JILL WEINLEIN

After graduating from UCLA, JIll traveled the world looking for unique destinations. She’s been writing about her travels for almost 30 years in various publications.

She writes a weekly restaurant review for the Beverly Press and Park LaBrea News. It’s inserted into the Los Angeles Times every Thursday and delivered to subscribers from Hancock Park to Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills to the Wilshire Corridor.

Year-round Fun at the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City

BY Jill Weinlein

Flying into Salt Lake City International Airport, I always enjoy seeing families waiting in the arrival area holding signs that read Welcome Home Elder John and Welcome back Sister Mary.

Founded by a group of pioneering Mormons in 1847, they incorporate the beehive as a symbol of harmony, cooperation, and industrious work in their religion. Utah is known as the ‘Beehive State’ and representations of beehives are on Utah signs, local Beehive Cheese, monuments, buildings and souvenirs. The city offers world-class art, outdoor adventure, unique day trips, excellent culinary, and nightlife venues.

Home to the Sundance Film Festival and some of the best skiing in the United States, the region noticed a boost in popularity after the 2002 Olympics. Now with a thriving job market and booming tech scene, Salt Lake City and the surrounding communities are attracting new residents and visitors from all over the world.

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City

It took over 10 years of harmony, cooperation and work to open the doors of the first Hyatt Regency hotel in Utah. Less than a seven mile drive from the airport, The Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City is a modern glass-curved hotel that opened in October 2022. Adjoining the Salt Palace City Convention Center, this new Hyatt Regency offers 700 spacious guest rooms and suites overlooking city and mountain views. Besides attracting large groups, the hotel staff, also welcome couples and families.

Staying in a guest room on the top 25th floor, I appreciated the stylish furnishings with a separate seating and work area. The comfortable Hyatt king-size bed was fitted with soft white sheets, and modern conveniences included charging ports, a safe and ambient lighting.

Touring the lobby with the hotel’s General Manager, Pina Purpero and Jarrod Finley, the hotel’s Director of Marketing and Sales, they pointed out the beautiful art collection throughout the hotel. “Local artists were commissioned to incorporate the outdoors inside”, Finley said. Oregon-based artist Rachel Denny created life-size animals indigenous to Utah. There are rabbits, foxes and stags on the wall wearing cable knit sweaters. These animals have become popular Instagram photos for our guests, said Finley.

The open-design concept offers earth tone colors, and snow-inspired chandeliers. One wall has hexagonal-shape glass mirrors. “They light up as guests walk by,” said Finley. “The six side shape also honor Hyatt’s six core values.” I looked up the six values that include empathy, experimentation, inclusion, integrity, respect and wellbeing.

Taking an escalator up to the second floor, Purpero shared how this hotel concept took many years open its doors. “The project was envisioned by Salt Lake County and industry partners to address the growing demand of large-scale events,” said Purpero. “The ethos of the Hyatt Regency brand was a natural fit to bring a vibrant and modern hotel to the city’s central core.” We learned the city recently hosted the NBA’s high-profile All-Star Game in February. “Many of the players stayed at the hotel,” said Finley. “Salt Lake City is also being considered to host the 2030 or 2034 Winter Olympics.”

Meeting and special occasion spaces are both intimate and large-scale with room for up to 2,875 people. “We also have a Broadcast Lounge, one of the first to debut from the Hyatt Regency brand, allowing guests the option to attend a live conference in a hybrid manner,” said Purpero.

Nearby is eclectic Main Street, the historic Temple Square, plus the Capitol Theatre debuting Broadway Touring productions. Two blocks away is City Creek Center with a babbling brook running though the middle of the shopping center. A few blocks from there is the Vivint Arena.

Surrounded by the snow-capped Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City received 900 inches of snow during the winter and spring keeping its nine world-class ski resorts busy. They are all located within a short drive from the Hyatt Regency hotel.

Visiting in June, there was still snow in the nearby mountains. With temperatures in the high 70s that will warm up more in July through September. Salt Lake City is becoming a popular year-round vacation destination.

Amenities

Up on the 6th floor the hotel’s rooftop Sundance Terrace offers a long lap pool with lounge chairs for soaking up the Utah sunshine. In the early evening fire-pit seating frames the signature Mar | Muntanya restaurant. Guests can enjoy al-fresco dining or sit in one of the stylish wood igloo shaped dining cabanas. The menu by local Executive Chef Tyson Peterson features Basque Country Northern Spanish fare with farm-to-table ingredients. They are carefully sourced from Utah farms and purveyors. The other three distinct dining venues inside the hotel include Contribution overlooking the locals and tourists outside on the street.

An array of craft cocktails and shared small plates are served here including Funeral Potatoes. It’s a cheesy, potato casserole that is a popular side dish in Utah and in the Midwest.

We also enjoyed a different variation of funeral potatoes during a sit-down meal at The Salt Republic. Open for breakfast, lunch or dinner, this popular dining spot offers local produce and artisan products such as Beehive Cheese. Chef de Cuisine Diego adds a touch of Peruvian flair to each healthy and hearty dish. The kitchen boasts an open rotisserie and wood-fired oven for diners to watch the chefs in action.

Activities

The first day I arrived I ordered a salad and ice tea at the grab-and go, The Market in the lobby, before taking a short Uber ride to the Red Butte Botanical Gardens. Located in the foothills of the Wasatch Range, it’s the largest botanical center in the great basin. Acres of walking trails meander through beautifully maintained flower and succulent gardens. There are Six Bridges to cross to see waterfalls, lakes and streams.  During the summer the amphitheater offers well known musical artists for a dine-under-the-stars concert. Red Butte Botanical Garden is operated by the nearby University of Utah.

The next day Ryan Mack, Director of Media & Communications at Visit Salt Lake picked us up at the Hyatt Regency and drove us to Rattlesnake Gulch in Millcreek Canyon. He led us on a 3.5 roundtrip hike to the top to take in the spectacular 360 degree vistas of the Salt Lake, Antelope Island, the city and nearby mountains.

After our hike we stopped at one of his local favorites, East Liberty Tap House, for salads, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, ice tea and beers.

Before the sun set, the hotel arranged for a group of guests to partake in a Crystal Sound Bowl Vibrational Therapy session by Ebony Fayne. She is the owner of KarickaSoul Essentials, a local natural beauty and wellness brand. Lying on cushiony yoga mats, under soft blankets, with a pillow and eye mask, we listened to an aura of sounds surround and cleanse the toxins from our body. Sound bowl vibrational therapy along with her nourishing essential oil scents and healing crystals took all of us into a safe higher realm. Ebony sells many of her beauty and wellness products in the lobby grab-and-go The Market at Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City.

Before departing to fly home, a group of us walked over to nearby Eva’s Bakery for coffee and French pastries. Using area-sourced flour, the bakers get up early in the morning to make a variety of breads, flaky pastries, savory sandwiches and desserts.

Feeling fortified, we met up with Ryan Mack again for a tour of the downtown Farmers Market at Pioneer Park. For over 32 years, this market has helped strengthen and support small local farms and businesses. It’s the largest farmers market in Utah offering freshly picked local fruits and vegetables, as well as a wide variety of grass-fed meats, eggs, dairy, honey and flora. Booths sell the region’s best locally made sauces, spreads, baked goods, clothing, and jewelry. It’s the ideal spot to pick up some Salt Lake City souvenirs before flying home.

While exploring the Beehive State, stay at the centrally located Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City this summer or when planning your winter getaway. Visit www.visitsaltlake.com for attraction passes and discounts. Make a Hyatt Regency reservation at www.hyattregencysaltlakecity.com. 170 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City. (801)596-1234.