Hyatt initiative supports small businesses

Hyatt Hotels Corp. has launched the Hyatt Loves Local initiative, a global effort by Hyatt hotels to support and collaborate with small businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Nearly 60 Hyatt hotels and resorts in destinations across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East are providing complimentary resources and exposure to select local businesses that have struggled during the pandemic. In turn, these businesses are able to continue operating in different ways and offer Hyatt guests exclusive experiences.

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These collaborations span a variety of industries and are taking place at Hyatt properties now. Some partnerships are with minority-owned businesses, which are more likely to be disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Some of the Hyatt Loves Local partnerships are:

  • Hyatt Regency Atlanta is celebrating the city’s rich food culture by providing complimentary kitchen space to Anna Bell's Kitchen Mac & Cheese shop, as well as selling Anna Bell’s goods in the hotel’s Lobby Market. The space at Hyatt Regency Atlanta allows Anna Bell’s, a minority-owned business, to continue selling its coveted homemade mac & cheese dishes to hungry locals and guests, while also expanding to ship its product nationally. The business previously prepared its recipes in commercial kitchens and sold products at farmers markets before the pandemic suspended many of these shop operations. Additional information on Hyatt Regency Atlanta and Anna Bell’s Kitchen Mac & Cheese collaboration is available here.
  • In Seattle, Motif Seattle, a Destination Hotel, is collaborating with Monorail Espresso, a woman-owned business that started as a mobile espresso cart. As a result of the pandemic, Monorail Espresso saw sales drop 50 percent at its two open brick-and-mortar shops and have temporarily closed its third shop. Starting in late October through the end of 2020, the hotel will have a pop-up shop, named MxM, in the lobby where visitors can purchase coffee growlers, beans and Monorail Espresso swag. 
  • In Colorado, the Grand Hyatt Vail is hosting a pop-up shop from local women’s clothing boutique Wild Heart. Owned by a former hotel employee, the shop was forced to close during the pandemic and has reopened with limited capacity. Guests and locals can browse clothing and accessories on December 18 from 3 to 6 p.m. in the hotel’s lobby, and monthly moving forward. 
  • Gild Hall, a Thompson Hotel in New York City, has opened its doors for concierge fitness company Bach to host on-property, socially distant yoga and Pilates sessions. Due to the pandemic, Bach was forced to stop training about 80 percent of its clients but the new arrangement with Guild Hall allows it to reach new clientele. Hotel guests receive discounts when booking services through the MindBody app, while Bach instructors get complimentary fitness studio space inside Gild Hall. The collaboration will continue through the end of the year. 
  • Since October, the Hotel Revival Baltimore, a Joie de Vivre Hotel, has sourced all its toilet paper exclusively from West Baltimore-based, female-owned Lor Tush. Providing sustainable toilet paper made of 100 percent bamboo, Lor Tush launched six months early after seeing the demand for toilet paper at the height of the pandemic. Lor Tush also launched Lor Help in March, an effort to provide a free six-pack of toilet paper to families and individuals who lost income as a result of the pandemic. Hotel Revival is pitching in by distributing 5,000 rolls to community members in need.  
  • This fall in Los Angeles, Andaz West Hollywood teamed up with hair and beard experts at Barcode Barbershop to offer professional cuts and shaping and styling for men and women on the hotel’s rooftop overlooking the sparkling Sunset Strip. After temporarily closing during the pandemic, Barcode Barbershop has reopened at 25 percent capacity, so additional space at Andaz West Hollywood throughout September and October provided its stylists with the opportunity to offer more cuts than would otherwise be possible.