5 Things You Should Know About the Hyatt Regency Toronto

The Hyatt Regency Toronto is one of 2 Hyatt hotels in downtown Toronto. It’s been a “go-to” Hyatt property in Toronto for years and is one that many members of the World of Hyatt program flock to for relatively cheap redemption rates. As a Category 4 property, standard award nights cost just 15,000 World of Hyatt points.

The hotel is in a fantastic location for visiting the city, and it is well worth a stay based on the area alone.

I recently stayed at the Hyatt Regency Toronto during a visit to the Toronto International Film Festival in September of 2024.

There are a few things you should know about this property before you book your stay here, though.

1. The Hotel Is in the Heart of TIFF

The Hyatt Regency Toronto is the main host hotel for the annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and is in a prime location for its events.

Within 2 blocks of the hotel, you’ll find all of the theaters that host films for the festival, so it’s incredibly walkable if you want to see a movie and then pop back to the hotel for a break. The hotel is the main hub for festival organizers, volunteers, and attendees, so it’s busy, to say the least. The lobby is filled with people attending the event at all hours of the day during TIFF, but surprisingly, I never found a huge line at the front desk (though I imagine there could be long lines).

I’ve stayed at the hotel several times during the festival and surprisingly found an upgrade available each time, thanks to my World of Hyatt Globalist status. Hyatt Globalists are allowed space-available complimentary upgrades to basic suites at check-in. I wouldn’t anticipate this with such a high-end event, but many attendees seem not to purchase premium rooms.

During the first weekend of the festival, King Street (the street directly in front of the hotel) is blocked off as a pedestrian-only thoroughfare, which makes it incredibly easy to come back and forth to the hotel. On the side of the hotel, there is still vehicular access, so you have the best of both worlds during TIFF.

2. It’s Near the UP Express

The Hyatt Regency Toronto is only a few blocks from the Union Pearson Express (UP Express, for short), the main train that runs every 15 or so minutes from Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) to Toronto’s central train station, Union Station. It’s about a 10-minute walk on paved sidewalks, so it’s very easy to go from the train station to the hotel and roll your bags. The Hyatt Regency Toronto is the perfect hotel if you want to be near the center of transit opportunities.

Even if you’re not taking the UP Express, several commuter trains serve the city and outlying suburbs. Several long-distance VIA Rail trains can also take you all the way to Vancouver. The Hyatt Regency Toronto is not the closest hotel to the train station, but it’s relatively nearby and certainly walkable.

3. The Hotel Is Dated

While the Hyatt Regency Toronto is in a lovely location, this property has a major downside, and for some folks, this might be a deal-breaker. On my recent stay, the hotel was dated and well past its prime. It originally opened in 1990 as a Holiday Inn, and it seems like a refresh hasn’t happened since the initial 2009 rebranding and renovations.

While the room was certainly serviceable, and I didn’t find it unclean, the hotel felt tired and worn. During my stay, the couch and other chairs in the room showed signs of wear, and the carpet had seen better days. The bathroom also needed quite a refresh, especially an updated look and feel to meet modern Hyatt Regency standards.

The hotel’s common areas were decently kept, though you could tell that the whole hotel was stuck in the 2000s for aesthetics.

To be clear, I don’t think I’d avoid this hotel because of its older looks, but it’s something to keep in mind when staying here.

4. It’s a Great Use of a Category 1-4 Free Night Certificate

The Hyatt Regency Toronto is a Category 4 hotel, costing 12,000 points per night off-peak, 15,000 points per night standard, and 18,000 points per night at peak rates. You can also redeem the Category 1-4 free night certificate, which comes annually with The World of Hyatt Credit Card.

Especially during the busy summer season and the Toronto International Film Festival, cash rates at this hotel can easily exceed $500 a night, making an award a fantastic use of World of Hyatt points. I recently used 2 free night certificates at this hotel when the room rate was approximately $400 a night.

5. The Suites Are Huge

If you’re fortunate enough to receive or book a suite, you’ll find those rooms huge and great for gatherings. On a recent trip, I received a Deluxe City View Suite, the standard suite at this hotel, thanks to my Hyatt Globalist status. It was a great corner room with views over the surrounding city.

It included a wet bar with 2 high-top chairs, 2 armchairs, and a sofa. A desk and office chair were on the other side of the living area. You could easily fit 8 people comfortably in the living room alone. In a separate part of the suite was a bedroom with a door, allowing you to close off that section of the room from the rest — great for having guests over.

If you’re a Hyatt Globalist, you can use a Suite Upgrade Award to upgrade your reservation to this exact room type.

Final Thoughts

Despite the hotel’s need for renovation, the Hyatt Regency Toronto is still one of my go-to properties in Toronto, thanks to its great location near the Toronto International Film Festival and airport train. Everything is walkable from the hotel, and you’ll find a variety of shops and restaurants nearby, as well as additional transit. It’s a great use of World of Hyatt points, making it one of my favorite hotels to use a Category 1-4 free night certificate at!