darling Harbour itself struck me as a tourist trap, complete with IMAX and one of those all look the same mall on the water complexes that are in Jacksonville, Baltimore, NYC, etc. At least the other Hyatt has the historic district as a location.
Anyone here on how many days in Sydney are sufficient? Five is what I have read commonly but have heard some locals suggestion one could easily spend eight days and do things in and around SYD.
This construction has been going on for several years now.
The rooms are small, but nicely appointed. I agree with others that it is more of a lower tier property. The convenient location with access to the touristy Darling Harbour isn't bad, if you are into that sort of stuff.
Oops, there are actually four Regencies that are Category 6 so I guess there is precedent for a Regency as a Category 6.
Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino
Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa
Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill
Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée
There is only 1 Category 6 Hyatt Regency. I think they'll make it a Category 5; more to differentiate it from the Park Hyatt (Cat 7).
Jason must have been staying at the Four Points, Sydney at peak periods if he was paying AUD350-400 per night. Somewhere between AUD200 and $250 would be more like it for normal nights. However as a Hyatt Regency, I think you could expect AUD200 to AUD300 regular nights. But wait for the moans when people find that most of the rooms are only 28 sq metres.
In regard to renovations and extensions these have...
Jason must have been staying at the Four Points, Sydney at peak periods if he was paying AUD350-400 per night. Somewhere between AUD200 and $250 would be more like it for normal nights. However as a Hyatt Regency, I think you could expect AUD200 to AUD300 regular nights. But wait for the moans when people find that most of the rooms are only 28 sq metres.
In regard to renovations and extensions these have been going on for some three years now and are scheduled to finish in August 2016.
Interesting. I have bookings for November right before it becomes a Hyatt.
Depending on my budget, I may stay there, depending the on which category it is.
I prefer to stay at the Park Hyatt, as I love the location in The Rocks, rather than Darling Harbour.
Welcome news, Sydney is desperate for more hotel rooms, prices can be crazy over the summer. It feels like it been loosing more rooms than its been gaining in recent years what with several TFE hotels being closed down and turned into appartments.
*6 months. Still seems quick.
The construction and refit will be done in 3 months?
Definitely a welcome addition to the Hyatt portfolio for Sydney. Stayed here a few times, it's certainly nice enough, and easily the best of the hotels in that area (for now that is, new Sofitel is under construction + rumoured W and Ritz Carlton coming soon). Darling Harbour is a great location, unlike seemingly most other convention/exhibition areas, it's very close to the heart of the CBD and generally a very vibrant area with good dining/entertainment options.
The signup bonus for the Hyatt Visa card includes two free nights at any Hyatt property. Wife and I both signed up for the card, so we're getting 4 (2x2) nights at the Sydney Park Hyatt later this year. Without that (Hyatt Visa) signup bonus, there is zero chance we would be staying there.
Any idea how it would play out if you book a 5-night stay for 2017 including 5th night free with SPG points? It would in theory be converted to a Hyatt reservation.
I hope their standards are higher than at the Hyatt Regency in Perth. I stayed there recently and regretted not staying at the Four Points over by the arena. The Hyatt had a beautiful lobby, but the rest of the hotel was pretty sad.
Oh wow! This is the hotel I usually stay at when I go to Sydney. I know this might sound like a really vague question, but roughly how much more would you guys expect the prices to rise? During my stays I have paid roughly AUD $350-400.
Jason
I stayed at that Four Points back in February. I actually wasn't a huge fan of the location, but it is functional and not entirely unexpected for a lower-tier Sydney property. Plus, some of my annoyance is specific to my own kind of travel style. I pretty much do public transit everywhere, and being that it was summer, I was carrying a large backpack and the hotel is about a 10 minute walk from the...
I stayed at that Four Points back in February. I actually wasn't a huge fan of the location, but it is functional and not entirely unexpected for a lower-tier Sydney property. Plus, some of my annoyance is specific to my own kind of travel style. I pretty much do public transit everywhere, and being that it was summer, I was carrying a large backpack and the hotel is about a 10 minute walk from the nearest subway/metro station, which can lead to a winded and sweaty arrival. Guess that's also kind of true of the Park Hyatt.
But, happy to see this. Having only the Park Hyatt, which totally underwhelmed me at the cost in money or points, in the Hyatt portfolio in the entire city is not ideal.