The Hyatt Regency – Grand Cypress hotel completed its renovation in 2008 to provide a residential feel to its facilities.

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Guests who stayed at The Hyatt Regency – Grand Cy­press in Orlando, Fla., just 18 months ago will not recognize the facility today, as it just completed a $45 million renovation that completely revamped all 750 guest rooms, 60 suites, lobby, ballroom, offices and conference space, says Gary Gotling, director of sales and marketing.

Everything in the 65,000-square-foot facility is new, he says – new walls, electrical units, plumbing, air conditioning, bathrooms, carpets, drapes, coffeemakers, closets, ceiling treatments and windows. “We just gutted the hotel and took it down,” he says.

Along with the renovations, the 15-month project also included new, high-tech capabilities for its guests. For example, each guest room now has a 17-inch safe to store laptops, extra seating in its work stations, a jack pack adapter panel for multimedia uses, a flatscreen TV, a system where iPhone users can plug in their devices and listen to music, wireless Internet, a sound system, a refrigerator and a new coffeemaker.

Each room also has a bedside touch lamp with three settings, as well as LED lights in the vanity and bathrooms. Guests are also able to control the temperature in their rooms. “The thermostat is also auto regulated in the room,” he adds. “If there is no movement in the room, it will set back to the seasonal rate. If you open up the sliding glass door, the AC goes off.” The rooms also have showerheads that give a rain shower feel, as well as low-flush toilets that helps conserve water.

The hotel has been a part of Florida’s Green Lodging Program for several years, so it has included several sustainable features, Gotling says. For example, the hotel has recycling initiatives for cardboard, newspapers and cans, efficient and natural lighting, and water filtration plants. “There are upfront costs, but it definitely saves on energy,” he stresses.

Smooth Process
The Hyatt Regency is 25 years old, and it’s been 10 years since its last renovation, Gotling says. “It brings a very residential feel to the guest rooms,” he says. “It used to be more commercial. The rooms were updated to feel more like home than a business trip.”

The feedback has been positive so far, he notes. “They love the new product,” he says. “They especially love the residential feel and they love the light features and restrooms.” The hotel was operational during the whole construction process, although guests – which range from families, business travelers and honeymooners – may not have noticed, Gotling adds. Ren­o­vations began in the east tower, and then moved to the north and then west wings. They were completed three floors at a time, he explains. “It was seamless,” he says. “We did the functional space during the holiday seasons – between the summer time and during Thanks­giving and Christmas.

“The renovations were interior so the folks in the pool and public area – unless they got off on the wrong floor – didn’t know,” he adds. “There was a very minimal amount of complaints or dissatisfaction because of the renovations.”

The construction schedule was plan­ned closely with the hotel’s meeting planners, he says. “We would start and stop based on requests from [guest] groups,” he says. “We worked closely with the meeting planners to make sure nothing interfered.” The world-class hotel has plenty of amenities, including beachside cabanas, three Jacuzzis and a full-service spa.