I commend FTalkers and other Hyatt loyalists who made their disappointment and displeasure with the hotel's HGP-unfriendly policies widely known. Maybe they had some significant impact on the hotel's newly-found friendliness.

 

I'm going to be staying here in a couple weeks. I found the GM on FB but I think it would be in poor taste to send him a message there. Anyone have his email?

 

We'll know if the "voice of Diamond-level FTalkers" was really heard if they do something about "Garden View" category with respect to award availability.

 

Hyatt uses a [email protected] algorithm for email I believe... but one can probably search "@hyatt.com" (on FT or google) and confirm it... or call the front desk.

 

I'm on property and can confirm that the Diamond breakfast is now the whole buffet, just came back from breakfast.

 

Yea!!

Does it (the buffet in general I suppose, as it's now equal to the Diamond version) still have the pour-over coffee, and the custom-made smoothies (as opposed to only and in addition to a big pitcher of batch made smoothies)? I group these two as they are both on the same table or area.

 

Don't know for sure about the coffee but the juice bar is included.

 

So how much is the buffet for us w/o Diamond status?

 

I'm pretty sure it's $45 for the full buffet and $28 for the limited pantry buffet (think continental plus scrambled eggs plus one ordered side). I might be off by $1-2 though.

 

I can confirm the Diamond breakfast is back to the full buffet as of today, September 1st, 2015. Our server told us immediately after she came to the table to greet us.

We didn't know about the limitations to the Diamond breakfast and I had a bit of an issue yesterday when they told me it was only for the pantry side of the kitchen. I spoke to the front desk in the middle of breakfast to find out why most other properties offer a full breakfast and the Andaz Maui at Wailea chose not to offer this as well. The front desk understood my frustration and said they would take care of the full breakfast. It makes it so much easier to just offer the full range of options and not charge the $17 up charge. The restaurant will not allow you to use the full buffet breakfast towards a la cart options however. The wait staff told me they are relieved the full breakfast is back on because they had a lot of very unhappy Diamond members and were taking the brunt of their frustrations. The restaurant manager actually came over and told me they got rid of the full breakfast here because after the first year of being open, they were losing money with SO MANY Diamonds staying at the property. He said the number of Diamonds relative to non Diamond guests is much more balanced now and the property had received a lot of complaints about devaluing the benefits at breakfast.

The point I made to him was it's such a small thing to offer with limited cost and it sets the tone for a guests day. It's one of those things you just need to get right. Diamonds guests will spend plenty of money at the onsite restaurants and pool as well as the spa. Nickel-and-diming them for an upcharge of $17 is just leaves a bad taste. It would have been better if they set a dollar amount vs saying you can have this side of the restaurant (the pantry), but not that side with the full buffet. Regardless, I'm glad they made it right and the staff was very gracious about the whole thing. Hats off the wait staff who were very happy the full benefit is back on. The staff at this hotel is outstanding in every way.

On the room front, we did receive an upgrade to a full ocean view standard room. We're staying on points and the suites were all booked when we checked in on Sunday. The room is very nice, but the cell service (AT&T) in the Akau tower is very poor in the room. You have to go out to the hall or on your balcony. Otherwise it comes up "No Service" on our iPhone 6 phones. The WiFi is excellent all throughout the property including all the way to the beach.

Housekeeping is outstanding as well. Morning service and evening turn down service is perfect and they clean the rooms thoroughly including the balconies. The entire property is spotless.

Any questions, let me know!

 

So, in this respect it's not back to the way it used to be, but certainly a far more reasonable compromise. Does a lot to improve the chances of us going back someday.

How about the morning mimosas?

 

lol .. you were on site for both the change away from full breakfast benefit and the change back to full breakfast benefit!

Does that mean it's all Peter's fault? Or Peter's credit for bringing it back?

-David

 

Now it's just made up for by the Resort Fee.

 

+ parking

 

Unlike the resort fee, that's been the same since day one.