Historically Hyatt’s footprint in Los Angeles has been woefully lacking. Until recently the only “real” full service Hyatt hotel in the Los Angeles area was the Andaz West Hollywood (then there’s also the Hyatt Regency LAX, but that’s not exactly a destination hotel). Recently Hotel Figueroa in DTLA joined Hyatt, belonging to The Unbound Collection. Well, this weekend yet another Hyatt full service hotel will open in the area.
In this post:
Thompson Hollywood basics
The Thompson Hollywood will be opening tomorrow, as the hotel is accepting reservations for stays as of Sunday, August 8, 2021.
Thompson Hollywood lobby
As the name suggests, the hotel will be located in Hollywood, on Wilcox Avenue, near Hollywood and Vine. While there’s certainly allure among some tourists with the idea of being “in Hollywood,” historically it hasn’t exactly been a great place to stay. There have been lots of great new restaurants and attractions opening in Hollywood, but personally it still wouldn’t be my first pick of places to stay in LA.
Thompson Hollywood will feature 190 guest rooms with 24 suites, two restaurants, a rooftop pool deck and lounge, a gym, and 15,000 square feet of meeting space. The rooms do seem to be on the smaller size — base rooms start at just 270 square feet, and base suites start at a mere 410 square feet.
Thompson Hollywood guest room
In general I’m a huge fan of the Thompson brand. The way I view Thompson, it’s probably slightly more premium than Andaz, but a step down from Alila and Park Hyatt. Thompson properties are generally beautifully designed, and have a focus on good food & beverage outlets that are popular with locals (while all hotels like to pretend that their outlets are a “hub” for locals, in the case of Thompson that’s actually the case).
Thompson Hollywood restaurant
Thompson Hollywood rates & points redemptions
Rates at the Thompson Hollywood are steep, though have already dropped a bit pre-opening. When rooms first went on sale several months back, rates started at ~$400 per night, while now they’re starting closer to ~$300 per night. However, that’s for an “interior” room, which doesn’t sound particularly appealing.
If you do book a revenue stay here, I’d recommend doing so through the Hyatt Privé program, so you can receive extra perks, like free breakfast, a property credit, and more. Also keep in mind that if you stay at the hotel in the first few months of opening you’ll receive 500 World of Hyatt points per night, thanks to Hyatt’s ongoing new hotel offer.
I thought the hotel was being rather optimistic when it was pricing at $400+, so personally I think the current ~$300 rates are more likely to stick, and might even still be a bit on the high side. While I’m sure the hotel as such will be nice, pricing would have to be significantly more attractive for me to want to stay here, accounting for the location (based on my preferences) and the size of the rooms.
For those redeeming points, the Thompson Hollywood will be a Category 6 World of Hyatt property, meaning that a free night redemption will cost 25,000 points per night.
That’s an aggressive award category, and it seems to me like this should be a Category 5 World of Hyatt property. I value World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents each, so to me spending 25,000 points per night is the equivalent of spending ~$375.
Unfortunately the Thompson Hollywood also has a $25 daily “destination fee,” which is an increasingly common money-grab we’re seeing at city hotels. Fortunately World of Hyatt Globalist members don’t have to pay this on any kind of stay, while all other World of Hyatt members don’t have to pay it when redeeming points for their stay.
What about the Park Hyatt Los Angeles?
Back in 2016 it was announced that a Park Hyatt would be opening in downtown Los Angeles, in the new Oceanwide Plaza. Based on the original plans, the hotel was already supposed to be open at this point.
So what’s the latest on that? While Hyatt claims the property will be opened in 2021, there’s no way that’s happening. Last I saw, construction on Oceanwide Plaza has been stalled for a couple of years now, and there’s no end in sight for these issues.
The Chinese development company behind the project was having issues with late payments and mechanics liens, and couldn’t maintain sufficient capital. So if the Park Hyatt Los Angeles does end up opening, it’ll be at least a couple of years down the road, and that’s probably even optimistic.
This would be a return to Los Angeles for the Park Hyatt brand. There used to be a Park Hyatt in Century City, but Hyatt stopped managing that property in 2006. At that point it was rebranded as an InterContinental.
Bottom line
Hyatt’s footprint has historically been lacking in the Los Angeles area, so I’m thrilled to see another full service property opening this weekend. I love the Thompson brand, though I don’t particularly love the room sizes, the location, or the World of Hyatt hotel category. Nonetheless I look forward to checking out this property at some point.
What do you make of the Thompson Hollywood? Would you consider staying there, or what’s your favorite points property in Los Angeles?
stayed one night with my children. Nice clean hotel, but not for family.
Came here last night for a private event and the hotel is gooooorgeous!! The decor is sumptuous, the staff are very attentive, and the rooftop has a wraparound terrace with views of LA and multiple bars. Amazing!! Didn't get a chance to check out the rooms, but with the communal areas being this attractive, you probably wouldn't spent much time in the rooms anyway.
Here right now at the property. It's really nice the rooms are amazing. Service is top notch here. Rooms are beautiful in every way possible. The view is good and bad. Just depends where you look. This place is good for a overnight stay or 2. I wouldn't go beyond that. But still amazing place and so elegant. The only food options are though the barlisla on the roof area. But right now breakfast is complimentary for everyone at the hotel.
Can you figure out what happened to the Intercontinental in century city? Strange mystery
Hyatt is making too many properties have aggressive award levels lately. So annoying. like everything is 20k plus, such a joke for properties that shouldnt be that high award level. Hyatt is going downhill so much lately.
Horrible choice for a location. The area has become overrun with vagrants and businesses are fleeing like there's no tomorrow.
Hollywood really is a depressing area even wandering Hollywood Blvd from where the hotels are to TCL Chinese Theatre. West Hollywood is definitely a much more enjoyable area.
Will probably post some photos on twitter about the property.
Will be staying at the Thompson tomorrow night. Looking forward to my stay there.
I'd love to hear how your stay goes, Brandon. I've got a one-night stay coming up and need to choose between the Andaz and the Thompson.
Will let you know how it goes. So far though I found out that their restaurant is not even open yet. The food is going to be only served at the Barlisla bar, up on the roof. Which will be interesting because the online menu shows drinks and canapes. But the rep I talked to at the hotel, said they will be offering breakfast there also. "Bars hours are in the evening though too"
So already it's a small let down if the restaurant is not even open yet.
They also charge a $29 destination fee.
I think this is marketed towards tourist families who know nothing about LA. The website says "Thompson Hollywood near Universal Studios" so they're trying to grab the families that want to visit Universal, and think they want to stay in Hollywood because they think that's the pinnacle of what LA has to offer. Probably think they can hike to the Hollywood sign and then stop by the Santa Monica pier before heading to Disneyland too.
...I think this is marketed towards tourist families who know nothing about LA. The website says "Thompson Hollywood near Universal Studios" so they're trying to grab the families that want to visit Universal, and think they want to stay in Hollywood because they think that's the pinnacle of what LA has to offer. Probably think they can hike to the Hollywood sign and then stop by the Santa Monica pier before heading to Disneyland too.
Side note about the Park Hyatt - I'm almost rooting for this project to fail so that the Park Hyatt can go in a proper LA location. Downtown next to the convention centers is good for a Grand Hyatt, not a Park. Park Hyatt should compete with the Waldorf Astoria, Four Seasons, etc. in Beverly Hills or Shutters and the like in Santa Monica.
And sadly the IC Century City shut down during Covid and last I heard was not going to be reopening.
Showing $500+ for a weekend in Oct. Little rich for my blood.