Hyatt Regency Kathmandu to reopen after major reconstruction following Gen-Z protest damage

KATHMANDU: The management of Taragaon Regency Hotels Limited, which operates the five-star Hyatt Regency Kathmandu, announced that the luxury hotel will reopen after a comprehensive reconstruction, following extensive damage caused during the recent Gen-Z movement. The landmark hotel has remained closed since the violent protests in mid-September, which left large parts of the property destroyed.

In a formal statement issued on Sunday, Executive Director Suresh Lal Shrestha said the hotel had suffered significant structural and financial losses during the protests on Bhadra 23 and 24, 2082 BS (September 8 and 9, 2025). According to the statement, rioters vandalized and set fire to several areas of the hotel, including guest rooms, offices, the reception area, the main lobby, restaurants, banquet halls, and the iconic Chaitya located within the premises.

“The destructive acts during the Gen-Z movement caused massive damage to our hotel’s physical infrastructure,” the statement said. “The property has been completely closed since then. After a full assessment of the losses, we are committed to reconstructing and upgrading the facility, aiming to reopen as soon as possible with expanded and world-class services.”

The Hyatt management expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Sushila Karki and Finance Minister Rameshwar Prasad Khanal for their assurance of government support in facilitating the hotel’s recovery and reconstruction. The company said the rebuilding effort would not only restore the hotel but also strengthen Nepal’s tourism brand internationally.

The hotel has estimated that the reconstruction and upgradation process will take at least one year, during which the infrastructure will be redesigned to meet international hospitality and safety standards. “Our vision is to relaunch Hyatt Regency Kathmandu as a stronger, more resilient establishment that reflects Nepal’s spirit of perseverance and excellence in hospitality,” Shrestha said.

Hyatt Regency Kathmandu is regarded as one of Nepal’s flagship hospitality properties and a symbol of the country’s high-end tourism sector. The management reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to Nepal’s economy, emphasizing that the hotel has been one of the highest taxpayers in the tourism industry. Over the years, Hyatt has been honored seven times as the highest income tax payer in the hospitality sector and twice as the top foreign currency earner among Nepali hotels.

The statement also highlighted the hotel’s role in sustaining Nepal’s economy through challenging times. “For more than two and a half decades, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu has witnessed Nepal’s major political and social transformations,” the statement noted. “From the armed conflict and peace process to the 2015 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic, we have consistently provided employment to thousands of Nepalis and contributed meaningfully to the tourism and economic development of the country.”

As Nepal’s tourism sector works to recover from the recent disruptions, Hyatt’s planned reopening is expected to boost investor confidence, employment, and international visitor arrivals. The hotel’s management believes that once the reconstruction is completed, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu will emerge as a revitalized symbol of Nepal’s resilience and a renewed hub for global hospitality.