This isn’t excellent news for individuals who are followers of Hyatt’s Andaz resort model…
Andaz cuts standardized free minibar
Every resort model has some facilities that make it distinctive (or no less than that lodges attempt to market as distinctive). Within the case of Andaz, the model has provided complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks within the minibar. Nonetheless, it seems that that is within the course of of adjusting.
As famous by View from the Wing, the Andaz Scottsdale not provides free minibar drinks and snacks. Right here’s what a Hyatt spokesperson needed to say about this:
We’re presently working to refresh the Andaz minibar expertise to raised swimsuit the wants of as we speak’s vacationers. Throughout this interim interval, properties can decide what minibar alternatives are provided on a complimentary foundation.
As you’ll be able to see, this isn’t a mistake, or one property merely breaking Hyatt’s guidelines. Slightly it’s claimed that that is a part of a “refresh,” for Andaz minibars to “higher swimsuit the wants of as we speak’s vacationers.”
It’s one factor if the minibar idea had been truly fully reimagined, however on this case the resort is solely charging for issues that had been beforehand free. I don’t suppose there are a lot of individuals who favor to pay for a can of Coke or Food plan Coke somewhat than obtain it without cost (although I’ll admit I might be incorrect — possibly I simply don’t perceive the trendy traveler!).
I’m not stunned to see this transformation
All through the pandemic we’ve seen limitless value chopping from resort manufacturers, starting from every day housekeeping being minimize, to minibar beings emptied, to room service being eradicated, to membership lounges being closed.
Alongside these traces, it shouldn’t come as a shock that this transformation is being made to Andaz:
- Admittedly the snacks and delicate drinks value the resort little or no
- The most important expense is presumably the staffing required to maintain minibars full; it’s the identical purpose that room service and minibars aren’t worthwhile for a lot of lodges
- If a resort goes to have folks coming round to every room every day to verify on the minibar, they’d somewhat or not it’s for one thing that may be monetized
It’s after all disappointing to see this transformation. Like so many corporations, Andaz is making an attempt to see what sort of value chopping it might get away with. Is the free minibar a core a part of the model’s worth proposition, or is that this a change that almost all friends gained’t even discover?
I’m unhappy to see the tip of the constantly free Andaz minibar, as that has been considered one of my favourite points of the model. I’m curious if different Andaz properties comply with, or if solely the Scottsdale property cuts this for now.
Backside line
Andaz properties are not constantly providing complimentary minibar drinks and snacks. The Andaz Scottsdale appears to be the primary property to have made this transformation, and Hyatt claims that is a part of an general refresh of the Andaz model’s minibar idea.
I’m curious to see what this refresh seems like, although suffice it to say that it’s in all probability not excellent news.
What do you make of those Andaz minibar adjustments?
