Arrival/Check-In: I arrived in Seattle on a cloudy Sunday morning; the rain held off, and I made it from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to the Grand Hyatt Seattle in record time.

The Grand Hyatt is located just across the street from the Washington State Convention Center, but I must say it doesn’t feel like a convention center hotel — its rich wood, marble lobby and fun sculptures and designs create a light-hearted atmosphere. The hotel offers plenty of plush seating areas for getting some work done or meeting colleagues. I checked in within minutes.

Guest Quarters: My room was located on an upper floor, and its floor-to-ceiling windows offered an amazing view of the bay and downtown. I enjoyed the view so much I ended up doing most of my work on my laptop on the chaise longue next to the windows instead of at the adjacent traditional desk, which had plenty of outlets.

As expected, the Grand Hyatt delivered a comfortable stay. The king-sized bed provided a nice night’s sleep. The large, marble bathroom featured great lighting over its single-sink vanity, premium June Jacobs amenities and plenty of complimentary bottled water. The stand-alone, glass-enclosed shower was excellent, although my room did not include a sunken tub like most of the other rooms.

Services/Amenities: The hotel does not operate its own restaurants on property, but it leases some great options for guests including a Ruth’s Chris Steak House (which serves breakfast), a sushi spot and a much-loved Starbucks. Its sister property, Olive 8, just a half block away, gives guests extra choices. I stopped in to Urbane for dinner and enjoyed a tasty, locally farmed roast chicken with a glass of Washington state Airfield Estates Sauvignon Blanc to top it off.

Olive 8 also shares its spa, Elaia, and its state-of-the-art gym with guests of Grand Hyatt. I took full advantage of the spa and indulged in a 90-minute sports and foot massage by a friendly masseuse. The spa, on the second level of the hotel, features a large relaxation room with floor-to-ceiling windows offering natural light, where spa guests can rest in oversized chaises longues. It made a perfect last stop before I caught my return flight.

Overall, I had a great experience using both properties, although the walk to get to basic amenities can be a bit inconvenient. I look forward to staying at the Olive 8 on my next trip.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ The property is within walking distance of downtown shopping and restaurants.

◆ Olive 8’s Urbane restaurant offers tasty, locally grown and seasonal fare and an intimate bar.

◆ Grand Hyatt Seattle features a large selection of customized event space for any meeting or party.

Grand Hyatt Seattle

721 Pine St.
Seattle, WA 98101
tel 206 774 1234
grand.hyatt.com