BACKGROUND Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad opened in 2015. It is the second property by Hyatt Hotels Corporation in Ahmedabad, 6km away from Hyatt Ahmedabad that opened before it. While Hyatt hotels are targeted at a mix of leisure and corporate travellers, the Hyatt Regency brand has facilities in place to cater to business travellers who make up most of its clientele. However, Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad receives a good number of staycation guests.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? Once you walk through security and collect your bag at the other side of the glass door, you’re facing two wooden reception desks, beyond which are lifts to rooms. Immediately to the right of the entrance is a seating on a raised granite dais that receives plenty of natural light through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and is surrounded by indoor plants. Further down is Chai Shop for confectionery. Throughout the hotel, one will find beautiful pieces of textile framed in corridors and other public spaces.

WHERE IS IT? It overlooks the Sabarmati river, and is about 9.5km or a 25-minute drive away from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

ROOM FACILITIES About 85 per cent of the L-shaped property overlooks the Sabarmati river. I stayed in the Regency Executive suite. The powder room is located by the suite’s entrance. The living room has a sofa seating for four people that faces an LED television.

By placing the telephone, data port, charging points and stationery on a side panel, the work desk had enough space for me to spread my laptop, notebook, papers, snack plate and coffee cup on its large glass tabletop. Behind the desk is the minibar with a coffee making machine, electric kettle, water bottles and snacks.

Just like the living room, the bedroom too has a floor-to-ceiling window, but two of them. One of them overlooks the hotel’s swimming pool and the other one has a view of the river. Despite receiving plenty of sun, the room didn’t heat up; in fact, I needed to turn down the air conditioner at one point. The LED television is opposite the bed. Business travellers will find it convenient to work in the bedroom too — bedside tables have a cordless telephone, alarm clock, power socket and electronic panels to control the temperature, lighting and curtains. There is a lounge chair by the window that has another power socket within reach. The bathtub faces a third television of the suite. It has aromatic bath salts for a warm relaxing soak. The rain shower is in a separate cubicle.

All suites in the hotel are connected to a Standard or Club room, and have bathtubs. Common offerings across all room categories include the 40-inch LED television, free wifi, rain shower, iron and ironing board, tea/coffee making facilities, minibar and a work desk with a data port.

RESTAURANTS AND BAR Chai Shop is the aforementioned 24-hour coffee shop that has a beautiful display of pastries and cakes. One needs to walk through this to enter Tinello where breakfast is served. Juniper Lounge works as a convenient option for a casual meeting. China House is Hyatt’s signature Chinese restaurant with alfresco dining. Gujarat is a dry state and so Hyatt Regency does not serve alcohol.

MEETING FACILITIES The meeting and event space is spread across 1,300 sqm and includes two boardrooms, four meeting rooms and the 562 sqm Regency Ballroom. Guests of suites and Club rooms have access to Regency Club Lounge that offers one free airport transfer, happy hour (6:30pm-8:30pm) with free flowing mocktails, exclusive access to a third boardroom. It doesn’t have a computer, but there is one available at the business centre with an attached scanner and printer.

LEISURE FACILITIES The gym is open round the clock. Apart from the treatment rooms, the spa has a dimly lit relaxation room where one can sip on herbal tea, listen to soothing music and rest on the lounge chairs. There is also an outdoor swimming pool.

VERDICT It was comfortable stay.

PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in a City View room in mid-January started from ₹7,200.

CONTACT Hyatt Regency, 17/A, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad; tel: +91 79 4017 1234;
ahmedabad.regency.hyatt.com