Hyatt Regency Louisville

The concrete-and-glass exterior of the Hyatt Regency Louisville resembles an office building, but the atrium-style lobby -- claiming to be the world’s first when it was built in 1978 -- is eye-catching. Glass elevators zip up and down the 18 floors in the sun-drenched space, and escalators reach the second floor. Funky, contemporary artwork is illuminated behind the front desk, and modern furniture with clean lines sits on dark red floral-patterned carpets and gray tile floors. The main draw of the hotel is its location smack in the center of downtown Louisville. Guests frequently gather in the trendy Sway restaurant with its wood-lined dining room and bar, though bustling Einstein Bros. Bagels is also hopping with guests in the early hours of the day as well. The vibe is distinctly corporate, and many of the guests here are business travelers -- the hotel is connected to the Kentucky International Convention Center -- though the city information guide that's available on touch-screen TVs in the lobby is a nice touch for the tourists who stay here as well. 

This hotel has a prime spot right in downtown Louisville, on the happening Fourth Street Live! entertainment district that's filled with tons of nightclubs, bars, and restaurants (not to mention the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse, as well). Plenty of fast food and the Louisville Visitor Information Center are right outside the hotel, along with a bus stop and free downtown trolley service. A walkway leads from the Hyatt Regency to the Kentucky International Convention Center, a big plus for the many business guests who stay here. The KFC Yum! Center, Kentucky Science Center, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, the Frazier History Museum, and Louisville Waterfront Park are all less than 15 minutes away on foot. Old Louisville -- with the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs -- is 20 minutes away by public transportation, or a 10-minute drive. Shopping at Oxmoor Center and Mall St. Matthews are 20 minutes away by car. Louisville International Airport is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. 

The 393 rooms at the Hyatt Regency Louisville, with brown-patterned carpeting and traditional furniture, are spacious and modern, though the decor throughout tends to be sober and corporate. Mini-fridges can be requested, and safety deposit boxes are available at the front desk, but rooms lack microwaves, safes, and minibars. Rooms include one king or two double beds, and have dark wood veneer furniture, earth-tone patterned carpets, and taupe walls hung with expressionistic art. Deluxe King Rooms are larger, and include dining tables and views of the skyline -- a view that many rooms here share -- though higher-end rooms offer views of the Ohio River. VIP Suites feature kitchenettes with refrigerators, microwaves, and stove-tops, and hypoallergenic Pure Rooms are also available. All rooms include flat-screen TVs, iHome alarm clocks, coffeemakers, free Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning. Cribs are available on request. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos or roll-in showers, generous granite countertops, premium toiletries, and hairdryers, though they aren't the most stylish we've seen. ADA rooms have accessible bathtubs. 

More than 21,000 square feet of space is available for conferences, with 23 meeting rooms, a ballroom, a 100-seat theater, and a rooftop private meeting space that offers panoramic views. More space is available at the Kentucky International Convention Center, which is connected to the hotel by a walkway. A 24-hour business center is on-site, and the hotel's market is stocked with sundries, gifts, and snacks. Ample dining choices are nearby, though the hotel has two solid options for eating as well. Einstein Bros. Bagels is on the Hyatt's ground floor for fast food on the go, while Sway restaurant and bar serves Southern fare and has lounge areas with mounted flat-screen TVs and ample seating. No meals are included with room rates. The 24-hour Stay Fit gym has wooden floors, treadmills lined up against floor-to-ceiling windows, and a weight-lifting area. An outdoor tennis court has views of the Louisville skyscrapers, and there's an indoor heated pool with city views through its huge windows as well. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. On-site valet parking is available, and there is a self-serve parking next door to the property -- there are fees for both.