Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort's $115-Million Renovation Is A Winner

Forbes

01-05-2025

When renovations started on the long-beloved Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch in 2023, it was hard to know what direction the changes would take. The H-shaped building was brilliantly designed, in a style evocative of Frank Lloyd Wright's work, to make the place feel spacious and uncrowded even when it was was sold out. Luckily, the structure itself remains the same, but the room decor, restaurants, spa, pools and other areas of the 28-acre expanse have been beautifully carried forward while not losing sight of its family-friendly roots.
THe view from the lobby of the newly renovated Grand Hyatt Resort Scottsdale.
The reimagined Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort opened in October 2024 as Arizona's first Grand Hyatt, and the project was so successful that it will be a good model for other Hyatt Regencies to upgrade to Grand status.
What you see when you enter the lobby is an expansive view of the desertscape ringed by the rugged McDowell Mountains that give this part of the state both texture and character. Bring the zoom in a bit, and you'll see kids doing cartwheels on the lawn and their adults having drinks at the aptly named Grand Vista Lounge.
From this vantage point, guests can stroll around the corner to one of the pools (family or adult), both of which have stellar food menus and on-point service. Water is an important feature of any desert hotel, and the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort takes it seriously, allowing the pool culture to claim a lot of real estate. This is a good decision in any season, and there's abundant shade for the summer months when there's not much between you and the sun. Pool cabanas make the experience even more comfortable, with sparkling wine or water, a fruit plate, and comfy couches and chaise lounges, not to mention a big TV.
Whether you go from here to a room or suite in the main building or a luxe casita to shower before dinner, all of the interior decor has been redesigned to bring splashes of color, marble countertops, and earth-toned flooring to the spaces. The deluxe rooms have their own gas fire pits just outside the sliding glass door that leads to a common desert garden.
There are 18 casitas set in a landscaped desert environment, each of which has a full kitchen and lots of outdoor space for entertaining. The quiet is noticeable, and it's astonishing for city ears to enter such a peaceful space. The casitas are easily large enough for a family of four, with a king bed in the very large bedroom and a comfortable queen sofa bed in the living room.
One of the best features of the upgrade to Grand is the resort's partnership with Chef Richard Blais, who has designed all four restaurant concepts. La Zozzona is a bonafide destination hotspot, with a pan-Italian menu and a chef's table with a view of the open kitchen. The list of dishes not to miss exceeds most group's capacity to order, so I say go with the giant homemade fried cheese stick and that bone-in porterhouse steak cooked to perfection. Tiki-Taki, a play on a Spanish soccer term, combines Japanese and Spanish cooking to surprising and delightful effect. And Mesa Centrale is the breakfast hub (also open for lunch and dinner) with indoor/outdoor seating, a large buffet and a full menu, too. (Don't miss the huevos rancheros and the green juice.)
Cliches about oases in the desert notwithstanding, Spa Avania sets a high standard for the skill of practitioners, the new menu of wraps, scrubs, massages and skincare offerings, and a linger-longer ambiance with a pool, outdoor shower and relaxation room.
Everything about the new Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort encourages slowing down, breathing deeply and contemplating the beauty of its surroundings.