As I wrote recently, we are currently living in hotels. We were mainly at Hyatts, both because Hyatt consistently treats me as a globalist member well, and because I’m on my way to lifelong globalist status.
I first went to a Thompson hotel (which is part of the Hyatt portfolio) a few months ago and have been looking for them ever since. I think Thompson may be my new favorite upscale hotel brand, and in this post I wanted to share why.
What are Thompson Hotels?
Thompson is said to be an upscale boutique lifestyle brand, which Hyatt describes as follows:
Expect a passion for design. An obsession with details. And a joy for creating dining and nightlife options that complement our local scenes with inspired luxury boutique hotel rooms and suites to spend the night.
Hyatt acquired Two Roads Hospitality in 2018, taking over brands such as Alila and Thompson. Looking at the bigger picture of the Hyatt portfolio, I would consider Thompson to be roughly on par with Andaz, while it is a step below Alila and Park Hyatt, which are Hyatt’s luxury brands.
Thompson currently has 11 hotels in nine cities, all in the US and Mexico. Most hotels are simply called “Thompson” and then the name of the town, although the brand also has some properties that are branded differently, such as Gild Hall, The Beekman, and The Cape.
It’s a small collection of hotels, but it’s growing fast. I understand that developers are particularly keen to open more Thompsons and that this is one of Hyatt’s most sought after brands in that regard. So expect many more Thompsons to open over time.
Why I love Thompson Hotels
I’ll have full reviews of some Thompson properties soon, but in this post I wanted to talk about why I like the brand overall. I stayed at Thompson Dallas for a couple of weeks in late 2020 and loved it, and then visited a few more.
While coronavirus has affected our ability to take full advantage of the amenities hotels offer (like indoor restaurants and bars), let me give you an overview of why I like the Thompson brand so much in no particular order:
Pretty nice facility
Thompsons are consistently furnished and decorated with taste and functionality, including public spaces and spaces. I love the fact that the public spaces are different between places, so each one feels unique and not like a cookie cutter.
Thompson Dallas lobby
Thompson Nashville lobby
Meanwhile, I think it’s great that the room design is uniform so that you know exactly what to expect.
Thompson Dallas Suite
Thompson Dallas Suite
Thompson Nashville Suite
Thompson Nashville Suite
Thompson Nashville Suite
Great restaurants and bars
While most of the hotel’s dining options are borderline, Thompson Hotels seem focused on making these venues popular with locals. I have a feeling that all hotel brands are talking about how they want to be a hub for locals, but few actually manage it as it is difficult to make a hotel restaurant cool.
This is an area that Thompson really shines in as the dining options in all the hotels were really phenomenal and full of locals despite the coronavirus.
Granted, we didn’t get to fully enjoy them because we were trying to be safe (so we specifically avoided them when they were busy), but at least it’s good to know these venues are popular because this is likely to still be the case after the coronavirus. Let me just give an example of the Thompson Nashville venues that are pretty representative of what we found in other hotels:
- There is a great restaurant in the lobby (Marsh House) that has a bit of charm
- There is a rooftop bar (LA Jackson) with outdoor seating and great views of the Nashville skyline
- There is a really great cafe in the lobby (Killbrew)
Restaurant in the Thompson Nashville
Rooftop Bar in Thompson Nashville
Cafe in Thompson Nashville
Usually good restaurants mean good globalist breakfast too, so that’s nice …
Breakfast at Thompson Dallas
Extremely dog friendly
Winston gives Thompson two thumbs up, which is quite an endorsement from him. Given that we live in hotels all day with Winston, the friendliness of hotel pets plays an important role. Not all hotels are pet friendly, and pet cleaning fees can also vary between hotels and add up quickly.
Winston approves of Thompson
Thompson has to be one of the most pet-friendly brands:
- All Thompson accommodations are pet friendly
- Some Thompson hotels (including those in Dallas and Nashville) don’t even charge a pet cleaning fee, which is almost unheard of
- Not only do they not charge additional pet fees, but they also offer pet amenities including a bed, bowl, and some goodies (I’ve paid over $ 200 in fees at some hotels and they still haven’t offered anything for my pet ).
A nice welcome to Winston at Thompson Dallas
Thompson understands that the path to a person’s heart is through their dog. Thank you, Thompson, and please never change.
Winston can confirm that Thompson beds are very comfortable
That may sound silly, but I also appreciate that Thompson isn’t disgustingly dog-friendly, which means the brand isn’t promoting how pet-friendly it is everywhere. For example, Kimpton is known as the most pet-friendly hotel brand, which is why they often have dozens of dogs staying with them.
Winston isn’t a huge fan of other dogs (he wants people all to himself), so he likes how restrained Thompson traits are.
Participates in World of Hyatt
I would probably love Thompson if it was part of a large hotel group, but the fact that it is a Hyatt is a huge plus. Why? World of Hyatt Globalist is the best hotel status, and Hyatt does an amazing job of serving guests.
The service we’ve given at Thompsons (especially on the Dallas property) has been superb. When you combine that with the great recognition of the elite, the ability to use suite upgrade awards, and more, this is an unbeatable combination.
How does Thompson compare to Andaz?
Hyatt has 15 brands and I would say Andaz and Thompson in general are most comparable in terms of their prices, general property profiles / sizes, and the types of clients they are looking for. Which of the two brands do I prefer? Definitely Thompson, and here’s why:
- Andaz is an inconsistent brand; While the Andaz Tokyo is excellent and a legitimate luxury hotel, the Andaz San Diego and Andaz Savannah are only mediocre, so there doesn’t seem to be much brand consistency
- I find the Thompson decor much tastier and more consistent, and I feel like the brand actually has a consistent design theme, which is surprisingly rare among hotel groups
- Thompson Properties tend to have better food and beverage outlets
For those who have stayed in Andaz and Thompson I would love to hear what you prefer.
Bottom line
I’ve been so excited about my stays at Thompson Hotels so far and I think it’s my new favorite upscale brand.
We are currently selecting hotels that offer the best living environment and not where we want to be. This is a good reason for us to choose Thompsons – the accommodations are beautifully designed, extremely pet friendly, and have great food & beverage outlets. Add that Thompson is part of Hyatt and I can’t ask for much more.
If you’ve been to a Thompson before, what was your experience like? And what other Thompsons are worth visiting?
