As many of you know, out of all the major brands, Hyatt is my absolute favorite brand. I have had top tier status with Hyatt for several years, through a mixture of actual stays and credit card spend.
We generally have had a great experience with Hyatt’s, given that points are relatively easy to earn in large quantities quickly, and we find service as Globalists to be generally good. For example, our experiences as Globalists at the Park Hyatt Maldives was fantastic.
However, one common criticism of Hyatt hotels is that you have to make their footprint work. Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Choice, and Wyndham all have much larger portfolios, making it exponentially easier to find a hotel when and where you need it.
For example, excluding Mr. & Mrs. Smith (which isn’t a partnership really worth the time of points & miles collectors), there are several states with only 2 or 3 Hyatt’s, and 3 states with no Hyatt’s whatsoever! Additionally, there is a lack of Hyatt’s in most countries which have several other properties associated with other big brands.
That being said, Hyatt has worked hard to acquire new brands in order to expand quickly. For example, there is the Thompson brand, Alila, and the all-inclusive part of Apple Leisure Group.
Hyatt in Talks to Purchase The Standard Hotels
Hyatt is now in talks to purchase The Standard Hotels. While not necessarily growing Hyatt into many new markets, it would expand the portfolio of Hyatt in several destinations, including New York, London, Miami Beach, Ibiza, Singapore, and the Maldives. There would be an expansion into Hua Hin, Thailand. Additionally, there are The Standard Hotels in the pipeline for Dublin, Brussels, and Lisbon.
Based on reporting, I do not know if this include The StandardX hotels, which are currently in Melbourne and Bangkok.
Known for their nightlife, I consider them a cross between the Thompson brand and the W of Marriott. This would put them in the upper-midscale range, as they aren’t truly luxurious. They have a fun and sexy vibe but seem to be a bit classier than the party-like lifestyle of the W. This brand appears to be targeted at fluent Millennials, being in places they want to go, but offering upscale experiences for those who like to spend a bit more time in city hotels.
If the acquisition goes through, I would expect these properties to be similar to a Thompson or Centric, ranging from a Category 4-6 (depending on the city), with the Maldives being integrated as a Category 7.
My Thoughts on Hyatt’s Acquisition of The Standard
Personally, I have always been intrigued by The Standard Hotels. My first interaction with them was when I was walking down the High Line in NYC and saw their hotel stretch over it with their upside down logo. I did a bit of research into the brand, thinking they were apartments and was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was actually a hotel. I follow them on social media (so I get to see the marketed side of the hotels), and I absolutely would love to try out this brand at some point.
Admittedly, I don’t need to spend more time in a city hotel. If I’m in New York City or London, I’m going out! However, I really do enjoy hotels like this with a “vibe,” as it actually makes me feel cool for once. For example, my wife and I once spent the night at the W in downtown Atlanta. We made use of the rooftop pool, and I personally really enjoyed it.
Was it luxurious? No. Was it a fun vibe? Absolutely. When it comes to The Standard hotels, it is my expectation that it would be an elevated and classier version of this brand, around the levels of a Thompson hotel. These are hotels that I would like to visit for a husband & wife weekend, but, once we have kids, the Maldives location looks weirdly family-friendly.
Conclusion
I hope that the acquisition of the Standard Hotels by Hyatt goes through. I look forward to visiting, staying at, and reviewing this brand in the future!
What do you think of Hyatt’s acquisition of the Standard Hotels? Would you stay at one of them?
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Feature image courtesy of the Standard Hotel NYC High Line location