Hyatt Place Moab at 890 N. Main St. opened on Aug. 30 with a design in Moab that is unique among Hyatt Place hotels.
Moab’s newest hotel — the first to open since the Sleep Inn in 2017 — features four casitas, a “Coffee 2 Cocktails” bar, a splash pad and a pool-side fireplace and a bicycle repair room.
Hyatt Place Moab Director of Sales and Marketing Natasha Boaro said the hotel “almost sold-out” during its first night open.
“We’ve been really busy from the get-go,” Boaro said.
The hotel touts itself on its website as a “base camp” from which to enjoy area attractions, such as Arches National Park.
Boaro said the hotel began to take reservations in February, but has had many walk-in guests, as well as guests who are members of the World of Hyatt, a loyalty program that promotes Hyatt Place Moab as a destination to its members.
There are 118 guest rooms in the hotel’s main building. Additional lodging at the hotel consists of four duplex casitas, each with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a dining and living area. The 841-square-foot casitas are expected to open in October as its construction is ongoing.
The casitas nearest to the outdoor pool are designed to be accessible for people with disabilities and will have private entrances.
The Hyatt Place Moab is the first Hyatt hotel to have casitas and the first to have a splash pad. And, come spring, the hotel will be the first Hyatt to have a playground.
“We’re Moab-izing Hyatt,” Boaro said.
A further Moab touch is a space where guests can do maintenance on their bicycles with bike repair tools borrowed from the front desk. The bicycle maintenance room is next to a secured bicycle storage room.
“As Moab continues to grow and thrive economically, we are excited to add to the momentum by bringing the first Hyatt Place and Hyatt branded hotel to the area” said Devin Soli, the hotel’s general manager, in a press release.
“The typical guest is probably somebody who has a career, a busy schedule, maybe they’re also in school,” Boaro said. “They still like to have a good time, but they’re stuck working as well. They want to be able to go to the gym, the pool, but they’re not really off the clock, per se. They’re still going to receive those phone calls. Hyatt Place Moab is designed around a busy lifestyle while still enjoying your downtime.”
Downtime could mean savoring a healthy and delicious meal, and the Gallery restaurant is ready to oblige with 24-hour service. In addition to providing guests with a free breakfast and a full menu during the day, the hotel is offering a “Late Night Bites” menu from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Or, downtime could mean choosing a drink from the menu of the bar. Hyatt Place Moab has a “coffee to cocktails” bar, which makes an array of caffeinated beverages and offers cocktails, wine and beer. It is the first hotel bar in the area.
During the Moab area’s busiest time for visitors a room at the hotel will cost an average of $299 per night. Boaro said that when the tourism season slows down the rate will be around $119.
Despite having just opened, Boaro said the hotel’s meeting rooms are receiving reservations. The hotel can accommodate meetings with its 41-person conference room, and a 1,069-square-foot room can accommodate up to 100 people.
Then there is an “Odds and Ends” program for guests who need to buy or borrow items they forgot to bring with them: clothing steamers, yoga mats, cribs, booster seats, jumper cables and international outlet adapters are among the offerings.
Hyatt Place Moab opened with a full staff, which Boaro attributes to a good working environment and “a wage that is competitive for Moab, not just the industry.”
Katie Winters and Mariah Denney work primarily at the front desk as “Gallery Hosts.” Both grew up in Moab and graduated from Grand County High School, and both have previous work experience in hotels.
“We all have a sense of humor that we connect with,” Winters said.
“We strive to be really inclusive,” Boaro said.
Employees are cross-trained to be able to work in a variety of positions in the hotel. Patrons who see an employee working at the front desk may notice the same employee assuming a role at the bar.
Hyatt Place Moab is led by Moab Place, LLC, and operated by Hospitality Management Services, LLC, which belong to local business entrepreneurs Mike Bynum and Gina Giffin. Bynum and Giffin are also managing partners of other area businesses, including Aarchway Inn, Zax restaurant and The Spoke on Center, among others.
“We are Moab-izing Hyatt.”
Where: 890 N. Main St.
Cost: Varies
Information: Call 435-259-9190, visit hyattplacemoab.com or email General Manager Devin Soli at devin.soli@hyatt.com.
Casitas, splash pad and bike repair ‘Moab-ize’ Hyatt Place hotel
