Block5 Hyatt Place Earns National, Statewide Recognition For Outstanding Performance And Guest Service
As it marks one year of serving guests, the Hyatt Place Rapid City Downtown has a lot to celebrate.
The hotel, which is part of the broader Block5 development, has earned national and statewide recognition, following a record-setting launch and a guest experience-driven approach that continues to resonate.
The downtown hotel recently was named the Commercial Service Opening & Transitions Team of the Year for the Americas during the 2025 Hyatt Leadership Award Winner Celebration in March — an honor given to just one property across a broad portfolio of Hyatt brands.
At the same time, one of its standout employees, lead bartender and banquet captain Travis Gee, received a 2025 Employee Service Award from the South Dakota Hotel & Lodging Association, which annually honors up to two employees statewide who demonstrate exceptional performance and service beyond their job duties.
Together, the recognitions highlight both the hotel’s rapid operational success and the team behind it, said Jennifer Seifert-Brenna, vice president of hospitality for Lloyd Companies, which developed, built and manages the property.
“The initial pre-opening sales activity for the Hyatt Place achieved a Hyatt brand record for revenue contracted and on-the-books prior to opening its doors,” she said. “The team blew the Hyatt record out of the water, hitting pre-opening guestroom revenues for 2025 that was 10-times higher than the standard opening and excelling further by securing significant revenue on the books for 2026 and 2027.”
Hyatt officials took notice early, she said.
“We heard weekly in our pre-opening calls with the brand that this property was hitting targets many full-service Hyatt properties were not and that the continued progress we made week after week was exceptional,” Seifert-Brenna said.
“You can credit the success to travel groups and local companies being extremely excited to have a new property in downtown Rapid City, and through building relationships with these groups, they trusted us to lock in multi-year contracts before even seeing the property completed.”
The hotel carried that momentum into operations.
“The hotel hit the ground running with an outstanding first summer,” Seifert-Brenna said. “We experienced extremely high occupancy and our guests were excited to stay in a new property downtown in the heart of the activity.”
Its location has been a key advantage, she added.
“Today’s travelers want more than just a hotel — they want an experience — and the walkability to all the activity in downtown was a welcome benefit.”
The Hyatt Place opened in 2025 and features 117 modern guest rooms, flexible meeting and event space and amenities designed to serve both business and leisure travelers. The hotel bar and restaurant, The Placery, is open to the public daily, in addition to hotel guests.
From the beginning, leadership emphasized a service-first culture.
“We want to know who our guests are and we take the time to visit with them,” Seifert-Brenna said.
That approach helped earn the Hyatt Leadership Award, which recognized the work of Director of Hotel Operations Kelsey Sweeney and Director of Sales Jessica Kramer. The award was given within Hyatt’s “Essentials” group — which includes Hyatt Place and similar brands — but spans the entire Americas region.
“With only one award given for the Americas category, this really speaks to the team’s dedication and to Kelsey and Jessica for their incredible sales success and onboarding of the hotel,” Seifert-Brenna said.
“They were recognized for their outstanding collaboration, rapid execution, and their true spirit of partnership. This team sets the standard for what a successful hotel opening should look like. Receiving this award with such a large group of candidates is truly amazing.”
Gee’s recognition at the state level reflects the same focus on guest experience that has driven the hotel’s broader success.
“Travis thrives on guest interaction, constantly searching for opportunities to connect with our guests and patrons, delivering a personalized experience for everyone,” Seifert-Brenna said.
“Customers are drawn to his craft, often watching as he skillfully prepares their drinks, blending performance with hospitality. By asking thoughtful questions about flavor preferences, he creates custom beverages tailored to each individual.”
His personality, including a distinctive hat, brings a flair to the experience that has become part of the hotel’s identity, she added.
“His interactions are genuine, and his enthusiasm resonates with guests and his colleagues,” she said. “The atmosphere he created is both welcoming and comfortable, reflecting his commitment to exceptional service. Travis is very talented and he places customer experience at the center of everything he does.”
For Lloyd Companies, the dual honors reinforce a broader strategy of investing in both physical spaces and the people who bring them to life.
“The team is focused on and passionate about providing exceptional service and customized experiences for each guest,” Seifert-Brenna said. “We’re thankful to be recognized for it and proud to deliver it.”
Are you traveling in the Rapid City area soon? Visit here to book your stay at this award-winning property.
