Renovation Disappointment
I stayed at the Grand Hyatt in NYC recently for three nights on business, my second stay there in the past two years. The hotel was recently renovated so i was looking forward to seeing what they had done to the rooms. I had been quite impressed with the hotel during my first stay in February 2010. On this trip I have to say I was disappointed. The reconfigured rooms seemed much smaller, there was a big entry area to the room which amounted to a bunch of wasted space. The room was dark and crowded. The desk and chair had been replaced with an elliptical shaped low table and a tuffett-like chair. The table lamp was replaced with a huge goose-necked floor lamp and every time I tried to sit on the little chair I bumped my head on the lamp. I'm a female of average height and weight and this working set-up was very uncomfortable for me. The bed was also not very comfortable. I stay at Hilton and Marriott frequently and their beds are far superior to this one. 
I was also very disappointed in the hotel staff service. I was greeted warmly when i checked in, but had a hard time getting good room service. I was there for three nights and on Day 2 dirty glasses and dishes were left in my room and, tho the bed had been made, the room was untidy with the ironing board still out and towels in disarray. When I called to complain I was told that housekeeping did not remove dirty dishes from rooms. I said, "well, then how do i get these dirty dishes out of my room?" I was told they would be removed, but when i came back that night they were still there. I called again and they begrudgingly sent someone to pick up the dirty dishes. 
Although I was not particularly impressed with the renovations, i will say that my group ate one night in the New York Central Bar and Kitchen restaurant in the lobby and it was VERY good and the service was impeccable. I also appreciate the new Market store in the lobby that was well stocked with affordable beverages, snacks, breakfast and lunch items. It was a great alternative on Mornings 2 and 3 to the $41 egg, muffin and coffee breakfast I had on Day 1.