Some conference hotels are situated in excellent locations, whether that means they’re in a central area or a picturesque setting. The Hyatt Regency in Salt Lake City could fit both criteria because it’s right in the downtown area with a view of the Wasatch Mountains to the east. That’s where I’ve been for this year’s American Society of Travel Advisors annual conference after spending the previous two days on Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to Red Rocks trip.
I hadn’t been to Salt Lake before. I was only passing through on the two occasions I had. The first was on the way to Jackson, Wyoming, and the second was making a connection between San Jose and Denver. Like last year’s conference, where I only stayed at the Hilton Anatole and didn’t see Dallas, I will probably not see much of this city either. But I would like to return here, especially to ski at nearby Park City, Alta or Snowbird.
The Hyatt Regency is just one of many hotels in the central Salt Lake area, all near the city’s convention center, but it’s the only one that’s adjacent. That made attending the events and workshops convenient. Some of these were in the hotel itself, all between the second and fifth floors.
The accommodations
With nineteen different room options, travelers to the Hyatt Regency can find something suitable for their stay. Each has either a king bed or two queen beds, and many also feature sofa beds. There are five different suites, the largest featuring 1751 square feet, separate dining and living areas, a pantry and the hotel’s best views.
I had a corner king room with a view, which allowed me to enjoy extra space for my yoga (a luxury I often don’t have in more standard hotel rooms), as well as a breathtaking vista of downtown. My bed was medium-firm and comfortable – just enough to give me a decent night's sleep. Often, I will wake up in the middle of the night when I’m in a hotel, sometimes multiple times. But I’ve only awakened once during all three nights here. My bathroom was spacious and serviceable once I figured out how to use the shower.
Perhaps the only things I didn’t appreciate about my room were the lighting and the storage. While floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural light, the available lighting wasn’t adequate to illuminate the room at night. I had to turn on every one of them to alleviate the creepy dark feeling. Another issue the lack of closet and drawer space. There were only two, plus an open hanging rod above it. Luckily it was only me in this room – otherwise I’d have to keep my clothes in my suitcase.
Amenities
The Hyatt Regency’s offerings bring the guest experience up a few notches, starting with one of the best hotel pools I’ve ever seen. It’s on the sixth floor, on a tiered deck that’s high enough to overlook the cityscape, with another side that’s likely for private functions or gatherings. This was an ideal place to escape the busyness of the conference, and since it wasn’t mid-summer yet, it was warm but not oppressive.
On this same floor, the fitness center offers a comprehensive selection of cardio equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes, as well as four Pelotons. There are roughly a half-dozen weight machines and a free weights rack, all in a spacious area with windows overlooking the downtown buildings. I can appreciate this kind of workout area because I’ve now seen more than enough hotel facilities that are barely larger than a closet.
As I mentioned earlier, the Hyatt Regency is located next to Salt Lake City's convention center, making it the most convenient hotel for those attending a conference here. Something else unique about the hotel is its slate of experiences, some of which are locally curated, such as Hike Salt Lake and Utah’s Pressed Petals craft activity.
Dining
Like any hotel, the Hyatt Regency offers adequate but overpriced dining options. In most cases, I tried to find alternative places to go, but there weren’t many options around the vicinity, so I visited their eateries. Of the four on the property, I visited three of them – the Market, Contribution, and Mar/Muntanya. The Market is a mostly grab-and-go establishment offering sandwiches, salads, snacks, coffee and tea beverages, smoothies, and other quick-serve items. I came here every morning for breakfast.
Contribution is the hotel's bar, offering a selection of small plate items, including starters, flatbreads, and artisanal boards such as charcuterie. I didn’t have food here, but I did have a glass of white wine on one visit and a cocktail on the other. The Colloquy mixed silver tequila, triple sec, strawberry, mango and lime juice with soda water. It was a fruity, bubbly, and refreshing take on the traditional margarita I usually order. For a late-night meal, I visited Mar/Muntanya. At this regional Spanish tapas bar, I ordered papas bravas (grilled potatoes with salsa, confit garlic aioli, and smoked paprika) accompanied by a nearly fishbowl-sized red sangria, which had an interesting cinnamon and nutmeg flavor.
I didn’t have time to visit the other eatery, Salt Republic, but I would have tried it if I had time. Their fare centers on rotisserie-style meats, prepared in an open kitchen and wood-fired oven, yet all main meals are available here. Looking at their menus, I probably would have tried the roasted chicken. True to form for a Rocky Mountain region establishment, they also serve dishes featuring game meats, such as elk and wild boar.
