Grand Hyatt hotel stands at heart of Taipei

Grand Hyatt Taipei, center, stands next to the country's tallest skyscraper Taipei 101 on its left. / Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Taipei

By Kim Jae-heun

TAIPEI _ Five-star hotels are not hard to find in metropolitan cities around the world.

They all offer the finest dining and quality room services to rich guests.

Grand Hyatt Taipei is no different as it owns nine fancy restaurants and bars offering a variety of international specialties and local favorites.

Twenty-four-hour room service is the norm.

The Grand Hyatt Taipei offers a Michelin guide recommended gourmet steakhouse “Bel Air Bar & Grill. / Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Taipei

However, Grand Hyatt Taipei is somewhat special compared to other luxury Hyatt hotels, including the corporation's other branch hotels around the world.

The luxury hotel first came into the site of what is now the fancy business district of Xinyi in 1988.

“The hotel opened in 1990, when there weren't any modern buildings established in the Xinyi district. I remember Grand Hyatt Taipei standing tall alone in the undeveloped town. The new City Hall opened next door in 1994. You can say Grand Hyatt lived with the modern history here,” said Paul Ou, marketing communications manager of Grand Hyatt Taipei.

The Grand Hyatt Taipei has an outdoor swimming pool; part of the hotel’s “Club Oasis” facility. / Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Taipei

As the local government began to develop Xinyi into a business district, many shopping malls and convention centers were built near the luxury hotel, including the Taipei World Financial Center, which is better known as Taipei 101.

Grand Hyatt Taipei connects via bridges to 12 adjacent commercial centers.

“You can walk to the department stores without going outside. They are all connected to the hotel. Taipei 101 is also connected. The observatory deck in the skyscraper is the most popular tourist attraction here. Our guests can walk to the venue from their rooms _ building to building,” Ou said.

The guests staying at Grand Hyatt Taipei can also enjoy easy access to nearby tourist attractions, historic landmarks, ancient temples and museums.

“It is the biggest advantage for a hotel to stand at the heart of the capital, where many tourist destinations are concentrated. You can go to any of them within 30 minutes of walking distance,” Ou added.

A Grand Executive View Suite room at the Grand Hyatt Taipei is seen in this picture. / Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Taipei

Grand Hyatt Taipei has 850 rooms, including the recently renovated guestrooms designed with a residential touch.

The previous guestrooms at the hotel were focused on providing a business-friendly environment.

However, the hotel decided to go through renovation in 2016 to provide a “personal sanctuary” for guests.

The hotel has the exclusive Grand Club on the 22nd floor in its 27-story building.

The hotel's private lounge offers a complimentary breakfast for VIP guests, who want to avoid busy and boisterous cafe on the first floor.

A guest receives a massage at the Oasis Spa facility at the Grand Hyatt Taipei in Taiwan. / Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Taipei

A new thermal spa opened as part of its renovation to provide sauna and hot springs for guests.

The internationally renowned Tokyo-based company SuperPotato designed the venue.

The hotel was ranked the best hotel in Taipei in the annual Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards last year.

“Only a few hotels in town have a spa service. We decided to open the facility based on demands from guests,” Ou said.