In June 2022, we learned how the Park Hyatt brand would be returning to South Africa, with the conversion of an existing property in the city. At the time, the plan was for the Park Hyatt to open in early 2023.
While there has been a significant delay, there’s now an exciting update, as the hotel has just started accepting reservations. Let’s go over all the details.
In this post:
The Winston Hotel becoming Park Hyatt Johannesburg
The Winston Hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg, will be joining Hyatt’s portfolio. The hotel is in the process of undergoing an extensive renovation, and once that’s completed, it will be branded as the Park Hyatt Johannesburg. While the renovation is taking longer than planned, the hotel is now accepting reservations for stays as of October 15, 2024.
It’s interesting how the Park Hyatt brand has come full circle in Johannesburg. Back in the day, there was the Park Hyatt Johannesburg, but then in 2007 it was rebranded as the Hyatt Regency Johannesburg. Now a new property will carry the Park Hyatt branding, though it’ll be much more boutique.
The refurbishment of the hotel is being overseen by Yabu Pushelberg, a design firm that previously worked on properties like the Park Hyatt New York, Park Hyatt Shenzhen, and Park Hyatt Bangkok. As it’s described, the redesign will “revitalise the hotel while celebrating the heritage and craftsmanship of its locale.”
Personally I consider those properties to have pretty generic decor, so it’s interesting that this firm was chosen if the goal was to have a bit more personality in the property. However, the renderings of the Park Hyatt Johannesburg do look very nice — I like the details with the floor, ceiling, etc.
The Park Hyatt Johannesburg will have only 31 rooms. All 31 rooms at the property will feature king beds and workstations. There will only be two categories of guest rooms (with the difference being the views), plus four categories of suites.
The Park Hyatt Johannesburg will also have a restaurant with a dining room and outdoor terrace. Then there will be a bar, as well as an event space for conferences and meetings, which can accommodate up to 60 guests. With just 31 rooms, this will be the world’s smallest Park Hyatt in terms of the number of keys.
Park Hyatt Johannesburg rates & points requirements
With the Park Hyatt Johannesburg now accepting reservations, what are rates like?
For those redeeming points, this will be a Category 5 World of Hyatt property, meaning a free night redemption in a standard room costs 17,000-23,000 points per night. Meanwhile a free night redemption in a standard suite costs 29,000-35,000 points per night.
Cash rates at the Park Hyatt Johannesburg are on the steep side, but that’s not surprising when you consider how small and high-end this property will be. Rates seem to start at somewhere around $500 per night, give or take. I imagine those rates could get a bit more attractive as the opening date approaches, but we’ll see.
If you are looking to book a cash stay here, I’d recommend doing so through the Hyatt Privé program, which offers extra perks like room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and a hotel credit.
My take on the Park Hyatt Johannesburg
First of all, I can’t believe there was a hotel named The Winston and I didn’t even know about it (Winston is also my dog’s name!). And I’m extremely disappointed that this will simply be rebranded as the Park Hyatt Johannesburg, rather than as The Winston Johannesburg, a Park Hyatt Hotel. Right, Winston? 😉 Hey, at least one of the suite categories at the property is “The Winston Suite,” so I know what room I hope to stay in when I visit!
One thing that I love about the concept of this hotel is how boutique it is, with just 31 rooms. I love a smaller hotel that has some character, while still letting you take advantage of the ability to earn and redeem points, etc. That sounds much better to me than so many of the other 200+ room Park Hyatt properties. When I next visit Johannesburg, I’ll definitely be staying here.
Clearly this hotel is undergoing a major overhaul, given what the property previously looked like (you can see the pictures below).
This looks like it’ll probably be among Johannesburg’s best hotels when it opens. Otherwise, the Saxon Hotel and Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg are probably the city’s best properties.
Bottom line
The new Park Hyatt Johannesburg is accepting reservations for stays as of mid-October 2024. Specifically, The Winston is an existing hotel in Johannesburg, which is undergoing a full renovation, before reopening as a Park Hyatt. With just 31 rooms, this will be the world’s smallest Park Hyatt. Based on the renderings, this is a hotel to look forward to.
What do you make of the new Park Hyatt Johannesburg?
Whenever I hear the words lifestyle or boutique I know it is just a fancy way of overcharging. No thanks.
Don't forget 'curated', 'bespoke', 'customized' and other formerly meaningful terms which have been reduced to marketing gibberish.
I swear marketing people are just a bunch of idle wankers.
I don't see points rooms available for any days/nights at all. Where are you seeing the ability to redeem points for stays?
That’s very few rooms for a Park Hyatt hotel. Is there any Park Hyatt currently open that has less than 50 rooms?
Indeed, even at relatively high rates I'm curious about the economics of such a small full service hotel.
Not in the same league, but the Voco in Rosebank is fabulous also - a short walk from the Gautrain station, safe area and an amazing restaurant called Proud Mary. Rates around $200/night easily available.
Anyone know if the Hyatt Regency in Rosebank will ever be revived too?
@GUWonder, is your handle anything to do with Atyrau, Kazakhstan (GUW) by any chance?
It remains to be seen if the Park Hyatt Johannesburg can staff the property with employees who actually understand how to represent the brand, and who can convince people to part with $500/night.
Based on my (extensive) experience, I'm not optimistic.
In the meantime, see you at the Saxon.
Agree 100%. I was actually surprised to read in an earlier article by Lucky about the Four Seasons Johannesburg as "the best hotel" in Joburg (?), that he does not seem to know about the Saxon Hotel (LHW). It is BY FAR the very best hotel in Johannesburg. I cannot praise it enough. The Four Seasons is simply not in the same league, and some of the rooms are just bizarre.
Meanwhile, Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town (Belmond) is also getting back its shine.
Any Four Seasons content is sponsored, so automatically any location there is a FS it qualifies as the "best" hotel. It is a feature, not a bug.
The room rates are very steep in such a market, but I guess 31 rooms is manageable for them.
Love Hyatt, but in South Africa the brand is a disaster. There is a local company who run the other three hyatts in South Africa. All are poorly run.
There is zero desire to provide service or be hospitable to guest needs and wants. Instead they run the hotel as if they were going to be guests themselves in their own hotel. Its run fully alignment of the owners religious beliefs, even though their religion...
Love Hyatt, but in South Africa the brand is a disaster. There is a local company who run the other three hyatts in South Africa. All are poorly run.
There is zero desire to provide service or be hospitable to guest needs and wants. Instead they run the hotel as if they were going to be guests themselves in their own hotel. Its run fully alignment of the owners religious beliefs, even though their religion is not dominant in South Africa, nor of the average South African visitor.
As a South African who chases Globalist annually, and in country where there is no credit card nights, its a pity hyatt corp doesnt run hotels here. Cape Town Joburg and Durban are both in desperate need of decent hyatts, sadly these clowns will never provide.
I don’t give a damn what the owners’ religion is, and decent people don’t bash on properties based on the owners’ religious affiliation. Visitors go swimming in the pool at least at one of that family’s Hyatt hotels in bikinis. Or are you talking about one or more of the hotels not paying up for liquor license approvals to some extent or another?
Just asked someone and the Regency Club at the family’s hotel served some beer, wine and some kind of champagne or champagne knock-off there earlier this year. No alcohol elsewhere in that hotel but welcome to bring in your own for consumption in the rooms and even maybe the Regency Club.
@Ben I saw an advertising board while on holiday in Limassol, Cyprus, not sure if you have covered it “ coming soon a brand new Grand Hyatt expected to open in 2025 the first Hyatt in Cyprus “.
You say you like the details with the ceiling... but the pics just make it look like a plain white ceiling? Maybe you really like plain white ceilings? :-)