Written by @Lan & Edited by @joehairie (Photos by curiostraveller.com team members) Staycation October 7-9, 2016
Being a business hotel, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu is undeniably one of the leading 5 Star hotels in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Offering premium hotel products to business and even casual travelers, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu has 288 rooms which include the spacious Presidential Suite on the 14th floor. Guests staying in Club Floors will have access to the elegant Regency Club Lounge that offers privileged experience. Location wise, it is located in the prime area of the city thus giving guests access to many important places, from shopping malls to major financial institutions, Segama Waterfront and on Sundays, the weekly held Gaya Street Market is just few blocks away.
Prelude
We checked in on Friday, 7 October 2016 for a 3 days/2 nights stay. Though we have been to this hotel previously for some great dining experiences, this was the first time that we stayed here after the hotel went through a major renovation that changed both its exterior and interior. There were so many great things that we’ve experienced during our staycation and we purposely published several entries about this great hotel so that you will be able to have some detailed information. This entry alone is about introduction to the interior and exterior of Hyatt Regency Kinabalu. We will surely publish the write-ups about our experiences in each of the said outlet/places mentioned in this entry.
The Exterior
The Hyatt Regency Kinabalu can be clearly seen from two different angles, namely Segama Waterfront and Segama shop houses. Here are some images showing the exterior of Hyatt Regency Kinabalu.
The best place view the exterior of Hyatt Regency Kinabalu and its surrounding area is at the Segama Waterfront. Some dubbed this place as Todak Waterfront, obviously for the presence of that Todak (Merlin) big statue on the roundabout, in the middle of the road.
Hyatt Regency Kinabalu is located next to Wisma Merdeka Shopping Mall and in within walking distance to the Suria Sabah Shopping Mall. The weekly held Gaya Street Market (Sundays) is just few blocks away with many major financial institutions around as well as eateries serving local to international dishes. To view some images of Gaya Street Market, click the link below:
The building in 1975. Image from www.northborneohistory.com. Learn the history of Kota Kinabalu City through this amazing website..
Before the major renovation, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu rooms each had a balcony. With the exception of the Atrium View rooms, all rooms now are without balcony but the size of each room is now bigger (as the space of that previous balcony is now part of the room). Instead of balconies, each room has one big, ceiling to floor window panel and it is great for viewing either the city or the sea, depending on which side the rooms are located.
For the Sea View rooms, it is a great opportunity for guests to view the sunset! There are 4 great spots to view the sunset, from the sea view rooms, Regency Club Lounge (for club room and suites guests only), Poolside or walk out of the hotel and be at the Segama Waterfront. Whichever spot you choose, the views are magnificent! Viewing the sunset has now made easier by Hyatt Regency Kinabalu…
From the Segama Shop Houses, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu is seen as the tallest building in that area, with mainly white and light brown colors, big window panels from the lobby level up to the 14th floor. The building looks much nicer now than what it was before the major renovation. Big entrance awaits guests on the outside of Main Lobby. Valet parking is available alongside the main entrance.
On the left side of the Hyatt Regency Building is the annex that houses the Fitness Center (Gymnasium) on the upper floor while the Mosaic Cafe is on the street level. Guests may also enter the hotel building from the Mosaic Cafe, there’s a door inside that leads to the Avantang Spa, stairs up to the gymnasium and more stairs going up to the function rooms and later the Main Lobby. Further up on the street level are the Kimanis Ballroom and Shenanigan’s Fun Pub.
On the other side of the hotel, at the back to be precise, there’s the poolside waiting for guests to come and enjoy the sun, swim or doing some casual lounging at the bar. As mentioned earlier, this is one of the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset. There will be a separate write-up about this poolside that will be published in this blog, soon.
The pool is about 25 meters in length and it is perfect for some serious laps as what I did during our stay. There will be a separate write-ups, with detailed information about our own experience being at this poolside area, swimming, relaxing and having some great beverages.
The poolside bar is a perfect place to relax and lounge, having your favorite bevvy or some snacks. Plenty of seating with comfy lounge sofas with the bar in the middle. In the early evening, it’s a great spot to enjoy the sunset view!
The Interior
The Main Lobby
The terms that best applied to the interior design are symmetrical and soothing colors. The passage from the reception area to the main elevators is one straight long and wide corridor with clever lighting fixtures. On the floor and even on the ceiling, symmetrical shapes are like everywhere. Great attention to the details was put into during the hotel’s renovation. Soothing earth colors are seen on every surface and that again gives not only the feel of luxury but sense of calmness, tranquility or serenity.
Going deeper into the right corridor of the building, guests may opt to go for the Lobby Lounge, Nagisa Restaurant, Tanjung Ria Cafe, Cigar room and Poolside, each offers unique and different experiences. Again, symmetrical designs with soothing colors are just everywhere, creating that business mind set, obviously for the business travelers. But again, it suits the casual travelers too, not forgetting the non in-house guests. White color is then seen on the walls, at every corner, on the upper part of all areas especially when one goes to the middle part where the Lobby Lounge is located.
The Lobby Lounge
White color dominates the Lobby Lounge area perhaps to create that feel of tranquility so that guests or patrons are able to relax while lounging. The big chandelier on top of the Tanjung Ria main entrance is definitely one important focal point for guests at the Lobby Lounge. Comfy sofas are in white color indicating an immaculate surrounding. It’s good to know that guests are allowed to order food items from the Tanjung Ria ala carte menu. Looking above from the Lobby Lounge, symmetrical design of all shapes are here and there, waiting to be seen and admired by the patrons.
The amazing view of both Lobby Lounge and Tanjung Ria are even more interesting if one care enough to go to the higher floors, having that bird’s eye view so to say. The entire Atrium area is clearly visible from one of the corridor on the 5th floor. One may clearly see how the chandelier is fixed onto the wall, from the sides, using 4 long metal pipes.
Tanjung Ria Kitchen
It’s the place to be for buffet fans but guests are free to choose from the ala-carte menu as well. The colors here are different. It’s more to bright and cheerful colors with many buffet stations that incorporates the Open Kitchen Concept. With main concentration to International foods selection for the buffet to cater for international guests, Tanjung Ria provide guests the opportunity to see for themselves how great foods are being prepared by the talented Chefs and their resolute assistants. Curios and curious guests may have direct interaction with the staffs, a great way to understand what they are about to eat by simply asking questions or being a silent observer.
Nagisa Japanese Restaurant
Being the only Japanese Restaurant in an international five-star hotel chain in Kota Kinabalu City, Nagisa is also recognized as the Best Restaurant in Hotel Category during Kota Kinabalu Food Fest in 2012. In 2014 and 2015, the Editors and Readers of Malaysia Tatler have acclaimed Nagisa as one of Malaysia’s Best Restaurants for its exceptional cuisine and service. The colors and arrangement in this restaurant is of Japanese Culture and once again earth colors, mainly dark brown and are dominant here. We went here and had amazing lunch, a specific write-up about that ‘Yasashii Bento’ that we had will be publish soon.
Other related entries:
Hyatt Regency Kinabalu
Jalan Datuk Salleh Sulong
88991 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Tel : + 60 88 221 234
Fax: + 60 88 225 972
Email: kinabalu.regency@hyatt,com
Website: www.kinabalu.regency.hyatt.com
Facebook: Click HERE
Twitter: Click HERE
“Hyatt Regency Kinabalu has been awarded the 2016 certificate of excellence for superior service by TripAdvisor”
About Hyatt Regency Kinabalu
Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, a 288-room hotel, is located in the heart of Kota Kinabalu’s business, shopping and entertainment hub, overlooking the beautiful coral islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and the South China Sea. Hyatt Regency Kinabalu offers newly renovated guestrooms, exceptional service, modern comforts, and a dazzling choice of local and international cuisine. Reservations for Hyatt Regency Kinabalu can be made by calling +60 88 22 1234 or visiting www.kinabalu.regency.hyatt.com .
About Hyatt Regency Hotels
Hyatt Regency offers a full range of services and facilities tailored to serve the needs of meeting planners, business travelers and leisure guests. Properties generally range in size from 200 to over 2,000 rooms and are conveniently located in urban, suburban, airport, convention and resort destinations around the world. Hyatt Regency convention hotels feature spacious meeting and conference facilities designed to provide a productive environment. Hyatt Regency hotels in resort locations cater to couples seeking a getaway, families enjoying vacation together and corporate groups seeking a relaxed atmosphere in which to conduct business and meetings.