What Does the 'Hybrid' Brand Co-created by Hyatt and BTG Homeinns Look Like? I Visited Three in Shanghai to Find Out
Hyatt Hotels are no doubt familiar to anyone in the hotel world, with 20 brands ranging from the luxurious Park Hyatt to Andaz, Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, and more.
But today I want to talk about UrCove by Hyatt, a brand under the Hyatt Hotels Corporation. It’s a completely East-meets-West hybrid brand, and it opened five hotels in a row back in 2020.
UrCove by Hyatt is a new brand jointly created by Hyatt Hotels Corporation and BTG Homeinns Hotels Group.
Rooted in China, the brand is positioned for the mid-to-high-end business travel market. It aims to serve business travelers in China, providing them with a haven where they can relax and recharge during their journey.
About UrCove
The English name 'UrCove' means 'your cove,' symbolizing the comfort and ease of home, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It combines comfort and convenience, offering attentive service, spacious rooms, delicious meals, and a relaxed yet refined atmosphere for modern travelers on the go.
Currently Open UrCove Hotels
By the end of 2020, five UrCove hotels had opened in China. They are:
UrCove Shanghai Jing'an
UrCove Shanghai Lujiazui Expo Center
UrCove Shanghai Wujiaochang
UrCove Chengdu City Center
UrCove Nanjing South Railway Station
I, Meizhanjun (the author), also checked in at three UrCove hotels in Shanghai, and I’m sharing my experience with you today. The photos below were taken during the Christmas season, so you'll see plenty of festive elements.
01 UrCove Shanghai Lujiazui Expo Center
This was the first UrCove hotel I visited. It's located in the bustling Expo Riverside business district, right next to the Inner Ring Elevated Road and Nanpu Bridge.
Stepping into the lobby through two tall automatic doors, I had a moment where I felt like I was entering a Park Hyatt. Once inside, the space opens up, and a relaxed, free atmosphere immediately sets in. The front desk uses an island counter design, which creates a sense of closeness between guests and staff, and also brings a fresh approach to business hotels.
Large floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural light. Guests can sit by the window, order a cup of coffee or a pot of tea, and slowly enjoy a cozy leisure moment. The UrCove Space also has a small children's play area—so families with kids will have a fun spot for the little ones in the future.
The hotel has 142 elegantly designed rooms with unique decor. For this stay, I booked one of their audio-visual rooms. The room layout is long, and a sliding door separates the active and quiet zones, with the shower room and corridor in between.
Guests can watch their favorite movies and shows on the in-room projector. The room also comes with a tea bar and coffee machine, offering several teas. The minibar has a few drinks, all complimentary.
During my stay, I also visited the hotel's signature loft rooms (UrCove Duplex Room). Downstairs is the living area where you can work and entertain guests; the room also has a complimentary minibar and a capsule coffee machine.
Going up the stairs, you’ll find the bedroom with a comfy king bed and shower. The bathroom has a sensor-activated smart toilet, and the room comes with a Dyson hairdryer. Toiletries are provided in refillable bottles, which is eco-friendly and reduces waste.
UrCove hotels uphold Hyatt's food and beverage standards, and the quality and presentation still win the hearts of frequent travelers. The self-service restaurant on the first floor offers a breakfast buffet; lunch and dinner are à la carte.
In addition to the hearty breakfast buffet, I also tried their beef noodles, various desserts, and light bites, all of which were delicious. The buffet area also has large round tables, mainly for guests who book dining in advance.
The first floor is equipped with a gym and a self-service laundry room, greatly meeting the laundry and fitness needs of frequent travelers.
Metro Line 4 Tangqiao Station is about 0.8 km from the hotel, giving easy access to all parts of the city. The hotel is surrounded by shopping centers, high-end office buildings, well-known schools, and top-tier hospitals. It's only about a 10-minute drive to Lujiazui Financial Center, Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, the Oriental Pearl Tower, and other attractions. You can also walk to the Binjiang Avenue to take in the bustling scenery on both sides of the river. The unbeatable location makes getting around very convenient.
Shanghai Pudong New Area, 2266 Pudong South Road
UrCove Shanghai Jing'an is located in the bustling Jing'an Temple business area. It's about a ten-minute walk from Jing'an Temple metro station. If you walk to the hotel, you'll see its distinctive architectural appearance from afar.
All UrCove hotel lobbies are called UrCove Space. The check-in counter uses an island design, so guests can handle check-in and check-out right there. It removes distance and adds an approachable feel. The staff here aren't just receptionists; they wear many hats, offering guests more convenient services.
The UrCove Space includes seating areas, a coffee bar, tea bar, beer bar, and serves cocktails and UrCove's own wine. The space also occasionally hosts events like coffee art by champion baristas and cocktail flair performances, sharing the UrCove lifestyle with every guest.
There's also a meeting space on the first floor, convenient for business travelers to hold small meetings or negotiations.
Take the colorful spiral staircase to the second floor and you'll reach the all-day dining restaurant. Currently, it serves both breakfast and dinner buffets. The dinner buffet, which started when the hotel opened, has already become popular with guests and locals, often fully booked. The breakfast is also quite sumptuous, featuring both Chinese and Western dishes along with some Shanghai-style morning specialties.
At the dinner buffet, the counters display various seafood dishes, fruits, and desserts. To cater to the cold winter days, the hotel also offers a per-person hot pot buffet. There's a wide selection: beef, lamb, meatballs, vegetables, and more. Best of all, the price is quite reasonable. During my stay, I saw many families gathering for meals here—it was really lively.
The hotel also has a 24-hour gym for guests to work out. And of course, there's a self-service laundry room, which is perfect for frequent business travelers. You can wash and dry your clothes without interrupting your work or schedule.
The hotel has 265 comfortable and relaxed rooms, and I stayed in a king room. The design is exquisite, carrying on Hyatt's use of wood, open space, and minimalist decor, creating a high-quality yet warm and cozy atmosphere.
The in-room amenities are quite impressive: a 55-inch HD flat-screen TV and a separate sofa area. The bedding uses the same Sealy mattresses from the US, a century-old brand, as other Hyatt hotels. All rooms have smart toilets, and suites come with Dyson hairdryers.
The soon-to-open Shanghai Metro Line 14 Wuding Road station is right in front of the hotel, making it extremely convenient for business travelers. The hotel is also surrounded by shopping centers, high-end office buildings, and well-known schools. You can also walk to old garden villas and tree-lined streets, and experience the leisurely Shanghai atmosphere under the sycamore trees.
Shanghai Jing'an District, 1185 Wuding West Road
The Wujiaochang UrCove hotel was the third one I experienced on this trip, and it still had surprises. It's just a few minutes' walk from the Wujiaochang commercial area, very convenient for getting around. The Hyatt Regency Wujiaochang is also just a stone's throw away.
Upon entering the lobby, you'll find the spacious UrCove Space again. In addition to the island bar, craft beer, coffee, and tea, it's also equipped with a projector. Guests can savor coffee, light bites, specially selected craft beers, and carefully chosen French wines. The hotel has introduced new smart service facilities in the UrCove Space, allowing self-check-in and check-out.
The hotel has 199 cozy and comfortable rooms of various types, and I stayed in an executive room.
The rooms don't have phones, but they are equipped with a smart voice assistant. Just say 'UrCove, UrCove' to wake up the in-room voice service. You can control the lights, curtains, and even contact the front desk directly. The rooms have an independent fresh air system with N95-level filters and real-time PM2.5 monitoring, ensuring a safe and comfortable environment.
Executive rooms still come with Dyson hairdryers, giving business travelers a relaxed and comfortable stay.
The fifth floor houses the all-day dining restaurant, where you can enjoy a hearty and healthy breakfast buffet, plus à la carte lunch and dinner.
In addition, the hotel offers a 24-hour gym, self-service laundry room, and meeting rooms.
Shanghai Yangpu District, 255 Guoding East Road
