Hotel Review: Grand Hyatt Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Texas (DFW)

Now more than 20 years old, the hotel has just completed a brilliant renovation that upgraded all of the guest rooms, expanded the room count and re-energized its food and beverage venues. These are our top five reasons for checking into the Grand Hyatt DFW on your next layover or even for a day visit.

You could walk from your gate to the front desk in less than five minutes from many parts of the airport (otherwise, you can take the fast airport train). The property is actually located on top of the international terminal with a direct escalator from the lobby going down directly to security.

Views of the runways and terminals are some of the best you’ll find at an airport hotel. Rooms either face Terminal D and the runways that are in front of the international terminal or the opposite side of the building looking out towards other terminals and their runways. There is no bad view, and all of them have excellently silent soundproofing.

Each of the guest rooms comes with a plane spotting guide, featuring details of different aircraft types and the airport personnel functions that you may see on the flight apron. Plane spotting from the rooftop pool terrace or its numerous board rooms with windows and guest rooms are a true highlight here.

Because it sits directly on top of the airport and does not require a shuttle to reach the hotel, many visitors use it for day use. You can pay for a daily rate, which includes a guest room for a shower, quick nap, and use of the swimming pool and fitness center. Meeting room rates are also possible, which are common for short get-togethers.

Redone from top to bottom with a design style inspired by the state of Texas and aviation in general, the guest rooms have never looked better. They feature parquet floors with inlaid carpeting beneath the bed and wide sofas up against the window. In king-bedded rooms, the sofas convert to sofa beds. Even the artwork inspires a bit of flying wanderlust.

Power and USB outlets of every type are in various corners of the room, including by the bed, built into the sofa and by the desk or work table. Spacious closets include robes and additional storage space while sliding barn doors open to the bathrooms.

All bathrooms are five-fixture facilities with a double vanity, deep soaking tubs, glassed-in shower stall and separate water closet. In suites, Japanese toilets are a new feature, and Balmain toiletries in large pump bottles come standard.

Back in the guest room, the touch of a button makes the blackout shades rise, or lower in dramatic effect. An energy-saving feature lowers them when guests leave the room, and they rise again once they re-enter. Alarm clocks and leather headboards are in place on the beds, where duvets and plush pillows await.

While most airport hotels are not known for top-tier cuisine and high-end presentation of meals, Grand Hyatt DFW has taken a step in a different direction. Its new restaurant features an open-plan kitchen and talented chef team from France and around the world that can create cuisine for an international taste. There are vegetarian and vegan options of high caliber as well as plenty of Texas beef and burgers on the menu.

The main lounge has an expansive bar complete with power outlets and hooks for small purses or briefcases and a cocktail menu worth exploring. Throughout the day, hot coffee and cookies are often available by reception, and when checking in, the staff is always offering guest a bottle of water.

World of Hyatt members with Globalist status can take advantage of their perks here, which include complimentary breakfast for two each morning, space available upgrades and late checkout.

Not to be overlooked is the expansive meeting room facility at this hotel. Those not staying here, but attending a meeting can take an escalator directly down to the conference area from the terminal or use an elevator. And speaking of elevators, they require key card access for to guest rooms for added security and privacy.

Meeting space is expansive including a large ballroom, smaller breakout rooms and new glassed-in meeting facilities tucked into one corner.

This hotel does a large amount of fly-in and fly-out meetings, often not even requiring a guest room. The convenience of the hotel directly attached to the airport makes it perfect for a day business trip.

A good hotel always comes down to the small details, and this hotel has managed to work in many of those. Some of the things I noticed included French press coffee at breakfast (an upgrade from other airport hotels), high-end towels on the rooftop pool and the latest workout equipment at the first-floor fitness center.

While the hotel has closed its former spa, it did expand its guest room count, and it now features three Presidential suites with small kitchens and dining areas. Families will appreciate the numerous connecting room opportunities.

DFW Airport also has a Hyatt Regency hotel sitting in between the terminals, but the Grand Hyatt DFW is certainly a step up. And service standards and recent renovations reflect the elevated and upscale experience of the Grand Hyatt brand. I won’t hesitate to be back, even if just for an hour of plane spotting.