By Robert Yost

PORT OF SPAIN, TRINDIDAD-
We were pleasantly surprised by this elegant high-rise tower property located in the Port of Spain International Waterfront development, along the waterfront of Trinidad and Tobago’s capital city.  With its upscale, urban vibe, contemporary style, and chic international clientele, the visitor might think he is at a luxury hotel in Manhattan, Madrid, or Los Angeles.  The property is approximately 24 km from the Piarco International Airport, which is about 35 minutes by car.  While not a major cruise port, Trinidad is an easy connection from other islands via LIAT, the Caribbean airline.

The Port of Spain International Waterfront Development, which will eventually include two office towers, retail space, parking for 1200 cars, waterfront esplanade, public plaza, garden terraces, verandas, and water features will remind New Yorkers of Battery Park City, the modern high-rise neighborhood in lower Manhattan.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The special attention begins upon arrival in the inviting lobby space, where complimentary champagne, bottled water or other beverages are offered upon check-in at the registration desk.  The staff are warm and gracious, luggage is collected and brought to the room promptly, and the service overall is unobtrusive and efficient.  Elevators to guestrooms are only accessible with a guest room key.

The Hyatt Regency Trinidad has 428 spacious and modern guestrooms, including ten luxurious suites.  The guestroom we had was excellent, and very comfortable with the Hyatt Grand beds, Wi-Fi and high speed internet access, flat screen television with remote control and cable movie channels, climate control, electronic door lock, and the required traveling businessperson’s staples of hair dryer, coffee maker, sizable desk and appropriate desk chair, and iron/ironing board.  A special amenity waiting for us in the room was a lavender tea service; all set up and ready to pour.  Hyatt is considering introducing this service in other properties.

There is a feature of the room that was unexpected – and the potential guest should be aware of.  The en-suite bathroom is not separated by walls or a door.  Essentially the toilet and shower are part of the larger room, with frosted glass doors offering only limited privacy.  This design is modern, and definitely has a luxe look and feel, but couples traveling together should know that the bathroom is not as private as you may be accustomed to, and your partner can hear and get the occasional glimpse of you while you using the bathroom.

DINING

The hotel offers wonderful in-room dining where we enjoyed late-night guilty pleasure meals including cheeseburgers with french fries and chicken sandwiches.  The visitor should be aware that the menu pricing is in Trinidadian currency, which during our visit was at about a 6:1 ratio to the US dollar.

We enjoyed dinner in the Waterfront restaurant, which boasts beautiful harbor views with the option of indoor or outdoor dining.  Our upbeat server, Christopher, suggested a rum punch, which was delicious, refreshing and definitely put us in the mood for a relaxing and fun evening.  The culinary team headed by Executive Chef Fernando Franco did an outstanding job.  Our dinner, which was a four-course meal, was expertly paired with several impressive wines.  We began with alloo pie, a West Indian favorite which we would describe as a spicy potato turnover.  We moved on to Callaloo soup, the most traditional Trinidadian offering for the evening, which we loved.  The delicious crab and dumpling appetizer was paired with our favorite wine of the evening, a Chilean white (2008 Underraga Sauvignon Blanc), which was perfect in every way.  The roasted lamb loin was a special treat, just the right mix of exterior crispness with a moist, delectable texture…it was delicious.

Chef Franco is a native of Argentina, and grew up helping his father in the kitchen.  His skill in the kitchen is influenced by many factors.  His style embraces traces of French haute cuisine, Brazilian and other South American touches, and he is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of Hyde Park, New York.  The hotel draws on Chef Franco’s strengths by hosting an Argentina Night in the Waterfront restaurant. The menu includes authentic cuisine such as Argentine rolls and Grissini served with Chimichurri and Criolla sauces, french fries with fried eggs (an Argentine specialty) and a wide selection of Argentine-flavored barbequed meats.  The Chef is currently planning Mexican and sushi-themed evenings.

Also of note are both the Chef’s and the Hyatt Regency Trinidad’s commitment to using locally grown and organic foods.  This ‘farm to table’ approach is evident by each course; and we learned at the chef’s request, the local farmers started producing dill, arugala and cilantro.

The property is a real urban retreat and offers guests a significantly high level of comfort and convenience – for the business traveler, the property offers outstanding conference and meeting space with the 16,000 square-foot, Regency Ballroom, a 10,000 square foot exhibit facility, full-service restaurant, a lobby bar and lounge, and a spa and fitness center.  Possibly our favorite feature of the property, aside from the fine dining, was the rooftop infinity pool and terrace, which definitely offers a relaxing escape for the weary business traveler.  This beautiful hotel is so thoughtfully managed and maintained, we were not surprised to learn that the Fifth Summit of the Americas, a prestigious conference that brings together the elected heads of 34 countries, including Barak Obama of the United States, has identified the Hyatt Regency Trinidad as the official venue for the recent 2009 summit.

The Hyatt Regency Trinidad is located at 1 Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, WI.  The telephone number is 868-623-2222, facsimile 868-821-6401.  For more information, log onto: www.trinidad.hyatt.com

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