AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
World of Hyatt is unique among hotel brands in offering a promotion to encourage travelers to try more of its brands. This Hyatt Brand Explorer promotion offers a Category 1-4 free night award for every five brands you visit over the lifetime of your account. Some brands are easy for most travelers to get. But some — such as UrCove by Hyatt — require planning for many travelers. After all, UrCove by Hyatt is only located in China.
So, with grayed-out UrCove tiles on our Brand Explorer cards, my wife Katie and I took the opportunity to stay at the UrCove by Hyatt Weifang on a recent trip to China. Here's what you should know about the UrCove brand, including our experience staying with the brand.
What is the UrCove by Hyatt Brand?
Hyatt and BTG Homeinns — the largest budget hotel chain in China — jointly launched the upper-midscale UrCove by Hyatt brand to cater to the wants and needs of Chinese tourists. Interestingly, you can use the World of Hyatt loyalty program or the Homeinns loyalty program when you stay at UrCove properties.
32 UrCove hotels are open in mainland China, including properties in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Xian, and Hangzhou. Every one of these UrCove by Hyatt properties is a Hyatt Category 1, so you'll only need to redeem between 3,500 and 6,500 Hyatt points per night. Don't have World of Hyatt points onhand? You can transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt Rewards to top off your balance.
The first five UrCove by Hyatt properties opened in late 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. But now, the brand is quickly expanding. As such, you’ll often see UrCove properties on the list of new Hyatt hotels where you can earn 500 bonus points per night.
Related: See all current Hyatt promotions
UrCove by Hyatt Locations
As of the time of publishing, 32 UrCove properties are currently open in China — including hotels in the following cities:
- Beijing: UrCove Beijing Forbidden City and UrCove Beijing International Exhibition Center
- Chengdu: UrCove Chengdu City Center
- Hangzhou: UrCove Hangzhou North Grand Canal, UrCove Hangzhou Riverside CBD, and UrCove Hangzhou Westlake
- Shanghai: UrCove Shanghai Jing'an, UrCove Shanghai Jinqiao Center, UrCove Shanghai Lujiazui EXPO, UrCove Shanghai Pudong East, and UrCove Shanghai Wujiaochang
- Xi'an: UrCove Xi'an Yanta Hi-Tech and UrCove Xi’an North
The UrCove by Hyatt brand is also still growing, intending to open more than 300 UrCove hotels within five years.
Related: Do World of Hyatt Points Expire?
Staying at the UrCove by Hyatt Weifang
Why Weifang? One of my friends manufactures products in Weifang and was going on his first visit to the manufacturing plant. With a still-valid 10-year Chinese visa in our passports and a basic knowledge of Chinese culture, we were happy to tag along. Although most travelers likely won’t find a need to stay at the UrCove by Hyatt Weifang, hopefully this stay gives you an idea of what you'll find at other UrCove properties in Chinese cities.
Booking
You can book stays at UrCove by Hyatt properties as you normally would through the World of Hyatt website or app.
Note that some UrCove hotels may not offer non-smoking rooms. Case in point, the UrCove by Hyatt Weifang didn’t offer any non-smoking rooms, and there was an ashtray in our room when we arrived. Thankfully, our room didn't smell like anyone had smoked in it recently.
UrCove by Hyatt is a limited participant in the World of Hyatt program. I recommend checking out the terms and conditions for UrCove before you stay. But, here are some ways UrCove differs from most other Hyatt brands:
- You won't earn airline miles on your stay if you've opted to earn miles instead of Hyatt points in your account.
- No events hosted at UrCove properties will count as qualifying events in the World of Hyatt program.
- You can only book standard room awards — meaning you can't redeem points for club access rooms or suites.
- Hyatt Globalist members won't get club lounge access but will get a complimentary full breakfast.
- Upgraded rooms (including preferred rooms) aren't provided to World of Hyatt elite members.
As such, I recommend booking the room type you want instead of hoping for an upgrade.
Related: How to Use Hyatt Pay My Way Points + Cash Option
UrCove rooms
Our room at the UrCove by Hyatt Weifang was attractive and well-designed. The bed was hard, but the pillows were plush.
Across from the bed was a table with one chair (the only chair in the room), a television, and a long counter.
Toward the entrance to the room was a beverage nook with drinking water and coffee/tea supplies.
Closer to the room's entrance was the closet, which included a safe and two UrCove robes to use during our stay.
Across from the closet was the restroom, which offered a large counter with two sinks.
Across from the sinks are two individual stalls: one for the toilet and the other for the shower.
One issue during our stay: The hotel didn't have any cold tap water one afternoon. That meant our only option after working out in the gym — and before a business dinner — was taking a scalding hot shower. Luckily, the cold water returned later in the evening.
Related: 5 Reasons to Get the World of Hyatt Credit Card
UrCove amenities
Most UrCove by Hyatt properties offer an all-day dining restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised by the number of Western options available on the breakfast buffet.
We ate dinner one night in a private dining room with our friend’s manufacturing company. The room was well-decorated and even included an automatically turning “lazy susan” rotating table.
UrCove properties always offer a “UrCove Space” where guests can gather with friends, family, or colleagues. The “UrCove Space” at UrCove by Hyatt Weifang was beautiful and spacious, located near the elevator lobby on the ground floor. I noticed a bar with a coffee machine in this area, but it remained unstaffed during our stay.
Most UrCove hotels offer a 24-hour gym. The gym at the UrCove by Hyatt Weifang offered modern equipment but lacked drinking water, reeked of cigarette smoke, and didn't seem to be air-conditioned.
We also noticed a self-service laundry room adjacent to the gym. We were pleased to find the machines were free for guests to use.
Communication issues
Most of the staff at the UrCove by Hyatt Weifang weren't fluent in English (and we only know a few words of Mandarin). This led to quite a few misunderstandings.
For example, we booked two consecutive reservations — one night as me and two nights as Katie — to each achieve our UrCove Brand Explorer tile. At the check-in desk, we tried to communicate that we had booked it this way.
The staff thought we’d each booked reservations of the wrong length and wanted separate rooms. When the staff handed over two sets of keys, we communicated we only wanted one room and thought it was solved.
But when a three-night stay was posted to Katie’s account and no stay was posted to mine, we reached out to Katie’s My Hyatt Concierge to get the stays posted as we’d originally booked.
I expect non-Mandarin-speaking guests will have fewer communication issues at UrCove hotels in destinations more frequented by international tourists. But have a translation app ready and double-check that your stay posts as expected.
Related: How to Get Hotel Elite Status for Free (or Almost Free)
Our Take
If you want to fill in the UrCove by Hyatt box on your Brand Explorer card, you’ll need to visit China. But, once you’re there, you can stay at UrCove properties for just 3,500 to 6,500 Hyatt points per night. Even better, since Hyatt continues to open new UrCove properties, you might earn an extra 500 points per night by staying at a property on the list of new Hyatt hotels.
Despite a sleek-looking lobby and room, the UrCove By Hyatt Weifang certainly had some issues while we were there. From the lack of cold water one afternoon to a smokey and un-airconditioned gym, the hotel had some flaws. However, it seemed to be the nicest hotel in town and was quite affordable whether booked with points or cash.
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.