Hyatt announces The Corry Oakes Strategic Partner Award at 2025 Americas Owners Conference

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the renaming of its Strategic Partner award to The Corry Oakes Strategic Partner Award, honoring the legacy of OTO Development’s co-founder and CEO who passed away unexpectedly in 2022. This award, as well as additional honors including two new categories, Purpose & Care and Operational Excellence, were presented at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar during Hyatt’s 2025 Americas Owners Conference. The theme of the conference, Business is Personal, was reflected throughout the award presentations, which celebrated the deep relationships and personal commitments that drive success across Hyatt’s owner, operator, and developer community.

Oakes was remembered as a strategic partner and close friend of the Hyatt family. Hyatt’s relationship with OTO Development has resulted in developing Hyatt Centric, Hyatt House and Hyatt Place properties across the United States. Amy Oakes, Corry’s wife, was present for the award renaming announcement, led by Jim Chu, chief growth officer, Hyatt.

“The impact that Corry Oakes had on Hyatt is immeasurable, and it was my honor to celebrate his legacy by announcing The Corry Oakes Strategic Partner Award. Corry was an exemplary partner for many years, and he is deeply missed,” said Jim Chu, chief growth officer, Hyatt. “As Hyatt continues to evolve, we are deeply appreciative of all our valued owners, operators and developers, and we extend our congratulations to this year’s award recipients.”

The Hyatt Americas Owners Conference Awards include:

• The Corry Oakes Strategic Partner Award celebrates a company’s culture, philosophies, and strong, multi-brand relationship with Hyatt. These meaningful attributes exemplify Corry Oakes’ legacy.
• • Parks Hospitality Holdings has played an instrumental role in expanding Hyatt’s portfolio in Mexico. They continue to embrace thoughtful growth, sustainability, and lead with a deep respect for local communities. Parks Hospitality Holdings’ highly anticipated openings include Park Hyatt Cancun, Grand Hyatt Mexico Santa Fe, Grand Hyatt Los Cabos and Hyatt Place Cancun Airport. The group’s focus on thoughtful growth, sustainability and local craftsmanship continues to set Hyatt apart in the region.

• Purpose & Care (NEW) celebrates a company’s demonstration of Hyatt’s purpose, to care for people so they can be their best, and meaningful support of local communities.
  • Host Hotels & Resorts received the inaugural Purpose & Care Award for their unwavering commitment to supporting communities in times of crisis, particularly following the August 2023 Maui wildfires. As wildfires devastated Lāhainā, Host Hotels & Resorts provided immediate relief and long-term support for displaced colleagues, guests, first responders, and the broader Maui community. Their dedication to recovery and rebuilding exemplifies Hyatt’s purpose of care.

• Operational Excellence (NEW) recognizes exemplary hotel operations and dedication to providing exceptional guest service.
  • GHL Hotels truly exemplifies what it means to be committed to excellence and it’s evident that guest experience is their passion. They view customer service not just as a necessity, but as a key profit driver that boosts their ADR. The two full-service Hyatt hotels that they operate, Hyatt Centric Guatemala City and Hyatt Centric San Salvador, were recently recognized for maintaining the highest-level core metrics status for the second half of 2024.
  • TKo Hospitality has been a steadfast Hyatt operator for many years and their dedication to our shared vision and goals has been instrumental in their success. When visiting any of their Hyatt Place or Hyatt House hotels, guests experience TKo Hospitality’s dedication to providing value and quality service. In 2024, they exceeded core metric expectations, increased top-line revenues and market performance.

• Developer of the Year recognizes developers for their design creativity, construction quality, attention to detail and excellence in hotel development.
  • Extell Development is a two-time Developer of the Year recipient known for transformative projects including their latest achievement, Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, which opened in November 2024. This property anchors the newly developed Deer Valley East Village—the first luxury mountain village of its kind in North America since 1981. With 436 luxury accommodations, including 55 residences, Deer Valley sets a new standard for mountain hospitality.
  • K Inmuebles was one of the first Hyatt Inclusive Collection owners to invest in Mexico and the company’s Secrets properties consistently rank in the top 10% for guest experience. Since Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres opened just over a year ago, it has become one of the top performing resorts within the entire Cancun/Riviera Maya area. The 507-room adults-only resort places an emphasis on thoughtful architecture, breathtaking views, and proximity to some of Mexico’s most beautiful natural treasures.
  • 3H Group was among the first to embrace the Hyatt Studios brand and committed to developing five properties, including the recently opened Hyatt Studios Mobile/Tillmans Corner. 3H Group also broke ground on Hyatt Studios locations in Huntsville, Al and Jacksonville, Fl, along with Caption by Hyatt Chattanooga. They also recently acquired Hyatt Place Tampa Airport / Westshore, which is set for a transformative renovation.

• Best New Property acknowledges recent hotel openings.

• Thompson Houston (DC Partners) opened in February 2024 adjacent to Houston’s Buffalo Bayou. The 172-room Thompson Houston delivers striking design, world-class dining and skyline views. With 17,000+ square feet of event space, including a rooftop terrace and 8,000-square-foot ballroom, the property has quickly become a premier destination within the city.
• Secrets Tides Punta Cana & Spa (Codelpa) opened in January 2024 in the Uvero Alto neighborhood as the first Hyatt hotel owned by Alvaro Pena, an industry visionary in the Caribbean. This all-suite resort offers nine restaurants along with three pools, two outdoor hot tubs and an expansive spa. With these accommodations and amenities, Secrets Tides Punta Cana is a leader within the Dominican Republic’s all-inclusive market.
• Hyatt Place Windsor (Inspiration Group of Companies) opened in October 2024 and is ideally situated in Canada’s vibrant city of Windsor and located just minutes away from many local attractions. The exterior has a striking, curb presence, along with an inviting lobby, bar and lounge area featuring well-selected furniture and customized artwork. Since opening just over four months ago, the hotel has experienced impressive results.
• Hyatt House Raleigh Downtown/Seaboard Station (Hoffman & Associates) opened in October 2024 in Seaboard Station, an exciting, reimagined neighborhood on the north edge of Downtown Raleigh, NC. This extended-stay hotel is part of a larger, community-first development home to lively residential and retail spaces. It features a two-level public area infused with art, an H-bar that serves both guests and locals, as well as a unique rooftop restaurant/bar, called High Rail, offering incredible views from its outdoor patio.
• Caption by Hyatt – The Gulch (CB Ragland, HRI Hospitality, Peachtree Group) opened in December 2024 and is conveniently located in the Gulch, offering guests the very best of Downtown Nashville. The hotel’s design pays homage to the Gulch’s rich history as a former industrial and railroad hub and provides guests with Nashville-inspired décor and Café Between – the hotel’s all-day lounge.
• Best Renovation recognizes the reconfiguration and transformation of Hyatt-branded hotels.
  • Hyatt Place Kansas City/Overland Park/Metcalf (Dream Hospitality, LLC) began a comprehensive renovation in 2023, touching all areas of the guestrooms, public space and exterior. The renovation was completed in 2024 and brings new life to the building façade while the custom interior public space and guestroom designs offer a welcoming and upgraded feel.

• Best Conversion celebrates the reconfiguration of an existing property and conversion to a Hyatt-branded hotel.
  • Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort (Xenia Hotels & Resorts): Previously Hyatt Regency Scottsdale, the resort has been reimagined into Arizona’s first Grand Hyatt hotel. Xenia Hotels & Resorts invested more than $115 million to comprehensively transform the property. The revitalized resort features 496 redesigned guest rooms, casitas, and suites, an enhanced 2.5-acre pool and cabana experience, and expanded meeting and event space capabilities totaling over 90,000 square feet. Finishing off the experience are six new bar & restaurant concepts completed in the partnership with renowned celebrity chef, Richard Blais.
  • Hyatt Centric San Jose Escazu (Caribe Hospitality) marks the first Hyatt Centric branded hotel in Costa Rica, primely located in the vibrant Escazú neighborhood of Costa Rica’s capital city. In 2022, Caribe Hospitality acquired this former Holiday Inn hotel and, following an extensive two-year renovation, it reopened as a completely reimagined Hyatt Centric property with modern décor and art that highlights the history and identity of the region.
  • Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets (Secretos Isla Mujeres) marked the debut of the Impression by Secrets brand in this iconic Mexico destination. This hotel, which stood half-built for more than a decade, was acquired and transformed into a luxury, adults-only resort featuring stunning artwork, architecture and interior design, and provides guests with elevated dining experiences featuring local ingredients and contemporary culinary techniques.
  • Hyatt House Colorado Springs Airport (Coughlin and Company) extended-stay hotel allows guests to explore the best of Colorado Springs along with the comforts of home. Guests visiting this hotel are conveniently located close to countless adventures in the magnificent Rocky Mountains. In 2024, the hotel’s customer service score was in the top 15% of all Hyatt House hotels in the Americas region.

• Best Adaptive Re-Use honors outstanding Hyatt-branded hotels developed from alternative real estate uses.
  • Hyatt Centric Santo Domingo (Grupo Martinon) debuted in October 2024 as the first Hyatt Centric brand hotel in the Caribbean. This property has undergone a significant transformation and repurposing from a bland office building to one of Santo Domingo’s most vibrant and stylish hotels. Hyatt Centric Santo Domingo marks Grupo Martinon’s first urban property in Santo Domingo.
  • Hyatt House BWI Airport (Tathata LLC) offers convenient access to BWI Airport and downtown Baltimore, making it an ideal choice for all travelers. Originally built in the 1970s, the building previously housed the NSA and various government contractors. After its acquisition in 2017, it underwent a comprehensive renovation, culminating in August 2024. The transformation resulted in a stunning Hyatt House hotel, featuring a modern lobby and guestrooms designed with the latest contemporary interior design package.