Nature Infused with Modern Designs at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa

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View of cool-water pool and waterfall from the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, FL.
View of cold-plunge pool and waterfall from the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, FL.

Florida’s pristine Gulf Coast is the playground to the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, a 454-guestroom resort located on 26 acres overlooking the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. Here, nature blends perfectly with the hotel’s upscale location in the community of Bonita Springs, FL. This past weekend, Recommend had a chance to tour the property’s grounds and its recently renovated guestrooms, as well as experience the hotel’s Polynesian Luau dinner and show, a first that could become a yearly event at the Hyatt.

Inspired from Nature
Stepping onto the balcony when we arrived, it is no wonder the Aquatic Preserve, stretching out as far as the eye can see, was the muse when it came to redesigning the rooms—earth tones with bursts of bold colors (deep orange, the same hue of the setting sun); Florida-inspired artwork; and bathrooms with modern finishes and fixtures. Additional highlights are new sensor-triggered floor nightlights and more electronic plugs for guests’ gadgets.

All 454 of Hyatt’s guestrooms underwent the $14.5 million room renovation, including the three Presidential suites, nine Island suites, 15 Bay suites and its Regency suite.

“Our room upgrades have helped us to once again raise the bar for hospitality in Southwest Florida,” says Joe Murgalo, general manager. “The new, smartly designed rooms better complement the resort’s superior offerings, from award-winning cuisine and world-class golf to our 19,000-sq.-ft. spa and start-of-the-art meeting space.”

David Gauthier, director of sales & marketing, agrees. “It was a great collaborative between Hyatt and the designers. We undergo renovations every eight to 10 years and always want to make sure the renovations are comfortable for our guests and have them coming back to visit us again and again.”

A few months ago the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point celebrated its 11th anniversary. The hotel opened its doors two weeks after 9/11 when the travel industry came to a complete halt. “Tell me that wasn’t a bad time to open a hotel,” adds Gauthier. Well, the past is the past. This past weekend, the Hyatt was completely sold out and is anticipating a few busy months ahead—for April the hotel is already 90 percent booked.

Renovated guestroom at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa.
Renovated guestroom at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa.

From Families to Groups, Even Fido
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point—nestled in between the quiet neighborhoods of Naples and Ft. Myers—is made for families, and even families with pets. In 2011, the property was listed as one of the “Top 100 Hotels in the World” by Travel + Leisure magazine (and no worries agents, FAM trips are offered).

Activities on the property are non-stop: From the rock-climbing wall to the corkscrew pool slide, the large fire pit where guests can spend the night devouring s’mores, and the cold-plunge pool with a waterfall.

And while the kids are slipping and sliding down the water slide, dad can enjoy a game of golf at Raptor Bay Golf Club, an 18-hole course designed by golf legend Raymond Floyd where the sport and nature are intertwined within the resort’s 500-acre property.

If your clients are in the mood for a Florida West Coast wedding, the Hyatt offers more than 70,000 sq. ft. of function space including 42,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space. Dining on site is also a treat with Tanglewood-An American Grille; Tarpon Bay; Braxton’s Restaurant & Bar adjacent to the golf course; Corkscrew; Mangroves; Belvedere Room; and in-room dining. Also on property is a fitness center; bicycle and kayak rentals; fishing excursions; dolphin watching eco-tours and sunset cruises; a game room and video arcades; tennis courts; and Hyatt’s kids’ club, Camp Hyatt.

As mentioned earlier, Hyatt presented its first ever A Feast Fit For A King, Polynesian Luau. The 4-hour event included impressive live performances depicting the culture and lifestyle of the islands of the South Pacific—with intense fire dancing included. The price ($95 adults, $45 kids) included the buffet dinner (suckling pig, seafood galore, dessert table with Key Lime pie, pineapple upside-down cake and chocolate mousse), two complimentary drinks, the performances, tax and gratuity.

A Spa and Paradise Island Getaway
The highlight of the tour was our day trip out to Big Hickory Island, a 15-minute boat ride from the marina that begins with a 10-minute walk along the boardwalk behind the resort, which snakes through a jungle of unspoiled mangrove forest. The 32-acre beach park is made for shell collectors and those who want to feel as if they are sunbathing on their own private island. On site, guests can find beach chairs and umbrellas as well as a large pavilion that can be booked for special events.

Unfortunately for us, there wasn’t enough time for a spa treatment at Hyatt’s Stillwater Spa and Salon, but we heard the Water Shiatsu treatment has guests floating in warm water with the support of a Water Shiatsu therapist. The treatment involves a series of free-flowing movements and stretching (50 minutes, $145; 80 minutes, $200). The Coconut Spice Body Polish also caught our attention as the treatment includes a brown sugar scrub (mixed with honey, cinnamon and vanilla) followed by a coconut-infused moisturizer rubdown—yum.

Rates in spring range from $169 to $499 dbl, and for summer, $149 to $239 dbl.

Getting There
For clients who live north of Bonita Springs (Tampa, St. Petersburg) recommend the short drive down, which takes only a few hours; the drive from Miami is only two hours. Southwest Florida International Airport is only 12 miles from the property and services American Airlines, Air Canada, WestJet, JetBlue and US Airways.

For more information, call (239) 444-1234 or visit coconutpoint.hyatt.com.