Gild Hall, Thompson Hotel, New York City

This mid-February stay centered an overnight in Manhattan via the Delta shuttle from DCA. The taxi line and ride from LGA was surprisingly painless on a Saturday afternoon. Gild Hall is Thompson branded, now under the Hyatt umbrella.

Notably, Thompson provides an alternative to the convention-type Hyatt mainstays, the Regency and Grand Hyatt, in urban cores, and slots above Hyatt Centric in the full-service rankings. Do not expect Park Hyatt luxury or service, and the hard product is inferior to the Andaz on 5th Ave. That said, room rates reflect this, and the downtown location can be convenient. In sum, the property is “charming” and “historic.” (Editor’s note: quotes intentional.)

Booking and checkin

I booked a Prive rate through Live Luxe Travel Company. Such rates come with room upgrades, property credits, and free breakfast. The room came to $353.01 all-in with taxes and fees; as a Hyatt Globalist, I didn’t pay the $30 destination fee.

Check in was with a friendly, hyped-in-a-good-way front-desk agent, who acknowledged both Hyatt Globalist status and the Prive booking. He explained the free breakfast and $50 property credit, and mentioned a gift in the room. A true pro who could read a customer and provide excellent service; he’s a credit to the property.

The One-bedroom Suite

Note I did not take pictures until we were partially set up in the one bedroom suite, with one full bath (no half).

To the left was the kitchen area, which included an extensive minibar.

Immediately off the entry was a bath with shower.

Finally, a sparsely decorated bedroom.

The property has a lot of personality. You may enjoy that or not.

Food and beverage

As mentioned at checkin, there was a welcome gift of cut fruit and sparkling water in the room. We had serviceable drinks and apps at the bar before heading out for the evening.

Unlike poor Bonvoy elites, Hyatt specifically defines what food stuffs Globalists receive for breakfast in the program terms, which includes coffee or juice, an entree, and a side. Here both Globalists and Prive bookings ordered from a small set breakfast menu that included an American option with eggs and bacon as a hot option and a nearly offensively forgettable bowl of fruit with toast for me. Hyatt likely pays the property more than $10 each for these meals, and a guest cannot plus-up a check; there was no apparent a la cate.

Service during breakfast too was minimal, in efficiency, style, and tone, and a far cry from the welcome at checkin.

Rating: Three stars (out of five)

Three stars. hen prices run high at other properties, it’s on the list below the downtown Conrad which, on opening pre-COVID, tried hard with breakfast, back when that was the Hilton benefit for mid-tier elites.