Hyatt Regency Buffalo

This 16-story hotel bustles with trade show activity year-round. It’s a classic -- some would say dated -- 1980s Hyatt Regency, with a soaring glass atrium spanning the spacious lobby. It's the main gathering point for guests, and there's a section that occupies the 1923 Genesee Building, which was preserved when it was converted to a hotel. Atrium Bar and Bistro is decorated in bright colors and has plenty of seating, and despite the steady flow of guests, the hotel remains relatively peaceful. Business travelers comprise the majority of guests, with some families and couples, particularly in summer, who are visiting Niagara Falls. 

The Hyatt Regency is located downtown, about a four-minute walk from the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Numerous restaurants and shops are a short walk away, and the hotel’s free downtown shuttle makes visiting the city hassle-free. The city’s free tram service also stops outside the hotel. Main Place Mall is an eight-minute walk, and it's 12 minutes on foot to Coca-Cola Field, where the Buffalo Bisons plays baseball. It takes about 10 minutes via public transit to reach Harbor Center and KeyBank Center. New Era Field, where the Buffalo Bills play football, is a 24-minute drive, and it's 20 minute by car to Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Niagara Falls is approximately a 30-minute drive.

Guest rooms are spacious and comfortable, with pleasant decor that has a slightly dated look. Walls are accented with plant-patterned wallpaper in cool shades of brown, blue, and gray, and similar hues appear in carpeting. There are some more contemporary elements, including armchairs and lighting fixtures, and units are bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows. Standard rooms (Kings, Queens, or Double-Doubles) are a roomy 351 square feet, and they come with seating areas and corner desks with office chairs. Larger Deluxe rooms and Suites (including some with two bedrooms) also are available. Bathrooms are comfortably sized, with black granite vanities, magnifying mirrors, and shower/tub combos framed by handsome tan tiling. Many of units feature sweeping views of the city skyline, and Lake Erie can be seen from some rooms on higher floors. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi, but microwaves and safes don't come standard.

This full-service hotel does a solid job of catering to its business traveler clientele. There are plenty of dining and drinking options, including the Atrium Bar and Bistro, which serves American classics for breakfast (fee), lunch, and dinner. There's also Starbucks on-site, which stays open until early evening. At the time of our 2016 visit, the hotel’s long-time upscale steakhouse, E.B. Green’s, was being replaced by a Morton’s Steakhouse that was not yet open. For wellness, the 24-hour fitness center is large and equipped like a commercial gym, with an excellent selection of modern cardio and strength-training equipment. There's an indoor saltwater pool housed in an atrium on the hotel's rooftop, and it offers views of the city, but it's on the small side and there's no whirlpool. Spa Alexis, located just of the lobby, is a full-service day spa that offers a diverse menu of salon, skin, and body treatments. There's a 10,125-square-foot Grand Ballroom that's part of the hotel's 23,000 square feet of event space, with 21 separate rooms available. The 24-hour business center has multiple computers and printers, and Wi-Fi is free and accessible throughout the hotel. Daily newspapers are free, and there’s a gift shop with sundries, snacks, and souvenirs. The hotel offers free shuttle service downtown, and valet parking is available on-site for an extra charge. Pets are welcome with a surcharge.