CHICAGO, IL – January 12, 2021 – Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced today the opening of Austin’s highly anticipated Thompson Austin and tommie Austin hotels. Situated within an esteemed mixed-use development from Magellan Development Group, Geolo Capital, BLG Capital Advisors, and Wanxiang America Real Estate Group, the two properties open as the latest lifestyle hotels from Hyatt. Located at the intersection of 5th and San Jacinto and just 15 minutes from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, both concepts introduce exciting new culinary, entertainment and cultural experiences to Downtown Austin, creating a vibrant destination for locals and visitors alike.
“Thompson Austin and tommie Austin each bring something unique and new to the spirited city of Austin,” says managing director Nate Hardesty. “Thompson Austin stands as the newest cultural hub boasting exceptional service, an elevated social scene and highly desirable food and beverage offerings while tommie Austin is a reimagined hotel experience built for discovering vibrant neighborhoods. Austin is one of the most beloved travel destinations and serves as home to many inspiring people and businesses that we’re honored to be joining.”
Thompson Austin
Poised to become the capital city’s premier urban playground, the luxury contemporary Thompson Austin features 212 guestrooms and suites; 17 residences; a 6,700-square-foot wellness center with a sports simulator and private fitness rooms; a pool deck surrounded by lush greenery with al fresco dining; street-level culinary experiences led by James Beard Award-winning chef Mashama Bailey and partner Johno Morisano; and more than 10,000 square feet of interior and exterior private event space. Each of the guestrooms, suites and residences echo the property’s elegant style with crafted touches such as evening turndown service, D.S. & DURGA bathroom amenities featuring the Thompson Hotel’s signature brand scent, elevated in-room cuisine from chef Mashama and more.
Curated from an ethos that celebrates Austin’s rebellious spirit, Thompson Austin boasts exteriors from bKL Architecture and interiors designed by KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group. Common spaces showcase statement concrete walls, and bespoke elements including a uniquely designed front desk inspired by raw cut gemstones and a specialty shou sugi ban wood ceiling finish – both nods to the local landscape. By contrast, bold finishes of mixed metals, hints of soft leathers and luscious greenery creates warmth in the space.
tommie Austin
Opening under the playful JdV by Hyatt brand, tommie Austin is a new urban hotel experience designed to encourage interaction and serve as an epicenter for creativity and adventure. Designed by Venice-based Studio Collective, the hotel features 193 king bed guestrooms and offers the efficiency and flexibility of select service, while tapping into the amenities of the dynamic locale. Created for functionality with contactless check-in kiosks and mobile room entry, the hotel welcomes guests with a youthful all-day counter serving specialty coffee drinks from Greater Goods Coffee Co., craft beer, natural wines and playful retail, as an innovative alternative to the traditional lobby.
Evoking the boundless charm of the vast high-desert ranges from its West Texas surroundings, tommie Austin’s guestrooms embody details reminiscent of natural elements including comfortable, tactile furnishings, southwestern American-inspired materials and textures combined with bold, ethnic geometric patterns. Guests encounter six dramatic panoramic images situated above each bed shot by the celebrated local photographer, Kenny Braun, featuring images from the Guadalupe Mountain Range to Big Bend Ranch State Park. Upon entry, guests are greeted by a 10-by-6-foot mural specially curated by Tom Jean Webb that shares a narrative influenced by the southwest and its surroundings. Created to allude a transformative atmosphere and visual experience, the mural possesses an emotional element intended to spark conversation and engagement among tommie guests and visitors alike.
A Taste of Austin
Opening in a cadence throughout early 2022, Thompson Austin and tommie Austin will together offer several unique dining concepts including a fourth-floor restaurant and bar concept, street-level restaurant and market and a ground-floor coffee shop and wine bar.
From the minds of Grey Spaces partners Mashama Bailey, the 2019 James Beard Best Chef: Southeast, and Johno Morisano, The Diner Bar and The Grey Market will anchor both hotels as day-to-night dining destinations serving daily fare on the ground level. Each will play off of the duo’s take on Port City Southern food while incorporating additional inspiration from regional ingredients and local Texan flavors. Located within the lobby of Thompson Austin, the Diner Bar will be a casual, fine-dining restaurant and bar with a lively, convivial spirit serving dishes such as Country Pasta, while The Grey Market takes inspiration from its original Savannah location as a community gathering place with counter-service, grab-and-go items and provisions such as a Sunday Fried Chicken set with Pullman bread and homemade pickles.
On the fourth-floor entertainment deck, Land and Sea Dept will debut Wax Myrtle’s Club & Pool, a signature poolside restaurant and bar offering modern al fresco cuisine. Led by executive chef Nick Erven, Thompson Austin and tommie Austin guests can expect a menu prioritizing seasonal and regional ingredients focusing on contemporary American dishes in addition to monthly programming such as local and visiting DJs, screenings and live performances. Dish highlights include a Black-Eyed Pea Falafel with pickled tomatillo and buttermilk and Griddled Gulf Shrimp with bone marrow-chili butter and sesame seeds. A menu of innovative libations created by consultant Shelby Allison and led by Wax Myrtle’s beverage director Ben Carrington complements each dish with curated originals and reinvigorated classics. Highlights include the Happy House with sotol, blanco tequila, spiced grapefruit cordial, lime and sparkling wine, and the Moontower with gin, vermouth, herbed honey oxymel, lemon oil and local olives.
Replacing a traditional hotel lobby, guests of tommie Austin will encounter an all-day coffee shop featuring Austin-based Greater Goods Coffee Co., a small-batch coffee roaster aiming to source, roast and serve quality specialty coffee with a focus on creativity and community. Doubling as a casual wine bar and go-to happy hour spot, guests can also enjoy a curated menu of local, premium and natural wines that celebrate the region; craft beer from Austin breweries; and a collection of playful retail to shop through.
Meet Me Downtown
Thompson Austin offers more than 10,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting and event space spread across the second and fourth floors. With elevated features such as 20-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, the hotel introduces a collection of venues unlike anything else in the city. Traditional offerings include the Red River Ballroom (3,890 square feet), Bass Boardroom (1,336 square feet), Singer Boardroom (311 square feet), Newton Boardroom (467 square feet) and Kelley Boardroom (348 square feet), each named for notable figures from Texas Hill Country history. Additionally, the fourth-floor Bayberry Room and Patio features 3,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space to be used for private receptions, acoustic sets, performances and screenings.
