Although this may bite me in the butt someday if it’s booked solid, I’d like to tell you about the Hyatt Place in Austin, Texas. I will stay at this hotel every time I go to SXSW.
The hotel is one block from the Austin Convention Center. There is a breakfast buffet with no waiting. There are restaurants within one hundred yards that fulfill my four main food groups: steak, Thai, sushi, and fried chicken. If these don’t take care of you, there’s a boutique market across the street for snacks. The hotel bar also sells food 24-hours per day.
The Wifi is fast—maybe because the hotel is not humongous, and the desk had lots of electrical outlets. There is always a place to meet in the lobby without being crowded on top of other attendees—even space for stock photo shoots. The rooms are about 25 percent larger than most business-hotel rooms. Mine had a separate seating area with a sofa sleeper— this area was perfect for boxes of books though I never sat there.
The crowning touch is the helpful attitude of the staff. Per dollar, the Hyatt’s staff may be the most helpful hotel I’ve ever experienced. For example, whereas other hotels at SXSW charge to receive and deliver packages (if they can get into the UPS office and if they can find them), the Hyatt provides this service for free.
Another example: a co-worker from Canva met me for a breakfast meeting on the day she was leaving. When she showed up with her bags, the front desk offered to store her bags even though she wasn’t a guest.
I’m already looking forward to SXSW 2016, so you’ll know where I’ll be staying: Hyatt Place. And if you work for the hotel, there’s just one addition I’d like: a laundry room.
LOVE this hotel!! I’ve stayed with them 2 yrs in a row and can’t wait until I return because they’re so AWESOME!
This hotel sounds and looks amazing! Not many hotels offer services like this one. I’m surprised it isn’t as well known. Next week I am actually going to Austin, Texas for a work conference. I will have to give this hotel a try.
I like your four main food groups: steak, Thai, sushi and fried chicken. Who needs a food pyramid when you have that?
I’ll take your advice and try that place out if I ever visit SXSW. Thanks for sharing!
I travelled to this hotel for a conference and meeting. The venue is fantastic and can handle large groups with the feel of an intimate locale. It is also blocks from some of the best bars, live music, and restaurants I have seen. This is a VERY good city to hold meetings/events