Staff members Serge Jensen and Michaeli Martinez, and Grand Hyatt Deer Valley General Manager Anthony Duggan (right). Photo: TownLift // Randy Sidman Moore
PARK CITY, Utah — Grand Hyatt Deer Valley opened Wednesday. Sergeant Jensen Martinez and his family were among the first guests, making it a special moment for both the luxury resort and military community.
The Martinez family, which includes Jensen’s wife, Staff Sergeant Michaeli Martinez, and their 7-month-old daughter, Kaia, were impressed by the resort’s commanding presence against the backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains. “We came up the highway and saw this big, beautiful building on top of the mountain, and that was our first initial thought,” Jensen said. The family especially appreciated the balcony room overlooking the Jordanelle Reservoir, where Michaeli took some amazing sunrise photos on her first morning.
This visit means more than just a luxurious stay for the Martinez family. For Jensen, who recently returned from a six-month deployment to Saudi Arabia in March just before his daughter was born, the resort provides the perfect environment to reunite with his family and settle into civilian life.
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“Being able to come here with my family and just kind of chill out and relax…that’s what we need,” Jensen explained.
The 436-room resort, which includes 55 residences, has approximately 30,000 square feet of event space and multiple dining options, including Remington Hall Restaurant, where the Martinez family enjoyed their first dinner.
“The dry-aged burger was perfect,” Jensen said, jokingly adding that her daughter, Kaia, “was drinking milk.” Remington is the owner of several eateries, including Hidden Ace, a bootlegger-style establishment for patrons 21 and older, and Double Blacks, a streetside coffee shop where customers can send in their own photos to be printed on lattes. One. .
Jensen and Michele started dating just two days before leaving for boot camp. They both currently serve in the Utah Air National Guard, he as a HVAC technician and she as a command support staff member. The couple’s stay was made possible through the resort’s partnership with the Military Installations Development Authority (MIDA) program, which provides discounted accommodations to military personnel.
Townlift interviewed Jensen and his family at the resort’s North Star Lounge, a private retreat where military members can relax and socialize. On a shelf in the lounge is a display case of military challenge coins, a token of appreciation. This custom has a long history among military personnel and first responders as a way to honor military service.
Jensen graciously offered to share one of his most recent challenge coins and display it in the North Star Lounge. The coin commemorates Mr. Jensen’s recent deployment to Saudi Arabia. “It has… five or six states that I’ve deployed to,” he explained. “And all the state flags are there, and it says the mission that we were involved in, and on the back of that is the base that we were at, and behind that is the flag. Masu.”
The Martinez family, who traveled from Spanish Fork about an hour away, is already planning a return visit. “Especially on anniversaries and birthdays,” Michaeli says. She’s especially excited about the resort’s upcoming amenities, including a heated outdoor pool and three hot tubs scheduled to open around mid-December, and a spa scheduled to open in summer 2025.
A tour through the hotel revealed just how spacious this resort really is. If there’s one thing you can say about the new Grand Hyatt, from the giant escalator that descends to the grand ballroom to the floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of Deer Valley and Jordanelle, it’s that it’s epic.
Winter rates at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley start at $799 per night, with special military rates available through the MIDA program. The resort plans to celebrate its official grand opening on January 9th with a formal ceremony that will include military and government officials.
