CHICAGO (January 25, 2016)Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) officially announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with SFO to brand and manage a 350-room Grand Hyatt hotel. Located on the airport grounds, Grand Hyatt San Francisco International Airport is anticipated to open in mid-2019. Hyatt Hotels Corporation CEO and President Mark Hoplamazian and SFO Airport Director John L. Martin participated in a signing ceremony on January 21 at the SFO Aviation Museum in International Terminal A.

In 2014, SFO, an enterprise department of the City and County of San Francisco, announced plans to develop a new airport-owned hotel to enhance the overall offering of the airport. The San Francisco Airport Commission voted to award the contract to the Grand Hyatt brand under Hyatt’s management in September 2015, and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved it in December 2015. With this approval, Hyatt is set to bring its hospitality expertise and award-winning Grand Hyatt brand to SFO, one of the most important airports in the United States, which recently achieved a new all-time passenger traffic record of 50 million annual passengers in 2015.

“Realizing a brand new hotel at our world class San Francisco International Airport has long been part of SFO’s Capital Plan, and I am pleased with this new relationship with Hyatt,” said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. “The construction and operation of Grand Hyatt San Francisco International Airport is a major economic win for the entire San Francisco Bay Area region, creating jobs, revenue, and an even better world-class experience for travelers at SFO.”

“We look forward to working closely with the team at SFO, which shares Hyatt’s passion for quality, innovation, service and the creation of a caring environment for its customers, associates and the community it serves,” said Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO, Hyatt. “The Grand Hyatt project at San Francisco International Airport is consistent with our company’s objective to grow strategically with great partners and in gateway destinations where our loyal guests and meeting planners want us to be.”

Grand Hyatt hotels reflect the unique culture of their locations and appeal to both travelers and the local community by delivering “moments of more.” Located at the entrance to SFO, Grand Hyatt San Francisco International Airport will sit on a 4.7 acre site close to terminal buildings and parking garages with direct accessibility via an AirTrain station to the terminals. The hotel is being designed with approximately 350 rooms, 17,500 square feet of flexible meeting space, 24/7 business center, health club and spa, indoor heated pool, whirlpool, and sauna. Additionally, the food and beverage offerings will include both full-service and casual restaurants, wine and sushi bar, and a rooftop cocktail lounge.

“We are excited to work with Hyatt, a world-renowned brand in guest hospitality,” said SFO Airport Director John L. Martin. “With this agreement, we take the first step forward in our vision to create the most innovative, luxurious, and environmentally sustainable on-airport hotel in the world.”

Grand Hyatt San Francisco International Airport will be uniquely designed to reflect its distinct environment within a backdrop of intuitive service, dramatic architecture and innovative design. During the signing ceremony, the design-build firm for the hotel was also announced. Webcor Builders and Hornberger + Worstell Architects will be spearheading the design work together with SFO and Hyatt’s design team. The design is envisioned to be among the most innovative and environmentally friendly airport hotels in the world. SFO will construct and own the hotel while Hyatt will provide branding and day-to-day management. Construction on the project is expected to begin in the fall of 2016, with completion expected in mid-2019. The facility is being designed to achieve both a four star designation and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) “Gold” certification for environmentally sustainable design and operation.