Hyatt Regency Indianapolis — Hotel in Indianapolis

I've been an event planner for 35 years and have organized my company’s presence at FDIC in Indianapolis for over a decade. FDIC is the largest and most critical fire industry trade show, and each year I manage housing for around 75 staff and guests. This scale has required working with nearly every hotel near the convention center, giving me an unmatched knowledge of each property—from room quality and amenities to elevator traffic patterns.

Managing large groups inevitably brings challenges, especially when hotels mishandle reservations. Few things are more difficult than finding out a guest has no room in a sold-out city. Over the years, I’ve dealt with many hotel missteps—usually due to poorly trained staff.

That experience has led me to develop a detailed ranking of Indy hotels based on service quality. At the top of that list is the Hyatt Regency at 1 South Capitol. It may not be the newest or trendiest, but the staff is unmatched. Their service stands out from the moment you call—professional, responsive, and consistent.

I've tested them through real emergencies. One year, during FDIC, a colleague had a major stroke, another landed in the ER, and both were unreachable. The Hyatt staff immediately accessed rooms, assisted with emergency services, and even housed family members during recovery. The hospital went so far as to say the hotel's staff fast action likely saved a life.

In every situation, from minor requests to life-threatening emergencies, the Hyatt Regency team has proven exceptional. That’s why I return year after year—they deliver the best hospitality in Indianapolis, hands down.

During my most recent stay, one front desk staff member—Jennifer—truly stood out. As an event planner, I showed up with a long list of detailed, last-minute changes, including a nearly impossible request for a room during the peak days of FDIC—just one day before the show, with nothing available within 20 miles.

Jennifer handled everything swiftly and accurately. I never had to repeat a name or confirm a date. After 30 minutes of rearranging reservations—adding guests, changing names, moving rooms—she recalled every detail perfectly. She even added me to a waitlist and, showing true dedication, shared her schedule, letting me know she’d be working 24 of the next 36 hours and would personally monitor availability and call me if anything opened up.

In my 35 years in this industry, she’s among the best I’ve encountered. I told our staff and guests to go directly to her for anything they needed—she’s incredibly capable and sharp.

To hotel management: Jennifer is a tremendous asset to your team. Invest in her growth, let her learn from seasoned professionals, and give her the chance to mentor others. She’s an outstanding example of...

Likes: Front desk staff and valet was very friendly and helpful. Hotel was in a great location, within walking distance from a lot of things to do and places to eat. Very nice exercise area.

Dislikes: Hotel room and some other areas seemed kind of run down. For the price I would have expected a complimentary breakfast at least. Did not want to pay $4 for bottled water in the room so decided to get ice from the machine and drink tap water. Water was disgusting. Tasted horrible and looked dirty and cloudy. Lobby was large and nice but most things were closed or had very limited hours. The pizza place, the lobby restaurant, and Starbucks closed way earlier than I would have liked. And you can't go get a drink at the bar earlier in the day as it doesn't open till later in the afternoon. No microwave in the room which was unfortunate because we brought back quite a few leftovers from nearby restaurants we would have liked to have eaten later at night. Couldn't find an ink pen anywhere in the room to fill out some papers we needed to sign for something not related to the hotel. A/C unit lowest setting was 65 degrees and when set there it certainly did not feel like 65 degrees. It would be comfortable in the room but I couldn't sleep either night because I was sweating so bad because it was so hot under the blankets. The bed itself was not very comfortable. Felt really hard and woke up both mornings with my back hurting really bad. Slept terribly due to being so hot and uncomfortable mattress. The electrical outlets in the wall under the lamps on either side of the bed were so worn they could barely hold a cell phone charger in them. The swimming pool had metal walls and they were rusting. Just added to the run down feeling we had about our room and some of the other areas. The shower was set up in a way you couldn't turn on the water to let it warm up without getting wet. For all the extra open space we had in our bedroom part of the room they certainly could have made the bathroom a little bigger.

Overall disappointed with the stay. For the price they charge for a room I definitely expected better. I didn't feel the room was any better than a Comfort or Drury Inn. And Drury offers free breakfast and dinner. Went for a date with my wife and wanted to stay someplace nicer than usual. Figured I couldn't go wrong with a Hyatt chain hotel room. Never stayed at one before, but their reputation precedes them. I don't think I would ever stay...

I recently stayed at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and unfortunately, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this establishment, primarily due to issues with charter buses and the insufficient water temperature in the bathtub.

Upon arrival, my group was informed that charter buses were required to park eight blocks away at the Indiana Colts stadium gate 10 entrance. This was highly inconvenient, as we had expected there to be suitable parking arrangements closer to the hotel. To make matters worse, throughout the evening, I noticed that there were multiple empty spaces near the front of the hotel specifically designated for valet parking, which remained unused. This inequitable parking arrangement left an unfortunate impression on us and significantly dampened our overall experience. Not to mention that the weather was 0 degrees with a windchill of negative.

Furthermore, the water temperature in the bathtub was extremely disappointing. Despite trying different settings, the water never reached a warm enough level, preventing us from taking a comfortable shower or bath. It felt as though no matter how long we waited, the water remained lukewarm at best. This issue greatly inconvenienced us, as hot water is a basic expectation during any hotel stay.

While the service and staff at the Hyatt Regency Hotel were generally friendly and attentive, the issues with the charter bus parking and the inadequate water temperature substantially impacted our overall impression of the establishment. These inconveniences overshadowed the positive aspects of our stay, such as the cleanliness of the rooms and the hotel's convenient location.

It is my hope that the Hyatt Regency Hotel addresses these concerns promptly. When hosting large groups with charter buses, it is crucial to provide adequate parking arrangements closer to the hotel. Additionally, maintaining proper water temperature in the bathrooms should be a fundamental priority for any reputable accommodation.

In light of these experiences, I regretfully cannot recommend using charter buses to this particular location until these issues...