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Even though we have a home in Los Angeles, a need to get some work done to our home means that I have to move out for a few days, and because hotel loyalty programs can still make me do irrational things, those few days were meant to see me staying at two of Hyatt properties in the city.
The bookings were far from ideal, but because they would let me review two properties at which I had never stayed and because they would see me lock in another Free Night Award courtesy of Hyatt’s Brand Explorer promotion, I went ahead and made them.
Now, however, those plans are up in the air.
Late yesterday, I receive a slightly cryptic email from Hyatt’s guest care support team which simply said this:
“We need to speak with you regarding your reservation(s) at Tommie Hollywood. Please contact our office at your convenience, we are available from 6:00am CST to 10:00pm CST seven days a week by phone at 888-848-9496 (1-402-952-1131).”
Because I’m in the middle of a trip right now and multiple time zones away from Hyatt HQ, I haven’t yet had an opportunity to call in, but that hasn’t stopped me from working out why I’m suddenly being asked to have a conversation about my upcoming stay.
At first, I thought a large group had probably booked all the rooms at the Tommie and that I was about to get walked, but the following message on the hotel’s website quickly showed that the issue is far more long term”
“Effective October 28th, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. local time, tommie Hollywood will transition to a hotel brand outside of the Hyatt portfolio and is expected to honor all paid reservations including those for stays October 29th, 2024 and beyond. Guests with questions regarding stays at the hotel after the hotel ceases to be affiliated with Hyatt and World of Hyatt members with reservations for award stays for October 29th and beyond should contact Hyatt’s Global Property & Guest Services at 1-888-848-9496 for U.S. guests or 1-402-952-1131 for international guests.”
A little bit more research revealed that FlyerTalk has already been discussing this news for a couple of weeks and that the Tommie is set to rebrand as the Hollywood Volume* as part of Marriott’s Tribute portfolio.
*This is an odd choice of name given that one of the standout features of the Tommie is its small rooms.
In addition, there are suggestions being made that the Thompson Hollywood (which sits on the same block as the Tommie) will also be leaving the World of Hyatt for pastures new leaving Hyatt with just the Dream Hollywood (a property for which few people seem to have any love) as its only property in the area.
At the time of writing, there’s nothing on the Thompson Hollywood page to suggest that it’s about to leave Hyatt and a cursory Google search didn’t reveal any more information, but the fact that the Thompson is owned by the same corporation as the Tommie (Relevant Group) would suggest that the rumors may be based more on fact rather than on speculation alone.
In truth, Hollywood isn’t an area that I’d encourage any friends of mine to stay in and that combined with the fact that the rooms at the Tommie are relative small and the fact that the Thompson (a larger property with bigger rooms) is just around the corner (literally) has always made the Tommie one of the lesser Hyatt options in Los Angeles, so its departure from the World of Hyatt isn’t going to send tremors through the miles and points world and I’m certainly not going to lose any sleep over this news.
The loss of the Thompson, however, would be more significant if that were to happen.
Yes, the Thompson sits in the same horrible area as the Tommie, but it’s also often one of the more affordable reasonably regarded Hyatt options in Los Angeles (especially for anyone that has no interest in being located in Downtown or by the airport), so while I couldn’t care less if its remains as part of the World of Hyatt or if it reflags as a Marriott, Hilton, or an IHG property, I can appreciate that for some, it’s move to another hotel chain would be seen as disappointing.
For me, and considering my upcoming reservations, there are two interesting things about this development.
Firstly, I have a cash booking at the Tommie (so my stay will be honored), but I have very little interest in staying there if I’m not going to earn Hyatt points/elite credits and if I’m not going to be able to enjoy my World of Hyatt benefits, so it will be interesting to see what (if any) options Hyatt offers me.
Secondly, immediately after my stay at the Tommie I’m meant to be staying at the Thompson Hollywood, and if the rumors turn out to be true, that may also be leaving Hyatt before I’m due to check-in. So, what will happen there?
Both of these bookings are refundable, so if I’m not going to get a useful review out of these stays (it looks like the Tommie won’t be a Hyatt or a Marriott at the time of my stay) and if I’m not going to earn points, elite night credits, or credit towards the Hyatt Brand Explorer promotion, I don’t see much reason to make myself stay in a part of town I really dislike.
While I wait to get the opportunity to speak with Hyatt’s guest relations team and while I wait to see what happens with the Thompson Hollywood, I’ve made a provisional booking at the Andaz West Hollywood (which is in a considerably nicer area than the Tommie or the Thompson) to ensure that I have a good backup option should I decide that my Hollywood plan no longer has much merit.
Bottom line
Hyatt is about to lose the Tommie Hollywood to Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand and it seems like there’s a good chance that the Thompson Hollywood will be following the Tommie away from the World of Hyatt and also, probably, into the arms of Marriott.
I doubt that many Hyatt fans will be mourning the loss of the Tommie to Marriott, but the loss of the Thompson would probably be quite disappointing for some.
