Local business and tourism leaders were alarmed Wednesday by the Hyatt Regency Buffalo hotel losing its longtime brand, raising fears that it could potentially close and prompting warnings that it could hurt efforts to bring more business and activity to downtown Buffalo.
“I was taken aback,” said Patrick Kaler, CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, the region’s leading tourism agency and operator of the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center adjacent to the Hyatt. “This would be devastating to have that property taken off line.”
His agency is constantly working to bring in new meetings, conventions and other events, and has business booked through 2025 at the convention center. But that also relies on the availability and reputation of nearby hotels – particularly the Hyatt, which is located at 2 Fountain Plaza.
“I am very concerned,” Kaler said. “I can’t stress the importance of that property for our overall meetings and convention, leisure and business travel in Buffalo.”
On Tuesday, Hyatt Hotels Corp. said it is pulling the Hyatt brand from the historic hotel as of June 1, after more than three decades of their relationship. The Chicago-based corporation didn’t give a reason, but the Buffalo hotel has been closed since April 1 because of the pandemic, which means there’s no revenue coming in at all
Local business and tourism leaders were alarmed Wednesday by the Hyatt Regency Buffalo hotel losing its longtime brand, raising fears that it could potentially close and prompting warnings that it could hurt efforts to bring more business and activity to downtown Buffalo.
“I was taken aback,” said Patrick Kaler, CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, the region’s leading tourism agency and operator of the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center adjacent to the Hyatt. “This would be devastating to have that property taken off line.”
His agency is constantly working to bring in new meetings, conventions and other events, and has business booked through 2025 at the convention center. But that also relies on the availability and reputation of nearby hotels – particularly the Hyatt, which is located at 2 Fountain Plaza.
“I am very concerned,” Kaler said. “I can’t stress the importance of that property for our overall meetings and convention, leisure and business travel in Buffalo.”
On Tuesday, Hyatt Hotels Corp. said it is pulling the Hyatt brand from the historic hotel as of June 1, after more than three decades of their relationship. The Chicago-based corporation didn’t give a reason, but the Buffalo hotel has been closed since April 1 because of the pandemic, which means there’s no revenue coming in at all.
Posted by The Buffalo News
